Avery Anniversary Ale - Ten
Avery Brewing Company

Avery Anniversary Ale - TenAvery Anniversary Ale - Ten
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From:
Avery Brewing Company
 
Colorado, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
10%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.95 | pDev: 11.65%
Reviews:
88
Ratings:
92
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 20, 2013
Added:
Jun 12, 2003
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  6
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by beveragecaptain:
Photo of beveragecaptain
Reviewed by beveragecaptain from New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
This beer pours out a murky orange color. Sweet malt aroma. Some fruit in the aroma, mostly tropical fruits and berries. Oily hops in the aroma too, but the malt dominates. Big malt flavor and very fruity. Hoppy in the finish, but considering that there are 10 hop varieties, I would expect this beer to be hoppier. Creamy mouthfeel. The 10% abv is very well hidden. Pretty good IPA.
May 02, 2005
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by jaydoc from Kansas

Oct 20, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by WOLFGANG from South Carolina

Jul 05, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by harpus from Alabama

Oct 15, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by BRLockwood from Florida

Jan 02, 2012
Photo of emmasdad
Reviewed by emmasdad from Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Had this one awhile back, for the first time in about six years. Thanks for sharing Ratman. Lots of sediment in the bottle, but with a pretty careful pour, this one was a fairly clear amber color, with a little bit of head. Clearly oxidized, but a nice malty aroma, with a hint of hops. Pretty nicely balanced, even with the oxidation and very diminished hops. Still a very nice beer.
Mar 24, 2011
Photo of sweemzander
Reviewed by sweemzander from Illinois

2.88/5  rDev -27.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
22oz. bottle poured into a tulip. Bottled in 2003. I couldnt believe this was still in stores. Found @ Martha's Vineyard in Grand Rapids, MI.

(A)- Pours a cloudy orange color that produced some yellow-like bubbles.

(S)- Some light fruits with honey & caramel. Fig-like with touches of butterscotch & toffee. A tad funky.

(T)- Lots of grapefruit and caramelized pineapple. Bits of old honey and toasted toffee. Subtle butterscotch.

(M)- A surprisingly good carbonation level at this stage in its aging,but its starting to fade. Slightly bitter. Much more malt driven at this stage too. Some citrus is still there.

(D)- I always enjoy trying super old aged beers like this. I am actually really surprised how well this is considering its 7 years old! Most DIPAs would be way too old at this stage, but this one has my respect for hanging on this long. Is much more like an old barleywine at this point or even an old ale. It isnt great, but its great considering how old it really is.
Apr 25, 2010
Photo of BeerFMAndy
Reviewed by BeerFMAndy from Wisconsin

2.83/5  rDev -28.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
22 oz bottle split and poured into a La Fin Du Monde tulip. 1.093 O.G., 10% ABV, Keep refrigerated, Bottled in 2003!

Thanks to Sweemzander for sharing this bottle he picked up while we were at Martha's. Luckily, even with the 7 years of age on it, it's been in the cooler.

A - A tall pour creates no head what-so-ever. A swirl releases a thin ring of off-white bubbles. The color is a hazy apricot orange with golden highlights.

S - Huh. The nose is really strange. Some fruity mango and light citrus hop aromas with a pinch of herbs falls slightly behind a bold caramel malt nose. It smells almost barleywine-like. A swirl ruins the nose completely by adding a moldy, plastic alcohol hint that made me shiver with repulsion. Good aroma until the swirl though.

T - Toasted caramel malts make up the majority of the flavor but it definitely doesn't taste fresh in the least (obviously). Apple cider is all over the flavor and hops are next-to absent but that's a given with the age. A tiny pinch of bitter citrus.

M - Medium body with decent carbonation still. A low, lingering bitterness still comes out on the finish.

D - Not something I'm gonna finish but I gotta hand it to Avery; this beer is still decent with the age on it, it's just not very good. Also, it should be noted that this came highly recommended by a cashier at Martha's who said it was fantastic even recently. That makes me a little concerned they were trying to get rid of one of the last two bottles.
Apr 20, 2010
Photo of BMoney575
Reviewed by BMoney575 from Texas

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sampled on 4-9-10
Bottled in 2003

Pours a very viscous and cloudy deep orange color, with a clingy off-white head and tons of sediment.

