Subtly citric-hopped pint-bottled (or canned) pale German lacks firm body. Delicate ‘skunked’ vegetal pungency drifts into fizzy Seltzer-watered sweetness ahead of minimal grain-nut bittering.
All posts by John Fortunato
(HANGZHOU) XIHU PALE LAGER
Basic straw-hued pale lager layers rice-caked barleycorn graining and glutinous wheat sweetness atop icy quartz water from underground springs. On second passing, caramelized apple, kettle corn, and butterscotch illusions distend above fizzy popcorn buttering.
HAMPTON AMBER ALE
Moderate-bodied sweet-scented amber links hop-fueled grain aspect to watery texture, softening refreshingly mild barley-wheat finish. Brewery defunct: 2005.
HAMPSHIRE PRIDE OF ROMSEY I.P.A.
Pour slowly carbolic white-foamed bronze-hued bottle-conditioned ale. Beyond crisp water flow lies bittersweet grain-malted soothe and diacetyl grapefruit splurge. Smoked barley finish retains spicy citric ebb and leafy hop resin.
(HAMOVNIKI) ZOLOTAYA PENA LAGER
Astringent maize nose informs dainty off-dry floral wheat luster and salted hop pep of peculiar golden-hazed lager. Buttery cocoa malts and wobbly licorice notes infiltrate soapy orange limed suggestion to cheap Scotch finish. Tinny alcohol-burnt astringency ruins medicinal intrigue.
(HAMOVNIKI) ZHIGULI LAGER
Beautiful Russian Orthodox church on label worth noting, but hazy, pale, short-headed, clear-toned lager inside bottle remains bland. Earthy hop bitterness, freshly harvested barley wisp, dry rye mire, and spritzy lemon backdrop lead to dulled single malt whiskey finish.
(HAMOVNIKI) CZAR-PUSHKA LAGER
Ghostly pale fuliginous brew mired by swampy malt-hop putrefaction, skunked sourdough aroma, and misplaced licorice notes to dirty water finish. Juicy lemon drop tartness, distant grapefruit-tangerine tang, and buttery wheat bottom dissolved by phenol astringency.
HAMOVNIKI LAGER
Subtle smoked malt taunt and shadowy honey-sugared sweetness drape early metallic souring of soapy golden-hazed medium-bodied pale lager. Floral-herbal caress compromised by vegetal rice-corn stridency. Second-rate.
HAMMER & NAIL VIENNA STYLE LAGER
Dull sweet mocha aroma, carbolic hop romp, roasted barley flow, and creamy malt texture ultimately too presumptuous attempting to capture true Viennese lager. Lacks body and complexion to boot. Brewery defunct: 2003.
HAMMER & NAIL EXTRA SPECIAL BITTER ALE
Sweet cereal grained honeyed wheat malting and biscuit-y backdrop defy advertised Bitter styling. More reminiscent of mildly toasted lager, though dingy corn liquor souring disrupts damp clay hop dollop. Brewery defunct: 2003.
HAMMER & NAIL BROWN ALE
Dank citrus aroma, fizzy carbonation, and prune undertones peculiar for frothy brown ale. Somewhat reminiscent of copper ales due to rustic fruitiness, hop-grained dryness, and firm water-based crispness, though banal toasted caramel finish and weak nut backing fail at providing sufficient support. Brewery defunct: 2003.
HAMMER & NAIL AMERICAN ALE
Diacetyl yellow-fruited entry gains cereal-grained barleycorn sweetness before sour malting reigns down upon expendable chocolate backdrop. Barley-toasted wheat biscuit spine underscores fuzzy hop bitterness. Brewery defunct: 2003.