On tap at Growler & Gill, waywardly hybridized Bohemian pilsner gathers lightly soured New Zealand-hopped gooseberry tartness, floral-perfumed lemony grapefruit scamper and muskily raw-grained Czech hop earthiness above hay-dried barnyard leathering.
Distinctly offbeat bluish-tinged amber yellowed IPA brewed with butterfly pea flowers retains briskly sharp citrus blitz and light juniper licks, gaining a bitter blueberry remnant at the bold finish. Lemon-salted grapefruit and orange peel zesting stays prominent as sassy butterfly peas add lemongrass tea nicety to Brut-ish champagne yeast base of just slightly atypical medium-bodied hybrid.
Lively Mosaic-Azacca-Citra hop triage combine for sunshiny citrus spree. Lemon-seeded grapefruit zesting gains floral bouquet as lightly salted pineapple-mango-papaya souring counters mildly creamed pale malt sugaring.
‘Generously’ dry-hopped grapefruit rind and orange peel bittering gains zesty lemon spritz and resinous pine oiling above ample rye spicing for bold medium body.
BLAUVELT, NEW YORK
An outgrowth of Andean Brewing’s quirkily cherished maca root-derived Kuka brand, NAP TIME LIQUID CREATION came to fruition late 2017 (and closed 2023). Directed by proficient Kuka brewmeister, Alex Coronado (RIP), Nap Time’s rangy elixirs sometimes stretch stylistic boundaries, but just as often reach a comfort zone for Blue Collar pilsner-lager lovers as proven by the two fruitful offerings quaffed during my two-hour June ’19 excursion.
Nap Time’s cozy interior featured a few tables, couch, regal black-and-white paper cut wall art and slate-topped serving station with four draught handles. A few black metal patio tables near the entrance add extra seating.
Sunshiny IPA-like citrus spicing and dank wood musk fronted dry-hopped The Dreamer Light Lager, leaving herbal snips upon its juicy grapefruit-orange tang, mild lemon spritz, latent Hallertau Blanc green grape tannins and teasing Hull Melon gooseberry tartness.
Similarly bright and lively moderation, Incantation Pilsner let lemon-peeled grapefruit zesting and delicate mandarin orange sweetness appease herbal barnyard-dried grassiness and white breaded pale malting.
Heavenly Lick The Mind Of God, a Mosaic-hopped Imperial IPA, brought tangy pineapple juiciness to sweet orange, red grapefruit, mango and peach tropicalia, contrasting its light resinous wood tones.
Dark-roast chocolate and bitter coffee coalesced for easygoing stout, Floating Into The Night, bringing molasses-draped cola, hazelnut and Brazil nut illusions and pureed black cherry daubs into the fray.
Ugandan vanilla beaning and roasted coffee tones guided clean-watered Swedish-inspired milk stout, Fika, a terrific dessert treat utilizing cardamom-spiced cinnamon toasting to caress its minty brown chocolate surge and vanilla-sweetened java finish.
During January ’21 afternoon jaunt with son, Christopher, discovered four more fine suds from this dependable lounge-styled pub.
Dry Italian-styled Imperial Pilsner, Obliviation, leveraged biscuity bohemian pilsner malting with ambrosial fruited oats sugaring.
Mildly creamed pale malt-sugared citrus zest embraced Dream Is Destiny, a crisply clean Imperial IPA with spiced pineapple, grapefruit and orange tang and moderate resinous piney hop bittering.
Temptingly sweet honey and brown sugar adjuncts regaled Nothingness, a judicious Imperial Stout weaving dried cocoa into ancillary hazelnut coffee, espresso, toffee and dark cherry illusions above a rich cookie dough base.
Inconspicuous 9.5% strong ale, Old Queen Cole, a subtly whiskey/red wine-barreled English barleywine-like dessert treat pleated brown chocolate-spiced sweetness with roasted coffee.
On tap at Beef Trust, soothingly lighter (if not necessarily sweeter) version of Carton’s Regular Coffee retains soft nitrogenated mouthfeel, creamy white eggshell head and lovely milk-sugared coffee essence. Sweetened coffee tones gain subtle cappuccino, latte macchiato and Frappuccino licks as well as mild orange rind snips. A delightful offshoot.
Absolute favorite sweet-tart shandy! Soda poppy cranberry-sugared lemonade licks sweeten above white breaded spine of pinkish amber summertime softie. Candied cranberry tartness gains voluptuous cherry lambic and raspberry framboise resonance. Could this be a national success a la Leinenkugel’s less interesting shandy’s?
“Hauntingly good” oak-aged stout with abounding complexities. Aggressive bourbon sweetness gains immediate brown-sugared molasses sapping and caramelized chocolate-coffee conflux contrasted by sedate wood-seared hop char. Below the bustling mocha-bourbon mudcake surface, dried-fruited date, fig and plum illusions as well as distant hazelnut-coconut snips hide out. A decadent first-class slow sipper.
On tap at Ambulance, luxurious cinnamon-toasted brown chocolate sweetness gains molasses-sapped bourbon vanilla warmth and minimal chili pepper heat for sturdily spiced Mexican-styled stout (with well-hidden 11.4% ABV). Chewy cocoa-nibbed cookie dough creaminess enriches the cinnamon-peppered chocolate and vanilla donut-like finish.
On tap at Ambulance, “sumptuous” wheatwine dessert decadence with heady 16% ABV coalesces confectionery cocoa-buttered milk sugaring with bittersweet cacao-nibbed vanilla bean adjunct and candied brown chocolate allotment. Subtle bourbon aging adds sweet warmth to fudgy chocolate-y vanilla creaminess, picking up toasted coconut, crème brulee, marzipan, honeyed hazelnut and toasted marshmallow illusions. Luxurious full-bodied treasure.
On tap at Morris Tap & Grill, wayward French Toast-inspired raspberry stout with maple syrup and cinnamon adjuncts completely lacquered by rich dark chocolate bittering. But pastry-like French Toast expectancy and deadened cinnamon spicing fade below tart raspberry chocolate caking.
On tap at Morris Tap & Grill, salty Berliner Weisse-affected raspberry tartness puckers bitter black chocolate malting and tannic Widow Jane Bourbon subtlety, retaining lactic-soured mocha response. Mild oaken bourbon tangent gains subtle port-burgundy wisps at sour raspberry pureed smoked chocolate finish.
