Try?
We live in a
very litigious society. Everybody is always suing somebody for something;
just turn on your TV some fine afternoon for evidence of that. If Judge
Judy or Judge Joe Brown aren’t proof enough, just wait for the
commercials and the daily dose of vultures begging you to call them if
you’ve had the slightest fender bender.
That being the case, it’s especially amazing that when two microbreweries, Colorado’s Avery and California’s Russian River, each had a beer named Salvation, they arrived at a curious decision: they’d work together instead of suing each other. What’s more, they’d do it in a strange way, blending their two beers and bottling the precious stuff to be sold under the Avery label. They would collaborate, not litigate.
And
thus a truly interesting brew was born, Collaboration, Not Litigation
Ale. Both beers, of course, are firmly footed in the Belgian strong ale
style. When blended, they result in an ale of just under 9% alcohol by
volume, making this a sipping beer more than anything else. The 22 ounce
bottle will cost you about $6, a fair price indeed for receiving Salvation
not only once but twice.
Collaboration Not Litigation Ale pours to a murky golden brown color as I pour out about half of my 22 ounce bomber bottle into a bowl-shaped Belgian beer glass. A thick, creamy head of tightly packed foam forms atop the liquid, and a thick layer of Brussels lace clings to the sides as the glass is emptied.
The nose is a little nutty and packed with funky, Earthy Belgian yeast notes and cotton candy as I put my nostrils to the glass. These big bowl shaped glasses are perfect for fully appreciating the aroma of your beer, as they allow the rich scents to waft freely from the surface of the liquid.
Upon sipping, I get complex malty notes of fruit (pear and pineapple), rock candy-like sweet malt, slightly toasty crisp malt, and mushroomy Belgian yeast notes. The body is creamy, and the finish boasts a peppery, drying bitterness. Hints of spicy clove and licorice are apparent too.
A very interesting brew, and a very delightful one too. Perhaps not as good as a real Belgian strong, but pretty darn close. I give it four and a half stars, with emphasis on the brownie points for a successful collaboration.
That being the case, it’s especially amazing that when two microbreweries, Colorado’s Avery and California’s Russian River, each had a beer named Salvation, they arrived at a curious decision: they’d work together instead of suing each other. What’s more, they’d do it in a strange way, blending their two beers and bottling the precious stuff to be sold under the Avery label. They would collaborate, not litigate.
And
thus a truly interesting brew was born, Collaboration, Not Litigation
Ale. Both beers, of course, are firmly footed in the Belgian strong ale
style. When blended, they result in an ale of just under 9% alcohol by
volume, making this a sipping beer more than anything else. The 22 ounce
bottle will cost you about $6, a fair price indeed for receiving Salvation
not only once but twice. Collaboration Not Litigation Ale pours to a murky golden brown color as I pour out about half of my 22 ounce bomber bottle into a bowl-shaped Belgian beer glass. A thick, creamy head of tightly packed foam forms atop the liquid, and a thick layer of Brussels lace clings to the sides as the glass is emptied.
The nose is a little nutty and packed with funky, Earthy Belgian yeast notes and cotton candy as I put my nostrils to the glass. These big bowl shaped glasses are perfect for fully appreciating the aroma of your beer, as they allow the rich scents to waft freely from the surface of the liquid.
Upon sipping, I get complex malty notes of fruit (pear and pineapple), rock candy-like sweet malt, slightly toasty crisp malt, and mushroomy Belgian yeast notes. The body is creamy, and the finish boasts a peppery, drying bitterness. Hints of spicy clove and licorice are apparent too.
A very interesting brew, and a very delightful one too. Perhaps not as good as a real Belgian strong, but pretty darn close. I give it four and a half stars, with emphasis on the brownie points for a successful collaboration.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
(G)=Growler
