The Czar - Avery Brewing Company

jvillefan

California

3.9/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A: I hesitate to call this beer black, it is more of a dark brown then anything. A little lighter then I was expecting. There was a small brown lace of a head the disappeared immediately.

S: It had some roast character to it but bread was the predominate aroma coming off this beer.

T: The taste was an improvement from the appearance and smell. There was a deep roast flavor, chocolate and toffee. Virtually no bitterness present though.

M: A little on the light side which is very odd for an 11+% beer. Poor carbonation but the 11% probably played into that.

O: Good not great. If you have the opportunity to try it for cheap then do it. If you have to pay more than $5 then let this one pass by.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 03:43:08 | More by jvillefan

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.46/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a black with a tan colored head. Good body to the head at pour but disappates. Aroma is not remarkable - wasn't bad but may improve with age. Rich flavor. Alcohol is present but not overbearing. Chocolate, deep, dark malts. Starts with sweeter chocolate and then finishes with a nice dry bite.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2013 02:10:45 | More by Oakenator

King_KongDCO93

Minnesota

4.48/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured into a grand Snifter. dark motor oil color and you can't see throw the glass. Mildly carbonated with an off with 1/4inch head that dissipates gradually.

S: Right of the bat looks of caramel and mocha aroma. also has some vanilla aroma

T: Amazing!!! At 11.1% ABV the alcohol is well hidden. Has a chocolate milk shout taste (nice and sweet). it also has some licorice, caramel, vanilla, molasses, and mocha/coffee flavor.

M: mellowed out. medium body and slightly bitterness that doesn't linger.

O: Great Imperial stout

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 20:47:21 | More by King_KongDCO93

Sark

Montana

4.11/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

ABV= 11.1% Batch no. 11

Appearance- Nice smooth caramel colored head when given a vigorous pour. Two layers are seen from the side of the glass. The slow dissipation allows the release of aromas. Nice and deep dark brown, not the darkest I've seen though.

Smell- Roasty and toasty, but not in your face. True to the stout fashion. Not getting any hops.

Taste- Sweet bitterness and bread notes hit the front and mid-tounge. Alcohol warmth noted in the back of the mouth. Pure Russian boldness.

Mouthfeel- Smooth almost to the point of soapy? It feels almost slippery initially but leaves with a nice warm full-bodied finish.

Overall- Intense. True to the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 02:39:21 | More by Sark

BucannonXC5

California

3.83/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Type: 22-oz. bomber
Glass: Oversized Sea Smoke wine glass
From: Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido, Calif., on Dec. 27, 2012
Price: $8.29
Misc.: Batch No. 11, Nov. 2011; Label said 11.1 percent alcohol

Poured a black color with three fingers of frothy, tan head. Nice, layered spider web lacing on the sides all the way down. Average-to-above average retention on the top that lasted.

Surprisingly smelled a sharp whiff of hops up front. The hops, which seemed to be floral (later saw that the bottle said Hallertau) and some spicy notes, quickly gives way to flavorful malts. Specific malts were toffee, caramel, dark chocolate and light coffee. Could definitely smell the alcohol. Really comes together well, reminding me more of a black IPA than anything else.

Tasted a potent whiff of alcohol up front, but then the flavorful malts come in strong. Slightly bitter coffee, dark chocolate and toffee malts. Slight hops, but not as obvious as the smell. Some dark fruits come in, maybe plum? Also light molasses, liquor (not sure which type) and roasty malts.

Full body. Slick texture. Average texture. Long, smooth finish. Nice warming feel all the way down.

A pretty good Russian Imperial Stout overall. Plenty of nice flavors and warming all the way down.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 04:37:04 | More by BucannonXC5

BigBarley

Texas

4.65/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

So this beer is not a standard Imperial Stout. If you are expecting the usual roasty, malty flavors and chocolate notes, you might wanna trade in for a Yeti. BUT... if you want an amazing, unique, and delightful walloping brute of a beer, this might be what you need. It looks like a black, foreboding, creamy-headed stout. But that's the only thing you might consider typical here. The best way I can sum up both flavor and smell, are if I were to advise you to smell/taste a deliciously balanced, well brewed Imperial Stout with heavy chocolate and toffee notes, and then immediately smell/taste a barrel of various fresh hops. I mean it, this is a hop master. I don't know much about this brew, as I decided to review it on first impressions, but from the first taste, let me say WOW! I was in for a treat, as this is a monstrous dose of both black and green. This will satisfy the urge for a thick, dark, creamy beer, while still delivering a fatal fix of the hops.

