On tap at Growler & Gill, splendid one-off 2017 collaboration with Three’s Brewing brings soft-toned caffeinated coffee theme to mild hop-charred nuttiness, picking up understated dark chocolate and cocoa nibs illusions. Easygoing java relief.
2ND ACT LIL CABIN COFFEE
On tap at Sogo, tranquil Sumatra coffee bean-induced blonde ale retains mild citric hop bittering and wispy oats-flaked pilsner malting. As moderated coffee roast and dark chocolate whim simmer down, lemony key lime pie and yellow grapefruit tartness seeps thru. Casual citric-spiced coffee tones dissipate a tad early.
OMMEGANG LOVELY DARK AND DEEP OATMEAL STOUT
Slightly curious winter ale hybrid brings dark-roasted chocolate nuttiness to spicy dried-fruited Belgian yeast and distant charcoal-scorched earthen hop char with winning results. Sinewy molasses-dipped mocha charm coalesces dark chocolate, coffee, cocoa and chicory tones as ancillary dark cherry, plum and fig snips contrast mossy latency.
(LOUGH GILL) REBEL STOUT SERIES: IMPERIAL OATMEAL COFFEE CREAM STOUT
On tap at Ambulance, dryer-than-sweet medium-full body shows off subtle complexities with fair accuracy. Casual chocolate vanilla-caked sweetness, mild molasses creaming and milk-sugared coffee tones anchored by dark-roast hop char. Desolate fig and raisin illusions enter the silken mix latently.
PIPEWORKS RASPBERRY TRUFFLE ABDUCTION IMPERIAL STOUT
On tap at Ambulance, velvety brown-hazed full body retains creamy raspberry fudge truffle theme over cookie dough-laden chocolate malts and drifting vanilla sweetness. Muscovado-sugared raspberry puree tartness deepened by syrupy dark chocolate thickness, bringing Mudcake, molasses cake, Black Forest cake and brownie richness to the surface. Subtle dried-fruited blackberry, black cherry, blueberry and huckleberry illusions resonate below hefty raspberry contingent of complex dessert treat.
PIPEWORKS MUD MONSTER SALTED CHOCOLATE PORTER
On tap at Ambulance, adequate Imperial Porter may lack pertinent salted caramel influence but easy flowing dark-roast mocha setting picks up mild dry cocoa, dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla and molasses illusions that linger softly.
CATSKILL NIGHTSHINE BLACK LAGER
On tap at A Better Place, seamless schwarzbier utilizes dehusked black malts to set up chalky black chocolate malting and ashen cocoa-dried bittering for nutty hop char. Blackened mocha richness gains latent black grape, black currant and Blackstrap molasses illusions.
WEYERBACHER EASTON BROWN & DOWN
Massive dark-roasted black chocolate nuttiness and ashen wood char consume rangy medium-to-full-bodied brown ale. Moderate Fuggle-Simcoe hop bittering contrasts loud mocha presence and ancillary caramel-burnt vanilla sweetness (as weird alkaline plasticity lightly subsumes the back end).
CYPRESS THE V.I.P. VANILLA IMPERIAL PORTER
Musky Madagascar vanilla bean oiling surfaces above “subdued hops” and dewy moisturizing. Soy-sauced brown chocolate influence picks up wet-wooded peaty compost tendency.
BRONX O.P.P. PORTER
On tap at The Oath, creamy dark chocolate syrup drapes subtle sweet orange peel adjunct and distant pistachio salting. Rich mocha resilience increased by bitter cocoa and vanilla bean influence at the dry orange-candied dark chocolate finish.
O’FALLON SAISON DE CITROUILLE
“Harmonious” pumpkin-inspired farmhouse ale balances lemon-soured orange tartness against autumnal pumpkin pie spicing. Sweet gingerbread-floured brown sugaring mellows down as earthen herbal hops enjoin spritzy citric souring above pale wheat malting. A fairly exciting hybrid.
BELL’S ROUNDHOUSE INDIA STYLE RED ALE
On tap at Growler & Gill, fabulous raw-honeyed dry ale surrounds red, orange and yellow fruiting with mellow candy-spiced toasted caramel sweetness to contrast grassy hop astringency. Delicate floral-pined resonance increases peachy pineapple, mango, tangerine, nectarine, cherry and apple tang that’s mildly dehydrated by local Michigan honey.
