Avery The Beast Grand Cru Ale

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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Appearance: Pours a clear rusted red color. Surpisingly, a rather full tan-colored head bloomed leaving a thick rings of lacing with each sip. Bottled in 2005, btw. Smell: Honey, tawny port, and with an alcohol waft that bristles the nose. There’s some fruit to be found in the aromatics as well, for me it was orange (zest) and cherries (the ones from the jar, swimming in sugary juices). Taste: Again, sharply honey-flavored initially, which then transitions into an intense malt profile sided with the super-sweet Belgian sugars. Of course there’s the mark of the dark fruits prevalent in so many of these types of beers. Hops provide a slight bitterness, but for me it can be hard to find at times amidst the stronger alcohol and sweetened components. Remarkably though, the taste of alcohol is rather "gentle" for the high ABV. Mouthfeel: Finishes like a velvety port wine, but there’s a noted astringency to it. Massive in body, almost obscenely (though lusciously) syrupy. There’s also, to absolutely noone’s surprise, a tingly alcohol finish. Drinkability: It’s delish - just keep it to one, and a 12-ouncer at that. If you enjoy succulent sweetness and higher ABVs, then I’d recommend this one. However, if you have an aversion to either of those, than I’d steer clear. All I really got to say about it is: whoopeee!

35,5 cl bottle vintage 2007 (16,42%) @ Olutravintola Konttori. Rated on 14.01.2011
Aroma is rather sweet on malt, also some ripe fruits. Flavour is very sweet with shitloads of malt, some ripe fruits and warming alcohol. Four years and this is still 10/10 on my scale of sweetness – I wonder how long would I need to age this?

2007 bottle, batch 5. A sweet, malty hot mess, even five years in. This must have been undrinkable hot when fresh. Still, I’m enjoying, but slowly at over 16% abv

Super sweet and malty. A bit sweet for my taste. The hop blend adds a nice element, but still cloying. Deep red color - very pretty, with little head.

A big beer that is not for the faint of heart or the beginner. Honestly how could you resist buying this thing look at that bottle.

Pours a cloudy reddish brown with a small head. First taste is like drinking a sweet brandy liqueur but definitely more alcohol. I am now halfway through the bottle and Buckwheat honey comes to mind but it's quickly mixed with a resinous, malty flavor and a slight hop bitterness at the edges of the tongue. It is a bit complex but each sip hits generally the same (yeah I know I contradicted myself but like I said, I'm half way through the bottle so cut me some slack!) making me wonder if I shouldn't have stirred up the yeast. I might try it again and decant the beer without the sediment. Either way it is a worthy beer and worth the effort! I hope that helps. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Batch 6 (thanks to mikem409). Bottle to tulip. Looks okay; brown and opaque with very little head. Smells pretty good; sweet and BOOZY! Tastes a little too strong for my liking. It’s like a BB barleywine that is lacking balance. Mouthfeel is average, even for the high abv. Overall, I’m glad I got to try it, but I wouldn’t seek it out again.

Drank from 2006 bottle. Aroma is awesome. So pleasant some chocolate caramel and just all around sweet. First sip is heavenly, it’s like dessert in a bottle. Cherries with other dark fruit, some raisins but cherries are prominent. Rich chocolate flavor. Very candy like, toffee, caramel, black licorice and a bit of a butterscotch sweetness. It’s got a bit of a spice to it. Maybe some soy sauce can’t quite tell. A bit medicinal sweet at times. No hops detectable. Very complex but cant quite pick out everything going on. Awesome mouthfeel, very thick. Definitely a sipper. This is for sure one to try but too much to finish on my own. Unfortunately left an inch or two in the bottle. The sweetness made me sick. Nonetheless an awesome beer. If you’re into really rich sweet beer this is for you.

2007 bottle - pours amber with off-white head. Nose is alcohol and rye. Flavor is caramel and rye/barley. Sweet with bitter finish.

The first time I had this was in ’09 and I was immediately impressed by its body and ability to handle such a high alcohol content. I’ve been less impressed since. The sweetness of caramel and deep plum has seemed overwhelming on later tastings. A beer to share...in small amounts.

2006 Bottling, 14.6%ABV
Tasted on 3/15/12 from a 12oz bottle purchased at Sun Devil. Pours dark cola brown with an average tan head that slowly recedes to a nice ring of lace. The nose is massively intense, and fairly complex, with tons of sweet raisin, date, and fig, showing some hints of nutty oxidation, vanilla, chocolate, and just a touch of savory soy sauce that I get on older beers from time to time. The flavor is sweet dates and dessert wine raisin, with the same nuttiness from the nose, tons of caramel and chocolate, and fig cake. The body is full with light carbonation, a syrup texture, and a super long sweet dried fruit finish.