Old Jubilation - Avery Brewing Company

jayhawk73

Maryland

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Happy Thanksgiving 2011-

A- Pours a dark brown w/ a one finger cocoa head that quickly disappears. Good lacing on the side of my snifter glass.

S- Malt, chocolate, barley, hops... Definitely on the weak side in the smell department, but pleasant for the style.

T- Taste is not bad- a step up from the nose. The hops really come out in the flavor, as well as the malt and barley. Good for the style.

M- Medium light in feel, and somewhat dry. It almost feels like a light barleywine. Nice malt/hops aftertaste.

O- Nice beer for the style. I'd pick this up again if I was in the mood for it. Nothing spectacular, but a solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2011 18:22:35 | More by jayhawk73

Vashtar

Texas

2.78/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

The appearance wasn't very clear.

The smell was average

The taste was hoppy and aggressive. It wasn't that great though. It wasn't a relaxing Christmas taste.

The mouthfeel was nice, but I didn't take many notes about it.

Overall, it wasn't enjoyable because of the taste. I like Avery Brewing Company. Why can't they do better than this?

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 06:25:42 | More by Vashtar

harrymel

Washington

2.8/5  rDev -27.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

2011 Edition

A: dark pecan ale with some orange hues. a finger of off-tan foam falls to a sheet of the same. Excellent clarity. Spot lace.
S: Sweet, slightly molasses malts are nice. No real hop presence here for me.
T: The alcohol is evident here initially (off-putting for me). Some pecan flavors. Some licorice (so faint).
M: thin with moderate carb and semi dry finish.
O: Decent beer. I like it as the third or fourth for the night, a little unrefined for the premier drink.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 05:21:11 | More by harrymel

isualum12

Idaho

3.8/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My score might seem low but this beer is really nice. My first time having a bottle and my 4th or 5th Avery.

Appearance- black with a little light showing through. Heavy good looking head. The head holds the side of the glass very nicely.

Smell- not really there. There is not a neg. smell but not a positive either. Very low.

Taste- is nice. It is about average. There is not a big hit flavor but it is refreshing. I could drink several of these in an evening.

Overall this is a quality beer. I am planning a holiday beer party and this will make the list.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 01:00:28 | More by isualum12

dcook11

California

3.63/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a brownish red hue that you can see through when held up to direct light. Two finger white head, spider web lacing. The smell is odd at first. I get a faint unpleasent odor that fades as the beer warms. From then on, just chocolate and vanilla. Possible oxidation? The taste is far better than the smell. I detect hops, chocolate, vanilla, and an over all sweetness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied. A good beer for the holidays. Must try.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 10:23:46 | More by dcook11

gatorbreath

Fiji

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle to pint glass, brown hue, minimal head of tan color, smells of malt and slightly of hazelnut, taste is malty, through and through, and only slight variations thereof do i detect, mouthfeel is surprisingly fuller- bodied that i expected and overall, not bad, don't know if it is a session beer but definitely one to have/enjoy while you sit back and soak in the holiday season

enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 22:46:09 | More by gatorbreath

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

Pintofbrown

Iowa

4.08/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This offering was poured into a tulip glass.

Appearance- The body is a dark mocha body with burnt red highlights. The beer is opaque. The head is a tan one-fingered, frothy cap. There are tons of bubbles on the lid. There is a decent sheet of thick lace left on the side of the glass.

Smell- There’s a good amount of roasted malt on the nose. There’s also some toffee malt sweetness in there. Also a sense of some sour fruit, also seems a little musty.

Taste- There’s some roasted malt, a sweet, toffee malt character, and some coffee roast that is long in the finish. The blend of malts is pretty complex. I’m getting everything from dark fruit to cinnamon, even though none of that was actually used.

Mouth feel- It’s a really nice medium body and creamy. It finishes just a little dry.

Overall- This winter warmer uses a silly amount of malts, and it really works. The complexity of the drink is what makes this winter warmer the good drink it is. If you enjoy winter warmers, this beer will not let you down.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 00:42:41 | More by Pintofbrown

Gobigvt7

Oregon

3.18/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle into pint

bright chestnut brew with a really creamy white head that won't go away. beer-stache alert! Caking on the glass all the way down.

smells of roasted nuts and fresh bread yeast

a little "beerier" than I anticipated with a dominant nutty malt bill. Some semi-spicy hops are tossed in so you can tell where the malt ends. Some coffee-like toastiness and comforting heat on the tail end.

A tad heavy, but not overwhelming. Very malty without being too sweet and sticky.

Decent, but not an immediate must-have-more bottle. A palate warmup before I delve into some 10%abv+ beers with more going on.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 02:14:55 | More by Gobigvt7

diamondc

Texas

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

$1.99 for a 12 oz. Bottled on the 270th day of 2011.

A: Dark, murky deep blood red. Great looking head and lacing.

S: Toffee, caramel, hazelnut, coffee with cream. Maybe a touch of pine in there, mostly malt though.

T: Lots of good roasted malt action going on .... coffee, dark chocolate, licorice, leather, and some tobacco. Some hint of cherry there too. Hops add a pleasant pine-y bitterness at the end.

