Behind every good beer is a good story, and The Reverend is a sterling example. Avery named the beer in honor of its sales manager’s grandfather who was an ordained Episcopal minister. The goal was to create a beer that demonstrated the admirable character of the departed, good-willed grandfather. Bold, assertive, and of a pure heart.
Knowing the story makes the beer taste better, I will psychosomatically admit. If the brewer had said, “I made this beer becasue I wanted to make a lot of money in order to buy a yacht,” I do believe my taste buds, in allegiance with my mood, might revolt.
The Pour:
First of all, upon prying the cap off my bomber, a little bit of foam peeped out of the head of the bottle. THis is a good sign, as the bottle was not shaken and had not been disturbed for days. It poured a copper-orange color into my snifter. About one inch of head stuck floated on the surace before dissappearing leaving thin lacing on the inside of the glass.
The Aroma:
First off, I love the smell of rich Belgians (the beer, not wealthy men residing in brussels). This beer had a unique and complex scent. The utilization of many different specialty malts makes for a balm that inspires chocolate, cherries, apples, figs, and honey dew. There is a very bready nature that tickles the nose, as well as a musty earthy quality, and a final sour note that nearly gives me the shivers.
The Taste:
A burst of sweetness hits the taste buds at first. It immediately reminded me of candied apples I used to love as a kid. The first sip actually incited an ancient memory of eating a thanksgiving dinner at the small private school I attended as a child. Candied apples were the dessert, which I at first. Past this burst of sweetness, there is quite and acidic sour punch that balances the beer, that is speckled with citrusy fruit character. There is very little spice in the flavor, which I had anticipated based off the style (quadrupel). The beer goes down smooth, as it is nicely carbonated and thinned down, most likely due to the candy sugar in the recipe. There is a nice warm alcohol finish that is not overly intense.
Overall:
This is beer is better than average in my opinion, but not the best for Avery. I would buy it again. In fact I might try to cellar one for a few years and come back to this post. The only other Quad–Three Philosophers– we have reviewed on this site ranked higher in my opinion.
Nate’s Rating:
Overall Satisfaction: 
Among other Quadrupels: 
