All posts by John Fortunato

ABITA ABBEY ALE

Inviting auburn-browned Belgian dubbel brings bittersweet raisin-pureed bruised banana to clove-spiced hop sharpness and mossy fungi earthiness. Brown-sugared stewed prune, dark cherry and pecan illusions contrast vinous black grape souring above musty cellar funk. Creamy caramel finish retains chewy dried fruiting. On tap, enjoyable candi-sugared dubbel blends sweet ‘n sour cider pucker into creamy caramel malting and wintry clove-gingerbread spicing. Lingering white peppered hop sharpness usurps peat-mossy red grape, fig, and raisin subsidy.

Abbey Ale - Abita Brewing Company - Untappd

SQUATTERS HOP RISING DOUBLE INDIA PALE ALE

On tap at Aidan’s, Utah brewery’s flagship beer succeeds at making bitter hop-head fare approachable for general consumption. Inviting floral-citric medium body contrasts brusque juniper-hopped grapefruit bittering and resinous pine sapping with tangy orange-tangerine-mango-pineapple fruiting. A glint of lemon zest crystallizes the citra-hopped finish. Heady vodka-like 9% alcohol volume intensifies bitter lupulin influence (but not at the expense of its rounded mouthfeel).

 

BOULDER SHAKE CHOCOLATE PORTER – 2013

While its opening chocolate-caked dark toffee salvo really rocks hard, dirty earthen mustiness and phenolic carbolic fluff seem out of place ruining the acrid mocha finish of this initial faulty 2013 version. Initial dark-roast coffee and black chocolate overtones enrich syrupy molasses sugaring above musky hop char. Chalky Bakers chocolate, vanilla bean and cherry cordial nuances dance by.

CORONADO ORANGE AVENUE WIT

Casual light-bodied witbier hastily gets watery as faltering sweet ‘n soured orange peel entry picks up ginger-honeyed orange blossom perfuming and mild grassy hop acridity over soft white wheat bed. Lemon-candied raspberry tartness, latent coriander spicing, tangy tangerine respite and wispy curacao orange smidge drowned out by phenol carbolic fizz. Faded fruit-spiced finish lacks sugary punch.