3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
UPDATED: AUG 24, 2008 My Bottom Line:
This Imperial India Dark Ale (if that means anything) promotes intense herbal, piney hoppiness atop the fruitiness of berries and roasting molasses. This is a nearly-balanced strong ale full of Americana.
Further Personal Perceptions:
-A ring of foam circles the blood-laced black.
-A little less alcohol and this would make a tantalizing quaffer just like Baird’s First Impact or The Alchemist’s El Jefe.
-The hops provide a lot more flavor components, including leafy and citrusy angles.
-Carbonation is frothy, which actually helps drinkability in the case of this behemoth.
Bottles.
3.7 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Bottle. Deep brown pour under a thin but dense khaki head. Very mild aroma of molasses and roasted malt. Flavor opens with a an IPA-like pine resiny note followed quickly by toffey, caramel, toasted nuts and just a hint of vanilla. Decidedly malty but the malt presence is matched sip for sip with a healthy dose of hops. Creamy mouthfeel with a touch of carbonation and a sweet but clean finish. Another well crafted anniversary offering from Avery.
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Took a while for this to grow on me, but think I hadn’t waited near long enough for it to warm up (still not used to my new fridge). As it warmed, the initial blast of alcohol/sweetness/hops diminished, decided to shake hands and come out and play as friends. Still not quite sure I’m in love with it, but does have a quality that seems it might possible do well with a little age. Sure hope so as I’m hanging onto a bottle for that purpose.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Dark Brown with Red Hues..and Dark Sandy head. Very Fruity and Floral Nose with Subtle Sweet Syrupy Malts Behind Them. Wonderfully Zesty Nose. Medium to Heavy Bodied....Creamy Dry Mouthfeel. Very Sweet and Thick Malts...Sweet, Lightly Syruped..Molasses, Subtle Roast and Dark Breaded Flavor. The Same Fruity Flavor that Encapsulated the Nose Pop Up on the Tongue and Slowly Transition to a Floral and Fruity Hopped Ending. Sweet and Dry Aftertaste. A Wonderful Strong Dark Ale. Very Smooth for Almost 10% as Well. A Good One to Keep Stock of for the Colder Months of Winter.
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Bomber. Barely can see through this deep brown beer with red highlights. Huge creamy and sticky head lasts forever. Aroma is big molasses malt and fruity hops. Flavor is similar with earthy-herb, fruity (Fuggles, maybe?) hops taming some spicy dark fruit and slight cocoa very well. Just a touch of alcohol rounds it all out nicely. The finish is bitter but not harsh; seems a bit Goldings or Saaz-like. Even some slight bubblegum in the aftertaste, like a Belgian. Palate feels smooth, oily and medium-large bodied, but not syrupy. Excellent experiment in what seems to be an American style barleywine with a flavor battle of the hops: American vs. European.
3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Dark ruby color with thin tan head. Aroma is of brown sugar and a hint of hops and alcohol. Bitter pithy citrus rhind taste with sweet malt that keeps up with it. Too much of both for my liking, though. Better luck next year, Avery $7/22oz
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
On tap @ Live Wire. Super nice looking brown head with a big old tan head. Aroma is hoppy with hints of brown sugar. Flavor is an interesting marriage between a strong amber ale and a belgian dubble. Very good. Im a big fan of Avery products.
3 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 11/20
Bottle. Roasted malt smell. Sweet bitterness in the taste. Rich and creamy - smooth on the palate. Somewhat tangy finish.
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