Collaboration Not Litigation Ale - Avery Brewing Company and Russian River Brewing, Boulder

Collaboration Not Litigation is the product of blending two production beers from different breweries, both of which are named Salvation. The name is said to be a tribute to the collaborative nature of craft brewers, because in any other industry there probably would have been cease and desist orders issued by one party or the other. One of the most interesting parts of this beer is the fact that it's a blend of two fairly well established beers. Two beers that already have followers and quite well regarded in their own right. Blending those two beers together sounds risky, but it also sounds like a lot of fun. This beer has a great story behind it, hopefully the actual beer is as much fun to drink.

Russian River Salvation isn't available in this area so I haven't had the opportunity to try it for myself. I have sampled Avery's Salvation but it was quite some time ago. I'm going into this beer with an open mind since I really don't know what to expect from either beer.

The Collaboration Not Litigation pours a rich and cloudy amber color and settles into the glass a bit darker than I was expecting. There is a beautiful foamy head at the top of the glass that stuck around until I'd run out of beer. The aroma comes of as distinctly Belgian, full of dark fruit and sour yeasty notes.

The flavor of this beer is really quite interesting. The Collaboration Not Litigation is full of herbs and earthy flavors up front. There's a bit of spicy but it doesn't distract from the other flavors. This beer almost tastes medicinal because of all the herbal flavors. The yeasts produce an over-ripened banana and dark fruit flavor that goes from interesting to borderline rotten as you drink through the glass.

I did enjoy this beer but not nearly as much as I would have liked. It was easy to drink but felt a little flat at times. This bottle is marked February 2009, so it's been sitting around for about 18 months and may have lost a bit of its luster. That being said, I'd drink this one again, though I'd prefer it be a bit fresher... If you're in to Belgian style Strong Ales I'd suggest checking this one out, it's unique and a little eccentric.