The Reverend - Avery Brewing Company

Bierman9

New Hampshire

4.13/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

My first sample of an Avery bier.... sitting outside enjoying the late afternoon sunshine.... ahhhh! The Rev is medium-auburn in hue, which looks even more appealing when held up to the setting sun. It had a very slight haze to it, and possessed a creamy, light tan head. The topping thins down to a fine layer of bubbles, and leaves decent lacing. First whiffs of the aroma indicate some healthy levels of alcohol, as well as some caramel and toffee-like notes. It also seems to have a sharpness, a yeastiness to it. Body of The Rev was medium, and it had a very nice, comfortable feeling on the tongue. Plenty of malty sweetness jumps out of the gate, with a definite warming feeling making its way down the throat to my belly. It seems big, again, with the caramel-like malty flavors. Some fruit makes an appearance, with almost a cherry-like sweetness coming into play. Near the finish is a spicy, peppery quality. I almost went higher on rating the flavor. The first phase of drinking was beauteous....as it warmed and more went down it seemed to actually lose a bit of complexity. Normally it seems to be the other way around. A slight bitter aftertaste becomes evident later in the quaffing experience. Nonetheless, a tasty bier! Prosit!!!

overall: 4.15
appearance: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | mouthfeel: 4 | drinkability: 4.5

587

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2003 17:45:43 | More by Bierman9

francisweizen

Australia

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

22oz bomber bottle:

This brew poured a dark orange-ish red colour with a small, yet ample white head. The aromas were heavily spicy, yeasty, and belgian in influence, with the actual taste following suit quite nicely. For a quadruple style ale the aroma of alcohol and the taste of it were both quite subdued and blended quite well into the rest of this big beers flavor profile. The mouthfeel on this was not too thick or cloying and the drinkability was excellent as well. I'd definately rank this up there with La Trappe (Koningshoevens) Quadruple...

F

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2003 13:01:22 | More by francisweizen

beerguy101

California

3.85/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Glowing orange color. Medium head. Aromas are malts, fruits and brown sugar. A full-bodied Belgian Style Ale. The malts are bold, very sweet and fruity. Yeasty, with a hint of spiciness. Its very sweet, perhaps overly so. But, its also very smooth. There are hints of the 10% alcohol, some in its slightly "oily" texture and most noticeable it is warming effect, but it has no alcohol bite. This is a nice sipping beer, once you can get past its sweetness. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is smooth. Aftertaste is sweet.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2003 09:16:39 | More by beerguy101

RBorsato

Virginia

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

Amber, chestnut brown (bright to light) with a nice tan head, moderate carbonation, and light lace. Spicy Belgian Malt aroma but not real yeasty like most Belgians. Light alcohol nose. Malty almost double-bock-like flavor with an all malt profile. Full bodied and smooth with a light alcohol finish.

Not bad but probably will not buy another after I drink the second one I acquired. I estimate that this one has been aged between 1.5 to 2 years ... can age up to 4 years per ABCo website.

Label states: "Belgian barley malt, Dark Belgian candi sugar, Styrian Goldings hops, and authentic Belgian yeast"

($5.49 / 22 oz.)

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2003 12:40:20 | More by RBorsato

kbub6f

New York

3.7/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bought locally (Grapevine refrigerated shelves), a couple of weeks in my fridge, reviewed 45F-70F.

What a nice, yellowish, cream-colored dense melting ice cream head. Complete sticky lacing runs away fairly quickly. The beer is a gorgeous clear copperyamberbrown.

Sweet creamy toffee dominates the nose, but there's also quite a bit of peppery spice in there with some grapes and a little bread. The front is syrupy sweet. Mostly candy, with bananas and bubblegum. The middle is very malty. Thick. Some apples make an appearance in the spicy finish. When cool, the alcohol is quite prominent in the finish, but that goes away as the beer (or maybe the beer drinker) warms. The aftertaste is nicely bready. Overall, I like this quite a bit more than Salvation. It's more deserving of the "Belgian-style" in the name, too, I think. For me, it's a little too sweet, but otherwise -- very good.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2003 14:39:51 | More by kbub6f

mzwolinski

California

4.2/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Imposing bottle, whose central image is that of a very serious looking reverend who seems to gaze straight into your soul as though to ascertain your worthiness for the elixir contained within. This ain’t no kum-by-yah singing, let’s all hold hands kinda priest. This guy is straight up, old school, latin-speaking hell-and-damnation, and the beer he’s guarding is the pure demon-melting holy water stuff. Brimstone color with just the thinnest of thin heads. The aroma is a beguiling blend of candi sugar, sweet malt, and Belgian yeast. Soul-cleansing spiciness right from the start, a bit peppery in flavor, blends with candi sugar sweetness and yields gently into a deep fruit malt flavor. Nice hop bite at the end. Full in body, but well-carbonated enough to go down fairly smoothly. No spices listed on the label – hard to believe there aren’t any added. Good stuff overall, the high alcohol content is hidden fairly well. Just watch the quantity of your consumption or you’ll be speaking in tongues in no time.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2003 11:47:19 | More by mzwolinski

