Avery Oak Barrel Reverend

Brewed by Avery Brewing Company
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Boulder, Colorado USA

Reverend on wood-on tap-pours a creamy white head. Color is cloudy orange. Aroma is vanilla and oak, woody. Taste follows with a smooth finish.

Draft... Mid-GABF ’06 at the Falling Rock Tap House, Denver... Hazy, light amber ale with a small, creamy, white head. Some tartness in the nose with notes of lemon, oak, white wine, caramel and toffee. The barrel aging did wonders with this one. Caramel sweetness countered by good acidity, bitterness and muted alcohol. Medium to full-bodied with a dry mouthfeel and unpretentious carbonation. Finishes astringent and bone-dry.

2005 Boulder Strong Ale Fest. Body is medium amber. Aroma is lightly malty (caramel), lightly hoppy (flowers), with notes of banana, orange, and wood. Flavor is heavily sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is moderately sweet, moderately acidic, moderately bitter. Medium to full body, velvety texture, lively carbonation, moderately alcoholic. Still needs more aging time, clearly. Some woody aroma, but I blindly rated this almost identical to regular Reverend (as I did with the other two oaked beers). I hope Adam is patient with these oaked versions, especially the Salvation and Reverend, which stand to gain the most from this process IMHO.

Draft @ Falling Rock: Hazy brown amber color. Nice vinous notes of red wine over sweet yeasty malt. Grapey notes. Medium bodied with a good warming sensation.

On tap @ Avery Brewing poured a hazy amber with a small lasting amber head. Aromas of oak, vanilla, apple and a hint of cinnamon. Palate was light bodied and tart. Flavors of oak, some vinous notes, grape, apple and a hint of spice with a lingering tart finish.

Draught at Avery. Pours clear amber with an average, creamy, off-white head, lasting with good lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (grain, meal), average hops (flowers, grass), average yeast (sweat, dough) with notes of alcohol (wine) and assorted fruits. Medium bodied, sticky texture, average carbonation, and a metallic finish. Long duration, light sweetness, moderate acidity and bitterness.

At brewery (young) and at the Boulder Strong Ale Fest (aged much more): Some of the differences I noticed (warning, some made-up words here): Sweetness has richified a bit. Aromas have complexified. Olfactory evidence of sweet wine, wafty vanilla, sugar-drenched wood, honeysuckle flowers, herbs and light spices. Very pleasant beer. I may have liked this one younger and more raw.

sampled on tap at the 5th Boulder Strong Ale Fest. this was very sweet vanilla, caramel, just too sweet and winey, lots of wine character. wasn’t a fan. note to avery, improve your quad before putting it in barrels.