Raspy copper penny-hued, pinkish-headed ‘kriek’ opens dry, tart, and bitter, compromising mellow stone-fruited splendor with phenol coarseness until tannic cherry souring and vinous white grape esters show appreciation. Fizzy champagne tingle seeps into woody oaken astringency of slow sipping cherry-pied aperitif.
Category Archives: Beers A-Z
UNIBROUE PILS
Fair clear-bottled, thin-bodied, white-headed Canadian pilsner brings faint smoked wood chip reminder to unassuming peppery hop frock, buttery Scotch-toasted malt schmaltz, and insufficient yellow-fruited quince-gourd spell. Incomplete.
UPLAND CHOCOLATE STOUT
Chunky chocolate and creamy caramel provide milky creaminess to surging coffee-burnt hazelnut mantra for deep mocha penetration.
UTENOS GERIMAI BEER
The first Lithuanian beer imbibed (circa ’07) has 4.8% alcohol strength, muted barley waft, soapy grain malts, and hearty brown ale-like mocha nuttiness. Soft citric hop zest provides additional depth to creamy honey-roasted finish.
(VERHAEGHE) DUCHESSE DE BOURGOGNE
Tangy white wined Flemish-styled red ale burrows vinegary acidity below illusions of hard cider, sour citrus, tart cherry, and dry prune. By mid-palate, prevalent green apple overtones invade astringent oaken finish. On tap, barleywine chill recedes to brandied cherry jubilee whisk and cranberry-grape tannin sequel.
VICTORY STORM KING IMPERIAL STOUT
Absolutely victorious mahogany-hued tawny-headed stout brings rich creme de cocoa, chocolate liqueur, and Kahlua creaminess to dry charcoal-burnt espresso-milked coffee bitterness. Blackstrap molasses malting thickens nutty bottom, dark floral hop tagline, and tertiary black cherry, black currant, and blackberry illusions. Raisin, prune, and fig round out complex heavyweight champion.
WACHUSETT SUMMER BREEZE WHEAT ALE
Buttery pale-toned moderate-bodied wheat ale could be mistaken for toasted lager thanks to honeyed oat sweetness, almond-chestnut influence, and cracked wheat spine. Meager lemony blueberry bittering, teensy white grape souring, and tingled herbal hop hoax settle far below doughy white bread flimsiness. Nasty solvent-like backdrop and cabbage-like recess ruin tertiary mandarin orange-strawberry-blueberry whim.
WALKERVILLE LAGER
Nominal light-bodied pale lager drapes toasted malt sweetness atop protective wheat-cracked marble rye layer and tidy dry-hopped bittering, but carbonated pop appeal upsets wispy toffee finish hiding fruity smidgen.
WEEPING RADISH BLACK RADISH DARK LAGER
Dry roasted coffee entry anticipates heightened stout-like expectations for brewery’s staple, but lack of assertive black chocolate roast and nasty cocoa-soured earthen musk lessen resolve by semi-flat finish. Needs better mocha assertion and sturdier nut-shelled dried fruiting for distinction. A tentative cola-hued schwarzbier.
WEINHARD’S RED ALE
Friskier phenol hops are just about all that separates this from Weinhard’s Pale. Vacuous.
WEYERBACHER BLASPHEMY ALE
Spectacular oak-barrel aged 11.8% alcohol-doused quadrupel places creamy vanilla easement next to silken bourbon frontage and chocolate-y cherry Kirsch midst. Brown sugared molasses sap enriches rum-soaked raisin, plum and prune waver. Cherry-pureed cognac, brandy and whiskey licks smooth out soft banana-pear-honeydew fruiting.
WEYERBACHER PRIME PORTER
Intrusive foam and heavy carbonation nearly overwhelm great roasted chocolate theme. Sip slowly to properly locate mocha malt-y residue and grain subtleties. Needs to be firmer and bolder to fully appeal to seasoned porter aficionados, though.