Old Jubilation - Avery Brewing Company

sabrills70

North Carolina

3.38/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a brown/dark amber with a 1 finger head and good lace. Heavy malt aroma - chocolate, coffee and nutty. Good roasted malt taste mixed with coffee, chocolate and a hop as well as roasted bitterness. Slightly alcoholic and warming. Raisin and plum flavors noted. Higher than normal carbonation. A good complex brew but a bit harsh still. I think I will let the other 5 sit for a bit and try one again when it gets closer to Christmas - it should smooth out some.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2005 23:41:05 | More by sabrills70

Vancer

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Quite the winter warmer! Wow, a hot toddy for a cold evening by the fire, but……

Good start – deep caramel (root beer) pour with a sticky tan head. And those fall spice malts in the aroma were enticing. The quaff had a sugar cane sweet start, and finished with a proper hop kick. But……… the alcohol was very noticeable, and it came with a cherry medicine after burner. Just too tad too hot for a good drinker brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2005 14:01:42 | More by Vancer

ALESwhatCURESya

Wisconsin

3.38/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A- Deep chestnut brown with a ruby shimmer. Body is very clear with a sticky beige head that scatters fairly quickly. Looks delicious.

S-Heavy spice kick dominated by nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon. Just about perfect for a true winter beer.

T&M-Again, spices are the dominant force here. The spiciness of the nutmeg runs through the entire sip. The high abv also shines and puts a little too much burn on the mouth. I love the spices but at times, they can come on a bit cloying and I think that it should be balanced a little better. The bittering hops definately come through on the finish, but again seem a little out of place.

D-I would have liked this to come on a little stronger in the malt field to come across as a huge, full-bodied, winter brew, but was a little overdone by the spices and hops. Probably great after sitting a year.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2005 23:48:15 | More by ALESwhatCURESya

NorCalYeti

California

3.38/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

taste- semi-sweet roasted malt

color- red copper

clarity- clear with suspended sediment

smell- roasted malt

body- medium-full, slight bitter finish

appearance- nice color, slight off-white head

overall impression- liked the body, sweet malt flavor, and bittering hops

notes- still not what i'm looking for in my christmas beer although it's the best example i've tasted thus far. this review is for a 2008 vintage tasted in 2008

glassware: pint

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2009 05:18:25 | More by NorCalYeti

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.38/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

This was probably the 2010 version. There is nothing on the bottle to indicate the year though. The label is a little different than the picture here; has the brewery logo at the bottom on the label.

A - Poured from a bottle into a tulip glass. Nice dark brown color, almost opaque. An inch head formed but quickly faded.

S - Overall a very light scent. Some malty smell...

T - There's a great balance between the malt and hops here. Neither really come out ahead, but they complement each other well. A short sweet finish. This is one of the few winter seasonals that I have had that does not have an array of the "Christmas spices" in its flavor. I like it.

M - Medium going toward heavy body. Almost no carbonation. A good weight for a winter warmer.

D - A good beer. I am enjoying sipping it on this (finally) cold night. I will probably have one more from the 6-pack and save the others for the next few years. Avery says that they can be cellared for a couple years so we will see if anything changes with time.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2010 00:28:47 | More by Fatehunter

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a snifter at The Firkin.

And our day at the Firk is nearing an end. Soon, we bottle some of our own beer! In the meantime, this one pours a dark ruby-brown topped by a finger of dirty white foam. The nose comprises roasted malts, light fennel, brown sugar, light maple syrup, and walnuts. The taste holds notes of brown sugar, light roasted malts, walnuts, and light maple syrup. There's a decidedly watered-down kind of feeling to everything. The body is a straight medium, with a light carbonation and a kinda watery feel. Overall, a decent Winter brew, but nothing I would heartily ask for or recommend. It's all just a bit watery for my liking.

Serving type: on-tap

11-25-2010 06:31:03 | More by TMoney2591

JoeAmerican77

Colorado

3.38/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Brownish red in color, good head and lacing. Smells of some piney hops and weak malts. Sweet malts hit the tongue first, some caramel and toffee as well as hop strength in the back. Like it. Warming and pretty thick for a sixer beer. Simple, does the trick. I'd have two.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 04:02:58 | More by JoeAmerican77

