Avery Mephistopheles Stout

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

The body was black with a dark orange colored head. The aroma was sweet molasses with mushrooms and some dank dark chocolate. There was also some very noticeable alcohol. The taste was sweet oranges with molasses. Way too sweet for my tastes. There was also some coffee. The body was thick and chewy. This might be better after a few years of aging. Wow, tried this again after some aging. It is even more disgustingly sweet.

Thick and chewy aroma is very boozy - plenty of alcohol and plenty of sugar as well as some hints of grape, smoke, roast and chocolate. Opaque brown body is topped by a low, large bubbled, tan/brown head that recedes rapidly to a partial cover and ring. Caramel, soya sauce, chocolate, dark pit fruits and plenty of roast in the flavour. Notes of burnt wood. Sugary sweetness is constant and lasting. Alcohol is very apparent. Full body is syrupy, sticky and thick especially due to low carbonation. Comes across as a dark premium malt liquor. Bottle sampled at the post-mondial 2006 tasting.

Well folks, It is Michael reporting here, the not so quite archangel, for I am the king of the Dark Side of Stoutieland. I am a about to pass judgment on this fallen angel Mr. Mephistopheles, should he be banished to the layers of hell and over-rated beer or given forgiveness and allowed to rise to the gates of Pantheon of beer nirvana? This is my word and testament...so it is noted:

This beer is completely lightless as a darkened soul. Is joined by a tan frothy topping, which lays claim to my Expedition snifter.

The vapors of this demon lord are quite restrained surprisingly as he seems to lay in wait. Oh, those molasses cured malts, Starbucks Mocha latte and heavy vinous qualities are there but they seemed to be afraid of my stoutie snout. Only the alcoholic phenols are will to give it up for beergeekdom. Disappointing, you coward!

The olde one finally come out to play and attack full force upon my palate with swords of black strap, star anise, semi-sweet chocolates, and effective brandy imbued oak. Just as I counter, he throws up a wall of cursed near rotten fruits and full throttled espresso bitterness. Damn him to hell I say and pressed forward I quickly subdued the alcohol golem and say no more. Only hell should bar the way.

Alas the Demon is driven off has only the oily black blood lingers on my beaten down palate.

I am victorious, Mephistopheles is no more. No passage onto field of brew heaven this beast for he failed to pass the test. Sorry, but you are NO DARK LORD, only a lesser demon!

So is my testament given this day March 23 of the year 2006. Enjoyed while listening to Loreena McKennitt - Dante’s Prayer which fit the mood perfectly!

Bottle at home. 2006... thanks to TheCheeseMan for this ... Deep black no head ... chocolate and cherrys in nose ... warming alohol ... full on mouth feel ... vanilla and some other whiskey tones ... lots of roast and chocolate and coffee ...some raisin... BUT There just a bit too much visible alcohol for me.

Bottle. High and creamy brown head. Pitch black body. Hoppy coffee cocoa aroma. Flavor is also very hoppy and of burned barley malt with coffee. Cocoa not tastable because of the hops bitterness. Low cabonation. Long lasting bitter aftertaste. I would never have guessed the high alcohold percentage as it is well hidden by the bitterness.

Poured a very dark brown (close to opaque) with a ruby edge and small tan head. A swirl of the glass leaves tan legs up the wall. Big sweet roasty aroma. Dark chocolate, licorice, grape (more like candy grape than the fruit) and a touch of smoke (smokehouse almond smoke). Some alcohol in the nose. Flavor is sweet and roasty. Caramel, roasted malt and candy. All are well balanced. Sweet finish mixed a moderate bitterness. Very warming in a medium to full body. Seems like it is going to be very sweet from the beers start but doesn’t get that way. Doesn’t finish dry either. Just a good balance. While this is full of flavor and very warming it drinks well. A full bottle equals a good night.

Batch #2 bottle, picked up from Blue Max, in Burnsville, MN. Pours an opaque dark brown brew with an awesome tan head that slowly dissolves. Very thick and chewy lacing. Aroma is sweet molasses, tawny port, dark Belgian chocolate, vanilla, some currants and plums. Taste is, oooh man, smooth, dark chocolate, over ripe oranges, and dark blackberries. Palate is lightly carbonated, thick, chewy, and so much warmth from the alcohol. Finish is a sweet bitterness that makes this sipping type well remembered. Well done!

Bottled... needed a big beer tonight & got it. Beautiful initial pour of highly-viscous pitch black with a medium, creamy caramel head. Nose was huge!... deep dark chocolates, a shot or 2 of espresso, anise, fresh licorice, and a dose of rum to round it off. Alcohol was less-than-subtle in the flavor department... lacing its way across the palate. Dark chocolate and espresso formed a formidable base, accented by licorice and anise spiciness. Molasses and other dark, sticky, sweet sugars accumulated at the finish... almost too sweet. Starts out extra smooth and becomes a bit grainy toward the middle... heavily-bodied. Great beer, but the balance was heavily skewed toward the booze and sweetness.