Category — beer reviews

The Stats:
Brewery: Great Divide Brewing Company, Denver, CO
Style: India Pale Ale
abv: 9.1%

The Beer
Hercules Double IPA (India Pale Ale) is an exercise in excess. India Pale Ale, already a full bodied, hoppy and high-alcohol beer style, is taken to a whole new level in this rich, chewy brew. Golden in color, it pours cloudy with a nice medium head, and the beer clears nicely over time. The aroma is full of barley and you can almost taste the beer before ever taking a sip. And once you do take a sip, look out. The alcohol is always at the forefront, but so are all the flavors one would expect in an IPA —primarily, hoppy bitterness trumping malty sweetness—but it’s all turned up to eleven. More of everything, in equal proportions. The end result is a strong beer with strong flavors, an IPA to remember; the only flaw is that it’s so strong you can only drink so much in an evening! Highly recommended.

More Info
RateBeer.com Rating: 99(!)
Brewer’s Info Page: http://www.greatdivide.com/thebeers/hercules.htm

The Stats:
Brewery: Avery Brewing, Boulder CO
Style: Barleywine
abv: 9.2%

The Beer
I first tried Hog Heaven back in New Jersey, long before I ever entertained thoughts of living in the same town where the magic elixir is brewed. The reasoning was simple: it was a new barleywine ale on the shelf at my local New Jersey liquor store. What with strong ales of all stripes being my preference and barleywines in particular, I immediately grabbed a bottle. The flying pigs on the label didn’t hurt any, either.

The beer is dark ruby red in color, with a nice dense head and intense hop aroma. Dipping a nose into the glass, you can’t help but take several long pulls with your nose before ever taking a sip,and the whiffs are intoxicating in their own right. Once you take a sip, the deal is sealed. Strong alcohol flavor is balanced with an incredible one-two punch of malty sweetness and hoppy bitterness. The malt and hops are in perfect harmony; this beer is not cloyingly sweet nor is it dryingly bitter. It’s a lot of everything, but all flavors get their turn at the front of the stage and the end result is a beer that fills your mouth—and your soul—with the total beer experience. Immensely satisfying and delightfully sippable. This reviewer maintains that this is one barleywine that’s drinkable year-round; it’s that balanced.

Available in 22oz bomber bottles, this is one of my all-time favorite beers, and one or two are generally in residence on my refrigerator door rack at any given time.

More Info
RateBeer.com Rating: 96
Brewer’s Info Page: www.averybrewing.com/BigBeers/docs/hogHeaven