Old Jubilation - Avery Brewing Company

babydoc

Kansas

3.8/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle with no date. Pours a gorgeous clear, dark mahogany with ruby overtones. Generous two-finger bubbly head that slowly fades, leaving sticky lace. Nose is sweet, sweet, with fruity tones (grape?) as well as malt and molasses. The nose definitely lets you know there will be hops in the tasting that follows. Taste is sweet, dark fruits and malt. Hops prominent, moreso than I usually expect in a winter warmer, but not overpowering. Alcohol is evident throughout. Velvety mouthfeel, moderate carbonation. Certainly not a session beer, but for the style I find it drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2005 05:37:32 | More by babydoc

redmagik99

California

4.28/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured almost black but not quite. not much head. smelled like a lot of hops and a little spicy, some plum-like fruittyness. i havent had many of the winter warmer style, but this brew was a lot hoppier than i expected. to the ipa level even. this is not a bad thing, as i love hops, but while the beer was still cold the spices were barely detectable at all. as it warmed a bit of cinnamon emerged, and thats about all. tasted like a victory hop devil but with a more snappy spice taste. regardless, though, this one was real tasty. effectively hidden alcohol, low carbonation, and a medium body makes it dangerously drinkable. wish i picked up a 6 pack instead of a single 12 oz. recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2007 17:24:18 | More by redmagik99

jorg2619

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Is a dark beer, pours a tan head fairly clear smells complex at first but my nose rested on wet dog. The taste is bitter but good with a nutty beginning and a citrus hop ending. I am impressed with how the 8% alcohol does not overpower this beer.

I like Old Jubilation but not enough to buy a case or anything.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2009 19:51:17 | More by jorg2619

ChrisA

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a dark carmel color. Two inch head. Fruity nose of plums? Excellent mouthfeel, very drinkable for an 8.0 beer, although the alcohol is resonent but very nice.

Picked these up for Thanksgiving and I am continuing to give thanks. The label is very nice although a bit fancy. Seems a little to good for an average joe like me.

This is my first Avey brew and I am not dissapointed.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2005 01:02:33 | More by ChrisA

chrisgn

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into pint glass.

A- Beautiful mahogany color, but very little head, lacing, or carbonation.

S- Sweet smell of cherries.

T- Rich and syrupy sweet with some roasted malt flavors. I taste hazelnuts and again cherries. Some hops flavors on the back end.

M- Low carbonation. Thick, syrupy mouthfeel.

D- 8% and very sweet. This is probably a one and done beer for me on a cold night.

All in all a decent warmer. This beer improves with warmth. Don't drink right out of the fridge.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2010 02:27:55 | More by chrisgn

maybrick

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Now this is one I could drink all darn day! Beautiful. Pours with a nice head. Head doesn't hold that long which invites a lot of swirling of the glass. The nose is exquisite. Spicy, sweet, a real nice blend of aromas.

On to the good stuff, the taste! Wonderful, bold, and quite complex. Very balanced between hop, malt and yeasts. This is one smooth brew. Did I say great color? Well it's richly dark and mysterious. I'll be buying more of this stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2003 14:50:29 | More by maybrick

MYJELLOMISFIT

Colorado

3.23/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance is that of an average amber, nice red hough highlighted around the edges. Nice pillow of pale yellow/ white head that fades quikly to just more than lacing.

Smell has soft hop note with some citrus, spice, and alcohol.

Mouthfeel is heavy as expected but fairly smooth. Too much carbontaion for my liking but for the style it's good but sticky.

Taste finds itself meandering around my tongue and mouth. Creamy mellow base of yeast, vanilla, and spice split between a slight hop citrus bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2007 04:13:55 | More by MYJELLOMISFIT

Cascadia

Oregon

3.6/5  rDev -7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Good color and appearance, nice dark brown with decent retention. Smells malty with a burning alcohol finish. Tastes more balenced than I thought it would, good strong bitterness to match the malts and carmel notes. Good mouthfeel and clean, dry finish. Good solid winter warmer and a nice change up to the usual Jubales I've been drinking. Avery is turning out good, consistant brews.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2007 04:21:49 | More by Cascadia

kohoutek

Michigan

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle purchased on 3/20 at Hiller's. *This beer could be anywhere from 6 to 9 months old. It was stored completely in the cooler.

