Finding Salvation

(STAFF PHOTO J.T. WAMPLER) Salvation Belgian Style Golden Ale from Avery Brewing Co. in Boulder Colorado.

Flavors redeemed in strong Belgian ale

Wamp’s Wisdom

Salvation Belgian Style Golden Ale from Avery Brewing Co. in Boulder, Colo., comes in at 9 percent alcohol and comes in 22-ounce bottles. Might be a good idea to share this one with a friend.

It pours a honey-amber with a dense, frothy head. Aroma is floral and a bit citric with a slight alcohol burn. The lacing is sticky and persistent, marking each sip down the side of the glass.

White pepper comes to mind with the first sip and there is a bit of a hop bite that leaves a bitterness. Banana and cloves are also evident. The finish is sticky and prolonged leaving a coating in your mouth. This ale increases in flavor and complexity as it warms, but the alcohol also becomes more pronounced.

Overall, this is a decent example of a strong Belgian ale. The alcohol burn and the slight bitterness might take some getting used to.

Pair with spicy Asian food.

Rating: 3 caps

Rico’s Reaction

Hallelujah!

No, I haven’t found a new religion, praise Odin, but I have found Salvation. That means another beer from Avery Brewing for me.

Despite my loathing of the hated Denver Broncos and anything that might make me think of the blue and orange, this Colorado brewery has really impressed me. If memory serves, and it doesn’t always serve me that well while writing the beer column, Avery’s Hog Heaven Barleywine was the first suds to get a perusal in Beer O’ The Week — a heady drink I thoroughly enjoyed. For a brief time, I enjoyed Avery’s India Pale Ale on tap at Buffalo Wild Wings while engaging in my nerdy habit of playing Buzztime trivia.

Salvation, happily, is another excellent addition to the pantheon of Avery’s holy hops pops. Normally, being able to taste the alcohol in a beer would put me off, but it works for Salvation, mixing nicely with the pepper — almost coriandor — and barley flavors. Wamp’s right, there is a hint of banana in there, and I’m not real fond of banana … but here it’s a-peeling. *Groan*

Seriously, put me in a banana suit and I’ll sing “It’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time” for a Salvation.

Rating: 4 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.