Funky sour malt-stricken, clear-bodied, eggshell-headed amber needs better caramel roast, deeper spiced cherry perk, and richer nutty bottom. Happily, sweet yeast fragrance, crisp hop-embellished finish, and red grape wisp rout diacetyl absorption, allowing blue-collar drinkers easy access.
All posts by John Fortunato
ST. STAN’S AMBER ALE
Chestnut-hued, mocha-scented, spice-hopped medium body maintains inviting crystal malt sweetness leveraged slightly by acidic nut finish and cursory grain smudge.
ST. SIXTUS WESTVLETEREN 12 TRAPPIST ALE
Extraordinary mahogany-hued Trappist ale features curious turpentine-like caramel malt entry, brandy-soaked maraschino cherry theme, and brutish raisin-prune-plum scheme above dewy peat moss. Creamy molasses consistency, velvety Muscat grape mellowing, and candi-sugared nutmeg-cinnamon spicing subsume alcohol warmth. Strong medicinal finish carries forth highly complex offering.
ST. SEBASTIAN GOLDEN BELGIAN ALE
Cloudy orange complexion, buttery cream texture, and reflexive citrus deflection decorate up-front contour of musty yeast-addled tripel. At midst, quaint pepper-spiced hop bitterness counters light fruited sweetness perfectly suited as crossover fodder for milder tastes.
ST. SEBASTIAN DARK BELGIAN ALE
In 16-ounce brown jug, top fermented Abbey ale works inviting caramel-candied apple sweetness into sugared raisin-fig continuance, floral citric-coriander grove, and buttery malt woo. Subtle barley insinuation lacks determination as musty brown-sugared molasses finish fades quickly. Better than average; substandard and watery for Belgian ale.
ST. SEBASTIAAN GRAND RESERVE ABBEY ALE
Splendid cream soda essence highlights alcohol-stricken sharpness while butterscotch and almond wine illusions enhance dry ginger ale-like sweetness. Mellow flow softened further by buttery finish without disrupting up-front ebullition.
ST. PETER’S WINTER ALE
Pour contents from flask for best results since short neck constricts complexity of headless rust-tinted winter warmer. Pungent spiced-hop bitterness consumes chocolate-covered cherry, rum raisin, dried fig, and cinnamon illusions as malt liquor waft invites buttery Scotch raid. Dainty yeast succulence knocks back residual earthen latency, but watery finish lowers potency to mere dark ale complacency.
ST. PETER’S WHEAT BEER
Deeply encrusted wood burnt tone embraces barren clove, bubblegum and citric pleasantries to cracked wheat bed. Watery finish precludes refinement. Not far removed from a red ale per amber-hazed hue, peat-smoked malt constancy and frisky floral hop bite, yet disturbingly lightweight for its class.
ST. PETER’S OLD-STYLE PORTER
Superior full-bodied off-dry ruby-garnet porter allows cascading tan bubbles to build dense upper layer as mildly embittered hop char permeates creamy maple-mocha malt richness, ashy tobacco resin, and fluctuant dried cherry-plum souring. Lingering hazelnut-pecan whir given sour coffee bean propulsion at chalky chocolate finish.
ST. PETER’S LEMON & GINGER SPICED ALE
Ginger-dominated honey-tinged change of pace in need of substantial herbal finish. Flowery-hopped ginger ale perfect as throat lozenge, lemon freshener, or to cure stomach ailments.
ST. PETER’S INDIA PALE ALE
Oval flask-shaped medicine-bottled golden-hazed English ale finds muted roasted hop bittering gently countering mild citric tingle to mineral-grained earthen bottom. Sugary cream corn register, nifty herbal-floral perk, and toasted almond tinge gradually revealed.
ST. PETER’S GOLDEN ALE
From medieval Suffolk brewery with truly fresh water source, worthily peculiar golden ale integrates unexpected smoked bacon, burnt wood, and Band-Aid illusions with bulky grain-hopped char. Surprisingly rich, formidable, and coarse for mere golden category.