The Beast Grand Cru - Avery Brewing Company

BostonHops

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle served in a snifter.
2010 vintage. (16.21% ABV)

pours a translucent deep amber tone with a quickly dissipating finger of tan head (unsurprising given the heat of this one); patchy lacing.

nose is rife with caramel, toasted malt - sort of reminiscent of a barleywine. notable presence of dark fruits; very slightly astringent. alcohol is a player.

flavor profile follows the nose. sweet and malty with notes of dark fruit, candied sugar, and a touch of molasses. very boozy (north of 16% ABV, how could it not be), especially in the finish. to me this is more barleywine territory than BSDA, but tasty nonetheless. would like to try this beer with some age on it.

syrupy, medium-full mouthfeel with adequate carbonation. the quintessential sipper.

originally reviewed: 03-14-2011

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 04:14:47 | More by BostonHops

Spider889

Ohio

2.33/5  rDev -39.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

2011 batch served on draft at the brewpub on 9/24/11.

Served in a mini snifter. I drank this side by side (split the two with a friend) with Samael's. While we did decide that Samael's was better, the two frankly were much more similar than they were different.

The Beast has decent clarity to it as well as over abundant carbonation. The head had risen above the top of the glass post pour (like while the waitress was serving it to us, yikes). The head had a thick meringue texture and staying power, and leaves amazing rings of thick lace on the glass. More impressive appearance than Samael's, though the clarity is the main reason this doesn't get a "5" for appearance score.

The aroma is boozy right off the bat. You'd think that at these levels of alcohol Samael's and The Beast would seem equivelant on the alcohol impression, but at 1.5% higher, The Beast definitely makes its fusel properties known... in a big, beastly sort of way. Aromas of a thick, dense mixture of stone fruit and leather are present underneath the blanket of alcohol. The back end of the aroma is nearing solvent territory.

Tastes very sweet (but less so than Samael's) but has a hint of hop assertiveness. Bitter with a harsh biting alcohol bent. This Beast bites back.

The mouthfeel is what you'd expect from such a beer - heavy, with strong alcohol burning and extreme (EXTREME!) sweetness.

Overall this is just too much to drink more than a sample of. My friend and I were actually arguing over who had to finish the last of this and the Samael's. Then again, I'm not all that fond of shots or sipping on brandy/sherry.

The last of my notes proclaim this to be "He-Man's sperm." Yep. This is strong enough to put Chuck Norris to shame. Beast on my friends. Beast on...

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2012 09:40:10 | More by Spider889

thegodfather2701

North Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A-Pours a reddish amber with an off-white head that dissipates slowly but leaves no real lacing or cascading.

S-Super malty and boozy. It smells very strong, which should be expected since it is 16.83%.

T-Very similar to the nose as malts and booze dominate the flavor profile. It is a strong and in your face beer with hints of dried fruits. It tastes more like an American Strong Ale or Barleywine.

M-Thick and creamy, which was really nice.

D-This is a sipper due to its high abv., booziness, and strong flavor.

Overall, this is a good beer but be careful with this one because it could sneak up on you.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 14:14:04 | More by thegodfather2701

billab914

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2011 vintage poured from a 12oz bottle. It poured a deep caramel color with a thin frothy head to it.

The aroma has candi sugar, dried fruits and some Belgian yeast spices to it. There are some pretty bold malty, caramel flavors to it as well. Not too bad on alcohol for how high the abv is. It comes together pretty well.

The taste shows more of the earthy yeast spices to it throughout. The finish is a little hot with the alcohol pretty noticeable. The nice malty, caramel and dried fruits that were in the nose seem overshadowed in the taste.

The mouthfeel is on the heavier side with carbonation being low. Overall, it was a pretty decent beer but not a real outstanding one. The alcohol and the yeast spice dominated a little too much in the taste for me.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2012 00:54:12 | More by billab914

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

355ml bottle poured into tulip 2/5/12 batch 9 16.83% bottle sent out by Rutager

A clear dark amber with a few bubbles floating up to a loose beige finger of foam that's gone quickly and leaves no lace

S smells sweet with lots of dried fruit and some molasses with a big booze blast, dark toffee and some more booze

T as it smells really, sweet caramels and booze with dried fruit, I like it but I don't love it, pretty sweet and boozy

M thick and syrupy with a lots of booze, its hot but not ridiculous considering the strength, it could use more bubbles but not flat

O I could see this beer being brilliant if it wasn't for the boozy heat, needs age and lots of it, decades perhaps

I can see where there going with this one and perhaps I'm not doing it any justice drinking it "fresh" (6 months old), the booze is killing the good qualities but it's still a pretty decent beer today. Yet another big thank you to Rutager for killing another want from my list, I need to make a new want list after trading with him because he killed it

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 06:03:53 | More by wordemupg

jsisko01

Michigan

3.03/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

I have the 2005 batch, and it is 4-28-12.. Hopefully this is still good. I don't know much about this beer style.

