Whimsical medium-full-bodied porter (in a can) brings lightly creamed Nescafe instant coffee powdering to roasted Ethiopian coffee core, picking up mild saline blood smudge beneath oily hop resins. Heavily caffeinated cold-press coffee influence overwhelms subtle black chocolate, charred walnut, espresso, cocoa, blueberry and blackberry illusions.
“Egregious” 2015 blend sequesters Stone’s Arrogant Bastard (7%ABV), Double Bastard (11%) and Oaked Arrogant Bastard in Kentucky bourbon barrels while adding serrano chili peppering for moderate jalapeno-like heat. Subtle bourbon influence picks up dry peat whiskey licks over light wood char. As peppery heat subsides, dark chocolate malts surge. But busy elixir lacks sweetness for contrast and needs firmer direction at murky finish.
Abstruse soured brown ale (a.k.a. Flanders oud bruin) brings minimal buttered rum influence to oaken vanilla, raw molasses and vinous green grape tartness. Acidulated malt pucker and wispy vermouth hint deepen overall sourness.
Despite all its smug ‘Bad Mother’ braggadocio, even-keeled medium-bodied oyster stout stays stylistically reserved. Briny oyster-shelled adjunct creates creamy bed for roasted brown chocolate and burnt caramel malts. Molasses-sugared oats pick up oak-smoked tangent in the distance.
On tap at Julian’s, crisply clean medium body places yellow grapefruit spicing atop piney Simcoe-Chinook-Columbus hop resin and biscuity rye-toasted spine. Ancillary lemon zest, navel orange, tangerine, mango and pineapple illusions provide delightful accessory.
Syrupy fruit cocktail with serious green coffee bean overtones and just enough chili peppering to not be intrusive. Orange-peeled coriander adjunct stands firm as juicy honey-malted pineapple, peach, honeydew, cantaloupe, mango and nectarine tang gains intensity (alongside persistent sweet banana whim) contrasting mild gin-like juniper bitterness and herbal lemongrass-peppercorn snips. Unroasted coffee bean influence stays just below the frolicking fondue-fruited finish of fascinating tripel/ stout hybrid.
On tap at Doherty’s, impressive java-powered version of Ithaca Flower Power utilizes nutty Tanzanian coffee to contrast orange-peeled tangerine, grapefruit, pineapple, mango, peach and melon tropicalia as well as dry pine bittering. By the finish, its IPA fruiting overpowers the casual coffee caress.
Fudgy Yoo-Hoo milk chocolate entry upends frothy nitro aridity to make more distinct imprint than advertised toasted coconut chips. Dark-roasted brown chocolate sweetness overruns mild coffee creaming, light vanilla sugaring, distant cocoa hint and wispy sarsaparilla nip to molasses-sapped oatmeal base.
Soft-toned India Pale Ale utilizes powdered lupulin for lightly spiced floral fruiting and mild spruce-needled pine resin. Lemony grapefruit, orange and pineapple tang sweetened by oats-sugared Maris Otter malts and pastry-caked cookie dough yeast. Ancillary peach, mango, tangerine, cantaloupe and melon illusions make cameos.
On tap at Doherty’s, moderate yellow grapefruit peel bittering and spruce-needled pine resin contrast sweet crystal malting. Tertiary blood orange, lemon, pineapple and peach illusions add zesty reminder.
Despicable drain pour feigns English IPA styling with dewy mildewed foliage, twiggy black tea dankness and musty lemon-dried musk, finishing unappealingly indistinct. Waxy crayon grouting leads to nastily elongated aspirin-like finish. Must be better on tap.
On tap at Doherty’s, sessionable citric-centered moderation retains easygoing appeal as yellow grapefruit spicing gains resinous pine lacquering. Brisk grapefruit peel and rind bittering picks up floral orange-pineapple-mango exchange.
