The Kaiser - Avery Brewing Company

everetends

Alabama

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at the Brickstore Pub in ATL. Served up in an nonic pint. Imperial Marzen really caught my eye, why the hell not?

A: Served up as a dark orange/very coppery color. The body is pretty damned hazy and is near impossible to see through. The pour was topped with a finger or more of white head. That head had some decent retention, lasting a good portion of the experience before falling to a white ring. The lace is spotty and soapy. Pretty much what I would expect from a decent marzen.

S: Smell is pretty malt dominant but the aroma is incredibly subdued. Getting some rich German malty goodness with some caramel. There may be a touch of apricot and banana in here. Slight hops coming through that have a nip of bitterness in the nose. Not bad, but nothing really grabbing my full on attention.

T: Pretty much the same as the nose. Nice malts coming through in the form of some carmael and biscuit. The fruit flavors are minimal but are here with a touch of sweet banana. Hops cut the sweetness bringing things in balance. I say this, but it brings in dangerously close to blandness or mediocrity. Its good, don't get me wrong, but its just a bit blah at times.

M: Medium bodied with a nice crisp carbonation. I can not believe the ABV is this high because I got no trace of it in the taste or in the feel. Pretty hearty and refreshing finish. Aftertaste is mostly some malt lingering.

D: Not a bad beer at all. The pint went away quickly and I had no issues with that. I have to say that beer did not overly impress me, but it didn't disappoint me either. I guess that is what happens when you go in with no expectations. Not a bad beer and an interesting take on a marzen, especially make one this big. Still has the Marzen blah qualities that tend to leave me bored at times.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2009 17:53:59 | More by everetends

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.08/5  rDev -20%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

11 ounce goblet - $6.00 at Taco Mac in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Near opaque, orange-amber body with a small, somewhat fizzy, white head.

Smell: Sweet-smelling, boozy nose of apricots marinating in apple brandy with a background scent of toasted caramel malts.

Taste: Initial blend of caramel malts and hot apple brandy with a charged dose of sweetness. Pinch of crushed, toasted bread crumbs. Plenty of alcohol heat throughout. A particularly distinct spice character transitions into Noble hops with a medium bitterness. Basically, it's just more of the same till the finish.

Mouthfeel: A bit above medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: I've made several attempts to find, within me, some love for the Kaiser, but it's just not going to happen, I'm afraid. I'm hesitant to toss out the phrase "hot boozy mess", but it's pretty fitting. Perhaps it's time to for a replacement dictator-themed beer. May I suggest a Napoleon French Bière de Garde or Mussolini Barrel-Aged Imperial Porter.

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2009 18:54:55 | More by ChainGangGuy

CrellMoset

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Tyler's in Durham, NC, in between sessions at the World Beer Festival. Served in a properly-logoed traditional American pint glass.

Appearance: Served a transparent orange amber with lots of active and fine-bubbled carbonation. All that's left by the time it gets to me is a ring of snow-white lace, but the lacing as I drink is attractive enough for me to assume a Kaiser-like head once sat atop this brew.

Aroma: Mild and malty. Caramel, toast, faint grassy hops, and a faint whiff of alcohol in the finish. Pleasant enough without being exciting.

Taste: Malty and nice. Nice and malty, perhaps. Faint spice is noticeable (cinnamon, I think), lots of caramel, bread, sweet and doughy, brown sugar, golden raisins, hop spice and bitterness, mild alcohol. I almost taste hints of pumpkin, though perhaps I'm just filling in the beer gestalt.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, creamy milky smooth even. Big and fluffy. A nice feeling beer.

Drinkability: A big tasty beer, though stylistically, I'd have to say it's less drinkable than your standard Marzen if only because of it's relatively huge abv%. Taking that out of the picture, you're left with a solid, decent-enough fall seasonal.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2008 19:36:34 | More by CrellMoset

opwog

Minnesota

3.85/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Now listieng to: Eddie Bo - Dinky Do

Thanks to Beechwood for having this strong ale seasonal offeing on tap!