Appearance - Pours a VERY dark brown color with a thin light brown head. Has thin, creamy lacing.

Smell - Strong scent of whiskey and oak. Coffee is also present.

Taste - Very sweet and fruity, dark fruits. The alcohol is very present and quite bitter. There is also a strong honey flavor, along with brown sugar and maybe a nut character? It leaves a fruity flavor in your mouth for a long time after and on the lips too.

Mouthfeel - Thick body with very minimal carbonation. It is 7 years old after all..

Overall - I'm actually surprised it's not as bad as I anticipated. But I would never drink this again.. lol

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 04:09:33 | More by jsisko01

UCLABrewN84

California

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to AndresR for sharing this one at jmgrub’s tasting.

2005 vintage.

Pours a murky brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to an oily film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, dark fruit, and somewhat intense alcohol aromas. Taste is the same with some oxidized flavors and a fruity finish. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer but it’s quite strong and oxidized at this point.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 00:36:29 | More by UCLABrewN84

JDizzle

Indiana

3.43/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This is a vintage from 2007. Picked up for $2.50 a bottle!!!! Got at least 8 of them along with a few Samael's. Lucky me

Pours really cloudy with tons of sediment. Almost no head and looks fairly flat with no bubbles. Color is somewhat of a brown copper.

Well...alcohol is very present in the aroma. Smells like ultra sweet dark fruits, like prunes and figs.

Taste like brown sugar concentrate with a little Belgian yeast in there. The dark fruits dominate as well as the booze. You get a nice warming feeling as it goes down.

No carbs at all-It is 5 years old though, so no fault here.

Glad I got to try a bunch of these, but at a huge discount. I would not pay retail-ever.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 01:37:12 | More by JDizzle

vandemonian

Maryland

3.6/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Avery Beast is sweet, malty and boozy. It's nice, but don't expect much else.

A: Red in colour with a big 12 mm head that lasts very well. 4.5

S: Malty with some oxidised aromas. 3.5

T: Malty and sweet with some noticeable alcohol in the finish. There are also some roasty, caramel flavours from the more toasted malts. 3.5

M: Thick and reasonably foamy. 4

O: 3.5

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 03:12:37 | More by vandemonian

SawDog505

New Hampshire

2.8/5  rDev -27.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured into a 20 oz Duvel tulip, bottled in 2009. Poured aggressively and got a large 2 inch off white, that leaves some lacing. The beer is a cloudy brownish red. Smell is strong brown sugar, fig, prunes, banana bread, and some booze. Taste is very pungent burnt brown sugar, dark fruits, banana bread, and warming alcohol. Body is large, good amount of carbonation for its massive ABV, a little dry, and a sipper for sure. This is a hybrid beer, quadish/english barleywine, not my favorite flavors. Love Mephistopheles, Meph Addict, Samael Ale, but not this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 00:29:59 | More by SawDog505

b3shine

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Batch 6. Bottle to tulip. Looks okay; brown and opaque with very little head. Smells pretty good; sweet and BOOZY! Tastes a little too strong for my liking. It's like a BB barleywine that is lacking balance. Mouthfeel is average, even for the high abv. Overall, I'm glad I got to try it, but I wouldn't seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 20:14:46 | More by b3shine

crosborne

Georgia

1.75/5  rDev -54.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Batch 9, 2011
Tasted like a bad Barley Wine where the goal to reach a high ABV overrides the goal to make a good flavorful beer. I suffered through 3/4 of this before I poured it out.
Overly harsh alcohol flavor.
The best thing about this beer is the cool looking bottle

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 12:47:23 | More by crosborne

BeerDawgs

Georgia

4.6/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Batch 6, bottled in 2008. Picked up in downtown Nashville in December of 2011, $9.99 a bottle

A - Red and cloudy, slight head, a touch of lace on the glass. Cloudy cloudy!!!

S - Brown sugar, nectar, honey! Very sweet.

T - Sweet nectar of the gods! Belgian candy, and yeast very present. Lots of brown sugar and honey. Definitely a damn good Grand Cru.

M - Well, its aged 4 years, so not much carbonation. Warms towards the end, due to the alcohol.

O - As good as a Grand cru can get in my opinion. 16% ABV is well hidden, but it definitely hits your head by the end. I think aging this beer did alot for it. The sweet malts and belgian yeast dominate.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 02:04:28 | More by BeerDawgs

ptykozoon

California

1.85/5  rDev -51.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

'09
Pretty ruby. Lacing on the rim.

Pungent sweets - grape, raisin. Mixed with smoke and oak, rounded out with alcohol.

Raisin, chocolate, lots of molasses, spice, burnt things. This is not working for me - these flavors just don't work in this beer.

