On tap at Taphouse Grille, rampageous amber lager is way busier and bolder than lighter, less fussy competition, spreading multifarious flavors atop its baked biscuit base. Despite low alcohol volume, pungent dry-hopped bittering, musky orange-grapefruit tartness, nutty caramel spicing and musty vegetal souring rage forth in a flurry. Heartier thirsts will appreciate its tenacity.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, arcane herbal-spiced hybrid doubles the resinous hop earthiness of brewers’ Good Juju for an abstruse cross between alcohol-heightened Imperial IPA and ginger root tea. Light citric influence, licorice-rooted anisette spell and boozy vodka whir barely register as blatant raw-honeyed ginger influence rages forth.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, bold pumpernickel essence rolls over peat-smoked chocolate malting and caraway-seeded molasses breading. Cocoa-dried rye toasting and blackened hop char relegate dried fruited fig, date and plum undertones. Bittersweet mocha influence far outweighs any fruitful IPA tendencies.
Revolutionary amber-coppered coffee-doused India Pale Ale leads the way for collaborative Chicago-bound gypsy brewer. Densely bittersweet fresh-roasted coffee bean theme usurps tropical-fruited grapefruit, mango, pineapple and guava regalia. Piney hop-charred resin deepens dark-roasted chocolate malt base. Espresso, hazelnut and molasses undertones complement bold black coffee flavoring. Uniquely compelling and worthy of its hype!
“Arrogant and flamboyant” Imperial Stout pours like motor oil and definitely mimics a delicious pine nutty almond biscotti dipped in black coffee. Creamy fudged chocolate brownie frontage sweetens mid-palate, picking up cocoa nibs, carob, French vanilla, hazelnut latte, amaretto and anise illusions. Sneaky oak-charred chipotle pepper burn seeps into bourbon-lacquered java finish. A superior 2013 discovery.
Wonderfully easygoing canned IPA brings brisk grapefruit, orange, tangerine and pineapple tang to polite grassy hop bittering, sugary crystal malting and bread-crusted backdrop. Ashen charcoal bitterness gains strength by the piney citric finish. Crisp mineral water adds refreshing base.
