Old Jubilation Ale by Avery Brewing
My beautiful wife picked up this beer for me while in Denver at the Mondo Vino in a six pack.
The label looks a little old fashion with a winter horse and carriage arriving at a mountain villa estate or hotel. Another original design that is unique in the Avery collection. Good thing they have the big red ‘A’ to make their beers easily identifiable.
This beer pours out a deep red with foamy head that dissipates quickly. Hold it up to the light and you will notice the spectacular clarity with very few bubble coming off the bottom.
Take a huge whiff of this ale and you will smell hints of mahogony, roasted malts and slight alcohol presence.
Alright already! Time to take the long awaited taste. Yes, its been 5 long minutes since I started writing this review. But well worth the wait.
Upfront nothing special. But fairly quickly the chocolate, or perhaps its the mahogany, flavor hits you mid way down with a bitterness from the hops. As quickly as it comes it goes though. I wish it stuck around for the party a little longer, but that only makes me want more. The party begins again.
Medium to low in carbonation. Could use more in my opinion, but perhaps the low carbonation makes it more reminiscent of a winter ale. Drink this one with steak or a hardy meal. At 8%, it is high for the average drinker but I don’t think comes off that way. Definitely calls for you to take another sip…and another.
I wouldn’t say there is anything that amazing about the brew. However, Avery has created another fine beer that is a perfect if you happen to be in front of a fire place or just coming out of the cold. I can not wait for it to snow so I can enjoy this one after a long ski day.
Avery’s Description
Our winter ale has a gorgeous mahogany hue, a hint of hazelnut, and a finish reminiscent of mocha and toffee. No spices, just a perfect blend of five specialty malts. Cellarable for 3+ years. Brewed with Rocky Mountain water, malted barley, hops and yeast.