Monthly Archives: April 2014

THE DOG & CASK

BEER PUB
  

Rochelle Park, New Jersey

An intimate gastropub replacing the ever-popular Bistro 55 during winter ’13, THE DOG & CASK provides Route 17’s busy Bergen County thoroughfare with its first serious beer-centric locale. Set inside a tan chalet-styled edifice, its high-ceiling interior features vintage reclaimed wood furnishings, a centralized yellow-wooded 12-stool bar, private left side lounge and right side dining room (with lodge-styled hearth). Pristine glass shelving, 6 TV’s and a blackboard beer list consume the pristine bar.      

 

Ambitious gourmet food, homemade desserts, fine wines and high-end liquors complement the revolving 16-tap/ 2-cask beer lineup (and more predictable 20-plus bottled fare). Sure the portions ain’t large, but each menu item is a culinary delight prepared by experienced chef, Jason  Ramos. Alongside four fine ten-ounce beers, my wife and I shared appetizing mason-jarred seasoned pickles (dill-pickled sourdough, carrot, onions and anchovies) as well as crostini-breaded Creamy Mozzarella (with fennel-jammed black olive oiling). The dinner selections looked equally as mouth-watering.

During our 2-hour April ’14 stopover, I quaffed two mocha-drenched dark ales, one sour-fruited saison and one amber lager. The latter brew, sessionable Neshaminy Creek Churchville Lager, brought pale-malted grassy hops to lemon-rotted raw honey and went well with our appetizers. Then, Sixpoint Seison brought orange-soured lemon-grapefruit rot to Belgian saison yeast and bold American hop pining.

As for the after-dinner elixirs, busy He’brew Death Of A Contract Brewer Black Ale contrasted stylish dark chocolate-coffee bluster with piney hop-charred grapefruit and pineapple tartness. Better still, exquisite River Horse Coffee Oatmeal Stout flawlessly loaded roasted coffee bean goodness all over sugary chocolate malts and clean-watered freshness. (Full reviews at Beer Index).

A relaxing upscale venue perfect for business meetings, local family functions and craft beer enthusiasts, The Dog & Cask sticks out like a sore thumb amongst its corporate-industrial suburban setting.

www.thedogandcask.com

RIVER HORSE COFFEE OATMEAL STOUT

Beers A-Z

On tap at Dog & Cask, peerless java stout features domineering Guatemalan coffee bean roast that sweetens over time. Smooth soft-watered crisping provides crystalline backdrop for terrific milk-sugared coffee theme. Oats-charred molasses tease and mild dark chocolate snip found in deep recess. Hazelnut coffee, cafe au lait, caffe latte and espresso illusions deepen this unearthly delight.

SIXPOINT SEISON

Beers A-Z

On tap at Dog & Cask, hybridized draft-only “urban farmhouse ale” burrows funky-fruited Belgian saison yeast into bold Americanized piney hop bittering. Softly creamed crystal malts contrast lemon-rotted orange souring and grapefruit-peeled tartness. In the backdrop, musty herbal nuances dance across earthen amber grains, providing ample support for the dry honey-spiced citrus finish.

Six Point Seison Sixtel Keg 5.16 Gal | NYC Kegs

WEYERBACHER BOOTES STRONG ALE

Beers A-Z

Unspecific ruby-browned limited edition (2014) American strong ale never truly suffices, defying easy categorizing by mismanaging enormous 100 IBU hop char. Mish-mashed black chocolate roast, black-breaded pumpernickel bittering and ashen nuttiness lose firm footing as distant fig-date-pecan conflux picks up tobacco-dried crisping. Simply imprecise.

 

HARPOON BOSTON IRISH STOUT

Beers A-Z

On tap at Andy’s Corner Bar, easygoing nitro-based dry stout retains mild eggshell-headed creaming and soft-toned mocha bittering. Delicately dark-roasted black patent malting and relegated toasted hop char pick up distant roasted nuttiness. Dark chocolate, black coffee and espresso notes linger. Despite commonplace comparisons, it’s not nearly as flavorful as Guinness Extra Stout.

SAMUEL ADAMS REBEL IPA

Beers A-Z

Enticingly sessionable West Coast-styled IPA stays perfectly centrist. Lemony orange-peeled bittering spiking subtle piney hop resin preludes sweet honey-spiced fruiting. Tangy peach, pineapple, apple and red grape tones gain momentum, limiting its minor astringent alcohol burn. In the bottle, vibrant yellow grapefruit, candied red apple, sweet orange peel, peach, mango and pineapple tang overlaid sugary caramel malting. Spruce and pine nuances simmer beneath.

GOOSE ISLAND SIXTH DAY FESTIVE BROWN ALE

Beers A-Z

Though its brown ale styling may be a misnomer, pleasantly crystalline holiday seasonal (2014) wisely keeps it simple. Toasted almond, roasted chestnut and walnut-shelled pecan nuttiness fleetingly affects delicately wintry nutmeg-cinnamon spicing and red-fruited caramel malting. Subtle cherry, grape, peach and apple illusions forge forth above ashen nuttiness and soft spruce salience. Delicate hop zip adds mild finishing astringency.