Prim obsidian-bodied, tan-laced, red-tinted dry stout supports smoked hickory theme with roasted mocha malting, bitter black coffee moderation, and deep-grained efficiency. Chalky chocolate, bruised cherry, and dehydrated raisin coat tobacco-roasted peat bottom to mild oatmeal finish. Debonair Scottish dark ale maintains lighter appeal than most oatmeal stouts.
All posts by John Fortunato
(BROUGHTON) BLACK DOUGLAS ALE
Dirty-grained dry coffee template initially stimulates hop-smitten, prune-bodied, ruby-glowed ale. Then sappy molasses malts enjoin black chocolate and flack barley for unexpectedly mild appeal beckoning Scotch-like sweetness lingering firmly to bitter smoked ash finish.
BROU CZECH KOSHER LAGER
Unique peat-smoked burnt wood initiation fortifies grain-heightened bitterness, musty malt dryness, and charred hop moderation to brusque finish. Smoked to the hilt!
BROU CZECH LAGER
Typical grain-heightened Eastern European lager brings musty malts and bitter hops to anonymous diacetyl finish. Slightest lemon drop in deep recess mired by overly watery texture and negative sour yeast quality.
BROOKLYN WINTER ALE (2008)
Nebulous wintry retreat places thin metallic sheen above reticent brown sugared spices, slick crystal-caramel malting, and chalky cherry-raisin-fig wisp. Vegetal astringency saps tertiary tobacco, walnut, and Brazil nut illusions. Similarly bland 2010 version layered dried-out orange rind sourness above phenol cinnamon-coriander-nutmeg coarseness, abrupt brown-sugared Blackstrap molasses acridity, and mild chestnut-almond-hazelnut whim.
(BROOKLYN) BROOKLYNER WEISSE
Sunset-hazed Bavarian-styled hefeweizen retains sweet honeyed wheat expectancy rounded out by big banana nose, polite clove urge, spicy lemon tang, and buttery malt creaminess.
(BROOKLYN) BROOKLYNER WEISSE BEER
Admirable unfiltered Bavarian wheat with dryer-than-expected banana-clove template, sourdough yeast sinew and temperate floral hops given punctual carbolic fizz. Strong, but never pungent, allowing banana, grapefruit and bubblegum illusions to dab limey bottom. Better with lemon and nearly perfect for hazy summer party.
BROOKLYN SUMMER ALE
Basic pale golden moderate-bodied summer fodder fizzles. Seltzer-like fizz hides tart citric serenade and sour clover honey affinity. Worse, astringent pomegranate acridity ransacks grassy hop earthiness.
BROOKLYN SAISON
Summery yellow-hazed Belgian-styled witbier juxtaposes wafting banana-grapefruit-apricot esters and prickly-hopped sunny lemon frontage against bubblegum center. Eventually, green apple souring picks up white-peppered coriander-honeysuckle illusions impaired by slightly acidic maize finish.
(BROOKLYN) POST ROAD PUMPKIN ALE
Bettering original Catamount Brewery recipe, Brooklyn’s festive version hoists dominant spicy pumpkin pie theme. Brown sugared honey malts and gingerbread-sweetened coriander-nutmeg-cinnamon illusions counter salty black-peppered hop bittering and alcohol-burned metallic shard for rounded mouthfeel. Auxiliary vegetal astringency promotes earthen carrot, beet, and cabbage nuances at rose-watered Graham cracker backend of gourd-flaunted full body. Fussier, creamier, and more robust than increasingly stiff autumnal competition.
BROOKLYN PILSNER
Astoundingly robust German-styled pilsner integrates dried chaffed wheat parch, cereal grain sweetness, and delicate citrus tingle with lively hop bitterness. Subdued barleymalt serenity edged out by musty orange peel luster and mild grapefruit twinge at spongy finish, completing this rather complex well-carbonated brew. Brooklyn Brewery remains a vastly underrated East Coast contender.
BROOKLYN PENNANT PALE ALE
Originally brewed to celebrate the Brooklyn Dodgers success, this is softer grained and more watery than other Brooklyn ales. Economic sweet barley essence lingers throughout.