Avery Samael’s Oak-Aged Ale

Brewed by Avery Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Boulder, Colorado USA

Serve in Snifter

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December 7 2011; eye: coppery with a reddish hue, clear, no effervescence, sheet of beige head that turns into a ring, no lacing; nose: malt, caramel, hops, alcohol, light woody, brown sugar; mouth: malt, caramel, hops, alcohol, woody, candied fruits, tobacco, brown sugar, light hops, finale in malt with woody presence, full body, not much carbonation, lightly bitter, mildly sweet, slight astringency, liqueur-like texture; overall: quite fine FRANÇAIS Bouteille brune, 12 onces, lot 7, avril 2011via Luc Bourbonnière (merci!), savourée le 7 décembre 2011; œil : cuivrée avec une légère teinte rougeâtre, limpide, pas d’effervescence, couverture de mousse beige qui se transforme en un anneau, pas de dentelle; nez : malt, caramel, houblon, alcool, léger boisé, cassonade; bouche : malt, caramel, houblon, alcool, boisé, fruits confits, tabac, cassonade, léger houblon, finale en malt avec présence boisée, corsée, peu carbonatée, légèrement amère, moyennement sucrée, très légère astringence, texture liquoreuse; en résumé : bien bon

Tap @ Capones during Black Friday, from 2009. Light mahogany with an off white head that pretty much disappears. Oak, vanilla, booze, prunes, light malt and caramel. Quite sweet and the booze is definitely prominent but well hidden considering its 15%, low carbonation, full body, booze, oak and plums on the finish.

Pour is deep brown with a bit of tan head and a ton of sediment. Nose is nutty and caramelly, and taste is much the same -- incredibly rich and malty. Alcohol is a strong presence, but I found it shockingly drinkable for a beer that hits this hard abv-wise. I love this beer.

2011 pour at the brewery. Clear ruby, smells sweet (appropriately). Incredibly malty with raisin and honey flavors dominating. A wonderful winter beer in moderation... Warms the soul

Poured into a four once taster glass at Uber Tavern, 2010 vintage. Appearance was dark amber, almost ruby. Lot’s of white head, probably two to three if it was a full pour. Leaves a gentle lacing, pretty viscous. Aroma was boozy but seemed pretty balanced. Taste was a lot of oak, and a lot of booze. Very slight hints of vanilla, cherry, and spice. It seems like the booze gets weaker as it warms, but hits again on the way down. Palate was surprisingly lively for an aged barlywine style. Lots of carbonation for it. Leaves a lingering flavor, mostly oak and alcohol though. Overall I am glad I tried it, but it’s not one of my favorites. There’s a lot going on and I’m not a fan of all of it. I don’t feel there’s enough balance to pull it off. Still very flavorful and I can see the allure to it. They were smart to only pour this in four ounces, this one can be devastating.

Bottle at Home. Purchased from Olbutikken. Red colored, pinkish head that disappears. Sweet and boozy matly aroma. Caramel, toffee, burned suger, lots of oak. Smells great. Very sweet taste, caramel, vanills, sugar, again very oaky. Alcoholic. Very oaky, boozy and extreme but weirdly enough I enjoyed it a lot.

12oz bottle. 2006 vintage... Pours semi-murky toffee brown and topped with a quickly settling barely off-white head... Aroma dark fruit, vanilla, oak, and a strong boozy presence. Lightly spiced as well... Flavors aren’t as heated with a dark fruit and strong toffee presence. Mild bodied, not too heavy or syrupy. Sweetness gets overwhelming but ok.

Lots of sediment in this beer. Lingering sweetness with very little carbonation. Caramel and oak with some alcohol on the back end.

12 oz bottle, batch 4 (2008). Pours deep amber with lots of flaky sediment and a medium sized off white head. Aroma is lots of toffee, dark fruit, sugar, oak and alcohol. The flavor is still pretty hot alcohol after 3 years with a sweet caramel malt and light tanic oak. Medium to full body with mild carbonation and a slick, syrupy mouth feel. This has mellowed a bit after 3 years but could go longer, still a nice high abv barley wine.

12oz bottle in a snifter. Pours very deep brown with a lacy, light tan head. Aroma of roasted malts, cereal, some chocolate, light oak/vanilla with some floral hops. The malts are strong and the oak could be a little stronger in the flavor. Thick texture. A good beer.