On tap at Poor Henry’s, ‘crushingly lush’ sparkling-watered IPA spreads lemon zest across candy-spiced honey malts, soft pine tones and subtle herbal nuances. Lovely lemon-limed midst benefits from lissome lemongrass lilt.
All posts by John Fortunato
KANE PARTY WAVE IPA
On tap at Plank Pizza, crisply clean IPA retains sunny Citra-hopped yellow grapefruit appeal and subtle Galaxy-hopped passionfruit niche alongside mild resinous pine bittering. Dry wood tones soften as ancillary mandarin orange, pineapple, nectarine and mango illusions spice up sugared pilsner malts.
NEW BELGIUM HEMPEROR IPA
On tap at Plank Pizza, likable hemp-seeded IPA with hefty cannabis waft will scare away straight-edge marijuana haters. Dank hemp musk gains leafy hop astringency, desiccated citrus licks and sweet peat mulching over gritty pale-wheat malts.
FLYING DOG MIMOSA BEER
Soft-toned Citra-hopped mimosa knockoff brings light lemon-soured orange peel bittering to spritzy champagne souring. Wispy banana-clove illusions settle beneath alongside delicate oats-dried wheat malts. Easygoing orange-juiced champagne-fizzed mimosa cocktail alternative.
LONG TRAIL VT IPA
On tap at Plank Pizza, soft-tongued New England-styled India Pale Ale plies yellow grapefruit bittering, pulpy orange juicing and tangy peach-tangerine-mango-pineapple serenity to mild Citra-Amarillo hop pining above flaked oats malting. Crisply clean moderate-to-medium body sizable IPA audience will enjoy.
EVIL TWIN WHEN YOU ARE ANGRY BE SILENT IPA
On tap at Poor Henry’s, zesty grapefruit-splashed orange peel tang gains sweet lemon custard tartness and mild grassy hop astringency while creamy crystal malting enriches its follow-thru. Splendid medium-bodied New England-like India Pale Ale.
BOULEVARD JAM BAND BERRY ALE
On tap at Meddlesome Moth, easygoing summer ale retains tartly blanched cherry pucker as well as sharp blueberry and raspberry rasp. Lemony grapefruit souring and vinous green grape wisp reinforce berry tartness. Residual barley malt sweetness contrasts raw wheat musk and astringent hops beneath.
DOGFISH HEAD DRAGONS & YUM YUMS PALE ALE
On tap at Beef Trust, unspecific hybridized pale ale salutes indie rock heroes, the Flaming Lips, with brewers’ off-center spring ’18 pale ale. Subtle strawberry-kiwi-guava-like dragonberry and bland cranberry-pomegranate-like yumberry tartness combine with neutralized black carrot and pear juices as mild hop phenols rise above its salty bottom. Lightly soured lemon liming, musty cherry dryness and mild green apple pucker waver. Not too dry, sour or sweet; evasive flavor-wise.
CYPRESS NECESSITY & INVENTION PALE ALE EITH GUANABANA FRUIT
On tap at Poor Henry’s, quirky pale ale collaboration with fellow Jersey brewer, Icarus, gets mildly aged on tangy guanabana (a green-prickled fruit). Lactic lupulin powder regales moderate piney citrus bittering and lemony banana whims.
ASBURY PARK XPA
Easygoing Extra Pale Ale coalesces lemon-wedged orange desiccation with herbal lupulin resin, pale malt sugaring and mild grassy musk to its baked bread spine, gaining light astringency by the crisp Cascade-hopped citrus-spiced finish.
BACK EAST CROSBY STILLS & SMASH
On tap at Eli Cannon’s, polite light-bodied rock band tribute lets sunny yellow grapefruit and orange peel tang modestly seep into caramel-spiced pale malts, herbal hop astringency and slight lemongrass tingle.
THREES WANDERING BINE (BARREL BLEND #5)
On tap at Ambulance, bone-dry barrel-blended sour saison plies perfumed yellow grapefruit-seeded lemon tartness and tannic white grape musk to groat-y oats musk. Sour alkaline phenols gain leathery barnyard funk and brined peppercorn-lemongrass niche.
