Samael's Ale
Avery Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats
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- From:
- Avery Brewing Company
- Colorado, United States
- Style:
- Barleywine - English
- ABV:
- 16.9%
- Score:
- 87
- Avg:
- 3.89 | pDev: 14.4%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Oct 01, 2021
- Added:
- Jun 24, 2005
- Wants:
- 84
- Gots:
- 410
SCORE
87
Very Good
87
Very Good
Notes:
A super-caramelly, oak-aged strong English-style ale, brewed with Columbus, Fuggels hops and two-row barley, caramel 150L malt.
2006: 14.50% (Batch #2)
2007: 14.50% (Batch #3)
2008: 15.53% (Batch #4)
2009: 16.45% (Batch #5)
2010: 15.82% (Batch #6)
2011: 15.31% (Batch #7)
2012: 15.47% (Batch #8)
2013: 16.90% (Batch #9)
2014: 14.20% (Batch #10)
2015: 14.60% (Batch #11)
2006: 14.50% (Batch #2)
2007: 14.50% (Batch #3)
2008: 15.53% (Batch #4)
2009: 16.45% (Batch #5)
2010: 15.82% (Batch #6)
2011: 15.31% (Batch #7)
2012: 15.47% (Batch #8)
2013: 16.90% (Batch #9)
2014: 14.20% (Batch #10)
2015: 14.60% (Batch #11)
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
4.08 by Sparky44 from Illinois on Oct 01, 2021
3.75 by NickMunford from Wyoming on Jul 17, 2021
4/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by SHODriver from North Carolina
A: Poured into a snifter to a deep orange beer which is topped by a dense and slightly rocky finger of off white head which fades quickly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing
S: Smells of caramel and dark fruits with a touch of raisins along with a hint of oak
T: Taste is caramel and dark fruits up front with some woody oak notes. There's a little vanilla and a touch of spice along with some faded hops. On the finish there's more caramel, dark fruits, spice, and wood.
M: This beer is full bodied and slightly syrupy on the palate. Carbonation is surprisingly effervescent and slightly prickly while the ABV gives this one a drying finish.
O: Overall this is a pretty nice beer that has held up well to time since it was bottled in 2016. Really nice complexity and flavors and the alcohol is fairly well hidden.
Jun 14, 2021
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by SHODriver from North Carolina
A: Poured into a snifter to a deep orange beer which is topped by a dense and slightly rocky finger of off white head which fades quickly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing
S: Smells of caramel and dark fruits with a touch of raisins along with a hint of oak
T: Taste is caramel and dark fruits up front with some woody oak notes. There's a little vanilla and a touch of spice along with some faded hops. On the finish there's more caramel, dark fruits, spice, and wood.
M: This beer is full bodied and slightly syrupy on the palate. Carbonation is surprisingly effervescent and slightly prickly while the ABV gives this one a drying finish.
O: Overall this is a pretty nice beer that has held up well to time since it was bottled in 2016. Really nice complexity and flavors and the alcohol is fairly well hidden.
Jun 14, 2021
4.35/5 rDev +11.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by harrypowers from Massachusetts
Got a bottle from May 2015, batch 11.
Pours a turbid reddish brown with a small head and some lacing.
Smells of malt and dark fruit. Tastes of really sweet malt, cherries and plums with a warm boozy finish.
Medium body with light carbonation. Lush syrupy mouth feel.
This 5+ year old bottle is like sipping very strong port wine!
Too bad the brew is retired!
Feb 20, 2021
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by harrypowers from Massachusetts
Got a bottle from May 2015, batch 11.
Pours a turbid reddish brown with a small head and some lacing.
Smells of malt and dark fruit. Tastes of really sweet malt, cherries and plums with a warm boozy finish.
Medium body with light carbonation. Lush syrupy mouth feel.
This 5+ year old bottle is like sipping very strong port wine!
Too bad the brew is retired!
Feb 20, 2021
4.25 by TylerJ from Iowa on Jan 07, 2021
3.99/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by HipCzech from Texas
Serving: 12 oz bottle ("March 2016, Batch No. 12, 31.25 P, 16.3%") poured into a 9 oz Libbey Embassy snifter.
Appearance: Hazy copper with a brief, fizzy head of off white bubbles.
Smell: Malt-forward aroma of toffee and burnt sugar, candied fruit, vanilla and a hint of boozy barrel.
Taste: Malt focused flavor continues from the nose with rich sweet caramel, dark dried fruit, vanilla, and hints of oak and earthy hops.