ElGordo

Oregon

3.35/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a deep, translucent red with a light creamy head. At first, the nose is full of robust malt aroma, progressing towards a sweeter, more herbal nose with noticeable alcohol as it warms. A number of flavors jump out of a thick, warming body: sweet malt, allspice, honey, and molasses. The bitter, malty finish lingers on the palate for quite a while. A good winter warmer, with emphasis on the warm. For >6% alcohol, it still packs a punch.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2004 04:20:22 | More by ElGordo

jpaltan

Texas

3.35/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours a muddy brown with a thick tan head, that seems like it might be around for a bit. Smell is toffee some caramel notes, brown sugar, real heavy on the malt, not much in the way of hops. Taste is rather odd and a complete let down from the smell. first is a rather cloying sweetness of brown sugar and then comes a piney hops. Some winter spice is a bit abrasive on the tongue too. Mouthfeel is decent enough. Good carbonation to carry the alchohol and the stickiness of this beer seems to work. Drinkability is a bit lackluster for me. Not sure I would ever need to try this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2009 23:00:12 | More by jpaltan

confer

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Brown/red color with a small tan head, lots of lacing . Smokey malt aroma. The flavor is also smokey, and earthy and fairly bitter but not a hop bitterness. Thankfully no cinnamin or other seasonal spices that are used on plenty of 'Winter' beers. It has a nice thick feel. For me this beer is best as a night closer. The last beer of the night after a few lesser beers.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2010 00:11:27 | More by confer

TexIndy

Texas

3.35/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Shipped back from my Denver trip. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass. No dating info on the bottle. It was a mahogany color with lots of carb streams. It had a large beige head that slowly settled into a constant foam cap fed by the card. Great slow sliding lace with good stickage.

The aroma was very weak even with swirling. Malty with dark fruits. The taste was much better than the aroma. Again, sweet malt with dark fruits but the end has a moderate bitter finish. Mouthfeel was medium with good carb levels. After-taste was lingering bitter.

Overall, a good winter warmer that does well for the style. For me, I'm not in a rush to have another but that's more a style thing. If I want a warmer though this is on the short list. Rotation - might be available here in TX but I shipped one back just in case and also cause I could get a single of it. It's good for a warmer but one is enough for me [1-style]

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2010 23:16:54 | More by TexIndy

beagle75

Iowa

3.35/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a tulip glass.

A: Clear, medium reddish-brown color with less than one finger of diminishing off-white foam head. Light lacing remains on the glass.

S: Strong vinous fruit and mellow fermented grain combine to make a smell that is initially potent but fleeting. As intensity decreases, very faint vanilla and brown sugar are revealed. Alcohol fumes diminish in a similar manner, becoming undetectable after a few minutes.

T: Begins slightly sweet, with toffee, dark toast, and faint dark fruit. Grain turns husky in the middle, drying just slightly, with a phantom flavor of urea that comes and goes, but is a definite distraction when it is present. While dryness is never achieved, it is approached by an additional degree in the finish where bitterness is noticeable but not excessive, and rustic earthy malt lingers on the palate. Alcohol is mostly concealed, lending just occasional volatile fumes.

M: Thin to medium viscosity, slightly syrupy showing restrained acidity, with low carbonation.

D/O: This beer is appealing in concept--strong and malty, but with the omission of those troublesome spices that are meant to invoke the spirit of wassail, only to trip up so many winter warmers. Unfortunately the transient urea notes take one completely out of the experience, limiting enjoyment. Still, it is not without its charms; considering it is an Avery product, it may be considered a qualified success.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2011 22:26:36 | More by beagle75

genog

Ohio

3.33/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Had this at Z Cucina with Adam Avery. It was an amazing evening of pairing delicious food with two amazing beers at each course.

Pours a rich brownish, red color with a nice frothy off white head. Smell is sweet, with a bready, doughy type aroma too. Sweet caramel malt as well. Taste is dried, fruits, and some viney grape flavors. A little watery, with some light carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2007 00:33:30 | More by genog

ncstateplaya

North Carolina

3.33/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I want to say that I enjoyed last year's run a little more than this last experience. But either way, my review is for the 2008.

Appearance: It poured an extremely clear walnut brown with cherry fringes. A very fluffy and creamy 2 fingered tan head that quickly receeded to form a 1/8" sheet across the surface of this dark beauty. Very little lacing, actually next to none...which is reflected in my score (probably dropped a half point).

Smell: The nose of this beer is nice...subtle complexities invite the taster. I picked out a spicy aroma with pine and possibly molasses. The hops are present, but by no means are they dominant.

Taste: I thought this beer to have a nice malty taste with yeasty flavors that I wasn't expecting, nor remembering from last year. There was a slight bitter finish, but nothing about this beer really stood out declaring it great.

Mouthfeel: A nice bodied beer that left my mouth feeling coated, I guess I am trying to say that it was a viscous brew with medium body. It was smooth and almost creamy with a biscuity characteristic.