A- Dark, reddish orange, with a thin white head
S- smells of alchohol. spice and sweet malt
T- This tastes, as it smells. But as a strong ale, I think that it overwhelms any possibility of this being related to a traditional Oktoberfest taste.
M- Heavy mouth, but the carbonation may be thin, which would add to the syrupiness.
D- I have also had this in bottle, but this tasted less malty and more balanced on tap. But not much like an Oktoberfest either way.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2008 06:37:57 | More by opwog

t0rin0

California

2.3/5  rDev -40.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

So I decided to give this another try last saturday at Lucky Baldwins in Pasadena. I tried it out of the bottle last year and it tasted stale so I wanted to make sure I didn't like it.

Pours a orange/copper color. Very clear, some white head, not much retention. CO2 level is good.

Very malty and sweet. I heard honey in one of the other reviews, I could see that. Aroma was moderately pleasant but not to style.

Taste was real sweet and alcoholy. Heavy on the dark malts in the flavor. Moderate bitterness for an Oktoberfest but this was not at all to style. Made me think of a German Barleywine, if there was such a thing.

Very thick and oily for an Oktoberfest. Its a mouthfeel more suited to a Russian Imperial Stout.

Not very drinkable at all. Between my roomate and I we got through about half of it before I dumped it in the bathroom. Don't see what all the hype is about, it's in no way an "Oktoberfest" beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-08-2008 04:58:40 | More by t0rin0

gabeerfan

Georgia

3.03/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Part of BSP's Oktoberfest and wisely only served as a 16oz. serving rather than the liter of some of the other Oktobers.
Arrived a ruby-colored amber. No real head to speak of. Left no ring or lacing in the glass.
Very sweet aromas. Almost like marachino cherry juice with some alcohol. Lots of sugar sweetness with some caramel in there too.
Pretty similar flavors as the aromas. Very sweet, some would say cloying. Again, flavors of marachino cherry juice with some alcohol thrown in. There was a little caramel sweetness too. The counterbalance came from the alcohol.
Medium bodied. Coated the palate with sweetness and there wasn't much to carry it away, so it lingered for a bit.
I'm guessing by the ABV that this is supposed to be an "Imperial" Oktoberfest. Given how sweet these can be normally, this may not have been the best best style to "Imperial-ize." This was not a bad beer, but probably won't get this again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2008 03:45:00 | More by gabeerfan

MiScusi

California

1.78/5  rDev -53.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

Had this on tap at an Oktobefest celebration at Lucky Baldwin's Delirium Cafe in Sierra Madre, CA.

A- pours a nicely looking burnt orangish to red. Nice thick head sits up there with great retention. Not lookin too bad to start off.

S- Not sure how to really describe it. It almost smells like you would predict the taste... cloying. Its very sweet, some weird stuff in there too... probably the high alcohol.

T- Very hard to drink. There's alcohol, there's cloying sweetness and a toastiness that's trying to peak though. It doesn't work well at all.

D- too syrupy, doesn't make for a good oktoberfest style beer at all.

I understand that it's all about doing certain styles "Imperial" these days... but seriously, cmon. This is not a style that lends itself to the imperial. This was just flat out bad. The only reason anyone would give this a good score is if they are partial to Avery, or if they wanted to really believe that Avery is on to something new here with an Imperial Oktoberfest. They aren't. I didn't finish more than a few ounces so I gave it to my friend, and he couldn't finish it either.

Serving type: on-tap

10-04-2008 05:34:00 | More by MiScusi

BradLikesBrew

Missouri

4.22/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My sixth pour at the Avery 15th Anniversary Party.
"Holy shit, they have a Vintage Tent!!!"

