On tap at The Oath, toasted coconut version of Imperial Porter needs more pronounced nuttiness to compete with bittersweet dark chocolate fudging, moderate Caffe Calabria coffee roast and milky vanilla creaming. Even its oak-charred hop bittering, mild espresso lilt and reticent marshmallow sugaring compete with the coconut adjunct (and walnut snip) by the finish. Nevertheless.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead – Haledon, holiday-seasoned porter allows cinnamon-spiced vanilla sweetness to inundate Hershey’s chocolate-like syruping and subtle coffee-cocoa tones. Dry mocha finish gains chewy bourbon vanilla loveliness while cinnamon spicing fades.
On tap at Plank Pizza, sweet bourbon vanilla richness (of 13.6% ABV 2014 reserve – aged four years) thickened by anise-spiced brown chocolate malting, burnt caramel sugaring and ancillary cocoa reminder above mild hop-charred bittering of annual English-styled barleywine. Delicate port, burgundy and brandy wining finds space below alongside bruised cherry sedation.
On tap at The Oath, jubilant 21st anniversary celebrator loads ten malts and eleven hops on pervasive 13.7% ABV luster. Bittersweet dried fruiting crowds musky hop-dried cherrywood finish. Raspy sugarplum, raisin, fig, black grape and Bing cherry illusions gain redcurrant smidge above chewy caramelized mocha malting.
On tap at The Oath, silkily dry cabernet wining gains dainty cocoa nibs adjunct and tart citrus acidity above groaty barnyard acridity. Cabernet Sauvignon barrel aging leaves lightly vinous red grape tannins upon dry Scotch malting.
On tap at The Oath, oaken Chardonnay-barreled ‘old ale’ maintains balance as Scotch-licked wheat whiskey dryness and tannic green grape musk contrast corn-sugared bourbon sweetness. Mild citrus, apricot and plum illusions flutter.
On tap at Taphouse 15, soft-tongued soured mocha entry gains soily earthiness, oily nuttiness and unripe fig tartness. Serve to Flanders Oud Bruin fans as a less interesting alternative?
White Russian-inspired (and Big Lebowski-referenced) Imperial Stout tastes like a creamy milk chocolate shake with a shot of bourbon at the entry. Milk-sugared cacao nibs, Madagascar vanilla and cold-brewed coffee adjuncts deepen fudgy dark chocolate richness. Refreshing mint chocolate continuance gains light spice rum sweetness, black cherry-pureed tartness, burnt marshmallow tangent and distant charred molasses smidge above its mild oats spine. Sinewy dark chocolate syruping thickened by sticky anise licks.
On tap at Plank Pizza, milk-sugared Cocoa Pebbles cereal gets added to the mesh and Haitian cocoa nibs usurp the front end of breakfast stout. Lightly smoked chocolate malts pick up maple-sugared vanilla sweetness above moderate resinous hop char.
On tap at Plank Pizza, milk-sugared breakfast cereal knockoff retains candied pineapple, lemon, tangerine, orange and berry profile of Fruity Pebbles, leaving amore sour then sweet IPA-fruited mouthfeel as resinous hop astringency gains resilience.
On tap at Plank Pizza, vanilla-sugared boysenberry adjunct sweetens lemony orange India Pale Ale-like fruiting as well as mild blackberry-blueberry illusions above astringent hop pining. Candied boysenberry tartness really suits this liquid bovine well.
On tap at Dog & Cask, sharply beefed-up version of Prime Bovine increases alcohol intensity (9% ABV) and citric bittering while lightening up on the reservedly creamed crystal-pale malting. Lemony orange-peeled grapefruit rind bittering acidifies fusel alcohol whir while tertiary peach, mango, tangerine and pineapple illusions scurry for position below the mildly peppered citrus punch. In the can, rum-soaked peach, tangerine and mango sweetness and swift vodka kick gain ground against orange-peeled grapefruit rind bite.
