Aromatic floral hops and skunk-y yeast pungency need better distinction. Barley, wheat, and sour malts provide well-rounded midst, but finish tails off. Brewery defunct: 2007.
All posts by John Fortunato
OLDE BURNSIDE DIRTY PENNY ALE
Pairing mediocre Ten Penny Ale with brewers’ signature stout works wonders. Though a bit thin, bitter coffee bean roast fades succinctly into vanilla-sweetened black chocolate finish. Peat, hickory, and soy nuances prickle molasses midst of easily imbibed deep mahogany black & tan.
OLDE BURNSIDE TEN PENNY ALE
OKOCIM ZAGLOBA PREMIUM LAGER
Sympathetic dry-fizzed dull-hopped bitterness and mild Scotch malt tangent hide creamed wheat influence for yeast-licked cardboard-like grain musk on par with Michelob, perhaps.
OKOCIM PREMIUM PILS
Dismal cabbage-wafted watery-textured dirty-grained moderate body relegates skunked bittering. Rugged pale malting and pungent hop astringency less rewarding than Heineken.
OKOCIM PORTER STOUT
Supposedly the first Polish brew ever made, ruddy Baltic stout retains spongy lactic froth, chewy mocha-chocolate creaminess, and bruised citric trace to lingering bitter coffee finish. Well-rounded, thick, and quite soothing considering blatant 8.1% alcohol content. Serve to English porter fans then barleywine lovers as refreshing changeup.
OKOCIM O.K. PALE LAGER
Fluffy white-headed gold-silken malt liquor-strengthened Pol more memorable and enjoyable than macrobrewed Budweiser. Pungent yeast-wafted barley-breaded entry receives moderate dry-spiced hop bittering not nearly as brawny as 6.2% alcohol volume indicates. Tepid carbolic fizz and corn-husked astringency hinder soapy metallic finish, hurting its chances with serious drinkers.
OKOCIM MOCNE MALT LIQUOR
Bitterly dank corn malts corrupt syrupy butterscotch-sourdough pleasantry and fizzy-hopped lemony sourness of steadied yeast-sinewed moderate body. Honeyed raisin-fig acridity falls short to watery carbolic finish. Commonplace, flat, and not nearly as strong as 7% malt liquor indicator. But at $1.99 for 22 ounces, it’s a prudent investment for slumming lager heads.
OKOCIM LIGHT PILSNER
Strong musk-like stench, simple soapy flow, and polite bitter grain presence up-front. But don’t let ‘light’ tag fool you. By no means a processed macrobrew like Bud or Miller Lite, though lacking malt character of better domestic pilsners.
OKOCIM KARMI LIGHT LAGER
Strangely weighty reddish brown malt liqueur-like light lager with aromatic molasses tinged by newly lit cigarette waft delivers unexpectedly overbearing egg-creamed maple syrup sweetness backed by raisin-ripened cola nuttiness. Sugary toffee stickiness turns dauntingly grape-soured by dank smoked finish, though damp tobacco leaf resonation and dry oats provide firm spine. Possibly too busy for its own good.
(OKOCIM) HARNAS PILSNER
By avoiding nasty skunking and flagrant soapiness typifying many below-average Polish dry lagers, this well carbonated medium body never gets too pungently sour or musk-y. Wafts of husked corn fill the nostrils, giving off hints of horsehide, hay, and raw wheat.
OHOTA PALE LAGER
Pungent aroma dispelled by timid bread-like mouthfeel, soft wheat-rice backbone, salt water flow, and gentle cobweb lace. Smoky hints and hay-like finish casually infiltrate grain balm.