On tap at Brass Tap, fruitful 10.6% ABV strong ale combines candied pineapple sweetness and orange-bruised cantaloupe, melon-mango conflux with ethanol-laden hop astringency.
All posts by John Fortunato
SAINT ARNOLD BISHOPS BARREL 10 – BOURBON-AGED BARLEYWINE
On tap at Meddlesome Moth, part of St. Arnold’s recommended Bishops Barrel Series, luscious bourbon-aged barleywine (#10) drapes generous whiskeyed cognac sweetness with compact brown-sugared dried fruiting. Black cherry-bruised date, fig and plum tones adorn caramelized bourbon chocolate midst and molasses-candied finish.
TUPPS FULL GROWN HOMBRE IMPERIAL STOUT
Tantalizing coffee-forward full body allows mild ancho chili pepper heat to contrast dark chocolate, bourbon vanilla, molasses and anise luster. Roasted coffee richness never relents as pureed black cherry and blackberry illusions add depth to complex elixir.
TUPPS FULL GROWN SCALLYWAG COCONUT VANILLA IMPERIAL STOUT
Creamily rich milk chocolate foundation gains bourbon vanilla and fudged brownie sweetness for busy dessert treat. Milk chocolate center gathers crème brulee, chocolate liqueur, molasses, toffee, cocoa and toasted coconut illusions as well as lightly soured dried fruiting to contrast cedar-burnt hop char.
903 LAND OF MILK & HONEY
On tap at Taverna Rossa, dewy brown chocolate spicing and honeyed pale malts gain a musty fungi tinge for lactic golden stout. Milked chocolate honey glaze mellows above brown-sugared wheat breading. Just a tad fatigued by the finish.
LAKEWOOD THE TEMPTRESS
On tap at Brass Tap, stable milk stout brewed with lactose-sugared vanilla gains immediate coffee-beaned black and brown chocolate influence as well as soy-sauced umami splurge. Mild molasses-smoked cocoa, caramel, coconut and almond milk undertones flutter.
BLUE OWL ADMIRAL GRAVITAS
On tap at Brass Tap, softly creamed milk-soured mocha theme gains soy-sauced snip for silken nitro-like acidulated stout. Musky cocoa-dried dark chocolate and black coffee bittering plus mild hop char undone by soapy finish a tad.
OAK HIGHLANDS DF DUB
Delightful banana-clove sweetness, brown-sugared toffee tingle and subtle raisin snip greet the tongue. Sharp hop spicing increases dewy peat resonance below the surface.
OAK HIGHLANDS VANILLA PORTER
Rich porter infused with vanilla beans gains moderate coffee roast, milk chocolate creaming and hot cocoa reminder. Fine mocha vanilla blend.
NO COAST AGRICULTURED RYE PORTER
On tap at Brass Tap, black-malted rye breading gains dark chocolate, dry cocoa and roasted coffee tones. Earthen peat dankness, warming whiskey wisp and teensy charcoal singe seep into dry chocolate rye finish.
LONE PINT KNECHT RUPRECHT IV – 2017
On tap at Brass Tap, rich milk-sugared coffee entry and moderate cocoa nibs follow-up sit atop mild charcoal tarring. Dry espresso tones and nutty reminder subtly embitter fuzzy java warmth.
GREAT RAFT OLD MAD JOY
On tap at Brass Tap, dry Baltic Porter leaves charcoal-stained chocolate and cocoa souring upon black grape esters and earthen minerality. Soy-sauced black cherry, prune and fig illusions waver below.