Old Jubilation Ale
Avery Brewing Company

Old Jubilation AleOld Jubilation Ale
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From:
Avery Brewing Company
 
Colorado, United States
Style:
Old Ale
Ranked #39
ABV:
8.3%
Score:
87
Ranked #17,460
Avg:
3.86 | pDev: 10.62%
Reviews:
850
Ratings:
1,815
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 28, 2024
Added:
Apr 05, 2002
Wants:
  65
Gots:
  184
Our winter strong 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. Before founding Avery Brewing Co., one of Adam Avery's most-loved styles of beer was the English Strong Ale. Wanting something a little bigger, he created Old Jubilation. This beer was massive when it came out in 1997, but Adam still decided to put it in 6-packs as a holiday gift to Avery fans. To us, "Old Jube" feels like an old friend coming home for the holidays. And, at 8.3% ABV, it's also well-suited to take the edge off at uncomfortable holiday family gatherings.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of DIM
Reviewed by DIM from Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
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!
Feb 28, 2024
Photo of Brutaltruth
Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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
Feb 06, 2024
Photo of DanO1066
Rated by DanO1066 from Maryland

3.69/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
10oz draught snifter at The Brass Tap here in Baltimore
Jan 21, 2024
Photo of Luscious_Malfoy
Reviewed by Luscious_Malfoy from Illinois

3.82/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
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.
Jan 14, 2024
Photo of donspublic
Reviewed by donspublic from Texas

4.04/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
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 :).
Jan 05, 2024
Photo of Otter-the-Beer-Man
Reviewed by Otter-the-Beer-Man from Maryland

4.09/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
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.
Dec 01, 2023
Photo of BJB13
Reviewed by BJB13 from Maryland

3.88/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
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.
Nov 26, 2023
Photo of odannyob
Reviewed by odannyob from Colorado

4.42/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
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.
Nov 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4.17 by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

Feb 27, 2023
Photo of milkshakebeersucks
Reviewed by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland

4.1/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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.
Jan 15, 2023
Photo of BitteNochEinWeissbier
Reviewed by BitteNochEinWeissbier from Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This was a good beer, but it was a shade or two to bitter (as in earthy bitterness) for my pallette. The beer is malty and sweet with a prevalent and noticeable earthy bitterness. Mouthfeel is about medium.
Dec 30, 2022
Photo of DavetotheB
Reviewed by DavetotheB from Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
From a 12oz can dated 10/3/22 into apint glass. Can message: "Malty and Mighty The King"

Pours a very dark brown, about the color of cola, with about two fingers of very light tan head. Very good retention and excellent lacing.

Smells of caramel, honey, sweet bread and dried dark fruits.

Taste doesn't yield as much as the nose. Some caramel, spice and maybe some toffee.

Medium-bodied, wet mouthfeel. Medium carbonation. Malty aftertaste.

Overall, a nice beer. Very malt-forward. Enjoyable to sip on a cold day.
Dec 26, 2022
 
Rated: 3.98 by Jsalz21 from New Jersey

Dec 21, 2022
 
Rated: 3.94 by Taenim from Maine

Dec 04, 2022
Photo of Bouleboubier
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey

4.42/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
(12 oz can, canned on 10/04/21; purchased lone single can left on shelf at State Line a couple days ago... poured into a St. Bernardus chalice)

L: clear, ruby liquid with chestnut highlights; two-finger high, spongy, tight, light rouge-tan foam... relatively thick cap keeps for a long while; thick collar, laces splotchy; a beaut!... in addition to 'English-style Old Ale', they also call this a 'classic winter warmer' on the can; both are about right

S: dried dark fruits, cherry and raisin, with hints of roasted grain, alcohol spice, and perhaps even hot chili(?!) coming through... bit of a wet slate undertone; booze gets more phenolic (band aid) as it settles... narrow, pointed aroma pattern; dark bready, near fruitcake notes out on the sides... it's in a can, how is there (staling) oxidation character?... has much going on; intense, but not rich and redolent; just under a 4 for the smell

T: mmm!! oh yes, cakes and cookies: thick layered malts, with some caramel and a hint of cocoa and woody, bitter, roasty nut woven throughout; certainly spiced/spicy with holiday tones... the alcohol is present for sure, beaming in the background, guiding the spice, but lacking that boozy edge... not syrupy-sweet, but the spectrum of sugars present here is divine

F: plush with a big-bodied (medium-full, at a stretch) feel, the booze blasting its furnace flame below the depths... this is a thick, fleecy comforter I need to wrap around me as I slip away into a self-induced coma

O: the aromas did not prepare me for the its malt paradise; weizenbock (or Belgian strong dark a la Abt 12)-like in its flavors and textures... can't recall the last time I had this (probably well over a decade ago), but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say age a bunch of it... fantastic; too easy; perfect night cap? (2058)
Oct 12, 2022
 
Rated: 3.25 by mpenske from California

Apr 04, 2022
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.06/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Canned 10/4/21. “Warm and cozy” stamped on the bottom of the can

This is somehow my first beer from Avery, an old school brewery that I see on shelves all the time. I’m pretty sure they’re most known for Wild Ales, so I’m interested to see what their take on an Old Ale will be. Let’s crack it open and find out

Pours a deep chestnut brown with a finger of tan head that fades to a ring and leaves minimal lacing

This is surprisingly balanced in the nose, a bit hoppy but firmly sweet. I’m picking up on aromas of sweet toffee, brown sugar, lightly tart plum, earthy hops, toast, and a touch of caramel

Yeah, balance really is the focus of this beer all around. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting stewed cherry, toast, caramel, light roast coffee, earthy hops, and light chocolate. The swallow brings notes of plum, toffee, peppery hops, brown bread, biscuity malt, and a long lingering note of orange marmalade

A medium full body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a thin and slightly hot beer. Finishes neutral and rounded

This beer doesn’t do a whole lot to stand out, but it’s great for what it is. Good stuff
Mar 20, 2022
Photo of hman43
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina

4.3/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look: It pours brown, which is on the dark side, with a light tan head. Head retention is very good.

Smell: It has a sweet aroma with dried cherries and plums. It also has toffee and molasses in support.

Taste: It has strong malt flavors that feature toffee, nuts, and molasses. There are some chocolate elements with some dried cherries.

Feel: It has a medium full body with alcohol warming in the finish.

Overall, a very good blend of flavors and aromas.
Mar 19, 2022
Photo of BFCarr
Reviewed by BFCarr from New Jersey

3.97/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours dark brown with a thick white head. Aroma is malty and a bit fruity wine. Taste is malty and and a bit dark fruit. Feel is very nice, smooth and rich. Overall it's a smooth and easy drinking old ale.
Feb 21, 2022
 
Rated: 4.18 by nyrblue2 from New York

Feb 20, 2022
Old Jubilation Ale from Avery Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 1815 ratings