Sierra Nevada / Avery Brewing Co. Beer Camp Across the World: Dry-Hopped Barleywine Style Ale American Barleywine at 9.4% ABV | 90 IBU (US$2.15 at Beer Thirty Bottle Shop & Pour House, 355 ml, packaged on 19-Apr-2017, acquired 21-Jun-2017, reviewed 22-Jun-2017)
Appearance: clear medium amber with one fat finger of rocky beige head diminishing gradually to a thick persistent cap, clingy, soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: big hoppy pine and citrus, caramel malt, boozy dark and stone fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter, light tart. (8/10) Medium-full slick body, moderate-soft carbonation, dry lingering bitter and warming finish. (4/5)
Is it a bad sign when you look at a beer style and cringe? I don’t know why Barleywines evince that response from me, especially when I look at my history with them and realize that, statistically speaking, they’re more likely to be a hit, than a miss. Not to mention, the same is true of both Sierra Nevada and Avery Brewing. All things considered, I should expect this to be a win, right?
And dang, if it’s not. I’ve actually had Sierra Nevada’s Bigfoot, and several Averys (but not Hog Heaven), so the fact that the “Big Hog” is a success really isn’t that much of a shock for me. Big hops on the front end, just as you’d hope (but don’t always get) with a “dry-hopped” beer, but then an emphatic (but not overly sweet) malt backbone on a lingering bitter and boozy finish. Really, there’s nothing not to like here – and barring serious shocks in the remaining three cans, I think we’ve got a new frontrunner in the collab pack. (17/20)
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
