Sharp tropical fruiting raises sour passionfruit, orange and guava juicing slightly above piney citrus IPA template and blaring aspirin-like astringency. Lemony gooseberry tartness increases zesty Hawaiian tropicalia while grapefruit pith and melon rind souring gains ancillary mandarin orange, pineapple, papaya and tangerine tanginess. A somewhat bold stylistic changeup. 
Category Archives: Beers A-Z
RIVER HORSE JAYSUS THAT’S SOUR
On tap at Stone & Rail, Jameson Irish whiskey-barreled sour blonde ale adds only a pinch of whiskey to mildly acidic Persian lime and lemon adjuncts. Candied citrus tartness gains subtle peach, cider and green grape reminders. A Mojito substitute?
BURIAL THE BRIDGE OF RESTRAINT SAISON
On tap at Ambulance, open fermentation allows ‘rustic multigrain grist’ to receive funky bacterial mixed culture yeast souring. Moderately acidic lemon-dropped green grape tannins pick up tart lemon pucker over sun-drenched hay acridity. Wispy cinnamon, prickly pear and crabapple illusions waver.
NEWBURGH HEFE’RY HUDSON
On tap at Stone & Rail, thin opaque aluminum-hued hefeweizen places tart lemon-candied spritz and delicate coriander spicing above stylish banana-clove sweetness. Too light and unassuming.
THREES SAFETY IN NUMBERS INDIA PALE LAGER
On tap at Ambulance, hybridized India Pale Lager utilizes lime-leafed coconut for dryly soured New Zealand-hopped gooseberry, kiwi and guava tropicalia as well as watermelon Jolly Rancher tartness. Dank grain resin and light juniper bittering settle below.
SCHLAFLY MERRY BERRY
On tap at Hoover’s, candied raspberry-blueberry-blackberry tartness gains lemon meringue twist and wispy vanilla-creamed sweetness trying to dupe the essence of a Christmastime French pastry. Staying soft on the tongue, its thinnish finish needs more penetrative berry rasp.
HI-WIRE LO-PITCH JUICY IPA
Easy drinkin’ juicy-fruited yellow-cleared medium body retains zesty sweet orange peel tang and spry lemony grapefruit spritz over doughy biscuit malting and dry wood base. Tart peach-skinned pineapple, passionfruit and grape illusions tucked away alongside lightly lingered floral-perfumed hop astringency.
FOREIGN OBJECTS SOL IN GEMINI IMPERIAL IPA
On tap at Poor Henry’s, fairly expansive New England-styled IPA brings tropical mango-papaya-passionfruit-pineapple fruiting and limey orange rind bittering to stinging juniper-licked alcohol burn. Zesty citric-perfumed hops pick up piney residue while lemon meringue tartness flutters by.
TWO TON LOW ORBIT ION CANON NE IPA
On tap at Poor Henry’s, dry Citra-hopped medium body tosses juicy pineapple tanginess and lemony grapefruit zest at lightly sour lactose influence. Another fine hybridized New England-styled IPA.
TROEGS BLIZZARD OF HOPS WINTER INDIA PALE ALE
Wintry IPA ups the tropical fruit spicing and lowers the piney hop resonance for ‘end of year hop cycle’ celebration. Lovely floral-perfumed grapefruit, orange, pineapple and peach tang gains ancillary mango-nectarine-tangerine conflux and dry wood tone above mild biscuit base. More like a “gentle spree of hops” and that ain’t a putdown for this relaxingly accessible moderation.
GREAT LAKES COMMODORE PERRY INDIA PALE ALE
Perfectly approachable and subtly Brit-styled IPA brings tingly citrus spicing to caramel-toasted cereal grains and mild piney hop resin. Polite lemon-candied grapefruit, orange, pineapple, and tangerine tang picks up soft floral nuances at the fruit salad finish.
NEW BELGIUM OAKSPIRE ALE (KNOB CREEK COLLABORATION)
Easygoing bourbon barrel-aged ale brings buttery rum-spiced whiskey nip to sweet Knob Creek bourbon licks for muted 9% ABV warmth. Mild oaken vanilla subtlety, caramelized toffee sugaring, meager dried fruiting and cedar-chipped almond wisp stay just beneath the surface. Delicately underwhelming, though maple-sapped whiskey finish is convincingly regal.