Minimally carbonated dry white wine sourness gains dank orange peel bittering and apple cider tartness to peculiar lemon-bruised finish. Too unassuming and unbalanced, though 6.5% alcohol volume mildly reassuring. Serve with sharp cheese.
All posts by John Fortunato
VAPEUR COCHONNE AMBER ALE
Seriously heady sunset-hued barleywine-spiced ale awakens senses with moldy tangerine nose, gin-soaked juniper embrace, and silken Chardonnay-Cognac-Courvoisier subsidy. Alcohol-soaked syrupy malt setting invites fig-prune affluence to saturate rum raisin contour, overripe banana illusion, vanilla offing, and creamy caramel catapult. Medicinal finish picks up dense sour apple and bruised peach nip.
(VAN DIEST) FRULI STRAWBERRY WHITE BEER
Brewed in Belgium for England’s Van Diest company, cream-centered unfiltered wheat beer surges forth with natural nectar juicing. Easy flowing spring water nicety receives sterling hop softening as massively sweet-tart strawberry rasp covers nose, tongue, and throat. Strong fructose zest continues unfettered as lively cranberry tartness and orange-peeled coriander spicing subsume sticky malt sass.
(VANDENBOSSCHE) PATER LIEVEN TRIPEL ABBEY ALE
Incisive honeyed orange-nectarine-coriander melange enhances minor plum souring and cotton-candied coughdrop sweetness of gooey sediment-filled amber-hazed moderate body. Buttery effervescence penetrates impending fresh cut chaffed wheat and permissive clove-ginger-peppercorn seasoning, but disparaging dirty grain earthiness and watery fizz-hopped finish nullify up-front medicinal promise.
(VANDENBOSSCHE) BUFFALO BELGIAN STOUT
Thin mahogany-hued disappointment with oily 9% alcohol diffidence suffers from dank mildewed malting and dirty graining. Coarse resinous hop roast soaks up cola nut glance, tepid lactose trickle, and latent red wined acidity.
VALLEY FORGE PALE ALE
Inviting hop spicing provides meager character to non-specific dry ale, as unassuming grain sweetness nips minimal finish. Brewery defunct: 2006.
VALLEY FORGE IMPERIAL STOUT
Deep brown Imperial embeds syrupy malt resin into rich barley-hop roast. Not nearly as heavy or mocha-like as better stouts, and thus, lacking a thorough finish and sturdy distinction. Brewery defunct: 2006.
UTICA CLUB PILSENER LAGER
Supposed first beer sold post-prohibition offers sweet corn-malt nose and minor wheat-barley mouthfeel countering prickly hop bite and fizzy citric zest to salty bottom.
UTENOS PORTER
Strong prune entry receives dry barleywine assurance as sugarplum, fig, and raisin embellish molasses-honeyed caramel malting. But lack of mocha richness and an indigent finish lighten unassuming 6.8% alcohol flow of apprehensive turbidly copper-hazed porter.
UTENOS GERIMAI BEER
The first Lithuanian beer imbibed (circa ’07) has 4.8% alcohol strength, muted barley waft, soapy grain malts, and hearty brown ale-like mocha nuttiness. Soft citric hop zest provides additional depth to creamy honey-roasted finish.
UTENOS ALUS LAGER
Woozy malt whiskey waft and musty sourdough pungency upset sweet cereal-grained corn sugar frontage and biscuit-y wheat remnant. Faint hop bittering, suspect orange candy fizz, and herbal tinge of pale medium-bodied Baltic brew reach unwelcome astringency, though grainy thickness bests most lagers.
USHERS INDIA PALE ALE
Deep golden ale with unassuming waft, washed-out citrus sweetness, and extremely flaccid water flow lacks sufficient bite. Charred wood chip bitterness at orange-grapefruit finish gives it slight edge over weaker competitors.