'07 Vintage

a: Copper/orange body, crystal clear. Off-white head.

s: Fruity malt smells exactly like banana bread.

t: Caramel malt, noble hops, and banana bread.

m: A tad chewy, stays on the tongue.

d: Wonderful, much better aged than fresh. Never would have thought that an Oktoberfest would age so well or that one year would make such a difference, but I think the high alcohol content really helps it age well. The strong alcohol really mellows with age and the malt becomes more and more complex.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2008 21:53:05 | More by BradLikesBrew

champ103

Texas

2.68/5  rDev -30.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A: Pours a clear reddish/amber color. A tiny white head forms, and leaves little lace.
S: Sweet brown sugar and very malty. Sickly sweet, ethanol solvent like alcohol.
T: Very sweet and sugary and cloying. Just brown sugar and solvent like alcohol.
M/D: Pretty thick and heavy. Almost chewy. sticky adhesive like. Way to hard sipping on this, the sweet sugar and high alcohol makes this to harsh to drink.

Like most Avery high alcohol beers, just sickly sweet and no nuance. I have not had this in years, and not something I am coming back to soon.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2008 01:38:21 | More by champ103

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.58/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

On tap at the Judge's Bench the other day.

The beer pours the expected copper color with good head retention and fair lacing. The aroma for this beer is very pronounced and, IMO, is it's best feature. There is a huge nose of sweet apple cherry, which underscores the rich malty aroma. Unfortunately, on the palate this beer is not quite as wonderful. The flavors generally do replicate the nose, but it's very, very boozy and the alcohol is very noticeable. It really hurts the drinkability of this beer, and IMO does not help the flavor profile at all.

This is a good beer, but it would be better if Avery could dial down the alcohol somehow. I don't see how that helps this beer at all, and frankly it cuts down on how many I can purchase at a sitting. Not sure how anyone can drink more then one pint of a 9% marzen.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2008 14:25:41 | More by johnmichaelsen

DaggerEyes

New York

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz pour on tap at Spuyten Duyvil

Poured slightly hazy copper with a 1 finger white foam head. Nice moderate lacing.

Nose is of sweet bready malts mixed with grassy earth tones, to my surprise this beer has a bit of funk to it, not a huge ammount but the grass and earth can be pungent at times.

Bready malts, a bit of sweetness with earthy and grassy tones, with a nice dry finish

Medium bodied with a nice prickly carbonation on the tip of the toungue.

Not a beer I could drink all the time, especially with it's abv creeping toward 10. But a really interesting brew that I wouldn't mind having a glass of again sometime in the future

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2007 11:39:35 | More by DaggerEyes

KAF

Iowa

4.22/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this on tap at the Autumn Brew Review in Minneapolis, MN. I have also had it bottled. If every Oktoberfest tasted like this I would look forward to the end of summer. A golden amber pour with a pale head. Sweet smelling. Smooth and slightly syrupy.

Serving type: on-tap

10-18-2007 21:09:38 | More by KAF

ojiikun

Washington

3.6/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Live reviewed from Collins Pub in Seattle, WA.

Tap handle simply said "Imperial Oktoberfest" on an Avery logo, so I can only presume it's the Kaiser. Served up in a medium flared goblet with 1/2" of good, dark-creme head. Body is moderately dark and very orange. Crystal clear.

Smell is malty as heck and has hints of vinegar. Mashed fruit undertones, not sweet at all. Grapefruits and whole-wheat bread.

Taste is wickedly tart and fairly hoppy. Sour fruit dominates along with darkly toasted malt. Black cherry and champagne.

Paired with a salad with a very spicy vinegarette, the tart flavour tones down and a caramely malt surges forth. Yeast takes on an almost Belgian cast rather than German.

Mouthfeel is good, clean for a 9. Carbonation is sufficient, but not exciting.

I haven't had many strong Marzens before, but this one seems to be a bit sour for my taste. Will have to try a few more before I can recommend for or against.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2007 19:40:25 | More by ojiikun

sraimondi

Connecticut

4.47/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

What a pleasant surprise. Snagged this one at Plan B in Simsbury, CT today.

Poured into a pint glass with about a 1/2" inch head which hung on for awhile. Sheet lacing throughout the drink. A very pleasing auburn, medium copper color; definitely makes you feel a New England Autumn.

