On tap at Seven Lakes Station, Czech-styled brown lager goes past simple brown tea-derived dark beer descriptive as sweet chestnut roast plus black cherry and grape fruiting enhance mildly creamed cocoa-dried peated malt styling.
All posts by John Fortunato
FROG ALLEY FROG NOG
On tap at Growler & Gill, holiday-spirited spice ale retains rummy eggnog creaming as well as Christmastimey cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice seasoning and coconut toasted pineapple zing (of a Pina Colada). A festive semi-rich cocktail dessert.
SKYGAZER / TWELVE PERCENT WATERCOLORS: CRANBERRY CHERRY TANGERINE POMEGRANATE GINGERBREAD
Colossal gypsy-brewed “Christmas creamer” retains Sweet-Tart candied center as sour cranberry-pomegranate conflux picks up dried cherry and tangy tangerine adjuncts in fluffy marshmallow creamed gingerbread setting. But it’s all too much as the plethora of flavors scrabble for attention of wavering pastry dessert.
TIN BARN MELTED GELATO #4: STRAWBERRY BANANA
On tap at Taphouse 15, ‘heavily fruited’ pinkish mauve Italian gelato-styled sour ale receives Smoothie-like marshmallow fluff for sweetly tart banana-bruised strawberry resilience parading rich birthday caked soft serve ice creaming. Lactose milk-creamed strawberry/banana pureeing thickened by peachy pineapple tang and lemon meringue tartness.
ANCHORAGE ANADROMOUS BLACK SOUR W/ MARIONBERRIES
Tart marionberry tannins grace French oak foudre wild ale (aged in pinot noir/whiskey barrels) as black currant-soured lemon rind bittering picks up moderate brettanomyces acidity. Mild blackberry, plum and gooseberry illusions waver amongst charcoal-singed black grape musk.
HUDSON VALLEY ULTRASPHERE SOUR IPA
On tap at Growler & Gill, lemon-dropped red and yellow grapefruit juicing picks up moderate briny acidity, mild cranberry bittering and wispy raspberry tingle above vanilla bean-sugared oated wheat base.
ROUND TABLE ALTO LINDO
On tap at Seven Lakes Station, “rustic” sour ale plies tartly acidic lemon juicing to brettanomyces-funked barnyard acridity, earthen truffle spot and unexpected peat-smoked beechwood frill. For dryer sour ale advocates.
ROUND TABLE MOTTO MOTTO DOUBLE IPA
On tap at Growler & Gill, ‘pillowy’ Imperial IPA retains juicy orange peel sweetness and candied lemon twang for light pine lacquering emboldened by vodka-clean 8.5% ABV boozing that never ransacks citric-spiced approachability.
SOUTHERN GRIST TEAL HAZY IPA
On tap at Pompton Craft House, tropical NEIPA combines lemony grapefruit bittering and sweet orange peel zesting with mild guava, mango, papaya, pineapple and peach tanginess, picking up piney respite over lightly creamed oats-flaked barley base. Another worthy Citra-Mosaic hopped India Pale Ale.
FROST DENTED TRIPLE IPA
On tap at Pompton Craft House, tropical 9.5% ABV NEIPA crowds pulsating floral fruited hop bittering with resinous piney oiling contrasting mild oated creaminess. Lemony guava-passionfruit souring sidles orange-peeled grapefruit-pineapple-mango tanginess and peachy tangerine sweetness plus glassy vodka whim. Quite exquisite.
ROOT + BRANCH DO WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY OF SPECTACLE NEIPA (MOTUEKA)
On tap at Pompton Craft House, zesty lemon-limed Motueka hop influence provides yellow grapefruit-forward profile punctuated by sour guava-gooseberry spell, vodka-licked orange tang and brisk crackling fizziness to creamy oated wheat base.
FAST FASHION BARGAIN BIN NEIPA
On tap at Kitchen & Beer Bar, lemon-desiccated grapefruit musk meets perfumed orange tang and candied pineapple tartness plus pleated pine pungency above dry pale-malted French breading.
