Avery Maharaja IPA 6Pk

Avery Maharaja IPA 6Pk is a 10% ABV Imperial IPA from Boulder, Colorado, sold in a 6-pack of 12oz cans. Part of Avery Brewing Company's acclaimed Dictators Series, Maharaja stands among the most aggressively hopped double IPAs produced in Colorado, registering approximately 102 IBUs while maintaining enough malt backbone to keep everything in balance.

Quick Facts: ABV: 10%  |  Origin: Boulder, Colorado, USA  |  Style: Imperial IPA  |  Brewery: Avery Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Avery Brewing Company was founded in 1993 by Adam Avery in Boulder, Colorado, and has since become one of the state's most respected craft breweries. Spanish brewing group Mahou San Miguel acquired a majority stake in 2019. Maharaja is brewed with a combination of Columbus, Centennial, Chinook, and Simcoe hops, layered across multiple additions to achieve its intense bitterness and aromatic complexity. A substantial grain bill anchored by pale and caramel malts provides the structural sweetness needed to stand up to that hop load, and the elevated ABV gives the beer the body and warmth typical of the imperial style.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Resinous pine and grapefruit peel dominate the nose, followed by layers of floral hops and a faint sticky-sweet undertone. A light caramel warmth emerges as the beer opens up in the glass.

Taste: The first sip brings a wave of citrus and pine bitterness that spreads quickly across the palate. At mid-palate, rich caramel and toasted malt sweetness rise to meet the hops, creating a tug-of-war that neither side fully wins. Tropical fruit notes — mango and passionfruit — surface intermittently, particularly as the beer warms.

Finish: Long, dry, and decidedly bitter, with lingering grapefruit rind and a resinous pine quality that stays on the tongue. A subtle alcohol warmth rounds out the close without becoming harsh.

How to Drink Maharaja

Maharaja rewards patience. Pour it into a tulip glass or snifter to concentrate the aromatics, and allow a few minutes of warming from refrigerator temperature toward the 50–55°F range where the malt character becomes more expressive. While Imperial IPAs are not traditional cocktail ingredients, Maharaja can serve as a bold complement in beer-centric mixed drinks: a Hop Shandy with fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice tempers the bitterness while amplifying the citrus notes; a Hopback Float with vanilla ice cream creates a playful contrast of bitter and sweet; and a Michelada riff using Maharaja instead of lager adds significant hop punch to the classic tomato-lime framework.

Best For

• Hop-forward beer enthusiasts looking for an uncompromising Imperial IPA
• Game-day gatherings where bold, full-flavored beers make an impression
• Gifting to a craft beer collector who appreciates Colorado brewing
• Pairing with rich, spicy foods that demand a beer with equal intensity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Maharaja taste like? Maharaja delivers an intense combination of grapefruit, pine, and tropical fruit hop flavors balanced by a rich caramel malt sweetness. The 10% ABV adds noticeable warmth without overwhelming the hop-forward profile.

How does Maharaja compare to Stone Ruination Double IPA? Both are aggressively hopped Imperial IPAs, but Maharaja leans more heavily on caramel malt sweetness to balance its bitterness, while Stone Ruination tends toward a drier, more stripped-down hop showcase. Maharaja also sits slightly higher in ABV at 10% compared to Ruination's 8.5%.

Is Maharaja good for sipping neat? Maharaja is best enjoyed slowly from a tulip glass at slightly above refrigerator temperature, where its full range of hop aromatics and malt complexity can unfold. Rushing through a 10% ABV beer this intense would mean missing most of its depth.

Where is Maharaja made? Maharaja is brewed by Avery Brewing Company in Boulder, Colorado. The brewery has operated in Boulder since its founding in 1993 and is one of the state's most established craft producers.

What foods pair well with Maharaja? Spicy Thai green curry matches the beer's hop bitterness with complementary heat. Sharp aged cheddar stands up to the intense flavors without being overwhelmed. Grilled lamb chops with herb crust echo the beer's resinous qualities. Barbecue brisket with a peppery rub benefits from the carbonation and bitterness cutting through the fat. Dark chocolate with at least 70% cacao pairs well with the malt sweetness and bitter finish.

What sizes does Maharaja come in? This offering is a 6-pack of 12oz cans, which is the standard retail format for Avery Maharaja IPA.

Is Maharaja worth the price? Maharaja positions as a premium craft Imperial IPA, and its price reflects the higher ingredient costs associated with heavy hopping and elevated ABV. Within the double IPA category, it represents solid value given the complexity and intensity it delivers per can.

Why Maharaja?

Maharaja earns its place in the Imperial IPA conversation through sheer commitment to hop intensity without sacrificing drinkability. The Dictators Series was designed to push boundaries, and Maharaja — named for the great Indian emperors — lives up to that ambition with a recipe that layers four distinct American hop varieties into a cohesive, if forceful, whole. At 10% ABV and roughly 102 IBUs, it occupies territory where many beers fall apart, yet the caramel malt foundation keeps it from becoming a one-note bitterness bomb. For drinkers who want their IPA turned up to maximum, Maharaja from Avery Brewing remains one of Colorado's definitive answers.