On tap at Growler & Gill, lactic lime-salted Margarita tartness retains soft-toned effervescence. Lemony orange peel zesting adds juicy resolve to limey citric-candied sugaring.
All posts by John Fortunato
OOZLEFINCH DAS YUMMY STRAWBERRY PIE-STYLE BERLINER WEISS
Lemon-limed strawberry souring gains vinous white grape acidity and salty coriander expectancy in lactic vanilla yogurt slipstream. Rhubarb-pied strawberry tartness then contrasted forthrightly by honeyed wheat Graham Cracker sugaring for curious sweet ‘n sour eccentricity.
OOZLEFINCH FLANNEL THIEF HAZY INDIA PALE ALE
Profound lemon essence profiled in glowing amber-yellowed IPA. Spritzy lemon zest brings easygoing summertime splendor as wispy floral-spiced herbage and delicate spelt sweetness never touch the surface. Bitter lemon rind insistence takes charge at the lactic-soured finish.
OOZLEFINCH LADY IN WHITE HEFEWEIZEN
Hybridized hefe flagship plies tart lemon-candied green grape esters to mild plantain-dried banana and clove subsidy atop sourdough malting. Spritzy champagne zest increases winey souring. Nominal malt liquor pungency.
TWO ROADS PEACH JAM
On tap at Oscar’s Alehouse, lemony peach tartness stays mild as wispy hibiscus flowering and distant cranberry-mango-gooseberry souring flow below alongside its neutral cracked wheat base.
SINGLECUT THE PLEASURE THE PRIVILEGE HELLES LAGER
On tap at Growler & Gill, musky wet-grained earthen pungency envelops sour lemondrop tartness and dry herbal hops above delicate rye-floured brown breading.
OLDE HICKORY RUBY LAGER
Stylishly bold ruby copper-hued amber lager loads caramel-toasted cereal graining upon spicy red-orange fruiting, honeyed nuttiness and leafy hop astringency of dependable flagship.
JACK’S ABBY SHIPPING OUT OF BOSTON AMBER LAGER
On tap at Growler & Gill, easygoing moderation retains musky grain rusticity. Raw-honeyed amber grain toasting receives cellared fungi dampness, dewy peat mossing and hay-like hop astringency of an English bitter. Well beneath the surface, spritzy yellow fruiting contrasts green tea bittering.
BLUE POINT SURE THING LAGER
Subtle sea-salted lemon souring stays light on the tongue as mild yellow grapefruit, mandarin orange and tangelo illusions linger softly in the bready pale malt backdrop.
DESCHUTES DA SHOOTZ! PILSNER
Easygoing boho pilsner brings brisk lemon spritz to lemondrop-hopped tartness above biscuity French breaded carapils malting. Lightly spiced floral aspect caresses dainty lemongrass, chamomile and lupine remnants.
SCHILLING ALEXANDR 10′ CZECH-STYLE PILSNER
On tap at Ambulance, sessionable pilsner-malted dry body slips rustic earthen grain musk into herbal lemon-soured Saaz hop pungency and latent lemongrass-peppercorn conflux with fine results. On tap at Growler & Gill, muskily rustic amber-grained pilsner malting gained dank lemon rot and dark floral daubs, staying bold despite easy flow.
FREDERICK, MARYLAND – SO MANY BEERS, SO LITTLE TIME
Took three day July stroll down Frederick, Maryland, visiting eight brewpubs along the way on a scorching weekend tour. Though I didn’t get to ever-increasing behemoth, Flying Dog, they definitely had one of the best summer ales in bottle.