Delicate orange-spiced clove-coriander-allspice entry gives puffy cumulous-headed blonde its light tangy thrust. Wheat-backed lemon rind tartness and floral-herbaceous accents reinforce dried vermouth insinuation.
Category Archives: Beers A-Z
KING & BARNES OLD PORTER STRONG DARK ALE
Somewhat peculiar chocolate porter ‘ale’ with blood-thickened yeast sediment, deep grain permeation, and minor tart-fruited holiday spicing penetrating mocha midst to evolving sugar-maple malt finish.
KIPLING LIGHT LAGER
Oxymoronic ‘dark light beer’ edict fits tan-headed chestnut-bodied softie as fluctuant sweet-sour malts and dry wheat spine provide thicker resonance than weaker, paler competition. Salty snacks bring out minor fruit variables. Brewery defunct: 2004.
(KONA) PIPELINE PORTER
Swell (formerly) limited edition porter places ‘100% Hawaiian kona coffee’ and maple-sapped molasses sweetness atop smoky dark roasted barley-hops. Creamy cappuccino surge soothes chewy vanilla-chocolate-coconut confluence, teensy cocoa dusting, slight bourbon daub and nutty espresso char to mildly dry coffee bean-embittered finish (with wavered black peppering). Fluffy carbolic fizz nearly overwhelms milky texture.
KROSS BRUEGHEL BLONDE ALE
Limited coriander, clove, and orange peel contribute to flowery hop frontage and citric-fizzed white ale finish of Americanized tripel. Compared to finer Belgian blondes, it’s limited by its much lighter sweet-sour malting. Brewery defunct: 2010.
(KULMBACHER) MONCHSHOF SCHWARZBIER BLACK PILSNER
Dry charred hops invade burnt barley setting as varying mocha bitterness, chocolate malt roast, and licorice-tea-cola hints sufficiently counterbalance solid-bodied dark pilsner. But tinny mouthfeel and anti-climactic muted grain finish soften resolve and foil initial thrust.
LABATT’S ELEPHANT RED LAGER
Under the supposed supervision of Carlsberg brewers in Denmark, amber-reddish 5.6% alcohol-laden lager has indistinct grained malt presence unsophisticated blue collar drinkers and certain neophytes may find appealing.
LA CHOULETTE FRAMBOISE
Fruitful copper-hazed pink-highlighted oak-seasoned farmhouse brew confronts cavernous sour raspberry frontage with dry-hopped cherry pungency, green apple gape, and tannic red grape tartness. At wheat-husked finish, tangy citric authority enhances dry white wine reminder.
LAGUNITAS LUCKY 13 RED ALE
Terrific strong ale boasting 8.3% alcohol rigidity celebrates brewers’ 13th anniversary. Sweetly spiced spruce malts energize syrupy peach-nectarine zest and pine resin-y grapefruit bittering. Soil-y rye-tinged grains underscore brown sugared Baker’s chocolate splurge while candied citric tang endures to creamy finish. A fortuitously fated find.
LAKEFRONT NOMAD RED LAGER
Soothing buttery yeast flow and soft hop constraint reach short-lived malt finish as hints of berry jump off the tongue sporadically. Better than the usual macrobrewed suspects.
(LAKEPORT) TRULY CANADIAN PREMIUM LAGER
Pearly white-headed yellow-bodied lager has promising fruited malt entry tamed by citric hop wisp and threadbare barley-wheat snip, finishing feebly as dour alcohol astringency overwhelms lightly salted sweet corn stipend.
LANDMARK INDIA RED ALE
Brewed for Syracuse’s Landmark Brewery, garnet-hued red ale/ IPA hybrid garners lingering floral hop bitterness for supplemental orange-peeled grapefruit pith souring and brisk pine needle bite. Stable spruced citrus tang encounters cardboard-tea midst, cigar ash niche and vegetal tribute but acidic astringency hampers rye twinge.