Thensaurum | Avery Brewing Company

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

4.12/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Explained as a strong sour ale that had been aged in Gosling's rum barrels- one thing is for sure: when Avery Brewing Company decides to explore imagination and push the envelope, they're not afraid to go balls to the wall!

As the post-ten percent ale pours, it simply looks like cognac with its dark, tawny brown hue that show ribbons of crimson, mauve and mahogany when held in the right light. While any foam character rushes to the edges, its sustained collar eventually succumbs to its own acidity.

Olfactory piercing tartness strikes the nose with a flurry of fruit- sour grapes, crab apples, dried limes, green cherry and cranberry all seem of the under-ripened variety. Light earhten character of of cellar-type must, weathered oak, vinous dry wine, curing leather and fresh-hung tobacco all come to mind as the ale swirls in the glass. All this with a tinge of maple- reminding me of the rum infusion.

The highly acidic flavor strikes the palate as red-wine vinegar, dry and oaken merlot link up to those tangy and sour fruits. All these seemingly out of control flavors are held in a shell of maple and allspice- garnering the taste of rum, but not the associated sweetness from rum. As its spicy finish ensues, a hint of acetone hides just behind all that unapologetic sourness.

While there's a more robust taste to this sour, its tactile sensations are clean with lactic sourness that strips the palate and ushers in high refreshment. Its wood-derived astringency waters the jawls and pricks against the taste buds with all its rummy spice, alcohol warmth and fermented phenols.

Thensaurum is a masterfully created ale that tackles a sense of high gravity and polarizing sourness at the same time. What should have been a disastrous of a beer turns out actually quite irresistible.

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4.12/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz brown bottle with a bottled on date.

Look: Deep brownish burgundy hue, good lacing

Smell: Big tartness, wood, mild char, cherries, faint rum, mild spice, faint leather

Taste: Sour throughout, very woody, subtle rum, warming alcohol, green peppercorn, chicory, lemon pith, brown sugar, hint of barrel char, rose water, dry finish

This is one spectacular sour ale, without a doubt a sipper though specially the strength. Great to finally see these beers come to market because Todd and I have been at the brewery when the are pulling nails if you know what I mean.

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4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

4/5  rDev -3.8%

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

4/5  rDev -3.8%

3.25/5  rDev -21.9%

4.75/5  rDev +14.2%

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

4/5  rDev -3.8%

4.34/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

bottle pour @ star bar, #5 in the barrel aged bike ride

Burgundy body - extremely wood-forward, sour cherries, molasses, tart lactic funk. Over 10% and barely noticeable - rum barrels provide interesting flavours though I'd be hard-pressed to detect true rum flavour. Definitely a favorite of the day - tasty stuff

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4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

3.5/5  rDev -15.9%

2.26/5  rDev -45.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

12 oz. bottle. Deep reddish amber. Small khaki head. Smells rummy, funky and oaky. Acetic acid aroma. A little bit of diaper. Taste is all over the place. Strong vinegar sourness. Rum, oak, and vanilla. Very sweet. Vinegar sourness builds into the finish with a dry oaky aftertaste. Heavy and overly sweet. Medium carbonation. Spectacularly unpleasant sour.

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4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

4/5  rDev -3.8%

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

4/5  rDev -3.8%

4.75/5  rDev +14.2%

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%