What’s Your Karma?

Beer O’ The Week: May 19

Is ale a modest reward or a draw?

Wamp’s Wisdom

Karma from Avery Brewing Co. in Boulder, Colo., is billed as a Belgian pale ale. The tag line on the label could be my new favorite saying. It says “Good ale happens to good people.”

It pours 5.4 percent alcohol with the color of sweet tea and a meager head. Aroma is sharp but smooth, like caramel. As soon as this ale hits your taste buds, they light up with an abundance of carbonation and malty overtones.

There is a malt-hop harmony that makes this a very smooth quaff. It finishes clean with no hop bite. This is a very drinkable beer from a brewery that has yet to disappoint. Pair with tangy cheese.

Rating: 4 caps

Rico’s Reaction

I was excited to see the bottle of Karma limited time only pale ale Wamp left on my desk to review at my leisure.

s he says, in the past Avery has provided some excellent options. Their beers have been a delight to qualify, so surely a special edition would offer up a truly rare wonder.

To quote a good friend, “Meh.”

Karma — the beer, not my luck — proved too sweet for me without the hop sting I crave to go along the dulcet malt flavors the ale bathes in. I was deeply disappointed, not because the beer was particularly bad, but because I’d been so wowed by Avery in the past.

It’s drinkable, but nothing I’d ever go out of my way to purchase.

Rating this one was tough for me. I nearly went with a 2.5 rating, initially feeling the ale fell a little below the standard of mediocrity while still being nowhere near a 2 cap beer. In the end, I decided I was being overly harsh because I’d set my expectations so high. Neither heaven nor hell, Karma falls smack in the middle this time.

Rating: 3 caps

Rating System

One Cap: Put it back in the horse!
Two Caps: Consume only if the other choice is Tijuana tap water or Coors Light.
Three Caps: Acceptable without standing out. The Tito Jackson of beer, if you will.
Four Caps: Nice beer that rises above most but may not deliver enough to be considered great.
Five Caps: Truly great beer that delivers on all counts. A credit to its style. Could only be better if served by scantily clad concubines.
Six Caps: Any five cap beer served by scantily clad concubines.