Mouthfeel: Medium to fully body, boozy warmth and slightly viscous, and gently carbonated.
Overall: A big, potent malt bomb.
Dec 11, 2020
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by HipCzech from Texas
Serving: 12 oz bottle ("March 2016, Batch No. 12, 31.25 P, 16.3%") poured into a 9 oz Libbey Embassy snifter.
Appearance: Hazy copper with a brief, fizzy head of off white bubbles.
Smell: Malt-forward aroma of toffee and burnt sugar, candied fruit, vanilla and a hint of boozy barrel.
Taste: Malt focused flavor continues from the nose with rich sweet caramel, dark dried fruit, vanilla, and hints of oak and earthy hops.
Mouthfeel: Medium to fully body, boozy warmth and slightly viscous, and gently carbonated.
Overall: A big, potent malt bomb.
Dec 11, 2020
3.81 by chossboss from Oregon on Dec 06, 2020
4 by Birdlegs from Washington on Aug 23, 2020
4.11/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by jlindros from Massachusetts
Another one I have no idea how I haven't reviewed, batch 5, 2009. Pulled from the cellar, excited for this one.
No sound when I pop the cap, limited rust, very small head flashes away in almost an instant, legs basically just coat the glass, dark mahogany brown color
Nose brings loads of big sweet candy malt, caramel, toffee, etc, a bit of vanilla oak notes, a bit of papery oxidation with some earthy dirt like characters, some dark fruits with a bit of raisin, date, a little chocolate, and some cedar like spicy oaky character, a bit nutty as well
Taste brings loads of sweet malts and sweeteners again, big caramel heavy with molasses, candy syrup, toffee, etc, more big dark fruit with raisin, date, candied fig, more molasses and earthy sugars, some oxidation but not too much bringing a little papery note but more on the winey port wine character, a bit of a BBQ sauce but not a ton, touch of oak and cedar spice notes, getting a little like prune and Glogg, some warming tingly alcohol but doesn't feel like almost 17%, mild sticky finish but semi sweet, earthy dark fruits and mild paper oxidation lingering
Mouth is fuller bod, syrupy, almost no carb, some warming tingly alcohol
Overall interesting for sure, really nice aged barleywine, wish it had more carbonation and oak characters, but aged quite well otherwise.
Jul 02, 2020
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by jlindros from Massachusetts
Another one I have no idea how I haven't reviewed, batch 5, 2009. Pulled from the cellar, excited for this one.
No sound when I pop the cap, limited rust, very small head flashes away in almost an instant, legs basically just coat the glass, dark mahogany brown color
Nose brings loads of big sweet candy malt, caramel, toffee, etc, a bit of vanilla oak notes, a bit of papery oxidation with some earthy dirt like characters, some dark fruits with a bit of raisin, date, a little chocolate, and some cedar like spicy oaky character, a bit nutty as well
Taste brings loads of sweet malts and sweeteners again, big caramel heavy with molasses, candy syrup, toffee, etc, more big dark fruit with raisin, date, candied fig, more molasses and earthy sugars, some oxidation but not too much bringing a little papery note but more on the winey port wine character, a bit of a BBQ sauce but not a ton, touch of oak and cedar spice notes, getting a little like prune and Glogg, some warming tingly alcohol but doesn't feel like almost 17%, mild sticky finish but semi sweet, earthy dark fruits and mild paper oxidation lingering
Mouth is fuller bod, syrupy, almost no carb, some warming tingly alcohol
Overall interesting for sure, really nice aged barleywine, wish it had more carbonation and oak characters, but aged quite well otherwise.
Jul 02, 2020
4.25 by Patches826 from Massachusetts on Jun 04, 2020
4.1 by JakerLou from New Hampshire on Apr 15, 2020
4.55 by BeardedWalrus from North Carolina on Feb 16, 2020
3.59/5 rDev -7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by addiwilliams from Virginia
A little cloying
Dec 26, 2019
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by addiwilliams from Virginia
A little cloying
Dec 26, 2019
3.9/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by mushroomcloud from Texas
Bottled in 2005 (14.5% abv). Opened 12-10-19.
14 years in the bottle this pours a clean, clear dark brown/mahogany colored beer with no head at all.
Dark fruit, brown sugar, burnt sugar, and booze in the nose. Port or brandy like sweetness.
Fig, prune, plum, brown sugar -- intense flavors remain at 14 years old. Still some oak aromas and flavors lingering.
