skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Avery Brewing Co.
Boulder, Colorado
The Maharaja Imperial India Pale Ale
Style: Imperial/Double India Pale Ale
Availability: Limited - March through August
Format: 22oz
ABV: 10.41%
IBUs: 102
Batch: 11 - bottled March 03, 2010
Bottle text & Info:
Hop Variety: Simcoe, Columbus, Centennial and Chinook
Malt Variety: Two-row barley, caramel 120L, victory
"Maharaja is derived from the sanskrit words mahat, - "great" and rajan - "king". Much like its namesake, this imperial IPA is regal, intense and mighty. With hops and malts as his servants, he rules both with a heavy hand. The Maharaja flaunts his authority over a deranged amount of hops: tangy, vibrant and pungent along with an insane amount of malted barley - fashioning a dark amber hue and exquisite malt essence. Be aware that The Maharaja is a limited release only available for the summer. Welcome to his kingdom!"
Tasting Notes:
Pours a dark, murky orange with some hop haze. A beautiful off-white head protrudes forth with some creamy bubbles that stick and show great retention. Smells intensely of pine and some earthy, soil tones. Rich and creamy mouthfeel provide and pretty heavy sweet malt billing that serves as the canvas for a some citrus that is quickly over taken by pine notes. Adequate carbonation keeps this from becoming a complete malt bomb and increases its drinkability. The Maharaja is one of those releases that hop heads around the country seek out upon its release. I like it. I don't love it. I'd choose the Avery Dugana DIPA over this any day. But that just falls in line with the theory that I will always prefer DIPA's under 10%. Those elevating beyond that ABV% just get too sweet for my liking.
Avery Brewing Co.
Boulder, Colorado
Collaboration Not Litigation (Batch #4)
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Availability: Limited
Format: 22oz
ABV: 8.91%
Batch: #4
Bottle text & Info:
"Salvation. The name of two intricate Belgian-style ales, created by us, Vinnie Cilurzo of Russian River Brewing and Adam Avery of Avery Brewing. After becoming friends a few years ago, we realized we both had a Salvation in our lineups. Was it going to be a problem? Should one of us relinquish the name rights? “Hell, no!” we said. In fact, it was quickly decided that we should blend the brews to catch the best qualities of each and create an even more complex and rich libation. In April 2004, in a top secret meeting at Russian River Brewing (well, actually it was packed in the pub and many were looking over our shoulders wondering what the hell was going on), we came up with the perfect blend of the two Salvation's. Natalie, Vinnie’s much more significant other, exclaimed, “We should call this Collaboration, not Litigation Ale!” “Perfect,” we shouted! We celebrated deep into the night (or is that morning?). Fast forward to November 14, 2006. After talking about it for over two years, we finally decided to pull the trigger and Vinnie made the journey to Avery Brewing to brew his Salvation exactly as he does in his brewery."
Tasting Notes:
This is as close to Russian River as we're gonna get here on the east coast so there's plenty to be excited about here. Let's get to it. Pours a rusty, copper color with a two inch off white head that slowly recedes and clings to the sides. Smells lightly of belgian yeast and esters with some familiar dark fruits as well. A smooth, creamy light to medium mouthfeel with spot on medium to low level carbonation. Great velvety mouthfeel encapsulating lots of layers here. This is really well blended. How did they do this? You can actually taste the two ales separately yet blended as well. An existential experience to say the least! Plenty of fruits with some tartness. Think tripel with a touch of the dark fruits you expect in a quad. Some drying tartness on the finish with little to no perceived alcohol. An awesome, awesome brew that should lay nicely if you keen on cellaring. Well done boys. Now if we could just get Russian River to the east coast... i'd die happy.
