Avery Anniversary Ale - Fourteen - Avery Brewing Company

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine July 2007.

The folks over at Avery jokingly described this as a "Dubbel IPA" and on the label "a very dark, different, dry-hopped ale." Yeah, fuck beer styles!

A somewhat typical Belgian nose, in that it's soft with some sweet suggestions; a bit malty and spicy, but interestingly herbal with alcohol and some floral and orange scents going on--think Grand Marnier. Silky smooth and incredibly creamy, blissful on the palate. You can feel it gently glide down the throat with a trailing alcohol burn--very warming and spicy. Maltiness is rich and complex, with flavors that literally pop and meld: tastes of brownies, ripe and juicy fruits, roasted nut butter, molasses, honey, black treacle, plus a semi-burnt raisin note. Hops get a bit resiny, with some major herbal action going on and a nice citrus smack on the backside. Black pepper. Faint vegetal; raw and leafy at times. Orangey. Roasty finish, a bit coffee-like. Dry.

Intricate doesn't even begin to describe this beer. Todd's wife, Candice (aka Cfahooligan), says this is probably one of Avery's best beers ever. We'll agree and leave it at that. Pairing? Here's your next barbecue beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2010 20:01:54 | More by BeerAdvocate

Highlander15401

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Steady carbonation with a pale tan head. Nice lacing for a 6.5. The label reads "A very Dark, Different, Dry-Hopped Ale."

Aromas stand out from the start with licorice & chocolate. the taste has more of licorice, bittersweet chocolate and very ripe cherry + sweet malts & dark fruits of raisins & figs. The temperature rising increases the intensity of the chocolate. Partially due (I imagine) from the yeasts opening their doors in welcoming the flood of burnt sugar, syrupy bitter chocolate and fruit. Carbonation dissipated somewhat, but kept teasing to the final sip. Tasted with 2 brewers & general manager from Morgantown Brewing Company, WV.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 16:49:25 | More by Highlander15401

yamar68

Minnesota

4.16/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Finally decided to open this one - Avery's anniversary beer from 2007

Murky soft brown body that shows little to no activity. A finger of pale tan head retains rather well and produces decent lacing and beading beneath.

Chocolate, licorice and rotten cherry. Dark, sweet malts and red fruits... brownie and Belgian yeast. The alcohol seemed rather potent upon first opening the bottle, but it's more smoothed out than I had initially thought - there is still a bit of heat though on the tail end of it.

Dessert fruits, chocolate syrup, some papery sweetness... a little chalky but it doesn't seem to detract from the overall drinkability of the beer. A little medicinal in the finish but it's rounded out by a sense of syrupy fruit presence.

Very interesting stuff. Give it a whirl if you're interested.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 01:23:02 | More by yamar68

DmanGTR

New York

4.25/5  rDev +6%

01-28-2013 17:40:09 | More by DmanGTR

GRG1313

California

4/5  rDev -0.2%

01-20-2013 02:12:25 | More by GRG1313

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev -0.2%

01-17-2013 06:27:00 | More by spycow

magnusdave

New York

4.75/5  rDev +18.5%

01-17-2013 00:33:26 | More by magnusdave

nmann08

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

01-06-2013 02:05:27 | More by nmann08

claytong

Vermont

4/5  rDev -0.2%

12-21-2012 15:45:41 | More by claytong

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev -0.2%

11-08-2012 18:58:03 | More by t0rin0

harpus

Alabama

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

10-15-2012 17:29:51 | More by harpus

Beertracker

Oklahoma

4.25/5  rDev +6%

10-04-2012 03:35:24 | More by Beertracker

AgentZero

Illinois

2.25/5  rDev -43.9%

07-15-2012 03:18:10 | More by AgentZero

dtx00

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -19%

06-26-2012 21:18:38 | More by dtx00

trancesk8er

California

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

06-09-2012 04:16:57 | More by trancesk8er

bigred89

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%

04-09-2012 11:51:53 | More by bigred89

ehammond1

California

4.45/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle (2007)

Thanks for the gift, DarthKostrizer!

(Aged for 4+ years)

Dark brown throughout with no clarity. The edges are a very dark ruby. The head is tightly bubbled, moderately sized, and light brown in color. The beer leaves ribbons of sticky lace down the glass. Gorgeous.

The aroma is a divine combination of dark fruits, namely smashed, juicy raisins. Along with the raisins are some fig and sweet date aroma, but the raisin character is abundant, along with a bit of cocoa powder. As a raisin lover, this is right up my alley, and this nails it. There's minimal yeast presence; it's all (dark) fruit.

The flavor is dark fruit forward, similar to the aroma, with raisins and fig leading the way, along with bittersweet, though rich, chocolate, some graham cracker, mild yeast character, and low bitterness. The flavor of chocolate-covered raisins lingers on and on long after the swallow.

Medium bodied with medium to high carbonation.

This is why I drink beer. The needles in the haystack that blow you away make this hobby as fun, interesting, and exciting as it is. Cheers and thanks again, Cory!

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 01:29:10 | More by ehammond1

ScottyC54

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

03-17-2012 17:09:27 | More by ScottyC54

mfavoino

Washington

4.13/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

2007 22oz bottle enjoyed on 3/16/12.

Appearance: Very dark brown with a fluffy light tan head that maintains its presence. Sitcky lacing on the sides of the snifter.

Smell: Strong scent of dark fruits, and that candied sugary sweetness one expects from a dark Belgian.

Taste: Starts out with a strong malt sweetness and progresses to a roasty flavor that is delicious. Subtle chocolate notes became more noticeable to me as session went on. Finish is a pleasant, muted hop bitterness that I sure would have been much more forward if it was new. Spicy and warm as it goes down. Very interesting and not the same flavors for each sip.

Mouthfeel: Very little carbonation and light to medium bodied. The finish was dry and chalky.

Overall: Probably past its prime, but still a high quality beer from Avery. Super drinkable, looked forward to the different layers of flavor, and can really only dock it heavily for the chalky texture.

Overall:

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 01:20:15 | More by mfavoino

mcallister

Ohio

4/5  rDev -0.2%

02-18-2012 13:08:22 | More by mcallister

Tyrawlings

Ohio

4/5  rDev -0.2%

02-11-2012 23:57:20 | More by Tyrawlings

jfcaa193

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -12.7%

02-07-2012 00:08:23 | More by jfcaa193

Kirch

California

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%

12-26-2011 21:15:13 | More by Kirch

alamode

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -0.2%

12-14-2011 05:40:48 | More by alamode

Dizbro21

Connecticut

2/5  rDev -50.1%

11-30-2011 03:06:30 | More by Dizbro21