Vinous aroma with some raisin and fig presence. Malt and bread dominate.

Taste is VERY complex, so many flavors attack the tongue; dark fruit, malt and bread. Elevated ABV is very present at the front, but it doesn't overwhelm. MALT, MALT everywhere; with definite sweetness, but does not exhibit cloying qualities. As much as I tried, I could not detect any hops, but the hops must be there to provide some balance to the sweet malt.

Carbonation was "small" and provided for a very good & smooth mouthfeel.

The elevated ABV doesn't allow for too many of these, but you could always get a designated driver to cart you home.

An outstanding Imperial version of the style.

If you like malt, run don't walk to Plan B in Simsbury before this one kicks Not cheap at $7 per pint, but worth it, IMO.

Steve

Serving type: on-tap

10-16-2007 01:29:04 | More by sraimondi

kleffman

California

3.73/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Liar's club, I was extremely excited for this seasonal Avery offering. I'm a little biased because I generally think Avery can do no wrong...

A reddish copper, with great clarity and a nice little head that didn't really stick around for long. The smell immediately hit me as apples, extremely sweet aroma with hints of citrus. Immediately upon taking my first sip my thoughts were a spiced apple cider. I don't know why I get so much apple out of this but my buddy agreed. It was quite a bit more bubbly in mouthfeel than I expected, but was soft at the same time. Kind of syrupy, and lingers for awhile. My main reaction was that this is a beer unlike any I've ever tried before. It is completely original, especially for the style. It's a little too cloying, and not malty enough for me as far as it's style and expectation but I thoroughly enjoyed something different for a change. I wouldn't want more than one ten ounce glass in a sitting, but I would most definitely go back to this fun oktober seasonal.

Serving type: on-tap

10-07-2007 18:37:51 | More by kleffman

CharlieMopps

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed at Capital Ale House Innsbrook for Beer Geek Week '07

Vintage 2006

A: About a finger of white head formed atop a sea of deep amber, some lacing with sub-par retention, but the aging and serving style could be to blame.

S: A plethora of maltiness in the bouquet, with a good hop backbone that smelled floral and inviting.

T: Big array of malt noticeable on the tongue and a slightly mellowed, but bitter hop presence toward the finish. Tasty enough Marzen, with the balance being rather enjoyable.

M: Lots of carbonation, bubbling across the palate, with a big body and creamy mouthfeel. Slightly oily from the hops.

D: An interesting and enjoyable fall seasonal, especially after a year of laying down, but not something that's overly impressive. I thought the balance was nice, with enough hops to add a note of bitterness, but it just wasn't stand-out to me. Still, worth a try in my opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2007 14:34:52 | More by CharlieMopps

IPALOVER

Colorado

4.35/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I had a 10oz. draught of this beer at the local Old Chicago-- part of the "Octoberfest Mini Tour."

Upon presentation the beer had a nice, 1" head; never entirely left as I drank. The taste was very malty, true to the Octoberfest style. The higher alcohol content was not apparent at all-- a very drinkable beer. I couldn't believe that the ABV was over 9%-- I would have guessed it at about 7.

Although I'm a fan of hoppy beers, this was a nice change for a style that is always good this time of year!

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2007 00:58:38 | More by IPALOVER

sleazo

New York

3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at O Briens

Didnt take notes on this one, so it is from memory. I never had a beer quite like this. it is like an Octoberfest on Steroids. the alcohol demands that this be sipped. While you definitely taste the alcohol, it is balanced by the malt. As the beer warmed, you could defininitely taste the yeasty malt. All in all i enjoyed this very much but had to go home afterwards as i probably would have been over the limit with another.

Serving type: on-tap

10-31-2006 19:29:59 | More by sleazo

sinistrsam

Maryland

3.63/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this at the world beer festival in Durham this year(had this one towards the beginning, so I trust my notes and palate); poured a copper-orange and had a decent head with great retention.
Smell was very malty, with caramel and mild roast hints; sweet fruits and alcohol for sure.
Taste was rather alcoholic, almost a detriment, but had a decent hop presence and a lot of sweet fruit tones to balance the roast of the malts and hop bitterness.
Decent feel, but almost too alcoholic and sweet. These will definitely sneak up on you.
Decent, but not my favorite Oktoberfest.

