All posts by John Fortunato

CASCADE KRIEK ALE

One of brewers’ most popular and well-integrated sour ales, remarkable Belgian-styled Flanders red ale retains soft-flowing tannic grape bitterness as well as sweet fruited tartness and fermented lactic acidity. Oak barrel-aged cherry sourness retrieves musty Sauvignon-Cabernet warmth and vanilla-spiced cranberry-raspberry wisp crowding loud carbolic fizz. Sweet cider and rhubarb cherry pie illusions fill the middle as grassy horse-blanket earthiness parches vinegary white grape pucker at the backend. Wispy nutmeg-clove spicing adds depth and overall acidity never overwhelms.

Kriek - Cascade Brewing

(RUSSIAN RIVER) PLINY THE ELDER

PLINY THE ELDERRevelatory golden-hued medium-bodied Imperial IPA, named after naturalist philosopher, maintains silken flow despite creamy thrust. Cotton-candied caramel-crystal malts align with lemon-sugared red apple, brown pear, purple grape, apricot, and tangerine fruiting as well as pineapple, mango and passion fruit tropicalia. Mild grapefruit peel bittering illuminates pine needled floral hops securing perfectly balanced, highly celebrated West Coaster.

(GORDASH) HOLY MACKERAL SPECIAL GOLDEN ALE

Heady Belgian-styled golden-hazed medium body (brewed for Florida’s Gordash Beer Company in South Carolina) brings vanilla malt creaminess to fungi-soured Belgian yeast endurance. At midst, peppery Saaz hop bitterness and musty barnyard funk counter durable cotton-candied butterscotch rummage, wavered apple-apricot-pear fruiting and clove-coriander-spiced banana bubblegum whim. Delightful maraschino cherry ripeness, zippy cinnamon-gingerbread dalliance, and supple Cognac finish prove affirmative. Busy mix never falters. On tap at Plantation’s Hurricane Grill & Wings, sweeter honey-fruited thrust receives herbal twinge.

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(GORDASH) HOLY MACKERAL MACK IN BLACK IMPERIAL BLACK ALE

Interesting Schwarzbier-like Black Ale (brewed for Gordash Beer Company) adds inconspicuous pomegranate juice to sticky anise plunge, sour fig-prune surge, and grain-roasted stove-burnt coffee swell. Black cherry, dried fig, and purple grape nuances prompt Muscat or port wine appeal. Smoked mocha malts permit cola nut, walnut, and Brazil nut illusions to enter the 8% alcohol fray. On tap, deeper coffee-burnt licorice resilience is felt.
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PIKE ENTIRE WOOD-AGED STOUT

PIKE ENTIRE WOOD AGED STOUTRobust 9.5% alcohol-fueled tan-headed brown-bodied barrel-aged slow sipper allows welcoming sherry opening to invigorate hop-oiled grain-roasted cedar-burnt bitterness and cocoa-powdered prune-dried raisin puree and black cherry illusions. Chewy molasses-sapped black coffee, brown chocolate and vanilla bean notes surface above warming burgundy-bourbon finish of outstanding full-bodied winner.

 

ELYSIAN NIGHT OWL PUMPKIN ALE

Rich amber-hazed autumn seasonal with cookie dough-like yeast sinew and honey-roasted mocha malting receives sharp hop-spiced gourd acridity, revealing cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and gingerbread resonance adjacent to pumpkin pie crusting. Rigid phenol finish depletes tertiary sugared fig, almond, chestnut, and pecan illusions. Engaging dessert fodder. On tap at Biggie’s – 2016, sweeter gingerbread-spiced pumpkin pie template perseveres as spritzy lemon snip crackles.

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