Monthly Archives: January 2009

BROOKLYN WINTER ALE (2008)

Nebulous wintry retreat places thin metallic sheen above reticent brown sugared spices, slick crystal-caramel malting, and chalky cherry-raisin-fig wisp. Vegetal astringency saps tertiary tobacco, walnut, and Brazil nut illusions. Similarly bland 2010 version layered dried-out orange rind sourness above phenol cinnamon-coriander-nutmeg coarseness, abrupt brown-sugared Blackstrap molasses acridity, and mild chestnut-almond-hazelnut whim.

BROOKLYN SAISON

Summery yellow-hazed Belgian-styled witbier juxtaposes wafting banana-grapefruit-apricot esters and prickly-hopped sunny lemon frontage against bubblegum center. Eventually, green apple souring picks up white-peppered coriander-honeysuckle illusions impaired by slightly acidic maize finish.

(BROOKLYN) POST ROAD PUMPKIN ALE

Bettering original Catamount Brewery recipe, Brooklyn’s festive version hoists dominant spicy pumpkin pie theme. Brown sugared honey malts and gingerbread-sweetened coriander-nutmeg-cinnamon illusions counter salty black-peppered hop bittering and alcohol-burned metallic shard for rounded mouthfeel. Auxiliary vegetal astringency promotes earthen carrot, beet, and cabbage nuances at rose-watered Graham cracker backend of gourd-flaunted full body. Fussier, creamier, and more robust than increasingly stiff autumnal competition.

BROOKLYN PILSNER

Astoundingly robust German-styled pilsner integrates dried chaffed wheat parch, cereal grain sweetness, and delicate citrus tingle with lively hop bitterness. Subdued barleymalt serenity edged out by musty orange peel luster and mild grapefruit twinge at spongy finish, completing this rather complex well-carbonated brew. Brooklyn Brewery remains a vastly underrated East Coast contender.