Serving type: on-tap

10-20-2006 02:11:22 | More by sinistrsam

SacoDeToro

California

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this on tap at the Stone 9th Anniversary Festival. It was one of the few lagers present and a good way to break up all the ales of the day.

The beer was a clear dark amber with a small tight head. The aroma was mostly Munich malt with very little hops. The flavor was full and boldly malty, like most Oktoberfests, but finished remarkably dry and clean considering it was 9%. I never would have guessed its alcohol to be that high had I not known. The hops were well rounded and on the high side for an Oktoberfest, but in a good way. The carbonation was just right and the mouthfeel was medium.

Another solid beer from Avery and one of the smoothest high alcohol beers I've had.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2005 03:25:26 | More by SacoDeToro

Billolick

New York

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Blind tiger Ale House in NYC. This is a monster of an Octoberfest beer, but somehow Avery pulls this one off. I'm sure some O'fest purists will not be pleased, but as a lover of "Imperial" takes on various styles this one was very pleasing to me. Pours super clear, light mahogony, with some reddish highlights. Nose is malt, sweet malt. The pour leftt only a minor, tiny bubble head, but the lacing was top notch, fine, extensive and sticky. This is a very smooth, strong and tasty uber octoberfest. malt o'pleanty, but somehow quite drinkable, with the alcohol well in the background and the sugars not cloying. Just solid octoberfest flavors and fun. One of my favorites from Avery and I like Avery...

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2005 23:39:10 | More by Billolick

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Rich O's Gravity Head 08:

Malitess hinges on Dopplebock sweetness and heaviness with less emphasis on hops. Very rich with Vienna and a little Munich barley character. Very nice beer.

August 05, 2005. Bottle

Boy, those silly Americans are having a lot to fun with beer. It has all of the flavors of a marzen and octoberfest. The aggression in the alcohol, hops, and sugar sources completely dominate the biscuity, cloying, and cleanliness of the original styles. It has nice caramel and barley malts in the nose and flavor. Sweet alcohol overtakes the flavors afterwards. Maybe some honey, and spices present, but they are small. Sweet ripe fruit flavors (tangerines, grapes and mangos). A little more estery (from late hop additions) than I expected. It's a neat beer. Not evident of style, but too drinkable to rate low.

Serving type: on-tap

08-05-2005 12:57:39 | More by BEERchitect

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

4.46/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Poured into a balloon glass.

Look: Nice deep caramel copper color. Thick cream colored head that recedes to thick film of bubbles. Nice webby lacing.

Aroma: Sweet caramel, malts, toffee, fruit peels.

Taste: A toasted, caramelly blast at first. Then it eases into toffee, malts, and tangy fruits. Slight burn of 9.1% alc on the throat.

Mouthfeel: Kind of sticky, alcoholic burn.

Overall: Absolutely delicious. Great Oktoberfest representation. Love the caramel sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 01:41:00 | More by JuicesFlowing

BeerDawgs

Georgia

3.78/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Deep dark amber, lots of head and lace. This is what beers should always look like

S - Sweet. Very sweet!

T - Like the aroma, very sweet and boozy.

M - Light bodied, lots of carbonation

O - A very good Oktoberfest, much better than what I am used to trying around that time of year. Style is too sweet for me. But very good for the style...

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 05:06:18 | More by BeerDawgs

CaptainOats

New Jersey

3.6/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 22 into my Newport Storm tasting glass

A: Great dark copper color. Nice lacing on the glass

S: malt all the way on the nose. Just a touch of alcohol which can be expected for the 9 percent this beer js packing.

T: lots of toasted grains and a bit of heat

M: nice mouthfeel, solid with a bit of bite

O: a nice offering from Avery

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 00:48:10 | More by CaptainOats