The Reverend - Avery Brewing Company

SHODriver

California

3.83/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12045B1 batch
A: poured into a snifter to a deep brown with a small and short lasting off white head that leaves a collar around the glass
S: smells of dark fruits, some alcohol soaked cherries, candi sugar and some caramel
T: tastes of caramel, dark fruits, a little cherry, and candi sugar. aftertaste has a bit of alcohol and some more dark fruit flavor
M: medium to full, not overly viscous with some nice soft carbonation
O: good flavors and some nice complexity. pretty good but there are some better beers for the style

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 03:35:10 | More by SHODriver

RussBecker1

3.85/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

At this point in my tasting career, Avery Brewing Company has always intrigued me. Respectfully they step out of many peoples comfort zones, choosing to highlight some very different undertones that others will steer away from. Needless to say Avery is not for everyone in my opinion, and it is not a good stating point when attempting to dive into a new style of beer.

That being said, the reverend proved to be a very intriguing mix of spice and flavor that I would not normally expect from a quad. despite the huge nose this beer possesses the consistency was a little to thin and thus the alcohol does mask some of the flavors that the drinker knows is there, but simply cannot get enough out of them to identify. Upon drinking the ale however, the deep fruits meld nicely with the alcohol, and the drinker is left with an interesting earth aftertaste that I have never seen in a quad. The problem however is it is almost too earthy as you soon forget the first notes of the beer, leaving you with a dry bitterness that if eased up on would be rather nice, but sadly it was a hint too much. Interesting nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 23:07:17 | More by RussBecker1

UCLABrewN84

California

3.65/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear dark copper-orange with a foamy beige 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, brown sugar, dark fruits, yeast, and some spice aromas. Taste is much the same with a mild spice finish and a slight alcohol kick with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that smells better than it tastes in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 02:31:04 | More by UCLABrewN84

AdamHart22

Massachusetts

2.8/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into tulip.

Asolutely no head at all. Poured aggressively. Possibly bad bottle? Color is a mahogany red.

Smells like fig newtons crossed with brown sugar. Nice.

The taste is quite mellow. For a 10 percent abv it drinks like a 5. I get figs, honey, and a touch of sweat tea.

Mouth is normal, leaves a sweet taste and is probly my favorite part of the beer.

Overall, I expected more taste from a quadrupel. It is possible my bottle was bad, but for the price I expected more.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 00:40:16 | More by AdamHart22

paleoplant

New York

3.8/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer does not seem like a quadruple... I thought it was more like a strong dark ale. The color and appearance is the main reason for this opinion. The smell is characteristic of a quadruple, and it was enjoyable. The taste was also pleasant. It's not the best quadruple that I have had but Avery makes a good product.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 00:52:33 | More by paleoplant

The_Blodge

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Deep Orange-brown. Two-fingered head that dissipates slowly. Lacing down the web-like glass. No real haze. Fairly transparent. Bock-like.

S: Fresh fruit and alcohol. Apple and plum. Signature Belgian yeast aromas permeate. Flowery perfume lingers. Subtle but significant. Very clean. No funk whatsoever.

T: Sugars and alcohol. Belgian yeast and esters in the mouth. Bread-like finish. Very pleasant. Caramelly. Almost doppelbock-like. I am really getting the molasses. Alcohol is dangerously concealed. WOW...this one is legit.

M: Great medium body. Medium carbonation like a doppelbock.

O: Excellent beer! Love the subdued alcohol in this one. Very dangerous. Sip this one carefully...or you may end up in the drunk tank.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 22:11:04 | More by The_Blodge

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

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

I am unable to find any indication of bottle dating. 22oz bomber. Poured into Belgian goblets.

The dregs fell to the bottom of my glass. Chestnut brown body with flakes of yeast junk settling. Started off as a couple inches of head, but a solid finger's worth has retained with its antiquated white color. Thin lacing peels down the glass as the foam bursts away.

