Subtle malt aroma, flaked barley mouthfeel, and brown-sugared citrus easement softer and less effective than most ESB’s experienced. Yet sweet molasses creaminess caresses muted dry hop persistence affirmatively.
All posts by John Fortunato
(PRIVAT) RAUCHENFELS STEINBIER
Intriguing mocha-scented dry-roasted smoked beer with wood-burnt beechwood spicing, toasted barley-oats sashay, and ashy tobacco undercurrent. Scotch malt sweetness lingers through sour yeast splurge and smoky cocoa malting above polite soft water base. Lacks strength, depth, and sufficient finish of better rauchbiers. Brewery defunct: 2009.
(PRIVAT) OBERDORFER WEISS
Premium malt liquor-ish wheat ale brewed since 1516 in fine Bavarian tradition. Sharply phenol-hopped grains, delicate candied yeast, and mild banana-clove brighten lively citric tang to cracked wheat spine. Brewery defunct: 2009.
(PRIVAT) JUBEL OKTOBERFEST
Wavering light-bodied chestnut-hued jug-handled Vienna marzen offers powdery cocoa malting and wheat wafer sweetness to invigorate sharp prune-plum backdrop. Light caramel creaminess underlines fizzy hop spicing. Brewery defunct: 2009.
(PRIVAT) JUBELFEST ALTBIER
In attractive jug-handled white ceramic bottle, blissful soft-bodied X-mas treat will captivate curious pilsner drinkers and ale lovers alike. Though lacking expected holiday seasoning, its prim barley roast, addictive rye-sourdough continuance, and coy biscuit-sugar sweetness poignantly refine the crisp water flow for fine non-seasonal Winterfest simplicity. Brewery defunct: 2009.
(PRIVAT) ALTENMUNSTER PREMIUM BAVARIAN SPECIALITY
Pour slowly fluffy eggshell-headed, mildly turbid, sunrise yellow-hued lager. Bubbly lemon-hopped fizz underscores aromatic Scotch malts and barleycorn exertion. Pleasant honeyed creaminess picks up banana bread and vanilla jellybean illusions usurped by watery finish and slight phenol haze. Brewery defunct: 2009.
PRIPPS 1828 LAGER
Attractive Scotch-like copper-toned Swede finds faded wheat wine aroma caressing roasted barleymalt dryness and dainty caramel creaminess. Bottom yeast sediment provides sweet warmth echoing candied clove reassurance countering dry hop finish.
(PRIPPS) D. CARNEGIE PORTER
Muddy black porter boasts 5.5% alcohol content, full-bodied thick-headedness, syrupy caramel sweetness and cocoa-powdered mocha-coffee bittering climaxing at enduring molasses finish. Brown-sugared vanilla, stewed prune, raisin puree, and dark rum illusions vie for attention. Possibly Sweden’s best, worth every drop, though expensive at 8.8 ounces (now brewed by Carlsberg Sverige).
PRIMATOR PREMIUM LAGER
Caramelized crystal malts gently caress Saaz hop spicing, wheat biscuit sweetness, and honeyed butterscotch linger. But metallic astringency negatively sours citric tartness.
PRIMATOR DOUBLE BOCK
Honorably reminiscent of unforgettable Samichlaus Malt Liqueur, indelible 10% alcohol Czech bock flaunts plentiful bruised cherry, chocolate-covered raisin, and dried fig flurry thickened by sugary malt overload. Burnt caramel stickiness pervades barleywine, sherry, and rum illusions dotting complex finish of astounding maroon-bodied sipper.
PRIMATOR BLONDE BOCK
Frisky whiskey-dashed 7% alcohol depth belies sunny fruit tang and sweet grained base of dry medium body. Lemon rind aftertaste thickens ominous malt liquor-ish barley-maize haze.
PRESTIGE MEDAILLE D’OR LAGER
Sole native Haitian beer comes in pudgy brown bottle and tastes no worse than Jamaica’s Red Stripe. Palest straw hue, billowy pearl head, and sweet corn aroma introduce medium-bodied mediocrity. Sour malting picks up maize tinge usurped by sharp lemony grapefruit hop bittering.