Trusty beige-headed amber-browned lambic (blended with top-fermented wheat ale) hides vinous grape-soured champagne waft and oaken cherry tartness under hop-spiced carbolic fluff. Oak-dried red wine illusion and acetous cider tinge weakened by watery texture. Compared to best Belgian offerings, a tad predictable by declining sweet-fruited finish.
Monthly Archives: January 2009
BOOM CZECH PORTER
Sweet sticky Baltic porter may be better defined as a pruned barleywine. Its cognac nose affects exhaustive Kahlua, malt liqueur, and chocolate éclair peculiarities, but loses full-bodied luster by the less-than-creamy lactose finish. Fine as dessert, though too busy and overbearing with food. Also known as Pardubice Porter.
BOOM CZECH LAGER
Unctuous sugar malt sweetness ruins front-loaded corn syrupy pale-honeyed creaminess as corresponding Scotch swerve and cocoa smidgen soften mild alcohol-stricken finish. Lack of cereal grain depth by third passing ultimately hurts chances. Also known as Pernstejn Lager.
BOHEMIA BRAND PILSNER
Unlike typical Mexican bantams, lacks hop agitation, blue agave spicing, and tequila hint. Bittersweet barleymalts crest below surface and smoked wood nose sadly fades into oblivion. Light and easy, yes, but unassuming and redundant.
BOHANNON NUT BROWN ALE
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.
(BOHANNON) MARKET STREET PILSNER DRAFT
Fine straw-hued pils counters up-front grassy hay leathering and mineral-grained earthiness with soft herbal hop quilt. But incidental toasted wheat sweetness fades in yeast-soured distance. Brewery defunct: 2006.
BOGEMIA PALE LAGER
Mundane malt liquor swill with offensive grain alcohol mandate, funky cider pungency, and sordid grain slunk nearly salvaged by sticky corn syrupy malts. Sagging rice base and oily nature diminish tertiary ester-y grape souring. Soapy finish fades quickly.
(BOELENS) BIEKEN HONEY ALE
A bit unassuming and lighter than Belgian strong ale category would suggest, lacking anticipated honey theme and leaving tons of brown sediment across bottom. Candi-sugared honey-spiced malting fades away as musty grape ester souring, distant orange peel bittering, nebulous cinnamon toasting, and teensy herbal nuance fight for space. Simply put, the lack of body and resolve debunk ill-gotten ‘strong’ tag.
BODDINGTON’S PUB ALE
Richly creamed pale malt froth and delicate white-headed eggshell foam nearly disguise heavy yeast sinew of straw-yellowed moderation(further softened by saltwater flow). Mild hop bitterness and lagging nut roast center elegant nitrogen-aided canned draught. Biscuit-y backdrop locates baked bread, buttered roll, and marble rye nuances.
BOCHKAREV EXTRA LAGER
Way too cloy and harsh with rugged corn sugar flow not unlike stank-y American malt liquors. Fizzy caramel-hop tease and heady 8% alcohol strength are only saving grace.
BOAKS TWO BLIND MONKS ALE
Resilient ruby amber Belgian-styled dubbel amps up burgundy-barleywine essence with candi-sugared cocoa-caramel malting, sharply spiced prune-fig thrust, chocolate-covered raisin transience, pureed cherry tease, and tertiary blackberry bramble. Curtailed port-rosé illusions come and go. Earthy peat bottom secures frangible smoky wisp. Brewery defunct: 2016.
BOAKS MONSTER MASH IMPERIAL STOUT
Excellent Russian Imperial contract brewed by High Point Brewery (makers of fine Ramstein wheat beers) holds its own against heavy competition. Persistent dried-fruited roasted chocolate malts gain brown-sugared maple molasses sweetness that envelops sticky anise, chocolate liqueur, chicory coffee, vanilla bean and clove illusions. Minor burnt oak dryness evens out thick-bodied ebony-hued stout. Brewery defunct: 2016.