On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead – Haledon, flagship light-bodied cream ale barely retains lemony orange zest against dry grassy-hopped barnyard dankness, groat-like cereal grain malting and faint nuttiness. Serve to unwashed masses.
All posts by John Fortunato
HOP CONCEPT DANK & STICKY IPA
On tap at Taphouse 15, inaugural Hop Concept release loads dank and sticky hemp-oiled hop bittering upon mellow yellow grapefruit pith and rind juicing and zesty orange peel sweetness. Light pine lacquering secures lingered lupulin luster as tertiary tangerine, peach and mango tang contrasts lemony grapefruit dryness. Only its aspirin-like astringency keeps it from perfection.
DUNCAN’S ABBEY QUAD
On tap at The Oath, local Tarrytown brewer utilizes all New York grown organic ingredients to develop rich Belgian quad. Local wildflower honeyed caramel malting gains sweet ‘n sour burgundy, black grape, bruised black cherry and blueberry influence as well as slight lemon tartness above dewy peat soiling. Funky Belgian yeast strain brings cellar-like fungi musk to musty dried fruiting.
MILL HOUSE KILT SPINNER SCOTCH ALE
On tap at The Oath, politely oak-aged wee heavy brings dewy Scotch sweetness to mild molasses sapping, mildewed earthen hop dankness and charcoal nuttiness. Ancillary cocoa, black grape and fig illusions fluctuate beneath.
(HUYGHE) DELIRIUM DELIRIA
On tap at Shepherd & Knuckelhead – Haledon, easygoing clear-yellowed Belgian strong ale (unassuming 8.5% ABV) combines mildly creamed Chardonnay buttering, cotton-candied crystal malting, floral-daubed citrus zest and light lemongrass herbage. Tertiary banana, green apple, lemon meringue and champagne grape illusions add further complexity to serene moderation.
FULL PINT WHITE LIGHTNING BELGIAN WHITE ALE
Effervescent white ale brings sweet orange-peeled yellow grapefruit and clementine tang to white-peppered Belgian yeast herbage above casual oats-flaked barley base. Coriander-spiced grains of paradise, curacao orange and mandarin orange illusions seep thru, gaining zesty lemon spritz to counteract eggy Challah-breaded sourdough yeast.
VICTORY WINTER CHEERS WHEAT ALE – 2016
On tap at The Oath, amplified winter wheat ale coalesces Citra-hopped lemony orange tang, mild banana-clove-bubblegum sweetness and light white-peppered herbage above terrified wheat spine, picking up estery white grape remnant as well as wispy peach, pear and quince illusions at jubilant citric-spiced finish.
OSKAR BLUES BEERITO MEXICAN LAGER
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead – Haledon, sessionable lemon-spiced Mexican lager picks up taco-shelled cornmeal influence above grassy Noble-hopped Vienna malt toasting. Piquant lemon zest briskness retains effervescence as mellow walnut, plum and rye undertones subdue light-bodied pleasure.
LONG LIVE HURRY SUNDOWN IMPERIAL STOUT AGED IN BOURBON
Luxuriously detailed oak-aged stout brings richly creamed black chocolate syruping to mighty sweet bourbon vanilla overtures, gaining an intense anise-spiced tongue coating by the molasses-smoked mocha finish. Ancillary black cherry, burgundy grape, toasted coconut and caramel latte illusions deepen resolve.
LONG LIVE BEERWORKS
PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
Inside a small middle space at an inconspicuous West Fountain Street mall just across Route 95 from Providence proper, intimate LONG LIVE BEERWORKS thrilled its local neighbors, who came out in droves to celebrate its grand opening, January 2016. ‘Hardcore New Haven-bred hop enthusiast’ Armando De Dona utilizes a backroom seven barrel system to craft his highly respected original recipes. Unlike downtown breweries Union Station and Trinity, Long Live Beerworks is a traditional production microbrewery – meaning it only serves beer, not food.
Settling in on a cold Saturday evening February ’17, my wife and I grab seats at the L-shaped 8-seat serving table. On the right side, a large mural-like Long Live Beerworks canvas counters the black-walled bar area. In the springtime, a small exterior patio provides more room.
On tap during my 1-hour stopover were two magnificent coffee-flavored dark ales and one juicy IPA. Though we’re crunched for space, the tiny facility has no problem keeping the customers satisfied.
Lemony yellow grapefruit zest fronted Citra-Centennial-hopped Wesside IPA, a crisply clean medium body anchored by mildly creamed crystal malts and dank pine resin.
Next, Harry May Oatmeal Porter (with Dave’s French Roast Coffee) reigned luxurious coffee bean essence over sweet toasted oats, gaining cappuccino, café latte and cocoa undertones at its sweepingly majestic finish.
Just as enjoyable, Coarse Grind Stout (with Dave’s Coffee Espresso Blend) brought medium-roast coffee tones to the fore, as dry espresso, cacao nibs, dark chocolate and macchiato notions reinforced its java goodness.
www.longlivebeerworks.com
LONG LIVE BEERWORKS THE ALL SEEING EYE IMPERIAL IPA
Enchanting lupulin-powdered medium body in a can (not far removed from a Belgian Golden Ale with its funky white-peppered herbal yeast profile) contrasts effervescent yellow grapefruit tang against raw-honeyed lemon souring. Wispy Citra-hopped curacao orange, mandarin orange and tangelo illusions provide subtle hard-candied tartness.
BUCKET BREWERY
PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND
In a red brick warehouse section just off Main Street and about a mile from fellow Pawtucket brewpubs, Foolproof and Crooked Current, BUCKET BREWERY uniquely built its imposing brewing system alongside the L-shaped serving bar during autumn 2013. Bucket’s old industrial setup includes a plain white interior with cement floors, double-hung windows and community tables.
On this late afternoon February ’17 perusal, I get a flight of six elixirs, which included two distinctly rewarding gose beers for starters.
Approachable Patience & Prudence Gose brought stylish salted coriander spicing (based on Leipzig’s 19th century-designed Ritterguts Gose) to slightly tart citrus licks and floral hibiscus-like rose hips snips over a light sourdough base.
Somewhat hybridized Creamsickle Gose, infused with orange and vanilla sugaring, gained a lemony snicker for a sweet shandy-like alternative that forgoes the spicy saline route for a neat Creamsickle likeness.
One step beyond its humble lager auspices, 33rd Inning Red Rye Lager laces its subtle rye spicing with sweet caramel malts to contrast the latent dry wood temperance and desiccated hay stash. Distant black currant and cinnamon notions fade fast. Way cool.
Fine mainstream fodder without being predictable, Pawtucket Pail Ale placed perfumed “apricot and tangerine” subtleties inside fig-sugared caramel malting, mild citric hop bittering and recessive nutmeg spicing.
Efficient medium-bodied Leroy: The Million Dollar IPA utilized Calypso-Citra-Centennial hops to generate lemony grapefruit, orange and green apple briskness as well as resinous dry wood tones.
Joyous Christmas-spiced milk stout, Black Goat Of The Woods, dripped syrupy dark chocolate atop cinnamon, ginger root and coffee ground adjuncts, gaining a mild black licorice snip beneath the mocha surface. Serenity now!
bucketbrewery.com