Dry wheat husk, toasted hop sass, and ashy caramel malting seduces laid-back soft water flow as aromatic tobacco-peat earthiness lingers. Secondary rye-pumpernickel and wet cedar sweetness recede to smoked wood tinge. Surprisingly lacks advertised bitterness though redeeming novice appeal is undeniable.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: SOLE BAY BREWERY, SUFFOLK, ENGLAND
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ADNAMS & CO., SUFFOLK, ENGLAND
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Fuggle hops and mild grains provide lingering bitterness countering soft water flow. A light, unobtrusive turnabout for those afraid of thicker, stronger ales.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ADNAMS & CO., SUFFOLK, ENGLAND
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Bittersweet malts converge with indistinct chocolate-caramel for deep brown-hued disappointment. Unfortunately, its ‘nut’ essence is nowhere to be found. Docked for false advertising.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ADNAMS & CO., SUFFOLK, ENGLAND
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Excellent fluffy-headed hazy rust-hued Brit with primary burgundy richness, cavernous alcohol-stricken chocolate malt strength, and herbal hop spicing increasing sweet barleywine confluence. Candied cherry pervades reclusive cola-macadamia nuttiness, mineral water flow, and woody bottom.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: NORTH COAST BREWERY, FORT BRAGG, CA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
As plain as its name indicates, frugal ale rivals bland, unsophisticated lagers. Grains and hops come to the fore, but lack of distinguishing adjuncts or malt-like assertiveness keeps this stillborn.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: NORTH COAST BREWERY, FORT BRAGG, CA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Well balanced, hazy amber hued, pearly white-headed India Pale Ale smitten by sharp floral-piney hop frontage and toasted barley emphasis gets temporal spicy bitterness, grapefruit-lemon tang, and orange peel variance enhancing sweet malt surge. Compares favorably to notable Californians such as Stone IPA and North Coast Red Seal Ale.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: NORTH COAST BREWERY, FORT BRAGG, CA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Typically fine organic California microbrew retains modest fizz-hopped bitterness and grain-malt constraint overriding percolating well water crispness. Refreshing jasmine aroma consumes mocha-caramel efficiency and tangy citric zest.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: MICROBROUWERIJ ACHILLES, ITEGEM, BELGIUM
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Tiny Flemish homebrewers’ wintry nickel-hazed reddish-glazed strong pale ale places orange-candied lemondrop tartness above warming alcohol sensation and spongy carbolic fluff. Serene seasonal spices tingle oncoming red apple ripeness and tangerine-orange tang as sugary yeast sinew further sweetens festive treat.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: TRAPPISTEN BROUWERIJ DE ACHELSE KLUIS, ACHEL, BELGIUM
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Interesting pale-bodied hybrid unintentionally closer to phenol German weissbier than moderate-bodied Belgian Trappist Ale. Floral yeast nose suits candied wheat sweetness, as orange-tangerine tang spruces up spicy clove backdrop. Beige sediment dots thick viscosity for impairing relaxant aimed at light-heavyweights and up.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ABITA BREW. CO., ABITA SPRINGS, LA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Special ‘06 release finds bitter lemon rind-tinged floral-blueberry frontage subsiding to grassy mineral-grained finish. Dry-bodied pale-toned billowy white-headed moderate pils’ only drawback is minor metallic astringency.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ABITA BREW. CO., ABITA SPRINGS, LA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Effective maple-sapped pureed raisin frontage picks up creamy chocolate sweetness and dry cocoa-powdered remnant. Earthen hop resin inundates mild herbal subsidy.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ABITA BREW. CO., ABITA SPRINGS, LA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Parched straw-hazed moderate-bodied fruit-flavored lager brings powdered Pez-like sourness to muted cotton-candied strawberry shortcake tartness. Blanched cereal graining subsumed by astringent leathery acridity, diacetyl carbolic fizz, and watermelon gum illusion. Banana taffy, plantain, peach, and apricot lost in butterscotch midst.