Thick mouthfeel with a decent alcohol bite.

I see what this beer is going for and it fails. The problem is it is completely unrestrained and unrefined. Truly a beast.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 22:43:28 | More by ptykozoon

TheTot

Indiana

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22oz bomber into a pint glass.

2004 release

I have rated the 2011 release also so I will compare the two as well as rate this beer.

Pours a dark dark redish black color with absolutely no head to speak of. Starting off poorly. The beer is absolutely dead, no bubbles at all. The smell is similar to the un-aged version with a little more sweetness and a more well rounded smell, still harsh and not welcoming at all. Honestly I was really scared to try this beer but wow, well done Avery. The taste is nothing like the harsh smell, there is a nice vanilla/creamy taste to this beer that is unusual with a grand cru. Smooth taste throughout with a kick of the alcohol at the end, being a 15.7% it drinks so much easier than that. With trying both the 2011 release and now the 2004 I would recommend aging this beer for sure. The mouthfeel is about what you would expect from a beer with such high alcohol, you get an oily residue throughout the mouth after tasting, which is not a bad thing. Overall this beer surprised me 100%, I love Avery and am upset that they pulled out of Indiana but as far as this label is concerned I did not enjoy the 2011 release but am really enjoying the 2004 release. Age this beer if you have the means.

Serving type: growler

03-09-2012 07:30:20 | More by TheTot

rand

California

3.95/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the Monkey Paw, batch 11, poured into a Chimay glass

The aptly named Beast pours like oil, raisin-y in color, syrup-y in complexion. A huge bouquet of booze and caramel streams from the glass. It smells extremely sweet and boozy, like a liquor. But the taste doesn't follow - still strong and 'beastly', but there's nuance and subtlety. Raisin sweetness meets a buttery creaminess meets a touch of floral hop astringency. The alcohol warms, but for 17%? It's actually quite balanced and drinkable. It does have a sticky complexion...I think there's a bit still stuck between my teeth. But damn, surprisingly quaffable for such an extreme beverage.

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2012 09:40:03 | More by rand

57md

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance is light brown with an orange hue. There is a finger of head with little appreciable retention, but some nice lacing left behind. Pineapples and oranges in the nose make for a promising offering. The mouthfeel is thick with a flavor of sweet raisins and molasses dominating. There is a slight alcohol bitterness at the finish, but it is hardly noticeable considering the high ABV of this offering. There is a little pepper flavor at the end as well. This is a perfect beer for sipping by the fire with your sweetheart and a rich and sweet desert.

Serving type: on-tap

02-19-2012 04:41:04 | More by 57md

CuriousMonk

Virginia

4.22/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle (Batch #9 - August 2011 release). Only available in 619 cases. Pours a cloudy nut brown with almost no head. Aroma is mostly booze but also has some dried dark fruits, a little Belgian sugar and a little caramel. Taste is heavily sweet. Has a huge alcohol burn with a good bit of Belgian sugar, caramel, raisins, molasses, and dark fruit. Some bourbon barrel wood and a little vanilla in there too. Almost reminds me of a less sweet port wine. Full bodied with a thick texture. Soft carbonation and a long finish. Overall, an interesting beer that complements well with the Mephistopheles' Stout.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2012 22:31:23 | More by CuriousMonk

russwbeck

Virginia

3.45/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Batch 7 (2009) and 9 (2011) enjoyed on-tap side by side at Churchkey in DC

Batch 7

A: Lighter, more red than batch 9. It also has less head than batch 9, both are white. This has good lacing, but minimal retention. 4

S: Dark fruits, booze, very sweet, but balanced. 4

T: The taste is very malty, with dark fruits and booze. Very much walks the line between BSDA and a Quad. Belgian yeast, candied sugar, booze, and dark fruits all blended wonderfully to create a dangerously drinkable beer. 4.5

MF: Medium body, good carbonation, warming alcohol feeling. 4

O: Very tasty, but the alcohol was really noticeable. For a BSDA I thought this was great. It held up well with age. 4.5

Batch 9

A: Dark ruby pour with a small white head. No retention, but what does stick around laces well. 4.5

S: Licorice, dark fruits, very sweet. Like Mephistopheles, this seems a bit medicinal. Less booze than Batch 7, but more plastic...3.5

T: The taste has a lot more booze than Batch 7. The dark fruits are stronger and try to take over the drink, but fail. Pretty much all fruit and booze. Far too hot. 3.5

MF: Medium to heavy body. Below average carbonation and a warming alcohol feeling at the end. 3.5

O: This was the definition of the Avery tap takeover: The more age, the better. Too hot, too unbalanced, only OK. 3

As I always do, the ratings reflect the fresh version. Batch 7 was way better. I recommend aging this guy!