Smell is extremely aged, with a strong alcohol character. Surprisingly complex, notes of caramel and cotton candy.

Taste is just as complex as the smell. Strong caramel and toffee, with almost no hop bitterness left. Amazingly good considering the age.

Mouthfeel is silky smooth, and it suits the sweet flavors very well.

Drinkability is remarkably good, considering how past its prime this beer is.

Overall, I'm shocked how good this is. Nothing like it was fresh, but something entirely new.
Apr 10, 2010
Photo of MICAMD
Reviewed by MICAMD from Maryland

4.13/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A- A hazy orange liquid with a nice crystal ball effect and just a few floaters. The thin white head is what I would expect from a beer of this age.

S- Smells like it has aged wonderfully with loads of grape, Swiss cheese, vanilla, cotton candy, and a touch of tangerine.

T- Remarkably smooth with loads of toffee, caramel, and some earthy hops. This has not gone downhill at all, just gotten different. I can't believe how smooth they were.

M- Very smooth with a slightly earthy aftertaste. Clean and nice.

D- For the ABV and age, this is fantastic. Not what I would have expected. If I had to guess, this was probably more like a barleywine at the beginning. Not down and out yet.
Apr 10, 2010
Photo of TCgoalie
Reviewed by TCgoalie from Michigan

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I poured this beer and saw a reddish amber color. There is virtually no head at all, this brew is 7 years old, so that concerns me. I saw 10% on the label and thought the aging would make this amazing...had no idea it was an IPA.

The smell is super malty mixed with playdough funk.

The taste is a giant malt bomb, not pleasant. I cannot imagine hops were ever added to this. This beer is obviously past its prime and I should not be drinking it.

The mouthfeel is thick and malty.

I should not have bought this. If I would have known it was a 7 year old IPA, I would not have. The $7 dollar price tag is forcing me to drink it rather than pouring down the drain.

I feel like I could recreate this drink by adding 15 lbs of malt to a boil with no hops. Rack into a secondary full of 2 lbs of playdough. Drink and destroy.

I would rate this a 2, but since it is not reviewable, I will avg the rest of the reviews as not to destroy the rating. 4's all around.
Apr 04, 2010
Photo of kindestcut
Reviewed by kindestcut from North Carolina

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Note: Original review from 7/6/07.

I was really excited about this beer, as I usually am whenever I try a limited edition brew from any brewery. And it did not disappoint.

The Avery Ten poured a dim amber without a very noticeable head. The beer appeared to have nice carbonation and looked nice.

The aroma was slightly fruity with hints of and spice and sweetness. The taste was quite sweet with a nice hoppiness. The alcohol was not overpowering but there was a nice warming quality to the beer.

I would say that as a on-off beer this was not incredibly memorable but otherwise it was very enjoyable.
Sep 20, 2009
Photo of rabsten
Reviewed by rabsten from West Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Purchased in spring 2007 at Marietta Wine Shop for $5.99, I've held on to it for an additional two years for no particular reason. I'm glad I did though and am a little sad that it's now gone (it was the third or forth oldest bottle in my collection).

Pours cloudy, hazy orange/amber. thin white head that disappears. Only minor, faint lacing. Tons of sediment/yeast, especially the final third of bottle. Much as I'd expect with 10 malts, 10 hops, and six additional years.

Initially the aroma was light, fresh citrus and tea. Almost an Earl Grey quality. Then, it became a sweet malt with light fruit notes. Final third, once it's warmed somewhat, it finishes with rye whisky notes.

Taste, like smell, started light and fruity, with a surprising, almost shocking, amount of hops. Peach and citrus appeared as well. Then, a mere two minutes or so later, a much maltier, sweeter taste developed. After the bottle had warmed somewhat, the whisky and cognac qualities appeared and dominated. A malty, heavy scotch ale/barleywine-like quality finished the experience.

Mouthfeel: Lighter to heavy, crisp first sip, rounder second sip, third: heavy.

First, there's very good drinkability. As noted above, it's very fresh and crisp, quire drinkable. Then, very quickly, it becomes a more complex and round drink, requiring more time to experience and process. By the final third, it's become a sipping experience, like with good single malt. Thick, yeasty, heavy, and flavorful.

So, this whole thing has been essentially three beers: 1)light, crisp, hoppy, fruity - about 4 ounces; 2) heavier, fuller, more complex barleywine; and 3) Old-ale, aged dopplebock, aged barleywine malt bomb.

Like I said earlier, I'm sad it's gone and I'll likely never have this experience again. But damn, I was lucky to have this one. This was a fine drinking experience and I'm glad I had it.
Mar 22, 2009
Photo of MaggieReed
Reviewed by MaggieReed from Michigan

3.2/5  rDev -19%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
OK so this is at this point a 6 year old bottle of beer, so im not sure how long its been sitting on the shelf at marthas. it could be that this is just too old...but, i first detected in the smell the faintest hint of olive juice...like...from a jar...poured a very nice orange- olive smell followed up by malt...almost no hop character. Taste was ok- fruity with caramel notes, but a strange olive character right up front, and a little bit of an off flavor all the way in the back too...like burnt sugar. I was not impressed, but I think a few years ago this would have been a very drinkable beer.
Feb 06, 2009
Photo of hopdog
Reviewed by hopdog from Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
22oz bottle (I'm glad I had a few opportunities at this one).

Poured a medium, cloudy amber color with a small head. Aromas and tastes of citrus, lightly floral, and caramel. Oranges. Nice balance. Sweet and bitter. Alcohol well hidden and easy to drink. Another solid IIPA!

Notes from 10/16/04
Nov 21, 2008
Photo of Douglas88
Reviewed by Douglas88 from Utah

3.95/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Bottle generously shared by footbalm, thanks man! Bottled in 2003, drank in 2008. Pours a cloudy apricot color with a medium white head. The aroma is very nice; tons off sweet candies, candied fruits and some brown sugar. The flavor is also quite sweet; lots of fruits; passionfruit and mango, lots of toffee, caramel, and other sweet sugar based goodies. Some slight oxidation and a hint of bitter hops in the finish. As others have said this is much like a nice barleywine. Very nice. The aging has done some good things.
Nov 13, 2008
Photo of mcallister
Reviewed by mcallister from Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Amber colored with a very nice thick white head that fades quickly into a bubbly rim job with some spotty lace here and there.

Nose is awesome very citrusy and fruit forward. Malt shows nicely big in caramel nature. Some quince and starfruit aromas with a bit of dried apricot and peach. Wonderful esters.

Sweet delicious malt with a leftover hop flavor that still has a slight bitter quality on the finish. Dried fruits and date, fig jams in the middle. Alcohol is nicely hidden. Mouth is a little soft but still very nice. A good few years of life left in this one but hops are virtually gone in the mouth.
Sep 06, 2008
Photo of mhewes
Reviewed by mhewes from Colorado

4.37/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to grumpy for sharing this one

A : Pours a cloudy golden color with very little head

S : Strong malt aroma with some caramel and brown sugar notes

T : Strong malt flavor that gives it a nice strong flavor. There is some caramel and brown sugar flavors in there. There's a touch of hop betterness on it. This one has turned into a rather nice barleywine with the aging.

M : Syrupy, chewy but there's really good carbonation that makes it light on the tongue

D : Goes down easy. It's one that there is not a problem with finishing. Too bad it's going to be next to impossible to get more of it.
Jul 05, 2008
Photo of TasteTester
Reviewed by TasteTester from Ohio

3.8/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Found this beer on a shopping trip to one of my favorite stores. Definitely a surprise to find 5 years after the initial brewing.

A-Great color. Typical of a DIPA, golden, 2 finger head. Lots of sediment, maybe from the 5 years of aging. All settled to the bottom after a hard pour.

S-Good, bitter aroma. Not much to differentiate it from any other DIPA.

T-May not have aged well. Not as crisp or hoppy as I had expected. Still smooth though.

M-Clean, resiny.

D-Got a good buzz, would have liked to try it fresh. Will go back to look for more, for trade or a tasting in the future.
Jun 04, 2008
Photo of JDV
Reviewed by JDV from Texas

3/5  rDev -24.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
bottle generously shared by HumuloneRed
Pours a cloudy orange color with a light offwhite head. Smell is creamy and faintly hopped butterscotch sweetness. Taste is similar with still a surprisingly hopped flavor after all this time to complement the butterscotch like creamy malt character. Seems to have held up pretty well.
Apr 06, 2008
Avery Anniversary Ale - Ten from Avery Brewing Company
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 92 ratings