Small Batch Hoarders: Cherryversary
The Bruery

Brown pour, I wasn't sure from the description what I was getting into. Was it a stout? A sour? Couldn't tell. But eeegad, that abv. Anyhoo, liquid made a smallish 1/10" beige head/film. Don't know what you got (till its gone).

The aroma was far better than the appearance. Lots of cherry, cherry wine, cherry old fashioned. Neat. This bird you cannot change. Yeah Cherry Anniversary ale = Cherryversary, I think this is what it smells like at least at this stage of things.

Taste keeps the cherry sensation going, some brown malty earthiness underneath a 50/50 split of cherry wine and old fashioned bourbon/brandy like booziness. Usual descriptors of toffee, caramel, this seems to have something similar to the anniversary ale base going on. Heavier mouthfeel, lower carbonation.

We drank this at the end of 2023. Felt like a big ol cherry wine beer, I pretty much preferred every anniversary ale over this. Kind of was realizing I prefer beers much cheaper than this that are of similar quality enjoyment when drinking.

375ml bottle poured into a tulip

A- pours a deep ruby-brown color with a one-finger off white head that reduces to a ring

S- aroma gives an array of dark fruit; stewed cherries, blueberry, raisin and a juicy red wine note to round it. Undertones of bourbon, caramel, red licorice, cracked pepper and a hint of vanilla

T- the juicy berries immediately hit up front, giving a tart note that makes your mouth water. Mid-palate lends to the berries turning sweet, with highlights of black cherry, black currant, blueberry and vinous red wine that adds a hint of strawberry. The finish brings out light oaky bourbon and lingers with more juicy berries and a soft vanilla close

M- medium body with low carbonation leads to a slightly foamy mouthfeel that turns into a slightly warming finish

O- the juicy berry notes really complimented the sweet malty base beer. It drank too easy for 15% abv

A: Poured into a snifter to a deep ruddy brown beer which is topped by a finger of light tan head which fades quickly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing
S: Smells of pretty typical Anniversary Ale notes from them with some dark fruits, toffee, and some oak, caramel, and vanilla from the barrels. Cherry is well hidden on the nose.
T: Taste is dark fruits, red berries, and a definite cherry note before the toffee, oak, vanilla and caramel come in. On the swallow there's a clear tart cherry presence with some vanilla, toffee, red berries, dark fruits and drying oak.
M: This beer has a body which is on the heavier side of medium. Carbonation is slightly active but it is not prickly while the beer has a drying finish.
O: Overall this is a nice twist on an old favorite but I feel like the other variants were executed better. The flavors are really nice though and the cherries add an interesting dimension. Overall things are well integrated and the beer has a good amount of complexity.

 

 

 

32oz growler poured into a tulip glass. Admittedly the growler seemed keep this at a less the optimal serving temperature, in that it is colder than I would typically serve an old ale.

The head was off white, small, slightly frothy, and fully diminished. Dark brown with a touch of red

The nose was quite complex and balanced, caramel, cast wood, cherry, red wine, with a touch of chocolate.

The flavor is dominated by red wine and cherry, the rest of the flavors falling well into the background, giving it an unbalanced flavor.

Feel is a bit oily and light syrup, the finish dries up nicely, with a lingering syrupy coating.

Overall I really like this beer in spite of the unbalanced in the flavor. To be fair, I was not a big fan of the Red Wine BA Old Ale for same reason and probably would have enjoyed this more with a higher proportion of the bourbon barrel aged old ale.