Sessionable New England-styled IPA stays gentle on the tongue as spicy citrus tang tingles above grassy hop astringency and dry pale malting. Spritzy lemon briskness saddles juicy mandarin orange, yellow grapefruit and pineapple ripeness.
(DAY OF THE DEAD) HOP ON OR DIE IPA
First ever (?) English-styled Mexicana India Pale Ale is nuthin’ special – but copacetic nonetheless. Laidback floral-perfumed citrus pulse settles above grassy-hopped pine resin and caramel-spiced malt backbone. Serene grapefruit, orange and lemon tanginess flutters. Not dry, compact or bold enuff to be even loosely defined as English styled, though.
VICTORY CLOUD WALKER IPA
On tap at Plank Pizza, ‘pillowy,’ dry-hopped, hazy New England-styled IPA brings juniper-spiced orange rind bittering to the fore above creamily lactic oats-wheat base without getting overbearingly harsh. Light cologne waft seeps into lemony orange-pineapple-grapefruit triage and laidback coniferous fern snip.
HILL FARMSTEAD DIFFERENCE & REPETITION 9
On tap at Ambulance, brisk Hallertau Blanc/ Simcoe-hopped IPA retains sharp grapefruit-seeded orange rind bittering over herb-spiced grassy pine licks. Ancillary spruce-sweetened mango, guava and grape illusions reinforce zesty citric frontage.
CARTON 99 ADDITIONS IPA
On tap at Plank Pizza, crisply smooth citrus-juiced Sam Calagione (of Dogfish Head) tributary retains centrist appeal while remaining stiff enuff for avid hop-heads to enjoy. Throughout, lingered lupulin oiling contrasts crystal pale malt sweetness. Juniper-nipped pine resin politely embitters lemony grapefruit, pineapple and orange tang plus dusty herbal residue.
CARTON WINKING THROUGH A SCOPE PALE ALE
On tap at Poor Henry’s, straightforward moderation retains lemony grapefruit tang, orange-dried tartness and grassy hop astringency above pilsner-malted wheat breading. A tad bolder than usual pale ale fare.
CARTON GILDED LILY TRUFPEL
On tap at Plank Pizza, opulently updated Belgian tripel (2018) with earthen white truffle-perfumed flavor back-ending candi-sugared fruit mélange. Rum-spiced banana liqueur, lemon meringue, botanical gin, vanilla vodka, butterscotch schnapps and citron illusions reinforce loud 10.6% ABV.
SHMALTZ DEATH HOPPY BLACK ALE
Ultra-hoppy black ale brings piney hop-charred citrus pleasantry of an IPA to the chunky mocha overload of a dry stout. Kiln coffee, chalky chocolate, dark cocoa and ashen walnut illusions gather against grapefruit-peeled orange sedation above earthen wood-burnt grain roast.
SHMALTZ STAR TREK SYMBIOSIS 30TH ANNIVERSARY ALE
Basic easygoing pale ale designed for 30th Anniversary celebration in conjunction with Star Trek: Next Generation. Dry orange-spiced tang and honeyed lemon herbage struggle to the fore above biscuity caramel-Vienna malting, picking up a sour citric edge when warmed. Stylistically unresolved but quite quaffable.
CYPRESS MIIGWETCH PALE ALE
Subtle cranberry adjunct guides pinkish amber pale ale hybrid (with billowy white head). Full-blown sour candied citrus assault boasts sharp lemony grapefruit-seeded orange peel entry that bitterly lingers. Tart cranberry juicing lays low alongside unripened papaya-pineapple-guava souring, revealing sourer India Pale Ale comparisons. Setback piney hop oiling contrasts mild oats malting.
WICKED WEED XIBALBA IMPERIAL PUMPKIN ALE
Complexities abound as polite cacao-nibbed chili peppering gains autumnal pumpkin spicing over toffee-sugared mocha malts. Delightful pumpkin-daubed cocoa, dark chocolate and cold-press coffee continuance proves prominent as sedate nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and cardamom seasoning recedes and delicate ancho-serrano-habanero peppering subsides (and mild aridity ensues). A deliriously adventurous dessert treat.
ALMANAC GRAND CRU IMPERIAL SOUR BLONDE ALE – 2016
On tap at Ambulance, second edition (2016 vintage) oak-aged sour blonde ale spreads white wine tannins and desiccated apricot-skinned tartness way beyond expectant orange-spiced witbier styling. In the midst, sun-ripened Muscat Blanc grape vinegaring sharpens lemony Granny Smith apple pucker to its hay-dried grain spine.
