Avery Barrel-Aged Series 7 - Dihos Dactylion

Brewed by Avery Brewing Company
Style: Sour Ale/Wild Ale
Boulder, Colorado USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip, Tumbler

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Second soft pour into my large Tripel Karmeliet tulip produces a one-finger thick, nicely amber tinged head. The beer is a murky amber hue that shows a lightly hazed, bright cranberry red color when held up to the light. The beer has a buttery, sort of musky funkiness to it up front, but takes on a bright, almost perfectly cherry like fruitiness towards the middle and finish, but then takes a completely unexpected turn and smells distinctly of anise / black licorice somehow; this last seems to dissipate after a while, and makes me wonder if it was ever there in the first place (it was just so distinct and unexpected, which is what made it so noticeable while it was here). The fruitiness reminds me of the berry character from a fruit forward red wine. There is funky, slightly over-ripe cheese like aroma here, as well as a definite musky, funkiness (describe by many as horse blanket) that plays a quite significant role in the aroma. There is a tart acidity to this beer, it is not overly pronounced but does contribute a light acetic character that sharpens up the otherwise smooth lactic acidity. The oak character provides a spiciness and firmness to the finish that is quite woody.

The beer has a touch of sweetness to it, though only just a touch; this accentuates a distinct fruitiness that reminds me of blackberries, when coupled with the oak character it reminds me of the astringent and slightly woody blackberry seeds. The oak character is quite firm here, it provides lots of woody notes, a touch of spicy oak, some astringency to the finish as well as a tannic structure to the body. This beer is big enough that it has a viscous character to it that makes this more of a sipping beer. The carbonation provides some prickliness that helps to lighten things up just a touch. The tartness of this beer is definitely noticeable, though it is not as pronounced as I would prefer; the tartness is mostly lactic in character, but there is a touch of acetic acidity that adds a hint of harshness to the finish, and there is likely some acidity that was picked up from the barrel aging that helps to round things out here. At times this suggest at cider vinegar.

This is not nearly the beer that the Immitis is; there is not enough acidity (and I am not one that usually likes acetic acid that lightly accents this beer) , and the totality of all the components are not quite integrated nearly as well. The fruitiness could be a touch brighter, as long as the malt character played a better supporting role (the malt character in this beer seems to fall a bit flat and somehow seem a touch too thin somehow). Still, this is not a bad beer, it just doesn’t live up to the standard of the last one, from this series that I had.

Bottle shared by haggery. Pours reddish copper with a modest beige head and a winey aroma. There is a very sour flavor with a brett presence.

Bottle at Papsø. Clear orange-red coloured with a small white head. Light acidic aroma of oak and berries with notes of vanilla. Light acidic flavour of oak, berries and vanilla with notes of red wine. Tart finish of vanilla and berries.

12 fl oz bottle. Pours clear and golden orange with a small white head. Aroma is wineous and dry wooden. Acetone and dry wooden. Fruity, light citric. Citric and dry fruity.

clear amber, small white head. aroma is wild yeasty, fruity, wood, wine. flavor is wild yeasty, grapes, wood, sour note, faint green herbs note, the alc. is very hidden.

Drunk to celebrate my rating number 23,600. Bottled. A dark amber beer with a thin beige head. The aroma has notes of brettanomyces, caramel, malt, and wood. The flavor is sweet with notes of wood, brettanomyces, malt, caramel, and wine, leading to a lightly tart finish.

Bottled. Orange coloured. Beige head. Aroma of sourness, grape, earth, some barnyard. Flavour of fruits, grape, leather, sourness, earth, some wood and spice. Medium to full bodied. Ends on a balanced sourness. Delicious. chocolate,

Bottle 35,5 cl. Courtesy of Doodler. Pours amber with a slight haze and a small off-white head. Baking yeast tart aroma. Medium body, some sweet oak, tart overripe fruits, a little berries. Ends sour/astringent. Not bad, but never great. 260412

12oz. Bottle (Bottled 2/11/11).: Got in trade from Stumpyiliz; THANKS Aaron! Aroma of Cabernet, Brett, oak, fruit, acetic acid, horse-blanket, slight funk, and some lactic acid. Poured deep orange/rust in color with a small, creamy, dense, tan head that lasted throughout. Very hazy. Very sparkling. Flavor is medium sweet and light to medium tart. Tastes of malt, oak, Cabernet, funk, slight acetic acid, fruit, and tannins. Medium body. Creamy, smooth, slick texture. Soft carbonation. Malt, acetic acid, funk, fruit, oak finish. 10.74%ABV is completely hidden throughout. Very funky and delicious.

12 ounce bottle at Hamiltons, thanks to Todd. Pours a clear light copper color with a small white head. The aroma is sweet barrel, some brett, big vinous notes. The flavor is not very sour, more barrel and sweet malts, some grapes, funky, earthy, lots of nice flavors but a bit disconnected. Light tasty sour grapes in the finish. Good.

On tap last year at Kraftwork. Pours a glowing penny color with cloudy body. Head is small and colored white w/ tiny bubbles. Good lacing webs on the sampler glass. Aromas of bret, lactic acid, juicy dark grapes, chardonay, oak, and granny smith. Taste really surprised me, very impressive. Tons of oaky buttery caramel, sour barnyard yeast, pedio, peach, hint of green pepper, apples, oaky cabernet tannins, and tons of sour vinous cherry. The mouthfeel is so juicy and salivating. One of the best beer I have had from Avery.