Bone-dry vinegar-wafted copper-hazed citric lambic maintains sour white grape tartness, crisp orange rind bitterness, and pink lemonade tang. Wild airborn yeast perks floral iris-rosebud-dandelion serenity, corky leather-bound must, and skewered oaken acidity of lusty lemon-peeled lemon meringue aperitif.
Category Archives: Beers A-Z
CAPTAIN LAWRENCE NOR’EASTER WINTER WARMER
Bold bourbon-barreled mahogany-hued seasonal may lack advertised elderberry influence, but smoked molasses malting, Belgian-styled candied yeast, and restrained medicinal warmth pick up slack alongside compelling chocolate liqueur creaminess. Beneath, earthen peat saturates dry fig-date surge, black licorice splurge, and purple grape-wined swerve to resonant burgundy finish. Burnt toast murk coarsens latent fruitcake whim.
(CARLOW) O’HARA’S CELTIC STOUT
Beautiful cascading brown bubbles reach frothy beige head of jet black milk stout less creamy and drier than Guinness foe. Espresso coffee frontage, roasted hop char, smoked nuttiness and tar-stricken backlash given lactose chocolate-maple aridity by chewy vanilla-butterscotch finish just a tad oily and parched for perfection. Also sold as O’Hara’s Irish Stout.
CASCADE LAKES ROOSTER TAIL ALE
Mildly embittered, briskly hopped golden ale counters sugary lemondrop dearth and acidic citrus girth with slick malt sweetness to tingly lightweight finish. But minor floral seasoning lacks assertion.
CASTELAIN BLOND BIERE DE GARDE
Startlingly complex caramel-hued blonde with earthen-grained herbal-spiced grassy-hopped inception, subtle yellow-fruited honeyed malt sweetness, and pastry-like frosting will endear experienced drinkers. Floral white-peppered rosemary-thyme-sage seasoning informs ascending buttery Scotch creaming.
(DRYTOWN) CATSKILL AMBER BEER
Russet amber with soda-like flow and bottoming sediment clumps registers caramel-mocha thickness. Sweet barleymalts, sticky yeast sinew, and tangy citrus notes exhibit fertile richness not far removed from ‘busier’ red ales. Brewery defunct: 2002.
CHANG LAGER (MALT LIQUOR)
Strong creamy-headed Thai sometimes sold under malt liquor banner maintains lingered barley-corn bittering and sourdough-y Scotch malt sweetness, staying ticklish on the tongue and mellow down the throat. ’07 tasting found clear pale lager increasing sharp-hopped wheat gluten stickiness burrowing through oxidized turpentine acidity. Compares favorably to bold Eastern Euro beers due to lofty malted grain pungency and tinny metallic twinge.
CHELSEA SUNSET RED ALE
Hearty, briskly carbolic, medium-bodied red ale integrates sweet mocha malt splurge with sharp piney hop spine and resinous mineral grain depth. Juxtaposed ripe red fruit tartness counters sour pink grapefruit bite rather well.
CHOUFFE N’ICE (CHRISTMAS ALE)
Commendable limited edition green-bottled ’07 X-Mas treat boasts ‘curacao orange peel and thyme’ influence, but benefits better from chewy caramel creaminess, bittersweet raisin-prune ripeness, and red-wined grape tannins. Molasses-like brown-sugared vanilla sweetness drapes bounteous dried fruit finish.
CISCO INDIE PALE ALE
Well-rounded IPA posts lively red-orange-fruited tang above peat-smoked toasted Vienna malting, wood-chipped dry hops, and briskly carbolic nose-tingling citric zest. Amiable grapefruit-apricot-peach-pear juiciness consumes brown-sugared candy apple meander and slight medicinal twinge.
CLIPPER CITY GOLD ALE
Opaque light-bodied amber-hued blonde ale moderates fuzzy carbolic acidity with subtle citrus-cherry sweetness and slim grain trim. Toasted barleymalt continuance fades quick, leaving wee vegetative, herbal, and floral respite to supplant fruited plain.
(COAST RANGE) NUDE BEER
Palest yellow whitest-headed golden lager rightfully popularized by topless models hidden beneath peel off label rather than boring liquid inside. Faded peach-grapefruit dryness layers bland white bread base of negligible session beer. Brewery defunct: 2009.