On tap at Growler & Gill (and taking its moniker from Robert Plant’s impromptu exclamation at MSG “Stairway To Heaven” performance), dapper juicy-fruited IPA loads yellow grapefruit bittering atop oily hop resin and sweet sugar spice contrast. Engagingly floral-daubed pineapple, peach, papaya and orange tropicalia settles way below tangy grapefruit assault.
On tap at Growler & Gill (and taking its moniker from the opening line of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”), soft-toned IPA brings dynamic sugar-spiced citrus affluence to tamped-down grassy hop bittering and light pine resin. Lemony grapefruit, pineapple, orange, tangerine, peach and citron tang resonates, but not too brightly. Consistently winning flavor profile stays even keel.
On tap at Craft House, floral-perfumed citrus juicing arrives above musky pine resin. Zesty lemon-peeled orange and grapefruit effervescence gains moderate grassy hop bitterness to contrast peach, mango, pineapple and papaya sweetness. Heavenly bliss.
Prevalent yellow grapefruit tang settles down and picks up bitter dry-hopped lemon seed aspect and green tea snicker above white bread bottom. Sharp citrus affluence increased in the midst by caramelized pilsner malting as tertiary pineapple, mango, tangerine and mango surface alongside zesty grapefruit juicing.
On tap at Growler & Gill, soft-toned California collaboration places slightly sharp citrus tang atop dry wood tone, retaining bubbly carbolic spritz. Yellow grapefruit, navel orange, peach and tangerine tones brighten sunny day IPA.
Not half as ‘burly’ as advertised nor as welcoming as Colorado version, perfectly centrist medium-bodied India Pale Ale (bottled in newer Asheville facility) provides bright lemony orange-peeled grapefruit, pineapple, peach and mango tang to floral-daubed grassy hop bittering and resinous pine spike in polite manner. Brisk clean-watered crisping invigorates tropical fruiting. Watch for rubbery sulfuric off-taste and aspirin-like alkalinity when warmed.
Salty seaweed adjunct nips sharp piney hop bittering and ultra-dry grapefruit peel pucker. Mild orange rind, pineapple and mango undertones relinquished by oaken bark-dried astringency.
Sticky honeyed apricot sweetness gets cloy above white-sugared caramel malting and phenol aspartame plasticity. White-peppered apricot, peach, fig and tangerine tang denigrated by clay-like platiscine grouting while murkily vodka-like 12% ABV astringency diminishes lacquered apricot finish.
On tap at Craft House, brusquely hop-embittered saison allows juniper-like tartness and dry hardwood musk to penetrate sharp orange rind, lemon peel and gooseberry illusions. Despite deep citric hop bitterness at finish, lightly soured saison surprisingly comes in at low 4.4% ABV.
“Sophisticated lawnmower beer” is slightly sour saison affected by light brettanomyces bacteria, vinous yellow-green grape serenade and oats-dried pilsner malting. Cider-licked Cabernet blanc, Sauvignon blanc and Cabernet illusions pick up zesty lemon spritz as well as black-peppered orange peel bittering and wildflower-honeyed lemongrass herbage.
On tap at Plank Pizza, interestingly hybridized wine-barrel aged saison (with camouflaged 7.9 ABV) offers contagious brettanomyces-soured peach overtones to vinous white grape frisk and lemon-rotted orange, apricot, pineapple, gooseberry and tangerine tartness. Mild herbal perfumed citrus niche and residual lemongrass stint counteract musty barnyard rusticity just below dried peach adjunct.
On tap at Plank Pizza, seductive moderate-bodied ‘aphrodisiac’ (2016 version) offers saison-like lemon-peeled orange zest, honeyed ginger herbage and perfumed lavender oiling to delicate pilsner wheat malting. Pithy cologne waft complements delicate floral-citric pleasantry and subtly sweet coriander spicing for refreshingly clean witbier offshoot.