I think tomorrow I'm grabbing a few more for the cellar (or, ya know... beer closet. Whatever)

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 19:14:31 | More by BigBarley

beergoot

Colorado

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

Deep, dark brown (nearly black) body topped with a thick, creamy light tan head. Excellent malt scents, heavy on the chocolate and cocoa nibs (which I can honestly say I'm familiar with -- some of the bird baths I've encountered at work at delivery have been packed with burlap sacks that were used for cocoa). Bittersweet chocolate flavor infused with equal amounts of hop bitterness and alcohol heat; marshmallows; slightly phenolic; lightly charred grains. Medium-heavy body; soft and smooth; dry.

Good, bold imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 00:56:56 | More by beergoot

scratch69

Missouri

3.78/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I poured a bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance- Black with two fingers worth of foamy and lingering, tan head. Large amount of sticky lacing.

Smell- Aromas of roasted malt and dark fruits with notes of chocolate, toffee, and coffee.

Taste- Roasted malt flavor with a dark fruit and dark chocolate presence. I also detect notes of toffee, licorice, black coffee with some hop bitterness at the finish.

Mouthfeel- Very full bodied and smooth. Low level of carbonation with some warmth from the high ABV. Dry finish.

Overall- A decent R.I.S. but it isn't mind blowing. If I have it again I will try cellaring it first.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 20:35:26 | More by scratch69

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

3.05/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

A: 1/8" tan head over black liquid.

S: Roasted malts, molasses, coffee, grass and earth.

T: Molasses, roasted malts, grains, coffee, earth, and grass.

M: Medium viscosity and a medium to low level of fine carbonation.

O: If you like Russian Imperial Stouts that taste like molasses and dirt, then this one is for you.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 02:52:31 | More by DaftCaskBC

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22ox bottle of the 2012 vintage I to a duvel glass

A: pours almost completely black, just some ruby mahogany hues around the edges when held to the light. Two finger of frothy mocha head,'nice retention. Ridiculous lacing coats the walls of the glass the whole way down, great looking brew.

S: dark fruits and chocolate are what I pick up on first... Then as the brew warms a bit I begin to get notes of caramel/toffee, light notes of toasted malt and alcohol. Nose really opens up as the beer reaches room temp. Tons of thick dark malt aroma.

T: the roasted malts step up a bit from the nose, which is nice, I get a nice mocha note along with some light dark fruit notes and caramel underneath, hops deffiantly come Into the play balancing out the malt sweetness. It also seems that the alcohol, although present, is toned down a notch from the aroma... Nicley rounded and tasty.

M: thick, heavy, creamy, everything you'd expect from a big boy stout. Carbonation Is on the lower end, while the roastyness and hop bitterness finish this one of on the dry side.

O: a nice imperial stout, that is very well balanced and tasty, if your a fan of the style deffiantly give this one a go.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 02:02:37 | More by PeterIngemi

Kevin73

Washington

2.9/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours a silky black with nice lacing despite the thin head. The nose is spicy with the slightest hint of mocha. Flavor is equally spicy and extremely hoppy. A little sweetness would go a long way toward balancing these flavor but this stout is on the dry side. The medicinal flavor of the alcohol is very apparent and this is what ultimately put me off the most.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 01:15:00 | More by Kevin73

denver10

Colorado

4.28/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours black with a mocha head. A smooth aroma offering some chocolate, caramel, currants, and just a touch of some roastiness. Flavor starts off with some molasses and caramel, a little currants mid stream, and some roastiness and chocolate in the finish. Not sure I noticed any alcohol either (it was final beer of the evening, however). A nice fuller, creamy mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very nice, very smooth, stout. As has come to be expected from Avery.

Serving type: on-tap

12-07-2012 00:01:48 | More by denver10

cvm4

Mississippi

3.73/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Batch No. 10, Nov. 2011.

A - Pours your regular thick/black as motor oil. Has a tan head with minimal lacing.

S - Big roasted malts along with cocoa.

T - Lots of roasted malts along with semi-sweet chocolate & vanilla. The ending is caramel/toffee & slight licorice and just overall on the sweet side.

M - Thick, good carbonation, coats the mouth well.

O - A great "standby" stout that isn't going to blow you away but you can come to it time & time again and it won't disappoint. It really comes into its own as it warms up.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 00:53:15 | More by cvm4

Ranz

Texas

3.83/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Black as sin, this imperial pours nicely in my Duvel tulip, but even with a fairly vigorous pour, it produced little head. The lacing is even and thick, producing some good character after what's gone.

S: Roasted malt, Colombian coffee, bitters, and a sharpness I can't quite define define waft up. It's got some character.

