Unlike many yellowed Latin brews, iconic Dominian medium body is never reliant on tequila familiarity. Fizzy carbonation, foamy head, sugared corn malting and aromatic spices adapt skunked barley hop acerbity. Unassuming cracked wheat finish retains salty bitterness and buttery silkiness, giving it slight edge over Corona (which has better water) and Dos Equis (which has balmier finish).
All posts by John Fortunato
PRESIDENTE LIGHT PILSENER
Light-bodied dry-hopped clear pale pilsener ain’t bad for dubious calorie watchers. Fizzy white-breaded sourdough sogginess and corn sugared sweetness pillage gaunt lemon candied backdrop.
POTOMAC RAPPAHANNOCK RED ALE
Musty citrus-scented, frothy-headed, amber-clouded medium body features prominent orange rind bitterness underlined by decorative floral hops and transient buttery creaminess. Chewy yeast texture sweetens the load as high carbonation leaves trails of clinging Brussels lace.
POTOMAC RIVER PATOWMACK PALE ALE
Zesty orange peel bittering caresses well carbonated amber-clouded moderate body. But stimulating butterscotch sweetness whisked away abruptly by lingered dry hop astringency.
(CATAMOUNT) POST ROAD SNOWSHOE ALE
Decent, not classic, winter warmer with polite sticky malt sweetness taking center stage while minor maple undertones, nutmeg spiciness, and fruity backdrop fill out the finish. Why drink Bud? Brewery defunct: 2000.
(CATAMOUNT) POST ROAD PUMPKIN ALE
Weary caramel-hued fizzy-headed medium-bodied autumnal needs richer pumpkin pie essence and spicier nutmeg to be more compelling than peculiar. Watery consistency, wavered grain mesh, and slumping clove-cinnamon jab also weaken flow. It took Brooklyn Brewery (which purchased Post Road Brewery) to pull off idealistic flavoring. Brewery defunct: 2002.
POST ROAD PALE ALE
Delightful amber-hued dry-hopped bitter with lusty maple thickness complementing barley-sweet honey-roasted candy malts. Subtle cinnamon-spiced berry adjuncts warm complex finish. Brewery defunct: 2000.
(CATAMOUNT) POST ROAD INDIA PALE ALE
Fruited malt subtleties, creamy caramel incline, and barley-enriched bottom put this closer to a brown ale. Dry mocha and blanched nuttiness fade into lingering bitter grain finish. Brewery defunct: 2002.
PORT ROYAL EXPORT PILSENER
Foamy Bavarian-styled pils with smoked barleymalts bearing down on bitter hop opening. Delicate cocoa tones provide shadowy mocha presence to moderate citric finish.
PORTLAND ZIG ZAG RIVER LAGER
Glaring barleymalt dryness combines with soft hop bitterness for perfunctory Northwest lager. Zesty fruitiness and mint backdrop can’t help watery, flat, bland, inorganic finish.
PORTLAND WOODSTOCK I.P.A.
Dewy grains, billowed oats, and citric hops caress woody cherry-pine undercurrent of well-defined India Pale Ale. Lean finish relies on smoked barley dryness and fruity nuttiness.
PORTLAND THUNDERHEAD CREAM STOUT
Composed mahogany-hued dank-scented cream stout consumed by soft-watered chocolate-roasted barleymalts. Though not as creamy as outstanding high-level competition, bitter cocoa and rich hazelnut fulfill desired milder template.