Collaboration, not Litigation

Avery and Russian River brewed there sixth annual batch of Collaboration Not Litigation this year, and I got my hands on a bottle. The story behind this beer is worth mentioning: Both Avery and Russian River brewed a Belgian ale called "Salvation" and instead of going head to head on who gets rights to the name, they decided to bring their beers together in a collaborative effort to make a "super" version that they so fittingly call "Collaboration Not Litigation."

What makes this beer so interesting is that is actually a blend, not just a singular recipe. Russian River brewed their Salvation (a Belgian Dark Strong ale) and Avery brewed there Salvation (a Belgian Strong Golden ale), and they literally mixed (or blended) the two together in order to capture and compliment the flavor profiles of each. I am hoping to get my hands on another bottle so I can age it for a year or so, but we will see...

In the glass, Collaboration Not Litigation looks orange (almost red), but with some light going through it the color appears to be more of a darker amber. The aroma is largely dominated by what I would assume are yeast derived spices, and a faint scent of sweet fruit with little to no hops.

The upfront flavors start very spicy, like the nose, with some raisin-esque sweet fruit notes. There is also a bit of banana and some cloves (though that might just be the spiciness I am picking up) that appear in the finish. A hint of alcohol appears, being that this beer is 8.69%, but it works well with the spiciness of the yeast and the sweetness of the Belgian candied sugar so as to not be too overwhelming.

All in all, Avery and Russian River did not fail to please (not that I ever though either would). This only further strengthens my growing obsession for Belgian style beers, whether brewed the same way they have for hundreds of years by Belgian monks or interpreted by American craft brewers to offer a more "modern" perspective. If you see this beer anywhere, be sure to drink it.

Rumpkin: A beer worthy of its pumpkin name

In the spirit of Halloween, my awesome girlfriend went out and got us a bottle of Rumpkin by Boulder's own Avery Brewing Co. It set her back about $15 for one 12 oz bottle of the pumpkin ale, which may sound like a lot, but I would say it was definitely worth the amount to try out this unique creation. They only brewed 512 cases of this beer and it was only bottled on October 6th, so it was fresh off the line. From what I heard, there was a two hour long line at Liquor Mart the day it was put on the shelves, and you could only get one bottle!

Instead of selling a syrupy beer with off-putting, artificial-tasting pumpkin flavors, Avery really created something special and unique that sets itself apart from the rest. As hinted by the name, Rumpkin is aged in rum barrels which really adds impressive traits to everything from smell to color to taste. I popped it open and put my nose over the bottle and instantly got a strong rum smell, which isn't usually something I get excited about in a beer, but this one was different. When poured into the glass, it had a warm amber color (more on the orange side than the red) and a very small head that disappeared not long after the pour. Like I said, the nose had blatant rum qualities, but once in the glass you could really smell the spices and the real pumpkin.

The taste is what really sealed the deal. Even though I was expecting something with an overpowering rum flavor, what I got was a delicious pumpkin beer with malty and caramel flavors, a product of its aging in an oak rum barrel. That being said, it still had a strong alcohol flavor, but not a harsh one that lingered in the back of your throat. After all this beer has a whopping 15.9% ABV, so it is going to have that alcohol taste.

I would absolutely urge people to go out and try this. It is definitely something two or three people can split and sip on since Rumpkin drinks more as a fine liquor than a keystone light.