Mineral earthiness, grassy wheat dryness, and malted grain bitterness overwhelm oat-flaked sweet corn spine. Crisp hop bite reminiscent of better English-styled lagers. Mix with Sprite to make a ‘Shandy.’
All posts by John Fortunato
HEARTLAND APRICOT SUMMER ALE
Prevalent spruced apricot undercoated by unripe blueberry and slight pear tang as gentle hops sedate reserved wheat finish, truly capturing muted fruit essence.
HAYWARD’S 2000 INDIAN PREMIUM LAGER
Soapy pale-toned citric-sunned lager lacks body, sliding down throat gently despite healthy alcohol content. Vapid malts turn turpey before wood-smoked variance saves prissy lemon-fizzed finish.
HAYWARD’S 5000 SUPER PREMIUM LAGER
Sugar malt conviction and cereal grain bed given peppier sharp hop thrust than Hayward’s 2000 ‘model.’ Cotton-candied orange marmalade dots phenol alcohol remnant.
(MESTANSKY) HAVLICEK PILSNER
Promising wheat-fronted pumpernickel-rye theme levels off nicely to bread-y yeast lightness as casual off dry Saaz hop fizz and crisp artisan water flow suit softer Czech pils palates, avoiding dank souring miring some Eastern Euro competition.
HATUEY CERVEZA
Apparently Bacardi (the rum co.) brought this Cuban recipe (pronounced ah-tway) to America for the masses. Orange-yellow hue, caramel-malt aroma, and creamy up-front sweetness settle into syrupy 5.5% alcohol fueled dud. Much too processed for serious consumption, but in line with sweet barley-based Caribbean’s such as Red Stripe and Carib Pilsner.
HARVIESTOUN OLD ENGINE OIL SPECIAL RESERVE
Brewed in malt whisky casks, busy black-hued maroon-highlighted relaxant sits well next to Marston’s dryer Oyster Stout. Sticky molasses-soured plum-raisin upsurge, syrupy whisky malting, and juicy orange-berry thew receive dry-smoked oaken parch. Sweet tobacco-leafed black cherry and chocolate rum cake illusions soothe ashy mocha residue.
HARVIESTOUN OLD ENGINE OIL
Stalwart raisin palate enriches chewy chocolate-cocoa sweetness, syrupy maple malting, sour coffee roast, and damp earthiness, bringing substantial body to sweet mocha finish. But tangy dried fruit undertones lost in midst mar modest digestif.
HARVIESTOUN BITTER & TWISTED
Dry blonde with herbaceous hop spicing, orange rind bitterness, and soft honeyed berry influence given brisk water flow to match lime fizz. A bit too ‘normal’ to be considered ‘bitter and twisted’ since reluctant grain finish avoids distinct fruited peculiarities.
HARVEY’S TOM PAINE ALE
Crude barley-strewn pale body with mellow buttery mocha flow and sugary caramel chocolate sweetness gains prune ripeness, but character and consistency lack. Cardboard grains nearly ruin pleasant earthen hop finish. A bit too light and watery to be seriously competitive English ale.
HARVEY’S LE COQ IMPERIAL EXTRA DOUBLE STOUT
Bold black-as-oil Estonian-styled Russian Imperial achieves iconoclastic status by melding dry port tendencies to chewy prune-ripened chocolate liqueur illusions. Reigning 9% alcohol pungency enhances lingering sweet barleywine richness countering burnt coffee bitterness. Beer equivalent to a slow sipping port wine not for weak-hearted.
HARVEY’S PORTER
Average tan-headed black-hued porter saddles creamy chocolate malting with sticky anise residue, musty barley char, and plum-raisin accents to support front-loaded moldy hop ascendancy. Rather mild and indistinguishable for a porter or a poor man’s version of Guinness Stout.
