Due to light aromatic fruiting, phenol lemon rind rift, and delicate grain flow, well-carbonated blonde goes down easy, gently sliding down the throat to leave resonating soft-toned bitter hop finish. Pleasant, but slight.
All posts by John Fortunato
(CHARLES WELLS) WELLS INDIA PALE ALE
Easy flowing, mineral-grained, odorously musty golden amber perfect for introducing lagerheads to fine pale ale splendor (but too smoothly delicate for actual robust English-styled IPA). Crisp barley-hops induce light earthen peat finish, but some metallic astringent seeps into the nebulous mix. Somewhat similar to fellow UK canned brews by Wexford, Boddington, and Caffrey’s.
(CHARLES WELLS) PREMIUM LAGER
Canned pale lager suffers from phenol alcohol temperament and bland maize-grass-hay concurrence. Dry wheat bottom, lilting lemon hint, and brisk carbonation cannot overcome slick template.
(CHARLES WELLS) DRAGOON PALE ALE
Strong auburn pale body brewed with pure well water and fine English barleymalts. Bitter hop sharpness permeates caramel-centered bright citric fruitiness and gentle vanilla vibe. ‘Red ale’ character reminiscent of Bass Ale, but overwhelming fizz precludes distinction. Luckily, heavy alcohol content gives Dragoon an intoxicating hike.
(CHARLES WELLS) CREST SUPER PREMIUM LAGER
Stench-y malt liquor-like 10% alcohol flow absorbs funky fruited malts and lively hop surge, but nice berry-melon hints drop off as miring corn starch nature and sourly metallic finish evolve.
(CHARLES) WELLS BANANA BREAD ALE
True thematic banana bread waft and drier banana chip mouthfeel sweetened further by honeyed wheat Graham cracker expansion. Mineral-watered crystal malting backs up banana-seeded bubblegum midst of fascinatingly peculiar clear amber banana-breaded fruit ale. 2011 version: Dry-spiced cinnamon-ginger conflux overcome by medicinal alcohol-burnt astringency, compromising up-front banana breading and relegating wheat-sugared candied apple subsidy.
CHARLESTON WHEAT
Slight soured citric wheat gets keen biscuit-y jab, but undecided sticky butterscotch malting slips into metallic murk.
CHARLESTON PALE ALE
Toasted honey-fortified amber-hued moderate body pits prickly hop stead against sweet yeast, cracked wheat, and butterscotch before overripe orange effervescence sidles acidic oak-dried finish.
CHARLESTON BROWN ALE
Candied toffee-butterscotch sweetness and vanilla malt cusp validate burnt caramel theme. Earthy peat finish picks up maple ash, chalky mocha, and dried raisin.
CHAPEAU MIRABELLE LAMBIC
Plum juice-flavored lambic retains white grape dryness, mildly tart citric fruiting, and bottom heavy sediment. Sharp carbonation doesn’t overwhelm accentuating sour green apple mist. A fine alternative to hard cider and near the top of the ‘fruit’ class.
CHAPEAU (BANANA) LAMBIC BEER
“Spontaneously fermented with banana juice” adage will make mainstream beer drinkers cry foul and cringe. However, finely crafted brew lacks gimmicky peculiarities. Banana essence blends well with yeast-sweetened honeyed oats and sour plantain tartness. Open-minded fruit ale lovers will find this irresistible.
CHAPEAU FRAISES LAMBIC
Spontaneously fermented oak-aged jam-scented lambic with sweet strawberry juice essence, rotted cherry luster and tauntingly tart grape esters given slight mesquite wood tone. Closer to syrupy malt beverage or fruity red wine than beer or ale (and unsettling to true blue collar drinkers). So strawberry enriched you could almost taste the seeds from the fruit.