Avery Salvation

Brewed by Avery Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Boulder, Colorado USA

Pours much lighter than I expected with an almost non-existent head. The tiny head falls away to only a ring of micro and large bubbles around the edge. Three little islands of bubbles sit disinterestedly in the middle of the glass. The color is a beautiful sparklingly clear amber that almost glows in the light. The lack of head on a regular brew would make me rate lower, but the anticipation of this strong ale puts into my mind "there is no room for head in this brew".

Alas - there is not much to the aroma. I get a whiff of "clean" and a touch of "moist vegetation". I would like a bit more aroma.

The palate surprised me - I expected something thin from the look but was greeted with the bubbles expanding into a pillow like cushion in my mouth. Very pleasing - very soft.

The flavor is not as intense as I thought it would be. It is mellow in a interesting way. I get sweetness and a hint of pine nuts in the breath out.

Overall this beer didn’t talk to me as much as I would like it to (for the price/caliber of brewer/type of beer). It may be that I’m rating in a surrounding that’s different than my usual rating setup. I’m in a coffee shop eating some saiton buffalo wings with my wife (I’ve got a laptop; she a book). As I’ve been talking to my wife about my thoughts she brings up that what I’m looking for is exhausting to her; too much over stimulation. She enjoys this beer; so do I, but for the money and type of beer I don’t think I would purchase again. Go get a delirium tremens instead. I guess if you want something simpler in this category that doesn’t demand attention this is a pretty good beer. Maybe that’s the current hop-love stage that I’m in coming through. But tremens isn’t hoppy and it hits me like a dancing frog.

Pours golden yellow with off white head. Fruity aroma as well as yeast. Flavor is slightly sweet with alcohol definately present. Medium body with average cabonation. Finishes dry and leaves an aftertaste almost like a lager. Probably won’t have this again.

Pours with a fizzy, white head that has good lacing. Sweet, slightly floral hopped aroma with sugar and some cinnamon. Taste is way too forward with the alcohol. Some sweetness afterwards. Slightly fizzy carbonation mixed with a creamy mouthfeel.

Bomber...golden yellow/ w a mostly diminishing white head. Aroma of sweet pitted fruits, caramel, malts, yeast. Tasted like dried apricots, malts, sweet rolls, some spices. Warming alcohol bite, with a medium mouthfeel. A bit of a sweet lingering finish...Not bad, but there are a few better on the market.

This beer had a hoppier aroma and flavor than I was expecting, especially given the heritage as a Belgian strong ale. It’s a dark golden color, with nice earthy and spicy notes to it. A delicious beer and easily drinkable.

Tap at Barcade: Slight haze to the golden pour and topped by a white ring of head. Spicy nose with some sage and thyme along with other peppery alcohol esters. Body is medium, with a honeyish sweet background overall. Lots of various spices in the flavor with thyme and peppery alcohol, which dominate. A bit simple, but drinkable.

Salvation pours a golden color with limited head and laciness put that is ok. There is very little carbonation as well. The smell is more bready then malty. A complex smell with some fruitiness but only if your looking. Definite Belgian qualites with a sweeter smell and some apricots to it. There is a well-rounded taste to it. Surprising by its 9% ABV, the breadiness is the first thing that I notice when taking a taste. A pleasing malt flavor that isn’t overpowering, the beer and mixes nice with the sweet and sour of the beers tangibles. The fruitiness in the beer is consistent more of an apricot that is too ripe. I think the yeast creates this unique flavor. There are hints of spices such as white pepper, maybe coriander, but only noticeable it you really look for it. The alcohol is blended well but there is a noticeable bite at the end of the taste coming from the hops. This might be what people don’t like about Salvation, but I think it brings a new and good flavor to the table. Overall I think this is a good beer. I would say that this isn’t a good example of a Belgium Golden Ale style, but rather as an “American” style belgium golden ale. Very smooth and taste, a bit more hoppier and a high alcohol that is not noticeable. Salvation at last.

Bottle. Golden/yellow color, white head. Fruity, yeasty flavor, quite malty and with some citric notes. Yeast and malt flavor, quite nice fruity notes, some alcohol, nice body.