On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, ultra-dry low-alcohol India Pale Ale brings sharp hardwood yellow pine parch to grapefruit-seeded lemon rind bittering. Musky hemp-oiled perfuming and white-peppered chamomile tea influence never impede spritz-y citric splendor. Tertiary tropical fruiting need a push.
Category Archives: Beers A-Z
SMUTTYNOSE SUMMER WEIZEN
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, amiable moderation lets lemon-rotted orange and tangerine tartness drift into pale oats-flaked wheat graining and raw-honeyed chamomile tea niche. Faintest banana-clove-bubblegum whim found below.
SMUTTYNOSE SMUTTLABS: PURE BISS
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, unconventional witbier utilizes pleasingly refreshing kaffir lime-leafed spruce tips and grapefruit zest (instead of stylistic orange-peeled coriander). Floral-perfumed rosebud, lavender and lotus wafts aid herbal peppercorn, rosemary, sage and eucalyptus niche. Nearly perfect moderate-bodied summertime splendor.
CARTON RICKEY
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, well-intended and well-balanced ‘wild ale’ reaches uniquely sweetened sour ale pinnacle as heavily acidulated yeast lip-smack and musty compost waft get upstaged by cherry-limed Rickey soda sugaring. Beneath the surface, oaken cherry, yellow grape and green apple tartness picks up syrupy raspberry woodruff rasp that adds nifty Berliner Weiss influence to tingly mouth-puckering lemon-wedged bitterness.
GOOSE ISLAND THE OGDEN
On tap at Blue Ribbon Tavern, imposing Belgian tripel tosses buttery Chardonnay wining at white-peppered tropical spicing, expressive Citra hop spritz and gluey vodka-like solvency. Ripe cantaloupe, honeydew, apricot, pineapple, mango and tangerine fruiting contrasts acrid aspirin-like astringency and salted lemon pith bittering. Banana daiquiri illusions sweeten the malt-sugared honeyed wheat spine.
MOTOR CITY PUMPKIN ALE
When it comes to experimenting with varied spices and offbeat accents, Imperial pumpkin ales oft-times lead the way. Complex medium-full-bodied autumnal dessert treat (with heightened 9.2% ABV) tastes like whiskey-laced pumpkin pie, bringing aboard enticing Christmastime seasoning for further enlightenment. Sweet roasted pumpkin midst picks up wintry cinnamon-toasted cardamom, allspice, clove and nutmeg sweetness to contrast peppery thyme nuance. Cherry coughdrop, plum brandy, candied fig and soured gourd illusions drift by astringent alcohol burnt .
RIVERTOWN ROEBLING IMPERIAL ROBUST PORTER
Illustrious dark-roasted porter uniquely combines sweet vanilla bean, cold-pressed espresso and raw cane sugar. Dry bourbon tones infiltrate rich mocha center, where chocolate brownie, cocoa and stove-burnt coffee illusions surface. Blackstrap molasses deepens coarse charred hop bittering.
MT. CARMEL SPRINGTIME ALE
Insubstantial Scottish Ale lacks advertised spruce tips influence, settling into grassy-hopped citric murk above mossy grain mustiness. Tinny astringency defers molasses maple sugaring and cheap Scotch astringency.
(FLYING DOG) DEAD RISE OLD BAY SUMMER ALE
Persuasively well-balanced herbal spiced moderation sprinkles Old Bay seasoning (bay-leafed paprika, clove, cardamom, allspice, nutmeg, ginger) inside lively candi-sugared citrus splendor. Perfumed grapefruit-peeled lemon rind bittering brightens ancillary lime-juiced tartness, coalescing above light rye-honeyed white wheat spine (and wispy sunflower-oiled sage hints).
TERRAPIN MOONRAY CHOCOLATE ORANGE WEIZENBOCK
Solid medium-bodied wheat bock hybrid offers cocoa nibs and orange peel adjuncts to brown chocolate-spiced frontage. Though the citric influence fades alongside the stylish caramelized banana creaminess, enough mocha tones surface to keep this rich. Dank cellar waft and peaty soiling add earthy musk.
TERRAPIN PINEAPPLE EXPRESS
Intriguingly hybridized fruited helles lager proves to be a winning formula. By curbing its smoked pineapple puree influence, varied tropical notions illuminate the zesty front end. Lemony pineapple, guava, mango, papaya and yellow grapefruit glaze provides summery template. Subtle beechwood-kilned peat smoke and campfire kindling drapes pulpy fruiting.
(DE PROEF) CLEVELAND BELGIAN CITRA RYE IPA
Astoundingly regal limited edition (2014) medium-full body piles on sassy sugar-spiced ripe fruiting and herbaceous white-peppered Westmalle yeast to celebrate 5th annual Cleveland Beer Festival. Tart pink and yellow grapefruit frontage (courtesy of magical Citra hop spritz) deepens tangy orange-tangerine-clementine confluence and lemony pineapple-grapefruit-mango-kiwi-guava tropicalia. Candied citrus sugaring rides above light caraway-seeded rye malting and distant floral nuances.
