Tweak - Avery Brewing Company

JizackFH

New York

4.72/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on-tap at Rattle N Hum in NYC on 10/25/11.
Review taken from notes

This beer pours motor oil black in color. It has a finger of dark tan head on it. The head sticks around for a bit and it leaves some scattered lace stuck to the glass. The nose has a huge coffee aroma that comes through as the dominate smell. There is also a nice roasted malt presence, as well as some fruitiness. The taste follows the nose quite well. There is a lot of coffee flavor that really stands out. The roasted malt and dark fruit flavors are also present. There is a bit of booziness here as well, which is to expected. The finish leaves some lingering coffee and roasted malt bitterness on the palate. This has a full body and good carbonation. It goes down easy and has a chewy quality to it. There is some roasted bitterness and some sweetness. There is some alcohol warmth as well. This has great drinkability. It is a slow sipper, but the flavor is outstanding. I really love this beer. It is excellent, and I definitely recommend picking up a glass of this if you come across it. Excellent beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2011 14:01:51 | More by JizackFH

scout

District of Columbia

4.28/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On draft at Blind Tiger in NYC.

Pours jet black with a small, brown, frothy head. Smell is straight espresso and maybe some chocolately malts too. First sip is sweeter than I would have expected. Lots going on -- caramel, sticky malt, raisins, vanilla and definitely some other fruits I can't put my finger on. Espresso flavor is still there too and I love how well the sweet malty/fruity flavors balance the bitter chocolate and espresso. Great, smooth, balanced flavor and you'd never know it was 16%. The alcohol content warms you up but never even so much as gets in the way.

Exceptionally smooth mouthfeel with a creamy, roasted malt and back to the heavy espresso flavor for the finish. Great stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2011 00:27:06 | More by scout

dbossman

Nebraska

4.47/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Quite black with a thin head and minimal lacing--actually kind of looks like espresso--if only I had some steamed milk

S: This is an espresso bomb; so much espresso with a touch of roasty malts, dark chocolates, and dark fruits underneath

T: So much espresso and so much booze; this is such a sipper; underneath the loads and loads of coffee, which do help hold down the alcohol burn that you would expect from a 16% beer; also some sweet dark fruits and chocolates hiding beneath the espresso blast

F: Sticky and viscous with very little carbonation

O: Such a great, huge beer with so much espresso; I honestly felt like I had more of a coffee than beer breath after this puppy; boy, is this good, Avery!

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2011 01:10:46 | More by dbossman

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Draft at Varga Bar.

Pours pitch black and complete opaque with faint mahogany edges and a one finger frothy mocha head.  Good retention slowly fading into to lasting ring.  Spotty chocolate colored lacing left behind.  

Roasted coffee and dark malt aroma with lots of roasty espresso and toast but not burnt smelling.  Hints of sweet chocolate, nut, oatmeal and subtle booze.  Smells like really roasted chocolate coffee.  

Chewy viscous body with a blast of smooth roasted coffee up front that lingers over the roasted malt notes into a lingering dry finish.  Smooth coffee flavor that is roasted wihout being acrid or burnt.  Countered by hints of toast, dark choc, oatmeal and nuttiness.  Subtle lactic creaminess with faint sweet booziness in the finish.  Abv very well masked with little heat in the back end and faint warmth in the finish.

Serving type: on-tap

06-28-2011 18:03:44 | More by corby112

ryantaussig

New York

4.25/5  rDev -6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

It was meant to be on tap at The Good Life, but by the time I showed up it was already kicked! Now that's a release party. Luckily one of the owners (Pete) had an extra growler and hooked me up. Love that guy.

The look is exactly what an Imperial Stout should be. It's nearly opaque black with a wonderfully chocolate colored head and lace. The smell is a bit over the top with the alcohol for me, but other notes like vanilla, bourbon, coffee, and even a bit of chocolate are there. I'd have to say the same about the flavor, the alcohol is completely unmasked and is quite dominant, but the coffee does a great job of balancing the bourbon notes. Chocolate comes into play a little more as well. I only noticed it in the nose after tasting it. Absolutely smooth and quite viscous. Overall a very solid beer, but a bit high in the ABV.

