Avery Anniversary Lager Seventeen

Tonight I'm drinking Avery Anniversary Seventeen, a dry-hopped black lager that I believe technically classifies as a Schwarzbier.  This is brewed by Avery Brewing, out of Boulder CO.  The label depicts a cool illustration showing hops growing on vines, and lists "A Dark Study in German Hops".  This is the first lager Avery has done in their Anniversary series.....looks like an interesting brew.  Bottled in May 2010. 

Pouring this into my snifter, this pours a dark brown (almost black), with light brown head that is quite fluffy.  Click that link, you won't regret it.  The aroma is hoppy with citrus and some apples and pears.  Also something in there that reminds me of cleaning supplies....almost like a rubbing alcohol kind of smell. 

The first sip brings a piney, earthy resin-flavor that quickly fades into a slightly bitter, burnt roasted malt background.  There is a bit of an alcohol burn that doesn't surprise me, considering this is listed at almost 9%ABV.  There is also some smokiness present in there.  The carbonation is fairly heavy, and the texture is actually strange....I would consider it full-bodied, but the carbonation breaks it up quickly and makes it feel lighter. 

Overall Rating:  (4.5 out of 6.0)  This was a nice break from the normal brewing styles that I'm typically drawn to.  I enjoyed the range of different flavors this beer brought to the table, and it got better as it warmed.  The melding of ingredients and styles really made it unique, and I would recommend it to most any beer-drinker out there, since it has something for everyone.  The roasted, malty characteristic of a dark lager/ale, along with the pleasant hoppiness of a dry-hopped ale.  This is a nice beer to sip during a Sunday sporting event.



Tough to read, but I wanted to include this little Anniversary story, also note that this is a "Malt Liquor"!