On tap at Jealous Monk, salty lemon-juiced guava pureeing bolstered by moderately acidic orange concentrated pineapple bittering above coriander-seeded pilsner malt base.
SOUTHERN TIER FROSTED SUGAR COOKIE IMPERIAL ALE
Sweet wintry-spiced frosted sugar cookie knockoff topped off with iced vanilla buttercream frosting and pancake battered cinnamon toasting buries phenol Columbus hop astringency beneath oncoming cotton-candied marshmallow licks, fried banana snips and distant nutmeg wisps coated by mildly maple syruped oats flaking. Cream vanilla spice caking crowds the sugar cookie finish.
FORGOTTEN BOARDWALK GINGER SNAP COOKIE CREAM ALE
On tap at Hoover’s Tavern, brown-sugared ginger snap cookie knockoff contrasts creamy vanilla-sweetened gingerbread cookie sugaring and tingly cinnamon-nutmeg-clove seasoning with oncoming orange-peeled Blackstrap molasses bittering for delectably spiced vanilla cream ale. Another fine Christmastime ale.
ITHACA FUGGLY SWEATER DARK LAGER
On tap at Hoover’s Tavern, dewy peat moss absorbs molasses-daubed cocoa dusting and mild Christmastime ginger, clove, nutmeg and cinnamon spicing as recessive brown-leafed dark-roast hop astringency wavers thru gingerbread finish.
VON TRAPP TROSTEN
On tap at Jealous Monk, dewy dark lager with mildest smoked rauchbier influence provides wispy smoke bacon dash for Bakers chocolate, chicory coffee and ashen chestnut whims above cocoa-powdered carafa malting.
902 HURLEY HOOPS & HOPS AMBER LAGER
On tap at Plank Pizza, brewed in collaboration with legendary Jersey high school basketball coach, soft perfume-spiced citrus tang pleats delicate pilsner malting for briskly easygoing Cascade-hopped moderation.
902 CHILLTOWN CRUSH PILSNER
On tap at Plank Pizza, mildly musky pilsner-grained German lager yeast prods Huell Melon-hopped chutney-like melon rind earthiness and subtle cotton-candied citrus spicing for slightly offbeat lawnmower appeal.
ROGUE DEAD ‘N DEAD (2021)
On tap at Schatzi’s, judiciously whiskey barreled Dead Guy Ale (2021) soaks original’s honey-roasted caramelization, plum-sugared red cherry sweetness and orange marmalade tang with oaken vanilla rye whiskey tones, dry bourbon perfuming and pasty pine lacquering.
CLOWN SHOES 12 BEERS OF CHRISTMAS
Well selected dozen from one of Boston’s finest brewers, Clown Shoes, a company that started as gypsy brewers utilizing nearby Mercury Brewing before gaining massive East Coast publicity and beginning their own separate brewing venture. Here’s the nine newest Christmastime celebrators I recently quaffed during college football Saturday ’21.Â
CLOWN SHOES LIL’ CRISPY CRISP ALE
Easygoing yellow-cleared cumulous-headed blonde provides spry yellow grapefruit-seeded lemon spritz and wispy lime zesting for grassy hop stead over caramelized pale malt spicing. Crisply clean sedation.
CLOWN SHOES ROYAL STANDARD WEE HEAVY ALE
Sweet peated malts and earthen truffle dewing secure mild nutty dried fruiting of wee heavy Scotch ale. Desiccated orange, fig and date ride alongside sweet butternut-chestnut conflux and herbal tea respite above cereal-grained Golden Promise barley malting.
CLOWN SHOES REINDEER GAMES BAVARIAN IPA
Slightly offbeat IPA relies on pasty Bavarian malt spicing and earthen Noble hops to engage caramelized dried fruiting (pear-apricot-fig), leaving dryer-than-expected grapefruit and orange influence and resinous pine tones in the lurch. Rich German IPA at Christmastime anyone?
