Lusciously decadent mahogany-bronzed full body (with well disguised 10.7% ABV) retains creamy Papua New Guinea vanilla bean splendor as well as chewy molasses-sapped brown chocolate sweetness, milk-sugared coffee bluster and sticky rum-sugared safeguard. Bourbon vanilla chocolate continuance gains bruised black cherry serenade, hazelnut-glazed chocolate caking and fudgy toffee snip to contrast oncoming ashen hop-charred nuttiness. Prestigious nightcap!
CANTON, MASSACHUSETTS
One of the premier New England beer spots, TRILLIUM BREWING COMPANY first operated only out of its original Congress Street location in South Boston. But it’s new 16.000 square-foot red-bricked facility 30 miles due southwest in Canton truly proves to be an absolute Beer Destination for any true ‘brewpie.’
When Trillium’s original flagship brewery opened in 2013 (with no tap room but bottles-growlers available), it immediately grew way beyond its Fort Point boundaries in Beantown.
Married founders JC and Esther Tetreault’s dream of developing sterling farmhouse-styles ales, microbe-cultured wild ales and other flagship or one-off varieties certainly came true as dedicated beer snobs keep gushing over their delicious suds. In their first two-and-a-half years, Trillium’s turned out over 125 beers. Some are ‘variations on core beers’ and many are ultra hazy, complex and highly expressive.
An illuminated metal Trillium sign welcomes patrons to the large draught room counter in the cement-floored stucco-walled office building in Canton. Barreled tables and minimalist art run throughout the rangy open space, leading to the slate-countered distribution center, where bottles, cans, growlers and shirts are sold and the efficient canning line jets back to the large brew tanks.
During my Friday afternoon jaunt to the Canton site in May ’17, I buy nine different canned ales (reviewed in Beer Index) while imbibing on the fabulous Coffee Porter – Nitro. Its velvety smooth texture, up-front coffee bean roast, creamy dark chocolate syruping and bitter cocoa powdering led the way above tarry oats-charred molasses sap. Mild bourbon, raspberry and cherry illusions added further depth.
Highly recommended.
www.trilliumbrewing.com
Superb flagship offering brings moderate piney fruited Galaxy hop bittering to the fore. Even richer, juicier and more complex than Trillium’s impressive IPA fleet, maintaining a cleanly smooth mouthfeel as its beautifully expressive orange-peeled grapefruit, mango, peach and pineapple tang picks up lemon-sugared melon, cantaloupe, tangerine and clementine subsidy above pasty dextrine-starched wheat malts. A veritable fruit salad.
Politely vinous white-wined Chardonnay adjunct affects tropical-fruited Citra-Galaxy hops. Yellow grapefruit pith bittering slides into zesty orange peel sweetness as grassy herbal musk and dry lime snip play backup alongside recessive mango, pineapple and peach illusions.
Summery dry-hopped medium-to-full body utilizes balanced blend of tropical fruit juicing to ride above moderately creamed sugar-spiced crystal malting, grassy hop astringency, wispy pine needling and sour lemongrass herbage. Sweet orange-peeled grapefruit, pineapple, tangerine, peach and mango tang stays brisk as lemony grape juicing teases the midst. Similarly styled to Trillium’s parade of IPA’s with subtle tweaking.
Bold medium-full body (with sly 7% ABV) brings tangy tropical fruiting to capacious sugar-spiced crystal malting, light piney hop bittering, dank floral tones and wheat flaked minerality. Mighty lemon zest, orange rind, pineapple, grapefruit, mango and tangerine kick retains juicy-fruited luster over earthen wood tones.
Audaciously bitterer dry-hopped version of Scaled regales sour lemon pith pungency with sweet orange-peeled mango tang, polite herbal hop musk and wafting floral aspect, retaining sinewy golden chartreuse haze. Sugared citrus tang gains zesty lemon tingle at the bright finish.
“Effervescent” hop-forward medium body offers dainty tropical-fruited tang to herbal lemon- dropped bittering and astringently grassy terrain. Understated Galaxy/ Nelson Sauvin hop combo scatters passionfruit, kiwi and papaya illusions as well as lightly candy-spiced peach, pineapple and grape wisps across the midst.
Ultimately more pungent, bitter and enjoyable than usual staid pale ale fare. Luxurious tropical fruiting lays atop floral-glazed sweetness and grassy hop astringency. Streamlined pineapple, peach, grapefruit, orange, tangerine and mango tang and sprucy pine tones brighten crystal malt backbone. Crisp celery and cucumber watering adds viable vegetal reminder.
Another perfectly rounded, stylishly robust and heavily hazed pale ale by Trillium. Vibrant fruitful force meets less intense grassy hop bittering, resinous pine reminder, dank herbal pungency and nifty floral notions. Zesty Citra-hopped pineapple, mango, lemon and orange illusions glisten.
Signature farmhouse ale utilizes dry Motueka hops to gain lime-dried lemon souring for herbal-spiced florality, mild black-peppered earthiness and grainy rye malting. Drifting barnyard acridity increases dryness as wavered coriander, chrysanthemum, lavender and thyme undertones scurry.
