Dry-roasted barleymalts and sour citric nip welcome rising butterscotch proclivity of coppery medium-bodied Vienna-styled lager. But dormant finish undone by lack of hop-grain punctuation.
OLDENBERG RASPBERRY WHEAT BEER
OLDE HEURICH MAERZEN
Toasted caramel malts combine with clustered grains and chocolate notes for lovingly crafted pale-hued German knockoff. Muted spicy accents vie for attention ’til bittersweet finish dominated by fruity tones. Brewery defunct: 2006.
OLDE HEURICH SPRING FOG BOCK BEER
Gentle malt aroma and sweet barley palate put this closer to red or brown ale than true German-styled bock. While certainly too light and watery to contend with serious bock contenders, its delicate splendor retains soft-bodied appeal. Brewery defunct: 2006.
OLDE HEURICH PALE ALE
Banal English-styled pale ale with weak maize-wheat confluence and arid hop follow-through has supposedly been ‘a Washington DC tradition since 1873.’ All others need not apply. Brewery defunct: 2006.
OLDE HEURICH FOGGY BOTTOM LAGER
After a few sips, meek barleymalt presence of German-styled lager becomes unassuming while watery flow drowns undistinguished basic ingredients. Brewery defunct: 2007.
OLDE ENGLISH ‘800’ MALT LIQUOR
Despite spoiled malt scent and unassuming nature, this translucent pale body happens to be the best cheap American malt liquor. Fizzy maize mouthfeel, slick hop slack, and white bread slumber merge with slim unripe orange-apricot acridity for uncommonly mild blend.
OLDE CAPE COD SMUGGLERS ALE
Aromatic floral hops and skunk-y yeast pungency need better distinction. Barley, wheat, and sour malts provide well-rounded midst, but finish tails off. Brewery defunct: 2007.
OLDE BURNSIDE DIRTY PENNY ALE
Pairing mediocre Ten Penny Ale with brewers’ signature stout works wonders. Though a bit thin, bitter coffee bean roast fades succinctly into vanilla-sweetened black chocolate finish. Peat, hickory, and soy nuances prickle molasses midst of easily imbibed deep mahogany black & tan.
OLDE BURNSIDE TEN PENNY ALE
OKOCIM ZAGLOBA PREMIUM LAGER
Sympathetic dry-fizzed dull-hopped bitterness and mild Scotch malt tangent hide creamed wheat influence for yeast-licked cardboard-like grain musk on par with Michelob, perhaps.
OKOCIM PREMIUM PILS
Dismal cabbage-wafted watery-textured dirty-grained moderate body relegates skunked bittering. Rugged pale malting and pungent hop astringency less rewarding than Heineken.