Gusler

Arizona

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

What a beautiful site is this transpicuous mahogany colored elixir of life setting in my glass with the modest and creamy head all cutesy and light tan in color? As it degrades the silky coating of lace is left behind to seal off the glass. Fusel alcohol, sweet caramel, malts, fresh and clean, a superb nose for sure and the start thickly malt sweet and the top full and rich in its feel to the palate. Finish has a delightful hop presence, the carbonation delicate and the aftertaste quite dry. The high ABV makes itself known as a nice “Belly Warming Feel”, and a touch of bitterness in the aftertaste, hearty and robust and a must try for the “Bad Boys and Girls” in the audience.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2003 13:41:19 | More by Gusler

MAB

Alberta (Canada)

4.9/5  rDev +27.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

My first impressision of the beer was an incredible sweetness followed by the nice yeast flavor and the spicy- like cloves- undertones. The yeast does not overpower the flavor by any means. Finishes slightly bitter. I thought the carbonation was very good; not as bubbly as I would have expected, and it gave the mouthfeel a heavier body. Not a lot of head (perhaps I poured it well) but still nice lace rings on the glass after each sip (gulp).

I've had many Belgian ales where the cabonation was popping on the tongue, and while I still appreciate that, this one didn't do it, and it was a very pleasant change. Likewise with bold, up front, yeasts in many other Belgian styles.

If you can rank beer by the number of times I said "Omigod!" during its disappearance, then this is a ten.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2003 16:15:38 | More by MAB

TheLongBeachBum

California

4.2/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

“And on the Eight day God created Reverend”, so says the label.

After the impressive ‘Salvation’, which was a “Belgium-Style Golden Ale”, I awarded myself the privilege of trying another brew from the stable of Avery Brewery, Boulder, Colorado. This time it is ‘The Reverend’, a “Belgium Style Quadruppel Ale”. Cool.

This too came in a 22 fl.oz. bottle. It had some red foil covering the crown cap. The label, as with the Salvation, also has strong religious overtones, and a monochrome, rather stern looking reverend stands holding a Bible in front of a colorful stained glass window. But this does not scare me, I am an Atheist, and I am here for the beer.

Aromas are ethanolic, strong warming and pungent. Overall the nose of the beer is of a strong Belgium Ale. Cloves and hop-spices are evident at the start of the nose and are enticing.

Pours with exceptional clarity, and a deep copper-brown color that has an irradiant orange hue. A quick swirl reveals great inherent carbonation, but the dissolved carbon dioxide makes a pathetic attempt to form a head and it fails miserably. Only a thin uni-molecular layer straddles the beer, but the situation is redeemed partially with the formation of the white halo ringed head that barely clings to the sides of the glass with no lace. Later, as I top the beer up, an acceptable ¼” off-white smooth looking head is retained.

A strong warming alcoholic introduction leads into a lovely sweet malty middle. The sweetness is mild and stands aside for a dry but warming ethanol finish that has some bitterness that lingers for a few seconds. Quite drinkable for a high strength beer.

Quadruppels are quite rare in Belgium & Holland, there are not too many Breweries that brew this “style”. But this is quite close to the one from Koningshoeven, La Trappe Quadruppel, and a very good effort.

A great drinking beer for 10% ABV, and a good Belgium ‘Style’ Quadruppel.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2003 18:58:23 | More by TheLongBeachBum

AudioGilz

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

I wasn't that impressed with this beer. Sweet and a little spicy aroma. The taste is very sweet and rich, and then fades to a slight bitterness. The alcohol sometimes is noticeable and sometimes is not. Not a bad brew by any means, not exciting either. Try it if you'revery curious.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2003 18:14:42 | More by AudioGilz

Mitchster

Michigan

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

"Created by God. Feared by Satan. Loved by All."

Orig review 2/14/03, re-reviewed 8/16/10.
$6.99 for a 22oz bomber @ Jacks.

