Nebulous schwarzbier never catches fire. Indecisive dark-roast mocha malting wavers above chalky cocoa, soy, cola, walnut and port irrelevance. Milk-sugared brown chocolate center needs more prominence. A true goat!
BRIX CITY CHUCK BOWMAN BLACK INDIA PALE ALE
On tap at River Of Beer, polite dark-roast chocolate malting picks up mild coffee-cocoa tones above relegated pineapple, grapefruit and black grape notions. Black currant-like charcoal hop astringency lingers lightly beside pervasive mocha setting.
NESHAMINY CREEK PUNKEL DUNKEL
On tap at Amazing Grapes, richly creamed pumpkin-pureed dunkelweizen retains chewy molasses-syruped pumpkin pie richness as gingerbread-sugared cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice sweetness battles back dunkel-styled banana, vanilla, clove and toffee illusions above Graham Cracker-like wheat spine. In deep recess, orange-candied cherry, grape and fig nuances flutter. A ghoulishly full-bodied Halloween dessert treat.
CONEY ISLAND FREAKTOBERFEST BIG OL’ PUMPKIN ALE W/ ESPRESSO BEANS
Mildly smooth espresso-beaned pumpkin ale may be a tad thin, but its subtle flavor profile will please softer thirsts. Brooklyn’s Cafe Grumpy espresso beans provide back end pleasantries for sweet pumpkin pie-spiced gingerbread, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and clove illusions as well as vanilla-sugared coconut toasting and wavering smoked black peppering. But lemony carbolic spritz brings intrusive phenol aridity and vegetal squash-zucchini earthiness seems undefined. On tap at Growler & Gill, better 2017 version found subtle espresso bean exuberance caress pumpkin pie spicing and light lemon rind bittering.
(FLYING DOG) THE GOURD STANDARD PUMPKIN IPA
Casual pumpkin pie puree frontage picks up citric India Pale Ale subtleties and sweet nutmeg-cinnamon spicing over oats-dried rye biscuit backbone. Though leaning towards the bitter side, its creamy caramel sugaring adds fine contrast at the finish. Try with Salazon’s Organic Dark Chocolate Sea Salt candy bar, a pumpkin pie-like chocolate pretzel with crunchy nuttiness and mild vanilla sweetness anchoring its chunky sea salting.
NEW BELGIUM PUMPKICK
Tepid and thin in comparison to sourer Terrapin Cranberry Pumpkinfest as autumnal 2016 trend towards cranberry-infused pumpkin ales takes off. Â Tart cranberry juicing never fully punctuates brown-sugared spicing or its contrasting raw-honeyed lemony gourd bittering. Instead, sweet nutmeg, ginger, clove and cinnamon accents stay annoyingly moderated.
TERRAPIN CRANBERRY PUMPKINFEST
On tap at Amazing Grapes, tart cranberry-forward sourness almost supersedes vegetal gourd earthiness and mild pumpkin-skinned acridity. Lemony blood orange, yellow grapefruit and tangelo fruiting tingles the sour cranberry essence.
EVIL TWIN MISSION GOSE
Stylish salted coriander template given minty-fresh eucalyptus adjunct and mildly acidic lemon pucker. Oncoming shandy-like lemonade tartness and dry lime spree beget light citric-soured scurry. Gose lovers unite!
OSKAR BLUES PASSIONFRUIT PINNER THROWBACK IPA
Sessionable canned spinoff of brewers’ Throwback IPA brings a bitterer citric souring to the forefront. A large lemony grapefruit contingent rises above its tart passionfruit adjunct and herbal hop astringency. Mild mango, blood orange and papaya illusions lightly contrast mineral-grained earthiness and phenol aspirin-like acridity in the distance.
GREEN FLASH PASSION FRUIT KICKER WHEAT ALE
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead – Hoboken, easygoing tropical-fruited 2016 witbier maintains tranquil passionfruit tartness that’s guarded by yellow grapefruit, lemon meringue, blood orange, raspberry, papaya and pineapple illusions above its delicate barley-wheat base. In the recess, musty floral-perfumed herbal tea licks reside.
BOULEVARD TROPICAL PALE ALE
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead – Hoboken, easygoing tropical indulgence brings lemony passionfruit subtlety to mellow yellow grapefruit zing, wafting floral bouquet and wispy currant-like medicinal astringency.
BOLERO SNORT KOWABUNGA
On tap at Amazing Grapes and Shepherd & Knucklehead, soft-toned kolsch brings sour saison-like yellow grapefruit, lemon rot and dried orange influence to honeyed wheat breading in fuzzy-tongued manner. Lightly soured citra-hopped kolsch yeast setup gains clean-watered mineral grain dampness over time. Stylish lemon-rotted Valencia orange and yellow grapefruit tartness picks up mild floral herbage and dry lime wisp.
