Avery The Beast Grand Cru Ale

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

2005 bottle intot a St. Bernardus chalice. I really hessitated to buy this one. 7.29 for a 12.oz beer is tough. Pours nicely with a rich white head. At least they had theh good since to bottle condition this beer. I think that carbonation was what really saves this beer from being flat fermented malt syrup. Dark crimson hue, very rich. The nose is a loud, very loud. The palate is sweet and malty, dark fruit, dates, plums, and molasses. Huge alcohol. Almost wakes you up with every sip. I can feel the enamel on my teeth slipping. The CO2 and an uexpected hoppiness and bitter roast show up on the finish to dry this one out. Interesting, I’m glad I tried it. Would I come off the hip with the money again? Probably not. Would I say this wouuld be an ager? Maybe, but I would say that it would be a 50/50 chance. Worth a try, but, make this the only beer you have that sitting. This one put me on my ass. Re-rate, 2009. 2005 bottle also, interesting that I would see this one again. Hazy oxblood color throws a timid head with no plans on hanging around. Nose is overwhelmed with raisins, dates, and blackberry preserves. Seems the secondary sugar additions have held up well. The booze is still here, not as firey as it may have once been, but still warming in the chest. The mouthfeel is very sweet and viscous still, although I think it may have dried out a little. Very reminiscent of a sweet, raisined marsala. Sticky sugar and honey fruit notes dominate the finish as the brandy in this beer struggles to dry. Certainly shows to be more complex than upon release. Even after 4 years in the cellar this Beast needs another 4 or 10 perhaps.

Vintage 2006 bottle shard with Theis. Pours a clear reddish brown with an off white head and lacings. Smells woody and fruity ( a bit like wet wood). Extremely sweet with aromas of dates and raisins. Very full bodied. Soft carbonation. Quite dry finish with warming alcohol notes.

Pours a reddish amber with small head. The aroma is full with toffee, hops, spices, fruit, molasses, and raisins. the flavor is equally complex with molasses, raisins, dark fruit, maltiniess, and hops. The overall there is a syrupy, like a liquer, mouthfeel.

35,5 cl bottle. Amber colour with a weak head. Aroma of candy, redwine and hints of alcohol and caramel. Very malty and tasty flavour with some sweetness and berries. Very powerfull and tasty.

Batch 2 (2004) 22 oz bomber. Intense caramelly aroma, alcohol, rich berries. Pours light brown/amber. Intense flavor, loads of caramel, sweet, alcohol, dates and molasses are detectable. It makes me shiver.

[Vintage, Batch 4 - 2006] Bottle... Poured an opaque burgundy with a thick beige head. Aroma of brandy alcohol, rum alcohol, raisins and other fruit. Thick, chewy palate that really attacked the palate. Super bitter with strong malts and a thick syrupy, sugary alcohol dominance. Finished with cherries, molasses, and a honey sweetness. This beer is a Beast.

Bottle. Nice head with good duration. Color is ruby amber. Aroma is rich with fruits and slcohol. Taste is extremely powerful with lots of fruits, molasses and alcohol.

Batch 3. Aged 2 years. Pours deep amber into a Trappist glass. Trace of a head hugs rim. Pit fruit and alcohol aromas. Thick molasses and raisin with a lasting candi finish. Sweet and alcoholic -- but complex and satifsyingly portlike.