Avery Fourteen

Bottle… Very dark crimson ale with a small, creamy, khaki-colored head. Decent retention. Loads of phenols and esters in the aroma. Notes of campfire smoke, tobacco, fig, chocolate-covered banana, pine and light molasses with just a hint of vanilla and a whisper of lactic acid. Moderately acidic and fairly sweet up front. Heavy, metallic bitterness on the backside. The alcohol isn’t overbearing. Medium to full-bodied and lightly oily with fair carbonation. Lightly acidic, stunningly bitter finish. Creative, but confused. A touch too bitter for my tender palate.

Bottle from cbkschubert; Nose an unusual combo of light piney hops and dark fruits with toffee; clear cherry brown with a big beige head that laces nicely; falvor of caramel, coffee, toffee, pepperiness, and some hop bitterness, which combines with some fruitiness fro the finish! i think the Stone 11th tried to follow this one!

My Bottom Line:
This Imperial India Dark Ale (if that means anything) promotes intense herbal, piney hoppiness atop the fruitiness of berries and roasting molasses. This is a nearly-balanced strong ale full of Americana.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A ring of foam circles the blood-laced black.
-A little less alcohol and this would make a tantalizing quaffer just like Baird’s First Impact or The Alchemist’s El Jefe.
-The hops provide a lot more flavor components, including leafy and citrusy angles.
-Carbonation is frothy, which actually helps drinkability in the case of this behemoth.

Bottles.

Bottle. Deep brown pour under a thin but dense khaki head. Very mild aroma of molasses and roasted malt. Flavor opens with a an IPA-like pine resiny note followed quickly by toffey, caramel, toasted nuts and just a hint of vanilla. Decidedly malty but the malt presence is matched sip for sip with a healthy dose of hops. Creamy mouthfeel with a touch of carbonation and a sweet but clean finish. Another well crafted anniversary offering from Avery.

Took a while for this to grow on me, but think I hadn’t waited near long enough for it to warm up (still not used to my new fridge). As it warmed, the initial blast of alcohol/sweetness/hops diminished, decided to shake hands and come out and play as friends. Still not quite sure I’m in love with it, but does have a quality that seems it might possible do well with a little age. Sure hope so as I’m hanging onto a bottle for that purpose.

Dark Brown with Red Hues..and Dark Sandy head. Very Fruity and Floral Nose with Subtle Sweet Syrupy Malts Behind Them. Wonderfully Zesty Nose. Medium to Heavy Bodied....Creamy Dry Mouthfeel. Very Sweet and Thick Malts...Sweet, Lightly Syruped..Molasses, Subtle Roast and Dark Breaded Flavor. The Same Fruity Flavor that Encapsulated the Nose Pop Up on the Tongue and Slowly Transition to a Floral and Fruity Hopped Ending. Sweet and Dry Aftertaste. A Wonderful Strong Dark Ale. Very Smooth for Almost 10% as Well. A Good One to Keep Stock of for the Colder Months of Winter.

Bomber. Barely can see through this deep brown beer with red highlights. Huge creamy and sticky head lasts forever. Aroma is big molasses malt and fruity hops. Flavor is similar with earthy-herb, fruity (Fuggles, maybe?) hops taming some spicy dark fruit and slight cocoa very well. Just a touch of alcohol rounds it all out nicely. The finish is bitter but not harsh; seems a bit Goldings or Saaz-like. Even some slight bubblegum in the aftertaste, like a Belgian. Palate feels smooth, oily and medium-large bodied, but not syrupy. Excellent experiment in what seems to be an American style barleywine with a flavor battle of the hops: American vs. European.

Dark ruby color with thin tan head. Aroma is of brown sugar and a hint of hops and alcohol. Bitter pithy citrus rhind taste with sweet malt that keeps up with it. Too much of both for my liking, though. Better luck next year, Avery $7/22oz