Creamy billowy-headed ‘saison ale’ with welcoming wheat-grained white wine palate and tart citrus fruiting dotting carbolic champagne-like fizz. White-peppered spicing enhances lemon-peeled peach, mango. papaya and pineapple tropicalia. Despite hefty 9.5% alcohol content, it’s easy to imbibe.
Category Archives: Beers A-Z
(EDENTON) HORNIBLOW’S TAVERN AMERICAN ALE
Coppery ale retains bittersweet malting, sour citric tartness, and grassy hop drynesss to rye finish as unexpected charcoal illusion thickens. Brewery defunct: 2006.
EGGENBERG URBOCK DUNKEL EISBOCK
Rich amber-hazed cognac-like ice beer retains orange blossom amble and brown chocolate malt pungency as brandied 10% alcohol luster compares favorably to Eku 28. Dry raisin-fig nudge, dark rum warmth, and candied butterscotch finish soothe the soul.
(ELLEZELLOISE) QUINTINE SAISIS WHITE ALE
Sunny yellow haze suits tart lemony consistency. Frisky hop fizz tickles tongue and herbal mint-sage adjuncts soften citric-currant bitterness succinctly.
ENDURANCE GLACIER GOLD
Crisply dry yellow-fruited golden ale raises strong black tea influence above raw-honeyed cracked wheat backdrop. Soapy finish slightly mars acidic lemon rind and grapefruit peel tang.
ESTES PARK RENEGADE INDIA PALE ALE
Spiced red apple aromatics and bitterest pine nut initiation caress coffee-stained mocha malts. Pungent hop-embittered resilience gains strength to resin-y grain finish, but floral peach and honeyed spruce lack endurance.
FARMINGTON RIVER MAHOGANY ALE
On tap, dry-bodied chocolate malting persists as vegetal backdrop builds above honeyed cocoa restraint. Fig-date recess hides oxidized acidity, but grassy hop bitterness recedes to styptic bark-like parch. In bottled version circa 2011, overpowering foam burst forth, forming ridiculously rocky tan head, so please pour slowly. Dry-honeyed rye-breaded caramel malting and sweet tobacco roast contrast mild orange-dried nut-soured hop-toasted bittering, creating sleek ESB flavor profile. Contract brewed and bottled by Mercury Brewing, Ipswich, Massachusetts.
FISH TALE DETONATOR DOPPELBOCK LAGER
Lovely oak-aged ruby mahogany bock with sweet chocolate palate and lactose nosing allows ancillary toffee creaminess to soak up earthen wood, smoked cedar, and charred beech hints to smooth prune depth.
FLYING DOG KERBEROS TRIPEL
Though lacking efficient ‘tripel’ character, clouded copper Belgian-styled strong ale benefits from candi-sugared citrus tang, tropical fruit melange, and white-peppered floral tinge. Syrupy whiskey malts increase fruity sweetness.
FLYING FISH GRAND CRU WINTER RESERVE ALE
Richer, sturdier Euro version than brewers’ Dubbel counters sharply alcoholic corn-sugared Scotch malt palate and tangy tangerine-peach freshness with dry wheat-chaffed overture before losing steam. Teensy yeast particles in palest gold body fortify clove-coriander subtlety, apricot-banana ripeness and peppercorn tinge by soured orange finish. Retains dry white ale essence but lacks expectant cinnamon-nutmeg holiday seasoning. 2012 tapped version anchored sour lemon, moldy peach and bruised orange tartness to Belgian-like candi-sugared crystal malts above salty-spiced herbal peppering. On tap at Mahwah Bar & Grill, 2016 tapped version differed profusely as Belgian strong ale had murkier mix of champagne grapes, desiccated oranges and banana-dried cloves above its demerara-sugared white wheat spine.
FOUNDERS KENTUCKY BREAKFAST STOUT
Impressively rugged cave-aged bourbon-barreled version of world class stout. Embittered hop roast replete with coffee bean-soured espresso milking and rich vanilla bean lambasting. Rich barley-oats toasting settles beneath exquisite mocha-liquered finish. Bourbon aging stokes gossamer-like Kahlua, Amaretto, and chicory illusions juxtaposing molasses-sapped chocolate subsidy.
FRANZISKANER HEFE-WEISSE DUNKEL
Succinct tawny-clouded meringue-headed dark wheat combines crystalline malts, sourdough yeast, and musty citric spicing in brisk manner. Clove nose gets minor floral yeast and restrained banana backup while leathery earthiness absorbs tart raisin-fig-date riptide by orange blossom finish. A bit soft for its exalted class, though.