On tap at Hoover’s Tavern, richly creamed orange chocolate-candied Bourbon County variant aged in bourbon further sweetened by honeyed caramel malting. Zestful orange-glazed black chocolate syruping oozes thru thick cake texture, creating chocolate orange truffle, chocolate orange mousse and chocolate orange cake illusions.
Underdeveloped white stout needs more sufficient ice cream sandwich likeness. Lactic brown-sugared cocoa nibs and vanilla cookie sweetness pick up dewy mossing that slips into IPA-like piney citrus briskness. But its white chocolate center, lemony orange zesting and wavered herbage never fully integrate.
Richly creamed Mexican-Ugandan vanilla spicing coated by semi-sweet dark chocolate syruping and tingly bourbon-burgundy-sherry wining. At the midst, cocoa nibs-spiked espresso, cappuccino and anisette illusions (plus tart black cherry bruise) battle back sticky anise sweetness of decadent dessert treat.
Mildly oak-aged stout retains caramelized chocolate spicing and subtle molasses-licked dark cocoa, medium-roast coffee, creamed vanilla and salted peanut illusions but thin body and finishing astringency preclude greatness.
On tap at Hoover’s Tavern, moderately creamed, easy flowing, but slick, pumpkin-spiced milk stout – aged on coffee beans in a lactic black chocolate setting – utilizes homemade spiced tea. Beneath the bittersweet vanilla latte-daubed mocha resonance and overwhelmed pumpkin roast lies dainty cinnamon-nutmeg-clove seasoning.
Sharp cinnamon-nutmeg-clove influence hides subtle cold-pressed Madagascar vanilla creaming, sweet caramelized bourbon snip, gingery pumpkin pie crusting and mild orange peel twist, finishing just a tad too phenolic.
Richly creamed, mildly frothed, rye whiskey-barreled stout drapes heavy maple syrup upon caramel-burnt black chocolate malting of 10.5% ABV nightcap. Its cascading tan head settles above a bold brown body as fudgy toffee insistence gains momentum alongside less prominent currant, black cherry and black raisin tartness beneath decadent maple molasses-sapped chocolate caking.
Easygoing traditional English barleywine mild for its style. Dewy peat mossing and mild fungi earthiness conceal caramelized fig spicing while delicate Band-aid astringency contrasts chalky chocolate malting.
On tap at Hoover’s Tavern, faintly bourbon-barreled 27th anniversary Imperial Porter promises more than it delivers -lacking dimension and fortitude. Its sweet nutty brown chocolate entry (courtesy of Theo’s cocoa nibs), while pleasant, overwhelms adjunctive pomegranate molasses-soured apricot puree tartness and wavered baking spices.
On tap at River Of Beer, well-integrated Cascadian dark ale loads dark chocolate cocoa powdered bittering onto sweet black grape jammin’ spelled by wood-burnt, charcoal-stained, dark-roast hop char.
On tap at Kitchen & Beer Bar, overloaded 25th anniversary India Pale Ale blends seven hop varieties and marmalade-fruited expanse into hidden 12.5% ABV boozing. Tangy orange marmalade, peachy apricot jam, salted pineapple, tart lemon meringue, sweet cantaloupe and toasted coconut illusions ride above lightly creamed vanilla-daubed pale malting as dewy compost-wafted earthiness, lightly embittered pine resin and herbal lemongrass-peppercorn snip provide counterpoint.
On tap at Kitchen & Beer Bar, radiant straw golden glowed NEIPA rings out with zesty lemon-peeled grapefruit, orange and peach zesting as well as tangy mango, nectarine and tangerine sweetness and modest passionfruit, papaya and pineapple tartness above creamy oats-flaked caramelized wheat base. Dank cannabis-soaked piney hop bitterness stays recessive. Well balanced juicy fruited medium body.