Drinkability: This beer is just above run of the mill for me. Nothing clearly stands out (hope that's not due to the IPA beforehand). I rated this beer a little low in drinkability based on the fact that there are so many great winter seasonals that I would go after rather than this beer. I intend on having it again and will change my rating if so be the case.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2008 18:57:49 | More by ncstateplaya

TLove

District of Columbia

3.33/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

While this beer is not weighed down by the brunt of spices that would normally accompany a winter warmer, this beer seems to me to be more like a DIPA in its hop structure. Frankly, the hoppiness of this beer really surprised me and perhaps rendered the beer a bit unbalanced on the back end. That being said, this is a good beer, but stylistically incomplete.

A decent, fluid red-brown color with a woody, bready smell and some strong, sweet malt on the mouth. There is not an overpowering presence of alcohol, which is surprising, especially due to the lack of heavy winter spices in this beer such as clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon. There is a tint of spruce in this, but nothing like the Anchor Christmas ale.

After all I've heard about this beer, a bit disappointing.

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2009 19:56:39 | More by TLove

ruckus232

Illinois

3.33/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 Ounce brown bottle poured into a pint glass

Appearance: Slightly clear medium/dark brown in color with a little bit of a tan head.

Smell: Toasted malted smell but almost to the point of having a burnt type scent.

Taste: Still has the toasted taste but without the burnt taste I noticed in the smell. The taste is actually more bitter then I would expect but the taste is not very complex and fades sort of fast.

Note: The taste is not bad but its nothing too exciting. It is however a lot better then the smell.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2010 23:02:53 | More by ruckus232

philbertk

Washington

3.33/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Old Jubilation Ale

1998--12 oz. Bottle. 8.00% ABV. Winter Ale. (3.0 / 5.0)

2005--12 oz. Bottle. 8.00% ABV--30 IBU's. (4.5 / 5.0) Winter Ale. Arctic Liquor Beer of the Month Club Selection December 2005. Thin lacy head. Clear dark bronze color. Mild roasted floral hop cinnamon malt spice front. Dry sweet burnt crisp toffee caramel spice thin rich body. Crisp Winter spice roasted hoppy end. Sampled 4/18/2006.

2006--12 oz. Bottle. 8.00% ABV--30 IBU's. (4.5 / 5.0) Winter Ale. Mild lacy head. No sediment. Clear dark bronze color. Mild hop big malt front. Crisp tangy tart sweet toasted toffee clove nutmeg malty body. Hot malt spice mild EtOH hop clean dry sweet end. Big & balanced. Sampled 6/12/2007.

2007--12 oz. Bottle. 8.00% ABV--30 IBU's. (4.25 / 5.0) Winter Ale. 6-Pack $8.99. Perfect Label. No sediment. Rich lacy off white head. Clear thin dark bronze color. Toasted malt spice smoky mince meat mild hop front. Crusty roasted burnt nutmeg toffee caramel body. Cloying sweet smooth mild hop lingering malt spice roasted nutty end. Sampled 10/13/2008.

2008 12 oz. Bottle. 8.00% ABV--30 IBU's. (4.0 / 5.0) Winter Ale. Big foamy lacy head. Clear thin dark bronze red color. Mild hop toasted malt spice front. Mild coffee toffee rich malty no added spice nutty hint body. Mild hop hot EtOH tangy malt spice boisterious malt end. Sampled 12/10/2008. 6-Pack $9.99.

Avery Brewing Company--Old Jubilation Ale--Limited Release 2010 12 oz. Bottle. 8.30% ABV. 30 IBU's? (3.75 / 5.0) Winter Old Ale? Lacy dense tan 1/2" head. Clear dark ruby walnut color. Mild hop malty toasted dark fruit front. Creamy smooth rich doughy malty toffee raison dark mellow fruit mildly crusty sweet body. Clean mild hop hot EtOH hint dark fruit malty end. Too rich. Sampled 2/21/2011. Purchased 6-Pack for $9.99 at The Greenwood Market, Seattle on 10/27/2010.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2011 03:50:47 | More by philbertk

SPThirtyThree

Colorado

3.33/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

No yeast at the bottom. $7.99 for a sixer. Served at fridge temp.

A: Dark, ashen ruby. Bright red when viewed through light, but when left to hide under its cap, the color is replaced by darkness. An aggressive pour forms a two-and-a-half-finger, eggshell foam head, with varying bubble sizes. This beer globs itself onto the sides. Hazy, doesn’t let you see through. Head falls to a cream, and it tries briefly to cling to the side, but doesn’t leave any lacing.

S: Very malty and hoppy. Biscuity breadiness….. Raisins and figs, all subdued. Grains, wheat, a sliver of banana. Just not much going on. Woody. Nutmeg.

T: really bitter, and hot, too. Fusels and phenols. Bandaid. Cherry, cinnamon, walnut. A bit rough.

M: Dry and astringent. High carbonation, medium body.

D: Low. I don’t want a second bottle. C-.

Interestingly, there are no hops, but only bullion hops, known for their distinctive black currant flavor.