Serving type: growler

06-25-2011 14:52:55 | More by ryantaussig

kaips1

Kentucky

4.75/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at the beer trappe, like everyone else, poured into a 6oz sniffer. Been waiting to try this one and after having a "regular" Mephistopheles at 4 1/2 yrs old at DLD, I knew I a had to try this.

A-black as night with a nice chocolate milk head about a finger high. Lots of carbonation the head is not strong 5 min later but it hasn't gone away either.
S-the coffee is over powering any other smells I would be picking up, by just the smell I doubt most people would believe it's beer.
T- slight, slight chocolate but the obvious coffee bomb is right there. Good roasted burnt coffee with helping hands from the malt.
M- this beast is very lively, it doesn't dance withcarbonarionnin your mouth it throws a mosh pit. Slight burn at the end that quickly gets masked by the coffee.
O/d- this one is worth the hype, love it, I would suggest this to anyone that can get a glass, savior every last drop. Drinkability is amazingly easy the little burn you feel at the end could be from the high coffee in it and might not be the 16% abv. I could see this one getting a lot of people in trouble from not noticing you just crushed a glass while having lite conversation.

Get some Mephaddict

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2011 16:07:10 | More by kaips1

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.58/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Upon one draw of aroma and a supple sip, it's hard not to sum up a quality reveiw without including a phrase like "stupid-crazy" or "ya gotta be kiddin' here". With copious amounts of espresso and added conditioning, the Mephistopholes Stout just got better!

Strong and smooth, the espresso notes wrap this stout in a cacoon of silky smoothiness that delivers the beer in an inky-black hue that coats the glass like port. A light creamy head adorns the rim in even an espresso-like manner. Low on retention or lace, the 16% abv just wont allow it- instead, brandy-like legging and oily weight sculpts the impressions.

A burst of espresso leaps out of the glass and without any of the burnt or coffee ground aromas that often accompany coffee beers. Smooth roast, walnuts, caramelized molassas, malted bitter chocolate candies all round together in a seductive and decedant nose.

All the flavors of espresso, tampered roast, nutty/malty taste, bitter-sweet chocolates all give the distinct impressions of chocolate coated espresso beans that you buy at classic coffee shops. Oxidized esters contribute flavors of burnt currants, black cherries, red grapes, and savory sherrys and even a hint of soy sauce for added complexity and depth.

With extreme alcohols, the beer hardly attempts to build any creaminess from carbonation. Rather it allows the velvety weight of the beer to provide a lush and silky feel while allowing the full oily textures to coat and penetrate the surfaces of the mouth for fullness and richness in flavor. Obviously the beer finishes malt-rich, warming, and with a long linger of coffee.

Impressively, the beer avoids any acrid or astringent roast from either the dark grains or coffee. Secondly, the harsher alcohols of 16% are surpressed underneath the coffee and go largely unnoticed. A beautiful beer all around.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2011 15:59:27 | More by BEERchitect

bobhits

Kentucky

4.78/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

The greatest joy with a beer is having a “wow” moment. This beer is a true “wow” in every sense of the expression.

Poured into a 6 oz snifter to the top, I can’t comment much on lacing or body, but foam was there around a deep viscous black beer. A bit of brandy legs as well.

The aromas were dark bitter espresso, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, the deepest roasted coffee, with a myriad of dark sweet candy like notes.

One of the most overtly espresso flavored beers I can recall. The espresso bitterness is balanced wonderfully by chocolate flavors, deep sweet roasted malt, and perhaps a touch of age. The sweetness on this one would generally lead to an awful experience, but the bitter espresso beans are so over powering that the end result is nearly balanced to perfection though I’m always ok with a bit more bitterness in my beers.

At 16% you expect the body to be viscous, creamy, and amazingly thick. You also expect alcohol to be over powering at times. That said this beer masks the alcohol better than any beer I can think of off the top of my head. It certainly warms the face and never do you forget there’s plenty of alcohol here, but it is amazingly well hidden.

