Mike's Beer of the Week

Beer Information

Brewery: Avery Brewing Company (CO) 

Beer Name: Maharaja

Beer Style: Imperial IPA
Abv.: 10.3%

Serving Glassware: Snifter, Tulip, Oversized Wine Glass

Serving Temp.: 50-55 deg. F. (BeerAdvocate.com)

Local Availability: N/A

Pairings: Meat (Burgers, Teriyaki Steak or Chicken), Haddock

Mike's Ratings (1-5)

Overall Grade/Rate: A-/4.05

Appearance: 5

Aroma: 4

Taste: 4

Mouthfeel: 4

Drinkability: 4

BeerAdvocate Avg. Rate: A-/4.18

Mike's Description

Appearance - This beer is stunning: about a half inch of white head with strong lace deposits all around the over-sized wine glass. Golden orange in color, similar to Nugget Nectar. Very translucent and fresh-looking with no sediment.

Aroma - Strong hop aroma with a malty backbone. Bitter piney esters - what you would expect from a 102 IBU beer...just hops.

Taste - Extremely bitter tasting...this beer destroys the palate. Strong piney and malty background that attempts to obscure the 10.3% abv., but doesn't completely succeed.

Mouthfeel - Spicey piney feel that completely numbs the tastebuds and the entire mouth for that matter...just drink one of these before you have your teeth removed at the dentist.

Drinkability - Overall this beer is one of the best DIPAs that I've had. It is ludicrously bitter and well deserving of all the fame that it recieves. Its bitterness is right up there with Hop Stoopid. I would recommend this beer, but only a bottle at a time or else you can count on praying to the porcelain gods at some point.