Brewed with Two-row barley, cara 8, cara 20, caramel 15L, caramel 40L, Belgian special B, dark Belgian Candi sugar, and hopped with Styrian Goldings. Fermented with Wyeast 3787.
OG: 1.093   ABV: 10.0%   IBUs: 10

Brilliantly clear medium amber brew with orange tints forms a thin, yet clingy white head of very fine bubbles with solid sheets of sticky lace. Gorgeous brew. Mild carbonation. Aroma opens with lots of pineapple, honey, apple juice, amber malts, molasses, candi sugar, black cherries, some faint red apple peelings, perhaps a little woodiness and red licorice, and some alcohol when swirled. Mouthfeel is soft, thick, and syrupy with a medium-dense body. Starts with a very faint hop bite, immediately blends into a huge honey and malt body with a subtle orange peel sourness (kinda like General Tsao's sauce) followed by a very firm alcohol presence with notable fermented dark candi sugar characteristics, ending in a long, sweet, malt and candi sugar finish with no noticeable bittering hops and a subtle black licorice aftertaste. The alcohol warms the stomach within minutes. Definitely a sipper, but the alcohol and sweetness is sometimes much, especially when cold. Dangerously drinkable despite this. Alcohol goes to the head rather quickly, but then I'm drinking this bomber on an empty stomach.

This is a very good brew, well crafted with no perceptible off flavors, but it really needs some help in the carbonation department to compete with the native Belgian Quads. I'm brewing a Westy 12 with Wyeast 3787 next weekend, so it's refreshing to drink this and know that it tastes nothing like Westmalle (the source of 3787), which is think is a horrible brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2003 20:30:39 | More by Mitchster

jtw5877

Ohio

4.53/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours a reddish orange hue with a white head. Smells like a combination of yeast, spice, and candied sugars. Tastes great, the smells I smelled I also tasted. As the beer warmed more flavors emerged, and those present earlier became more intense. It may not be filtered, but I am not a purist. A very tasty brew, plus at 10% abv, it is very nice for a cold winter evening.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2003 09:47:57 | More by jtw5877

Morris729

Texas

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

Pours a reddish mahogany color with a creamy white head that quickly dissipates into a thin ring of lace. Nose is sweet candied sugar, dark sweet fruit, and spice. First sip is overpowering sugar sweetness, but soon fades as some tart citrus notes express themselves. As the beer warms, flavors of molasses, currants, and dark cherries begin to come through. Can’t tell by the taste or smell that it’s 10% abv. Once you get past the initial sweetness, this is an enjoyable brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2003 14:29:45 | More by Morris729

Myk

Massachusetts

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

for being in the belgian style i would have thought this to be slightly clouded with yeast, i was dead wrong, holding this beer up to the light it was a brilliant burnt ornage/amber color with the perfect 1/2 inch pearl, small bubble head. it was so thick it reminded me of a root beer float. the aroma at first was of raosted malt, citrus, grape and bitter hop. midway through it i went back for another smell before sip and was totally caught off guard when i smelled nuts. after a few more sips i decided to go get a small piece of cashew from downstairs, yup cashew. interesting for the "belgian style" . the taste was of a sweet lingering malt, alcohol and spicy hop bitterness. it had a super dry finish which i rather enjoyed. there was no sediment or yeast anywhere in the bottle, another little side weirdness for something that is in the "belgian style" may not be perfect to style, but i really enjoyed this interpretation. watch out though, you can taste the alcohol, slightly, but theres a bunch in there.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2003 21:25:58 | More by Myk

yen157

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Surprisingly, this beer poured crystal clear a very pretty reddish amber. Only my second beer called a "Quad", it was not a rich as Weyerbacher's interpretation, which was not necessarily a bad thing. Nice malt flavor and fruitiness accompanied by a one-dimensional, tea like toastiness. It reminded me of iced tea made with hard water. The alcohol in this 10% abv beer was expertly hidden. A nice light, spicy hop bitterness rounds out the brew.

Thanks to TXHops for the beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2003 06:19:36 | More by yen157

philipt

North Carolina

3.48/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours with a clear copper body and short-lived head. Perhaps filtered(?); first for a Belgian. I like the presence of some yeast and cloudiness. Smells sweet, with a hint of Belgian yeast. Taste is rather simple when compared to Trappists and other Abbeys, as well as Ommegang and Allegash. Assertive alcohol burn (wait, this is 10%??? Not too bad in that case). Other notes: sweet, a bit tart in the mid-taste, and some yeast flavor. All in all, not a bad interpretation. Much like my first Belgian homebrew: simple, sweet, and highly alcoholic (on the other hand, this is crystal clear, whereas my brew was quite cloudy and opaque).

