Old Jubilation Ale
Avery Brewing Company

I started out loving this with its malty spiciness and smooth deliciousness, but then I detected a lingering bitterness that I didn’t really like. I looked at the date and it’s from August 2024. A beer like this should be able to be aged, so I’m going to imagine it’s tasting as it’s supposed to taste.

RB transfer

 

 

 

Canned date is indecipherable. Drank 1/16/25.

Pour is a deep brown. Great thick light khaki head, excellent retention and lacing
nose is heavily toasted bread crust, toffee, some dark, candied fruits
Taste is toffee, dark candied fruit, toasted malt

Not a bad beer...just isn't doing it for me. It's not poorly made; quite the opposite. I think it leans a bit to into the dark fruit aspect of an old ale for my tastes....again...for my tastes. Not a bad beer / poorly made beer.

Chestnut brown color. Beautiful, yellowish head. The aroma of malt, toasted bread, dried fruits, and nuts. Sweet, malty taste with enough bitterness to balance things.

 

 

This is a well-malted Old Ale. Not using spices sets this apart from the other winter warmers and shows skill.
I also don't detect the stale ale that some brewers blend into this style. The sweet malts are welcome to this malt-head.

I like the Look of the mahogany and lace. Smells are full-tilt malt. Balanced Taste with just a tingle of hops to lengthen the finish. Medium-mouthed to full. Overall, a well-integrated brew.

I'm still trying to understand why a Spanish beer company (Mahou who specializes in pales for hot climates) buys two mid-American regionals that specialize in darks (Founders and Avery). But the purchases seem to be working; both are still producing good brews. Brand management does not have to change quality (but it can.)

3/16/25 Drank again. A few edits. But no change in rating.

This very smooth overall with a satisfying lightly roasted nuttiness taking center stage. Nice notes toffee and raisins as well. Very tasty overall and a good candidate for aging I think. Thanks again Tom!

From the 12 oz can in a snifter. This classic brew pours a nice
and clear red tinged copper with a very nice head of off white foam
that settles to a thick ring, thin dusty / clumping layer, and sports some
very nice lacing. Nose of caramel, toffee, and spicy hops. Flavors hit the note
with subtle coffee, toffee, chocolate, raisin, caramel, and well placed spicy
hop notes. Mouth feel is medium light, light carbonation, smooth, rich,
warming, and finishing with a nice warming spicy hop finish.

Overall, a fantastic old ale! A true classic!

Cheers

10oz draught snifter at The Brass Tap here in Baltimore

poured from a 12oz can into a new glarus taster glass. pours light chestnut brown with a light khaki colored foam head. wet cardboard, light winter spice and malt on the nose. taste pretty much follows. it’s daily dull / even keel. malty smooth. warning. medium-feel mouthfeel. not bad.

Poured from can into tulip, good 3 finger darkish tan head, great retention and lacing. Darkish ruby in the glass, little light passes thru. Smells of dark bread, dark dried fruit and toffee. Taste follows the nose, big dose of sweet malt out the front, toffee, caramel, slight roast, dark fruit comes out in the middle, raisin, light prune and finishes with a residual chocolate, roasted malt that lingers on the palette. This can was hidden in the back of my icebox and has about 13 months on it but drinks really well. Just keeps making me go back to the glass :).

This is my favorite Christmas beer and I was happy to see it in MD just in time for December 1.
L: deep red when held to a light. Pitch black otherwise. 2 finger tan head formed when poured. Nice retention.
S: dark malt. Almost lagerish smell
T: dark malt forward and backwards. Some happiness at the end to finish each drink
F: carbonated but smooth. Improves as the beer warms a bit.
O: very excellent. I needed a replacement when Old Fezziwig didn’t show up for a few years and I won’t be going back.

12 ounce can poured into a snifter.
Canned 10/11/23

L: Mostly clear and medium brown, dark brown in the glass showing ruby when held to the light, 2 finger khaki head recedes to a foamy cap in a coupe of minutes leaving good lacing.
S: Caramel malt, alcohol and hints of spice and dried fruit.
T: Malty and medium sweet but fairly attenuated, dark sugar, earthy and spicy hops, light medicinal taste,
F: Medium-weight, moderately carbonated, smooth feel with a slight finishing bite.
O: Good sipper, but rather straightforward.

This here is one fine warmer winter, I mean, winter warmer and I've only had 2, so far. Joking aside, recalling, having had this ol'jube way back when it 1st was available and it has yet to lose that effect of being very flavorful and enjoyable and celebratory. Have a few and try to relax.

 

Deep, dark brown appearance with a medium size beige head that left good lacing. Sweet malt aroma with whiffs of caramel, toffee and dessert wine floating by. The earthy flavor draws on notes of dried fruit, molasses. bittersweet chocolate and dark bread before resting on the warmth of the alcohol. Hops are passive but still contribute. Full bodied, softly carbonated mouthfeel.