Lately I have been intrigued by beers that flirt boldy with the boundaries of dark garnet to brown/black. This is a territory that is less frequently explored these days. I have been homebrewing beers that are not brown, but incorporate some of the roast characteristics of porters and stouts. A difficult thing to do.

Avery has done a fine job with this beer.

It appears, as do all Avery beers, that this beer has been subjected to the over filtration that plagues breweries who are attempting to extend the shelf-life in search of greater regional/national distribution and market share. This beer is perfectly clear. As a result the head sucks. The yeast character is dulled into a soda-like presentation. I think a BA article is in the works to address this phenomenon. *

The beer pours a deep amber color. Not brown, but incorporating nice roast into the flavor/aroma profile. *The age/filtration issue has created some oxidation that is present in the nose. This, with the special roast creates a soy sauce experience mixed with cardboard. However, the other aromatic/flavor qualities of this brew are stellar and dominate the flaws. Grainy Graham crackers, oaken casks, a rich 70% dark cocoa spine. A wonderful, rich malty experience

This beer has a nice neutral hop profile that cleanses the palate and integrates all of the rich, warm malts.

This beer drinks well. I can't wait to try a fresh version at the pub. I think "my minds eye" might be inflating the score on his one.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2006 13:36:24 | More by kohoutek

jletts

Washington

3.55/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured amber-garnet with a rich, creamy head. Smelled of whole-grain bread and sunflower seeds with some nice fruity esters and hop bitterness. Flavors of whole grain bread mingled with a hop bite and metallic undertones; some nice, sharp, fruity hop layers occupy the taste buds for the majority of the taste. The alcohol is late in coming and doesn’t taste as strong as it really is, noticeable only after a few sips as it begins to warm the insides. The low point of this beer was the distracting metallic aftertaste. But eventually the 8% ABV takes over and warms the insides. All is forgotten.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2007 07:34:28 | More by jletts

righlander

Florida

4.03/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Wow! This stuff really does have a warming effect...It's 48 degrees outside and in Florida That's a wet cold. Pours a mean clear brown with a respectable head. Sticky lacing. Smells of rich deep malt with some oily hop bitter. Taste is great, Rich toasty matly with a nice hop bitter. The hops are not overly dominating in the after taste. Caramel, Toffee, Toasted bread. Maybe oak chips. Very interesting flavor. Mouth feel is perfect, for sure full bodied to the max! Drinkability, hmm... I could probably hammer down like 3 of these then switch to a macro that way I don't get too drunk way too fast!

All in all an excellent winter warmer

I will surely buy this again.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2008 05:30:18 | More by righlander

BiereBlanche

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle poured into a 22 oz working glass.

Pours a clear red-tinted amber capped with a fluffy tanish head that settles slowly and leaves decent lace. The nose has a bit plum like sweetness and plenty of spicy, piney hops. Alcohol comes through in the nose. On the palate malt sweetness is short-lived before giving way to the strong hops flavors and medium-high bitterness. Alcohol has a definite, biting presence and sticks in the mouth for the short, bitter finish. Medium and light carbonation mouthfeel with large alcohol presence. Drinks fairly easily for the ABV, but makes a nice sipper. The high bittering and alcohol keep it from being greatly sessionable, but a few of these would certainly warm a cold winter night.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2007 02:30:50 | More by BiereBlanche

surlyseth

Minnesota

4.78/5  rDev +23.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I like Avery offerings.
A: Dark..Red to purple highlights.
S: Earthy? Definitely something kind of funky. But in a good way.
T&M: It took me a couple sixers to really appreciate this one. Malty sweet, but enough of everything to go around.
D: A fantastic sipper. Even if it gets to room teperature.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2007 06:31:43 | More by surlyseth

awall422

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a beautiful deep red with an inch head that had good staying power and left nice lacing all the way down the pint. Aroma was failry sweet. Initial taste is almost, but not quite cloyingly sweet, with hints of raisins and prunes on the finish. The alcohol shows itself just a bit in heat, but just enough to make this a real "warming" winter ale. One of the best winter beers I've had, must find more!

