Well balanced hazy copper medium body overlays dry floral-spiced wood-toned hops with wheat-cracked cereal-grained toasting and tangy grapefruit-pear-strawberry-cantaloupe fruiting.
All posts by John Fortunato
SHERWOOD FOREST MAIDEN’S BLUEBERRY ALE
Fresh blueberry essence ignites golden-hazed fruit ale. But corn-oiled grassy-bottomed acridity, phenol hop bittering and delicate lacquering nearly undermine sweet and sour blueberry ripeness.
SHERWOOD FOREST ARCHER’S PALE ALE
Nebulous coppery dry-bodied English-styled ale benefits from up-front brown chocolate-y molasses malting and ancillary chestnut-tobacco sweetness. However, drab phenol-hopped aridity and overriding diacetyl nature diminish honey grained midst to bland mocha finish. A modest acquisition.
SHEPHERD NEAME SPITFIRE PREMIUM ALE EXPORT
Britain’s oldest brewery (since 1698) bottles this regal English premium. Strong, sharp, and full of character, Spitfire’s sweet whiskey entry, creamy butterscotch center, and chewy caramel malting deliver quite a kick. Bitter-hopped citric-spiced red ale-like finish recieves refreshing water crisping.
SHEPHERD NEAME 1698 CELEBRATION ALE
Doughy aromatic yeast, gently dissipating hops and sedate mineral-watered smoothness mollify sweet Scotch malting. Less obtrusive than most stronger, finer English ales. Inoffensive enough to be recommended to amateurs.
SHEPHERD NEAME ORIGINAL PORTER
Robust mocha-malted bronze porter nearly gives Sam Smith’s Tadcaster a run for the money. Though too watery to hit those lofty heights, roasted barleymalts advance ripe fruitcake sweetness and chocolate-toffee creaminess for rich full body.
SHEPHERD NEAME INDIA PALE ALE
Aromatic spiced hops, sweet caramel malting, and smooth barley-nut warmth welcome mild amber-hazed IPA, but watery ambiance takes away its nascent luster.
SHEPHERD NEAME BISHOPS FINGER KENTISH ALE
Healthy, hearty, heady Extra Special Bitter counters heavy grain influence and silken yeast sweetness with vinous grape touch. Toasted barleymalts enrich edgy hop bitterness matching pungent earthy aroma. Well balanced and sturdy from first swallow to finish.
SHENANDOAH STONY MAN STOUT
Sturdily creamy deep maroon full body gathers irresistible sour mocha resonance to complement ice coffee swatch. Port notes encounter macadamia-walnut-cola nut bittering before burnt caramel finish reinforces brown chocolate sweetness. Brewery defunct: 2010.
SHENANDOAH SKYLAND RED ALE
Turbid sunset orange ale retains highly carbolic phenol flow, depleting dry barley-wheat base and soapy orange rind-embittered peach suggestion. Yellow grape-dried white ale midst fades to grassy citrus tang where meager nutty recess withers. Brewery defunct: 2010.
SHENANDOAH OLD RAG MOUNTAIN ALE
Rich Scottish-style ale flaunts proud prune-browned hue, soured chocolate-cocoa creaminess and dry bourbon soothe. Resonant roasted coffee bid rises above brown-sugared caramel center, filling out complex mocha malt finish rather admirably. Brewery defunct: 2010.
SHENANDOAH BIG MEADOWS PALE ALE
Overriding barley-roasted cracked wheat frontage streamlines muted citric hop souring before blanched sugar maple finish aids benign wet grass, hay and horsehide leathering. But coppery pale body fades badly down the malt-dulled earth-toned stretch. Brewery defunct: 2010.