Robust chameleon-like amber pilsner with muted dry ginger root flavoring changes mood at whim. Incisive juniper hop bittering may overwhelm lighter tastes, but creamy clover-honeyed rye whiskey malting, cinnamon-toasted apple jacking, abbreviated blueberry nosing, and ashen coal swerve surely widen range. Spearmint-evergreen waver is contestable. Brewery defunct: 2010.
All posts by John Fortunato
PENNICHUCK SAINT FLORIAN DOPPELBOCK LAGER
Excuse doppelbock descriptive and re-label this full-bodied lager a buttery Flemish ale/ toasted lager blend. Its chewy brown sugared marzipan opening and oncoming brown chocolate-y toffee sweetness pile-drive minor cocoa-powdered bittering to ripe raisin finish. Recessive hazelnut illusions linger below. Brewery defunct: 2010.
PENNICHUCK HALLIGAN RYE P.A.
Earthy dry-hopped French-breaded barley roast bolsters rye, pecan, and marzipan illusions detected at scantly smoked backend. Caramel-chocolate malts sweeten over time. Emulative of a rich black lager. Brewery defunct: 2010.
(PENNICHUCK) FEUER WEHRMANN FIREFIGHTER SCHWARZBIER
Exceptional dry-bodied garnet-highlighted black lager never done in by metallic copper ale rail. Barley roasted cocoa-chocolate malting picks up bulky molasses-toffee sweetness to counter oncoming oily coffee residue. Best of class. Brewery defunct: 2010.
PENNICHUCK ENGINE NO. 5 FIREHOUSE RED ALE
Mild crimson amber Irish Red Ale with polite chocolate roasting, almond toasting, and caramelized vanilla coasting lacks fruity resilience but not penetrating spice hop bittering. Serve to toasted lager enthusiasts. Brewery defunct: 2010.
PENNICHUCK BACKDRAFT CHOCOLATE PORTER
On tap, milk chocolate-y creme de cocoa frontage emboldens charred barley-oats bottom. In the midst, vanilla sweetness counters espresso bitterness as well as minor wood sear. Residual oiliness disrupts mocha finish a tad. Brewery defunct: 2010.
PENN ST. NIKOLAUS BOCK
Inferior coppery orange bock blunts initial wood chip smokiness, charred hop promise, and sticky tobacco residue for undefined X-mas seasoning. Dried prune, red grape, and bruised orange undertones flatten dull finish.
PENN PILSNER
Ambiguous clear-toned rocky-headed Vienna-styled pilsner with barest wheat foundation lacks sufficient body. Musty malt dirge and dulled butterscotch-honeyed midst pick up candied sugar, perfumed citrus and gingerbread hints to watered down finish.
PENN OKTOBERFEST LAGER
Pale copper ‘marzen’ autumnal with minor viscosity brings smoked barleymalt aromatics and Bavarian Hallertau hop spicing to dehydrated cracked wheat finish. In the midst, caramel-butterscotch illusion sours to hard candied citric tartness.
PENN WEIZEN
Obvious banana-clove surge retains herbal fragrance and lemony mandarin orange crisping to smoked wheat backbone for viscous copper-hazed German knockoff. Soured grapefruit-peach tartness and peppery cinnamon-spearmint spicing bring hard-candied inertia to watered down finish.
PENN GOLD LAGER
Translucent gold pearly-headed Munich-styled helles lager tucks grapefruit-soured lemon rind bittering below abrupt husked wheat dalliance. Green apple cameo mired by cloying malt complacency and high acidity.
PELICAN TSUNAMI STOUT
Dry mahogany-hued ruby-highlighted milk stout retains bittersweet dark chocolate stickiness, overripe black cherry whirl, and thick lactose tag. Roasted coffee bean, toasted oats, and hazelnut offer sullen sequel for excellent nightcap.