Boozy but not hot.
Smooth mouthfeel, not much carbonation left at all. Rich flavors and a medium finish.
Pretty cool to finally open this, it made it through 4 moves and 14 years with me.
Dec 11, 2019
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by mushroomcloud from Texas
Bottled in 2005 (14.5% abv). Opened 12-10-19.
14 years in the bottle this pours a clean, clear dark brown/mahogany colored beer with no head at all.
Dark fruit, brown sugar, burnt sugar, and booze in the nose. Port or brandy like sweetness.
Fig, prune, plum, brown sugar -- intense flavors remain at 14 years old. Still some oak aromas and flavors lingering.
Boozy but not hot.
Smooth mouthfeel, not much carbonation left at all. Rich flavors and a medium finish.
Pretty cool to finally open this, it made it through 4 moves and 14 years with me.
Dec 11, 2019
3.58 by MeIquiades from Illinois on Sep 07, 2019
4.1/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
by Roguer from Connecticut
Nutty caramel-colored brown ale, thick in the glass. Excellent head production for the style, despite the sky-high ABV. Similarly good retention and lacing. Nearly a blonde barleywine.
Nose is swimming with tones of dark fruit, bananas, toffee, brown sugar, coffee beans, grass, earthy hops, and absolutely no sign of oxidation (despite being more than 2 years old).
Intensely sweet on the palate, but somehow not particularly boozy. Bubblegum, brown sugar, banana, fig, grape, pear, apple, vanilla, caramel; it's all sweet tones, with almost nothing else, save touches of oak around the edges.
Unbelievably smooth. It's a full bodied sipper, but is far less boozy and harsh than beers that clock in 3-6% lower.
Jun 11, 2019
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
by Roguer from Connecticut
Nutty caramel-colored brown ale, thick in the glass. Excellent head production for the style, despite the sky-high ABV. Similarly good retention and lacing. Nearly a blonde barleywine.
Nose is swimming with tones of dark fruit, bananas, toffee, brown sugar, coffee beans, grass, earthy hops, and absolutely no sign of oxidation (despite being more than 2 years old).
Intensely sweet on the palate, but somehow not particularly boozy. Bubblegum, brown sugar, banana, fig, grape, pear, apple, vanilla, caramel; it's all sweet tones, with almost nothing else, save touches of oak around the edges.
Unbelievably smooth. It's a full bodied sipper, but is far less boozy and harsh than beers that clock in 3-6% lower.
Jun 11, 2019
4.03/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Radcpa from Washington
Aged for three years. Deep amber appearance with white head that dissipates quickly. Light almost cider aroma. Taste is also a cider like without any hint of alcohol.
Apr 19, 2019
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Radcpa from Washington
Aged for three years. Deep amber appearance with white head that dissipates quickly. Light almost cider aroma. Taste is also a cider like without any hint of alcohol.
Apr 19, 2019
3.79 by impending from California on Mar 23, 2019
3.57 by vrbulldog22 from Ohio on Feb 23, 2019
3.75 by BdM from Netherlands on Jan 22, 2019
3.82 by crobinso from Colorado on Jan 15, 2019
4.24 by juicebox from Kentucky on Dec 28, 2018
3.75 by brittanylicious from Indiana on Dec 26, 2018
3.75 by heysuz from Indiana on Dec 26, 2018
4 by Avatar113 from California on Dec 06, 2018
4.63 by GlennWB from West Virginia on Sep 16, 2018
3.07/5 rDev -21.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3
by Mitzvahman72 from California
This is poured from a batch #12 bottle dated March 2016, with a ABV of 16.30%.
With a murky amber color, the aroma is a rich, sharp, malt booze aroma, as the flavors contain overly rich raisins and biscuits, oddly balanced with hops in a nearly unpleasant way. The mouthfeel is in really good shape, as it supports the sweet sake raisin bread aftertaste. Overall, it is pretty good, but I’d rather have what Angel Michael is brewing. Also, in terms of the high alcoholic sippers, I highly recommend the barrel aged Numbskull and Olde Ale/Special Reserve from Alesmith Brewing Company, Rye-on-Rye from Boulevard Brewing Company and Chanukah in Kentucky from Schmaltz Brewing Company! If it's too alcoholic for you, I recommend the Bourbon Barrel Aged Brown Ale from New English Brewing Company.
Aug 29, 2018
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3
by Mitzvahman72 from California
This is poured from a batch #12 bottle dated March 2016, with a ABV of 16.30%.
