Fluffy white head and pale gold body prove as dull as soured malt liquor nature. Barest bruised orange bittering cannot overcome phenol carbonated fizz; becomes cabbage-like when warmed.
All posts by John Fortunato
MARSTON’S PEDIGREE BITTER
Nebulous amber-hued yeast-thickened bitter comes bottled in burly wide-bodied pint glass. Unfortunately, it’s not as rich or flavorful as better English bitters and could use a more complete resinous-hopped nuttiness and deeper caramel malt finish.
MARSTON’S OYSTER STOUT
Nowhere near as strong or complex as Guinness Stout, yet well-integrated, silky, ‘dark, rich and smooth.’ Copious hop-roasted coffee bitterness and friendly black licorice dab linger to milky mocha finish. Light watery texture perfect as fine crossover fodder for softer palates.
MARSTON’S ALBION PORTER
Unassuming pint-size porter finally gains intensity at its lightly malted caramel finish. Lacking distinct mocha and chocolate malt character most heavy porters boast, but OK as crossover for lighter drinkers.
MARITIME PACIFIC NIGHTWATCH DARK ALE
Dry oaken white grape waft fills out front end of turbid prune-hued amber ale. Perfumed fig-plum tartness, green raisin prop, and faint barleywine-bourbon remnant found in recessive smoked peat backdrop. Peppery hop fizz burdens chocolate-coated pecan-almond scamper.
MARITIME PACIFIC FLAGSHIP RED ALE
Dry compost-wafted whiskey malts muddle sour orange fruiting, losing grapefruit rind bittering to skimpy candi-sugared butternut scamper. Dusted coffee-mocha acridity and earthen peat nuance fall short.
MARIN SAN QUENTIN’S BREAKOUT STOUT
Versatile black-hued tan-headed lactose stout with whipped cream-topped chocolate malt palate, rich wood burnt maple creaminess, roasted nut insurgence, and vanilla-fig-cherry dalliance subtly softened by artisian water crispness. By mid-palate, flaked oats juxtapose prudent coffee bean sourness, enhancing lingering mocha finish significantly. Beautiful.
MARIN RASPBERRY TRAIL ALE
Sharp hop-fizzed ale flawed by over-carbonation and acidic nature. Pour slowly to avoid fluffy white head overload so as it settles the off-dry raspberry caress seeps forward better and pre-empts the waning grain-malt mesh. Mistakenly substitutes soft and sudsy for rich and creamy, retaining ample aromatic raspberry tartness.
MARIN OLD DIPSEA BARLEYWINE
Heavy whiskey malt swagger intensifies candied butterscotch, caramel, and chocolate charm. In the deep recesses, sugared raisin, apple resin, and tangy pineapple offer solid support.
MARIN MT. TAM PALE ALE
Wonderful aromatic malt sweetness, dry pumpernickel-rye breading, and juicy pink grapefruit tang drape organic mineral-grained infusion. Prickly Cascade hop fizz gains assertiveness. Nothing complicated or fancy, just a subtly rewarding medium body.
(MARGARITA) LAND SHARK LAGER
Kitsch-y singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett supposedly owns this Sunshine State brewery. Thin pale-bodied Caribbean-styled lightweight merges salty oceanic whim with lemony hop pep. But cloying malts and arid grains allow phenol seltzer blandness to infiltrate corn oiled base. Worse than Corona.
