This is my first review of an Avery beer. This came from a stash brought to Bend from my favorite beer store in Seattle by a man who I owe much to now. I owe him because this beer makes me say Daaaaaayum! It’s so tasty. I’m really looking forward to trying the other Avery beers that were delivered along with it now.
This is a classic Imperial IPA. It’s all about the hop. It’s got the bitterness, flavor and aroma … and it smacks you in the face with all of them at the same time. It’s not as bitter as some other Imperial IPAs I’ve had, so if bitter’s your game … well, you’ll still like this. This one’s all about the balance. So without further ado …
Appearance: Off white head, beautiful orange color, big bubbles in head around glass. A little hazy, but plenty of light gets through to show off the color and the good carbonation bubbling up.
Smell: I can smell the hops a foot away! BIG grapefruit. Some caramel/cotton candy notes follow, but they’re burried under the hops. Awesome aroma.
Taste: Wow! Now that’s what an Imperial IPA is supposed to taste like. It is a huge flavor explosion. You can really get the hops here, and it artfully settles into a significant, but not overpowering bitter. While this is a hop monster, it’s not all bitterness. Much hop flavor sits on top of the substantial malt backbone. Residual sweetness keeps the hops from overwhelming the balance. A bit of alcohol heat at the end, but only the slightest suggestion. At 9.87% ABV, this is a pretty balanced Imperial IPA.
Mouthfeel: Good carbonation dancing off the tongue. A bit of thickness stays on the back of the sip and keeps the flavor lasting a long time. Great finish.
Drinkability: Wish I would have asked for more than one! I will pick up several for the cellar for sure if I come across it again.
HopHound says
I couldn’t agree more with this review. From someone who seeks out the hoppiest of beers I was overjoyed when I popped the top off this IPA. It’s hard not to drink two or three of these in one sitting but at 9.8% you’d better be grounded before you do!
Thank you Avery for perfecting a perfect IPA.