Curiously amalgamated omnivorously-named full body brewed with bacon and maple syrup lets fudgy chocolate-coffee creaming and molasses-smoked bacon fat integrate alongside ashen nut dryness (atop chewy caramel-burnt oats sugaring). In the midst, charred cedar seeps into the syrupy mocha richness. Cocoa-dried cola, hazelnut and espresso illusions simmer below the busy mix. Light oily hop slickness coarsens darkest regions.
GRIMM CASSIOPEIA IMPERIAL PORTER
Wintry Wee Heavy-like porter utilizes candi-sugared Scotch ale yeast to enhance its chewy molasses-draped brown chocolate sweetness above mossy earthen dewiness. Fudged brownie, vanilla, coffee and cola illusions scatter thru rich mocha mass and tarry hop respite adds mild bittering.
SINGLECUT THINKING HARD ABOUT THE WEATHER CHOCOLATE PORTER
On tap at Ambulance, pleasantly moderated chocolate vanilla porter reminiscent of Yoo-Hoo soft drink. Fudgy milk chocolate entry picks up immediate sugared vanilla creaming while wispy cocoa nibs and toffee illusions contrast dry dark-roasted hop sedation down below. Yum.
FINBACK SPLIT THE NIGHT COFFEE PORTER
On tap at Seven Lakes Station, durable low key All Saints coffee roast receives creamy dark chocolate, cocoa and espresso resilience over wood-dried hop char. Nutty coffee continuance picks up mild blueberry snip. Fine midrange porter.
PIPEWORKS PANTHER LIKE A PANTHER PORTER
On tap at Ambulance on St. Patrick’s Day ’18, lightly barrel-aged porter retains dry dark chocolate-cocoa conflux and mildly molasses-smoked hazelnut, walnut and peanut illusions above steady hop-charred bittering. Oaken wood influence undetermined, but rich mocha capacity undeniably uplifting.
BROOKLYN INTENSIFIED BARREL-AGED COFFEE PORTER
Sweet Kentucky bourbon licks subtly embellish medium-roast coffee theme that’s nearly overwhelmed by dark chocolate spicing and creamy vanilla sugaring. Try in lieu of cream-sugared coffee in the morning.
CHATHAM B3
On tap at The Oath, curious bourbon-aged brown ale brings lightly creamed chocolate-soured vanilla esters to Hillrock Estate bourbon sweetness. Ancillary black cherry, fig and date notions swirl below stylishly mellow and strangely soy-soured (8.5% ABV) strong dark ale.
BOLERO SNORT TMNB BROWN ALE
On tap at Beef Trust, enchanting moderate-to-medium body (a.k.a. Thirsty Mutant Ninja Bulls) re-creates sea-salted chocolate turtle candy bar as brown chocolate malting sweetens toasted pecan, cocoa nibs and toffee adjuncts above earthen truffle base. Sharp resinous hop bittering lingers lightly below serene nutty mocha surface. Daintily candied almond, chestnut, butternut and hazelnut illusions add luster.
BROKEN BOW NATHAN’S BIERE DE GARDE
On tap at The Oath, middling copper-hazed moderate-to-medium-bodied (8.5% ABV) warm fermented ale lets modest toffee-chocolate malting and murky fig-pear conflux receive dank cellar musk over toasted graining. A bit unresolved.
REVOLUTION A LITTLE CRAZY BELGIAN PALE ALE
On tap at The Oath, lively Belgian Pale Ale uses subtle wit yeast and honey-spiced pilsner malts to soften its juicy orange rind-embittered grapefruit tang. Mildly pungent resinous hop bittering gains floral fruited vibrancy from Magnum-Cascade-Citra combo. Zesty lemon, peach, tangerine and mandarin orange subtleties fit right in.
PIPEWORKS ANY OTHER NAME SAISON WITH ROSE PETALS & ROSE HIPS
Effervescent yellow-cleared bantam relies on active saison yeast to awaken its wafting floral-perfumed rose petal sweetness, crabapple-like rose hips tartness and lime-dried lemon hop souring. Mild barnyard acridity, slight cellar musk and teensy green peppering found beneath the surface. Lovely red rose luster also benefits from citric-spiced lemondrop, mandarin orange, tangelo and plantain illusions.
WILD BEER SHNOODLEPIP
On tap at Ambulance, pleasantly peculiar sour saison from England gets soaked in French oak red wine barrels with rosy hibiscus flowering, pink peppercorn pep, tart tropical fruiting and mild spelt grains. Light brettanomyces yeast brings out the vinous red grape tannins. Leathery barnyard acridity increases oaken cherry-dried passionfruit, papaya, guava and gooseberry illusions at back end.