On tap at Blue Ribbon Tavern, intriguing autumnal dark ale evenly blends many fine adjuncts. Lightly creamed smoked mocha malting surges against sweet pumpkin-spiced cinnamon and nutmeg persistence. Black grape, raisin and prune conflux serenades subtle macca-rooted chestnut notions at the back end. Mild coffee roast and chalky cocoa dryness reinforce bittersweet chocolate preponderance that never overwhelms sugared pumpkin stead.
Heady bourbon-barreled pumpkin porter (with 17% ABV) makes a convincing argument for best autumnal seasonal ever. Evenly splitting gourd-spiced intrigue with dark-roasted mocha malt creaming, its lovely sweet bourbon warmth completely envelops its indelible entirety. Caramel-burnt black chocolate prominence picks up brown-sugared nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom, allspice and anise seasoning to increasingly sweeten the pumpkin puree-sugared midst. Bourbon vanilla, coconut, toffee, bruised banana and maple sap illusions add further depth to fascinating seasonal.
Spot-on moderation with pasty barley-wheat stead and cereal grain toasting picks up lemony peach-orange-tangerine tang above spicy citric hop peppering. A bit bland in this day and age of big beers and specialty hybrids, but never off-putting.
Hefty Madagascar vanilla bean adjunct and delicate cocoa nibs influence spread across capacious brown chocolate malting. Coarse dark-roasted hop char singes dark-roasted mocha malting, embittering the dry lactic finish.
Commodious soft-watered medium body combines unusual adjuncts with stylish dark-roasted black chocolate malting and peat-smoked hop char. Brewers’ black licorice adjunct creates gentle anise spicing for Blackstrap molasses, and to a lesser extent, Belgian dark rock candy sugaring, affecting caramel-burnt dark bourbon, creme brulee, milked espresso and soy milk undertones. Burnt wood chaff, black tar residue and charred nut bittering contrast creamy mocha essence.
Engrossing Indian palm-sugared Belgian-style ale maintains strong medicinal pungency as dank cellar-like yeast mildewing and lemony white-peppered hops contrast honey-fruited caramel malting and creamy vanilla sedation. Obvious bourbon-tinged alcohol burn may dissuade lighter thirsts, its but massive flavor profile provides tremendous depth. Ancillary banana daiquiri, bruised orange, lemon meringue, peach, apricot, mango, pear, apple and mandarin orange undertones sweeten fulsome fruit-spiced finish.
Swerving away from typical citric-pined India Pale Ale styling, rounded dry body suffers from overstated and everlasting 10% alcohol burn. Furthermore, toasted cereal graining and sweet floral fruiting overwhelm bitter grapefruit-orange-pineapple expectancy, never giving sweet pear-cherry-tangerine-peach illusions a chance to ascend. Sugared spruce niceties contrast piney bitterness in deep recess.
Tropical ‘mild mannered’ summer ale loads aggressive Citra-Simcoe-Centennial hop oil stickiness onto wood-grained yellow grapefruit bittering. Mild floral aspect secures sunny citric nature and toasted caramel malting provides ‘red’ ale respite. Pleasant peach-fuzzed pineapple, mango and kiwi undertones brighten the corners.
On tap at 381 Main, mystifyingly audacious pumpkin pie-spiced medium body succeeds at re-creating brown-buttered zucca ravioli with its doughy pasta flouring, herbal sage cream saucing, grated biscotti variance and anise cookie notion (picking up lacquered shellac varnishing). Roasted pumpkin seed midst allows botanical butternut squash, zucchini and white gourd illusions to lighten the herbal dry-hopped bittering. A stylishly hybridized autumnal original that’s sure to enlighten experienced palates.
On tap at 381 Main, capacious cinnamon-spiced pumpkin pie theme runs thru ambitious autumnal ale. Creamily rich caramel malting, modest gingerbread niche and sugared vanilla respite deepen detailed pumpkin puree interior. Sugar-spiced butternut squash, glazed acorn squash and sweet yam undertones add to overall sweetness. Sharp carbolic fizz nips at the nose. Perfect sweet-tooth dessert.
On tap at 381 Main, sessionably smooth sweet-spiced pumpkin pie alternative offers cinnamon-sticked nutmeg, allpsice and ginger seasoning for elegantly buoyant setting. Sweet orange peel zest adds citric appeal to delicate pumpkin sugaring and thin pumpkin-skinned salting.
On Tap at Blue Ribbon Tavern, highly respected hop-forward amber ale compares favorably to sessionable IPA’s with its bright fruited frontage and resinous floral pining. Up-front, red apple and pear sweetness rules the roost over mild yellow grapefruit-peeled orange rind bittering. Wood-toned hops sharpen the bitter end and contrast the light biscuit-y malt base.
