Tag Archives: Avery

My Favorite Beers of 2011

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I know this list is entirely subjective. Sadly, there were many new beers that deserve to make this list that I was not fortunate enough to try and many that I simply forgot (it has been a very eventful year). Still 2011 was an excellent year for beer in my world and these are some of my favorites. Hopefully, 2012 has some tricks to compete! The list is in no particular order and I am trying to focus on beers that were new to 2011 (or at least new to bottles, if I am mistaken on some, I apologize), so classics such as Bell’s Hopslam and Chimay Grand Reserve are excluded.

1) Anchorage Brewing Company: Bitter Monk with a description like this “Belgian style double IPA with Brettanomyces. this ale is aged in french oak chardonnay barrels. Brewed with Apollo, Citra, and Simcoe hops. Dry hopped in the barrel with Citra hops. Triple fermented- First in the tank with a Belgian yeast, second in french oak chardonnay barrels with brett, and finally in the bottle with a third yeast for natural carbonation.” how can it be bad? The complex, funky taste lived up to the hype.

2) Mikkeller: Mikkeller Nelson Sauvin Brut This is the perfect beer to drink on New Years or anytime for that matter. It is truly fantastic, lots of funk, a little white wine and citrous, just fantastic. It is expensive for a beer, but $20 is still cheap compared to a good champagne.

3) Jolly Pumpkin: Lupulo De Hielo This Michael Jackson’s Rare Beer Club exclusive is one of many reason I will continue to utilize that excellent service. This beer is crisp, funky and complex. Like many of Jolly Pumpkin’s offerings, world class all the way.

4) Boulevard: Collaboration No. 2 – White IPA This beer was the result of a collaboration with Deschutes Brewery. This beer retains some of the lightness and spice of a wit yet boasts some strong citrousy hops. In three words, it is beautiful.

5) New Belgium: Le Terroir Released for the first time in bottles this spring. This beer is astonishingly refreshing, tart and fruity.

6) Firestone Walker: Firestone 15-Aniversary Ale I am not sure where to begin on this one, this is an extremely complex blend of amazing beers. There are layers upon layers of delicious flavors, including toffee, bourbon, coffee, dark fruits and the list goes on.

7) Lagunitas: Lagunitas Sucks Holiday Ale Do not let the clever, self depreciating name fool you. This American double IPA is astounding. It contains about everything I could ever hope for from an IPA and I have all but forgotten about Brown Shugga. I can not wait for “Leftovers”.

8 ) Founders: Canadian Breakfast Stout Bottled for the first time in 2011. This maple barrel aged version of the already stellar Kentucky Breakfast Stout is a real treat, if you can find it.

9) Avery: Rumpkin This beer is huge clocking in at 15.9%. It is also very sweet and boozy, but unique, complex and delicious.

10) Firestone Walker: 2011 Abacus I have not had previous incarnations of the Abacus, but this English Style barley wine is one of my favorite beers of all time. The 2011 Abacus is decadent, smooth and so complex it is perfect for long contemplation.

A few very unique honorable mentions include, Rogue Bacon Maple Ale, Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head Life and Limb, Odell Friek and New Belgium Kick.

Avery Rumpkin (Review)

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While Avery produces a lot of great beers, I am most impressed with the Rumpkin. The Rumpkin is taking pumpkin beers to the next level! This beer is unique and its carefully combined flavors complement each other nicely. The Rumpkin is a very big beer clocking in at 15.9% and I want to see what it evolves into with a little age. It pours a solid copper color with a thin white head. On the nose the Rumpkin provides a big hit of rum with spices. It is pleasant and alluring, but dangerous. The Rumpkin is sweet, filled with lots of rum, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. There is a little pumpkin and little carbonation as well. But this big beer is certainly worth trying if you can find it. Avery’s Rumpkin ranks highly in the best pumpkin beers I have tried and a contender for my beer of the year list.

Ten (fairly common) Beers You Should be Drinking This November!

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The marzens and pumpkin beers have for the most part departed, leaving us with an even more eclectic bunch of seasonal offerings. Traditionally, this time of year is dominated by malt heavy offerings, coffee stouts and spiced beers. While it is still early in the month, I thought I would highlight a few good beers that should not be extremely rare and may (or may not) be overlooked. Not all of the beers I have included are seasonals, some are just plain good.

1) Bell’s Cherry Stout
Thick, warm, chocolaty stout balanced by tart Montmorency cherries. What more do I need to say?

2) Founder’s Breakfast Stout
An oatmeal stout brewed with coffee and chocolate. Perfectly balanced and absolutely amazing.

3) Odell’s Mountain Standard Double Black IPA
An amazing blend of toasty malts and citrusy hops.

4) St. Bernardus Christmas Ale
Dark fruits and spices, if that isn’t Christmas, I don’t know what is!

5) Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
A rich, refreshing, dry hopped IPA, perfect for those holiday parties!

6) New Belgium Frambozen
It is not out yet, but should arrive anytime. This brown ale is brewed with fresh raspberries and very tough to beat on thanksgiving.

7) Baltika No. 6 Porter
While this Baltic Porter is not a seasonal, its soft roast-y flavors and slight sweetness are perfect for this season.

8 ) Avery Old Jubilation
This malty strong ale pairs well with cold nights and many of the traditional seasonal fare.

9) Schneider-Weisse Adventinus
This wheat doppelbock is available year round and considered by many to be one of the best beers in the world. The complex malt profile highlighted by the wheat and yeast make this an excellent sipper on cold nights.

10) Bell’s Java Stout
I hate to include the same brewery twice on the same list, but man, this is a nice beer to wake up or warm up to.