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2002 14:05:45 | More by philipt

marc77

California

3.78/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Crystal clear bronze hue, covered by a dense, moderately thick off white head that settles slowly. Belgian lace is left. Floral and spicy hops hit the nose at first, then are ensued by light notes of peppery alcohol and mildly fruity red licorice sweetness. Fermentation byproduct contributions in aroma are very understated, and consist only of slight clove phenol. A trace, but pleasant chalky note adds a drying contrast towards the end of the aroma. Bright, sugary sweetness upfront in flavor is quickly countered by hop bitterness above the norm for style and a floral hop flavor. When coupled w/ the sweetness the floral hops lend a perfume like character that persists from start to finish. Clove is slightly more assertive than than expected from the aroma and provides a token "Belgian" quality in flavor. Mid palate sweetness widens and becomes dark caramel malt derived in nature. A touch thin in body, but w/ sufficient dextrins to help lend an agreeably smooth mouthfeel. Hop bitterness has faded appreciably by the finish, which is mostly of residual sweetness and mellow, black licorice like alcohol. Reverend is an odd and enjoyable brew. Although it lacks the complexity of many Dark Strongs and is too "clean" all around, it is a unique brew in itself. The apparent filtration may have stripped flavor contributions from the yeast strain, but the floral hop profile and overall softness faciltate excellent drinkability. Very quaffable considering the supposed strength.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2002 18:55:08 | More by marc77

cokes

Wisconsin

3.18/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Remarkably passive.
Nice looking reddish-copper glass. Hefty foam whittles itself away to just a skim. Totally clear, no haze at all, no sediment. Strange that a Belgian Quad would be filtered.
Aroma of faint malt and processed cold-cut lunch meat. No depth, and smells bad to boot.
Carmel maltiness on the taste buds. Bready notes. Vaporous spices, but too faint to be distinguished. Hoppy and drying in the finish. Way too simple. Lacks any sort of nuance. Grain-like alcohol is preceived occasionally, but is well-hidden for the most part.
Semi-sticky in the mouth with some coating sweetness that rides into the finish.
Almost like a macro interpretation of a quad. Drinkable but not much else.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2002 21:57:54 | More by cokes

BKotch

Texas

3.3/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Supposedly an American interpretation of a Belgian quad. Nice dark amber color and smallish tan head. Smell and taste, though, are just average -- heavy and sweet (not too sweet) maltiness with some hoppy notes later on, but none of that yeasty, complex Belgian character. Mouthfeel is a little better, catching the syrupy nature of a quad. Pretty drinkable for a 10% abv brew, but it's definitely lacking in complexity for the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2002 12:04:00 | More by BKotch

beerluvr

New Jersey

4.63/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours with a quick white head that falls upon brilliant brass-colored liquid. Nose is sweet malt and even sweeter Belgian candi sugar. Taste is exquisite sweet candi sugar, upstaged by a hop upsurge...very nice! Finish is slightly dry with more of the candi sugar note returning along with alcohol. Great U.S. Belgian interpretation.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2002 21:49:20 | More by beerluvr

Wildman

Ohio

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

This beer poured a dark copper amber color. Formed a white head that didn't hold for very long and left little lace. Heavy amount of carbonation common to this style. The aroma had malt and some spice element to it. The taste was malt and spice with a slight hint of the alcohol. It has a medium body and finish that just seemed to be lacking something. Since I have tried few of this style, review may change in the future.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2002 17:39:24 | More by Wildman

mophie

Delaware

4.1/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Only the second quadrupel I've tried (Weyerbacher QUAD is the other one). I respect both brewers immensely for attempting the style. Anyway, The Reverend has a deep orange/copper color, with minimal head. Actually quite nice to look at. The smell is sweet, somewhat like caramelized orange, with spicy hints of pepper. Very nice! Taste is initially sweet (almost too much so), though it gives way to a citrus twang, followed by a spicy alcohol punch, finishing with a lingering bittersweet aftertaste. Very complex. Tonight, however, I was in the mood for a bit of complexity, so this was a really nice treat!

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2002 20:04:18 | More by mophie

mattmaples

Oregon

4.35/5  rDev +13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Nice brew!! Strong, malty, a touch sweet. Nice small spicy hop presence. It could have used a little more flavor from the yeast to amke it more Belgiany but all and all a very tasty and very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2002 12:18:10 | More by mattmaples

DrewS

Virginia

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

Not sure what to think about this one. The amber colored liquid had a decent head that died off with sweet malty aroma. It tasted quite sweet and effervescent with a medium to strong malt body. Some noticeable alcohol, I mean how can you avoid it at 10% but it was ok. Not a beer for the weak. I may have to drink another one to pick up some more stuff that I feel like I'm missing

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2002 21:03:36 | More by DrewS