Uncompromising German-styled brown ale with deep pruned amber tone matching spice-hopped winter appeal with receptive chocolate-mocha overture. Protruding spruce-tipped wild berry and soured tangerine signifiers embitter sun-dried raisin finish reminiscent of lighter barleywine.
All posts by John Fortunato
MC MULLEN’S OATMEAL ALE
Merely duplicating other British brewers’ weaker attempts, bland ale lacks distinct oatmeal persistence, and strangely, could be better defined as a dark lager thanks to fizzy hop bitterness tucking away cracked barley sweetness and slackened mocha-chocolate influence. Rich toasted graining saves this from complete mediocrity.
MC MULLEN’S ANNIVERSARY PORTER
Thick blackened malts (amber, chocolate, pale, and crystal) combine with generous hop fusion and dirty grain bracket for unusual non-traditional porter appeal. Differs from competition since coffee-mocha exchange resides in backdrop instead of dominating, but paltry roasted finish needs better distinction.
MC MULLEN’S AK ORIGINAL BITTER
Sharply carbonated traditional English ale juxtaposes bitter hops with creamy caramel and sweet whiskey. Mild barley-wheat finish loses spunk to tinny aftertaste.
MC EWAN’S SCOTCH ALE
Top notch 8% alcohol-fueled russet Scotch ale with soft eggshell head connects dried raisin and sour prune to extremely addicting honeyed butterscotch sweetness. Fluctuating black cherry-burgundy hints strengthen chewy yeast resin of creamy slow sipper, gaining piney, floral, and cola nut accents at supple finish. Perfect for dessert.
MC EWAN’S INDIA PALE ALE
Water-softened English-styled IPA lacks expected rich malt assertion. Septic blandness (instead of lusty blood-like or wood burnt tenor) extinguishes mild prune, nut, and orange notes. Bitter hop moderation lost amongst charcoal-burnt wood tone. Only when warmed does any chocolate show through.
(MCAUSLAN) ST. AMBROISE PALE ALE
Modest coppery pale body with floral nose and lively carbonation allows toasted honey malts to embrace hop-embittered citric-berry nuances. Green raisin, apricot, and plum accents hide beneath slight oxidation.
(MCAUSLAN) ST. AMBROISE OATMEAL STOUT
Lavish oatmeal cookie palate receives rich barley-roasted chocolate malting, dry coffee-burnt bitterness, and mild maple nuttiness. As bottle empties, rounded stout gains fudge-y creaminess. Uncommonly robust Canadian thirst quencher compares favorably to almighty Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout and Ipswich Oatmeal Stout.
(MCAUSLAN) ST. AMBROISE APRICOT WHEAT ALE
Flickered syrupy apricot dab affects lively carbonated bubbly-headed butterscotch-hued fruit ale. Cereal-grained cream-corned apricot sweetness lacquers floral-dried perfume hops. Subsidiary cranberry-puckered cherry, banana, peach and tangerine tartness aids candied apricot-pureed sugaring to honeyed wheat bed.
MASH HOUSE RAVISHING RED ALE
Dry Irish-styled ale misnomer discounts peculiar sour cherry-peach pucker and orange blossom-grapefruit tartness. Overt fizz knocks back any sweet ‘red ale’ semblance as acridity builds, negatively affecting overall zest.
MARTHA’S VINEYARD PUB DRAUGHT ALE
Dry barleywine essence enhanced by sweet mocha-spiced Scotch malts. Reminiscent of neighboring Ipswich Brewery (but with less yeast prominence). Multi-dimensional candy-like pleasantry fades quickly, but barley roasted spine provides wonderful assist.
MARTHA’S VINEYARD OFFSHORE AMBER ALE
Tedious orange-soured honey nut-backed moderate body becomes acidic and lacks decent finish. Spiced nuttiness and herbal earthiness fail to overcome vegetal spell. Watery, ineffective, and insufficient.