Vibrant reddish nickel-glowed ‘double I.P.A.’ posits freshly embittered floral-perfumed pine hops against illustrious candi-sugared tropical fruit thrust and creamy vanilla-butterscotch sweep. Tangy pineapple-mango-cherry-nectarine-peach frontage gains corresponding orange-bruised grapefruit juiciness above cereal-grained almond-toasted flaked oats spine, perfectly countering wet Cascade-Centennial-Chinook hopping. Betters similarly styled Phin & Matt’s Extraordinary Ale.
Category Archives: Beers A-Z
SPATEN PREMIUM LAGER
Heineken crowd will gobble up versatile mild-malted bitter-hopped pilsner-like helles lager as less filling, lighter-bodied substitute. But lemony quince wince, uncertain caramel backdrop, and soapy dough finish mar its Euro-trash simplicity.
STAR BREWING HOP GOLD ALE
Tamped down herbal hop resonation tenderly caresses sour lemon rind, orange peel, and apricot nose. Tea leaf tinge nearly escapes senses until soothing malted rye finish durably increases. Brewery defunct: 2003.
(STEENBERGE) BIERE DU BOUCANIER GOLDEN ALE
Despite soft yellow body, delicate silken flow, and ransacked 11% alcohol deluge, lusty orange-bruised cherry-pineapple-peach tang and hop-fueled black-peppered basil-thyme sharpness juxtapose prim clove-coriander spicing. Minor acidity dispels candied malt sweetness, dry quince stint, and white rum hint.
STEPAN RAZIN ZOLOTOYE LAGER
Slick grain-toasted pale lager receives creamy caramel surge, coarse hop spicing, and cedar-burnt snip to prop up diacetyl citric tang. Mild metallic acidity and vegetal tinge disrupt flow.
STONE OAKED ARROGANT BASTARD
Ambitious slow sipping boubon-sherry-like offshoot adds oak chips to sterling Arrogant recipe. As thickly cascading tan head settles above cloudy rust-orange body, sharply alcoholic fruity waft surges. Chewy vanilla-butterscotch creaminess thickens syrupy peach-cherry sinew, correlative tangerine-mango-melon tang, and impending spruce sweetness. At midst, red apple ripeness, purple grape twang, and sun-dried raisin tinge counter ethereal floral-hopped bittering. As bottle empties, bruised orange-grapefruit notes gush forward, adding further complexity.
STONE CAT SCOTCH ALE
Aromatic fruit waft, frisky hop insurgence, and unspecific grain backup provide bittersweet template to malt-roasted barley-smoked moderation. Too transparent and tame, lacking distinction for its class.
STOUDT’S ANNIVERSARY ALE
Elegant ruby-hued bottle-conditioned German doppelbock features bright melon-cherry thrust overlaid by chocolate malts and sour fig-prune sedation. Wispy whiskey finish hedges maple-sugared caramel-burnt sweetness.
STOUT BROTHERS UNDERGROUND I.P.A.
Bitterly pepper-spiced orange frontage fortified promptly by wheat-honeyed Scotch malt thicket and dry hop frisk. Perfumed floral waft engulfs nose. Weird herbage undermines backend. An acquired taste, for sure. Brewery defunct: 2007.
SWINKELS PILSNER
Lofty barley-toasted cereal grain entry gains caramel malted creaminess over soft-toned tamped-down clay hop moderation to honeycomb finish. Simple, if indistinct, pleasure.
TERRAPIN GOLDEN ALE
Grainy golden ale is casual fence-sitter, lacking adequate overall sweetness to counter emergent molded rye bittering. Brown-sugared honey biscuit nicety overlays maize-flaked corn-buttered dryness. As rye influence diminishes, orange pastry illusion caresses thin floral-spiced hop tingle.
THE UNDERGROUND DIRTY BLONDE PREMIUM ALE
Flat auburn-bodied short-headed blonde greeted by gently watered dirty grains before soft hop fizz and aromatic fruitiness brighten otherwise sterile finish.