With a murky amber color, the aroma is a rich, sharp, malt booze aroma, as the flavors contain overly rich raisins and biscuits, oddly balanced with hops in a nearly unpleasant way. The mouthfeel is in really good shape, as it supports the sweet sake raisin bread aftertaste. Overall, it is pretty good, but I’d rather have what Angel Michael is brewing. Also, in terms of the high alcoholic sippers, I highly recommend the barrel aged Numbskull and Olde Ale/Special Reserve from Alesmith Brewing Company, Rye-on-Rye from Boulevard Brewing Company and Chanukah in Kentucky from Schmaltz Brewing Company! If it's too alcoholic for you, I recommend the Bourbon Barrel Aged Brown Ale from New English Brewing Company.
Aug 29, 2018
3.7/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
by morimech from Minnesota
Cannot find a batch # but I assume it is from the last year it was released. Cloudy dark amber with yeast floating in the fluid. A large head forms and slowly settles. Aroma of caramel, vanilla, oak, and alcohol. Flavor is full of caramel and oak. And boy is it super sweet. Bordering on cloying. Alcohol is strong and hot. Not balanced at all. Not sure age has helped this beer as I did not sample a bottle when it was fresh. Big body and nicely carbonated results in a full mouthfeel.
Aug 19, 2018
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
by morimech from Minnesota
Cannot find a batch # but I assume it is from the last year it was released. Cloudy dark amber with yeast floating in the fluid. A large head forms and slowly settles. Aroma of caramel, vanilla, oak, and alcohol. Flavor is full of caramel and oak. And boy is it super sweet. Bordering on cloying. Alcohol is strong and hot. Not balanced at all. Not sure age has helped this beer as I did not sample a bottle when it was fresh. Big body and nicely carbonated results in a full mouthfeel.
Aug 19, 2018
4.22/5 rDev +8.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by BurtStL6 from Missouri
Very solid Belgian Strong Ale. Wakes you up with every sip, nice boozy flavor. Definitely not for the faint of heart but boy do I love Avery.
Aug 08, 2018
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by BurtStL6 from Missouri
Very solid Belgian Strong Ale. Wakes you up with every sip, nice boozy flavor. Definitely not for the faint of heart but boy do I love Avery.
Aug 08, 2018
3.85 by BeerBeast from Florida on Jul 21, 2018
4.5 by COBEERHUNTER from Colorado on Jul 15, 2018
3.8 by 5EKF from Illinois on Jun 28, 2018
4.57/5 rDev +17.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
by weareallfalafel from Virginia
Bath no. 10, btld March 2014, and cracked open four years later. That said, it should be pointed out this review is a bit unfair due to its age, which did nothing but good for this. Pours a deep, dark copper color with an inch of off-white head that falls slowly, which I didn’t expect from an old high-abv beer. Smell is huge! Dried fruit, figs, caramel, toffee, nutty, and you can smell the booze. Big nose, and equally big flavors. Malty is an understatement of course, but lots of toffee, oak character is present, and jeez is this sweet. It’s not quite cloying, but it’s cutting it close. As it warms, (and you really need to have this at cellar temp, like it’s really, really imperative that it not be too cold) It gets more layered and you can taste more and more under the sweetness. It’s full bodied, but not quite as thick as I’d expected based on Avery’s other big-ass beers. Overall, damn good stuff. Sweet, but expectedly so, and not without complexity and nuance.
May 03, 2018
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
by weareallfalafel from Virginia
Bath no. 10, btld March 2014, and cracked open four years later. That said, it should be pointed out this review is a bit unfair due to its age, which did nothing but good for this. Pours a deep, dark copper color with an inch of off-white head that falls slowly, which I didn’t expect from an old high-abv beer. Smell is huge! Dried fruit, figs, caramel, toffee, nutty, and you can smell the booze. Big nose, and equally big flavors. Malty is an understatement of course, but lots of toffee, oak character is present, and jeez is this sweet. It’s not quite cloying, but it’s cutting it close. As it warms, (and you really need to have this at cellar temp, like it’s really, really imperative that it not be too cold) It gets more layered and you can taste more and more under the sweetness. It’s full bodied, but not quite as thick as I’d expected based on Avery’s other big-ass beers. Overall, damn good stuff. Sweet, but expectedly so, and not without complexity and nuance.