M: Has a medium to heavy, creamy body to it.

O: Another good cold weather sipper, look forward to this beer every winter.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 06:37:28 | More by diamondc

litheum94

California

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2010 Vintage. Aged for a year.

Very deep brown body, nearing black. Tiny, tan head that's gone in a breath. Smattering of bubbles.

Rich caramel malts with toffee and hazelnuts. Cinnamon and other spices. Tea-like hops.

Roasted malts, with more coffee flavors than the nose would suggest. Some pine and citrus hops. As it warms, the malts become a little richer, with tones of toffee and chocolate. Spices and orange zest linger.

A good winter warmer for the hop head, as there is still a good hop profile even after a year.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 04:59:22 | More by litheum94

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

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

This winter warmer pours out as a nice deep brown color with a tan colored head on top. The head fades with a light sticky lacing that grabs the glass. The smell of the beer was sweet and a little spicy on the nose as well. The taste of the beer gives of a little bit of warming spices along with some sweet malts. The mouthfeel of this brew was decent. I'd say it's about medium bodied. Overall this beer wasn't bad. I'd drink it again but it wasn't something I'd crave.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 23:30:39 | More by Knapp85

gtermi

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A:The beer pours a very dark brown with a nice head that quickly fades.

S: The beer smells like your typical winter warmer. it has some malt and spices.

T: I love the nutty flavor and maybe I am crazy but get a tiny mint type flavor. It has some roastedness too, but that is on the finish.

M: This beers mouthfeel is very pleasant. It has a good amount of carbonation, but is also very smooth.

O: This beer is very nice. It is the best winter warmer I have had and I wish this was year round. I will get this as many chances as I get.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 06:23:07 | More by gtermi

flagmantho

Washington

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: rich, nutty brown hue with a good finger of pillowy ivory foam and a little bit of haze to the body. A nice looking beer.

Smell: biscuity, bready malt aroma with a bit of tartness quite a bit like an English porter. Wintry and a bit nutty as well, although this particular combination of malts isn't particularly my favorite; it's kind of a mix between a porter and a dry red ale.

Taste: much like the aroma but with a little bit of spiciness. There's a good hop bitterness right at the end, too, which I find surprisingly smooth. Flavor starts a bit like an English porter, then dries out a bit and some spices, nutmeg and grains-of-paradise maybe, set in. I'm liking this beer better than I thought I would.

Mouthfeel: medium-light body with a surprisingly good level of creaminess. It is perhaps a little bit over-attenuated, though; I would have expected more body in an 8.3% winter beer.

Overall: this is a very nice quaff on a chilly October evening. I'm sure it would be even better with a dusting of snow outside.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2011 03:51:15 | More by flagmantho

hopluva1

Washington

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

Enjoyed in a snifter @ 45* from a 2011 bottle

Appearance is reddish brown/mahogany with a one finger off white head.

Smell is grain/malt not sweet, and definitely some peated malts in there. Resembles a scotch ale.

Taste is malty but not sweet, I'm sticking with my peated malt, bit of hops. It has good flavor.

Overall it is good. Winter Warmer is a very vague catagory, similair to barley wine the range is broad. This is very malty without being sweet. It has a smokiness to it that resembles a scotch ale.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2011 01:29:36 | More by hopluva1

grittybrews

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2010 bottle, opened 10/2011. Poured cola brown with a ruby tinge and a half finger of khaki head. Sweet, malt-dominated aroma with dark fruit, caramel, and spice.

Moderate carbonation and a full, creamy mouthfeel. Biscuity toffee malt up front with molasses, traces of dark cocoa, fig, dark fruit, and lingering cinnamon/spice. Just a touch of boozy warmth on the finish as the beer warms, with a gentle roasty bitterness that gradually emerges too.

Malty but not overly sweet. Really nice beer; I bought this bottle last year and stuck it in the cellar, and now I'm curious to try some fresh as well. Up there with Jubelale as a favorite winter warmer.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2011 04:32:31 | More by grittybrews

JoeAmerican77

Colorado

3.38/5  rDev -12.7%
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

TenHornsProud

Colorado

3.93/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark, deep red/purple color with a big, off white head, that laces and sticks around all day.

Smells of caramel malt, chinook, chalky/spicy hops, slight yeast ester/fruit notes.

Taste is toasty up front that fades into a smooth sweetness and ends on a dark fruit/sugar/fig note...woah, the finish on this one is where the bitter hop spice and interest comes in. Complex, smooth, and spicy.

Lighter to medium body with medium to low carbonation make this one a nice drinker...not too heavy.

This is a damned fine Winter beer that has spice, hop, and caramel malt characteristics and is easy to drink given the abv.

Edit: Woah!!! I did a side-by-side of this fresh v one-year old, and the year-old version is simply amazing. Has a lot of barleywine characters...sweet, not hoppy like the fresh release. Age this beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2011 01:40:44 | More by TenHornsProud

JayS2629

Alabama

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

This one had a year of age on it which could have altered and mellowed things.

Poured a dark ruby with a thin head that stuck around for a while and had nice lacing.

