Karma - Avery Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Nicely hopped but somewhat off funky tasting Belgian pale. There is fruitiness there. Minty toothpaste drying aftertaste, with pepper and coriander. Some yeast aroma. Orange copper colour. Still nicely drinkable, something different on humid evening.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2005 02:22:08 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.6/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

"As the blazing fire reduces wood to ashes, similarly, the fire of self-knowledge reduces karma to ashes."

--Bhagavad Gita


Tangerine-copper with amber edges and a virtual absence of visible carbonation. The dense, orangish beige cap collapses fairly quickly to a fat one finger, when it appears to think better of making such a hasty exit. A small amount of thin, feathery lace makes its way to the glass.

The nose is okay, but is nothing like a Belgian pale ale. A Colorado pale ale perhaps? It smells like the beer is well-balanced between caramel malt and orange fruity, slightly earthy hops. Since Sterling hops are a Saaz variant, I expected, but didn't get, any noble characteristics whatsoever. Avery claims that a true Belgian yeast strain is used, but you'd never know it. Confusion reigns.

After several mouthfuls, the resemblance to a beer of the stated style is starting to make a little more sense. Still, I don't think any serious comparisons can be made to the best Belgian pale ales. I can at least taste what Avery was shooting for, even if they're wide of the mark. The beer is still exceptionally well-balanced, with caramel malt underpinnings and orange-like top notes.

The biggest problem is that there's too much hop flavor, without much hop bitterness, and not enough flavor from the yeast. Belgian beer (and Belgian-style beer) is, in my mind, defined by its yeast. If a brewer uses a lackluster strain, or doesn't possess the skill and/or experience to utilize it effectively, the result can only be lackluster beer. I wouldn't go so far as to describe Karma as lackluster, but neither is it overly lustrous.

There's a modest spiciness, especially on the finish, that probably has as much to do with hops as with yeast. Nothing really changes with warming; more of the same, just warmer. The mouthfeel is solidly medium with a firm feel rather than a lush or creamy one. It's well-bubbled for a Colorado pale ale and underbubbled for a Belgian pale ale.

Karma tastes like a balanced, caramel malty APA brewed with a less than delicious, third-tier hop. As a Belgian knockoff, it's a failure. As a decent, drinkable beer, it's a success.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2005 00:42:38 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at the Mellow Mushroom in Asheville this afternoon. Havent seen it before, and was told that it just came in this morning and I was getting the first pull, awesome. Poured a rich amber with a huge white sticky head. Deep lacing was evident from the start. Nice carbonation bubbling up from the bottom. Smell was intresting, somewhat hoppy, but more of a spiced belgian twist. Hints of Bananas were very noticeable as well as some orange peel. The feel was unusually smooth and a bit flat at first. I actually was not impressed with the first sip, but rather the later ones were much better. Felt very creamy and had a nice lingering finish to it. Muted american hops were mixed in with a nice plae belgian taste. Again bananas and pears, mixed with some earthy bready grains were the commonplace. Overall this was a fairly intresting brew. I did not know what to expect and was defiantly pleasantly suprised. Will have to try it again if I see bottles. Well crafted for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

07-12-2007 21:15:40 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3.48/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

The pour is amber in color with a thin off-white head. Spices are the first thing I notice on the aroma. Coriander, clove, and nutmeg are there. A bit of apple and pear, but sort of watery. Some sweet malt and sugar in the background. Mostly spices on the palate, but noticeably watery. A little bit of malt sweetness, some hints of citrus peel, and that’s about it. What’s there is enjoyable, but it’s too watered down.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 04:57:45 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the brewery in August 2009. Reviewed from notes.

Pours a light yellow color with a white head and not much lacing. Nose brings some bready malt, hints of floral and earthy hops, as well as a bit of Belgian yeast. Taste brings a bit of spice along with pale, doughy malt and a bit of floral bitterness. Feel is like with moderate carbonation. Drinks okay, but doesn't even come close to comparing to Belgian examples of the style (nor a few select American versions).

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2010 01:51:05 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

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

Appearance: Pours a clear, orangey-copper body with a lush, though short-lived white head.

Smell: An aroma that's a mixture of honey, grape bubblegum, and pineapple juice.

Taste: Starts with a light caramel sweetness that thins out into the grape and pineapple fruit flavors. A light hint of citrus comes and goes. There's a light, leafy hop taste and bitterness near the drying finish. I gotta say, for being a mere 5.2% alcohol, you can really taste and feel it.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: It started out alright, but slowly became a chore to finish. I suggest having a friend on hand to split the bottle with.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2007 04:14:55 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a clear light amber color with a modest head that fails the lacing test

Smell: Estery, with a woody, fruity aroma - pear and melon

Taste: Opens with a biscuity flavor, that moves in a fruity direction by mid-palate, with a distinct melon aspect; after the swallow, the hops jump forward and add an earthy bitterness; dry finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Easy to drink, but all over the map, with a nod to each of the major beer centers of England, Germany and Belgium