May 03, 2018
4.19/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
by Harrison8 from Missouri
Pours a murky orange-brown with a finger of khaki foam. Aroma is biscuit and toasted malts with a hit of smooth oak, and alcohol. Flavor profile is toasted, nutted, caramel, and biscuit malts with robust notes of caramel, oak, and alcohol. Mouth feel is thick with a velvety, large texture with a touch of fizz on the tongue. Overall, a huge beer, but it's smooth. Alcohol is present in both the aroma and flavor profile, so it isn't the smoothest of offerings. This is the 2015 version, aged for about 2 1/2 years.
Served in a 12oz snifter from a 12oz bottle.
Apr 20, 2018
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
by Harrison8 from Missouri
Pours a murky orange-brown with a finger of khaki foam. Aroma is biscuit and toasted malts with a hit of smooth oak, and alcohol. Flavor profile is toasted, nutted, caramel, and biscuit malts with robust notes of caramel, oak, and alcohol. Mouth feel is thick with a velvety, large texture with a touch of fizz on the tongue. Overall, a huge beer, but it's smooth. Alcohol is present in both the aroma and flavor profile, so it isn't the smoothest of offerings. This is the 2015 version, aged for about 2 1/2 years.
Served in a 12oz snifter from a 12oz bottle.
Apr 20, 2018
4.65/5 rDev +19.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
by HorseheadsHophead from Colorado
Bottled in March 2016. Aged two years at time of consumption.
L: Hazy, dark amber with some small floaties. Topped with a surprisingly large rocky beige head. Long-lasting retention, with some lacing.
S: Huge cherry, fig, prune, and date. Brown sugar, caramel, port wine, and brandy. Toasted pumpernickel bread and fruitcake. Boozy warmth. Toasted oak.
T: Huge bread and dried dark fruits. Toasted pumpernickel bread, fruitcake, and brown sugar meet sour cherry, date, fig, and plum. Tastes like a huge brandy or port wine. There's some cooked apple and pear, and red wine. Mild oak tannins as well. Some black cherry. Quite sweet overall, with oak tannins and booze cutting through it, with some lingering warmth on the finish.
F: Full, but not thick or chewy. Smooth, slick, and oily. Moderately carbonated. Slick with residual sugars. Just barely dries out on the finish with oak tannins.
O: An excellent huge beer. Phenomenal. A monster.
Mar 29, 2018
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
by HorseheadsHophead from Colorado
Bottled in March 2016. Aged two years at time of consumption.
L: Hazy, dark amber with some small floaties. Topped with a surprisingly large rocky beige head. Long-lasting retention, with some lacing.
S: Huge cherry, fig, prune, and date. Brown sugar, caramel, port wine, and brandy. Toasted pumpernickel bread and fruitcake. Boozy warmth. Toasted oak.
T: Huge bread and dried dark fruits. Toasted pumpernickel bread, fruitcake, and brown sugar meet sour cherry, date, fig, and plum. Tastes like a huge brandy or port wine. There's some cooked apple and pear, and red wine. Mild oak tannins as well. Some black cherry. Quite sweet overall, with oak tannins and booze cutting through it, with some lingering warmth on the finish.
F: Full, but not thick or chewy. Smooth, slick, and oily. Moderately carbonated. Slick with residual sugars. Just barely dries out on the finish with oak tannins.
O: An excellent huge beer. Phenomenal. A monster.
Mar 29, 2018
4.23 by OKbrew89 from Oklahoma on Mar 25, 2018
4.44/5 rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
by stevoj from Idaho
Bottle from Bin 22. OMG! This really hit the spot right now. Tastes perfect. Medium to dark amber, small white fading head. Nice sweet malty aroma, very welcoming, caramel, toffee. Taste too favors sweet malts, some woody notes, caramel. Doesn’t present itself as boozy, but its apparent. Smooth, but ass-kicking. Good night.
Mar 05, 2018
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
by stevoj from Idaho
Bottle from Bin 22. OMG! This really hit the spot right now. Tastes perfect. Medium to dark amber, small white fading head. Nice sweet malty aroma, very welcoming, caramel, toffee. Taste too favors sweet malts, some woody notes, caramel. Doesn’t present itself as boozy, but its apparent. Smooth, but ass-kicking. Good night.
Mar 05, 2018
4.25 by shigg85 from Japan on Mar 02, 2018
4.5 by RochefortChris from North Carolina on Feb 26, 2018
3.95 by darktronica from Indiana on Jan 28, 2018
Samael's Ale from Avery Brewing Company
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
1521 ratings