Avery Chai High

Avery Brewing Co. – Avery Chai High – 12 oz. can poured into a tulip – 5.2% abv.

Product description: Meditate on this transcendent, rich and robust spiced seasonal of a decidedly different sort. Brewed with Rocky Mountain water, malted barley, spiced chai tea, hops and yeast.

This beer was sampled as a 12oz can (Canned on 7/21/16) full pour into a snifter/tulip hybrid glass. This one is a deep reddish brown color looking fairly opaque in the glass. Thick eggshell foam begins thick and rocky but dissipates quickly into a smaller layer. Nice lacing decorates the edges of the glass.

The aroma brings an unmistakable chai spice blend with bright lemon, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. The flavor is spice forward with powerful cardamom matched with a balanced brown ale base. Dark bread crust and mild roast pairs with a sharp but never powdery or dusty Chai spice blend. Chai High pulls off the spiced brown ale style with ease. The Chai character is assertive but not overwhelming. Anyone trying this beer for the first time is certainly in for a nice surprise.

Perhaps the spice character is a bit too powerful to be a session beer, but it certainly will appeal to those looking forward to the pumpkin spice beer onslaught of fall seasonals. Body and alcohol-wise, this one is more approachable than other spice-centric fall beers with small lemon acid refreshment in the finish. Overall, this one was a nice surprise and sure to garner a fan base. I definitely enjoyed it.