Avery Mephistopheles Stout

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

Black, blood like pour. Heretically large, dense, creamy brown head. Nose is espresso beans, dark chocolate, burnt wood, deceptively faint alcohol lurking in the darkness. Smells big. Smells wicked. Flavor is more complex, combining all of the above with dark fruits, dark sugar, licorice, caramel, subtle yeast and alcohol. Dry, alcoholic, slightly yeasty finish. Dry, roasty, bittersweet aftertaste. Full, smooth, creamy body. One of Avery’s best. I’m sad to hear this is the last of the demon series. Although, as the saying goes, "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.......

12oz bottle January 06 Batch 1. Upon cracking of the cap a thick malty chocolate aroma comes forth. Poured into a McChouffe glass. A very dark brown color with a thick tan head created from some big bubbles. Nose begins with some chocolate, throughout the glass gains more of a wine characteristic, green grape skins galore, some raisins and bourbon also present. Towards the bottom of the glass, more alcohol is apparent but not in a bad way. The palate is full but fluffy. SLides over your tongue and down your throat coating your mouth with a filmy, skin like resin. A light chocolate springs forth followed by alot of grape sweetness and the final alcohol kick. Liught dates and bourbon frolic throughout coming in and out of the overall picture as it is swirled in the mouth. The tongue tingles a bit having beem stung almost and the mouth feels sticky, I can almost pull the grape vine out of my mouth and the skins from between my molars.

Dark black color with a medium frothy brown head that dissipates fully. Slightly astringent chocolate and cherry aroma. Very syrupy consistency. Some dark and roasted malts with chocolate, caramel, some cherries and a bit of coffee in the end. Thanks to Degarth for sending this to Richmond.

Bottle. Pours a thick, muddy black with a small dark brown head. Aroma is of molasses, rum, roasted malt, bourbon, burnt wood. full bodied is an understatement. Tastes extremely sweet, caramel, molasses, hints of chocolate and raisin. Warming but alcohol hidden fairly well for 15%. Very decent.

Bottle brought back from Applejacks store near Denver. Pours a deep brown/black with a nice looking dark brown head. Viscous in the glass, and tongue coating in the mouth. Not as aromatic as I would have suspected, but an impressive mocha fudge flavor on the palate, with solid roasts, molasses, and hickory. Finishes hot, and it surprises me that its ratings are as high as they are given the hotness. Probably some age would help smooth some of this out. Still, a sensory experience. Nice work, Avery. RERATE: After having some time to settle down, I am pleasanty impressed with what this has become, and what it is becoming. Mocha fudge brownie with raisans and a bit of worchestshire sauce. Rich, rich, rich. Very, very good.

12oz bottle. Thick, dark, pitch black, opaque, etc... Strong anise, dark chocolate, vanilla oaky, toffee aromas. Full bodied and oily slick. Wow, this is full. Thick slick body with a full blown burn. Raisins and a plummy, pruny flavor. Fruity. Deep dark red fruits. Black cherries and currants. Lotta burn. Lotta bang!

Bottle. This is my third of the Demon series. I was totally stoked to find this at Discount Liquor in Milwaukee on my trip to the great lakes, and I have been awaiting this moment for a long time. As soon as I cracked open the bottle, I knew I was not going to be disappointed. The aroma of very sweet dark fruit, espresso, and chocolate instantly filled the air. Really, I mean filled. The pour was dark black. DARK black. Flavor was everything an Imperial stout should be, lots of dark fruit, coffee, and chocolate, then a nice alcohol warmth, and a nice sweetness on top of it all. Not at all overbearing, but quite fitting. The finish is eternal espresso beans. As I take the last sip from my snifter, I feel sad and rejoiceful at the same time. Wonderful.

Sample at EBF Copenhagen. Nice head with good duration. Color is black. Aroma and taste are rich and vinous with roast malt, licorice and notes of coffee.