Richly grained amber with creamy caramel malts, perky citric hops, and roasted nuttiness settles to pleasing toasted barley finish atypical of ‘skunk-y’ Holland ales. Briskly bold, yet easily imbibed.
All posts by John Fortunato
(GRITTY MC DUFF’S) GRITTY’S HALLOWEEN ALE
Indifferent coppery autumnal celebrator sports Scotch-nicked barley-toasted solemnity but lacks proper seasonal pumpkin expectancy. Muted hop bittering and tinny phenol finish deplete fuzzy fruited caper.
(GRITTY MC DUFF’S) GRITTY’S PUB STYLE PALE ALE
Chewy caramel-mocha frontage saturates marshmallow-vanilla middle to toasted barley backbone, though minor astringency at sour yellow-fruited finish lowers appeal by a hair.
(MCAUSLAN) GRIFFON ROUSSE
Thin honey-toned red ale languishes through mild phosphate delineation before blanched crystal malt sweetness, roasted barley crisping and floral piquancy lamentably block walnut-dried black cherry adjunct.
GRIESKIRCHNER JORGER WEISSE
Approachable straw-hazed light-bodied hefeweizen blankets wispy vanilla-clove pleasantry and floral wheat serenity around rye-dried citric banana tartness. Dainty lemony fizz further softens mellow pilsner crossover, but lack of tangy fruit zest lowers appeal.
GREENSHIELDS PILSNER
Sedate wheat chaffed barleycorn opening and mossy earthiness coerce shy biscuit-y sweetness to casual citric hopped vegetal finish. Brewery closed due to fire 2004.
GREENSHIELDS NUT BROWN ALE
Pedestrian lightweight retains soft buttery nuttiness to nondescript soapy finish. Brewery closed due to fire 2004.
GREENSHIELDS INDIA PALE ALE
Politely spiced copper-toned IPA offers wheat-grass current and caramel malting to punctual orange-peeled citric hop bitterness, but blah metallic finish neutralizes progress.
GREENSHIELDS AMBER ALE
Spicy amber-hazed English-styled bitter retains warm grain restraint and mild herbal assist, but negligible fruited malt souring and passive finish lack firmness. Brewery closed due to fire 2004.
KELSO CHOCOLATE LAGER
Obliging Schwarzbier places oily coffee motif above sharp walnut bittering and smoked hop char. Roasted grain foundation seizes black chocolate expansion, black cherry puree distension, and faraway anise illusion.
(GREENE KING) WEXFORD IRISH CREAM ALE
Pours from the can like thick nitro-fueled Guinness (though much lighter in appearance), allowing cascading bubbles to arise from bottom. Creamy froth saturates orange peel tang, wafting barleymalt sweetness and brisk hop bitterness, bettering Boddington’s billowy dilution by a widget. But it’s a tidbit thin for its class.
GREENE KING OLDE SUFFOLK ENGLISH ALE
Wonderful oak-aged English ale gains superb sweet-candied sherry-burgundy resonation, overriding tartly vinous grape tannins and sturdy coffee-mocha insistence. Frothy cascading head and bristling carbolic hop thrust perk up plum-raisin-grape conflux for lusty dried fruited undertow.
