Avery The Beast Grand Cru Ale

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

A dark oak color. Lots of alcohol everywhere...nose and tongue. A lot of stuff going on that i can’t remember and wish i took notes. plus i drank it out of a plastic cup. it was good but alcohol was fierce.

2005 bottle. Far too young. Pours a beautiful clear viscous red/amber. Initially looking full of sediment, it bursts into a tall sturdy honey comb, light tan lacey head. Nose of light malt vinegar, cherrym candy, cough syrup. Mouthfeel is gorgeous and thick. Very still and hot alcohol is abound. Tart. Spicey. Twizzlers. Bubble gum. Stewed fruit and pie crust. Earth and salt. I described it at sampling as "not toasted". Sure is fun to drink. Too sweet right now, and clouds the palate. She has a nice list of ingredients which will meld very well.

04 Pours copper/red with a small white head. Aroma is cherries and sweet malts. Flavor was definately still hot with a hard alcohol bite. Some fruits and yeast also present. Still needs some aging.

2005 bottle shared with GregClow, Hogtown Harry, Jerc, and Blankboy, thanks big time to Harry and Dave B for the chance to try it. Wonderful fiery red, bubbly small head. Huge alcohol aroma, very rich, malt. Lovely taste: lots of alcohol but enough malt to back it up, very sweet and spicy. Much easier to drink compared to the D’extra from Dogfish head earlier in the night. Nice beer.

This beer is aptly named. It paws at you with it’s scruffy dirty claws, grunting and growling. It pours ruby red and thick. Minimal head. Smell it and you know you are in for an experience to remember. Expect a beer with distinct alcohol characteristics. My mouth almost felt numb after tasting it. It’s got some fruity flavors - raisins and thick sweet flavors. Don’t you dare gulp this beer down. I highly recommend finding a place you plan to be for a long while. Sit down, open it up, pour a glass and sip it for an hour or two. This beer is meant to be enjoyed slowly. If you get a chance, take it. Don’t pass up the beast. It will chase you down and demand you try it.

Thanks to Walt for this one or as he was known at the time of the trade...Kawa. Split this with my roomate King_David. Bottled 04 (18.1%) Batch 2. Poured brown/orange with a off with head. Aroma is sour, nutty, some honey and carmel. Flavor is sweet, nutty, belgian yeast and even more nuttiness. There is definately an alcohol warming here. The 1st sip sent shivers through my body like a 1st beer of the day normally does, but I was on my way to heavy buzz at this point. Potent and flavorful, but not overpowering. This is a slow sipper here. Let me do flavor again as I re-experience it. Brown sugar, honey, maple syrup albeit weaker than the other flavors, nuts (perhaps a cashew/walnut mixture), alcohol, slight fig, and yes burning. A unique "Beast" but enjoyable in its own way. The Batch 2 I wouldn’t call a belgian strong. Thanks again Walter.

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.

This was a treat to myself on Halloween. Pours deep reddish amber with a rich rocky tan head. The aroma is sweet and caramely with a lot going on. Picking up musty malt, tons of richness, some alcohol, molasses, dark fruits. A lot is going on. Thick slick body that glides down. This is definitely as sipper. Taste starts with sweetness that has honey, brown sugar, dates, raisins, a ton of candi sugar and some alcohol burn. The finish has some alcohol burn with the boatload of sweetness. Belgium earthiness starts coming out further down the glass. This strikes me a Belgium made American style Barleywine. Good beer, but don’t know how often I would want it.