Full-bodied fruit ale retains rich wheat base relegating explosive champagne-like fizz and faded bittersweet raspberry tartness. Not as distinct as better Star Brews. Brewery defunct: 2003.
Category Archives: Beers A-Z
(STEENBERGE) BORNEM GULDEN DRAAK ALE
Robust white-bottled prune-clouded ale gains candied brandy charm above dried-fruited chocolate-soured spicing. Concentrated carbonation grips the tongue, allowing clove-allspice adjuncts to seduce. On tap, ripe apple, red grape, and raisin-fig nuances reinforce alcohol-soaked malts.
STERKENS DUBBEL ALE
Ambitious dark fruit-spiced bronze-hazed Belgian elixir with perky carbonation (meant to be poured slowly), heavy Brussels lace, and faint caramel waft gains lively clove-allspice seasoning, chewy fig-date-raisin cluster and wavered pecan-cola nuttiness. Serve to risk-taking Brown Ale lovers.
STONE OLD GUARDIAN BARLEYWINE ALE 2006
Awesome ruby amber ’06 version covers harsh boozy malting with sherry warmth, bruised orange sensation, and delectable butterscotch twist. Further investigation reveals clinging cherry-apricot tang engaging prune-raisin wisp and candi-sugared whim. Mysteriously, debris-like earthen mushroom musk heightens (instead of ruins), sweet Scotch nucleus.
STONE CAT WINTER ALE
Originally brewed as a ‘black lager,’ this tends to be dryer, cleaner, and crisper than its antecedent while retaining damp tobacco leaf sweetness and hints of rye, rum, or caffeine. Increasing malt sweetness thickens medium-to-full-bodied finish.
STOUDT’S DOUBLE I.P.A.
Arid peach-tangerine waft fits loud orange tang, floral hop eloquence, and clove-spiced honeyed wheat backbone. Spruce and pine comb decorate sweet biscuit-y bottom.
STRAUB LAGER
Mainstream green-bottled straw-hued fodder maintains pungent yeast odor, sour malt swag and dry wheat backbone enhanced by peppy hop fizz. Durable corn nicety sweetens crystal water flow.
TABERNASH PILSNER
Middling grassy-nosed German-styled pils preserves sunny lemon spritz, bright spice hop fizz, and delicate floral mist. But biscuit snip falters, causing citric acidity to overwhelm bland grain finish. Brewery defunct: 2007.
TERRAPIN RYE SQUARED IMPERIAL PALE ALE
Sinewy honeyed amber hue nearly as thick as syrupy sugar malt creaminess. Hop-spiced butterscotch-enriched almond-marzipan sweetness (reminiscent of Blue Point Toasted Lager’s original version) absorbs latent floral-tingled pineapple-grapefruit dash to rye-induced breadcrumb bottom.
THE UNDERGROUND OLDE SUDBURY PREMIUM ALE
Light, watery, unobtrusive New England ale brags about its ‘hoppy’ 19th century history. Bitter nuttiness forms at back of the throat but slim fruitiness, spritzy carbonation, and unstable barleymalt spine lack assertiveness. For amateurs ready to crossover from run of the mill pilsners to microbrewed ales only.
THREE FLOYDS BRIAN BORU OLD IRISH RED ALE
Evergreen-freshened ruby red medium body furnishes sharp-fruited ripeness with nutty pliancy and floral cadence. Toasted almond and roasted chestnut illusions amiably counter piney Amarillo hop bittering as tangy peach-apricot-cherry expanse widens, embracing latent grapefruit-pineapple-orange tartness as well as subtle strawberry-watermelon nip.
(T’IJ) NATTE ABBEY DUBBEL
Bruised orange resonance, overripe banana nose, and sour apple pinch wrap around wispy mocha dirge as dry prune-fig-date coarseness and tart cherry insistence thicken creamy copper-hued ale. Earthen oak nuance and herbal respite underscore thinning finish, where slight acidity looms.