Avery Anniversary Ale - Fifteen - Avery Brewing Company

brow1901

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Bottled April 2008, poured into a snifter.

A- Amazingly fluffy Duvel style white and rocky head atop a perfectly pale yellow beer. Leaves great thick lacing and has superb retention.

S- Smells quite tart and rather barnyardish. I never tried this beer when it was released but I can't pick up any of the fig character in the smell or taste.

T- Exceedingly dry almost like a champagne. Not nearly as tart or sour as it smell (to my disappointment). I no expert on figs but the label said it imparts a Jam like flavor. There is really no sweetness left in this brew so I imagine that flavor has been fermented out by the brett. I the very end I begin to possibly pick up on the pepper which is not necessarily an unfamiliar flavor (it just seems to emphasis a saison like taste) and adds a very slight burn to the back of the throat only noticeable after drinking most of the bottle.

M- Not a bad mouthfeel I just felt it to be average. Light on the tongue, a little too dry and yet somewhat of a lingering aftertaste.

D- Decent drinkability really nice on a warm summer night or day with enough kick to make a 22oz worth the buck.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2010 04:09:22 | More by brow1901

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.3/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Brick Store Pub after 1 year in the keg. I really didn't like this beer at all when it first came out- way too sweet and far, far too much overripe fig with just a touch of sourness. Now, however, it's almost sublime. The Brett has worked its magic and eaten most of the sugars from the figs, balancing and souring the beer in the process. This is a completely different- and better beer. All of which prompts me to ask- why was it released when it was? It wasn't ready. There is a reason that breweries like Cantillon wait 3 years before releasing many of their lambics- it takes close to a year just for the Brett to do its magic and then they blend with older versions that are even more complex. I know this was an anniversary beer, but just chalk it up to experience after tasting, brew something else and make this the 16th anniversary rather than the 15th. All that being said, I loved the beer after a year . Pours a very hazy orange golden with a fairly nice all white head and great lacing. Smells somewhat funky, but there is more lemon than funk here. No band-aid (which I hate), and the hibiscus actually comes through now. Just a touch of horseblanket. Floral and citrusy predominantly. The taste is much, much nicer than when fresh. A little funk up front with nutty, earthy, and more horseblanket notes. This is followed by very ripe apricots, mango, pear, and lemon. Very smooth and a delight to savor. This is more like it!

Serving type: on-tap

07-01-2010 02:55:53 | More by Georgiabeer

philbertk

Washington

3.88/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Avery Brewing Company--Fifteen Avery Anniversary Ale--Ale Brewed With Spices, Herbs And Figs--A refreshingly tart, fruity, funky farmhouse ale--Bottled in April 2008. 22 oz. Bottle. 7.68% ABV. 22 IBU's. (3.75 / 5.0) Belgian Ale--Farmhouse Sour Brett. Fizzy foamy lacy big pillowy white head. Fizzy clear bright rich pretty dark gold color. Funky fruit fig ester front. Dry sweet mildly sour funky citrus crisp peppery hibiscus fig infused thin rich fully fermented fruity pale malt body. Tart clean lingering herbal pepper end. Funky, Weird, Tasty. Mildly sour for a Brett. Big sediment pellicle mellows edges of flavor. Good, but I would not buy again. Sampled 6/25/2010. 2 @ $8.25 Each.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2010 04:25:00 | More by philbertk

Soonami

Pennsylvania

2.15/5  rDev -39.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

I've had my share of wild ales, but this beer was definitely not what I was looking for. It is definitely spontaneously fermented with lots of horse-stable straw flavor, but it had almost no acidity to balance out the funk. It was like drinking a beer version of Rocqueforte cheese that wasn't salty or tart. Combined with a mineral quality it had a distinctly meaty taste. It looked alright, pale and couldy, with almost no head and smell was fine.

Most disappointing was that I had this at City Tap House in West Philadelphia, at an event termed, "Best of the best," when in fact this was one of the worst wild Ales I've ever tasted

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2010 02:59:26 | More by Soonami

Tiklmelmo

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Pale straw yellow. Very cloudy / murky. Little to no head. Not the prettiest beer out there.

S - Musty, wet horse blanket funk, with a hint of lemon.

T - Taste follows the nose, with definite barnyard funk, but little to no tartness. Some spice and peppery flavors. Sort of a cross between an unflavored lambic and a saison, but not quite right in the balance.

M - Low carbonation and dry mouthfeel. Nothing special really going on.

D - I was content with the one, and had trouble getting through it at the end.

Overall, not terrible, but I've had better wild's from both Avery and elsewhere.

Serving type: on-tap

06-10-2010 16:08:20 | More by Tiklmelmo

AgentZero

Illinois

2.75/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

A - Pale yellow with a slight orangish tint. Nice white head that didn't have much retention and no lacing. Looked good at first.

