Avery Collaboration Not Litigation

From a 22oz Bottle. Pours a murky, tanned copper brown color with a thick head of well sustaining foamy tan. Aroma of apricot brandy, toasted banana bread, chewy toffee, and flambeed pears. Nice balance between fruity esters and spicy phenols. Medium light bodied, creamy carbonated mouthfeel. The flavors are a bit heavier and darker than the nose, but equally satisfying. Starts out with some prune and gentle leathery character, morphs into a nutty caramel treat spiced with nutmeg, and then finishes dry and somewhat roasty with a hint of molasses and mild pipe tobacco. Minor alcohol warming on the finish, but overall a well-balanced, enjoyable beverage. This definitely tastes like a cohesive brew with a unifying idea, and isn’t suffering from any muddled or busy traits.

I’ve already rated the Avery Salvation and found it to be an excellent strong Belgian ale. Mixing it with the Russian River product of the same name is an interesting idea that most certainly produced a finer product. The Collaboration is a darker russet color with much more of a burnt caramel and licorice flavor. Very good indeed!

tried on tap. Interesting idea. It seems that its somewhat hoppy character knocks it astray from what I anticipate in a Belgian strong ale.

A good Belgian strong with lieable wine-like tannins and a bit of sourness. Not for the novice as much as one who appreciates the above. Dark reddish brown and yeast and wine-like aromas. Medium mouthfeel. Very quaffable.

Bottle. Pours a clear deep amber with a large long lasting off-white head that leaves good lacing. Aroma of caramel, dark fruit, and light yeast spice. Taste is the same as aroma. Medium mouthfeel with a mild amount of bitterness and well hidden alcohol. Very Good.

This is part of a beer club. Had only one bottle but was decent for the price. Poured great and had a nice finish. Would do again.

Amber/mahogany in colour, lingering light beige coloured head, great retention, excellent lacing. The aroma is of plums, figs, raisins, quite malty, caramel sweetness with some light alcohol. The flavour has some yeast, lots of caramel sweetness, plums, candy, quite chewy, very light alcohol. Bitter mouthfeel, medium body, medium carbonation. Finishes a bit hot, sweet. Some noticable alcohol coming thorough at the end, nowhere near the amount of other Avery beers. This one shows some balance, quite enjoyable.

650ml bottle from the <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/new-york/buffalo/premier-gourmet/443.htm target=blank>Premier Gourmet in Buffalo, New York for $7.69.
Purchased on August 20, 2007 and opened on August 25, 2007.
Bottled in January 2007.

Dark brownish amber body, big whitish head, malty nose with estery fruits. Too much estery yeastieness in the body; not much hoppiness; not very good; very poorly attenuated. Prune juice?