Avery Salvation
sal·va·tion: the act of saving or protecting from harm, risk, loss, destruction, etc.
I’ve had a few beers from Avery Brewing in my time, most notably and recently (a couple months ago) a vintage bottle of their massively mean Mephistopheles’ Stout. I suppose, then, it makes sense the brewery would offer a little help in those who have damned themselves for spending some time in the deepest, darkest depths of Hades.
Salvation is a Belgian Style Strong Pale/Golden Ale that has a delicate, fruity character yet still packs a solid bit of heft with 9% ABV. It is also the base for the company’s joint collaborative beer Collaboration Not Litigation Ale with Russian River Brewing. Having thoroughly enjoyed that brew, I was curious how this one stood out on its own.
Appearance
Crystal clear and bright golden in color this brew is certainly the polar opposite of the thick, viscous and oily imperial stout I love so much. The large white head took a good long while to dissipitate to a fine lacing.
Aroma
Light fruits (peach), a subtle malt sweetness, Belgian yeast, spices and a hint of the higher alcohol content come together for a clean nose.
Taste
As welcoming as the nose was, the flavors of this beer are even more so. A sweet, fruity palate mingles with a light Belgian yest character as subtle herbal notes fade in and out with each sip. The beer has a solid level of malt sweetness that transitions to a slightly dry finish with a lasting hop bitterness that is light on the tongue and playful. The higher ABV is apparent from the first taste, but it’s not overt in it’s presence.
Overall
I found Salvation to be a fairly well balanced beer though it leans a bit more toward the malt sweetness side of things. The glowing warmth from the alcohol sits well with the spiced, herbal character brought in by the Belgian yeast and earthy hops. All in all, it’s a fine example of the style and, while it probably won’t save me from my own doing, it was still a refreshing brew that I enjoyed thoroughly.
Rating:3.75/5