Avery The Beast Grand Cru Ale

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

Not even. When beer stops being fun, the beer should stop. This is malt liquor. I appreciate the time that went in, but come on - this is like letting fruit sit awhile and drinking the drippings just to see weird colors. Hearkens the days of real primitive chemistry, though it doesn’t have a nice burn - which in this case would add balance.

2007 bottle poured into a trappist glass. Poured a bog water brown with small to medium tan head. Aroma was of raisins, honey, dark fruit, molasses and brown sugar. Flavor had a lot of sweetness, which I liked. Flavor of raisins, molasses, caramel and dark fruit. Light toasted presence. Alcohol presence was strong, detracting from the flavor a bit.

12 oz. bottle (2007)- poured into tulip- semi transparent dark caramel when poured, light tan head formed. Aroma of grains, roasted malts, plums, molasses, and a hint of nutmeg. Hits the mouth with a sweet medium body, very heavy on the tongue, sweetness throughout, heat at the finish from the alcohol and minutely from hops, definate warming effect. Great sipper.

[945-20071207] 12floz (Vintage 2005). Very boozy grainy roasted malt aroma. Clear, very dark red mahogany body with medium-lasting foamy light tan head. Dark roasted malt flavour has a sweet sickly finish and burnt wood notes throughout. Full body is smooth and rich. Interesting. (7/4/7/4/15) 3.7

[2069B-20090402] 12floz bottle. Sweet figgy rich roasted malt aroma with fruity currants. Hazy, dark brown body with a medium-lasting foamy light yellow head. Sweet currants continue in the flavour with a boozy rich malt and sweet figgy fruits. Heavy full body. Good. (7/3/8/4/15) 3.7
Overheard: "It was rocket fuel the first time I had it."
(Vintage 2005; w/ garthicus, HogTownHarry, jerc)

2005 vintage. Pours a dark muddy caramel with a small light brown, beige head. Sweet aroma of dates, honey, molasses, raisins, plums, prunes, caramel and brown sugar. Taste is sweet with hints of dates, molasses, honey, raisins, figs, brown sugar and caramel. A very complex tasting brew, but a bit overwhelming at times. Very tasty, yet a slow sipper.

2007 bottle, consumed 01/09/08. Lovely clear caramel color with orange and gold highlights. Well carbonated: makes a nice head that reduces after a few minutes. Aroma is BIG: I can catch whiffs of it from over a foot away as it sits on the table. A bit like solvent or glue , unfortunately, but that’s just in the background. Sweet oranges or grapefruit and a honey/mead character are the strongest nose components. Thick as it slides into the mouth. One sip and you know you’re drinking something substantial. There’s more flavor here than in a 12 pack of macro swill. Hot spicy honey explodes in the mouth. Sharp sweet sugar appears. Alcohol vapors waft into the sinuses. Slight citrus bitterness appears and fades. The burn lasts a very long time after the beer has gone south, reminding you that it’s going to do the same thing to your bloodstream. Not an easy drinker by any means, but then it’s not supposed to be a lawnmower beer, is it?

Vanilla aroma accents. Big alcohol and lots of caramel, with some molasses. Big chewy body...but way too boozy. Fairly strong vanilla throughout. Dry, alcholic finish is about right - it’s a rough beer.

355 ml bottle, 2006-version. Clear amber color, beige head. It´s very, very sweet with dark, dried fruits, berries, sugar, alcohol and nice hops. A bomb, a sipper - you don´t drink much of this beer.