Well balanced copper-hazed delight with tingly hop-spiced bittering countering barley-roasted caramel malting and candied apple sweetness. By midst, cinnamon-baked apple influence overrides peach-pear-orange fruiting as well as cocoa, tea, and honeysuckle illusions.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: NEW OLD LOMPOC BREWERY, PORTLAND, OR.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: HOPPIN’ FROG BREW. CO., AKRON, OH.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Likable brown-sugared caramel-malted butterscotch sweetness and cotton-candied red apple follow-up reach tangy orange-tangerine theme that brightens zesty medium body. Toasted almond illusion trails peat-y rye spine.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: MURPHY BREWING, CORK, IRELAND
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Sampled from breweries in Ireland and Holland without finding severe disparity (though Heineken’s version exudes firmer body), this thin eggshell-headed malt-scented blue collar fodder has overly familiar dry barley inefficiency and barest wood tones leading to mildly soured citric finish. Needs bitterer hop spice.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: MATT BREWING, UTICA, N.Y.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Aromatic caramel-toffee sweetness disrupted by faded floral hop astringency that delicately fizzles out. Abbreviated toasted graining, muted mocha wisp, and blah orange-apple-peach tang barely inform ill-defined metallic finish.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: OTRO MUNDO BREWING, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Sweet cereal-grained marzipan-caramel confluence seduces tangy cherry-apple-orange muting of clear amber moderation. But wet-papered cardboard-like wheat backbone crumbles.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BRASSERIE ABBAYE DES ROCS, MONTIGNIES-SUR-ROC, BELGIUM
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Heavily carbonated rust-toned beige-headed ale brings sweet barleywine spirit to creamy malt extract and rich milky sinew, preserving multi-dimensional vibrancy. Clove spicing, aromatic perfumed yeast, and delicate burgundy finish compare favorably to dark German Wheat Ales.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ABITA BREW. CO., NEW ORLEANS, LA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Pale, rust-hued, Band-aid scented ale gains bittersweet fruitiness as malted barley follow-through heightens. Artesian water allows for clean, crisp finish while slight nutmeg spiciness provides light holiday ale essence.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ALASKAN BREWING, JUNEAU, ALASKA
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Billowy beige-headed fruit-scented auburn Alaskan incisively hopped and sharply grained reminiscent of mildly bitter red ale. Deceivingly strong, despite watery auspices, gaining creamy malt richness and slim orange tang mid-palate.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ALPINE BEER CO., ALPINE, CA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Brown sugared rye malts and honeyed tea illusions adorn auburn-hued medium body to earthen peat bottom. Roasted nut midst coarsens dry orange, cherry, and red apple tuft as well as sweet tobacco hint.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ASPEN MEADOW BEER CO., COLD SPRING, MN.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Dark amber hue opposes weakly spiced fizz-hop lightness to malt-sweetened center, becoming oily by unbalanced fruit-less finish.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ATLANTIC BREW. CO., BAR HARBOR/ PORTLAND, ME.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Light-bodied chestnut-hued brown ale brings candied sugar malt waft to toasted barley efficiency, nutty chocolate fizz, and raisin-date sweetness juxtaposing roasted coffee signature. Tamped down hop dryness secures earthy wheat backbone but phenol astringency shrivels mocha finish.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BARREL HOUSE BREWERY, CINCINNATI, OH.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Eye-squinting oaken cherry tartness and tangy orange pith souring give ultra-dry copper-hazed Flemish-like red ale blunt acidity beleaguering ester-y white grape parch, green apple acridity, and dehydrated fig recess. Funky earthen grains secure soft-tongued grassy-hopped citron prickle.