One of the best stouts I’ve had and for the coffee lovers it simply is to die for. Thank you to the guys at the Beer Trappe for having this one. I can’t express enough how much I liked it.

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2011 23:50:40 | More by bobhits

MasterSki

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

After trying this at DLD 2010, I scheduled my Friday evening around the tapping of a sixth barrel of this gem at The Long Room. Served in a snifter - I was initially shocked by the $10 sticker price, but then realized it had the same amount of alcohol as two 7.5% beers. This batch clocked in at 15.1%. Kicked in about 3.5 hours more or less.

A - Served with a finger of tan foam that settles to a thin cap, leaving glass-coating lace. Body is straight-up black, although it was hard to be 100% certain in the low light conditions.

S - Big earthy intense coffee leaps out of the glass, following by peripheral notes of dark fruits, dark chocolate, anise, roasted malts, and a hint of booze. Really fantastic - a beer I'd happily nurse all night just to keep drawing in deep breaths of this fine aroma.

T - The taste has less overt coffee, and more sweetness to it. There's still plenty of dark chocolate, but more rum-soaked fruits and burnt sugars tip the scales a bit. The espresso pops back up in the finish, providing lingering roasty bitterness. Alcohol is minimally present in the taste.

M - There's some definite alcohol warmth here - my face started tingling after nary a few ounces and I started to feel flush. Sticky, viscous, chewy and clingy full body with lower carbonation otherwise.

D - Definitely a one and done kind of beer. I ordered two glasses as I was worried it would kick before Sean arrived and the bartender gave me an incredulous look. I also was forced to text Sean telling him that if he didn't show up to drink his glass he could find me passed out on Irving Park the following morning. Great nightcap beer though, and a great start to Chicago Craft Beer Week (even if the Avery event wasn't officially part of it).

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2011 15:46:19 | More by MasterSki

Sean9689

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at The Long Room during CCBW. Poured into snifter.

A - Pours black, mocha-colored head, thin cap, spotty lacing.

S - Coffee is right up front, followed by dark chocolate, smooth booze, some toffee, slight roast. Basically, lots of coffee and booze, both very-well done and smooth.

T - Coffee beans, black coffee, dark chocolate, cream, toffee, expresso. Lots of caffeine and lots of alcohol. The 15% (which is what the menu said) is noticeable, but man, it's still pretty damn smooth.

M - Medium, rich and smooth, light carbonation, creamy roast finish.

O - After a few sips, my face started to feel a bit fuzzy. This is one potent beer, to say the least. The alcohol is very-well hidden and the coffee notes are wonderful. This is what you order for an after dinner drink, no doubt about it. Yum!

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2011 01:59:16 | More by Sean9689

mcallister

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Tribes Aleshouse.

Pours deep black with a thick creamy mocha head with long retention. Very surprising considering ABV.

Thick deep roasty Chocolate and cocoa aromas, vanilla, black fruits, red currant ant layers of coffee, latte, mocha, espresso, burnt caramel and rum soaked raisins, black cherry, and licorice.

Thick, rich, good sweetness yet not copying and delicious. Deep dark chocolate, roasted charred malts and caramel, layers of complex tannic coffee, run soaked raisin, not as much alcohol burn as anticipated. Abuse, black cherry, black fruits, burnt marshmallows and a bit of vanilla and lots of espresso. Delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2011 23:43:14 | More by mcallister

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.93/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Falling Rock was pouring this one tonight. What a pour! Black and luscious, creamy head and soft. Nice. Reddish hints on the rim. Oooh-la-la...

Coffee. Black rich coffee in the nose. That's it.

Coffee again in the taste. This time, though, it's accompanied by black plum and a bit of roasted malt. Not much else to describe this one. It rivals KBS and is a bit thicker on the palate.

Easy drinking for a 16% whopper. Dangerous.