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2008 22:28:39 | More by brentk56

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a dirty orange color ale with a huge white bubbly head with average retention. Aroma of Belgian yeast is clearly evident as well as a mix of spices. Taste is also dominated by the Belgian signature yeast with a nice touch of hops at the end. Good take on the style without being remarkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2005 20:32:09 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.93/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I agree with most other BA's in that this brew, though very nice, doesn't reall live up to the Belgian Pale Ale billing. Sweet, rich, malty, and clean, but lacks some fundimental Belgian qualities. It lacks the tartness, peppery-ness, and light belgian astringency. The body, sweetness, and alcohol seem fine. The malts (pilsner) seem to be quite caramelized, adding a strong sweetness that would dominate any present belgian character. Quite bready and lightly toffy-like. Pears and peaches share characteristics of Belgian Pale Ales, but the similarities are few. I'd be happy to take any of these brews off of the hands of disappointed BA's though.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2006 13:29:15 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

An interesting find today at Pipe and Pint,poures a nice copper color with a onefinger tight head that leaves a small amount of lace behind,big caramel and biscuit aromas with atouch of fruit seems to be malt dominated at least aroma wise.Big malts dominate in flavor as well up front some caramel and toffee but with a more firm dry biscuit backbone to keep it from being overly sweet,some herbal hop comes thru late alot more as it warms.Not a bad little beer here drink it cool not cold alot more complexities show thru as it warms.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2005 18:55:36 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Avery's Karma pours a hazy, deep-orange/copper body beneath a creamy head of ivory colored foam that holds well, no boubt buoyed by the effervescent bubbles rising from beneath, and leaves short walls of thin but solid lace about the glass.
The nose is mainly malty, a touch wheaty, fruity, and just a touch candyish, with some grassy hops as well.
In the mouth it's medium bodied with a gently zest on the tongue before warming to become quite smooth.
The flavor is exactly as the nose suggests, with its grainy/wheaty maltiness upfront, followed by a bit of spiciness (I though it was all from the yeast, but there seems to be a pinch of coriander in there as well) and some fruitiness (berries, lemon, orange). The bitterness is well-heeled, with just enough to balance; and the spiciness returns in the finish and helps it to dry.
Avery has delivered a very nice, somewhat complex, and enjoyable Belgian-style ale in this one! Worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2005 14:51:10 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a flared pokal at Bliss.

And this Bliss tasting moves on. This offering pours a clear sunset bronze topped by a finger of off-white foam. The nose comprises light green apple, biscuits, grapefruit, banana, black pepper, and a touch of caramel. The taste holds notes of pear, black pepper, light nutmeg, white grapes, toffee, and biscuits. The Belgian character is rather subdued. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fairly dry finish. Overall, a pretty good BPA, but one that's definitely lacking on the B. I'd drink another, for sure, but I wouldn't recommend it too quickly.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2011 07:21:40 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.63/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Clear, golden hued, vastly effervescent, ample dollup of rocky white froth atop.

Mild aroma, lightly hoppy, faint fruit, ...acceptable.

Taste: Clean, and easy on the palate. Malt is here in good amount, and met by hops in good agreement, a happy pair. Juicy and grainy in equal amounts, lightish body, soft finish. Not a big beer by any means, a gentle quaffer, an genial session ale, minimal attack from the various parts, meant merely to charm one with it's let-the-good-times-roll nature and pass the time easily, crossing no boundaries of taste and tolerance.

Not bad, not bad...

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2005 09:23:21 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

3.63/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours an amber color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a fine malt scent that boasts of pale and light crystal malts along with a peppery/coriander aroma. It's dry with some light fruitiness. The taste is decent. It has a weak malt flavor that goes down easy and finishes dry with some mustiness. It is slightly fruity with a lemony zest and a bit of coriander. The mouthfeel is decent also. It is a low/medium bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is an above average beer, but not much for a Belgian style. It drinks well, but it's not one to seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2005 21:44:09 | More by WesWes

Mora2000

Texas

3.68/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to hudsonphotog for sharing this beer.

The beer pours an orange color with a white head. The aroma is flowery hops with some bready malt. The flavor is grapes, flowers and oranges with some lighter malts. A very fruity tasting Belgian ale. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2010 04:55:35 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

3.65/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a reddish color with a small, short-lived white head. It left small traces of lace.

S - It smelled of malt and spices. Also, a hint of orange aroma.

T - It tasted of malt and spices. A good fruity flavor.

M - It was crisp and sharp. A medium-bodied beer.

