Avery Anniversary Fourteen

Formerly brewed at Avery Brewing Company
Style: American Strong Ale
Boulder, Colorado USA

Serve in Snifter, Trappist glass

UPDATED: AUG 27, 2008 Considering the style, Scores ranging from 1 to 5, 5 being the most intense
Appearance:
Body:   Clear(1)->Murky(5) : 1   Light Brown(1)->Dark(5) : 3   Ruby : 3   Still(1)->Sparkling(5) : 2
Head:   None(1)->Large(5) : 2   White(1)->Tan(5) : 2   Lasting: 2   Lacing : 1
Aroma:
Intensity : 3  
Yeast : 1   Bread : 2   Apple : XX   Esters : XX   Banana : XX   Phenols : XX   Leather : XX   Perfume : XX   DMS : XX   Diacetyl : XX
Malt : 3   Biscuity : XX   Toast : 2   Caramel : 2   Toffee : XX   Maple : XX   Molasses : XX   Nuts : 2   Candy : 3   Pumpernickel : XX   Cereals : XX   Fruits : 2   Chocolate : 2   Coffee : XX   Vanilla : XX   Grapes : XX   Blackberries : XX   Dates : XX   Cherries : XX   Plums : 2   Figs : XX
Hops : 3   Noble(1)->American(5) : 4   Leafy : XX   Floral : XX   Orange : 3   Herbal : 2   Spicy : XX   Pine/Spruce/Resin : XX
Notes :   Earth : XX   Wood : XX   Cloves : XX   Smoke : XX   Pepper : XX   Ginger : XX   Peach/Pear/Apricot : XX   Candi Sugar : XX   Anise : XX   Vinous : XX
Flavor:
Initial Flavor : Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 4   Finish Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 3   Sourness : XX   Bitterness : 3   Complex : XX   Length : XX
Palate:
Light(1)->Full(5) : 3   Flat(1)->Fizzy(5) : 2   Clean : XX   Sharp : XX   Watery : XX   Oily : 2   Chalk : XX   Astringent : XX   Alcohol : 2   Mineral : XX   Oxidation : XX   Metallic : XX

Comments: Strong and spicy American strong ale with an oily and sweet palate. Rather classic Avery.

I liked it more on my last try, feeling that the hops were still quite expressive after a solid year in the bottle and the alcohol flavours were less obvious. Raising from 3.0 to 3.4.

I am a fan of these dark IPAs showing up, a couple of them Canadian. I received complexity between a good amount of hops and malt and barley. One of the better Avery’s. Hoppy and dark and hoppy bubbly head. Very drinkable with supper. Good mouthfeel.

I always look forward to the new anniversary release from Adam Avery. He makes big beers, and doesn’t shy away from experimentation. I respect that. The meek need not apply. This one pours dark brownish ruby with a 2-finger khaki head and tons of lacing. The aroma is heavily piney hoppy, with a smattering of spicy and floral notes, plus a solid dose of roasty scotchy malt and chocolate syrup. The flavor is rich, very chocolatey malty, with a huge resiny hop bill. The palate is hefty, does get a tad hot toward the finish, yet does seem to smooth out a bit. This one at times reminded me of both Alpha Klaus and Gonzo, and that duo is great to be reminded of. I think 2 parts Gonzo, 2 parts Alpha Klaus, and 1 part Rogue chocolate stout would approximate this one very closely. This is an excellent beer that you need to acquire now!

Bomber. Poured deep reddish-brown with a dense cap of tan head.. set up nicely and left pretty lacing as it descended. The aroma picked up toasty redder fruits, toffee, and molasses with accents of brown sugar and vanilla.. oxidation is starting to set in, and the hops have faded, but some earth and citrus remained.. soft overall and very enticing. The flavor found even more molasses along with raisins and other assorted dark fruit at the core.. some toasty vanilla and brown sugar were laced throughout.. light earth and citrusy bitterness paired with prickly, warming alcohol on the edges.. finished long and mostly malty. Medium-bodied and warm on the palate with moderate carbonation.. spicy and warm, but well-balanced. This is breaking down, but it’s still tasty and interesting.

Bottle thanks to Jens, rbesg07. Aroma has lots of pine, quite a bit of fruity yeast and balancing caramalt. Taste is similar syrupy malt character with piny forest hops balancing.

Bottle. Pours hazy brown with an average creamy light brown head, somewhat diminishing, fair lacing. Aroma is light malt (cookie, caramel, burnt), heavy hops (perfume, pine, spruce), light yeast (dough, leather) with notes of dates and cola. Medium bodied, alcoholic texture, average carbonation and a bitter finish. Long duration, light sweetness, heavy acidity and bitterness.

On tap @ Avery’s Tasting Room poured a clear dark brown with ruby highlights and a large lasting creamy tan head. Aromas of carmel, toffee, spice, light earthiness and hints of pine and dark fruit. Palate was medium to full bodied and smooth. Flavors of roastiness, bitter chocolate, light carmel and toffee,and hints of dark fruit and spice with a lingering slightly dry bitter finish. Avery has brewed another " Love it or hate it" beer. Me, I love it!

Bottle. Pours a mahogany body with a 2 finger tan frothy head. Big malty caramel, dense fruity esters, a light floral hop bitterness drying but not cloying