On tap at Ambulance, interesting low alcohol blonde ale balances moderate dry-hopped black tea herbage with bitter orange rind subtleties. Lemony yellow grapefruit-seeded souring and gingery lemongrass stint contrast sweet orange, clementine and peach tang. Tasty lightweight.
On tap at Biggie’s, brusque Christmastime red ale loads hop-forward ginger rooted orange peel bittering atop brown-sugared cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cardamom holiday seasoning, wintry Chinook hop-inspired evergreen stint and dewy pine nut snip.
On tap at Growler & Gill, casually winterized Imperial Extra Special Bitter lacks definitive stylistic profile. In a wayward manner, nutty caramel malts, mossy fungi dewiness and moderate earthen hop bittering gain latent honey-spiced dark fruiting. Bittersweet fig, sugarplum and date pleasantries waver.
On tap at Growler & Gill, wildflower honey-spiced lemon licks pick up dried ginger herbage and perfumed cologne musk – defying usual Belgian Pale Ale styling. Towards the finish, misty perfume-oiled citrus spritz gains chai tea-spiked oregano and sage nuances.
On tap at Ambulance, Vermont’s Grassroots Brewing collaborated with local Hill Farmstead brethren and Alaskan brewmasters to concoct hybridized brettanomyces-laden farmhouse ale. Rustic herbal overtones and musky barnyard leathering divert lemony orange-peeled grapefruit, pineapple and peach tang. Cilantro-peppered basil and rosemary illusions convincingly deepen citrus tea finish.
On tap at Ambulance, indecisive brown-clouded, wheat-based, farmhouse-styled Christmas ale (circa 2015) provides tart plum-fig-raisin tones, sour citrus acidity and light grape juicing to leathery barnyard rusticity. Light black peppering and crisp tobacco leafing contrast wispy cinnamon-nutmeg seasoning at the back end.
On tap at Plank Pizza, spicy sour wit ale recipe (in collaboration with Austin’s Jester King) combines ‘bitter orange peel and coriander’ in cultured yeast then gets aged in oak foeders. Mildly vinous green grape esters and eye-squinting orange-peeled lemon tartness receive herbal-wafted barnyard rusticity. Recessive Chardonnay, Granny Smith apple, rosé and oaken vanilla whims deepen its wild ale character.
On tap at Ambulance, complex oak-aged sour ale leads with tart blackberry mustiness and musky Bing cherry leathering. Vinous lemon-juiced green grape tannins and wispy green apple nip impact lactic mouth-puckering acidity of salted raspberry-cherry souring.
On tap at Ambulance, bright pinkish violet-hued Berliner Weiss maintains mildly acidic raspberry tartness above subtle coffee adjunct and dry red grape-skinned Blush wining as stylish bone-dried lactobacillus souring picks up salty respite. Vinous green grape esters and spritzy lemon lime twist regale sour-candied raspberry yogurt finish. In the can, lemon rind-embittered raspberry souring gains mild pomegranate, blueberry, cranberry and rhubarb seduction over its salty coriander base. In the bottle, raspberry-soured coriander salting zaps lemon rind-embittered coffee roast as mild pomegranate, cranberry and quince nuances wisp by.
On tap at Growler & Gill, tart Italian plum adjunct subsumed by mildly acidic lemon-limed Granny Smith apple sourness over briny sea-salted spritz for approachable gose.
On tap at Plank Pizza, fine “American lawnmower ale” retains stylishly dry moderate-bodied profile. Maize-flaked barley malts provide doughy white bread and popcorn sedation for floral-daubed grassy (Saaz) hop astringency and tingly lemon respite.
On tap at Biggie’s, mighty fine high octane 2017 (11% ABV) version of Christmastime Belgian dark ale boasts heightened ethanol esters, darker rub red hue and intensified Bing cherry essence as well as more refined wildflower-honeyed astringency. Distant cinnamon, clove and allspice seasoning sweetens treacly backend alongside sugarplum, cocoa and pine nut nuances.