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2007 14:09:55 | More by awall422

donaldchapman

Colorado

4.22/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Vertical tasting at Avery 15 year anniversary.
2007
A - Dary Ruby Color with long lasting head.
S - Nice hop aroma followed by some malty chocolate aromas.
T - Chocolate malt, with a caramel backing and a medium high level of bitterness.
M - Good full bodied feel with a nice alcohol warming.

2006
A - Remains about the same as the 2007.
S - Hops begin to fade and the malt aromas begin to dominate.
T - Malt flavors are complex and mix well with the lower level of bitterness.
M - Full bodied and alcohol warmth is smoother.

2004
A - Color remains the same, a slight more haze due to age.
S - huge malty caramel smell in the nose, very little hops.
T - Chocolate malt flavors have given way to more roast flavors.
M - Full bodied and a smooth alcohol warmth.

This beer seems to age pretty well, I thought the 2006 was the best. The 2006 had a great balance between hop bitterness and flavor of malt. The 2004 had a better malt aroma, but was lacking in the flavor.

Good beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2008 15:05:53 | More by donaldchapman

LennyV

New York

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler purchased at halftime.

Pours a dark mahogany into my triple karmeliet glass small 1 finger head little to no lacing.

Smells malty sweet with cherrys.

Taste of malt with some cherrys and chocolate. Nice hoppy bitter ending with some alcohol warming.

Full bodied and heavey like a winter warmer shoudl be.

Nice brew but I would not seek it out.

Serving type: growler

02-05-2009 02:17:14 | More by LennyV

Chsyhkr

North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

An American interpretation of strong or old ale. Well hopped from beginning to end. Pours clear and a strong aroma of crystal malt and toffee. Aroma includes some oxidation, my bottle was underfilled. The cardboard aroma does not carry over to the taste which is slap full of west coast style hops.

Chewy and slighty nutty, yeast? The bottle says keep refrigerated, but I could not see any ring in the bottom, so I am not sure if this is live or not.

A well made beer that is sadly illegal in North Carolina. I'll have to make it myself.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2004 03:10:46 | More by Chsyhkr

MarcGetty

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

My local beer store gave me a free six pack of Old Jubilation for the trouble they caused me by screwing up my keg special order (different beer) for two weeks straight. I mentioned that I liked Avery's The Reverend, thus I got this for free to try.

I'm not a huge fan of hoppy beers, but this is pretty good.

Little to no head to speak of, but that is okay with me. Little to no smell, but that is okay with me too. For a thick dark beer it drinks okay as well.

I would not buy another six pack, but then again, this is not my thing. If you like hoppy beers, I would definitely give this one a try.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2004 23:40:48 | More by MarcGetty

BassAssassin

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

--2006 Vintage--

A: Amber in color, similar to maple syrup. Thick, almost tan head that stays until the last sip.

S: Sweet with strong aromas of plum, cherry, and raisin. The yeast adds a certain musty character that is very pleasant. It's hard to tell, but some diacetyl might be present, also.

T: Sweet, spicy, and fruity, much like the smell. Immediate alcohol warmth. Hints of diacetyl add character, rather than detract from this brew. Malt is definitely dominant. Finishes with a smoky hop bite that just barely keeps the malt in check.

M: Medium to full bodied. Smooth and round, but not cloying.

D: This could be my favorite winter warmer. Perfect sipping brew for a cold, snowy day. A definite "must buy" each winter season.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2007 17:43:36 | More by BassAssassin

Smurf2055

Washington

3.71/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 3.5

Bottle into Chimay glass.

Pours a dark mahogany with very minimal head.

Can detect faint hints of cherry in the aroma.

Mostly fruit. Rich, full flavor. Malty backbone. Almost nutty flavor.

Very smooth and drinkable.

