Complacent moderation (formerly Heavy Seas Marzen) lacks focus and gets washed-out. Buttered biscuit-like Vienna malting, phenol-spiced lemony orange nip and toasted white bread spine stay thin. Cardboard-y caramelization needs sugary boost.
Monthly Archives: April 2013
GREEN FLASH EAST VILLAGE PILSNER
Sessionable Czech pils (a.k.a. Fizzy Yellow Beer) offers gruff mineral graining and raw-honeyed wheat husk to lemony wood-dried Saaz hops. Skunked yeast bittering scours rustic straw-hay-barnyard parch as herbal nuances wisp by the mild biscuit-y spine.
STONE ENJOY BY 04.01.13 IPA
On tap at Track 84, subtly complex fresh-hopped Imperial IPA made for consumption by April Fool’s Day 2013 (Batch #5). Strong piney citric vibe develops above resinous dry-wooded hops and pungent cannibis skunking. Grapefruit-orange peel bittering contrasts floral peach, pear, apple, watermelon, honeydew, pineapple, mango, guava and tangerine fruiting as well as brown-sugared caramel sweetness. Tingly carbolic prickle secures harvested hop freshness.
CHELSEA BOURBON BARREL BLACKHOLE STOUT
On tap at Pony Bar, vigorous bourbon-aged stout carries forth with luscious oats-charred coffee bean bittering contrasting buttery oaken vanilla serenity and chewy black chocolate creaming. Toffee, coconut and hazelnut illusions seep inside the caressive mocha blend. Black cherry hints waver below the dry bourbon wining.
GOOSE ISLAND NAUGHTY GOOSE AMERICAN BROWN ALE
Distinguished English Brown Ale knockoff retains rich molasses-sugared creaminess and milky brown chocolate sweetness, contrasting the ashen oats-charred nut roast to its caramel nougat center. Peated rye malting deepens hazelnut coffee nuances as well as tertiary pecan, almond and peanut clusters. Chewy dark chocolate toffee reminder enhances nutty mocha finish.
GOOSE ISLAND BOURBON COUNTY BRAND COFFEE STOUT
On tap at Pony Bar, terrific easy drinkin’ full body allows dark chocolate, dry bourbon and frothy espresso to register near the same high plain as the black coffee overtones. Tasting a bit like Madagascar coffee, its Intelligentia La Tortuga beans truly are heavenly. Fudgy molasses-sugared chocolate caking sweetens the sensationally serene java bittering and sedate fusel alcohol burn. Tertiary toasted coconut, mocha latte, bourbon vanilla and bruised black cherry illusions round out the rich mocha prevalence.
LAKEFRONT FIXED GEAR RED ALE
Radiant stylistic treasure goes beyond placid red ale boundaries. Piney India Pale Ale-like fruit spicing deepens penetrative dry hop plain. Bitter grapefruit peel overtones and sappy pine resin contrast candied orange-pineapple sweetness above sugary caramel malts. Floral highlights brighten the citric enclave.
GOOSE ISLAND IMPERIAL IPA (2013)
On tap at Julian’s Restaurant, glorious draught-only 2013 version (with 9% alcohol) brings bright citric spicing to brisk white-peppered hop bite and sugary caramel malting. Sharply pine-needled ruby red grapefruit bittering contrasts sunshiny tropicalia (lemony orange, pineapple, mango, papaya and tangerine illusions) as well as ripe red apple, brown pear and white apricot pleasantries.
SAMUEL SMITH ORGANIC CHOCOLATE STOUT
Luxuriously sweet dessert beer perfect for chocolate lovers everywhere. Fudgy maple-sugared creaminess prevails over smooth well-watered medium body to its chewy caramel nougat center. Along the way, cocoa-buttered brown chocolate, creme brulee, coconut, toffee, Kahlua, vanilla, chocolate bourbon truffle, chocolate rum cake, chocolate liqueur and marshmallow illusions contrast less prominent Baker’s chocolate and cacao nibs astringency. Raspberry-pureed cherry cordial nuances add further depth. Try in lieu of Milk Duds. Minor mocha dilution at busy finish not withstanding, this here’s one damn good sweet stout.
OMNIPOLLO LEON
Interestingly fulsome Belgian pale ale brings bulging white-wined champagne yeast to herbaceous white-peppered citrus luster. Floral lemon zest brightens orange-peeled ruby red grapefruit, yellow grape and pineapple fruiting above sugary crystal-malted baguette bottom. Pungent barnyard-wafted Belgian yeast funk picks up salty mineral-grained earthiness and light chamomile tea nuance. Sour lemon-candied finish latently puckers crisp amber-hazed medium body.
BIG MUDDY GALAXY INDIA PALE ALE
Taking the middle-of-the-road approach, soft-focus IPA stays more tropical fruited than hop embittered. Sweetly spiced pineapple, orange, cantaloupe, melon, mango and green anjou pear fruiting brightens mild lemony grapefruit tartness and piney cedar-spruce resin.
BIG MUDDY VANILLA STOUT
Creamy Madagascar vanilla sugaring drapes rich milk chocolate center. Coffee bean, chalky cocoa, Baker’s chocolate, coconut and cola nut illusions get dessicated by moderate oats-charred bittering. Resinous hop astringency contrasts mocha-sweetened vanilla theme well.
