Intensely resembling Yoo-Hoo chocolate drink upon impact, sweet maltose-intense medium body also assimilates dark toffee-centered Hershey’s Whoppers, chocolate nougat-derived Milky Way Bars, caramel-candied Milk Duds and vanilla-doused creme brulee. But its recessively contrasted charred-oats astringency works against the creamy milk chocolate dessert treat, depleting some of its rich mocha resonance.
All posts by John Fortunato
SIERRA NEVADA NARHWAL IMPERIAL STOUT
On tap at Coalhouse Pizza, ‘decadent velvety smooth’ full body gains blissful oats-sugared dark and brown chocolate sweetness above molasses-sapped espresso nuttiness. Vanilla bean, Bakers chocolate, creme de cocoa and hazelnut coffee illusions flutter.
LEFT HAND NITRO MILK STOUT
Silky smooth nitro-injected lactose-sugared dessert with soft-toned chocolate-kissed creaming and silken éclair head gaining dry coffee-roasted espresso-cappuccino milding over oats-flaked hop char. Residual cocoa-vanilla pleasantries, minor wood-seared nuttiness and eggy mocha custard caress desirous milk chocolate theme. Arguably the standard amongst nitro stouts, outselling the entire competition.
KANE MORNING BELL COFFEE PORTER (2013)
On tap at Andy’s Corner Bar, stimulating ‘Imperial Milk Porter’ packs Rook’s Sumatra dark-roast coffee bittering into rich mocha setting. Milk-sugared dark chocolate, cappuccino and espresso tones hang in the balance as copious coffee bean influence dictates awesome flavor profile.
PORT SANTA’S LITTLE HELPER
Cherished Christmastime Russian Imperial Stout brings rich brown chocolate creaming to dark Belgian candi sugaring, burnt caramel malting and oats-flaked dried cocoa. Creme brulee surge picks up Madagascar bourbon vanilla silking, mild espresso milking and toasted almond buttering. Backend hop-charred acridity seeps into sweet molasses-treacled chocolate finish. Perfect for all seasons.
ABITA IMPERIAL LOUISIANA OYSTER STOUT
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, creamy brown chocolate entry intensified by briny oceanic oyster shelling. Cocoa-powdered caramel malting picks up cocoa nibs, chocolate nougat, toffee, pecan and creme brulee illusions. Mild curry-peppered snip spices up oats-charred mocha theme.
PERENNIAL FANTASTIC VOYAGE MILK STOUT (WITH COCONUT)
Efficient ‘harmonic melange’ balances sweet milk chocolate creaminess with black toffee, cocoa nibs, vanilla fudge and caramel latte illusions above honeyed Graham Cracker base. Setback oats-sugared coconut sweetness and sneaky black licorice snip engage cedar-chipped bourbon and burgundy flourishes at the generous mocha-spiced finish.
NEW ENGLAND GHOST PIGEON PORTER
On tap at Coalhouse Pizza, searing oats-toasted hop char deepens rich black coffee bittering and caramel-burnt dark chocolate roast over charcoal-tarred acridity of ebony-browned full body. Tobacco chaw, raw molasses and espresso illusions thicken robust mocha-dried theme. Black cherry hints come and go.
CRICKET HILL SMALL BATCH SMOKED RYE
Surefire smoke-infused rye beer does fine impression of German-styled rauchbier with its beechwood-logged hickory-charred cedar burn and salami-seared cured meat streak. Beneath, black-breaded rye toasting and dark chocolate malts contrast mild black peppered hop bittering. Serve to Aecht Schlenkerla and Kaiserdom Rauchbier lovers.
DOGFISH HEAD TA HENKET
Recondite amber-yellowed herbal-spiced moderation brings boundless complexities to ambitious flavor profile of exotic ancient Egyptian recipe. By balancing its brisk tropical-fruited aspect with the herbaceous sesame-seeded chamomile, basil, thyme, bayleaf, oregano, green mint and black tea illusions sidling musty saffron, chrysanthemum and rose petal florality, its multi-tiered accents abound delicately above the soft hearth-baked bread backbone. After a few sips, green chili-peppered Indian spices break thru the zesty palm-fruited kaffir lime, lemon, melon and honeydew serenity, bringing ginger-rooted cumin, curry and fenugreek nuances to the busy elixir.
CARTON DECOY
Fulsome winter warmer with Belgian strong ale roots plies sugary dried fruiting to chocolate-spiced whiskey malting. Coming on thick and heavy, its chewy raisin, fig and prune conflux picks up bruised orange and black cherry notions. Advertised cumin, coriander, lavender, red peppercorn and honey influence Belgian candi-sugared sweetness. ’13 version: brown-sugared cinnamon-nutmeg-ginger spicing upped alongside sharpened alcohol astringency for even bolder winter warmer.
KANE BELGIAN HEADS HIGH I.P.A.
Vibrant West Coast-styled India Pale Ale given well-suited Trappist yeast strain to deepen fruited luster. Belgian candi-sugaring sweetens tangy peach, apricot, tangerine and melon juiciness, contrasting mild grapefruit-peeled orange rind bittering. Slight ethanol burn sneaks thru ripe citric finish. Just a tad more complex than original Heads High.
