Avery The Beast Grand Cru Ale

4.3/5

AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20

12 ounce bottle into tulip, Batch 5, 2007 vintage. Pours clear dark copper-red color with a fairly dense 2 finger off white head with good retention that reduces to a thin lacing ring, no glass lacing. Aromas of strong caramel, molasses, roasted malt, vanilla, and dark fruits. Some great and strong aromas here. Taste of strong caramel, molasses, dark fruits, vanilla and a bit of chocolate. There is a very sweet finish with almost no bitterness, but the sweet flavors of molasses and dark fruits linger for a bit after the finish. Alcohol is well hidden the the taste, but there is a huge alcohol warming after the finish, I completely expected that. Very huge full body with medium-low carbonation. Very thick and creamy mouthfeel, with a very smooth drink ability for it’s 16.42% alcohol level. Overall, for a Belgian style, this is outstanding. A ton of great flavor balance, and very smooth drink ability for such a high gravity beer. Fantastic.

This one definitely aged gracefully, as I was lucky enough to find an refrigerated 2007 vintage at a beer store in Fort Wayne, IN last November. No idea how the fresher batches would fare, but this one was fantastic.