Impeccable oaken bourbon-barreled strong ale (a.k.a. Abacus) is a decadent British-styled barleywine. Chewy caramel nuttiness, rum-soaked crème brulee creaminess and syrupy maple molasses deepen bourbon whiskey theme. On second passing, rich raisin-pureed plum, prune and black cherry tartness seeps into surging chocolate-y toffee sweetness as ancillary burgundy, port and sherry ease into calm alcohol-burnt backdrop. Toasted coconut, vanilla extract, marshmallow and almond illusions further sweeten slow sipping heavy dessert treat.
Category Archives: Beers A-Z
ANCHORAGE THE TIDE & ITS TAKERS
Resolute Belgian-styled tripel aged in French oak Chardonnay barrels goes on a fantastic journey. Orange-dried lemon rind tartness penetrates white-peppered basil-thyme-lemongrass herbage and sweet honeyed malting for enduringly sharp white-wined promenade. Dark floral potpourri drifts into herbal fruiting as illuminating flavor profile and modest brettanomyces souring proliferate. Candied apple, lemon custard, green grape, white apricot, pineapple, banana and coconut add breadth to alluring Chardonnay finish.
YARDS OLDE BARTHOLOMEW BARLEYWINE
Boozy English-styled winter warmer (with bracing 10% alcohol volume) gets labeled as an unfiltered barleywine but seems closer to a nebulous strong ale. Seasonal cinnamon, gingerbread and sugar plum spicing loses out to phenol-hopped orange peel bittering. Ancillary molasses honeyed sweetness, caramelized apple stickiness, tangy peach ripeness and dried cherry pureeing waver through solvent alcohol burn.
(ANHEUSER-BUSCH) BUD SELECT 55 LIGHT LAGER
Flaccidly under-whelming clear-bottled low-calorie light lager with salt-watered Seltzer fizz, phenol hop astringency, dehydrated corn void and faint metallic sheen is a quaint bore. Flimsy 55-calorie fodder for freakishly frail freshmen.
HEINEKEN TARWEBOK
Uniquely sweet wheat bock (a.k.a. German-styled weizenbock) contrasts the usual dank bittering of Heineken’s best known international fare. Sugary honeyed molasses creaminess sets the tone above mildly sweet barley-roasted chocolate malting and sweetly soured red cherry tartness. Toffee, maple, hazelnut, banana and fig crowd brown-sugared rum spicing before medicinal alcohol-burnt cough medicine aftertaste takes hold. A sweet dessert treat.
WIDMER BROTHERS OKTO FESTIVAL ALE
Damp aromatic foliage and leafy-hopped earthen nuttiness provide autumnal array for middling dry body. Complacent Vienna-malted cereal grain toasting, latent metallic shard and acrid phenol spicing lower appeal.
PUB DOG HOPPY DOG
Aggressive pale ale stays smooth, clean and sessionable while maintaining bold citric bittering reminiscent of an India Pale Ale. Zesty grapefruit-peeled lemon rind bite stays above resinous earthen-grained dampness and mild piney prickle. Toasted caramel malting sweetens the moldy breaded backend.
(FLYING DOG) UNDERDOG ATLANTIC LAGER
Perky light-bodied lager brings resinous floral-hopped citric spicing to sourdough breading. Musk-y lemon rot and orange compote pleat mild dry-wooded astringency. Biscuit-y malts bring salty pretzel and toasted baguette illusions to the fore. Serve to Euro pilsner fans.
(THORNBRIDGE) SAINT PETERSBURG IMPERIAL RUSSIAN STOUT
Convincing lactic-soured cocoa malt entry pushed aside for chewy brown chocolate creaminess and soy-milked coffee splash. Sturdy mocha theme reinforced by molasses-draped oats, peanut-shelled walnut and mossy peat as well as tertiary dark-fruited raisin, fig and black cherry nuances.
PUB DOG RASPBERRY DOG
Blandly watered-down raspberry tartness reaches acrid Seltzer-fizzed solvency, neutralizing light 4% alcohol volume. Minor acidity slips into auxiliary cranberry wisp, dismissive cider souring, washed-out lemon-drop snip and teasing floral whim. White wheat spine can’t hold water. Barely betters fruitier low-alcohol beers from myopic mainstream macrobrew mavens. Serve with woodruff syrup to increase raspberry flavor.
PUB DOG BROWN DOG
Easygoing English-styled brown ale placating lactic-soured coffee oiling with creamy brown chocolate froth, distant vanilla sweetness and faded hazelnut-walnut-cola conflux. Mild cocoa nibs finish muddled by interfering carbolic fluff.
HINTERLAND DOOR COUNTY CHERRY WHEAT
Serpentine summertime golden ale doused with wheat-honeyed Montmorency cherry tartness wavers from fizzy cherry soda to sweet Maraschino cherry to tangy rhubarb pie. Musty cherry pucker picks up tannic grape souring, acidic cranberry twang and muted orange trifle. May better Sam Adams Cherry Wheat.
