Avery Samaels Oak-Aged Ale

Thick, vermillion/red with delicate effervescence and a slow-forming, cream-colored head that dissipates quickly to halo. Sweet brandy aroma with oak lending wooden notes and a vinous sourness, making me wonder if Samael saw the inside of a wine barrel as opposed to whisky. Insanely sweet with huge alcohol, unencumbered. Potent fruitiness within a thick, syrupy palate. Licked by the flames of hell, this beer remains hot, wishing to remain in the bottle for at least another year to let its flavors relax.

I have invoked the dark-power of Samael to procure my 1000th overall rating (958 beers plus 42 places) and, thusly, have defeated my arch-rival RAYBOY01 in our battle for 1000 ratings (he currently holds numbers for 989 beers but nary a place). This whole "contest" was so loosely assembled that the ultimate goal was never discussed, so I’ll draw the conclusion that it was "ratings" and declare myself victorious. I assume he will attain the 1000 beer-mark and Beer God status before me but, depending on your point of view, one of us will win a battle while the other has won a war. (Although, at my current pace, I may compile 42 ratings before his 11...)

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp?PlaceID=3776>Binny’s Beverage Depot, Orland Park, IL 60462<font size=-1>

Finally broke down and spent the $6.99 required to purchase this beverage. Pours almost clear reddish brown with a small tan head. Somewhat lingers about, but not too intrusive. Some moderate lacing. Nose pours extremely sweet and vinous, with ahint of some woodsy cologne wailing in. Taste sent me on a coughing spree. Wasnt warned how sweet this ale would be. The ol Prince of Demons must have had a major sweet tooth. Candied throughout, I guess you could pick off some of the vanilla flavours from the oak, and lots of cloying honey. Really does cake to ones teef. The sweetness subsided once I let it room up to just below room temp. Really brings out a brandy charachter on the entrance, and some fruityness approached shortly afterwards. Vanilla matures as well but it then get’s this Tokaji feel to it, which I like, but wasn’t expecting. I believe that if I had waited 2 yeas on this and let it linger in the cellar, it would be superb. Am I willing to pay another $6.99 and wait? (side note)****the sweetness really killed this for me. I eventually could not finish it.****

Beautiful clear shining red; a ’head’ for a few seconds, then just a rim. Superb, vinous nose, with winegrape and old Armenian brandy. Sweetish, vinous, brandywine taste; malts, yes, but they are transcendented here. Lots of higher alcohols. Syrupy from a real fruit juice (peach, strawberry,...). Some licorice at the ende and a lot of incense flavour. Sharp MF, velvety, oily, syrupy and rich beyond words. Aftertaste is also brandy-ish, but with an almondy character. A superb one, one of Adam’s best. I wonder about the excess sweetness some raters complain of. Sweet, yes, but not that sweet. Excellent one for my N° 2400. Big thanks to whomever from the Brugge Babblefest crew bestowed it on me. MarkA? Eyedrinkale?

Pours a clear, amber/copper color with some carbonation and a small, diminishing off-white, frothy head. Nose is carmelly sweet with lots of alcohol, with apple, and plum. Intense carmelly sweetness really dominates the flavor with the oak coming into play giving an almost JD whiskey flavor. Vanilla and raisin faintly find their way in along with a small amount of hop bitterness. The full bodied, slightly chewy, oily, syrupy, lively palate finishes long and sweet with vanilla and a little like fingernail polish (and not in a good way). Alcohol is hidden in the flavor very well by the over-the-top sweetness. Not being a huge hophead and a fan of the whiskey undertones, the beer sounds like a great idea; but I was disappointed with the lack of intriguing complexities and the entirely way too rich sweetness. I was disappointed with this one but still a very innovative try from a great brewery.

Pours copper, no head at all. I have to say this was a gagger and I sipped it slow the whole time. The alcohol just overides this so much, and I didn’t know at the time but kept saying it tasted like an extremely strong barley wine, and I don’t really like that style. Didn’t really pick up any oak flavors, just the usually barley wine fruitness with an alcohol kick. I fell asleep with about a 1/4 of it left and didn’t even care, I did not like this at all.

12 oz. bottle, thanks to Slob for this specialty ale! Pours clear reddish copper with vitually no head. Aroma is sweet and fruity with citrus, cherries, a significant alcohol presence and a bit of grass. Flavor is very sweet and full, almost cloying, again cherries, apple, orange liquer, Beerenauslese wine, oak, as well as cough syrup notes. Full body, gentle and creamy carbonation. Definitely a well crafted brew, but a bit over the top for my simpler tastes.

Pours a clear amber color. Slight head that goes away quickly. Smells of plum and cherry. Wow I didn’t expect so much power from this one. Full malty and sweet. Reminds me of a fruity desert. Hints of bubblegum? at the finish. Not bubblegum....vanilla.

) This beer offers an aroma marked with the fragrances of sour mash, dates, caramel, and oak. It is a cloudy colored solution that resides somewhere between pumpkin and brown sugar on the color chart. There is only a glaze of a head produced, but there is good lacing left on the side of the glass. This thick beer has a heavy richness but it still is able to smoothly flow through the mouth. The flavor is a blend of oak, vanilla, apricot, sour mash, and nuts. The after taste is a sweet buttery nut taste.