Avery Salvation

Brewed by Avery Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Boulder, Colorado USA

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

The pour was golden and hazy, really quite pretty. The head was small, white and dissipated rather quickly. The smell was fairly faint, especially for the style, Belgian golden ale, but smelled of fruit, maybe apricots, and floral hops. The initial taste was very good, kind of sweet, but in a good way. The finish was also very good with a good hop bitterness. I didn’t get the Avery out of the fridge early enough so the beer was rather cold when I began. That may have muted the aroma and it certainly affected the taste. As the beer warmed to cellar temperature and beyond, hey it was 24 oz, the flavors really opened up. I got a bit of a smell of apple and the hops flavor was more present.

This brew pours nicely, not a lot of fizz but a nice white head and lingering lace. It’s a translucent golden color with a sweet and spicy aroma. Somewhat dry on the palate. It is spicy, sweet, fruity, with some peppery notes, especially at first sip. It definitely warms on the way down! It finishes nicely too, with some lingering, hoppy fruit and spice.

22 oz bottle purchased at Spirits RB. Poured a clear golden honey color with an average size fluffy white head. Spicey aroma with notes of yeast, white pepper, bread, and fruit. Extra dry palate, medium bodied and noticable carbonation. Flavor of yeast, dough, spice and citrus zest. It says you can cellar this stuff for three years but mine didn’t even make it home, I drank it at a party so don’t get your panties all in a bunch thinking I was pounding this one while driving.

Bottle. Poured a slightly hazy golden color with a nice, fluffy white head that left decent lacing. Sweet citrus and a light hoppiness on the nose. Nice semi-sweet, semi-sour entry leads into a nice hoppy finish. Some yestiness in the finish also. Pretty easy to drink for 9%, I would like to try it fresh, because it would probably be much better. Overall, solid, and better than I expected.

This is a tough beer to rate. I’ve had this on tap at the brewery, bought fresh bottled from the brewery, and bought (probably old) from the store and there is clearly a difference between the fresh stuff direct from Avery and the store-bought bomber. On tap, the beer was a thick, deliciously sweet golden ale with the hints of Trappist yeasts providing a very tripel-like flavor. From the store, it was a light golden color that while sweet, allowed the noble hop flavor to come through and overpower any subtlties.... all in all, get this if you can on tap but unless you like the skunky taste of imports, forget about it in all but the freshest bombers.

UPDATED: SEP 1, 2008 Sampled on draft at Zeno’s in State College PA this beer poured a bright golden-amber color with a small yellow-white head. The aroma was sweet sugar, ripe fruits and fruity hops. The flavor was sweet, tangy and sugary with notes of ripe fruits and butterscotch. The body was thick and heavy. The alcohol was well hidden. Excellent.

clear red amber color. aromas and flavors are spicy, phenolic, and aggressive with hints of pit fruits, and toffee bread. Interesting beer, a little on the harsh side but i think thats what they were going for. I like big beers but this one seemed a little unbalanced

It pours a lovely golden amber with some fine bubbles and a white, fairly persistent head. Aroma is more hoppy than malty and has an odd but not repulsive rubbery hint. Flavor is fairly rich, malty and hoppy with a good alcohol bite. Mouthfeel is edgy and a little harsh, but this is still a good call.