On tap at Ambulance, triumphant Imperial Stout given bourbon-barreled sour cherries to heighten “richer, heartier” mocha richness. Bittersweet chocolate malting gains creamy molasses sugaring that serenades oaken vanilla dryness, vinous port wining and bourbon whiskey elegance. Combative black cherry sourness spreads across expansive mocha-spiced finish.
All posts by John Fortunato
URBAN CHESTNUT HARWOOD MYTH ENGLISH-STYLE PORTER
On tap at Ambulance, robust English porter spreads smoky mocha-roasted affluence across bitter hop char and ashen nuttiness. Dark chocolate, dried cocoa, black coffee and raw molasses overtones segue into walnut-burnt peanut roast. Mild black cherry tease settles below rich nutty mocha surface.
URBAN CHESTNUT STLIPA INDIA PALE ALE
On tap at Ambulance, fine St. Louis-referenced IPA melds citric-perfumed Cascade hop bittering to wood-dried Chinook hop astringency above sugared pale malting. Yellow grapefruit peel briskness overrides orange, tangerine and clementine illusions. Floral-daubed pine resin deepens citric resonance.
SNAKE RIVER PAKO’S IPA
On tap at Ambulance, centrist hop-head delight goes right down the middle with expectant citric-oiled hop pungency and lightly resinous pine bittering. Lemony orange, pineapple, tangerine and mango tang affixes musky dry-wooded astringency. Soft white-breaded bottom provides friendly backend for lighter thirsts.
OTHER HALF MOTUEKA PALE ALE
On tap at Ambulance, mild-mannered pale ale spreads aromatic citric-pined Cascade hop bittering across the floral tropicality of New Zealand’s Motueka hop sedation. Cologne-perfumed citrus fruiting maintains crispness as dry lemon-seeded grapefruit rind bite lingers. Wispy mango, passionfruit and guava undertones could be pushed forward.
SAINT SOMEWHERE WAYWARD CORSAIR
On tap at Ambulance, gose-like farmhouse ale ‘foraged by Gulf Coast water’ (and brewed in collab w/ Late Start) brings moderate sour-candied lemon tartness to salty limestone pucker and vinous green grape tannins.
MYSTIC NEW DAY RISING HOPPY FARMHOUSE ALE
On tap at Ambulance, moderate-bodied farmhouse ale contrasts soft tropical fruiting and syrupy honey malting with herbaceous hop astringency. Fluttering banana-skinned plantain snip and fresh-watered celery crisping backend subtle lemony grapefruit wisp at sweet n’ sour citrus finish.
NORTH COAST PUCK
On tap at Ambulance, docile straw-cleared 25th anniversary ‘petite saison’ retains sedate citric-soured herbage, dry pilsner-wheat malting, light white-peppered hop bite and neutral cracker banter. Lemon-seeded bittering upends floral-spiced pineapple, mango and passionfruit tropicalia. In the bottle, crisply clean dry-hopped yellow fruiting gained floral-spiced sweetness and minor barnyard acridity as wispy grapefruit, mandarin orange and lemon peel tartness subsides.
SINGLECUT JAN OLYMPIC WHITE LAGRRR
On tap at Ambulance, ambitious moderation expands pale lager styling by adding distinct ginger lemon tea subtleties and varied herbal nuances to usual citric-spiced pale malting. Casual orange, tangerine and clementine fruiting picks up minty chamomile notion halfway through. Teasing orange blossom, lemongrass and sage wisps flutter.
THE BRUERY HUMULUS LAGER
On tap at Ambulance, respected hop-forward India Pale Lager drapes sticky hop oiled resin all over herbal-pined citrus bittering and well hidden 7.2% ABV astringency. Lemony navel orange, clementine and tangerine expectancy heightened by dry pine freshness and aromatic floral bouquet.
SMUTTYNOSE BLUEBERRY SHORT WEISS
On tap at Ambulance, leathery Berliner weiss lacks advertised blueberry flavor and aromatics. Instead, tart lemon, oaken cherry and sour yogurt illusions camouflage blueberry blurb as mouth-puckering lactobacillus acidity increases above ultra-dry salt watered bottom.
HALF FULL PEACH WHEAT ALE
On tap at Ambulance, sedate off-dry peach skin tartness brings arid parch to soap-stoned mandarin orange lilt and unripe fig snip. Light white wheat backbone softly fortifies peachy snicker. In the can, peach puree lacquers candied lemon souring and honeyed wheat spine.