I've never tasted bullion hops, but I get a hot, piney flavor, like that of an evil pineapple. In a way, it reminds me of Chinook, as it has some grapefruit and a distinctive note that I can only describe as cat piss.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 23:56:25 | More by SPThirtyThree

DogFood11

California

3.3/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a dark brown and filthy off white head. DNA everywhere.

some toasted smells, malts are a big factor, chocolate creeps into the picture.

Touch of cedar comes through along with the toasted malts. Pretty big hop profile is quickly squashed with oh so sweet malts. I didn't get the spices I was anticipating at all, although a touch of pepper comes into play late in the aftertaste. This is a zippy chocolate, hoppy brew that excites the palate.

Notes: Ok, enough said.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2005 19:21:17 | More by DogFood11

nsabo

Washington

3.3/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Oct. 2009 bottle opened in Dec. 2011.
Tastes like a creamier version of a scotch ale: very sweet, nutty in a brown ale kinda way. Caramel With winter warmers, I expect heavy malts and some variation of spice: the malts aren’t particularly heavy here and there are absolutely no spices. It’s not bad, but there aren’t any memorable qualities, either. Medium-thin mouthfeel.
I picked up a few packs of this 2 years ago and have been sampling it at different intervals since then. While still very drinkable and carbonated, at 2 years this feels past its prime. I remember thinking it was outstanding between 1-1 ½ years (sorry, didn’t take notes, all I remember was that the nose was wonderfully bready and the hops were still fairly present).

A final note: I've always known this as a winter warmer. BA labels it as an Old Ale, while Avery's website calls it an Old Strong Ale. Hmm

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 04:43:51 | More by nsabo

Beerandboards

New Mexico

3.3/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from 12oz bottle

A - pour into a standard pint glass produces about 1/2-3/4 inch of white cream colored head. Retains a crown throughout, mild lacing. Half dozen strings of medium bubbles rise throughout

S - somewhat flat. Some fresh bread yeasty notes, not really picking up much in the nose here. Not off putting at all, just not real complex.

T - Some roasted nuts, bready malt, nice mild bitterness throughout. Good clean finish, nothing bad, nothing great. I usually look for a little more complexity and agressive flavors from this style. Taste reminds me a lot of a brown (which isn't one of my favorite styles, that may be affecting my opinion here). Improves as the beer warms, a little caramel shows up with some slight floral type hop notes on the finish. Caused me to come back and bump the taste up a half notch.

M - Pretty good. Light medium thickness. Medium carbonation. Nice creamy feel and good finish.

O - An average, not bad not great brew. I enjoyed it, but didn't love it. I bought a six pack, I'll drink a couple over the next couple weeks and put 2-3 down for a couple months just to see what happens. Barring some unforeseen improvement with age (given lack of complexity, I do t expect it), I probably won't revisit. Glad to try it, just wanted a little bigger complex brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 01:16:25 | More by Beerandboards

mattcrill

Ohio

3.28/5  rDev -15%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a clear amber brown with a tight off-white head. No light gets through the body and no visible carbonation noted.

Smell: Cabarnet grapes, cocoa, musty, earthy smell. Also, there is a metallic (nickel) smell that grows and is kind of offensive.

Taste: Cocoa, cream, a malty sweetness that is quickly followed by a dash of citrus and bittering hops. Hop presence definitely becomes assertive but not dominant. Nice balance of sweet and bitter.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with mild carbonation.

Drinkability: Fairly decent. The metallic aroma detracts from the overall experience. Still, in a sea of sometimes bland winter warmers, this keeps the palate interested. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2005 01:05:03 | More by mattcrill

plaid75

New York

3.28/5  rDev -15%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a very deep, dark amber, with a one finger cramy head, Little retention and lacing.

The smell was all toasted malt with hints of clove, raisins, coffee and gingerbread.

The taste started of mildly sweet but finished with a very nice spicy, toasted finish. Dry finish.

The mouthfeel was clean with sensations of both sweet and dry.

A good drinkable winter.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2006 02:34:23 | More by plaid75

ChadQuest

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev -15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Ah, the ever ambiguos "Winter Warmer" style, if only i knew what that meant. Well this time it means dark copper color tone with good lacing with raisons, cherries, and spices galore with a very sweet tooth malt body with a bit of campfire smoke inside of a gently carbinated medium viscosity easy drinking top fermented ale.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2010 05:59:15 | More by ChadQuest

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.28/5  rDev -15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Poured a deep amber color with a small dierty white head.

S: Nose has roasted malt, spice

T: Taste is like the aroma with more bitterness than I was expecting. Chocolate, old molasses

M: Thin, light booze

D: Not the best Winter Warmer. I was expecting more from Avery.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2010 03:17:53 | More by barleywinefiend