On tap at Growler & Gill, “decadent” mocha-affected India Pale Ale overloads the sharply perfume-hopped yellow grapefruit spicing and lemony orange respite, allowing the creamy black coffee and dark chocolate blend to diminish more than expected.
All posts by John Fortunato
STONE / HARDYWOOD / ARDENT GIVE ME STOUT OR GIVE ME DEATH
On tap at Growler & Gill, well-designed dark ale collaboration between three respected Virginia breweries brings black-malted dark chocolate richness, walnut-smoked cocoa powdering and vanilla bean creaming to recessive raspberry-blackberry adjuncts. But its mighty mocha magnitude and dry hop-charred hop bittering almost completely hide the dark-fruited nature.
FEGLEY’S ARCTIC ALCHEMY
Highly approachable Brit-styled barleywine lifts majestic caramel-malted chocolate molasses malts above candied dried fruiting and sugared spices in soft-toned manner. Subtle sherry, cognac and brandy illusions as well as light medicinal cherry tones further enliven chocolate-fruited delight. Latent red grape, hazelnut, pecan, fig, plum and raisin wisps remain in the distance.
BALLAST POINT RED VELVET NITRO
On tap at Taphouse 15, unconventional nitro-injected oatmeal stout breaks traditional mocha mode, instead retaining mellow beet-sugared, vanilla cream-fluffed mouthfeel, billowy pinkish white head and silken ruby body. Cotton-candied watermelon, raspberry, cherry and strawberry illusions straddle soft honeyed wheat spine of delicate dessert treat. In the bottle, initial vanilla-creamed red velvet cake theme and Black Forest cake uprising get pushed aside by heavily charred hop astringency.
THE BRUERY MELANGE NO.14
On tap at Poor Henry’s, vintage strong ale (13.4% ABV) saturates mighty mocha fudging with bourbon-barreled sherry-port-cognac sweetness and caramelized molasses richness. Elegant bourbon chocolate pleasantry picks up latent candied fig, toasted coconut, plum wine and blackberry accents. A perfect mélange.
THE BRUERY 8 MAIDS-A-MILKING IMPERIAL MILK STOUT
On tap at Poor Henry’s, spirited Christmastime milk stout spreads candi-sugared Belgian yeast spicing across rich black chocolate malting and light cayenne peppering. Lactic milk-sugared vanilla creaming lingers beneath alongside bittersweet cocoa powdering and black cherry tartness.
THE BRUERY 9 LADIES DANCING
On tap at Ambulance. Inspired by lemon custard-based tiramisu Italian dessert, hybridized Belgian strong ale (11.3% ABV) allows Imperial Milk Stout adjuncts to affect its overall impact. Cacao nibs, vanilla and coffee get top billing, picking up sappy molasses sinew as tart tangerine, orange, cherry and sugarplum illusions coddle decadent Armagnac-brandy warmth at the chocolate ladyfingers finish.
TRACTOR 2014 BOURBON BARREL AGED LUNA DE LOS MUERTOS IMPERIAL STOUT
Resilient limited edition Russian Imperial Stout (aged in bourbon barrels and then bottled) retains bittersweet cacao nibs and black chocolate richness alongside bourbon vanilla sugaring. Creamy mocha center gains coconut toasted sweetness as well as fruit-caked plum, black cherry, raisin, apricot and burgundy niceties.
(SOMERVILLE) YANKEE SWAP 2014 IMPERIAL STOUT AGED IN OAK RUM BARRELS
On tap at Julian’s, easygoing chocolate-spiced Imperial Stout (aged in Turkey Shore rum barrels) retains delicate soft-water flow. Syrupy brown chocolate sweetness outlasts white rum entry as hazelnut-wined burgundy and bourbon illusions gain affluence alongside tertiary molasses, vanilla and whiskey undertones.
THIMBLE ISLAND MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
“Exceptionally dark, bold and complex” Imperial Stout brings molasses-smoked maple syruping to fudgy brown chocolate roast, saucy burnt caramel malting, mild espresso coffee nip and wispy ashen hop bittering. Chocolate-covered black cherry sweetness gains casual sherry influence at smoke-glazed mocha finish.
BOULDER SHAKE CHOCOLATE PORTER
‘Devilishly delicious’ chocolate dessert treat tastes like Yoo-Hoo, Hershey’s Milk Chocolate and Tootsie Roll. Creamy brown chocolate sweetness picks up caramel-burnt cacao nibs adjunct as well as subsidiary Black Forest cake, bourbon, toffee, vanilla and hazelnut-glazed sugaring.
SHIPYARD CHOCOLATE MILK STOUT
On tap at Arooga’s, moderated black chocolate and cocoa nibs creaminess picks up charred hop bittering to contrast chalky mocha stead. Below, black grape, black cherry and blackberry wisps try to infiltrate bittersweet dark chocolate finish.
