Lustrously full-bodied IPA brings ripened orange-peach-apple tang to embittered grapefruit rind stead. Smoked pine nuance increases, but not at expense of capacious spruce-sweetened cinnamon-coriander spicing.
All posts by John Fortunato
(OTTO BROTHERS) MOOSE JUICE STOUT
Assertive mineral-grained richness pushes back carbolic fizz as roasted chocolate busyness and mild hazelnut dab penetrate strong, acetous port-like finish. A veritable smorgasbord of spicy adjuncts cluster serene mocha resilience, making this a virtual buffet in a bottle. Regrettably, Moosehead Brewery threatened legal action for copyright infringement, making this temporarily extinct. Local Wyoming brewer, Grand Teton, now brews ’em.
OTTER HEAD ALE
Beguilingly well balanced soft-watered English strong ale (with frail head evaporating above ruddy amber haze) layers biscuit-y butterscotch-licked malts atop protracted wood-charred Fuggle hop bittering. Bruised orange and lemony berries outdo delicate tobacco-dried sherry nuance.
OTTER CREEK WORLD TOUR OTTER SAN JAPANESE-STYLE BEER
Inessential hazy saffron brew lacks advertised koji and sake yeast influence, sidestepping rice wine expectancy (or sake wheat styling) for frustratingly muffled honey-glazed orange-tangerine prosaic. Doughy rye vapidity and herbal-floral slighting worsen buttery diacetyl complacency.
OTTER CREEK WORLD TOUR OTTEROO AUSTRALIAN SPARKLING ALE
Lighter alternative to nuttier brown ales evades elusive ‘sparkling ale’ styling. Sugar-cookie chocolate malting emphasizes almond paste, butterscotch, and biscuit illusions ’til sedately dry Ringwood-hopped orange rind bittering sets in. Minor peach-apricot fruiting comforts caramelized kettle corn finish.
OTTER CREEK WORLD TOUR OTTERBAHN WEIZENBOCK
Creamy turbidly brown ‘German-styled’ bock opens with pleasing nutmeg-clove-allspice-tinged banana snip sheltering earthy wheat restraint. But that auspicious frontage only readies blissful boozer for roasted hazelnut embarkation, stewed prune strew, and relegated chocolate slip fetchingly consuming brown sugared midst. Fire-roasted peat malts line syrupy cola flow while imminent brandy, barleywine, and cherry jubilee hints caress durable medicinal finish.
OTTER CREEK WORLD TOUR HOLY OTTER TRIPEL ALE
Light-bodied saffron-hazed Belgian-styled tripel maintains tingly-hopped apple-spiced gist, peculiar earthen mildewed mustiness, and herbaceous floral inflection. Candi-sugared peach-nectar-cranberry inkling barely registers above meek wheat musk.
OTTER CREEK WORLD TOUR DOUBLE DECKER OLDE ENGLISH-STYLE HOLIDAY ALE
Straight-ahead moderate-bodied holiday ale lacks expectant seasonal spicing, instead prodding brown ale or weak barleywine comparisons. Lovely barley-roasted almond-hazelnut tautness scurries through ample brown chocolate-y sweetness. Impending phenol metallic drudgery nearly depletes casual vanilla, toffee, kettle corn, gingerbread, and Graham cracker illusions.
OTTER CREEK WORLD TOUR CUCKOO BOCK
Laid-back German-styled maibock invites fruity grapefruit, peach, and apple illusions to brighten toasted Vienna malts. But soiled mineral earthiness and floral- hopped listlessness make unsure finish timidly unassuming.
OTTER CREEK WORLD TOUR CERVEZA CACAO
Serene golden ale with cocoa and spices inspired by ancient Aztec drink, Xocolati, counters curry-smoked black pepper mandate with mild mocha. Red ale-like fruited sweetness fortifies floral backdrop and vanilla-cinnamon trickle to cardboard-y chocolate malt finish. A lighter alternative to Rogue’s Chipotle Ale?
OTTER CREEK WINTER ALE RASPBERRY BROWN
Despite surprising absence of ‘wintry’ spicing and lack of rich ‘brown’ ale depth, this “perfectly fruited” 2007 ale goes down like maple-sugared Cherry Coke. Syrupy raspberry, strawberry, and blueberry sweetness embraces red-black cherry salience as caramelized molasses malts thicken soda flow. Dry tobacco, hazelnut, and pecan scurry through twiggy wood bottom.
OTTER CREEK WINTER ALE
Sweet-flowered winter ale made in traditional Scottish fashion. Yeasty auburn seasonal layers sharp carbonation above soft mocha creaminess up-front. Maple-sapped barley-roasted caramel malting contrasts holiday spicing while slightest bitterness creeps through prune finish. Sans spice, this would appeal to brown ale fans.
