On tap at Assawoman Bay Brew Pub, pronounced mango juiciness enhanced by candied orange sugaring and tangy pineapple-mango-guava tropicalia above honeyed pale malting. Loud mango sweetness and perfumed citrus-spiced continuance will appease any fruit ale lover. In the can, aromatic cotton-candied mango sweetness and honeyed cereal grain sugaring absorbed by oncoming orange-peeled grapefruit bittering and resinous pine nip.
Large maple-sugared blueberry contingent sweetens above Cascade-hopped Meyer lemon tang, pale wheat malting and clover-honeyed Graham Cracker spine. Lacquered blueberry syruping thickens over time.
Utilizing popular Weihenstephaner yeast strain, approachable limited edition hefeweizen (2016) gets washed-out after stylish lemony banana-clove sweetness turns tepidly tart and slightly soapy above soft white bread base.
On tap at Mahwah Bar & Grill, stylishly thin, but highly sessionable IPA, may lack pizzazz, but its lightly perfumed citric splash and resinous piney hop prickle will gain lighter thirsts attention. Spicy tangerine peel sweetness and lemony yellow grapefruit tang fade fast above dry pale malt spine.
Lovely floral-herbal spicing buttresses lingered sweet ‘n sour citrus tang with “lavender, marjoram and bay leaf” adjuncts as well as chamomile, thyme, basil, saffron and fennel illusions above dry rye malting for culinary delight. Sugared lemon, key lime, mandarin orange and peach tones brighten the surface while nutmeg hints further sweeten lustrous saison.
Sharply intense Nugget hop acidity fortifies herbal citrus astringency that’s softened by biscuity rye-pilsner malting. Lemony orange and grapefruit tangent never gains prominence over distant earthen graining.
Soothing summertime softie offers dry grapefruit aromatics, subtle hibiscus flowering and tart mandarin orange tingle to dainty salted lemon bittering. Light pilsner-wheat malting underlines zesty citric finish.
World class gose combines briny sea-salted melon rind dryness with lightly acidic lemon lime pucker and brief cucumber-watered watermelon, cantaloupe, passionfruit, guava, kiwi and pomegranate pleasantries. Spritzy lemon-limed crisping retains sour fruit-brined acridity. A bit unspecific with its ‘melon’ influence, but lingeringly memorable.
Soured passionfruit theme pillages tart lemon-limed briny salting and light lactic acidity of easygoing mouth puckering refreshment. Wispy pineapple, mango, white grape and crab apple tones nearly lost among salty lemon-juiced passionfruit bittering at finish.
Delightful tangerine-inspired India Pale Ale stays refreshingly crisp and clean. Zesty tangerine juicing soaks up lemony orange, grapefruit, mango, peach and pineapple tang above gentle resinous hop bittering. Candied citric malting and light floral aspect further sweeten sessionable tropical delight.
OCEAN BEACH, MARYLAND
A few miles off the Ocean City strip on Ocean Gateway lies the 7,000 square-foot WEST O BOTTLE SHOP & BAR, a fabulous craft beer, fine wine and spirits outlet with creatively designed interior wood trellises, central bar with several draught taps and left side lounge.
Selling the finest local bottled and canned beers while offering a few select draughts at the bar, West O has become a staple for local consumers and curious travelers.
On my June ’16 stopover, there were five previously untried Maryland brews on tap (reviewed in full at Beer Index). Burley Oak High Whhheat Hibiscus brought floral hibiscus and lavender adjuncts to buttery Chardonnay tones and subtle citric notions while Union Country Boy Citric Wit dried out its lemony banana-clove-coriander sweetness with sharp hop astringency. Heavy Seas/ Troegs Hoppelbock, a doppelbock collaboration, doused sweet tropical fruiting with floral-spiced hops and caramel malts.
Onward, Rubber Soul High Wheel IPA had a soft-toned approachability dangling floral pineapple-peach-orange-mango fruiting above its soft wheat spine. RAR Habanero Nectar layered peppery habanero heat inside subtle IPA tropicalia.
www.west-o.net
On tap at West O, winning dry-hopped doppelbock lager collaboration between Maryland’s Heavy Seas and Pennsylvania’s Troegs brings floral-spiced mango, cherry and red grape tang to bittersweet grapefruit-pineapple-orange serenade. Moderate resinous hop bittering contrasts caramelized Vienna malting.