S - Mild funk, hay, sweetness. Little bit of lemon, smells saisonish.

T - Tastes like a weak saison, not really a huge fan. Little grassy, some lemon, slight bit of funk. Tastes like maybe this beer might have sat for too long. Tasted watered-down. Started to taste bad more I drank it.

M - Watery, carbonation bite doesn't work well.

D - Actually pretty drinkable as it's such a light beer, but the taste made me not really want to put more down.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2010 05:28:13 | More by AgentZero

hopsbreath

Oregon

2.45/5  rDev -31.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

To be fair I am new to Saison's and Wild Ales. To date I like most of the sours I have gotten a hold of but this one was not my favorite.

The bottle is two years old and was purchased recently from a local store on sale. The pour is into a snifter by parts. The huge billowy snow white head sits atop a golden clear body. Lacing is evident throughout this drink.

The smell is very light. It is quite complex with smelly cheese funk and bright lemony aromas.

Taste is very funky. Missing is the lemon flavors I dig in this style and just too much funk is going on with a bit of metallic after taste. Some of that oxidation wet-cardboard is there as well.

Mouthfeel was spritzy and vibrant. It's just what I expect for the style.

Drinkability was difficult. I had to go through a whole bomber because I was drinking alone. I do not drain pour beers out of principle and this was no exception...but close.

Not my favorite to date but in fairness I may not have a well enough developed palate for this style just yet. I think the two year old oxidation issue could have come into factor here because it was not stored at ideal conditions for the last year. I would be curious to try a properly cellared version of this and will not give up on the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2010 21:02:49 | More by hopsbreath

BenZ

Virginia

4.53/5  rDev +26.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2 years has done wonders for this beer. Poured from cellared bottle today.

A: Poured into a Duvel tulip - enormous mousey head that stayed for a long time and left great lacing. Beer was cyrstal clear, light copper color.

S: Brett, fruit, maybe some very faint non-citrusy hops. Some maltiness as it warms.

T: Lot's of stuff going on - the bitterness is comprable to Orval. Haven't had one in a while, but I think it is close to a funkier version of Orval. Bitterness increases as it warms. Maybe a tiny bit of tartness.

M: Lots of carbonation and some creaminess at the end - it's unusual to see these two together.

D: Yeah, you could drink this by the pail.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2010 16:51:30 | More by BenZ

emmasdad

Colorado

3.6/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a cloudy, sunny yellow color, capped off with a nicely composed off-white head. Sweet, tart, musty nose, with a good bretty character. A little tart on the palate, with some subtle hops, citrus and peppery spiciness. Another good, but not great, anniversary effort from Avery.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2010 00:25:16 | More by emmasdad

dougofthefuture

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled April 2008, but purchased last weekend for a discount. Lucky me! Split this one with the wife. These wild ales are pretty new to us.

A - Minimal soapy head with big bubbles. Hazy yellow body.

S - There is a dry fruitiness up front, with a nice mix of musty barnyard brett and peppery spices backing it up.

T&M - Very well blended and complex after 2 years - exceedingly dry mouthfeel with heavy carbonation and a moderately sour finish leave me smacking my lips. At the same time, the blend of peppery spices and champagne-like fruitiness give plenty of flavor to enjoy. The brett is there from start to finish, and I like that.

D - Being new to the style means that I can't pound down a lot of sourish beer, but this has been the easiest drinking of the style I've had the chance to try. I hope to buy more!

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2010 00:07:19 | More by dougofthefuture

kegger22

Michigan

4/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Avery Anniversary Ale - Fifteen poured a hazy straw color with a one inch head and decent retention.

Aroma? So that's what Brettanomyces smells like! I always wondered. But I'll just stick with funk and floral and fresh nauga hyde.

The taste was peppery, applesauce (not apples), and prunes (the flavor moves me). I don't know whether to go ugh, or mmmh.

The mouth feel was medium bodied and well carbonated, but you can't help being swept up in some kind of oily wild ale thing that is more than the sum of it's parts. Ya know what I mean?

Drinkability? I dunno. I'm thinkin' good because I'm finishing up a bomber and I think I could do some more. But it might just be the wild ale in me talkin'.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2010 07:07:34 | More by kegger22

jmalex

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This bottle is nearly 2 years old at this point, so I figured it was finally time to bust it out of the cellar.

APPEARANCE: Pours into my New Belgium tulip a crystal clear yellow gold. A giant, rocky, white head forms on top and doesn't really shrink at all because of the nucleation site in the glass constantly refreshing it. The lacing down the sides hardly lets any glass show whatsoever through the wall of white foam.

SMELL: Quite floral and funky with the signature subdued tartness of the Brett. All these characteristics are quite strong but blend seamlessly to create a really interesting aroma experience.

