2003 bottle drunk in March 2004.
Beautiful rich red, like the Red Rocks of Colorado. Light golds and oranges interplay as well. Good off-white head and one of the best (if not the best) aromas for this style. Brilliant even hops smell, slightly bitter with some light caramels, fresh and crisp with just a hint of something like maple cream butter. I love cascades and crystal malt mixed together, call me old fashioned, but it smells wonderfula and dosent quit. Flavor is equally magnificent, like a light barleywine, the hops arent too bitter and the malt isnt too sweet. It’s strong, medium-full bodied and just full of fresh flavor. Light chewiness, a hint of smoky earthiness and a wonderful even, almost creamy mouthfeel. Supremely balanced, and by far my favorite offering from this brewery. Finally they make a beer that dosent have the typical acidic finish. Thins out a bit much as it warms and get a bit muddled, but just minor flaws. 9/4/8/4/18

Draught pint at Redbones on 10/29/2006
Wow has it been a long time coming for this rerate. One of the only Avery beers not distributed in to MA (previously). Moderate to poor head retention atop this strawberry-beige colored body, with no lacing from the cream colored head. Clear, somewhat bubbly.
Cascade hops in the nose are clear and moderately fresh, but are immediately mitigated (in a bad way) by dry, hard crystal malt. Clean, though, but the intensity isnt there at all, nor that beautiful, clear shot of vibrant cascade aromatics that I remember from last time.
Well-done, if rather mundane flavor encompasses less flavoring hops than remembered and significantly more dry caramel and toast notes. No richness from the crystal malt and little comfort from the pale malt. Cascade hops seem rather ho-hum, to be rather crass about it. Slight bit of wateriness to it, too filtered, no alcohol apparency. Score is for the current rating.

Medium golden color with a medium head that fades too quickly. Sour flowery hop aroma. The flavor is fairly well balanced but a little weak on both the malt and hops to be top IPA material. A good Bitter.

This was a challenge to interpret. Poured clear deep red-brown with a thin off-white head. Berries, dark fruit, and citric hops in the aroma. Flavor was a blend of traditional English Strong Ale flavors (sweet caramel, dark fruit, wood, and berries) with strong American hops that lent a bitter (grapefruit rind), piney character I've not detected in other examples of this style. Medium-thin bodied but full-flavored. A nice winter seasonal without the tired ginger-nutmeg-cinnamon theme.

Gplden beer with slight citrus floral hops. Lots of grapefuit but it is not well balanced with the malt, so the hops come out too assertive.

Deep black porter with nice chocoalate moka aroma. Sweet chocolate, with Bailey's cream and vinous mouth feel, with alcool warmth. Body is quite good and intense!

Burgundy-brown colour. Nutty, toasty, leafy, fruity aroma…lots going on…fun stuff, just like the Porter. Balanced body shows the same characteristics. None of them make a sharp impression but they are unusually charming in their vagueness, teasing the tongue rather than outright pleasuring it. Dry finish. Stylish.

Maybe I'm burned out or maybe I need a new style; The Czar was yet another Imperial Stout that didn't excite me. I drank this after drinking a Dark Horse Cream Stout, and The Czar appeared almost transparent in comparison. Dark red/brown with light penetration in the edges, topped with a thin, creamy off-white head. Bitter hops aroma with some burnt malt notes and caramel. Flavor was pleasant but the whole was less than the sum of the parts: roasted malt, tons of sweet caramel, and dark fruits which finished with rather astringent bittering hops and less-than-subdued alcohol notes. Have I already tapped out the truly great Imperial Stouts? Bring on the Dark Lord!