All posts by John Fortunato

PEEKSKILL SHOTGUN WILLIE IPA

On tap at Ambulance, easygoing moderation may be stylishly soft-toned, but never at the expense of riveting bark-dried yellow grapefruit bittering. Mild Nelson Sauvin hop tropicalia induces orange-peeled pineapple, mango, papaya, passionfruit and peach illusions as well as wispy gooseberry tartness to backup lemony grapefruit finish. Dry-grained rye wheat bottom seems sufficient.   

STILLWATER OF LOVE & REGRET

On tap at Ambulance, lovely herb-spiced farmhouse ale drapes spring-meadowed ‘heather, chamomile, lavender and dandelion’ botanicals above dewy peat malts and grassy citric hops. Lemony grapefruit, orange, pineapple, peach, pear and tangerine tang brightens subsidiary honeysuckle, rose petal and hibiscus illusions as sweet cinnamon apple, bruised banana and honeydew undertones add further luster.      

STONE ODD YEAR OLD GUARDIAN EXTRA HOPPY BARLEYWINE

On tap at Cloverleaf, highly expressive hopped-up version of annual barleywine brings juicy citric, tropical and stone fruited pleasantries to maple-sugared caramel malting. Tangy orange-bruised grapefruit, tangerine, peach, cherry, cantaloupe, melon, mango and pineapple sweetness as well as subsidiary red apple and brown pear illusions dance on the tongue alongside elegant cognac and almondine nuances. In the recess, boozy whiskey and vodka tangents reside. An excellent 2015 elixir. 

CLIMAX CHERRY SNOW PLOW WINTER ALE

On tap at The Office-Ridgewood, genre-defying English winter warmer provides luscious sour cherry, medicinal cherry, bruised cherry and whiskeyed cherry tartness to wispy Blackstrap molasses sinew. Sherry, raspberry and orange undertones hide below the surface and the sugary cherry soda-like finish betters Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat. Connoisseurs may find take aim at its fizzy soda pop feel and indefinite stylistic candor, but it’s truly splendid. A perfect dessert treat, especially for fruity ale drinkers.

  

ALPINE DUET

Undeniably awesome West Coast India Pale Ale breaks out the tangy citric-hopped fruitiness, elegant floral-spiced splendor and pungently resinous pine freshness to impress any true beer lover. Sweet navel orange, bitter yellow grapefruit and sour pineapple cut loose initially, followed succinctly by harmonious Valencia orange, clementine, peach, cantaloupe, nectar, tangerine, mango, pear and red apple juicing. A flavorful Simcoe-Amarillo hop adventure sure to please everyone (except lightweights thrown off by its minor aspirin-like astringency).   

Alpine Duet