Soft-tongued nutty dark chocolate creaming settles upon dark-roast hop char. In the backdrop, Blackstrap molasses bittering engulfs espresso, cola, walnut and burnt wood illusions.
GHOST HARBOR THAT GIRL LIZ INDIA PALE ALE
Sedate white grapefruit-spiced orange peel zesting and juicy pineapple tang embrace hazy golden NEIPA. Ample pine sapping seeps into grassy hop astringency and mild fennel herbage until its oated wheat creaming reaches the salty bottom.
GHOST HARBOR BLAIR’S FALL WHEAT ALE
Straight-ahead American wheat ale less involving than its German hefe or Belgian wit counterparts. Complacent orange-dried lemon oiling and peppery phenolic sudsiness reach delicate cracked wheat base, picking up sour apple, unripe banana and Bosc pear snips.
GHOST HARBOR GYPSY TEARS PALE ALE
Tidy lemon-splashed yellow grapefruit and orange peel zesting (neither tangy nor bitter) caresses resinous pine wisps and spicy pale malting of golden hazed (6% ABV) moderation. Another trusty IPA-hopped pale ale.
GHOST HARBOR VITO ITALIAN PILSNER
Fizzy lemon pep, prickly phenol spicing, floral herbed musk and sweet white breading will please simple Italian, Mexican and Czech pils lovers. Sessionable suds.
THE HELM
GREENWOOD LAKE, NEW YORK
In the village of Greenwood Lake, cozy tavern-styled restaurant, THE HELM, came into existence in 2015. Serving upscale contemporary American cuisine alongside more than a dozen draught craft beers, fine wines and specialty cocktails, The Helm sits across the lake in a stark black haunt with painted cedar shanks and nautical designs.
The low-ceiling wood floored 20-seat rectangular bar and main dining area consist of reclaimed wood walls, old hardwood paneling and a small brick-encased fireplace, providing a homey English pub atmosphere.
There are several front porch seats with a beautiful river view.
On my initial April ’23 dinner visit, my wife and I gathered by the fireplace to munch on Tuscan Panzanella salad and Fish ‘n Chips and down a flight of four beers. Main course dinners, sandwiches, steak, salmon, salads and wings were also available.
As for the beers. Aslin Double Orange Starfish NEIPA retained a crisply clean sunshiny citrus vibrancy while District 96 Essential Juice with Coconut had a tropical cocktail splendor. Cinnamon toast crunch-like Burlington Dreameater Stout and coconut flaked, cacao-nibbed, vanilla-beaned Fiddlehead Hodad Porter were fabulous dark ales (reviewed in Beer Index).
HUBBARD’S CAVE GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE IMPERIAL STOUT
Resembling a velvety bourbon-soaked German chocolate cake with its pecan-frosted toasted marshmallow sweetness and fudgy chocolate center gliding thru honeyed Graham Cracker sugaring. Pudding skinned chocolate persistence gains tertiary hazelnut pasting, vanilla bean bittering and salted caramel mousse splendor for heavenly rich dessert.
BRIX CITY SILK CITY FAT ELVIS IMPERIAL STOUT AGED IN BOURBON
On tap at Taphouse 15, well-integrated peanut buttered banana and vanilla richness given Smith Bowman bourbon bite to spike Elvis’ favorite pb&b sandwich. Peanut buttered banana continuance gains dark chocolate bittering that contrasts toasted marshmallow sweetness.
GREAT NOTION PEANUT BROTHER STOUT
Fudgy Reese’s Pieces peanut butter cup confection spreads semi-rich milk-sugared dark chocolate syruping over bittersweet vanilla richness and marshmallow Graham Cracker honeying. Chewy mocha vanilla resonation and black coffee reminder gain tertiary dark cherry-pureed grape jelly and blueberry notions and finishing Mild Dud reminder seals the deal for dynamic dessert decadence.
LONE PINE HOLY DONUT IMPERIAL STOUT WITH STRAWBERRIES & CHOCOLATE
On tap at Ambulance, sweet-tart Valentine’s Day elixir spiked with baked donuts. Chocolate-covered strawberry entry picks up sweet toffee subtlety and light roast coffee snip above soft wheat-flaked oats. Distant strawberry shortcake, chocolate fondue and dark cherry puree illusions waver. Needs richer mocha insistence.
ICARUS FEED THE ALTAR IMPERIAL STOUT
On tap at Taphouse 15, soft-tongued pastry stout dupes maple-sapped chocolate sandwich cookie but lacks some creamily rich resolve. Maple syrup drapes bittersweet Madagascar vanilla bean stickiness and milk-sugared white chocolate milk confection as chocolate rye malting provides stable base. Slickly spiced bourbon vanilla licks extend to dry mocha finish.
MUCKRAKER DUSK OF MAN IMPERIAL STOUT
On tap at Taphouse 15, soft-toned spirits engage offbeat stout as oaken whiskey char penetrates Scotch Ale yeast and caramelized oats, leaving tertiary dark toffee, light coffee roast and waxy black grape subtleties.