Red-skinned fruits, crabapple, persimmon, cherry, toasted grains, and bready yeast notes. Not the most fantastic nose on a quad, but intriguing enough. Smells light. I anticipate the beer to be vibrant and fruity for the style. Not much caramel or toffee or raisin or fig.

Cherries in the front with a lot of well-toasted barley, cream, and breadiness. Yeast takes a more spicy approach rather than a nutty one. Perhaps a little attenuated. There are notes of roasted chestnuts, browned apple flesh, tart berries, and mentholated tobacco. Very nice.

While the body is just thinner than medium, the silkiness of it is almost unmatched. I have had few beers in this realm of viscosity feel so marvelous and be so well-executed. The carbonation is subtle and near-perfect for a big Belgian-style ale such as this.

I reserve most of my top overall ratings in the style for true Belgians, as they tend to be the most complex in taste and aroma and always have great creamy mouthfeel. But, The Reverend has captivated me. A delicious beer with impeccable feel and all the elements worthy of the prestige of imbibing from my Westy chalice.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 03:24:53 | More by thecheapies

bassmantin

Illinois

4.48/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark golden brown with modest head. There is a lot of sediment floating in it. Hold this one up to the light. I'm shocked by how much sediment there is.

Smells like a standard quad. Very sweet. I detect bubblegum in the smell. I'm intrigued.

Taste is fantastic. Well-balanced and rich with Belgian malts. The alcohol is almost indetectible. I noted the same characteristic in the Avery 19th Anniversary. Something about these Avery beers, they really mask the alcohol well. I cannot believe this is a 10% abv beer.

Great beer, and a great value. Will definitely come back to it.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 00:53:10 | More by bassmantin

Brenden

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

About an even medium red leaning burnt red-light brown in the middle, this beer produces a small, tight head off the tap. Retention is pretty good and there are thin, broken near-rings of lacing along with some spotting.
To be honest, I'd never really known what style The Reverend actually is, and I'd never tried it before. There are a few dead giveaways to the style, though it's not as complex as others of its kind or as rich. What it has going for it is that, firstly, I could never know it's a full 10%, as the alcohol is masterfully masked while maintaining a presence and it's simply a solid, balanced, flavorful beer if not that deep. One knows it's a Belgian from the obvious banana and clove-like elements that come only from the Belgian yeast. Combine that with the dark color, the strength, and the dark fruits & candi sugar flavors and you know it's got to be a dubbel, tripel or quad. This one's a little different, though, with a bit of leafy and spicy hops to it and a faint woody sort of note as well.
The masters have this one beat in the feel; sometimes, in an effort to get that rich, full creaminess and strength without the heaviness, a beer goes toward being overly carbonated and crisp enough just to fill, almost like facsimilating a creaminess. This beer tends that way. It could also use more heft for a quad.

Serving type: on-tap

07-11-2012 14:43:14 | More by Brenden

draheim

Washington

3.83/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz (2010?) into a chalice. Pours a crystal-clear amber-mahogany w/ a 1-finger khaki head, good vigorous carb.

Aroma is fruity, bready malt - plums, raisins, figs - brown sugar, alcohol.

Taste follows nose. Sweet, fruity, bready w/ a clean dry finish. Maybe lacking in complexity, though - somewhat one-dimensional.

Mouthfeel is creamy & smooth, soft on the palate. Carbonation is spot-on.

Overall a pretty good quad. Not in the same league as the style leaders, but a worthy effort.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 04:10:23 | More by draheim