Overall, a very good winter ale.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 20:21:52 | More by Smurf2055

ksbrainard

Connecticut

3.48/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dark garnet colored and not at all hazy. It is nearly black. There's a good head on there which slowly fades to a thin coating.

Smell: Musty and "brown". Whoah, I can smell alcohol very strongly. Behind that, or in between it, there may be some lightly browned caramel and some roasted grain. Man the alcohol is almost a nail polish remover smell.

Taste: Thick alcohol cough syrup is my first impression. The alcohol is warming my mouth down my throat all the way to my stomach. I am not sure if that is a good thing or not. It has a dark pruney flavor, with some bitter chocolate notes. But it is really hard to taste past the alcohol - and this is only 8%? This thing definitely has an imperial taste to it, and it is very heavy. It is a deep complex mix, and I feel as though I am missing something. I will cellar a few and they should mellow for next year.

Mouthfeel: I still feel like there's some in my mouth (but there is not). This beer is as thick as can be. It is really a little too much for me in the mouthfeel department.

Drinkability: Sit by the fire and realx, it might take you a while to finish this one. With its heavy alcohol presence and thick mouthfeel, this is a very enjoyable sipping beer. I might try it with a rich smoked chipotle barbeque dish, or maybe a spicy Chinese food. But it might be best by itself after dinner.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2007 22:08:25 | More by ksbrainard

towersfall

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this old ass bottle up in the Bruisin' Ales 15% box. Dusty as all hell and it seemed like it had been in storage for a while. Had this a few months to a year back and wasn't too impressed, but aged this beer is delicious!

Appearance: A rich mahogany with a marshmallow white head sitting like a pile of fluff on top of the brew. Lacing trickles down the glass all the way to the last sip.

Smell: A nice blend of malts with a slight caramel/toffee touch. Little notice of hops but a decent booze scent. Nothing over the top, but it has a nice smell to it.

Taste: A nice toffee/dark fruit blend with a slight hoppy finish. The age of the beer really did a lot for this brew as far as flavor goes. I remember feeling a fresh batch was too watery.

Mouthfeel: A sticky feeling is left in the mouth but the aftertaste is great.

Drinkability: Old Jubilation isn't too sweet and doesn't really show it's ABV% at all except in the smell, thus it's extremely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2010 04:07:23 | More by towersfall

fatmusic14

Colorado

3.7/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a bottle, drank from the bottle

Explodes with flavors of roasted malt and and hint of caramel. Alcohol content of 8.3% but tastes like a 6.0%, high drinkability. Emanates a sense of comfort until the end.

One Con: mouthfeel is a little lacking, almost coats the mouth with a type of waxy feel, like eating a handful of sprinkles with ice cream.

Recommendation: Get one

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 00:51:58 | More by fatmusic14

MVassar

California

4.03/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Elegant dark brown and ruby color, with a lush tan head and sticky lacing. Very appealing.

Faint spicy aroma, with hints of malt, caramel, black tea, and Christmas candy.

Dark roasted malt, with layers of creamy caramel, citrus peel, and a tinge of bitter hops in the finish. Good balance.

Medium body, ample carbonation, with a nice creaminess. Sturdy texture without feeling heavy.

A very likable beer, and a real pleasure to drink. Impressive.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2006 22:44:42 | More by MVassar

velo343

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance - A deep brown with a thick beige head.

Smell - A caramel sweetness. There is some deep fruitiness, such as apricots, partly due to the sweetness of the malts and also the hops, which have a touch of pine.

Taste - Lots of toasty, roasted malt flavor that is accentuated by the tartness of the hops. Contrary to the smell, there really isn't too much sweetness in the taste.

Mouthfeel - Very smooth and creamy. The hops dry out the finish a bit, preventing the beer from feeling too syrupy.

Drinkability - While nothing in this beer stood out to me as being exceptional (ok, the smell was really good), I'm very drawn to this beer. It just has a nice, comfortable feeling that, well, does a good job of warming you up, just like it's supposed to. Not at all over the top, a quality beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2007 02:52:04 | More by velo343