One thing that’s nice about twitter is being able to get quick direct messages about new and exciting beer opportunities – and Pizza Peel once again uses twitter excellently to let the masses know about a recent shipment of the limited release of Avery Maharaja Imperial Pale Ale. Never one to turn something down (especially a limited release) I headed over to the Pizza Peel last weekend and ordered a bottle.
In size alone, the bottle is menicing – listed at 1 pint & 6 fluid ounces (American or English Pint? Good question, I have no idea.) it is plenty for two servings. And, as worded on the bottle
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. This newest Avery Dictator completes the “Dictator Series” joining the likes of The Kaiser & The Czar. Be aware that The Maharaja is a limited release only available for the summer. Welcome to his kingdom!
As listed on the bottle, the alcohol content is over 10%. The pour was very good, beer itself was a dark amber color. Then it was time to take a sip.
Sweet Jebus they hopped this thing up. I think (after checking other people’s reviews online) that I may be one of the few out there that think this beer is simply too heavy handed. Something should be said about having hops accentuate certain flavors, but in my pour, it simply killed all other tastes. The finish was pretty harsh and led me to actually avoid another sip until I had a chance to take a bite of pizza or a sip of water. I wish I could tell you about the other tastes in this beer that partnered with the bitterness of the hops but it washed over everything.
If you’re in the mood for a strong armed, punch to the gut, incredibly intense pale ale, then you’ll probably love this. However, if you’re looking for an even sip with complex tastes look elsewhere. I will next time (3.5 of 10).
