Alesmith Horny Devil Ale

Alesmith Brewing Company
San Diego, California

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Highly carbonated. Thick, foamy head, tons of bubbles. Hazy gold, cloudy for a Belgian Golden.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Highly aromatic. Alcohol, cane sugar, sour. Apricot notes. Clean.

TASTE: 7.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Minimal hop flavor. Sour candy, orange sour. Champagne-like. Coriander is lost in the Belgian yeast.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Bitter finish, dry. Sour notes and alcohol linger.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Boozy alcohol warming. Tingles on the tongue, bubbles move upward into your brain.

OVERALL: 2.25/3: A Belgian Quad times two—a Belgian Octuple? On par with Duvel—at 11%, it's a very big beer. Belgian yeast is front and center.

TOTAL: 15.25/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: A good, very big Belgian Golden Ale—well-balanced for as big as it is, tasty but definitely boozy.
Ben: Sinus-clearing! A typical Belgian gold, Belgian yeast is nice and floral. If you like high ABV beers, here's one!

Avery Salutation Belgian-Style Golden Ale

Avery Brewing Company
Boulder, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Hazy orange-gold color. Rocky, white, lasting head.

AROMA: 3.5/4
Alcohol nose. Citrus, honey, peppery, pineapple. Very floral, fruity.

TASTE: 8/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Wow! Big! Alcohol. Malt, lots of hop. Orange blossom, candy corn, lemongrass. Complex.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Sweet, fades to bitter finish that lasts. Alcohol is noticeable.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Full, fills the mouth. Complex. Alcohol is there, but not offensively so.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: Heavenly? Sinful? Probably a bit of both. A good sipping beer–easy to drink, but at 9% ABV, be careful! Avery does it again.

TOTAL: 16.5/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: We kept coming back to "big." Full, complex, extremely satisfying. A good sipper–you won't be disappointed.
Ben: Big and deceptive. At 9%, this one can sneak up on you. Lots of flavors going on–good paired with fish or fruit.