Noticeably lacking Ayinger tag, Celebrator’s at the threshold of distinct full-bodied Bavarian-styled brewing. Its beautiful jet-black frame, frothy whipped cream tan head, and sweet chocolate whiff offer up-front resilience maintained by lactose stout-like chewy caramel thickness. Sharp charred hop bite emboldens tobacco chew, pine, fig, and cola nut illusions as brown sugar, honeyed molasses, and toffee coat lofty Black Forest cake signature. Buttered pecan, toasted almond, burnt cedar, and hazelnut paint the corners, enchanting the earthy grain bottom to an emphatic espresso finish perfect for heavenly dessert.
All posts by John Fortunato
AYINGER BRAU-WEISSE
Cordial 60% barleymalt/ 40% wheat combination suits typically frothy golden-hazed Bavarian-styled beer. Fizzy lemon spritz explodes in mouth before concentrated sourdough graining settles beside yeast-sinewed banana-clove midst. At finish, nutmeg nestles banana nut bread insistence.
AYINGER ALTBAIRISCH DUNKEL LAGER
Old Bavarian dark lager features beautiful mocha waft, delicious smoked chocolate bitterness, and integral dry roasted nuttiness. Dank yeast souring perks up withered rye-wheat spine, gentle water flow, and earthen smidgen, though better carbolic propulsion would suffice.
AVIATOR PORTER ALE
‘Velvety smooth, delicious,’ the label overly emphasizes. Roasted nut and smoky chocolate form slim mocha finish, but fizz overwhelms any shady underlying characteristics. Dirty tasting cheaply-hopped presumptuous ‘porter ale’ (?) at least flaunts fairly strong punch. Brewery defunct: 2002.
AVIATOR HONEY BROWN ALE
Dark coffee-hued ale has rich chocolate aroma and hearty mocha assertion reminiscent of mild porter. Lucid honeyed finish softens middleweight contender amateurs will appreciate more than discerning pros. Brewery defunct: 2002.
AVIATOR HEFE WEIZEN ALE
Huge puffy head, foamy carbolic froth, and cloudy pale appearance form initial impression for weak-bodied yeast-saturated wheat ale. Bursts in the mouth like champagne, then, after a few seconds, leaves only slight bitter grain finish. Nowhere nears as effervescent or strong as more reliable hefeweizens. Brewery defunct: 2002.
AVIATOR AMBER ALE
Rich brown-hued AAA sports ‘floral’ roasted malt aroma and fleeting caramel underpinning. Slightest hint of bitterness lingers to moderate finish. Caught between ineffectively finding the right balance of ale perkiness and porter heaviness. Brewery defunct: 2002.
AVERY WHITE RASCAL BELGIAN-STYLE WHEAT ALE
Clear, straw-hued, billowy white-headed Belgian ‘wit’ reaches sour yellow-fruited wheat plateau before unripe banana-gourd climax tempts middling lemony coriander-clove finish meagerly donning candied orange tartness. Fruit-spiced fodder suits lighthearted drinkers.
AVERY TWELVE SAISON ALE
Quite elaborate sunny-yellowed pearly-headed citric seasonal celebrates 12th anniversary by letting unripe juniper,blueberry, and green apple adjuncts inform early white ale effervescence. In turbid midst, aromatic eucalyptus-peppermint freshness picks up jasmine, lavender, and chamomile accents. For brisk finish, grapefruit rind and orange pith persevere.
AVERY THIRTEEN DOPPELBOCK
Stiff boozy sway sidles sensational chestnut-hued ruby-tinged ’06 anniversary bid. Resounding cherry-apricot-tangerine bulk gains raspberry-pureed stewed prune interlude to barleywine-brandy finish. Brimful floral bouquet, ample coriander-clove-nutmeg midst, and sedate banana-breaded vanilla-butterscotch illusions fortify radiant rummy chocolate backdrop.
AVERY TEN ANNIVERSARY ALE
Bottled ’03, complex butterscotch-glowed rocky-headed India Pale Ale’s perky citric esters hit nose hard. Anticipatory apricot-tangerine-pineapple tang enhances loud tropical nectar frontage as cherry-apple-pear tartness reinforces wheat-based hop-backed floral linger. Barleywine-cognac illusions seep through sugary midst as resinous pine undercurrent pulsates.
AVERY THE REVEREND BELGIAN STYLE QUADRUPEL ALE
Capacious candi-sugared Belgian yeast sweetens white wine aromatics and phenol-hopped bruised orange, tangerine, and cherry influx. Creamy caramel malts enhance sugarcoated corn adjunct and spiced apple-plum nuances underscoring subtle, yet full-bodied, quad.