O:

Serving type: on-tap

02-04-2012 15:44:45 | More by russwbeck

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

(Served in a snifter)
Aug 2011 Batch 9 Case 649

A- This beer pours a dense brown body with a faint glow of garnet at the base. There is a bubbly thin yellowish beige cream that sticks to the glass in a meniscus.

S- The bright raisin and light molasses blends with alcohol heat rum ball light notes and treacle syrup aromas. There is a nice complex sweetness in the finish.

T- The slightly sweet graham malt flavor has dark raisins, treacle and molasses notes with some candy sugar notes in the finish. There is a bitter hop bite in the finish that balances all the sweetness very well.

M- The light mouthfeel is thinned out from the alcohol burn that lingers but there is a creamy texture in there somewhere.

O- This is a big sugary but not cloying sweet, bright beer with big alcohol heat that is a bit to hot but welcome in these arctic conditions. Age would do this wonders but it has a very nice complexity now.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 21:37:37 | More by rhoadsrage

sjverla

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010 bottle into snifter

Nose: Super boozy. Cocoa nibs, raisins, and some vanilla. Nice complexity, but heavy on the alcohol.

Appearance: Thin, caramelly head that leaves quickly. Semi-hazy honey-ruby-amber. Deep and inviting.

Taste: Vanilla is prominent - like spiced rum. Sweet berries and caramel. Surprisingly rich and fairly dynamic. The alcohol is very hot. The finish is burnt and bitter and subtly herbal.

Overall: Very good. Rich and complex flavors, but the heat makes it tough. Thanks to my brother Ben for the Christmas gift.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 04:20:29 | More by sjverla

tdm168

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark amber with a reddish hue. There is a quarter inch of soft, off white head that quickly fades to a thin lacing. The nose is sweet and malty with notes of bread, barley malt, sugar, fruit, and alcohol esters. The flavor is very intricate and unique. There are notes of bread and barley up front followed a sugary, caramel sweetness and finishes with notes of raisins, dates, and a distinct honey note. I'm impressed that each ingredient has its own distinct contribution to the overall flavor. The alcohol is very noticeable. It's forward and warm and even burns the throat a little in the finish. The mouthfeel is full bodied and very warm with just some faint carbonation.

This is a very flavorful beer with many intricacies and complexities. Ultimately, it loses some points for me because it's overly boozy. The flavors are great, but can't stand up to the overpowering alcohol. With that being said, I enjoyed it, and I look forward to more in the future.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 05:28:07 | More by tdm168

harrymel

Washington

3.73/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Batch 9, 649 cases; 16.83% ABV; Aug, 2011

Pours a nice chocolate cherry hued brown with a finger of light latte foam. This falls to a solid sheet of the same. Smells of alcohol, wood, raisin, hints of toffee.

Taste is sweet with a metallic flavor mixed with a hazelnut, raisin, tofee and bread pudding flavor. Does kinda remind me of the flavor of an aged (5+ years) Chimay Grand Reserve, but on 'roids with the burn of alcohol coming through on the finish. There is a nice moderate body and low, smooth carb. Semi dry finish.

I've often wondered what aging would do to the demon series, maybe I will give it a go with the latest release.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 15:24:32 | More by harrymel

doppelmeup

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Batch 8 from 2010. Thank you Mitch!

I've had this in the refrigerator for a year and half, and finally decided to open and taste.

Pours a pretty dark amber. For a beer of this magnitude, i was pleasantly surprised by the amount of lace and also it's staying power. While not a pillowy cloud, it retained bits of foam all the way down the sides of the glass. It also had legs like a glass of wine would have.

Aromas were of slightly sweet malt, some fruitiness and some brown sugar.

Taste was superb. The year+ of aging really helped to mellow this out - reminded me of a barleywine. Slightly sweet, fruity, alcohol present but not overpowering.

Mouthfeel was velvety. Still had some light carbonation. Warming from the alcohol.

Overall a very fine brew. Way to strong to drink a lot of - I am glad I shared the bottle with a friend. A very nice treat.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 14:17:06 | More by doppelmeup

Immortale25

Florida

4.18/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter. Label says bottled in 2009 so it must be Batch 7.

A- Pours a ruddy dark brown with a 1/4 inch head that is short-lived before it becomes a paper-thin ring around the edge of the glass. Minimal surface foam and nice sheets of lacing.

S- Pungent wafts of malty booze and some wood. Astringent.

T- Much smoother flavor than the aroma leads on. Sweet raisin and caramel that has a faint cinnamon aftertaste. The booze characteristic is definitely there but has obviously mellowed out in the bottle during its 2+ year shelf life. Sweet and imparts notes of white grape juice.

M- Tangy with a bitter afterfeel that hangs on the tongue and forces the lips to smack. Medium-low carbonation.

O- More complex than Mephistopheles which is the only thing I have to compare it to in the series. Truly its own breed of beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 03:11:02 | More by Immortale25