Lackluster copper-hazed Enlgish-styled India Pale Ale gets soapy. Modest hop spicing and mild grapefruit-melon-pear fruitiness develop an unappealing off dry astringency its raw-honeyed barley-wheat spine can’t hide.
Monthly Archives: January 2009
EEL RIVER EXTRA PALE ALE
Droll puffy white-headed pale body must be poured slowly since high carbonation overwhelms. Inconsequential phenolic warble squanders lemony hop spritz lost amongst dim banana-pineapple conflux bedecking slick wheat backbone.
EEL RIVER CERTIFIED ORGANIC PORTER
Effusive brown-bodied ruby-tinged porter benefits greatly from hop-charred French coffee roast that overrides lactic mocha-chalked maple sapping and wood-kilned charcoal nuttiness. Frothy cocoa-powdered black chocolate subsidy and sugared vanilla wisp creep through ashen peanut-shelled walnut-chestnut-hazelnut conflux. Clean spring-watered crispness rises above slight astringency. At sturdy finish, burnt coffee souring and lingered anise bittering counter chocolate milkshake-like sweetness. An approachable crossover for dark lager fans.
EEL RIVER CALIFORNIA BLONDE ALE (CERTIFIED ORGANIC)
Floral dandelion-lavender-sunflower waft descends to musty earthen lemongrass dankness, bringing mildewed distraction to perfume-y citric-hopped rigidity. Weary barley-oats graining becomes diacetyl.
EEL RIVER AMBER ALE (CERTIFIED ORGANIC)
Damn! The entire ‘organic’ revolution has thus far been plagued by hop acridity and malt blandness. Moderate metallic astringency undermines faint orange-tangerine tartness and barren barley-toasted caramel center of dull drear.
(EDENTON) UNCLE NUT’S NUT BROWN ALE
Sweet mocha-cocoa-tobacco confluence dampened by phenol fizz, compromising nuttiness as sugary malts get soapy. Brewery defunct: 2006.
(EDENTON) KING DAVID’S RED ALE
Lively rust-copper Irish-styled ale contrasts spicy hop bitterness with cracked wheat, caramel malts, and honeyed cornmeal for medium-bodied joyance. Brewery defunct: 2006.
(EDENTON) HORNIBLOW’S TAVERN AMERICAN ALE
Coppery ale retains bittersweet malting, sour citric tartness, and grassy hop drynesss to rye finish as unexpected charcoal illusion thickens. Brewery defunct: 2006.
(EDENTON) HELLES ANGEL PALE GOLDEN LAGER
Butterscotch-glowed Munich-styled lager hides biscuit-y wheat nuance and orange-mango fruitiness beneath high carbonation. Sharp hop bitterness encounters candied medicinal mildness at moderate grain finish. Brewery defunct: 2006.
EDELWEISS KRISTALLKLAR WEIZENBIER
Sweet cocoa influence consumes burnt caramel and smoked barleymalts of moderately creamy fluffy white-headed medium body. Delicate clove spicing counteracts ‘dark’ beer tendencies such as ripe raisin interlude and milky texture. Possibly too ambiguous for wheat beer aficionados.
EDELWEISS HEFETRUB WEISBIER
Light amber-hued white fluffy-headed wheat brew with watery up-front flow gains momentum mid-palate when subtle barley, unspecific spices, and aromatic floral hops settle in. Yet it’s too polite to be a serious contender.
EDELWEISS DUNKEL WEISSBIER
Sturdy chartreuse-bronzed dark wheat beer allows sour yeast and subtle grains to impede soft hop-fizzed citric-soured banana-clove surface. Delicate barley-roasted burnt caramel pleasantry daubs dried prune overtures and soft floral undertones, reaching buttery sourdough finish. Enjoyable, but not essential.