Serving type: on-tap

04-09-2011 09:34:37 | More by Mebuzzard

emmasdad

Colorado

4.6/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Another one I was really looking forward to trying, especially after enjoying the Out of Sight a month or so ago. This did not let down. Deep rich black color, minimal head. Huge nose of French pressed coffee, and as it warms, booze. On the palate, coffee is prevalent, and dominates, but in a very good way. Alcohol is so well hidden, its ridiculous. Another outstanding beer on an outstanding beer drinking day.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2010 17:14:09 | More by emmasdad

ZX6Chris

California

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

I had this at Stone's 14th Anniversary Celebration 8/21/10. A big pour into a taster glass.

A-Wow that's dark! Very dark head of tight bubbles that receeds quickly.

S-It screams coffee, but in a good way. I love good coffee and wish I could get more of this.

T-Coffee! big surprise there. Not harsh though light and flavorful a little alcohol but you'd never think it was 16%.

M-Luscious! Some stout's have a harshness to them that's off putting but this does not. It's smooth, definitely full bodied but well carbonated so it goes down easy.

D-I thought this was the regular Mephistopheles so I only got 1 taster thinking I could get more bottles. I should have sipped on a few more of these it was REALLY good!

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2010 23:08:22 | More by ZX6Chris

htomsirveaux

Texas

4.33/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

~3 oz. pour tried at the Avery dinner, 24 Diner, Austin, 29 Jul 2010.

Served in a white wine glass. Small dark brown head. Opaque chocolate brown color. Light carbonation. Aromas of espresso, dark chocolate, lots of roastiness, ethanol. Flavor is dominated by the espresso. Also plenty of chocolate and cocoa, vanilla. Ethanol is upfront and in your face but not hot. Mouthfeel is like melted dark chocolate, thick. Finish is roasty bitter.

Excellent replacement for coffee or espresso at the end of a meal.

Serving type: on-tap

07-31-2010 15:46:35 | More by htomsirveaux

ChrisPro

Illinois

4.55/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Draft at Varga Bar during Philly Beer Week 2010.

Pours black as night with some big dark mocha fluffy head.

Aroma was easily the best coffee aroma I have ever gotten out of a beer. This was on par with roasting fresh coffee beans at home. Tucked behind this were some hints of chocolate and vanilla, but man, that coffee nose was beautiful.

Big super sweet malty bomb, but balanced incredibly well with a rich bitter roasted finish.

I'm not sure how long this was aged, but typically I find fresh batches of Mephistopheles to be a bit boozy and hot on the throat, but Meph Addict had none of that! This was incredibly smooth and I can't believe it's the same 16% beer. Super thick mouthfeel and incredibly viscous, but it leaves a great dark chocolate mocha finish on the tongue.

Overall, this was far too drinkable for what it is. I could've put away the 8 oz. pour in seconds and it took restraint to sip it. Easily the best Avery brew I've had to date and one of the highlights to PBW2010.

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2010 03:32:05 | More by ChrisPro

ucusty

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Draft brewvival. Okay I want to first start of by saying that I strongly dislike the standard version of Mephistopheles. I think its a hot cloying mess. With that being said some people really eat up the under-attenuated stouts, its just not my thing. So onto meph-addict.. Thick viscous dark pour with a thin tan head . Nose is punch you in the face coffee. Flavor is much of the same. The coffee really improved a mediocre base beer. Alcohol well masked

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2010 15:50:16 | More by ucusty

coldmeat23

Oklahoma

4.47/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

GLASS: Snifter
TEMP: Served at approx 40 degrees, allowed to warm about 10 degrees before drinking
I was lucky enough to try this one at DLD 2010.

Pours a very nice black color with some dark crimson highlights. A creamy, light brown colored head forms on top, then recedes rather quickly, leaving a small surface ring of bubbles. Lacing is very minimal, and slides down the oily sides of the glass.

The nose is filled with very rich notes of roasted malts. It has an almost fudge/brownie like chocolatey-ness to it. Beautiful notes of espresso. Hints of molasses and dark fruits.