T: The alcohol certainly isn't shy here. A long ethanol finish pairs with the thickness of it all. Caramel pronounces for me, too. Once you start pounding through it a bit more, the alcohol really warms you up. This would make for a great, thick dessert beer alongside some rich chocolate or velvet cake.

Otherwise, there's not too much here. Maybe Avery brews these specifically for cellaring? I remember having this before and being much more impressed.

M: Speaking of which, the beer sits like a fat czar on his throne; he's despotic and doesn't give a damn. It's almost a bit heavy-handed, even for a stout, for it's not as balanced as the flavor.

O: It's not quite up to the snuff that I've come to expect from Avery, but it's still a solid effort nonetheless. If I find it again, the cellar should do the trick.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 02:12:38 | More by Ranz

venneman

4.15/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled this beer at the Parade of Darks in Denver, Colorado, and I was quite pleased. The batch I had was tested at 11.1% ABV. Flavors of chocolate, coffee, and hints of what tasted like molasses washed over my palate, while the fairly mild carbonation made for a smooth sip without breaking up the full mouthfeel. This beer pairs very well with milk chocolate treats or a slice of parmesan cheese.

Serving type: growler

12-02-2012 04:55:44 | More by venneman

josephwa

Minnesota

2.53/5  rDev -35.6%
look: 5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Purchased a bomber just after the release date.

A - dark brown with lovely thick head. Stays well carbonated through drinking process.

S - skunky stench on the nose. Almost smells spoiled. I get a little brown ale scent from this one.

T - decent taste but lacking depth of flavor. Not what I'm going for with a Russian imperial stout. Aftertaste is bothersome. I do get some coffee and roasty taste further down the bottle though.

M - well carbonated feel. Alcohol burn isn't noticeable at all.

O - overall was very disappointed considering Avery's great brew lineup. Would not recommend this beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 22:23:09 | More by josephwa

genitempo

Texas

4.6/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Poured a 2008 cellared bottle into a snifter. Pours heavy but smooth, sooty core with a tanned head. Thin, stubborn lace.

S - Hits heavy with the pop of the bottle cap, but settles out nicely. Heavy licorice and toasted malt. Indications of caramel in the background. Ethanol, as well.

T - Very solid and combined effort from all the flavors. The cellaring really allowed a well-orchestrated taste. Heavy licorice and malt mimic the nose. Booze are apparent. Mild chocolate undertones.

MF - Big bodied with a level of subdued carbonation that gives off an ashy presence on the tongue. (Sounds terrible but it was one of the more appealing aspects of the beer.)

O - I've had the Czar many times over. When comparing the 2012, 2011 Draft, 2011 Bottle, and now the 2008 Bottle, I feel like they all bring something a bit different to the table. This 2008 pushes more licorice than I would have ever imagined. Still, a very solid, complex beer. The Czar allows the drinker to see it's many faces, depending on how long you leave it on your shelf.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 08:30:21 | More by genitempo

metter98

New York

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

A: The beer is jet black in color. It poured with a thin tan head that has very good retention properties and hardly died down, leaving some lacing running down the sides of the glass.
S: Aromas of licorice stand out in the nose.
T: The taste has flavors of roasted malts and licorice along with and a light amount of bitterness. There are some hints of alcohol in the finish.
M: It feels rather full-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. There is a bit of alcohol warming in the finish along with some roastiness.
O: Although this beer is quite strong, it's not too difficult to drink because the alcohol flavors are not too prevalent and do not really detract from the taste.

Note: Batch No. 10, November 2011 vintage

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 02:57:03 | More by metter98

DonDirkA

Arizona

4.38/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled in 2009. Poured into Stone IRS glass.

Nose is dark chocolate, heavy roasted coffee notes, anise, kind of sweet, kind of smells like cream and there's definitely still some booze in there. I feel like there's something else buried in there too but I can't quite identify it. Maybe some toffee? The taste is great. There's notes of anise, chocolate and coffee all at once but they push each other back and forth and weave in and out. I wanna say chocolate into coffee then it dives into anise and kicks back to the coffee (almost a mocha flavor) before it fades into anise and a bit of alcohol heat. The after taste is mostly roasted malts and coffee. The mouthfeel is substantial but not overwhelming. The heat sticks around in the pit of the stomach, it would definitely be nice on a cold night. I don't remember what I thought of this when I tried it years ago but right now its pretty fantastic. Thanks Whole Foods for doing my aging for me ;-)

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 00:09:19 | More by DonDirkA

mactrail

California

3.55/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Handsome brew in the Leffe goblet, with the mahogany brown color. Nice beige head with every pour. A little bit viscous but virtually no lacing along the glass. Quite creamy carbonation, pleasing tiny bubbles to go with the thick mouthfeel and rich flavors.

