On tap at Growler & Gill, serenely aromatic Arabica coffee bean roast gains mildly creamed lactic milking. Dry nut-charred espresso and cacao nibs illusions deepen persistently mellow coffee roast bittering of amiable mocha moderation. Superbly understated.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead – Haledon, mild coffee roast, bittersweet dark chocolate smokiness and subtle Canadian maple syruping given light cave-aged bourbon barrel influence for soothingly rich Imperial Stout. Vanilla-sugared mocha finish gains oats-dried cola, walnut and Brazil nut illusions.
On tap at Plank Pizza, worthy collaboration uniting Jersey City’s Departed Soles with Linden’s nearby 201 Ton utilizes “gingerbread maple syrup” to enhance bittersweet Madagascar vanilla bean adjunct as well as creamy molasses-sugared chocolate malting. Smooth dewy peat earthiness and tertiary cocoa-cinnamon illusions stay below.
On tap at Plank Pizza, splendid chocolate-milked YooHoo entry gains subtly rich maple syruping. Fudged brownie creaming and mild vanilla spicing increases syrupy maple, caramel, toffee and cocoa sugaring for amiable dessert treat.
On tap at The Oath, toasted coconut version of Imperial Porter needs more pronounced nuttiness to compete with bittersweet dark chocolate fudging, moderate Caffe Calabria coffee roast and milky vanilla creaming. Even its oak-charred hop bittering, mild espresso lilt and reticent marshmallow sugaring compete with the coconut adjunct (and walnut snip) by the finish. Nevertheless.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead – Haledon, holiday-seasoned porter allows cinnamon-spiced vanilla sweetness to inundate Hershey’s chocolate-like syruping and subtle coffee-cocoa tones. Dry mocha finish gains chewy bourbon vanilla loveliness while cinnamon spicing fades.
On tap at Plank Pizza, sweet bourbon vanilla richness (of 13.6% ABV 2014 reserve – aged four years) thickened by anise-spiced brown chocolate malting, burnt caramel sugaring and ancillary cocoa reminder above mild hop-charred bittering of annual English-styled barleywine. Delicate port, burgundy and brandy wining finds space below alongside bruised cherry sedation.
On tap at The Oath, jubilant 21st anniversary celebrator loads ten malts and eleven hops on pervasive 13.7% ABV luster. Bittersweet dried fruiting crowds musky hop-dried cherrywood finish. Raspy sugarplum, raisin, fig, black grape and Bing cherry illusions gain redcurrant smidge above chewy caramelized mocha malting.
On tap at The Oath, silkily dry cabernet wining gains dainty cocoa nibs adjunct and tart citrus acidity above groaty barnyard acridity. Cabernet Sauvignon barrel aging leaves lightly vinous red grape tannins upon dry Scotch malting.
On tap at The Oath, oaken Chardonnay-barreled ‘old ale’ maintains balance as Scotch-licked wheat whiskey dryness and tannic green grape musk contrast corn-sugared bourbon sweetness. Mild citrus, apricot and plum illusions flutter.
On tap at Taphouse 15, soft-tongued soured mocha entry gains soily earthiness, oily nuttiness and unripe fig tartness. Serve to Flanders Oud Bruin fans as a less interesting alternative?
White Russian-inspired (and Big Lebowski-referenced) Imperial Stout tastes like a creamy milk chocolate shake with a shot of bourbon at the entry. Milk-sugared cacao nibs, Madagascar vanilla and cold-brewed coffee adjuncts deepen fudgy dark chocolate richness. Refreshing mint chocolate continuance gains light spice rum sweetness, black cherry-pureed tartness, burnt marshmallow tangent and distant charred molasses smidge above its mild oats spine. Sinewy dark chocolate syruping thickened by sticky anise licks.