ElCommodoro

Texas

4.95/5  rDev +28.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I've never had a quad before, so I'll try to rate it as best I can without having much to compare it to.
Pour produced an impressive light tan head. I'm not sure how this is possible for such a high alcohol content, but it lingered for a very long time and left some of the most impressive lacing I've ever seen. Doesn't make any sense, but I swear that's what happened. I didn't even chill the glass either.
Colour is a light, transparent mahongany with a great deal of large sediment clumps floating around throughout. Not enough to cloud the beverage, though.
The smell is very yeasty, very much of apricot and quite sweet.
Taste is more of the same. Very Belgian. The yeast taste is very strong. Rotting apricot is the dominant flavour. There's good maltiness and some mild alcohol flavour to fill it out, but that's really all it is; filler. The yeasty, rotting apricot flavour dominates. I'm glad to see no hop bitterness is noticeable, but I was hoping for some more alcohol burn in such a strong, sweet brew. It's very well hidden, not so much among complexity as just behind the sweet, yeasty fruit flavour. I can certainly feel the alcohol's affect. I almost didn't rewrite this review after my first one was deleted because Beer Advocate made me log back in. Why the hell it forcibly logged me out to begin with, I can't imagine. I logged in under an hour ago and haven't left the effing page. But let's not let my frustration ruin a perfectly good review. I am surprised by how much I enjoyed this brew considering how dominant a part the strong Belgian yeast flavour played a part. I'm not usually a fan of such styles, but this was just fine. It makes me want to perhaps try another quad one day and not give up on Belgian beers as some other examples have made me want to do. If an anti-yeast-flavour drinker such as myself can enjoy this, it must be good. I suggest giving it a try.

Update:
After having my second one of these, I think even more highly of it. It's the cheapest quad I've come across and still the best so far. The flavour is so complex, and very conservative on hop use, allowing me to really pick up on the whole range of the palate. This is possibly the best beer I've ever had. So, possibly also the best for the money since it's almost affordable for a quad. Some of the better budget beers can still compete, though, since they're SO cheap. But this is definitely up there in the top 5 best beers for the money. It's amazingly delicious. I didn't think I was into yeasty beers and this little gem proved me wrong.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 08:00:24 | More by ElCommodoro

GameFreac

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 oz. bottle shared with a friend. Not sure on the bottling date. 2nd Quad I've ever had to my knowledge.

Appearance: Pours a ruby reddish color that you can see through with no head but that's expected with 10%.

Smell: Smells of dark fruits, plums, and raisins.

Taste - Taste mirrors the nose with more dark fruits coming through, candy, malts, molasses, and brown sugar.

Mouthfeel: Could have been thicker but it was fine. No alcohol detected but feels nice and warming in the throat.

Overall: Overall, very good…better than St. Bernadus Abt 12. No care.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 05:55:41 | More by GameFreac

BostonHops

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz served in a snifter.

pours a translucent dark amber tone with ruby highlights. less than a finger of beige/off-white head recedes fairly quickly into a collar around the glass; nice lacing.

nose is caramel malty first and foremost, followed by candied sugar and a touch of dark fruits. flavor opens with a lasting sweet maltiness; plenty of caramel/toffee, some dark fruit characters and a maybe a touch of bubblegum. a bit on the hot side... overall a decent quad, definitely nothing transcendent.

medium bodied mouthfeel with medium-low carbonation. sweetness starts to wear on you after a while. not on the level of a belgian quad (you might argue it's a borderline quad to begin with) but then, what is?

originally reviewed: 02-21-2011

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 01:09:08 | More by BostonHops

maximum12

Minnesota

2.38/5  rDev -38.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Avery was one of those breweries I used to pick up regularly ten years ago & more; I don't buy enough of them anymore. Too many choices? Dunno, just that I haven't had one in a long, long time. 22 oz. bomber split with my wife.

Pour is dark red with a handful of rich mud thrown in; impenetrable. I almost have to submerge my busted nose to get anything; spare sweetness, faint candy. Not much going on in the aroma realm.

The Reverned tastes a lot stronger than it smells. Bug zapper of alcohol hits one out the gate, along with a double handful of sweaty figs & raisins. Too much raisin, it makes me feel unclean. And I took a shower today. Residual sweetness isn't enough to drown out the sharp tang. Echoes of some dark fruit, but really, not much going on here.

Disappointed in this one. I know the raisins are a personal problem, but there's not much to set them off against. Sub-mediocre.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 02:35:03 | More by maximum12

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a goblet.

3.5 A: Clear, deep amber color. A little over one finger of light tan, frothy/creamy head. Retention is average and a short ring of lacing is left.

