On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, superbly constructed amber-coppered full body brings creamy milk-sugared coffee sweetness to amiable pale malt dryness. Lingered espresso roast nestles whipped-creamed cappuccino, caramel latte, hazelnut macchiato, vanilla latte and maple sap richness. Further tastings revealed black pepper hints. Teaming up with local Fairmount Coffee Roasters, Carton’s hybridized stout/ pale ale wins on all counts.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, bold oak-barreled mocha porter drapes spicy Brinley Gold Ship Wreck rum over luxurious molasses-glazed bourbon piquancy, Belgian chocolate spicing and rich brown chocolate malt setting. Cookie dough, cocoa, coconut and cocoa nibs illusions deepen its conviction. Vanilla-sweetened Bananas Foster snip and dried-fruited bruised cherry tartness speckle the backend.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, zesty lemon pep emanates from citric Sorachi hop briskness as crayon-wafted yellow fruiting drapes fresh-cut grass patch. Light pilsner malting juxtaposes peppery Belgian yeast spicing. Graham Cracker-honeyed wheat spine picks up tertiary banana-clove smidge to backup lemony summertime resonance.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, crisply citric cream ale utilizes tropical Mosiac hop acidity and pilsner-malted flouring to capture the essence of a zesty-fruited pale ale. Perfumed yellow grapefruit entry picks up brisk orange peel bittering. Advertised milk-buttered adjunct seemingly a non-factor.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, dry-hopped rye pale ale brings illustrious yellow grapefruit bittering to resinous hop pungency. Tangy tangerine, orange and pineapple fruiting helps secure soft rye-breaded white wheat backbone.
On tap at Copper Mine, strong Belgian dark ale counters musty cellar dewiness with candi-sugared sweetness as well as dried-fruited black grape, black cherry and red plum tartness. Subtle wheat-flaked molasses malts and roasted tobacco crisping underscore mid-range brown chocolate-spiced nicety.
On tap at Copper Mine, interestingly uncommon ancient Danish recipe loads sinewy wildflower-honeyed birch syrup upon curious lingenberry, cranberry and raspberry souring. Rich Graham Cracker honeyed affluence overrides pollenated botanical herbage, white rum spicing and bruised orange tartness as well as casual berry intrigue. Not far removed from a heather-herbed gruit beer.
On tap at Copper Mine, delectable sour ale utilizes lactic oak-aged wild yeast acidity to induce subtle Damaschine plum adjunct. Syrupy Blackstrap molasses drapes ancillary oaken cherry tartness, vinous sultana grape tannins, sharp green apple pucker and delicate white peach florality. Crisp mineral-watered freshness soaks acidic fruitiness and musty earthen herbs, lightening its overall approachability. Serve to fence-sitting fruit ale lovers prepared to try sour ales with lower breattanomyces funk.
On tap at Bronx Alehouse, softly creamed hefeweizen plies mild doughy sugaring to expectant banana-clove-bubblegum triumvirate and tingly butterscotch notch. Zesty lemon spritz and dried orange-peach fruiting offer tertiary smidge. An easygoing moderation.
On tap at Bronx Alehouse, bold India Pale Ale stuffs deeply embittered piney-hopped juniper musk and lemony grapefruit-peeled orange zest into tangy pineapple stead. Peach, apricot, apple, tangerine and cherry illusions stay beneath the all-encompassing pineapple juicing.
On tap at Bronx Alehouse, murky dark-spiced dried fruiting overruns nebulous English ‘nut brown’ styling of hybridized Belgian dark ale. Distant coffee-dried walnut snip contrasts wispy vanilla caramel creaming.
On tap at Track 84, sturdy cacao-roasted imperial porter retains gently creamed mocha theme. Cacao nibs powdering brings chalky brown and black chocolate malting to the fore. Vanilla bean, roasted coffee and bourbon undertones rise above dirty earthen coarseness.
