Dusky light-bodied Kolsch-styled ale lacks dry fruit or wine-like illusions of its ilk. Instead, swill grain palate and brittle malt duress glitched by grueling sulfuric aroma and poorly developed hop-spiced finish.
Category Archives: Beers A-Z
O’HANLON’S WHEAT BEER
Mediocre white-laced amber-clouded light-bodied English-styled wheat ale leans closer to mildly bitter wheat-husked dry-toned American version than sweeter German-styled Weiss. Sunny citrus fizz, herbal hop spiciness, and banana-clove wisp gain limed green apple tartness to downplayed honeyed biscuit finish. Serve with lemon or add honey drop to wake up casual floral nuances.
OLDE HEURICH PALE ALE
Banal English-styled pale ale with weak maize-wheat confluence and arid hop follow-through has supposedly been ‘a Washington DC tradition since 1873.’ All others need not apply. Brewery defunct: 2006.
(OMMEGANG) HENNEPIN BELGIAN-STYLE ALE
Though made in the States, minty farmhouse ale (with fluffy eggshell head, cloudy amber hue, flowery spiced hop fragrance and white wine appeal) definitely succeeds as first-rate Belgian-derived knockoff. Yellow grape esters contrast sugary banana riffs as earthen mustiness conveniently hides metallic alkaline esters. Also in the mix, sweet coriander-allspice-ginger melange, lemon meringue tartness, sweet orange peel tang and mild peppercorn jab add further complexity to voluptuously fruited vanilla creamed effervescence.
ORKNEY SKULLSPLITTER ALE
Foamy bubbles cascade above muddy texture while pouring syrupy candy-red-hued 8.5% alcohol ale. Pervasive barleywine opulence enriched by barley-toasted chocolate sweetness and cherry-pureed prune-plum tartness to moderate nutty finish.
OTTER CREEK GERMAN-STYLE KOLSCH SPRING ALE
Crisply golden-bodied, fluffy pearl-headed, medium-bodied Kolsch stays nondescript. Fizzy hop-tingled lemony tangerine tang becomes acidic as stale toasted bread meander drags down marzipan nicety to soapy phenolic finish. Brighter spicy citric nuance is a must.
OTTER CREEK WORLD TOUR OTTERBAHN WEIZENBOCK
Creamy turbidly brown ‘German-styled’ bock opens with pleasing nutmeg-clove-allspice-tinged banana snip sheltering earthy wheat restraint. But that auspicious frontage only readies blissful boozer for roasted hazelnut embarkation, stewed prune strew, and relegated chocolate slip fetchingly consuming brown sugared midst. Fire-roasted peat malts line syrupy cola flow while imminent brandy, barleywine, and cherry jubilee hints caress durable medicinal finish.
PALMETTO PALE ALE
Spicy lemon-orange rind frontage routs barley-roasted wheat grass whimper of puffy beige-headed moderate body. Sullen yeast froth softens sinewy pale malting to sharply bitter citric-hop finish.
PATAGONIA LAGER
Decent pale-bodied white-headed lager will engage light-hearted pilsner drinkers due to lime-like citric aroma, dainty hop fizz, and distant wheat-barley sweetness. Smooth water softens delicate bitterness to thin malt finish.
PEARL LIGHT LAGER
Sour citric jaunt and green maize astringency bookend seltzer flow for crisp alternative to strident Pearl Lager.
PENNICHUCK SAINT FLORIAN DOPPELBOCK LAGER
Excuse doppelbock descriptive and re-label this full-bodied lager a buttery Flemish ale/ toasted lager blend. Its chewy brown sugared marzipan opening and oncoming brown chocolate-y toffee sweetness pile-drive minor cocoa-powdered bittering to ripe raisin finish. Recessive hazelnut illusions linger below. Brewery defunct: 2010.
PETE’S WICKED MAPLE PORTER
Hearty porter with smoky maple extract and caramel coating. Upon swallowing, molasses-chocolate ire kicks in, remaining firm at pervasive pecan finish. Not quite as robust as most top shelf porters, but maybe more sweetly flavorful.