Smashing Canadian IPA puts forth a dominant flavor profile as massively tangy fruit juicing receives booming piney hop bittering and responsive sugar-glassed crystal malting above toasted biscuit base. Resonating tropical-citrus fruiting gathers passionfruit, grapefruit, pineapple, navel orange, tangerine, mango, nectarine, papaya, lychee, pear and melon bouquet to power its atomic blissfulness.
On tap at Taphouse 15, fabulous variation on renowned year-round Speedway Stout features rich Madagascar vanilla beans, bittersweet Brazilian cocoa nibs and locally roasted Colombian coffee for highly caffeinated sedation. At finish, dark-roasted mocha magnificence rides above nutty earthen bottom.
Rich cocoa-powdered black chocolate syruping coats caramel-burnt anise goo and dusky charred hop bittering. Muddy mocha midst picks up dirty earthiness and fades to gray.
On tap at Taphouse 15. A bit slick compared to richer coffee-infused golden ales making the rounds circa ’17. Moderate cold-brewed coffee tone gains mild lemon rind bittering and distant cola nuttiness to contrast mellow milk-sugared sweetness.
Muddled Irish Stout mildly bourbon-aged then blended with an English porter and dark-lagered schwarzbier seems unresolved, taste-wise. Subdued brown chocolate malting receives leathery tobacco roast, dewy peat earthiness and nutty respite for off-dry medium body that may lack stylistic conclusiveness, but never offends.
Light maple syruping subtly affects mildly spiced dried fruiting, cocoa-powdered nuttiness and cellar-like dewy mustiness of satisfactory moderation.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead – Haledon, creamy dark-roast peanut powdering rises above black-malted dark chocolate richness, nut-charred coffee bittering and dank earthen base. Possible sweet whiskey nip.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead – Haledon, flagship light-bodied cream ale barely retains lemony orange zest against dry grassy-hopped barnyard dankness, groat-like cereal grain malting and faint nuttiness. Serve to unwashed masses.
On tap at Taphouse 15, inaugural Hop Concept release loads dank and sticky hemp-oiled hop bittering upon mellow yellow grapefruit pith and rind juicing and zesty orange peel sweetness. Light pine lacquering secures lingered lupulin luster as tertiary tangerine, peach and mango tang contrasts lemony grapefruit dryness. Only its aspirin-like astringency keeps it from perfection.
On tap at The Oath, local Tarrytown brewer utilizes all New York grown organic ingredients to develop rich Belgian quad. Local wildflower honeyed caramel malting gains sweet ‘n sour burgundy, black grape, bruised black cherry and blueberry influence as well as slight lemon tartness above dewy peat soiling. Funky Belgian yeast strain brings cellar-like fungi musk to musty dried fruiting.
On tap at The Oath, politely oak-aged wee heavy brings dewy Scotch sweetness to mild molasses sapping, mildewed earthen hop dankness and charcoal nuttiness. Ancillary cocoa, black grape and fig illusions fluctuate beneath.
On tap at Shepherd & Knuckelhead – Haledon, easygoing clear-yellowed Belgian strong ale (unassuming 8.5% ABV) combines mildly creamed Chardonnay buttering, cotton-candied crystal malting, floral-daubed citrus zest and light lemongrass herbage. Tertiary banana, green apple, lemon meringue and champagne grape illusions add further complexity to serene moderation.
