Avery The Beast Grand Cru Ale

Avery The Beast Grand Cru Ale is a Belgian Strong Dark Ale, 16% ABV. This review is for the 2012 vintage, batch 10, bottled in July of that year.

After about 3 1/2 years of age this… well, beast of a beer pours with somewhat muddy caramel/reddish/brown color. A decent head on the pour as well. The aroma is rich and super sweet with notes of dates, brown sugar and boozy fruitcake. OK, even with 3+ years on it this thing is absolutely no joke. Yet more sugary sweetness starts the taste with a good bit of plum, molasses, bubble gum and some intensely strong alcohol. Let’s be honest, at 16% ABV you go into this knowing it is all about the booze… and that it is. The alcohol reminds me of high proof rum, and it overtakes the taste and feel of this beer almost right away. I can feel this one burning as it goes down.

I have made a return to some of Avery’s other high octane offerings, but this one is probably a bit too sweet and boozy for me. It is going to be a challenge just getting though 12 ounces.