Avery Collaboration Not Litigation Ale is a double salvation

I love this bar called the Surly Goat. I'm very lucky to have a watering hole with this many rotating taps on hand for my beereveryday year. The people who work here are lovely and knowledgeable and there's Foosball and Shuffleboard, both of which I'm sucking at tonight. Well, even Pele had his days off...

Tiff raved about this beer last week but unfortunately she is out stick today with the stomach flu so in her honor, it's being drank...drunk...drinked...whatever.


It turns out, this beer is a collaboration between Avery and Russian River. It sprung from the fact that each brewery had a beer named 'Salvation.' One year they got together and blended to the two together. A cool story that shows the true spirit of the craft beer world and their brewers.


It's a Belgian Strong Dark Ale that clocks in at 8.72%. I'm tasting your standard chocolate and fruits but what's really capturing my attention is its sweetness. It reminds me of the Stone Belgo Barleywine, a burst of sweetness like bubble gum or cotton candy. But unlike the Belgo which explodes in your mouth like a supernova of sweetness, the Collaboration is humblely sweet. TRANSFORMERS rating.

Avery Maharaja Imperial IPA bites like Jaws

I couldn't pronounce this until I heard the bartender say it, so it seems worthy for my beer tonight (my standards are pretty shot this late in the week).

10.3% alcohol! Thank you doctor for that perscription. The alcohol is masked well thanks to a BIG fruit and piny hop bite. I didn't enjoy my first sip but it grew on me. Stu, a fellow I met who's in town from Pasadena for a concert on Sunset, loves it and he's a big hop head. I'm liking this a lot, it's just a really intense beer. It's like the Arrogant Bastard of IPA's. THE ROCK rating.

We had a big group tonight come out, including the regulars above - Rhiannon, Matt and Tiffany. Here's the whole group!

We all hit up Baby Blues afterwords. Nothing great than Foosball, Beer and BBQ. Party on

Iron Fist Velvet Glove is pretty heavy metal - also is beer 225

Iron Fist Velvet Glove sounds like a Black Sabbath cover band. It also sounds dark, mysterious and a little sexy, right? Well so are Imperial Stouts that clock in at 9%. They're the new red-headed secretaries. You heard it here first.

Stay tuned because next week I'll reveal the face of the Surly Goat! Really wild stuff going on here at MilkisforBabies

I'm definitely starting to appreciate stouts more and more. When I first began the year, stouts were one of my least favorites but not anymore. Smelling a solid chocolate and roasted malt aroma. The alcohol presence is very strong and almost distracting. Still, it's smooth and delicious and an incredibly drinkable imperial stout. BAD BOYS rating.

In a feat of Herculean proportion, I nursed the Velvet Glove for over 2 hours! I'm holding strong to my 1 drink a night rule. Color me impressed (with myself). Thankfully, I had plenty of distractions to turn my attention toward. Props to Don who brought some excellent Foosball players who played the most competitive games I've had here. Lovin' it. And Lisa Z joined the fun at the end of the evening. Another great Friday night at the Goat!

P.S.
Today is a mildly significant milestone and I'm happy to celebrate it at my favorite weekly watering hole, the Surly Goat. The Velvet Glove was beer number 225. 225 days in a row of nourishing beer. That's kinda sumpthin. This is such a great year, so many great experiences with and because of beer. 141 to go...