Beer Review: The Czar

REVIEW #150!

Reviewing the The Czar from Avery Brewing Company out of Colorado.
Score: 87

Fall 2011 vintage bottle served in a Surly Darkness snifter and enjoyed on 01/19/12.

Appearance: Pours a jet black color with brown/soda-colored highlights at the top of the glass. Totally opaque otherwise. One finger of creamy/bubbly tan colored head at pour settles into a bubbly ring around the glass and clump of bubbly head in the center. Splotches of bubbly tan lacing and oil residue stick to the side of the glass. 4/5

Smell: Roasted chocolate, burnt (brown) sugar, a little black licorice, sweet milk chocolate and dark fruit. Light booze backbone. 4/5

Taste: Raw chocolate, dry dark fruit and a little booze. Some roasted malts and hops on the midpalate and towards the finish. There might also be hints of coffee present at points too, but that just might be because I had a cup o' joe about fifteen minutes before drinking this. Finish is boozy roasted/milk chocolate. The ABV is pretty high (11%), and it's noticeable in the flavor, but the booze is not overly present to a distracting or detracting degree. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, light carbonation. Creamy mouthfeel. Finishes bitter and with some acidic booziness. 4/5

Overall: A perfect example of the Russian Imperial Stout style with a little extra booziness. Not stand out or particularly special by any means, but a very solid and tasty beer that is not overly expensive. I'd certainly come back to this one again.

Recommendation: Although I cannot recommend going out of your way to get ahold of this one, I can recommend purchasing it if you see it on the shelf (or have easy access to it).

Pairings: Hershey's milk chocolate bar.

Cost: $7.99 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle.