Hop-roasted brown chocolate frontage of robust full-bodied bitter leads molasses-sugared hazelnut procession atop sooty wood-burnt earthen peat bottom. Hints of cigar ash, tobacco leaf, loose twigs, and charred walnut lie in the balance.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: CIGAR CITY BREW. CO., TAMPA, FL.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
- 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: ARCADIA BREW. CO., BATTLE CREEK, MI.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Chocolate malts and powdered cocoa enchant ashy mocha frontage; settling into soured maple whim its lost walnut-hazelnut-almond astringency and oily diacetyl finish fail to properly punctuate. Further tasting revealed raisin-fig-date troika undermined by stove-burnt coffee sourness.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ASPEN MEADOW BEER CO., COLD SPRING, MN.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Chestnut-hued medium body gets early tamped down hop spicing, sweet malt sequel, maple molasses surge, and mellowed nut finish. Dim chocolate echo needs creamier chewiness.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: GEORGE BATEMAN & SON, LINCOLNSHIRE, ENGLAND
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Unusual combination of Band-Aid aroma, cotton-like foam, and judicious chocolate sweetness cannot make up for lackluster nuttiness. Accommodating dough-like persistence and scarce wood tones keep this passive watered down moderation interesting.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BLACK OAK BREW. CO., ONTARIO, CANADA
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Dry roasted chocolate splurge levels off for dirty-grained earthy bitterness as hazelnut, cola nut, butternut, and walnut illusions float around dulled lactose continuance. Creaminess lacks resilience while undesired diacetyl astringency swells.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BLUE MOON BREWERY, DENVER, CO.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Slim maple palate sustains lackluster foamy-headed dark amber. Lighter and less efficient than stiff stylistic competition, this watery brew would benefit greatly from increased up-front nuttiness and better overall distinction.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BOHANNON BREW. CO., NASHVILLE, TN.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Chestnut-hued ale matches sedate sour nuttiness to burnt coffee template, but astringent acidity knocks back caramel-cocoa influence and tamped-down hop sop. Brewery defunct: 2006.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: CAROLINA BEER CO., MOORESVILLE, N.C.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Iced coffee affirmation deepens ashy mocha dryness, prickly burnt hop bitterness, dry wood tone, and smoked spicing. Cereal grains sweeten oily macadamia-hazelnut-walnut finish of complacent chestnut-hued fare.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: CLIMAX BREW. CO., ROSELLE PARK, N.J.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Swampy mocha-malt scented foamy tan-headed medium body invites roasted barley, bitter hops, creamy malts, and sweet yeast to provide up-front assertion. Lacks firm, full-bodied richness and sturdy finish of best nut browns, but mild silken nature perfect as crossover fare for pilsner-lager fans.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: EDENTON BREW. CO., RALEIGH, N.C.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Sweet mocha-cocoa-tobacco confluence dampened by phenol fizz, compromising nuttiness as sugary malts get soapy.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: GOOSE ISLAND BEER CO., CHICAGO, IL.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Yummy milk chocolate creaminess, caramel nougat resilience, and toasted barley richness perfectly counter bitter hop fizz. Buttery serendipity and subtle spicing add relaxing backdrop to shrewdly nutty medium-bodied champion.