Avery Mephistopheles Stout

Brewed by Avery Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Boulder, Colorado USA

2006 vintage 12 oz. bottle. I really don’t even know where to start. This beer is quite literally a feast for the senses specifically the nose and tongue. I would say it’s even overbearingly sweet and has a little too much alcohol burn. If I wasn’t already slightly tipsy I’m not sure if I could finish a whole bottle. I’m still just very "wowed" at the moment. Very much like Expy stout, maybe a little sweeter. Anywho, Let’s just say I’m not driving any where for a while. Cheers!

Reviewed at the 2007 Strong Ale festival A- Brown/black hue with orange highlights, nice layer of brown condensed bubbles in the head with tinges of bright orange, moderate lacing S- Nose is rich dark fruits (plums, figs, raisins), touch of smoke, citrus, and stiff alcohol presence T- Initial taste is mostly dark fruits, opens up to flavors of charcoal and smoke, alcohol warming and sweet raisins in the finish M- Full-bodied, creamy texture, lively carbonation D- Exciting flavors that are well-balanced and shine through despite the hefty alcohol presence, this is a treat to have on draft

[Sampled with the trio: Svoger, Svogergylp and Adenila Foged at EBF, 2008.] Although it is long time I’ve tasted this I remember some sweet coffee, vanilla, smoke heavy alcohol and more complex notes. Great wonder!

dak black with mild tan head. low carbonation. alcoholic warm nose. monstrous flavor of a lot of roasted, chocolate, and dark crystal malt. some vanilla and hints of bourbon. amazingly flavorful beer, best I have had by Avery and one of the best Imperials I have had.

12oz 2007 Vintage from Countryside Liquors (Tampa, FL). Pours a murky black used motor oil color with a thin head. Aroma is sweet and roasted with notes of coffee, chocolate, ripe dark fruit, brandy, vanilla, some wood and hints of smoke. Flavor is also sweet and roated with notes of toasted malt, ripe dark fruit, molasses, caramel, vanilla, wood, and hints of smoke and alcohol. Generally full body with a deep roasted and malty finish.

0.35 l bottle at Konttori, Tampere. Black color with creamy head. Thick sweet, roasty and smoky aroma with coffee, licorice, vanilla and port wine. Rich sweet, roasty and warming flavor with coffee, chocolate, licorice. raisins and menthol. Very warming with some alcohol sharpness. Nice complexity and port wine character but this is too sweet and sharp.

Pours jet black with nice, creamy, light brown head. While pouring it exhibits a strong flavor of alcohol, chocolate, and fruit. Tastes of chocolate, coffee, with plums and other fruity flavors. The alcohol doesn’t overwhelm the palate which is nice. If you like Imperial Stouts you’ll enjoy this beer.

Batch 2 bottle, over 2 years old. Poured a thick, oily black color with a thick, rock dark tan head that slowly faded to a thick layer. Aroma of chocolate, roasted malts, coffee, espresso, some dark fruits (plum and grape), light red licorice, and some dry, earthy oak. Smooth, sweet entry with hints of chocolate and undertones of berries and plum lead into a strong roasted malt character with a good coffee flavor and some undertones of ripe cherry that are followed by a lingering espresso finish. Low carbonation, and a thick, viscous body that coats the palate. I was very skeptical coming into this beer, but it certainly exceeded expectations. The smoothness may be due to the 2 years of aging, but either way, this was a good beer.