Even-tempered blonde features honey-malted sweetness over wheat-chaffed herbal accents for clean, refreshing light body.
Category Archives: Beers A-Z
LONGSHORE ROUGH RIDER BROWN ALE
A tad complex for brown ale class; closer stylistically to smoked Scotch ale. Creamy caramel malt pleasantry stands out above roasted barley initiation and nutty dry-hopped char. Burnt coffee finish enriches fine hearty treat. Brewery defunct: 2000.
LOST COAST DOWNTOWN BROWN ALE
Well-balanced amber-hued ale renders chalky mocha opening that subjugates casual coffee-burnt sourness, gentle caramel creaminess, and soft water aridity. Though chocolate-roasted sweetness lingers, overall lighter-bodied appeal, coupled with muted fruity hop tartness, seem closer to red ale styling.
MAC ANDREW’S SCOTCH ALE
Pouring like an expensive champagne (and formerly brewed by Caledonian), tawny wheat-honeyed wee heavy coats the tongue with caramel-malted plum wine, barleywine, and bourbon boozing. Musty oaken vanilla and dry cherry illusions seep into leathery peat spine. An unsophisticated pleasure filling the middle ground between Samuel Smith IPA from Samuel Adams Scotch Ale.
MAD RIVER JOHN BARLEYCORN BARLEYWINE ALE
Serpentine-like turbid magenta barleywine changes course like vintage wine. Haughtily acrid molasses-draped charred wood, black tar, and tobacco chaw bittering, alongside hefty 9.5% alcohol burn, may disappoint softer palates, but escalating lactic robustness sweetens endless peculiarities efficiently. Chewy brown-sugared chocolate-vanilla upsurge informs pureed raisin creaminess, orange-bruised cherry puree compaction, and illustrious medicinal finish. Dry bourbon, burgundy, and brandy wining stumbles across hard-candied coriander-spiced anise stickiness. Not for the weak-hearted. Compares favorably to highly efficient double bocks.
MAGIC HAT JINX
Ironic ‘Jinx’ moniker puts whammy on elusive ’02-introduced light-bodied peat-smoked autumnal ale inspired by ‘doctrines of medieval chemists.’ Acidic sour orange esters haunt muted wheat-grass trifle, vacant raisin triviality, benign hickory smoked sweetness and abbreviated earthen wood tones, nearly putting potion in dire straits. Originally mistook surreptitious pecan-cocoa sway and dried fig dash embellishing resinous hop scourge for metallic astringency.
MAIN STREET PALE ALE
Full-bodied cloudy-hued pale ale brings fine barleymalt influx and zesty hop persistence to delicate tangy fruited finish. Crisp water briskness will appeal to amateurs in search of a soft-toned potion. Brewery defunct: 2003.
MARIN SAN QUENTIN’S BREAKOUT STOUT
Versatile black-hued tan-headed lactose stout with whipped cream-topped chocolate malt palate, rich wood burnt maple creaminess, roasted nut insurgence, and vanilla-fig-cherry dalliance subtly softened by artisian water crispness. By mid-palate, flaked oats juxtapose prudent coffee bean sourness, enhancing lingering mocha finish significantly. Beautiful.
MC MULLEN’S ANNIVERSARY PORTER
Thick blackened malts (amber, chocolate, pale, and crystal) combine with generous hop fusion and dirty grain bracket for unusual non-traditional porter appeal. Differs from competition since coffee-mocha exchange resides in backdrop instead of dominating, but paltry roasted finish needs better distinction.
MC SORLEY’S DOUBLE DARK ALE
Deep mahogany hue and Scotch-like aroma hit the senses before sturdy roasted coffee bitterness and creamy caramel nougat richness stabilize. But unobtrusive finish lacks full-bodied inertia.
MENDOCINO RED TAIL LAGER
Fine dark amber lager conveys butterscotch hilt, cracked wheat jilt, vanilla wafer lilt, and toasted almond tilt. Minor oxidation agitates citric twinge and earthy vegetal tinge.
MICHELOB BLACK & TAN
Burnt sienna-hued b & t with soft stout bitterness and easygoing grain fluctuation creating crisp lager flow. Cheap on mocha spicing though barley-roasted caramel creaminess picks up the slack. Neither as rich nor as creamy as better Black & Tans, yet fairly suited to amateurs.