4.0 S: Very effervescent. Super strong cherry with accompanying berry aromas. Really, it's tough to search for anything else since the fruits are so up in your face. Plum is also burly, but the currants, raisin, and dates aren't. Good bit of caramel and candi sugar and maybe a touch of molasses underneath. Sweet, but clean overall. Lacking much of the earthiness of the Belgian quads, but a pleasant aroma nonetheless. Mild, though noticeable booze.

4.0 T: Like the nose, this is full of cherries, berries, and plums. Currants, prune, and raisins in limited amounts. Caramel and candi sugar are abundant again. Touch of molasses and a light woodiness, though again not very earthy overall. Clean, sweet for the style, with a light booziness not unbecoming of a 10% brew.

3.5 M: Medium to heavier medium body. Heavier on the tongue than some of the best Belgian mouthfeels, but good enough. Moderate amounts of moderately spritzy carbonation. Reasonably creamy and super smooth.

4.0 D: More and more I think that the general Quad should be split into Belgian and American Quads. This is very tasty, but it doesn't taste all that much like the famous Trappist quads out there. Super tasty beer that is fruit centric and vivid.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 02:16:51 | More by DavoleBomb

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed from tasting notes.

Poured out a clear garnet color with orange highlights around the edges and only a thin collar for a head, no lacing. Peaches and cream aroma combined with lesser amounts of raspberries and plums. Has a pretty low phenol level for a Quad, I'm impressed. Tastes of creme brulee and brown sugar, but not very yeasty in comparison to other Quads. Further light flavors of nutmeg spice and some herbal aroma hopping appear around the edges of the beer as it warms up. In my opinion it could have used about 12% heavier noble spice bittering for optimal balance against the sweetness but YMMV as that sort of thing is highly subjective. Medium bodied and lightly carbonation, lightly boozey warming finish.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 15:40:02 | More by WastingFreetime

GLM0011

Alabama

4.03/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bought a half gallon milk jug of this beer which came out to be five good beers. Very good drinkability and very nice smell. Went very good with gourmet mediterranean pizza. Kind of a slight pilsner ending taste. Malty more than fruity. Will definitely drink this again and again. This beer with pizza and a good mma fight made a wonderful night.

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2012 15:37:08 | More by GLM0011

superspak

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 ounce bottle into chalice, no bottle dating. Pours crystal clear reddish copper color with a 1 finger dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lasts. Some good spotty lacing on the glass. Aromas of caramel, molasses, raisin, toffee, biscuit, toasted grain, grape, candi sugar, and light yeast spices. Some very nice and well balanced aroms; with good complexity and strength. Taste of big caramel, biscuit, molasses, toffee, raisin, fig, toasted grain, light clove, and slight yeast spices. Lingering notes of caramel, toffee, raisin, fig, biscuit, molasses, and light yeast spices on the finish for a while. Fantastic flavor balance and complexity; with no cloying sweetness at all. Extremely easy to sip on; with hardly any alcohol warming noticed other than a minimal warming after the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a creamy and fairly slick mouthfeel. Overall, this is a fantastic Belgian quad style. Great flavor balance and complexity; and extremely smooth to sip on. Loved this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 01:38:25 | More by superspak

mactrail

California

2.98/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a nice coppery amber in the Leffe chalice. Nice head, but dissipates. Smell of raisin toast and cardboard. Tart and spritzy in the mouth. Not as full bodied as I'd expect.

Hot with alcohol. Taste reminds me of apple jack. Sugary yet tart. Fig Newtons and Pop Tarts. Not much hop flavor, but a funky bitterness in the aftertaste that stays with you. More than a hint of cough syrup. Dries out as you sip. Not one of the better examples of the style, in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2012 04:36:29 | More by mactrail

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bought a 22-oz bottle when I was in Denver back in March. Poured into a snifter for review.

A: Pours a semi-cloudy amber color with nice frothy head. Some suds cling to the sides of the glass.

S: I get candied fig, molasses, dark cherries, lots of raisin character, and some brown sugar. Smells like a nice quad.

