All posts by John Fortunato

WHITE BIRCH BREWING

September 14, 2022United States BrewpubsNASHUA NH, WHITE BIRCH BREWINGJohn Fortunato

Tasting Room - White Birch Brewing

NASHAU, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Going from a small June 2009 startup nanobrewery in nearby Hooksett to a 13,000 square-foot Industrial mall-bound behemoth by 2017, WHITE BIRCH BREWING enjoy pushing the envelope crafting a wide variety of sour ales alongside less daringly sophisticated stylistic fare.

Located in Nashua three miles northwest of downtown, White Birch’s elegant custom wood designed interior features a white-tiled bar, tabled side room with TV’s and far right brew tanks.

During my September ’22 Friday visit, I downed six rangy Berliner Weisses, a German-styled lager, a New England IPA and a Belgian stout.

Sessionable dry helles lager, Birch Lite, got things started with mildly musky raw grained minerality and lemony Noble hop herbage.

Briny lemon tartness, spritzy lime zesting and bubbly champagne fizz guided OG Berliner, lathering its lactic acidulated wheat base.

Limey watermelon rind souring and Jolly Rancher-candied tartness engaged Watermelon, sweetened beneath by a spicy Graham Cracker base.

Candied tangerine saltiness defined Tangerine, leaving mild clementine, mandarin orange and tangelo illusions in its wake.

Lemony blueberry-pureed pomegranate dryness led The BOM, a lightly acidic Weiss with mellow peachiness and salted strawberry tartness.

Peachy mango tanginess added sunshine to Peach Mango, a tropical fruited Berliner Weiss with briny lemon zest, watermelon rind tartness and toned-down acidity.

Pina Colada-like sour wheat ale, Pineapple Coconut, engaged salty coconut-creamed pineapple puree with limey mezcal tease.

Abstruse pasty-fruited NEIPA, Hawaiian Friday, let briny pineapple-pureed coconut milking provide Pina Colada cocktail likeness buttressed by lacquered mango, guava and kiwi tropicalia and weird cologne-soaked sage snip.

Belgian-inspired Imperial Stout, Indulgence, plied cocoa-dried dark chocolate bittering to mild coffee respite, dry burgundy wining, sarsaparilla sweetness and anise spicing.

TALESPINNER BREWERY

September 14, 2022United States BrewpubsNASHUA NH, TALESPINNER BREWERYJohn Fortunato

TaleSpinner Brewery | Nashua, NH | Beers | BeerAdvocate

NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Downstairs from Water Street’s Rambling House in the old Merrimack Valley textile city of Nashua, unassuming neo-Industrial pub, TALESPINNER BREWERY, opened its doors, March 2022. A street from the Nashua River and a block from Main Street, the shiny white-fronted, brown-trimmed beer cafe has certainly caught the attention of locals crowding its limited lower level space.

Occupying the second floor and a roof deck, exquisite wood-designed Rambling House featured picturesque window skyline viewpoints, a prominent timber-framed bar, pipe-fitted draught board, partial green-tiled bar back, low-ceilinged exposed pipes and cozy stone fireplace plus a fine farm-to-table pub menu and Sunday brunch (with decorative mimosa flights) during my morning trip, September ’22.

Efficiently diversified on-site Talespinner brews included an Italian pils, traditional pale ale, New England IPA and strong French-styled pale ale.

Straw-dried lemon musk and mild cologne-perfumed herbage wavered for Campy 39 Italian Pilsner, a reticent light-bodied opener.

Easygoing Crispus Attucks Pale Ale let lemony orange and pineapple zesting gently caress herbal Simcoe hop astringency and dry pale malts in a spritzy manner.

Tropical NEIPA, Bomba Bombita, pitted tart gooseberry-guava sourness against bittersweet orange-peeled grapefruit tanginess and lemony pineapple zesting above creamy wheated oats, retaining a clean vodka wisp.

Abstruse Biere De Garde, Idiome Syncratique, attached vinous white grape tannins, tart lemon meringue piquancy and leathery barnyard musk to suitable chloride alcohol esters.

SOURCE FAT ELVIS

September 14, 2022Beers A-Zbourbon stout, SOURCE FARMHOUSE BREWERYJohn Fortunato

On tap at Kitchen & Beer Bar, ‘thick’ pastry stout gathers Elvis Presley’s favorite sandwich condiments as banana pureed peanut buttering cloaks creamy dark chocolate cupcake richness, toasted marshmallow sweetness and vanilla icing. Honeyed Graham Cracker base fortifies mocha-draped peanut butter banana dessert treat. Tertiary black cherry, raisin and fig illusions vie for backspace amongst nutty banana breading.

