On tap at Growler & Gill, silken soda-like moderation (with small pink head and glistening reddish purple hue) retains bubbly Seltzer effervescence as sweet ‘n sour purple grape esters get pushed aside for spritzy strawberry, raspberry and rhubarb pie illusions. Sweet champagne-laced soda pop alternative.
On tap at Growler & Gill, murky wet-grained pale malting and musky Mosaic hop fruiting pick up bitter dune-laden blueberry nip that’s too laid-back to outpoint coriander-spiced citrus waver. Up the berries to enhance its lemony orange zest.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead – Hoboken, easygoing tropical-fruited 2016 witbier maintains tranquil passionfruit tartness that’s guarded by yellow grapefruit, lemon meringue, blood orange, raspberry, papaya and pineapple illusions above its delicate barley-wheat base. In the recess, musty floral-perfumed herbal tea licks reside.
Worthily zestful collaboration between Colorado mainstay and historic Belgian brewery, De Koninck, makes for perfect floral-citric summertime moderation. Lemony key lime effervescence gains tart edge above sweetly fragrant hibiscus and rose pedal illusions. Light citrus-daubed blueberry souring and wispy strawberry-tinged Mistral hop influence play backup.
Summery fruit-infused wheat ale utilizes tart blackberry, red raspberry and boysenberry adjuncts to contrast light lemony blueberry-cranberry souring to wafer-sugared honey wheat spine.
Another directionless watermelon ale. Dry lime subtlety fades as precipitously as its light watermelon influence above biscuit-y white bread spine. Neutral cucumber-celery watering provides clean base, but please up the damn sweet ‘n sour fruitiness.
Brisk seltzer-watered spritz prickles subtle lemon-soured watermelon spree as mild melon, strawberry and bubblegum illusions wispily flutter. White-breaded bottom stays frail.
On tap at New York Wing Factory, timid summery tropicalia lacks full-force mango theme. Instead, washed-out mango tartness never effectively sweetens listless lemony strawberry, guava and kiwi snips while its thin wheat backbone falters. In the bottle, dry lemon-pitted mango souring stays laidback alongside mildly bitter IPA-like piney grapefruit peel depletion.
‘Not too sweet’ and ‘not quite boring’ moderation offers washed-out watermelon souring to thin wheat backbone. Watermelon rind pickling lingers, then fades quickly, at reluctant citric-daubed finish.
Docile fruited pale ale (made with lemon peel) needs deeper resonance. Its brisk lemon peel bittering loses out to a sourer lemon pit mildewing. Lemony grapefruit rind prowess perked up by mild lemongrass prickle and perfumed wildflower-jasmine-daisy whims. Lightly lagered white wheat malts wilt at soapy dishwater finish. In canned version: straw-cleared summertime softie brightens up pilsner-malted Cascade hop passivity with fresh-squeezed citrus zest.
Richly balanced unfiltered holiday ale spreads candi-sugared gooseberry tang across spicy dried fruiting and syrupy liqueur-like sugaring. Bittersweet damson plum, stewed prune, green raisin, dark cherry and fig illusions gain prominence over lightly creamed caramel malting. Wintry cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger seasoning softly fluctuates.
Winningly peculiar limited ’13/’14 release spreads sweet mango juice above and beyond candi-sugared orange, pineapple, peach, melon, kiwi, lychee and guava paradise. But it’s the hefty halapeno burn that’ll test one’s tolerance. Minor cayenne-chili peppering contrasts honeyed Graham Cracker spine.
