Starting as a strong pale ale in its original formulation, newly tweaked 2012 IPA version gets a dry-hopped uplift and bitterer citric presence. Crisply floral herbaceous fruiting given less inviting cardboard-like biscuit malting. Bitter Cascade-hopped grapefruit peel and orange rind astringency contrasts tangy tangerine, peach, pear and pineapple supplement. Slight iodine-like alcohol burn and pungent metallic char singe the bright citric finish.
Surprisingly amber-toned for mocha porter. Like Saranac, most Horny Goat beers seem slick and blue collar in approach. However, the efficient chocolate brownie-like entrance, brown-sugared cinnamon sweetness and cocoa-puffed toffee dollop of this dusky moderate body make a convincing pair. Nevertheless, disturbing diacetyl buttering gets in the way of less effective cacao-nibbed vanilla, gingerbread and honey nut dalliances.
Laidback soy-milked brown chocolate chalking given wavered oats-charred bittering and slick dark toffee sweetening. Stove-burnt coffee souring outlasts maple molasses meander as oily hop residue becomes way too astringent for slack moderate-medium body.
Ambiguous fruited stout lacks creamy dark chocolate malting and advertised (black or red) cherry tartness. Instead, minor astringency affects barren oats-charred mocha roast as well as coffee-stained cacao nibs niche.
Invigorating winter warmer emulates Swedish glogg by bridging autumnal brown-sugared pumpkin pie likeness to sweet Christmastime spicing and muted mull-spiced wining. Fig-sugared stewed prune, golden raisin, bruised cherry and mandarin orange peel fruiting picks up wintry gingerbread, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cardamom and clove seasoning. Pecan, butterscotch, vanilla and sugar cookie illusions penetrate the fruitcake finish.
Entertaining bottle conditioned amber-hazed blonde tripel (with well-hidden 9.3% alcohol volume) brings candi-sugared sweetness and butterscotch fruiting to honeyed barley-oats spine. Pastry-like filo doughing usurps unripe banana tartness and orange-soured marmalade splurge at mid-palate. Tropical nectarine, melon, honeydew, peach, mango, pineapple and papaya illusions linger below.
As with previous ‘Cruiser’ version, bland 2012 edition lacks specificity. Wintry brown-sugared mulling spices get musty and phenol hop bittering dissolves alongside dreary caramel malting. Murky orange, cherry and apple nuances never suffice.
On tap at 381 Main, domineering brown-sugared gingerbread cookie theme gets lift from nitrogen gassing as chewy molasses-soaked cookie dough creaminess, supportive cinnamon spicing and dark-roasted chocolate malting underscore wintry full-bodied dessert treat. In the bottle, mischievous winter warmer loses some luster. Gargantuan gingerbread pinnacle fades a tad as vanilla, anise, nutmeg and clove illusions embellish brown chocolate midst and teasing bourbon nip.
Extremely ambitious full-bodied Oatmeal Stout brings creamy dark chocolate, fresh-roasted Sumatra-Kona coffee and oats-charred hops to the fore. Resounding mocha vibe enriched by fudgy vanilla, toffee, caramel and maple licks. Ashen chicory sops up tertiary Brazil nut, walnut, hazelnut and cola nut slack. An immensely complex and luxurious treasure not just for breakfast.
Unspecific medium-bodied Irish Red Ale immediately goes askew as no prominent flavor profile shines through. Mild hop-spiced honeyed tea entry picks up musty fig-soured dried fruiting, grape-stemmed cherry stone remnant and wispy orange oiling. Dry grain-toasted bottom and ethereal mossy peat leathering mired by coarse astringency.
