Up-front coarse fig dryness of full-bodied Scottish Ale lingers above bittersweet black caramel-butterscotch expansion and wily licorice lick, gaining chocolate malt thickness to musty fruited midst. Soured mocha finish offset by late coming burnt cedar sweetness.
Category Archives: Beers A-Z
SHINER SUMMER STOCK KOLSCHBIER
Clear-bodied sourdough-scented German-styled Kolsch brings soft wheat elegance, sunny citrus hop agility, and white bread passivity to salty bottom.
(SHIPYARD) VIRGIN ISLANDS PALE ALE
Crafted by Shipyard from Virgin Island’s St. John Brewery recipe. Jolly Rancher watermelon waft follows through to up-front flavoring, countering astringent wheat-husked yellow-fruited bittering. Hard-candied mango-strawberry tartness stays refreshingly summery at midst, but washed-out fuzzy peach, cantaloupe, and kiwi nuances get soapy.
SIERRA NEVADA BIGFOOT BARLEYWINE STYLE ALE
Strong rust-hued 9.6% alcohol-fueled barleywine with alleviating spry fruitiness overwhelming subtle nut-grain bitterness. Maple syrup thickness and cider quip relegate cinnamon-toasted holiday seasoning.
SIERRA NEVADA UNFILTERED WHEAT
Lacking sufficient wheat essence, pale medium body relies instead on moderate herbal-spiced citric-berry austerity. Bittersweet fruit tang, hop-charred maple stead and sour nutty bottom receive fresh watered crisping. Not as aggressive as better, more refined wheat ales.
SIXPOINT OTIS OATMEAL STOUT
Indelible nitro-injected full body places thickly rewarding cappuccino creaminess above milky black chocolate density and toasted barley-oats foundation. Roasted hop char deepens tertiary walnut, anise, and tobacco chew illusions.
SLEEMAN CREAM ALE 64
Translucent coppery one-off can’t escape miring Sleeman-related grain dankness. Yet heavier alcohol combustion and tangy orange-apricot stint best brewers’ traditional Cream Ale. Sweet malts turn frustratingly pungent though straw-to-cracked wheat spine holds up well against meager lemon drop snip. Too bad carbolic diacetyl finish gets oily. (Numeric appellation designates ancient recipe page.)
SLY FOX CHRISTMAS 2007 ALE
Uncertain herbal-toned winter warmer boasts undeniable ginger frontage sweetened by sticky black licorice tongue, peppermint candied coolness, and teasing eucalyptus minting. After few swallows, sassafras-root beer component builds, but ruinous salty seaweed astringency outpaces advertised nutmeg-clove spicing.
SMOKY MOUNTAIN VELAS HELLES LAGER
Softly hop-spiced citric-centered summery ale with wispy lemon touch gets a bit phenol. At midst, orange blossom souring settles into tangy Orange Krush-like soda flow nicely.
SMUTTYNOSE WHEAT WINE ALE
Wonderful peach-y amber hued paragon crosses ‘voluptuous’ barleywine traits with tart American wheat ale distinctions. Abrupt biscuit-y wheat sweetness illuminated by apricot, orange rind, and grapefruit bitterness before resplendent butterscotch resilience thickens impending honeyed malt stickiness. Lingering spiced hop luxuriance prickles savory fruity tang. Simply impeccable.
SOUTHAMPTON DOUBLE WHITE ALE
Fabulous straw-hazed meringue-headed witbier embeds soured grapefruit, lemon rind and orange peel tang with lively white-peppered coriander-clove pep to candied malt finish. Oncoming apricot-grape-quince tartness and floral hop scamper noted on third passing. Well balanced, thickly viscous, crisply watered summertime perfection. On tap at brewpub, serene hazy golden moderation spreads fruity phenol waft across candi-sugared banana taffy sweetness battling back dry fizz-hopped lemony orange souring and slight clove-spiced herbal minting. Biscuit-y wheat bottom secures soft effervescence
SOUTHERN TIER BACK BURNER BARLEYWINE
Clear chestnut-amber hue too tepid for robust barleywine class. Neither chewy nor gooey enough to convince discriminating aficionados. Oaken Chinook hop dryness counters brown sugared molasses fade, reclining red cherry sway, tucked-in peach-pear dash, and finishing bruised orange upsurge. Wispy spiced rum-Courvoisier lilt fails to ignite.