Penetrating lactose-aided Baltic porter with bold stout-like character (and concealed 9.2% alcohol fervor) boasts outstanding hop-charred molasses-soaked coffee bean theme. Creamy vanilla, espresso, and cappuccino illusions outlast milky black chocolate-y respite and roasted walnut-hazelnut remnant. On par with the finest caffeine-doused java brews. On tap, bittersweet black chocolate theme gains coffee bean richness, cherry-soured hazelnut souring, and liqueur-ish vanilla latte remnant.
All posts by John Fortunato
SIERRA NEVADA TORPEDO EXTRA I.P.A.
Bold amber-hazed rocky-headed India Pale Ale boosts bright citrus theme above resinous piney hop bite. Creamy caramel malts counter lemony grapefruit rind, orange peel and black currant bitterness as well as grassy herbal respite. Earthen raw-grained pungency hardens resolve while tertiary apricot tang, apple balm, and melon ripeness increase fruit juiciness.
(SHMALTZ) CONEY ISLAND HUMAN BLOCKHEAD LAGER
Eye-catching circus freak-labeled series continues with complex 10% alcohol-fueled German-styled doppelbock posing as a strong lager. Sugary ginger sweetness invades red cherry, golden raisin, purple grape, and apricot fruitiness as well as buttery molasses-chocolate malting. Peppery hop fizz simmers tertiary gin-soaked barleywine, Chardonnay, and rum boozing and slight metallic twang. Like the finest non-flavored vodka, this full-bodied lager elevates its supplemental ingredients.
SAMUEL ADAMS HONEY PORTER
Resinous ruddy brown porter with hop-roasted get-up places creamy honey nut sweetness, charitable cocoa-buttered mocha sway, and bruised cherry-prune tang against overwhelming wood-charred bittering. Full-bodied and well balanced, but lacking assertive chocolate-coffee finish.
SAMUEL ADAMS WHITE ALE (2008)
As long as these inviting spice-racked winter seasonals keep evolving, separate entries will be apropos. Lilting hazy golden ’08 version flings vanilla-sweetened coriander-anise spicing against plum-blueberry souring and orange-lemon peel bittering. Mild rose hip, dandelion, and jasmine traces lace soft peppery hop fizz.
SAMUEL ADAMS BLACKBERRY WITBIER
Fragrant black and blueberry mouthfeel more pronounced than phenol-hopped cranberry souring. Metallic twang soaks up tart fruited candy influence to soapy blackberry finish. Needs thicker malt seepage and sturdier white-breaded spine. On second passing, ripe blackberry-raspberry fruiting had firmer honeyed wheat spine and grazing Mandarin orange, tangerine, and peach snip.
ST. LOUIS PECHE
Cloying fruited lambic features roaring sweet ‘n sour peach tartness, but suffers from astringent diacetyl acidity. Syrupy peach thickness overwhelms vinous cider wasteland and tinsel-y apricot spritz to puckering citric acerbity.
ROCK ART DOUBLE PORTER SMOKED
(PENNICHUCK) FIREMAN’S PAIL ALE
Simple biscuit-y treat. Obvious barley-toasted caramel malting counters dry hop-spiced astringency. Cardboard-y cocoa-powdered marzipan reminder has polite acidic bitterness and soft nuttiness of copper ale. Brewery defunct: 2010.
LEINENKUGEL’S CLASSIC AMBER
Blatant phenol acerbity drains light-bodied easy-drinkin’ amber ale. Slender sweet-corned cereal graining, barren honey-roasted malt whimper, and desolate almond paste divergence weaken latent sour orange tang.
LAGUNITAS HOP STOOPID (I.P.A.)
Mega-hop bitterness and appreciable 7.7% alcohol boozing never overwhelm sumptuous Imperial India Pale Ale. Bright piney nectar aroma suits ripe ruby red grapefruit frontage. Juicy apricot, apple, tangerine, and pineapple zing drapes latent woody dryness and mild floral accents quite effectively.
ISSAQUAH MENAGE A FROG BELGIAN-STYLE TRIPEL ALE
Appealing sunny-hazed tripel in green 26-ounce wine bottle maintains lightly embittered white ale fruitiness. Prominent citric hop zest brings pink lemonade, red grapefruit, and pineapple tang to candi-sugared vanilla wafer midst. Cork-scented Muscat grape, Granny Smith apple, and brown pear nuances recline towards buttered Chardonnay finish.