Brew Review: Avery Brewing Company Boulder, CO

The only reason I hadn't visited Avery before, was a lack of coordination on my fellow beer enthusiasts, basically we didn't realize the tap room was closed when we went to go visit.  But our planning and waiting were met with huge rewards as I finally got to enjoy a wider breath of the offerings Avery produces besides Ellie's Brown Ale and White Rascal.

More on that later though, TO THE BEERS!

Lilikoi Mahu: This beer is basically a Hawaiin take on a Hefeweizen, it is straw colored, unfiltered, with a very fruity aroma, lots of ester forward and a passion fruit finish.

Salvation Golden Ale:  Part of the Holy Trinity of Ales Series, this beer is golden in color, with a light aroma, with a fairly mild flavor forward and a bitter fruity finish.

Old Jubilation Ale: This is a winter strong ale, dark amber in color, with a mild coffee aroma.  This beer has a chocolate malt forward with a bitter finish

Eighteenth Anniversary:  Golden amber in color, hint of rye aroma, mild forward, with a slight malt/ hop finish

duganA IPA:  Golden color, slight hop aroma, fairly mild flavor forward with a bitter hop finish

2011 Grand Cru: Dark amber in color, mild aroma, spice forward with bourbon finish, lots of residual sugars and a very syrupy mouth feel, may need to age a bit

Meph Addict:  Dark brown in color, coffee/ chocolate malt aroma, strong alcohol forward with a coffee finish

Margherite: Dark brown in color, bourbon/ vanilla aroma, thick mouth feel, bourbon vanilla finish.  Very strong beer

White Rascal: my favorite Avery beer besides Ellie's Brown, this Belgian white ale is an unfiltered straw color, with a mild, slight spice aroma, mild forward with a delicious ester finish.

The brewery itself is worth the visit because you can see how it's grown over the years.  It is located in a business park and took over openings that were not necessarily right next to the original brewery.  You can also see the experimentation they are doing in their barrel room, for the barrel aged series.  If you just want to go in for a tasting, odds are you will be waiting in line, there are plenty of tap menus floating around to help you with your decision.  

Decisions, decisions....

Avery, well worth the visit, or just grab a six pack, you won't be disappointed.

Cheers!!!!

Brew Review: Dry Dock Brewing Company - Aurora, CO

The Beer Lady found herself back in the great beer state of Colorado.  Brewery stop number one is high on the recommendation list of places you should visit.  Dry Dock Brewing Company offers a great selection of beers for everyone from the craft beer noob, to the serious beer geek.  Just a note, the only food at the brewery is popcorn.

But enough of that, onto the beer!

Keelhaul Kolsch: Very clear straw color, beer aroma with hint of sweetness forward slight bitter, standard lager taste at the end.  This is a very clean and smooth beer.

HMS Victory ESB: Caramel color, good head retention, hint of malt aroma, malt forward with slight bitter finish.  My other half got a more hoppy aroma and a malt finish, he felt there was a nice balance and color.  My second favorite of the tasting.

HMS Bounty Old Ale: My favorite of the tasting, this beer is dark caramel in color, good head retention, malt aroma, malt forward with a residual sugar finish and a syrupy mouth feel.

So yummy I almost forgot to take a picture

Belgian IPA: Unfiltered straw color, good head retention, hoppy aroma, smooth malt/yeast forward with a hop finish, a good example of this style of beer.

USS Enterprise IPA: Unfiltered caramel color, hop aroma, mild forward with a hop finish.

Paragon Apricot Blonde: Unfiltered cloudy straw color, strong apricot aroma, hint of apricot flavor forward, with a stronger apricot finish, if you like apricots, this is your beer.

This brewery is well worth the trip, and if you're into homebrewing, there is an awesome homebrew shop attached to the brewery!

More Colorado adventures to come!

Cheers!!!