8.72% from a bomber, Batch #2

(from Avery Brewing Company/Russian River Brewing Company)*

A few years ago I tried several of the major Avery releases. I recall liking them all, but not really loving any and thus I had pretty much ignored the brewery ever since then. That all changed when one of my favorite beer blogs, Fermentedly Challenged, mentioned how much he had loved this brew. His review most intrigued me because he noted something I hadn’t known, that this beer was a collaboration between Avery and Russian River. For the longest time, Russian River beers (predominately Pliny the Elder and Younger) have been at the top of my “most wanted” list. For whatever reason, Russian Rivers simply do not seem to make it to the east coast—as far as I can tell—and thus I have never had a single beer from that brewery. This would be my first chance to kinda have one. I immediately went to the Columbus Circle Whole Foods and was lucky to find one sole bottle left. (I found several other great beers on this trip as well).

It pours a much bigger head than I expected yet isn’t as dark as I thought it would be. Nice little fruity smell almost like a barley wine. But it also has Belgian-esque “hints” in it. So many complex flavors in its taste. Very alcohol-y the more you drink it, which is something I like indeed. The aftertaste is a tad bitter. Quite frankly, the more I drink it, the more I feel almost like I’m drinking a weak bourbon neat. In fact, halfway through drinking this I realized I had no idea what style of beer this was. I thought it kinda tasted like a barley wine, kinda tasted like a Belgian ale, perhaps a stout…? (It is in fact a strong dark ale.)

It might not be an exact science, but one way I do like to judge alcohol is by the borderline arbitrary pseudo-standard of “how good it makes me feel” as it gets me drunker and drunker. Allagash Interlude is perhaps the king of this sensation. I feel like I’m floating in the clouds by the time I’m done with a bomber of Interlude. Collaboration gave me a similar feeling. I felt sensational by the time I was done with this one. And that was not exactly a good thing because I had several more craft beers I had wanted to sample that evening and was thus unable to because I don’t like to try new beers while bordering on blotto. Thus, I was forced to nightcap my evening by stealing from my ladyfriend’s stash of Bud Light Lime. Quite a difference, no doubt. Like starting your evening by making out with Scarlett Johansson and ending the night in bed with Kathy Bates.

After drinking Collaboration not Litigation I may have to revisit the rest of the Avery bottlings to see if my opinions have changed (while I continue dreaming about one day trying Russian Rivers beers.)

Overall, this one is fantastic. A minor masterpiece.

A

*Salvation. The name of two intricate Belgian-style ales, created by us - Vinnie Cilurzo of Russian River Brewing and Adam Avery of Avery Brewing. After becoming friends a few years ago, we realized that we both had a Salvation in our line-ups. Was it going to be a problem? Should one of us relinquish the rights? “Hell no!” we said. In fact, it was quickly decided that we should blend the brews to catch the best qualities of each and create an even more complex libation. In April 2004, in top-secret meeting at Russian River Brewing (well actually it was packed in the pub, and many were looking over our shoulders wondering what the hell was going on), we came up with the perfect blend of the two Salvations. Natalie, Vinnie’s much more significant other, exclaimed, “We should call this Collaboration, not Litigation Ale!” “Perfect!” we shouted. We celebrated deep into the night, (or is it morning?). Fast forward to November 14, 2006. After talking about it for over 2 years we finally decided to pull the trigger and Vinnie flew out to Avery to brew his Salvation exactly as he does in his brewery. This was blended with Avery’s Salvation December 11th, 2006. We hope you enjoy it as much we enjoyed brewing and blending it.

Fast Forward to 2008. After incredible demand from fans of beer across the country Avery and Russian River have teamed up to do it all again. This year’s batch will become available mid February, marked by a release party at the Avery Brewing Co tasting room, Boulder Colorado 2/12/2008.

7.2% ABV from a bomber

I’m pretty sure this is the first craft beer I ever had. I tried it when I was 23 or 24 at arguably the best beer bar in Manhattan, the Ginger Man. The huge place is usually packed during happy hour and on evenings, but on that particular Saturday afternoon—perhaps on ALL Saturday afternoons—it was completely empty. Me and my date were the only customers. And, yes, I do take dates to dark bars in the middle of a beautiful weekend day. What, like I’m gonna go hold hands at a museum, Christ.

The sole bartender that day was bored out of her wits. She needed to find some way to liven things up. You know how Baskin-Robbins lets you sample some of their 31 flavors with those little pink plastic spoons? Well, on this Saturday afternoon, the bartender let me sample many of the Ginger Man’s seemingly hundreds of draught offerings via tiny rock glass.

Still being a green craft beer drinker—I think vodka tonics were my potent potable of choice during this era—I was pretty much at her mercy. And, she delivered. One tap immediately caught my eye: Arrogant Bastard. What a name! It was exactly what I thought I was at the time (I was actually just a Big Douchebag probably but that isn’t a great name for a beer). AB’s gargoyle logo was so freaking cool too. Oh, and the taste! It was an eye-opening experience, like losing my virginity. I didn’t know beer could smell so good, look so good, and taste so fucking good.

Instantly, on the drunken spot, I declared Arrogant Bastard my favorite beer in the world. Believe me, it didn’t have that stiff of competition back then.

AARON’S FAVORITE BEERS
(circa September 2002)

1. Arrogant Bastard on draught

2. Yuengling bottled

3. Bud Light in a pitcher costing less than $8

4. Natty Light from a can that is part of a 30-rack.

5. Saranac root beer.

I wasn’t kidding. By the sober next day I was on the Stone brewery website reading all I could about my new favorite brew. I even ordered an AB t-shirt and pint glass (pictured above—how I have not gotten brutally drunk in the last six years and hurled that through a TV or wall is beyond me). I wore my shirt proudly and it garnered much attention and chuckles, acting as a great conversation piece. I think most people assumed it was one of those faux-vintage pseudo-hip fake company t-shirts you get at Urban Outfitters.

“Nope, it’s a real beer,” I’d tell them, “It’s my FAVORITE beer.”

Wow. I thought I was so freaking cool for having such an “obscure” non-macro as my favorite beer. Back then it was pretty hard to find Arrogant Bastard. Only a few bars had it on tap and only a specialty store or two in the NYC area had it bottled. Now, it’s a relatively ubiquitous craft beer. Hell, I bought this bomber from my supermarket for the outstandingly cheap price of $3.99.

Arrogant Bastard may no longer be my favorite and, quite frankly, I don’t even drink it that often any more, preferring to try new brews, but it’s still a magnificent beer. Popping the top, the beer smells amazing. Tasting it brings back nostalgic memories much like it must have done when Proust bit into his madeleine. Arrogant Bastard’s taste is great, just hoppy enough, smooth, and delicious. It’s probably too aggressive for your typical macro drinker, but it’s a perfect masterpiece to me.

I won’t claim that it blows my mind any more like it did back in 2002—then again, very few beers blow my mind these days—but goddamn it is still goddamn good. Sometimes, I got to remind myself to quit being such a man of novelty and start more frequently enjoying what I enjoy. I think it’s time to become good friends again with Arrogant Bastard.

A

(Note: Stone Brewery has the best motto around: “Fuzzy yellow beer is for wussies.” Indeed. Take that to heart Corona drinkers)