T: Tastes sweet with waves of toffee and caramel, molasses, raisins, and dark cherries. Plenty of residual sugar at the back end.

M: Feels a tad thin for a Belgian quad. Lighter than expected, still about medium to medium full, bitter with a nice residual sweetness at the back end, and good carbonation.

O: A nice take on the quad style. I enjoyed this but was expecting a little thicker, heavier, sweeter type beer like most quads I've come to enjoy. I would still have this again anytime soon!

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 00:45:53 | More by jwhancher

LeeryLeprechaun

Colorado

3.53/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle dated January 2012
Consumed 2/24/2013

Pours a drown murky color with very little head, very cloudy.

The aroma is of alcohol, toffee, and not a lot else.

Beers tastes of alcohol, caramel, toffee, bread, some spice like phenols, and candi sugar. The beer is very sweet, almost to the point of being cloying.

Full body and a medium mouthfeel.

Overall the beer is underwhelming. It is very sweet and not balanced enough, it does display the toffee and caramel flavors well though.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 16:36:20 | More by LeeryLeprechaun

jtierney89

New Jersey

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

Semi hazy garnett color with a bit of off white head which is dissipating rapidly. Dark jammy fruits on the nose along with rum soaked raisins. Touches of chocolate come out as the beer warms. A touch thinner than expected and a little sweet. Might become cloying but i'm not sure yet. Subdued flavor profile which is nice as good belgian quads exhibit this quality too. Starts thin but the body builds in the mouth rounding out to a big tootsie roll flavored bomb with touches of fruit and caramel on the side of the mouth. Finishes a touch spicy.

Pretty true to style with dashes of things that can be improved upon slightly. Very good though for an American quad, and on of the better American Quads I've had. This beer is just a touch too sweet and isn't nearly complex but is beginner friendly (if a quad could ever be). Pretty spot on though, Avery should be proud.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 02:57:50 | More by jtierney89

Bluestar

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 oz bomber into a clean tulip...

Appearance was very nice. Held up to the light the beer was a deep reddish-copper colour, with small burnt orange-white head, that dissipated quickly.

Smell is fruity. Notes of grape, raisins and general sweetness. Nothing spectacular/out of the ordinary here here.

Taste had hints of carmel, banana, citrus... Sweet finish.

Mouthfeel was very nice. The right amount of carbonation, thick enough to know you're drinking a beer, but not to the point of bready or malty.

Overall, an enjoyable Quad. Nothing out of the ordinary, but I wouldn't refuse a second glass if it was being offered. The alcohol sneaks up on you after the full 22 oz bottle. I wouldn't go for too many in one sitting. Would like to try on draft.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 19:59:58 | More by Bluestar

intensify

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Poured a dark caramel colored body with a head that barely made it a minute.

S- Raisins, caramel, banana, biscuity and bready.

T- First off, the alcohol is very well hidden. The dark fruits take the stage while allowing the spices to come out. Cinnamon, biscuits, plums and raisins.

M- medium-bodied, medium to high carbonation. Good drinkability.

Overall its a very solid quad. Lacked a bit on the nose but made up for it in the taste. If you like belgian ales, acquire a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2012 05:20:39 | More by intensify

Jadjunk

Georgia

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

On Tap at Taco Mac Virginia Highlands. 11 oz. Pour.

(Appearance) pours a clear deep copper with light brown accents. Off white head and light surface cover. Quite clear. Looks good. 4

(Smell) smells of mild fruit tones, Belgian yeast, coriander and various mild spices. mild bitterness to the aroma. Interesting and light. 4

(Taste) much more fruit in the first taste, including grapes, apricots, oranges, peaches. Bold coriander spice on the finish. Very nice and quite fruity tone to it. 4

(Mouthfeel) very slick with a bit of airy carbonation in the midsection. Medium/heavy body. Medium alcohol presence. Pairs nicely to the taste. 4

(Overall) A worthy experience, this beer is another great one representative of its style. 4

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2012 00:28:14 | More by Jadjunk