Avery, The Kaiser –Avery Brewing Co, Boulder, CO.

Avery, The Kaiser –Avery Brewing Co, Boulder, CO.

Imperial Märzen Lager 10.2% (?)  ABV  22oz – Dictator Series- 

A: Pours a brilliant caramel to light copper.  The head is a gorgeous white with tight bubbles and carries with it perfect sticky lacing. 

S: Breadiness and toasted caramel blended with a touch of spice from the noble hops and a touch of booze. 

T: Malt bomb! Sweetness blended with warming booziness and herbal flavors from the hops. There is a touch of spice but it does not dominate the rich caramel notes of the toasted malt which leaves for a strong finish that leans on the sweeter side for lagers.  

M: Heavy and fully bodied. Carbonation is very good, long finish semi-sweet finish 

D: This is another sipper! For those that say they don’t lagers here’s the one they will fall in love with. For those that like a sweeter beer this is for them as well and let’s not leave out those that enjoy a brew that carries a punch of alcohol. The Kaiser might be one of the most approachable beers above 8% ABV that is not Belgian in nature. 

Avery, Rumpkin – Avery Brewing Co. Boulder, CO.

Avery, Rumpkin – Avery Brewing Co. Boulder, CO.  

15.9% ABV Pumpkin Ale aged in Goslings Rum barrels. 12oz bottle.

A: Soft head – loose bubbles that fades fast. Very dark brown almost like a class of whiskey. Great legs low lacing. 

S: Pumpkin pie! Soft hints of spices, nutmeg, cinnamon,  mixed with subtle pumpkin. Sweet richness is on the forefront with a dense booziness on the backend but it’s masked with the creamy nose. 

T: Pumpkin pie made with rum! Minor spices throughout the palate with huge rich sweetness that coats the palate like a warm coat. Pumpkin flavors are present but blend very well with the sweetness. Strong rum flavors dominate the finish and warm the chest but the booziness, actual alcohol is well hidden while cold. 

M: Very full bodied – almost a stout in feel. Moderate carbonation but this beer weighs heavy on the palate. 

O: Incredible Pumpkin Ale and uber rare. 15.9% = Just under 4 beers in 1. This is made for pumpkin beer fans, rum lovers, and those that enjoy rich beer. This is a sipper made for Winter.  

Surrette, Crooked Stave Brewing Company, Ft. Collins, CO.

Surrette, Crooked Stave Brewing Company, Ft. Collins, CO.  750mL bottle

6.2% ABV, Wood Aged Saison with slight amounts of Brett and Lacto

A:  Pours a hazy golden orange color with an ambitious off white head.

S:  This aged farmhouse has classic aromas of hay, funk, citrus and spice.  

T:  This beer tastes of light malts, citrus, and farmhouse flavors like hay, and funk. 

M:  Light bodied with bright carbonation and a dry slightly funky finish.

Food Pairing:  This beer would pair great with Salumi Sandwich, Fishwich, Weisswurst , Veal Schnitzel.  

Faster Bigger Better Bolder Dogfish Head/ The Bruery Collaboration

Faster Bigger Better Bolder Dogfish Head/ The Bruery Collaboration 750mL 

8.25% ABV Herbed/Spiced Beer (kumquats and 7 spice blend, sake yeast)

A:  Pours a hazy golden orange color with a lofty white head that recedes to leave behind only minimal lacing.

S:  This beer smells of delicious earthy belgian and sake yeast, citrusy aromas of kumquat and spices coriander, ginger, white pepper, with a light yet sweet malty backbone.

T: Flavors of sweet juicy malts, a mild citrus twang, and warming spices as well as saison spices are the most dominant flavors.  Yeasty characteristics from Belgian and Sake yeast are mild as are light fruit flavors like red apple, grapes, or peaches.

M:  Rich medium bodied beer with active carbonation and a dryish after taste.  

Food Pairings:   This is both a great food beer as well as a great drinking beer. It would pair fantastically with the Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich, Salumi Sandwich, Mussels, Sausages, etc. 

Avery Czar, Avery Brewing Co. Boulder, CO.

Avery Czar, Avery Brewing Co. Boulder, CO.  

Russian Imperial Stout , 22 oz bottle, 11% ABV.  Beer Advocate:B+

A:  This winter seasonal pours a rich dark brown with crimson highlights and a moderate beige head that recedes leaving behind moderately intricate lacing.

S:  Aromas of sweet roasted malts blend with dark fruit, and mild cocoa and coffee notes.  Minor hop aromas blend with a slight spiciness. 

T:  Flavors of dark fruit (plums, prunes, dates) mingle with rich dark malt flavors of coffee, toffee, chocolate, and cocoa with a slight hints of anise.  A moderate hop bitterness and rather prevalent alcohol hotness balance out the rich sweetness of this RIS.  Enjoys both a rich initial impression and a rather dry finish.

M:  This beer is med-medium heavy in body with moderate carbonation and a significant alcohol presence.  

D:  This beer is certainly a sipper and would likely be best served as a way to finish and evening, rather than begin a meal.  

Food Pairings:  This would serve great with our waffle and sour dough ice cream sandwich as well as a rich blue cheese.

Bligh's Dry Dock Barleywine Ale, Dry Dock Brewing Co

Bligh's Dry Dock Barleywine Ale, Dry Dock Brewing Co, Aurora, CO.

English Style Barleywine 10% ABV 

A:  This beer pours dark brown with ruby highlights, with a moderate off white head leaving a minimal amount of lacing on the glass.

S:  Sweet aromas of brown sugar, caramel, molasses, oak, bourbon and especially coconut.  No real dominant hop characteristics are prevalent. 

T:  Hints of vanilla, wood, bourbons are accents to the silken caramel, and dried dark fruit sweetness. Alcohol is subdued but detectable, while no real hops are part of the flavor profile.

M:  Medium to full bodied, rich, creamy mouthfeel with moderate carbonation and a  slightly sweet finish that lingers.

D:  Awesome winter warmer, great for a dessert course, but also incredible by itself.  Lots of alcohol so do serve with caution.

Food Pairings:  Lemon buckle, Ice cream sandwich and cheese.

Avec Les Bons Voeux , Brasserie Duppont

Avec Les Bons Voeux ,  Brasserie Duppont

Farmhouse Saison, 750 mL, 9.5%ABV  Beer Advocate:A-

A:  This seasonal saison pours a hazy light orange with a moderately lofty rocky white head that leaves behind significant lacing 

S: Lots of traditional saison aromas:  Earth, funk, hay, citrus, spice, yeast.

 There are also a number of non-traditional aromas going on here as well.  Smells of melon, floral notes, candy fruit or cotton candy.

T:  Biscuity yet slightly sweet malt back bone supported by earthy notes of grass, leaves and funk.  Lemony citrus, spice and fruity belgian yeast are presented as well.

M:  This is a rather rich, high alcohol saison that presents lively carbonation and a moderately dry finish.  

D:  This is a perfect winter saison with a rich body and high alcohol.  This will prove to be a great food beer as well as a late meal sipper.

Food Pairings:  Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich, Sausages, Mussels, and Grilled Cheese.  

Cheese Pairing: Saison matched well with musty, earthy leaf-wrapped cheeses and washed-rind cheeses on the firmer side.