TASTE: Crisp, clean, and light. Sadly not a whole lot of flavor comes through at all. What's there is assuredly a light funkiness from the Brett, but like most 100% Brett beers, the yeast character is subdued leaving behind a dry ale. I do like how any spicing or flavoring is restrained allowing the yeast to come through in its own way. A fine blend and balance of flavor, but I could have used more.

MOUTHFEEL: Carbonation is way up and body is way down. Sounds like just what you'd want out of a beer like this.

DRINKABILITY: The dryness is the big winner here, but what do you expect from 100% Brett. Regardless, I certainly be finishing my bomber.

This won't blow anyone away, but it really is worth paying attention to. It's technically sound and balanced wonderfully. Even though it isn't crazy sour or crazy fruity or whatever, it's still worth trying and buying.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2010 02:14:53 | More by jmalex

johnwarne

Florida

2.95/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A beer haiku for you:

A lambic? Not sure;
Is "fizzy" even a word?
Willl do without more.

"Fizzy" aftertaste, which ultimately put me off this beer. Not quite a lambic, which I assume that was the original intent. Not a bad beer--just unremarkable, which is unfortunate for this Colorado brewery of quality.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2010 23:04:00 | More by johnwarne

sholland119

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A-Slightly hazy gold with a frothy white head that quickly dissipates, leaving some good sticky lacing.

S-Peppery with apricots, sour milk and zesty yeast. Just a bit funky, far less than the tap versions I have had.

T-And the flavor is as well. Honey in the front with green apples and apricots close behind, finishing with a bit of peppery yeast and a mild barnyard.

M-Crisp, dry and refreshing.

D-While not up to its tap version, this bottled version is awfully tasty.

HV

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2010 00:08:24 | More by sholland119

sweemzander

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz. bottle poured into a tulip. Bottled in April 2008.

(A)- Pours a clear goldenrod color that produced a very large & fluffy yet effervescent white head with some good retention behind it. Left some clumps behind as it dissipated.

(S)- Wow, has a big floral nose with bits of figs, lemon peel, and honey. Finishes with a big barnyard funk of hay & horse blanket. Great dynamic smell that surprised me very much.

(T)- Very tart figs followed by a funkhouse of different fruits, hay, and musky honey. This is actually very funky, but in a good way. The figs create a jam-like consistency that plows into a dry & almost bitter farmhouse style beer. Finishes with a twinge of spice & more of those awesome figs.

(M)- I am rather surprised how nice the carbonation feel is. I was expecting a very high sparkling-like level, but that is not the case. Definitely higher than your normal beer, but it fits it well. Its dry, tart, sweet, bitter, and funky all at different times in each sip; a dynamic profile. A lighter body, but crisp & smooth.

(D)- A great & dynamic beer. Plenty of good things going on in it. Its refreshing & crisp. Fruity, but in a more subtle way than I would have guessed. This has aged gracefully & perhaps it still would have only gotten better? I might have to find out!

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2010 22:45:48 | More by sweemzander

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

4.1/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A rich take on a Belgian Wild from avery. Special tap offering with two years of age.

Presentation: 12 oz draft pour. Menu offers a god description noting style, intent, ingredients, and Alc. by Vol. (7.7%) It also adds that today the proceeds from this beer will be donated to Doctors Without Borders. Served in a tulip glass.

A - Hazy deep gold pour with a nice frothy head, medium retention, a fair surface memory, and some lacing.

S - Rich funky nose, freshness of brett, rotten apples, fruity notes, a complex spiciness, and a rich yeasty sense.

T - Fruity and complex spicy and funky range... Difficult to discern the figs or hibiscus... Things are working rather well as a nicely integrated unit. A bit sour but not over the top.

M - Medium to light body, with fine bubbly carbonation offering a tingly and smooth finish.

D - Very rich and pleasing brew. It´s complex, fresh but not overwhelming.

Notes: First Anniversary Ale I have from Avery, I think, and in this aged incarnation it feels great. I´m typically on a hit or miss relationship with Avery brews, luckily a few more hits than misses, but when you get a good one... I need to see If I can still find a bottle of this lying around somewhere.

Serving type: on-tap

02-04-2010 00:32:16 | More by Daniellobo

ICanDrinkBeer

Massachusetts

1.6/5  rDev -55.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1

Beer poured a clear light amber with a nice head of pure white foam. Aroma has notes of sour citrus and unidentified florals.

Taste, however, is almost nothing but alcohol and a slight chemical burn that sticks in the back of the throat.

