Avery Maharaja Imperial IPA

2. April 2009, 21:18 UhrBeer ReviewsBJR6 comments
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maharajaiipaI’d been avoiding this beer now for close to 2 years. It scares me. From what I could remember, it was a great big malty, bitter (102 IBUs), alcoholic (10.27% abv) motherfuckin’ beast. More of a chore than a pleasure to put back. But after initially hating Green Flash Imperial IPA (it was a bad bottle), then really enjoying it on tap a few months back, I decided to give some IIPAs that I hadn’t really enjoyed another chance. Having just been bottled in February (thanks, Avery, for the bottled-on date), I thought I might catch Batch 9 nice and fresh and maybe enjoy it a little more. One thing is sure, it’s still a fuckin’ beast.

I was almost fooled when I first started drinking it while still really cold from the fridge. The malt wasn’t shy, but it was only a little sweet and tempered by nice carbonation; the bitterness kicked in at the end, and there was only a mild alcohol burn. With a little warming in the glass that all changed: the panties dropped and then the sack dislodged. Fuck! It was heavy on the tongue, the massive malt bill filled in, the sweetness increased, and the alcohol burn kicked in. And then the bitterness started to accumulate. After the first few sips I was wondering where the hell all those 102 IBUs were, but I guess they were just tucked away pretty well, waiting for the right moment to expose themselves. About mid way through the glass my tongue started to tingle. I’ve never actually chewed on a hop cone, but back in high school I did chew on the fresh “cone” of its currently illegal, distant family (Cannabaceae) member. And it was just like that. Your whole mouth reeling from puckering bitterness, tongue coated in resinous oil-even your teeth fuzzy- and worst of all, the feeling that your mouth will never be the same. The Maha’ is one bitter bastard, and I’m still not sure I can hang.

So is Maha’ the ‘great king’ of IIPAs? Not for me. After having Pliny the Younger a few times earlier this year and a growler of Exponential Hoppiness just yesterday, there’s no way Maha’ is going to unseat one of them. I did actually enjoy it this time around, but I felt like I needed a nap by the time the bottle was gone. I’ll probably wait until next year’s batch comes out before I have another.

Score: 88 points

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6 comments:

  1. J David, 3. April 2009, 8:41

    Seems like the only way I can manage some of these IIPA/IIIPA is ice cold. Exponential Hoppiness is much better really cold. I think the bigger problem is that I don’t want to be trashed after one bomber either.

     
  2. J David, 3. April 2009, 8:43

    Wonder what the specs will be on Double Jack?

     
  3. BJR, 3. April 2009, 9:52

    Maybe 10-12%? I’m guessing they will probably go really big with it.

    From what SOB posted, starting in June we need to keep an eye out for Double Jack. Out of 100 kegs, seems like SD would get at least a couple.

     
  4. Jesse the Hutt, 3. April 2009, 13:01

    I had a double jack this morning. Used both hands…

     
  5. Juanote (Juan Oh Tay), 6. April 2009, 19:53

    I thought a double jack was when two chicks played “Adventure” on one Atari joystick.

    Wait, “Adventure” was before your time.

     
  6. BoozeReviews.net » Alpine Beer Company Exponential Hoppiness | Irreverent reviews of beer, wine and spirits (Pingback), 19. April 2009, 12:34
     

    [...] of the Younger tip the scale for me. Not to detract from Expo, I’d take it in a heartbeat over Maha or [...]

     

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