On tap at Ambulance, cherry-dried version of Imperial Biscotti lacks originals’ distinction as dark-roasted black chocolate and cacao nibs bittering overrun any coffee-dipped almond biscotti niceties or oaken vanilla nuances. Blood-like saline acridity grafts desiccated cherry-soured Baker’s chocolate finish.
Staggeringly successful Stone series of hop-derived India Pale Ales culminates in full-bodied Christmas ’15 model (utilizing twelve lupulin varieties just for fun). Juicy ruby red grapefruit tang and bright navel orange briskness navigate thru light resinous pine bittering. Zesty citrus appeal picks up whiskey tinge as sparkly mango, peach, cantaloupe, nectar and apple subsidy further enlivens well-designed thirst quencher.
Ambitious trend towards enticingly ‘intense’ coffee-infused India Pale Ales continues with aggressive hop-forward full body from the good Captain. Stumptown cold brewed java brings surging green bean coffee bittering to less prominent fondue fruiting and sedate pine-hopped nuttiness. Delightful roasted coffee finish picks up tangy grapefruit, peach, tangerine and clementine illusions as well as mild peppery sensation.
On tap at Ambulance, amiable medium-bodied collaboration with local Cali brewer, Alpine, surges forth with pink and yellow grapefruit tang as well as lemon-pitted navel orange dryness. Pronounced Citra hop briskness outpaces piney Simcoe and tropical Mosaic hop influence as juicy mango, peach and pineapple undertones reinforce floral-bound grapefruit prominence.
On tap at Ambulance, easygoing Imperial IPA retains crisp citric intrigue as grapefruit, orange, tangerine and clementine overtones pick up sugar-spiced pale malting and pine-needled tingle to contrast astringent herbal hop splotch.
Consistent dark-roasted full body offers assertive black-malted dark chocolate fudging, coffee-beaned cocoa bittering and tarry hop char to brown-sugared molasses oatmeal base. Mighty mocha insurgence picks up tertiary black cherry, blackberry and black licorice illusions over time.
Soft-toned tropical fruiting encounters cookie dough malts and spiced caramel sweetness before harsh alcohol ethers detract from easygoing nature of Northwest-styled India Pale Ale in the lingered aftertaste. Red ruby grapefruit, Valencia orange, peach, pineapple, nectarine and mango tang provides undeniable fruit splendor over pleasant resinous-pined grassy hop setting.
Musty earthen dankness downplays floral-dusted stone fruiting, mildly pine-hopped citric smudge and light molasses rye breading as dark-roasted caramel malt continuance slowly subsides. Tart apple-cherry-pear musk and recessive orange-pineapple-grapefruit drizzle lightly penetrate the surface.
Distinct Black Ale (in a can) utilizes freshly ground coffee steeped in cold water to increase dark-roasted black chocolate nuttiness. Sweet cold-pressed ice coffee affluence picks up distant cream-sugared fudging, boldly contrasting oily-hopped black coffee spell and cola-nutty earthen char.
Bold winter-seasoned India Pale Ale (in a can) offers moderate piney grapefruit bittering and sweet orange juicing to husky oats-dried rye malting. Sweet rye toasting deepens citric spicing at finish, picking up light pine nut smidge along the way.
Uniquely designed holiday ale brings honey and ginger root adjuncts to spruce-tipped hop freshener, toasted caramel malting and dank cellar musk. Sweet orange peel briskness emerges alongside tertiary black cherry, raisin and fig illusions as well as wintry cinnamon-clove-nutmeg adjuncts at the busy eucalyptus-honeyed citrus finish.
Incongruent ‘Imperial Mexican lager’ brings raw-honeyed orange flowering to pastry-like buckwheat malting and complacent floral-citric Amarillo hops. Bordering on cloy due to its cloying sorghum, aspartame and butternut nuances. Subtle lemony orange tartness seems lost.