D - This is a descent representation of the style. Not the best but it was pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2007 17:46:48 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.35/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: The beer is clear amber-orange in color and has a light amount of carbonation. It poured with a half finger high light beige head that quickly died down, leaving a thin film of bubbles covering the surface and a thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are light aromas of caramel malts and spicy and herbal hops in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and additionally has flavors of apples and pears. There are notes of malty sweetness; no bitterness is noticeable.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a low amount of carbonation. There are some hints of dryness in the finish.
O: The beer has an interesting smell and taste but could use stronger aromas and flavors.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 00:49:36 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.58/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours a full copper color and is topped by a frothy, pale, tan head that starts out at a thickness of two fingers. This beer is lightly carbonated, yet the head does have some staying power. The aroma is mildly spicy with notes of lemon, basil, and orange. The citrusy orange notes definitely are the strongest note in the aroma. The taste is lightly sweet, and again the orange/ citrus note carries through to the taste as well. This beer is light, both in body and on the palate. I was hoping for a bit more yeasty complexity here, but this is certainly an easily quaffable beer that is appropriate for the warmer months of the year.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2005 01:39:35 | More by Gueuzedude

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This brew poured out as a golden color with a slight haze to it. The head wasn't too big or anything, average at best. The smell of the beer had a big Belgian yeast aroma going on, there was also a bit of sweetness too. The taste was mostly yeasty, a light banana flavor and a hint of sweet honey in the background of the beer. The mouthfeel wasn't too bad, it was pretty smooth. Overall I wouldn't have to buy this one again.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2011 23:01:35 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.9/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured amber/caramel with 1" of offwhite head. Good head retention & lacing

S: Sweet malt, a little fruittyness (apricots) & grains of paradise

T: Fruitty with a touch of yeast up front, Grains of paradise & apricot follow. Finishes with a little orangey bit of hop notes, dryness & candy sugar

MF: Medium bodied with low cabonation & some slickness

Drank very easy, sort of a training wheels Belgian PA

Serving type: on-tap

05-27-2007 06:08:50 | More by russpowell

emerge077

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Not a beer i'd go for normally, but it arrived as part of a beer club gift, so here goes...

Deeper orange coloration, a flurry of bubbles on the first pour, one finger of foam. Partial ringed lacing, the head fades quickly to a skim and then into a thin ring. The aroma is yeast based, and is a little bit estery. Light and sweet orange note. Tastes like candy orange slices, or even Hawaiian punch, with a biscuit malt in the background. Citrus doesn't seem hop-derived, but there could be some flavor hops in there somewhere. Carbonation is fuzzy upfront with some astringency, and is flat a second later once it hits the palate. Not much complexity, if you're a fan of orange-flavored beer, this may be the session beer for you...

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2009 00:33:19 | More by emerge077

Halcyondays

California

3.4/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle,

A: Pours a light amber, thick head, though the bubbles are a little too big in my opinion, the head leaves minimal Belgian lace.

S: Light fruity, estery smell, some apple, and a pickle kind of smell that reminded me of Golden Monkey, but much less than in the former.

T: Typical light apple and pear esters, had a really nice aftertaste that reminded me a lot of Golden Delicious yellow apples, but not as good overall, as some of the better Belgian Pale Ales that I have had.

M: A little to thin, light, spritzy, for my tastes, but not horrible.

D: An OK beer, not one of Avery's best, but drinkable and thirst-quenching, even though there was not as much complexity as I had hoped for.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2007 02:06:22 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Crystal clear burnt orange in color. Thick 3" head. Some light lacing forms on the glass. Carbonation level seemed a bit low. The aroma is of floral hops and caramel. The flavor is of sweet malts, caramel, toffee, apple, light citrus, and light alcohol. Strong bitterness compared to other belgian pales.

Mouthfeel is smooth and lightly syrupy. Malty and bitter finish. I found one bottle to be enough in the session, so drinkability was marked below good, but definitely above average. This is not one of my top picks with Avery.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2005 12:36:10 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.1/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours hazed amber with a thin layer of a head. The head becomes a small, isolated patch. Some lacing slides down the glass without sticking.

The smell is sweet and fruity with some herbal spicing and bubblegum. There's a hint of caramel and pepper as well.

The taste is of mild sweetness and fruitiness with a touch of bubblegum. There is a peppery, herbal, slightly metallic tinge in the finish.

Light-bodied and slightly watery, the carbonation is effervescent-ish.

Although it doesn't last too long, not too thrilled with the mildly peppery, slightly tinny, aftertaste. While not a "bad" attempt at a "Belgian" pale, it just doesn't make me want to have another, though one drank fine enough I suppose. Not too crazy about how things came together here, a bit watery, and if they were going for marginally Belgian-esque, well that's what it is.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2009 22:19:43 | More by jwc215

akorsak

Pennsylvania

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

A 12 oz bottle from Liquid Solutions.

A: The ale is a golden orange color. The narrower parts of the glass reflect the color of a robust sunset. Ample lacing is the result of a 2 finger head.

S: The nose has some candi sugars and an underlying tartness.

T: Candi sugars, brown sugar and raisins are noticeable on the first sip. That sip alone makes up for the lack of nose. Biscuity malts dry out the sweetness of the fruits. A decent but uninspired ale.

M: The mouthfeel is full, heavy on dark fruits that fill you up quickly. A lighter version of Raison d'Etre.

D: One bottle will be fine for me. Not my favorite Avery offering.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2009 22:08:44 | More by akorsak