Avery Old Jubilation Ale

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

12 oz bottle served in a tulip. Pour was deep mahogany with half an inch of off-white head. The head retention was poor, but the lacing was quite good. Nose is caramel, malt, toffee, and triscuits. Taste is sweet malt and bitter hop all at once. The toffee and triscuits then make their presence known as everything trails into a slightly dry and bitter finish that has a floral zing to it. This is a very good offering by Avery that could quite easily sneak up on you because of the well masked, high ABV.

Pours a big 3 finger off white head. Body is a clear mahogany brown with lots of bubbles rising. Head retention is above average but the lacing is very good Aroma is of sweet roasted caramel malt and some herbal hops. Alcohol is also slightly detected. A bit underwhelming compared to taste First taste reminds me of an English barleywine. Tons of malt come through ranging from flavors of brown sugar to smoked malt and even some copper. Hops are also there, slightly bitter but mostly floral and earthy. Alcohol adds a touch of warmth to the finish. Mouth feel is good. Carbonation is sufficient. Beer is medium bodied, about average consistency for a winter beer. Wish head contributed more to body, it died down towards last quarter of glass. Drink ability was great. Rather session able strong ale. Very complex beer, almost flawless. Winter is my favorite season for beer and this one is one of the best seasonal beers around

One of my favorite winter beers. a ton of complex maltiness with some fruit and just a tinge of alcohol and hops to keep things interesting. Extremely drinkable and a good contrast to my other hoppier winter faves like SNCA. Avery’s best beer IMHO.

Good mouthfeel was about it, too malty and the alcohol in thus one came through almost sour with a hot finish, says in the description no spices used and it’s true. That is where I think this beer could be much better, with some spice added.

Poured clear, deep red/maogany, with a one-finger head that left a rather thick film and nice lacing. Caramel malts were strongest on the nose with a touch of spruce from the hops. Chewy bready malts on the tongue were wonderful, accompanied by caramelized sugars and supported by gentle hops bitterness. Medium body, light but lively carbonation, and a caramel malts lingered in the aftertaste. Alcohol is not evident. Great as a winter warmer.

Pours a deep brownish amber with red hues. Aroma of molasses and nuts. Malt is abundant and welcomed. Slight toffee and nutty finish. Quite good.

Liquid pours a medium copper color, with a ruby tint. One finger head of light tan foam. Retention is fairly good and lacing is decent. Smells nice and malty. Smells of sweet vanilla caramels. Some hints of dark fruits come in and have just a tiny hint of hops with them. I’ve never had caramel covered cherries, but that is what they would taste like. Along with a nice sweet malt base. A touch of warming spiciness. Hops are in this, but the heavy malt profile is knocking them into the background. Hints of dark fruit. Feels very smooth and a touch creamy. Just about the body that I like a winter warmer to have. Very drinkable. Sweet, yet not overly so. Nice, slightly dry finish. Well masked ABV. Another solid brew from Avery. Quickly becoming my fave winter warmer. (Okay, it’s in a tie with Great Divide Hibernation.)

From the Bottle at TAG Restaurant, Denver 22/09/2009 Fruit and malt aroma. Amber coloured strong in alcohol and hoppy with a little roast flavour in a crisp and bitter warming chocolate malt finish.