Avery The Beast Grand Cru Ale

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

Bottled in 2007. The aroma is huge - dark fruits, honey, spice, a few other things which are difficult to characterize. The color is bright orange ruby, and the bubbles are like champagne. The head is non-existent. Medium in body, very mild in carbonation. The flavors are raisin, dates, and definitely other things. It starts pretty sweet, and it ends not dry. Bottom line: Heavy alcohol, lots of sugars, lots of dark flavors; something like super barleywine. Killer.

2005 (Batch 3) fridged since purchase at my folks house in Washington DC. Pours thick reddish brown with a thin tan head. The nose was markedly large when i poured it and when I get close for a sniff, it smells like a sweet barley wine with something extra. The taste is sweet and full bodied with a deep alcoholic tickle. Its thick and syrupy but holds carbonation. Overall its a pretty interesting mix of beer types and its not half bad either.

im in love! sigh! batch 5 poured a cloudy dark brown with a small head that dissipates but lingered throughout our time together. the head was somewhat tan. the aroma hit me as soon as i opened the bottle and was even better in the glass. it smelled of dates, roasted malts, molasses, either honey or suger and alchohol. mouthfeel is quite syrupy and creamy very nice warming sensation on the throat but not strong. alchohol is ever present but is very smooth going down and goes away after a few sips the flavor ends up hiding the alchohol taste. i was left with a nice sweet taste on my lips, a slight bitterness on my tongue and a warmth in my throat that welcomed another mouthful.

Poured from a 06 bottle. Poured a deep garnett color with a fluffy off-white head. Strong nose of sugars and alcohol. Taste was equally as strong, with sweet candy flavors dominating with underlying fruit and oak notes. Alcohol was definitely present, and it would probably would be even more enjoyable if it was given time to age. Complex brew that probably isn’t everyones cup of tea, but I enjoyed it.

06’ batch: pours a somewhat cloudy dark purple with a nice two finger fluffy tan orange head. aroma is yeast, sugar, and hops there is also malt, dark fruits, and a little alcohol. has a full body with good lacing and a touch of carbonation. flavor is the same as aroma, but a lot sweeter and stronger a long with more of the abv. has a very syrupy mouth feel and an alcohol burn going down. it also has a big warming effect on the body. a lot going on with this beer and not my type. it was definitely an experience and people need to try it at least once. a good winter warmer if you can handle the beast.

2007 bottle...pours a very little head, yet with a grayish tan head that dissipates unless you tease and taunt "the beast" in the glass....smells of sweet malt and high alcohol also figs and cloves..... on a vigorous swirl, the beast becomes wild with foam....sweet and thick....strong alcohol flavor with the intermingling of an almost port- like taste.....like a raisin soaked in alcohol, with a fig spritz, quite complex...I’m sure there is a lot I’m not identifying ....but overall its a sipper

2005 vintage bottle. Oh my lord. Who in their right mind could create a beer like this. Thank you, thank you, thank you for a true nectar of the gods. Poured a deep brown with little off-white head. The aroma was an assault on the sense with licorice, molasses, vanilla, raisins and oak. It was dry on the palate like a red wine with an oak flavor and a lot of alcohol. This beer is definitely not for everyone only those who can brave the beast.

bottle 2006. poured with a nice caramel head. smelled very much like a barley wine with extra malts and fruits. the alcohol definitely warms you up as you go so i understand this being a winter beer. it tasted very full of flavor and went well on the palate. after awhile though it becomes a little too sweet for my taste and becomes more like cough syrup.