The flavor follows the nose. There are nice notes of molasses that come forward. The espresso notes seem to be blended with sweetened condensed milk. The balance of roasty to sweet to almost burnt/bitter plays off of each other component very well.

Beautiful, full body. Mild level of carbonation. Extremely smooth, but sadly lacks any real depth of creaminess. Silky for sure, but could easily be velvet-like with a bit of tweaking.

I'm not sure if the 16.03%abv is correct or not, but if it is then this brew is criminal. It certainly drinks a whole lot easier than that. It does have a certain touch of booziness to it, but I think that the high presence of espresso/coffee flavor gives it a lot of balance, or at least helps mask it well.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2010 01:57:03 | More by coldmeat23

bierenutz

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this on tap as a guest beer at FFF on DLD.
A-Dark brown with no head and minimal lacing, probably due to the tap pour.
S-Rich roasted malts and coffee with chocolate and dark fruit aromas.
T-Syrupy with cocoa and dark fruit flavors and a nice blend of coffee and liquor that was not overstated. Very pleasant.
M-Creamy, but not necessarily thick with low carbonation and overall nice feel.
D-I didn't know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised at this beer's complexity. Avery has done a nice job with this one.

Serving type: on-tap

05-01-2010 23:44:32 | More by bierenutz

bigbelcher

Arizona

4.63/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

OMG- What an incredible beer. They really need to make this full time. Mesatopholes with coffee in it. Aroma was of rich roasted coffee. Color was jet black with no head. Flavor was of an espresso coffee with quite a warm alcohol kick. Mouthfeel was full bodied. I loved this beer and the caffiene in it definetly got me buzzed.

Serving type: on-tap

04-16-2010 16:21:35 | More by bigbelcher

BretSikkink

Mexico

3.75/5  rDev -17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

I could almost start and end my review with a single word: Kahlua.

Dark brown color with a short head with dissipates quickly. Most of my time with this beer, it had neither cap nor foam. Nose is full of chocolate and espresso. Highly roasted, but also a sweet presence. Alcohol is all over this one.

The flavor is very boozy. Switches from chocolate to coffee as the dominant flavor, with plenty of good stuff like molasses and dark fruit. Full, thick mouthfeel, and a velvety soft finish.

There's a lot to be said about this one, but to my taste buds it was way too sweet - almost like hot chocolate - and the booze was far too apparent. This was a shot at a gold medal in abv and that's about it. Dial this one back and you've probably got a damn fine ale, but as it stands I can't recommend this.

Serving type: on-tap

04-16-2010 05:26:33 | More by BretSikkink

glid02

Georgia

4.47/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Brewvival.

Pours black with a small brown head. The head quickly recedes into a thin ring around the glass leaving light lacing.

Smells of loads and loads of espresso coffee. Serving as the backbone are good amounts of molasses, roasted malts, and unsweetened chocolate, in that order.

Tastes similar to how it smells, although the coffee influence isn't quite as large. Smooth coffee flavors kick things off with roasted malts lurking in the background. Midway through the sip molasses flavors join in and sweeten things up a bit. Coffee and chocolate flavors with a decidedly sweet edge then carry through to an ending that's neither sweet nor bitter.

Mouthfeel is very good. It's got a smooth thickness with soft carbonation.

Drinkability is also very good. I didn't have a problem finishing my glass and could have a few more, even at such a big ABV.

Overall I enjoyed this one more with coffee than without as it cut some of the sweetness. Well worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2010 21:47:57 | More by glid02

rye726

Colorado

4.53/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark oily black with tints of mahogany. Silky tan head has nice lace for a beer of this size.

Nose has sweet espresso, chocolate fudge, nutty malts, molasses, ripe pitted fruits, anise and vanilla.

Taste has dark cocoa, coffee, rum, cherries, plums, bitter hops and molasses.

Thick body is delicately carbonated. Nice finish. Quite tasty, coffee really helps mask the booze.

Serving type: on-tap

02-18-2010 21:25:04 | More by rye726