Copper penny-hazed yellow-fruited ale gains terrific perfumed hop surge. Caramel malt sweetening complements loud citric finish. Crisp water lilt refreshes. On tap, woody-hopped cereal-grained fruit spicing increases lemony grapefruit bittering and buttery peach-apple-pear illusions.
All posts by John Fortunato
MAC TARNAHAN’S UNCLE OTTO’S WEISS BEER
Fizzy Munich-styled wheat beer lacks assertion as sour yeast and unripe banana counter sweet butterscotch beneath disturbing phenol enzymes.
MAC TARNAHAN’S THUNDERHEAD STOUT
Middling dry medium body lacks charisma, determination, and froth of robust category. Bittersweet cola nut, dank chocolate, and raw molasses lose potency by drab roasted coffee finish. Orange peel stint falters.
MAC TARNAHAN’S OREGON HONEY LAGER
Bland, acidic, straw-hued brew lacks head, body, and proper hop fizz. Stank-y malt aroma leads to stale bread mouthfeel, soured honey tone, and husked grain-fresh hay moderation.
MAC TARNAHAN’S HIGHLANDER PALE ALE
Soft water texture, bland seltzer fizz, muted quince-red grape seduction, and pleated orange peel bitterness inform busy, yet light-bodied, spice-hopped Belgian knockoff. Sweet cracked wheat finish accessible to sporty pilsner fans.
MAC TARNAHAN’S GRAN LUXE TRIPEL ALE
Keen sour chocolate nose perfectly complements butterscotch mouthfeel before dried prune, powdered cocoa, then transcending mint-y clove freshness, usurp slightly turbid yellow amber Belgian knockoff. Honeyed peach hints dig deep below surface, giving sedately floral finish a fruity sashay.
MAC TARNAHAN’S BLACKWATCH CREAM PORTER
Deep caramel chocolate richness, coffee ice cream influence, and smoked oak acridity provide unexpected dry stout appeal. Roasted hops embitter raisin-prune undertones, but slightest oiliness at mocha finish disrupts perfection.
MAC TARNAHAN’S AMBER ALE
Thick smoked chocolate nose, sweet mocha palate, and wintry cinnamon spice give malt-thickened dry-bodied rust-hued Scottish-style ale up-front vibrancy. By contrasting sharp grain bitterness against caramel creaminess, its Scotch finish compares favorably to heartier-than-amber ales.
MACCABEE PREMIUM LAGER
Scotch-licked grain-toasted honey-malted off-dry palate moderates mild hop fizz, settling on tongue ever so softly. Subtle roasted barley-wheat pleasantry washed-out by phenol metallic onslaught.
MACAU PILSNER
Impossibly simple yet gently effective Chinese pilsner never allows unduly skunked malt waft to prohibit crisp-watered lemony hop pep and cracked barleycorn nicety from reaching fizzy soft-toned nirvana. At finish, pearly-headed palest-bodied lightweight levels astringent corn trepidation with nice rice splice.
MAC ANDREW’S SCOTCH ALE
Pouring like an expensive champagne (and formerly brewed by Caledonian), tawny wheat-honeyed wee heavy coats the tongue with caramel-malted plum wine, barleywine, and bourbon boozing. Musty oaken vanilla and dry cherry illusions seep into leathery peat spine. An unsophisticated pleasure filling the middle ground between Samuel Smith IPA from Samuel Adams Scotch Ale.
(ALI’I) MACADAMIA NUT BROWN ALE
Hawaii’s original microbrewery makes this mighty fine macadamia nut flavored ale. Bitter nuttiness ascends just as fluffy carbonation and deep-grained caramel malting wane. Fruity notes furnish backdrop.