Hop-fueled aroma, malted grain usurpation, and dark chocolate throb sharpen frothy tan-headed, brown-bodied winner. Nutty bottom and prickly hop fizz round out bittersweet finish reminiscent of cleaner English dark ales. Brewery defunct: 2009.
All posts by John Fortunato
NUTFIELD BLACK 47 STOUT
Frothy garnet-mahogany hued, grain wort-scented, full-bodied Irish-styled stout with black coffee overtones, elevated spice-hopped fizz, sticky molasses sash, and maple ash flap underscored by smoky mocha resin to dry bittersweet finish. Brewery defunct: 2009.
NUTFIELD AUBURN ALE
First impressions led me to believe rustic-grained lightweight needed tangy citrus boost. Is it a weak copy of an Irish red ale or just a smoothly nebulous ‘auburn’ ale? One thing is certain, it’s not as pure tasting as most New England styled ales. Brewery defunct: 2009.
NOR’WESTER SMITH ROCK BOCK LAGER
Nice pale-toned light-bodied (despite 7.3% alcohol) bock could be creamier and maintain sharper hop bite, but increasing roasted barley uplift, toffee-chestnut influence, and chocolate malt surge provide mellow flow for date-fig-backed orange-pear fruiting. Despite many adjuncts, brisk finish closer to medium-bodied lager than plush bock. Brewery defunct: 2007.
NOR’WESTER OREGON PALE ALE
Dull and unconvincing, closer to mellow-grained pilsner with light barley sweetness and tempered spice hop fizz. Brewery defunct: 2007.
NOR’WESTER HONEY WEIZEN
Heavily carbonated Bavarian wheat ale with recessive honey flavoring fading to light wheat-grained backdrop. Soda-like fizz overwhelms dainty yellow-fruited finish suitable for novices. Brewery defunct: 2007.
NOR’WESTER DUNKEL WEIZEN
Acrid unfiltered dark wheat knockoff mired by phenol astringency and mucky hop roast settles into fair coffee-burnt chocolate lactose souring. But acidic onrush ruins funky fig-like finish. Brewery defunct: 2007.
NOR’WESTER BITTER ALE
Satisfying amber-hazed bitter with resonating mineral grain entry and invigorating creamy malt richness maintains strong alcohol content. Satisfying on many levels: not too bitter for lite-minded blue collar drinkers nor too soft for snobby connoisseurs. Brewery defunct: 2007.
ELGOOD NORVIG ALE
Boorish swamp water overwhelms indistinguishable ale. One of the most pretentious English ales on the market and too ornery for serious brewhounds. Pass.
(FEDERATION) NORTHUMBRIAN BROWN ALE
Ruby amber translucence paler than toasted malt dryness, sour cocoa-chocolate astringency, and lemon-limed bottom would indicate. Variable honeyed butterscotch finish nearly rescues capricious appeal.
NORTH COUNTRY MAPLE AMBER
Foamy cold filtered amber ale lacks distinction, clarity of purpose, and advertised maple syrup thickness. Too fizzy (champagne, anyone?) and flat, lacking body. Hidden nut flavoring is slight while slick wine undertones create weird juxtaposition. Picturesque elk on label is its most interesting character. Brewery defunct: 2009.
NORTH COAST WINTERTIME ALE
Contrary to customary cinnamon-nutmeg influenced holiday ales, non-traditional dry malt brew wraps murky smoked salami-nutmeat aroma around insurgent sweet tobacco leaf palate and wood burnt resonance, finishing closer to an India Pale Ale. Expansive hop spiciness tones down initial toasted barley affluence.