On tap at Spot Pizza, entertaining Belgian strong ale (8.4% ABV) contrasts saison-like sour citrus splurge against tripel-styled candi-sugaring and spritzy lemon zest. Brisk carbolic thrust allows crisply clean mineral watering to brighten white-peppered orange, tangerine, peach, mango and grilled pineapple undertones as well as sharp herbal hop bittering.
Easygoing tripel brings lemon-candied banana tartness to light herbal spicing and funky Belgian yeast peppering. Ancillary mandarin orange, peach, apricot and tangerine tang needs deeper resonance. Latent lemon meringue, orange marmalade and grilled pineapple undertones waver.
On tap at The Oath, ‘devilish’ floral-spiced herbage treks thru white-peppered fruiting of lightly creamed Belgian-styled pale ale. Lemony orange-peach-pineapple tang seeps into gingery honeyed clove sweetness, oaken Chardonnay wining and wafting chrysanthemum-dandelion-sunflower bouquet. Balanced, rich and elegant.
On tap at Poor Henry’s, ‘Orange Vanilla Bullsicle’ re-creates summery Creamsicle splendor in similar fashion as Defiant Orange Creamsicle, but its bitterer Citra hop profile brings denser textural intensity. Vanilla-creamed orange zest permeates spritzy lemon prickle and sugared pale malts.
Moderate blueberry pie theme rides above light pilsner-malted white wheat spine. Zesty lemon prickle adds fizzy carbolic spritz, but up-front blueberry-juiced essence interfered by phenol hop acridity.
On tap at The Oath, locally grained maibock lets dry spelt wheat acridity overtake mild fruitiness of smooth mineral watered moderation. Easygoing summertime fodder for golden lager lightweights.
On tap at The Oath, well-rounded maibock brings sweet ‘n sour fruiting to mild floral herbage, grassy hop astringency and sugared pale malting. Lightly corn-syruped peach, pineapple, orange and tangerine tang lingers softly above dry white-peppered parsley leafing, fresh oregano flowering and oaken vanilla whim.
Sessionable ‘hoppy Czech pilsner’ (circa 2016) brings zesty lemon resolve to lightly creamed sugar-spiced pilsner malting and mild herbal notion. Crisp Bohemian-styled moderation gains raw-grained Centennial hop pungency and dried maize acridity to engage sour lemon seed finish. Fine summer fodder.
On tap at Poor Henry’s, brisk clean-watered light pilsner counters citric Cascade hops against wood-dried Chinook hops while placing corn-dried pilsner malts opposite sugary caramel malts. Floral-spiced lemony grapefruit tang lingers softly over dry pine resin. Summery and sessionable.
On tap at The Oath, pungent Bohemian-styled pilsner connects dank sourdough grain breading and dry cracked barley crisping to moderate Czech hop astringency, leaning on the more assertive side stylistically.
“Classic Czech-styled pilsner” connects pungent Saaz-Hallertau hop bittering to corn-flaked mineral graininess, lightly creamed caramel malting, salted orange-lemon tartness and doughy yeast breading. Mild sulfuric skunking, in conjunction with sharply bitter hops and musky grains, will appeal to Eastern Euro pilsner lovers and Heineken fans.
OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND
Right on Ocean City’s bustling bayfront in a large multifaceted complex, ASSAWOMAN BREW PUB & RESTAURANT features a cement-floored pub area, sizable restaurant space, second floor banquet room, kitschy tiki bar, windowed brew tank station and patio dining section. Within walking distance of the Civic Center, the yellow-hued frontage and red lettering hail from the days Shallow Water Pub & Restaurant existed.
Open for biz since 2015 (and closed 2017), my wife and I grabbed a seat at the sidewinding wood lacquered bar (with cool brewing coasters and stickers) for our late afternoon snack time, June ’16. Equipped with 36 tap handles (dedicated to its own brews plus several fine craft beers), plentiful wood furnishings and Edison lighting, the red-bricked barroom centers Assawoman Bay’s interior.
Classic reggae music plays in the background as I sample seven stylish elixirs. We move outside when the enjoyable Texas Toothpicks (beer-battered jalapeno and onions with sriracha mayo) arrive and the place fills up with the Monday dinner crowd.
For starters, Assawoman Bay’s initial release, Bayside Blonde, took a walk on the wild side with its minty cucumber adjunct adding a sage-like tease to the tropical mango-guava tang, candi-sugared yellow fruiting and lemon-soured pineapple juicing overriding mild diacetyl buttering.
Beechwood-smoked peat malts imbibed For Peat Sake Scottish Ale, a mildly nutty mocha-spiced moderation with wavered black cherry and black grape notions. Spiced rye malts, dry walnut and fig secured Red Head Rye Ale, a soft-toned medium body.
Instructive ‘peppercorn’ and garlic’ adjuncts provided a unique sidebar to Pony Swim IPA, where dry wood shavings tingle sharp Cascade-hopped orange and grapefruit spicing as well as caramelized pilsner malts.
Easygoing Angry Clown Brown Ale brought nuts, raisin and dark cherry to the fore as caramelized biscuit malts and coffee-stained Fuggle hop bittering gained latent hazelnut, fig and molasses undertones. Not as clearly defined, TransPorter traipsed dry cocoa above desolate vanilla and caramel tones.
The darkest ale, Commodore Decatur Black IPA, brought thriving black chocolate and dark cocoa overtones to dry grapefruit tartness while its damp-wooded hop char gained bitterness.
Unfortunately, the ever-popular Weizen Shine Hefe kicked right before we entered.
Though this copious venue may seem mainstream with its affluent sportsbar feel, family-styled pub dining and mall-like atmosphere, Assawoman Bay’s fine beer selection will capture everyone’s attention.
assawomanbaybrewing.com