Ambitious citric-soured hop-spiced Belgian-styled strong ale flaunts mild intricacies. Up-front, black-peppered pine-needled bittering underscores splurging bruised lemon zest. At midst, barnyard-dried yeast brettanomyces skew grassy bark-horsehide earthiness and mystical herbal-floral twinge of engaging Brussels lace-strewn straw-hazed endeavor.
Category Archives: Beers A-Z
SARANAC IRISH STOUT
Fizzy dry-bodied schwarzbier-like black ale misses mark. Coarse metallic shrill depletes mocha nuttiness of supposed Irish-styled stout. Oily hop-toasted grain-roasted charcoal burn overwhelms bittersweet cocoa-seeded black chocolate harshness, gnarly fig-soured chicory coffee meander and salty soy spell.
NORTH COAST OLD STOCK ALE (2009)
Bold ‘old ale’ places brandy-soaked brown chocolate spicing above toasted marzipan sweetness and cognac-boozed orange-bruised cherry puree haze. Toasted almond, candied apple, rum raisin, and overripe prune soak syrupy molasses-sapped toffee backdrop.
NEW HOLLAND NIGHT TRIPPER IMPERIAL STOUT
Enthusiastic ebony-hued ruby-shaded caramel-malted lactose stout brings rich hop-charred grain-smoked brown chocolate creaminess to brown-sugared vanilla fudging. Cedar-burnt maple-sugared fruit-dried backdrop fortifies viscous blackstrap molasses sapping and French roast coffee tease to hop-charred bottom. Boozy bourbon-dried rum-spiced sherry perk pleats chocolate liqueur and Sambuca hints. Black cherry-pureed fig-raisin continuance deepens tertiary medicinal resolve. Serve as strong dessert-like chocolate milkshake.
ITHACA EXCELSIOR 12TH ANNIVERSARY ALE
Rich Monastery-style quadrupel ale utilizes chewy Trappist wheat strain for wondrous ‘burnished chestnut’ full body. Peppery fig-dried raisin-prune-plum souring inundates bourbon-licked champagne yeast fizz. White rum, sherry, and burgundy illusions float across sweet banana-bruised clove sensation as earthen peat-smoked malting gains footing atop funky fungi-like backend.
HARPOON ISLAND CREEK OYSTER STOUT
Smooth coffee bean entry receives creamy chocolate-milked sweetness contrasting charcoal-tarred bittering. Briny oyster-salted sea-watered sinew elevates peat-malted hop-charred barley roast, reinforcing subsidiary cocoa-powdered vanilla, walnut and hazelnut illusions. Mild Baker’s chocolate, mochaccino, and espresso nuances dance across dry mocha finish as latent Scotch-burgundy boozing caresses robust ink black ruffian.
HARPOON GINGER WHEAT
Part of brewers’ ongoing ‘100 barrel series,’ smooth gin-soaked herbal medication upends cloying lemon-sugared heather-tipped orange tang with zippy ginger ale fizzing. But its cross to bear is the glutinous sorghum-like souring depleting honeyed ginger-spearmint-eucalyptus subsidy and citric-bruised continuance.
CAPTAIN LAWRENCE ESPRESSO STOUT
On tap, aggressive lactose-rich coffee roast lingers above black chocolate-y espresso subsidy. Hop-charred stove-burnt coffee finish cloaks wood-singed grain roast, bittersweet Baker’s chocolate fudging, and plasticine astringency.
SAMUEL ADAMS NOBLE PILS
Enjoyable session beer allows candi-sugared yellow-fruited nature and mild piney hop bittering to inundate biscuit-y cornbread bottom. White grapefruit, yellow grape and green lime complement tart lemon-seeded overture. Lively citric finish scatters black-peppered floral and fresh-cut grass nuances below crystalline pilsner malting.
ERIE OL’ RED CEASE & DESIST WEE HEAVY
Semi-interesting deep amber full body brings creamy caramelized honey malting to cane-sugared grape-orange-cherry waver and biscuit-y bottom end, but gratingly sharp phenol hop bite overwhelms flavor profile. Moreover, partially disguised 10% alcohol boozing tempers hollow fruit-grained finish and tertiary macadamia-walnut remnant.
PORTSMOUTH BARLEYWINE
Luxurious bottled version is veritable godsend for wintry evening, 2010. Pureed black cherry fascination drapes rich fig-raisin-prune dried fruiting and sweet-Scotched sherry-burgundy-bourbon alcohol whir. Chewy brown-sugared honey-sapped molasses coating secures gooey medicinal cherry-candied stickiness, mild hazelnut-macadamia smidgen, and piney hop sop. Bruised banana, rum raisin, and caramel apple come along for the ride.
WOLAVERS ALTA GRACIA COFFEE PORTER
French roasted coffee intensity seeps into creamy cappuccino milking, mild espresso continuance, and bittersweet vanilla bean uprising. Syrupy dark chocolate center deepens hop-charred cola nut, walnut, and macadamia sharpness. Tingly bourbon-rum boozing underscores full-blown coffee-burnt creme brulee finish.