Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week:" Two Brothers Avalon Ale

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Oct 21, 2009 5:40PM

Our nose was assaulted by the scent of apples and spices from the moment we opened a bottle of Two Brothers Avalon. It was the olfactory equivalent to hearing Christmas carols in October, but much more pleasing. Avalon is another in Two Brothers' "Artisan Bottling" series — Bonfire Dunkle Weiss is part of that series. get past the nose of this beer and you'll immediately pick up a pretty serious hop flavor to Avalon. Most beers or ales brewed with apple cider or must err on the side of malt. Since there is a fair amount of spices in Avalon, the hops work to complement that aspect of the taste profile.

Another aspect to Avalon that differs from other apple-pressed beers is the carbonation. there was some serious fizz happening in this beer, with a thick head atop the brew that quickly became craggly and left thick lace rings on the glass. weighing in at around 7 percent ABV, Avalon also carries a good punch.

We bought our 22-ounce bottle of Avalon at — where else? — LUSH Wine and Spirits for $7.75. If you want to brave the wait, Kuma's corner also sells Avalon for $12.