Duping a classic German confection with mixed results, pithy black cherry influence never takes hold as equally bittersweet dark roast chocolate malting gets mired by distractingly astringent oily hop resin. Needs more focused Black Forest Cake likeness. Dried cherry blurt gains subtle cocoa, prune and grape wisps.
Richly sweet milk stout lacquers creamy maple-sugared dark chocolate syruping atop bustling blueberry brandy bluster. Bordering on cloy, its gluey tongue-coating blueberry chocolate cake abundance gains Irish coffee splurge as well as tertiary blackberry and raspberry sugaring.
On tap at Ambulance, subtle brown chocolate sweetness contacts dried cocoa, mild coffee and sugared vanilla sedateness of cask conditioned stout. Light cinnamon spicing, dewy earthiness and a peppery respite lightly affect soft-toned mocha charm in the recess.
On tap at Cloverleaf, hybridized weizenbock/ brown ale (8% ABV) lets subtle floury carob pod influence get aged on Madagascar vanilla beans above mildly creamed caramel malting. Bittersweet chocolate-vanilla conflux stays moderate as distant Bailey’s Irish Cream Coffee, Irish whiskey, cacao nibs, earthen truffle and plummy raisin illusions dry out at the chalky mocha finish.
Chewy wee heavy loads gooey sea-salted caramel salting atop spicy hop bite for viscous 7.5% sweet scape. Toffee-spiced continuance gains thick molasses sinew, boozy whiskey-cognac restraint and sugared pecan-chestnut nuttiness.
Gloriously well-balanced 21st Anniversary Imperial IPA contrasts bitter piney fruiting against sweet spruce-sugared tropicalia as viscous amber-hazed yeast sinew creates sticky texture. Sharp orange-peeled ruby red grapefruit, pineapple, mango, tangerine, peach and tang briskly burrows thru richly creamed caramel-candied cookie dough malts. Boozy 9.8% ABV warmth lingers lightly below fascinatingly fruitful fodder.
On tap at Cloverleaf, nifty collaboration between USA’s Stone, UK’s Beavertown and New Zealand’s Garage Project utilizes delicate Down Under fruiting and mild chili peppering for unique India Pale Ale (with muted 8% ABV). Calming tropical fruiting gains mild habanero burn while advertised “colossal hop character” only results in moderate bittering. Subtle kiwi and yuzu adjuncts allow lemon zest, pineapple, orange, grapefruit and mango illusions to coexist alongside waxy plasticine swipe.
Well balanced West Coast-styled IPA. Lingering semi-sharp lemony grapefruit rind and orange pith bittering given resinous pine hop lacquer, sharp juniper bite and musky herbage to contrast less prominent peachy tangerine-snipped pale malt spicing. Fresh-watered minerality provides clean backdrop for lingering citric bitterness.
On tap at Ambulance, tantalizing tropical fruiting sits atop creamy crystal malting and dankly pined Galaxy-Centennial-Equinox hop bittering of durable West Coast ‘triple’ IPA. Zesty pineapple, grapefruit, orange, tangerine and mango tang retains brisk juiciness.
Brewed in conjunction with Pittsburgh Penguins hockey legend, Phil Bourque, musky cologne-perfumed orange oiling dampens bitter grapefruit rind prominence and pine-lacquered herbal snip.
Named after Pittsburgh Penguins hockey sportscaster, Dan Potash, underwhelming soft-toned witbier needs mildly perfume-spiced orange peel tartness and latent white peppering to register more firmly above subdued dried wheat murk.
Pleasant jalapeno-influenced moderation. Modest green jalapeno peppering heats up salty lemon spritz and stylish coriander-spiced orange peel zesting. Subtle bell pepper and chili pepper illusions deepen jalapeno-tinged citrus finish.