Likely a bad bottle, but not something I would chance on buying again. This will be the first bomber that I have ever poured down the drain.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2010 00:08:57 | More by ICanDrinkBeer

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.63/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a cloudy amber haze with good carbonation. Nose is floral, sour and earthy with definite sour notes. Taste is sour hay, lemons, other sour tart fruits. Mouthfeel is sour, sweet and a slight booze. Nothig really makes it stand out but still good.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2010 18:57:00 | More by barleywinefiend

madbrewer9

Florida

3.83/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a pale, hazy gold
Small,very fine, persistant white head.
Decent lacing on the side of the glass.
Aroma, very strong barnyard and leather, just a small hint of spiciness.
Taste, definate barnyard, some citrusy sourness and just a hint of malt sweetness.
Mouthfeel is medium in body, pretty smooth. Some prickliness from the carbonation.
Nice American wild ale, has the Belgian funkiness, but not too overwhelmingly sour like some wild ales.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2010 05:07:57 | More by madbrewer9

ktrillionaire

Florida

4.9/5  rDev +36.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On sale now! I had to stock up. This beer was brewed in April 2008, and it tastes damn good today. In fact, I love it.

A – Pours a cloudy yellow-gold with a big head that quickly recedes, spotty lacing.

S – The aroma is of apples and autumn spices with a delicious lemon zest underpinning, with a pleasant slight medicinal / Band-Aid aroma as well.

T – Funky, sour, sweet, bitter; all in perfect moderation. Tart and dry start, sour and sweet tropical fruity middle. And bitter sour dark/dried fruity finish. Just a tremendously balanced and exquisitely flavored brew.

M – It feels nice, with not quite champagne dryness or effervescence, but a thin bubbly feel nonetheless.

D – This is one of my favorite beers. Ever.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2010 00:24:08 | More by ktrillionaire

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.85/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bomber, brewed with Hibiscus, Figs, and White Pepper. Interesting.

Pours a hazy golden/orange with a large uncontrollable white head which is very fluffy. The head quickly dissipates and leaves a bit of lacing.

Smell is funky with hints of barnyard funk, citrus, spices, and an underlying malt sweetness.

This one is a little light on the flavor, though there is a persistent yeast twang that sticks on your tongue long after the drink. I would consider this an entry to sour beer, it isn't offensive or funky at all really. There are just hints of funk. The flavor has that classic funk but in a small dose, it isn't too sour and there is some nice flavor form the white pepper. The hops can also be noticed here, something somewhat unusual for the style. The malt keeps the brett from wreaking havoc in this one it seems, the malt presence is high in this one.

The mouthfeel is really carbonated which imo adds to the drinkability and accessibility of this wild ale.

It is a decent ale, nothing too special but if you wanted to get someone into sours/funky/wild ales this is a great starting point.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2010 03:52:33 | More by crossovert

Fish113d

Pennsylvania

1.93/5  rDev -46.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Poured into a tulip slightly chilled, it pours a straw color with a big, fluffy off white head that grows to 3 fingers. Quickly begins to dissipate. Slight haze to this one.

Fairly sour aroma, reminding me of grapefruit juice. Maybe some alcohol on this one, as well as a bit of "I don't know what"...not very happy with the aroma of this one. A little mediciney.

Lots of carbonation hits my tongue and kills off some of the flavor I was hoping to experience instead. Not much flavor i can detect, except a bit of citrus flavors as well as a bit of peppery alcohol phenols...not impressed much at all.

Tough to say...carbonation kills much of the flavors and very sharp on my tongue. Medium bodied maybe....

I'll finish it to respect the beer, but this is the weakest offering I've ever had from Avery...usually a solid brewery. Not sure if I may have gotten a "bad bottle" or not, but this was close to drinking Budweiser in terms of "drinkability".

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2009 03:10:57 | More by Fish113d

arizcards

Arizona

3.8/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a bomber from Total Wine in late September for $6.99.

Beer poured a straw color into my Duvel tulip. Head was fluffy and long lasting. Nose is sour fruit. Taste is sour apples accented with pepper with a dry saison finish. Mouthfeel is classic Belgian, silky smooth across the palate. Drinkability is good, the abv is well hidden and with the silkiness being what it is this is a very nice beer to sip.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2009 23:08:11 | More by arizcards

brownbeer

Missouri

3.7/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dull gold in color without much lasting head.

Aroma is funky and fruity with darker dried fruit notes.

A bit of lemony tartness up front, funk and a orange/peach kind of fruitiness. The finish is spicy and dry.

A little to clean and lacks anything too great going on. I've had this about five times now, and I think i'm done giving this chances.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2009 00:17:28 | More by brownbeer

davidf45

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I have enjoyed this beer in the bottle as well as aged for a year and served from the tap. This is one beer that I enjoy not only fresh, but also when aged. It has wonderful fruit notes including a delightful fig flavor, with floral notes and a hint of white pepper. It has a little heavier alcohol feel when enjoyed aged for a year, but still very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2009 07:21:04 | More by davidf45