Sadly, nebulous maroon-hued winter stout lacks expectant spicy seasonal intrigue and lusty mocha wanderlust, allowing witty Yuletide moniker to be more notable than muddled watered-down flavoring and diffuse charcoal aroma. ‘Dark Holiday’ seasonal claims to be “much more than you deserve for X-mas,” but thin roasted malting, dim chocolate-cocoa confection, concealed raisin-fig meekness, and dirty earthen whimper deaden impact. Understated hop-oiled cocoa-dried astringency blemishes dulled red-purple grape frolic, smothered pineapple-grapefruit slip, and cryptic anise snip.
All posts by John Fortunato
(RIDGEWAY) IVANHOE ENGLISH PALE ALE
Sufficient amber-reddish pale body contrasts summery stone-fruited sweetness against lemony currant bittering. But thin barley-roasted amber graining melts away beneath weak spiced hop flop.
RIDGEWAY INDIA PALE ALE
Bereft gold-cleared medium-bodied faux-IPA applies piney-hopped lemon rind bittering to wayward wheat wafer sweetness. Nasty phenolic finish disturbs clean water flow while fruity expectancy never materializes. Caught between a boring American IPA and its original peat-licked English version.
(RIDGEWAY) CRIMINALLY BAD ELF BARLEYWINE
Fourth in a series behind Bad, Seriously Bad, and Very Bad Elf, hilariously labeled barleywine highlights a jailed dwarf. Boozy 10% alcohol whir and stiff brandy sniff guarantee heady rigidity justified by chewy caramel malting and bruised orange-cherry-banana sweetness countering increasingly bitter solvent-like severity. Syrupy cling peaches, rum-soaked raisins, wet tobacco, bubblegum, and vanilla decorate brown-sugared molasses sapping. It’s concentrated evil.
RIDGEWAY BITTER ALE
Fleeting bottle conditioned yellow-bodied bitter gains brisk honeyed lemon entry that flutters away. Oncoming juniper-dried blueberry tartness surmounts flat phenol acidity, but humdrum white bread sloth and diacetyl nature prove ruinous.
(RIDGEWAY) BAD ELF WINTER’S ALE
Tiny eggshell head, white peach waft, and nutmeg spicing dissipate prematurely, but dour medium-bodied seasonal boasts lively floral-doused citric hop sharpness plus soured crabapple, orange rind, and juniper berry prop. Fine as herbal red ale alternative.
RICKARD’S RED ALE
Translucent amber medium-bodied pap as plain and indistinct as its soured malt palate, sterile barley roast, thin maize midst, and drably dry fruited hop finish.
RICKARD’S HONEY BROWN ALE
Wearily unbalanced orange amber English-style ale lacks mocha binge of better J.W. Dundee’s Honey Brown. Caramelized barley frontage and honeyed wheat sneak counter reticent orange-apricot souring as well as fizzy dry hop spicing, dulling biscuit nuance.
(RICH) PITCHFORK REBELLIOUS BITTER
Up-front tangy orange resilience pervades sharply-carbonated lemony fizz bursting through mildly complex cloudy amber single malt brew. Bitter citric hop rasp fortifies full-bodied cracked wheat finish. Sip slowly to enjoy comforting blend.
(RICH) OLD SLUG PORTER
Ripe citrus aroma uncanny for robust creamy-headed mahogany porter (poured slowly due to explosive yeast-saturated concentration). Wood-burnt nut-roasted black coffee bitterness, recessive lemon-bruised snip, and leafy tobacco remnant lead to brooding raisin sourness before foam-cushioned stone-dry mocha finish retains crackled charred hop fizz.
(RICH) ALE MARY
Ale Mary ‘full of grace’ for well-balanced red ale given sharp-hopped holiday spicing and full-bodied grain richness. Underlying berry ripeness, cherry tang, and cinnamon sweetness receive floral yeast flourish soured by soothing medicinal finish.
RHINO CHASERS PEACH HONEY WHEAT
Strong peach essence consumes frothy-headed, pale-toned, partly cloudy wheat brew. Mild roasted barleymalt sweetness fastens honeyed citrus tartness lingering behind peachy keenness. Recommended to fruit-flavored ale lovers. Brewery defunct: 1999.