Fat Elvis - Source Brewing - Untappd

WESTBROOK GATES OF S’MORDOR BOURBON AGED STOUT

September 14, 2022Beers A-Zbourbon stout, WESTBROOKJohn Fortunato

On tap at Taphouse 15, enticing S’mores confection drapes dark chocolate syrup all over marshmallow-fluffed Graham Cracker sweetness and cinnamon-spiced cocoa nibs as mild bourbon vanilla sugaring and pecan-hazelnut illusions seep thru robust nightcap.

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NEW HOLLAND DRAGON’S MILK RESERVE STROOPWAFEL (BOURBON AGED STOUT)

September 14, 2022Beers A-Zimperial stout, NEW HOLLAND BREWINGJohn Fortunato

On tap at Pompton Craft House, decadent bourbon-aged Dutch waffle pastry stout lets caramel-filled baked doughiness receive brown-sugared cinnamon toasting, sweet vanilla-marshmallow creaminess and treacly walnut maple fudging draped by dark chocolate syruping. Bourbon-spiced vanilla continuance picks up rich chocolate cookie confection. Lovely.

Dragon's Milk Reserve: Stroopwafel - New Holland Brewing - Untappd

TIMBER / BARCLAY A TAIL OF TWO PITTIES BOURBON AGED IMPERIAL STOUT

September 14, 2022Beers A-Zbourbon stout, TIMBER ALESJohn Fortunato

On tap at Kitchen & Beer Bar, charismatic Connecticut collab connects capacious coconut toasting with cassia-barked cinnamon spicing draped in creamy black chocolate syrup. Mild bourbon vanilla sway sweetens buttery cinnamon coconut chocolate expanse over Graham Cracker base. Mounds Bar, Peppermint Patty and fudged brownie illusions add confectionery candied sugaring.

A Tail of Two Pitties - Timber Ales - Untappd

KCBC THE RAVENMASTER IMPERIAL STOUT

September 14, 2022Beers A-Zimperial stout, KCBC BROOKLYNJohn Fortunato

On tap at Taphouse 15, thick brownie-battered dark chocolate creaming, milk-sugared vanilla sweetness and buttercream-caked Marjolaine pastry confection ride above cedar-charred rye oats base. Chocolate ganache finish allows subtle almond-pistachio nuttiness and delicate cherry-dried blueberry, blackberry and boysenberry tartness to join in.

The Ravenmaster - KCBC - Kings County Brewers Collective - Untappd

SMUTTYNOSE CHOCOLATE BANANA SPLIT IMPERIAL STOUT

September 14, 2022Beers A-Zimperial stout, SMUTTYNOSEJohn Fortunato

On tap at Ambulance, creamy brown chocolate syruping and chewy vanilla beaning outdistance banana split splendor. Steady mocha intensity acquires sappy maple pining and mild dark roast hop bittering.

SMUTTYNOSE BEER – Smuttynose Brewing Co. | New Hampshire's Craft Brewery

EDMUND’S OAST CHOCOLATE CARAMELS BROWN ALE

September 14, 2022Beers A-Zbrown ale, EDMUND'S OASTJohn Fortunato

Soft-tongued ‘chocolate caramels’ confection needs richer creaminess and less phenolic hop astringency as lactose-aided bittersweet chocolate fudging, subtle vanilla sugaring and wispy buttercream frosting never broaden the semi-sweet base.

Chocolate Caramels 4pack | Edmund's Oast Online Shop

D9 BROWN SUGAR BROWN COW BROWN ALE

September 14, 2022Beers A-Zbrown ale, D9 BREWINGJohn Fortunato

Brown-sugared caramel candied center, vanilla-daubed Colombian coffee smidge and toffee-spiced butterscotch whim depleted by mildly lactic, harshly phenol astringency.

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EVIL TWIN NYC IT WAS HIS BIRTHDAY AND THEY STILL DIDN’T CARE SOUR IPA

September 14, 2022Beers A-ZEVIL TWIN BREWING, sour india pale aleJohn Fortunato

On tap at Pompton Craft House, dryly sour IPA places confectionery sugar-flossed birthday caking, vanilla-creamed waffle cone sweetness and cotton-candied fluff way below slightly vinous rosé-wined pink pineapple and pink guava tartness (and musty raspberry-strawberry mildewing).

IT WAS HIS BIRTHDAY AND THEY STILL DIDN'T CARE - Evil Twin Brewing NYC - Untappd

BOLERO SNORT PIRATES DON’T EAT THE TOURISTS BLAST TIKI SOUR

September 14, 2022Beers A-ZBOLERO SNORT, sour aleJohn Fortunato

On tap at Pompton Craft House, Sweet-Tart candied tiki cocktail knockoff (with ghoulish pale green hue) allows limey pineapple, raspberry and tangerine souring to lead the way as perfumed green apple, crabapple and cranberry mustiness stays recessive above acidulated pale malting.

The Pirates Don't Eat the Tourist's - Bolero Snort Brewery - Untappd

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