Superb spiced-up Scotch ale balances delightful vanilla-sweetened nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon seasoning with coniferous spruce-tipped fern spearminting, chocolate-covered dried fruiting and dangled cola-hazelnut conflux. A wondrous winter warmer.
All posts by John Fortunato
DREKKER SLUSHY XL BRAAAAINS DOUBLE FRUIT SMOOTHIE SOUR
Upfront, sharp blueberry souring overruns daintily tart kiwi-guava adjuncts and sweet banana creaming (as well as distant pineapple-grapefruit remnants) while maintaining mild sea salted acidity. By mid-palate, the purplish red Smoothie ratchets up its blueberry pureed frontage with vinous alkaline-fused white grape rot. Ultimately, lactose fruited sour lacks the chewy marshmallow creaminess of richer, frothier Drekker slushies.
INTERBORO GIMME THE LOOT FRUITED SOUR
On tap at Ambulance, perfumed boysenberry, blackberry and raspberry tartness picks up delicately salted pineapple-grapefruit souring and distant watermelon whim as mild floral citric Mosaic hop pining pleats gentle wheated pilsner malts. A mellower berry fruited sour.
KANE FIELD & OAK – CHERRY (2019 HARVEST)
Spontaneously blended sour ale brings mild brettanomyces yeast funk to tart Montmorency cherry tannins, picking up slightly vinous green grape esters, delicate green apple riffs, sparkling champagne spritz and acidic lemon licks above leathery horse-blanketed mustiness. Residual cherry sweetness gains wispy cinnamon cider snicker contrasting sourly citric-quince stint.
DECIDUOUS LOLLIPOP FOREST SOUR ALE W/ BLACKBERRY & RASPBERRY
Turbid cherry reddish fruited sour offshoot thinner than original as mild milk-sugared vanilla creaming upended by slightly brined lollipop-candied blackberry and raspberry tartness. Wispy oaken cherry souring and tannic green grape esters addle the fading aspirin-like berry facade.
KIZAKURA KYOTO MATCHA IPA
Wholly eccentric matcha green tea mintiness and briny seaweed souring steadfastly guide heavily herbal emerald green-hued IPA. Green tea-infused bittering lingers endlessly as Citra-hopped orange rind/ grapefruit pith tandem and remedial couch grass dryness contact papery pilsner malt bottom.
EQUILIBRIUM LAB FLASKS DOUBLE IPA
On tap at Growler & Gill, bright yellow hazed (8.5% ABV) IPA retains soft-toned tropicalia. Waxy crayon-like navel orange and pineapple tang and floral spiced daubs sweeten against limey guava-gooseberry tartness above gentle wheat flaked oats base. Wispy vanilla Creamsickle nip contrasts distant dank cannabis pungency.
HOPPING EAGLE MERIT BADGE #12
Cleanly whisked double dry-hopped (Nelson Sauvin/Motueka) nickel-hazed NEIPA circa 2022 merges tangy orange-peeled yellow grapefruit zesting with yogurt-soured guava, mango, tangerine and gooseberry tartness, picking up glassy vodka sheen for fusel 8.4% hooch.
ICARUS EVEN MILKSHAKES GET THE BLUES
On tap at Taphouse 15, milk-sugared Madagascar vanilla beaning teases mild blueberry adjunct and lightly embittered grapefruit splurge above honey-draped wheated oats base.
SOURCE MANGO STICKY RICE MILKSHAKE IPA
On tap at Taphouse 15, coconut milk-sweetened mango subtlety and creamy vanilla sugaring encounter delicate yellow grapefruit bittering above rice-flaked wheat base. Mango Smoothie knockoff needs juicier thrust.
OTHER HALF MORE CITRA THAN ALE CITRA IMPERIAL IPA
On tap at Ambulance, dry Citra-hopped yellow grapefruit and mandarin orange splurge plus salted green grape, gooseberry and passionfruit souring alongside less intense pineapple and mango tang combine for creamily textured golden yellow hazed medium body (with unassuming 10.5% ABV). Waxy citrus continuance gains clean vodka-like briskness and mild tealeaf herbage for a juicy tropical fruited finish.
AURORA ALL CITRA SUPER FRESH TO DEATH NEW ENGLAND IPA
On tap at Ambulance, silken lupulin oils parlay juicy grapefruit peeled orange pith bittering and tart lemon-limed pineapple and passionfruit conflux into winning formula. Glassy vodka-like cleanness enjoins enthusiastic Citra hop tropicalia above complacent wheated oats flaked base of viscous hazy golden medium body.