Dark and fruity with a bitter undertone. Toffee is the big malty taste to me. Flavors of dried figs, molasses, dried cranberries. Quite sweet and borders on a candy taste. A sharp taste takes over as the hops come forward. Label says 55 IBUs. Then you get some dark roast malt and a little charred flavor.

Quite sippable. It's a different sort of RIS, with warmer notes and a restrained sweetness. Label says this is Batch no. 10, Nov. 2011.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 05:46:26 | More by mactrail

JamesMN

Minnesota

3.88/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cracked open a 2011 vintage bomber and poured into a snifter.

Appearance: Pours a completely opaque black with a tan head that has all but disappeared. When swirled, the head regenerates nicely but fizzles away again in minutes.

Aroma: Molasses and black licorice. Definitely a hint of alcohol in there.

Taste: Almost abrasive on your tongue at first. Then roasted caramel comes next, along with a brighter flavor(the hops I think) that goes to the top of your palate. The molasses is thankfully not as apparent in the flavor. There is a nice black coffee aftertaste along with some dates/figs or other dried fruit taste. Leaves a bit of lingering hop bitterness on your tongue that is surprising given the age of the bottle. After each sip different flavors come out seemingly one by one, each fading before the next surfaces. The flavor continues to develop nicely as it warms. Really don't taste that 10.75% abv at all but can feel it in my throat a bit, giving a nice warming sensation.

Mouthfeel: This beer has a medium to heavy body and below average drinkability. It's surprisingly effervescent given that there was almost no head(gave it an aggressive pour but to no avail). Tiny bubbles attack your tongue adding to the bitterness from the hops. After a few swirls in the snifter, the carbonation has died down a bit, revealing that the hops can do the same amount of damage without the bubbles to aid them. The bitterness that's left on your tongue is great.

Final Thoughts: This is my first experience with The Czar(or any Russian Imperial Stout for that matter) and it was a pretty good one. I knew what to expect going into this and it basically met my expectations. While I won't be seeking this one out again, it's easy to see why this style is so revered.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 00:57:14 | More by JamesMN

chugalug06

Colorado

3.88/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Vintage 2010 into a Bruery Tulip

Three-finger, caramel colored, thin foamy head. Brew is nice thin black color.

Heavy chocolate and caramel. Slightly metallic.

A bit thin. Deep and roasty. Lots of heavy milk chocolate. High carbonation, but doesn't detract from the flavors. Heavy molasses too. A bit strong and bitter. No heat and slight sugary sweetness.

Recommended to age for a while it's better with age then fresh, IMO, but both are hard to beat. Happy Birthday to me!

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 02:08:58 | More by chugalug06

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

4.6/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Picked this up in Ponderay, Idaho. From a 22 oz. brown bomber, gold foil around the neck and cap. Pours out a dense translucent black, nearly opaque but exhibits deep mahogany highlights when held to direct light. Tight creamy beige head that retains to a thick cap.

Rich aroma of cocoa dusted tiramisu, molasses, figs, currants and cherry skins, and melon rind.

Rich flavour of chocolate, coffee au lait, currants and cherries, along with molasses, figs, and dry cocoa towards the finish, with a growing espresso character, and some mild spicy herbal hops. Soft roasted malt throughout, as well as a low lying alcohol warmth presence. Intense yet approachable.

Medium-full bodied mouthfeel, full creamy and silky smooth texture, with moderate carbonation.

Gorgeous RIS, lots going on while not getting out of control, lots of finesse exhibited here. Seek this one out, an excellent interpretation.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 03:47:22 | More by IronDjinn

Mora2000

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010 vintage, I believe this is the last year with the old label.

As expected, the beer pours a pitch black color with a small off-white head. The aroma is heavy on the chocolate and roasted malt, with a very light hint of smoke. The flavor is fairly similar. There is a little bit of warming from the alcohol, but what really stands out is a big, bold chocolate character with some roasted malt. There is a good bit of sweetness from the malt, as well as some dark cherry and prune notes. Thick, creamy mouthfeel and low carbonation. A very nice imperial stout, which is drinking very well with 2 years of age on it.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 04:37:40 | More by Mora2000

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.3/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is a 2007 vintage on tap at Falling rock denver. Poured into oversized duvel-like tulip. Pours a jet black oil looking with a thin tan head. Smell is of chocolatey dried fruit, a bit of coffee, and roasted malts. Taste is quite good...roasted smooth malts, coffee and dried fruity fig. Alcohol is present and slightly bitter mouthfeel.
Wow...a really great brew! Based on some other reviews, I will assume aging this beer is the way to go. Really amazing, and super lucky to try this 5 year vintage!

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2012 01:15:09 | More by DrinkSlurm