The aroma was of caramel, hazelnut, toffee, a touch of cocoa and some earthy elements.

Nice balance, slightly warming, toffee, caramel, nutty notes, and toasted breads. Some earthy notes balance things out.

Good medium body, smooth, warming, and enjoyable. Very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2011 18:27:52 | More by JayS2629

dorianmarley

Ohio

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

It has a rich dark brown appearance, like pine bark.

The smell is a wheaty caramel, with burnt sugar.

The taste is a toasted malt, with a light, caramelized sugar. Woody aftertaste, with an alcohol warmth to finish.

The mouthfeel has a smooth, consistent carbonation. Full body with a warm roasted feel throughout.

Overall, it is good. It does a great job of drawing from sweet elements without actually creating an especially sweet product. The alcohol has a nice warming sensation, making it a great winter beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2011 05:32:12 | More by dorianmarley

nhindian

Pennsylvania

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

12oz bottle poured into a Jackie O's snifter.

A - Pours a very deep mahogany, just enough hint of red in it to keep it relatively see-through. There is a good amount of chunky floaties suspended mid-glass. Only about a finger's worth of head with fairly low retention. Lacing is a cascade curtain effect, cover a nice amount of real estate.

S - The nose is essentially all malt, giving it a decadent and rich aroma. Fairly sweet, but also has a good tinge of bitterness. Lots of chocolate for sure, as well as some roast. A bit of dark fruit, but not a whole lot. Quite enticing.

T - The taste follows nicely behind the build-up of the nose. Starts with a nice shot of roasty bitterness, before mellowing into a bittersweet dark chocolate. Not much going on in terms of dark fruits in this regard. Almost a bit smokey as well, and maybe even some woody notes. This is a malt showcase and the walk through their characteristics is a joy.

M - Mouthfeel is moderately heavy-bodied with medium carbonation. Pretty smooth and slick-feeling. Some lingering bitterness compliments of the roast.

D/O - Drinkability is moderately high. I enjoyed this one much more than I was expecting. While BeerAdvocate lists it as a Winter Warmer, the Avery site itself designates this as an English Old Ale, and I can definitely get that immediately after sipping it. The roast is something not typically seen in an old ale, and I think it works great here.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 05:30:01 | More by nhindian

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on 2011-07-05 in Columbia, PA

A - Murky dark brown with a 1/2-finger tan head that fades quickly.

S - Light aroma of caramel, licorice and citrus.

T - Roasted caramel malt, toffee, milk chocolate, earthy spice and citrus bitterness that lingers for a good long time. The alcohol is present but complimentary. Not too sweet.
The flavors are well-balanced and compliment each other.

M - Medium body and light-medium carbonation. Smooth and a bit resinous.

O - One of the better winter warmers I've had. I'm not a fan of black licorice and thankfully the whiff of it in the aroma barely transferred into the taste. This is a bit more bitter than many winter warmers without wandering into the black IPA territory. Thumbs up.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2011 16:44:27 | More by Tucquan

AngusOg

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a couple of these on discount, as i guess like many places they were trying to get rid of winter and holiday seasonals. But the bottle says this one can be aged for up to two years, so i put one away until maybe next year around this time. Poured a deep brown, into a chalice glass. Smells malty and bready. The taste is rich of toffee and even some slight chocolate notes with some nice alcohol warmth in the finish. I could see drinking this on a cold night around the holidays. Overall it's a decent brew, i enjoyed it, but curious to see what some cellaring time will do for it.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2011 22:08:52 | More by AngusOg

Durge

Connecticut

4.05/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The color of this holiday brew is a semi-transparent dark brown with a fair tan head and good lacing. And placing a finger aside of my nose, I detect a mild evergreen aroma over a stout-like charcoal malt. There’s a near cherry spritz to it. Pretty decent. The palate finds deep licorice malt and more evergreen. It blends nicely with a unique herbal sweetness. This may not be everyone’s favorite but I’m liking it. It’s medium to full bodied with very subtle but effective carbonation, resulting in a heavy, near chewy feel. This is pretty impressive. Not a session beer but it goes down readily considering the style and ABV of 8.3. Very enjoyable and recommended for your holiday pleasure, or a cool June night like tonight.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2011 18:57:02 | More by Durge

mdaschaf

Washington

3.58/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Been sitting on this bottle for a while, so figured it was getting into summer and a good time to drink a winter warmer.

A: Pours a dark brown with orange edges when held up to the light. Tan head, about one finger in height forms and reduces down to a thin layer of fine bubbles. Nice sticky lacing covers most of the glass.

S: Extremely malty, loads of roasted malt and a bit of chocolate. Has a little bit of dark fruit, but not as much as most winter warmers, this almost smells like a porter.

T: Tons of caramelized sugar with some roasted malt. There is a little bit of cocoa and coffee and just a hint of alcohol.

M: Medium bodied, pretty smooth and on the creamier side. Just enough carbonation to prevent it from being too thick.

O: Pretty good, a different take on a winter warmer, and it would definitely warm me up in the middle of winter.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2011 00:26:06 | More by mdaschaf