Avery Brewing Company Samaels
What the brewers say
“A super-caramelly, oak-aged English-style strong ale. The oak is apparent, adding depth and complexity with a woody and cask-like nose and a pronounced vanilla flavor. A subtle bitterness adds balance to the natural sweetness.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Vanilla and candi sugar, with loads and loads of malt sweetness. Some caramel with notes of apricot. Juicy and tasty with a hint of oak.”
Flavor: “Very sweet with some caramel and toffee, honey, plum, and cherry. The hops are a background presence at most, but the malt body really gives you something to chew on.”
Overall: “Very good, sweet, and tasty. Very malt forward and enjoyable. Nice caramel flavors. Nice earthy hops flavors are subdued but help round it out. Big beer! Do not drink this cold, or it will taste like sugar. This is wonderfully complex as it warms with the big complex malt sugars. High sugar content should help this age for some time.”
