Amiable brown-bodied schwarzbier in pudgy brown bottle brings dewy rye-breaded molasses-smoked malting to dry black-purple grape souring, moldy fig-date-raisin astringency, reedy hop-charred cola-pecan-macadamia nuttiness and sneaky black cherry snips. Latent bourbon hints gain foothold above brown-sugared chocolate roast and earthen peat bottom.
Category Archives: Beers A-Z
KELSO ST. GOWANUS BELGIAN ALE
On tap, amiable amber-hazed dry-bodied cask-conditioned Belgian Golden/ American Pale Ale blend allows apple cider tea entry to inform white-peppered rosemary-thyme herbage and zesty Caracao-mandarin orange tartness. Mildewed earthen fungi, bitter chai tea spicing, oaken vanilla, and lemongrass consume backend.
L’ORGE DU BOUFFAY
Approachable dry-bodied saffron-hazed Biere De Garde brings soft-watered champagne-like carbonation to vinous grape souring, creamy Chardonnay buttering, and mossy mineral-grained grassy-hopped stead above polite herbaceous chamomile whim. Mild lemon tartness zips by. A subtler, blonder stylistic change of pace.
MENDOCINO OATMEAL STOUT
Robust lactose-aided jet-black winter seasonal competes favorably against best full-bodied oatmeal stouts marketed year-round. Creamy molasses-sapped black chocolate roast and wood-charred hop-oiled black coffee bittering saturate sharp hazelnut, walnut, and Brazil nut toasting to setback earthen peat grouting. Tertiary vanilla bean, raisin, black cherry, and anise illusions jut in and out.
POINT BELGIAN WHITE
Effervescent golden-hazed pilsner-malted Belgian-styled witbier retains thin light-bodied nature. Mild coriander spicing seeps into zesty Curacao orange peel bittering and subdued lemon meringue tartness, sidling yummy bubblegum sweetness contrasting banana-leafed plantain astringency to baguette-toasted white wheat bottom. Floral innuendoes adorn backend of refreshingly clean crisp-watered Seltzer-fizzed dilution.
PRETTY THINGS BABAYAGA SYLVAN STOUT
Robust ebony-hued full body lacquers molasses-soaked black cherry, black grape, and blackberry fruiting to liqueur-like anise gluten. Smoked rye malting deepens chocolate, vanilla, and espresso expectancy above tertiary rosemary-thyme herbage of hearty wood-smoked oats-charred winter seasonal.
ROGUE CHATOE OREGASMIC ALE
Nearly superb brass-hued pale ale brings creamy cake-battered almond buttering and sweet marzipan confection to spicy fruited hop plain. Ancillary aricot, peach, pear, apple and white grapefruit illusions ripen above biscuit-y bottom. Not far removed from Rogue Dead Guy Ale, though softer butterscotch billowing and milder hop bitterness more approachable for softer palates.
SARANAC OCTOBERFEST LAGER (2010)
Washed-out limited-release copper-toned autumnal marzen (with red lawnchair on label’s water scene denoting 2010 version) lacks sufficient spice-hopped crystal-malted front end, but picks up steam by sour citric midst. Lemon-bruised burnt orange mold dapples peach-dried cinnamon-cardamom-paprika tingle. Off-putting vegetal astringency held to a minimum.
CAPTAIN LAWRENCE CAPTAIN’S RESERVE IMPERIAL I.P.A.
Glorious tropical-fruited double-hopped copper-hazed India Pale Ale stays sweeter than bitterer. Creamy butter-scotched caramel-toasted malts bed candi-sugared apple-juiced pear, peach, tangerine, pineapple, cantaloupe, melon, and orange marmalade panoply contrasting pine-resinous grapefruit-peeled orange-oiled juniper bittering. Mild herbal whim tucked inside floral hop spicing atop wood-lacquered pliancy. Fruity bubblegum reminder clinches the deal. On tap, beechnut-spruced sweetness augments apple-candied orange-pulped tang, tropical pineapple-kiwi thrust, and bubblegum niche countering zesty grapefruit rind bittering to piney-hopped bottom.
AECHT SCHLENKERLA EICHE DOPPELBOCK
Famed German smoked beer makers come through again with unexpectedly moderate-bodied double bock styling. Crisply clean oak-smoked peat malting leads the way for dry Band-aid-wafted amber-darkened rauchbier. Smoked salami, bacon fat, burnt hickory, and nutmeat speckle recessive lemon-oiled orange-fig tartness. An acquired taste worth discovering.
AYINGER WEIZEN-BOCK
Affirmative medium-bodied winter seasonal bock brings honeyed yellow-fruited nature and caramel-crystal malting to casual herbaceous whim. Vanilla-sweetened banana-clove entry receives uppity lemon tartness and white-peppered menthol-eucalyptus-ginger freshness. Dry banana leaf illusion, musty barnyard grassing, and strangely irrelevant compost waft affect sugared fig-date recess and tertiary orange-apple-pear-pineapple fruiting. Here’s to another well-defined, interestingly enjoyable Ayinger brew.
(BIG CITY) JAMAICA STOUT
Serviceable brown-bodied mocha stout pushes roasted coffee above sticky sugar-burnt molasses creaminess and black chocolate milking. Leathery wood-seared astringency affects tertiary rum-caked black cherry, prune, and raisin illusions.