Robust dry porter brings roasted poblano and ancho chili peppering to dark chocolate-bound cocoa nibs center. But peppery roast loses steam as syrupy Blackstrap molasses sapping invades briny (oyster-shelled?) mocha creaminess.
ROGUE FARMS 7 HOP IPA
‘Bold’ 7-hopped India Pale Ale brings bright floral fruiting to sugar-spiced pale malting and resinous pining. Lemony grapefruit, orange, peach, pineapple and tangerine tang plus juicy mango, cantaloupe and melon sweetness gain candy-coated caress to battle back mild aspirin-like acridity. Fruitful hop intensity never relinquishes assertiveness.
(SARANAC) CITRA GALAXY IPA
On tap at Poor Henry’s, expressive Citra-Galaxy hop mix allows lemony grapefruit, orange and tangerine tang to embrace sugary pale wheat malting for surprisingly mild Imperial IPA. Brisk citric spritz picks up light phenol acridity.
TROEGS NIMBLE GIANT DOUBLE INDIA PALE ALE
On tap at Poor Henry’s, ‘nimble giant’ is just that! Guileless lemon-peeled yellow grapefruit tang brings zesty fruit juicing to moderately bitter piney hop resin and sweet crystal malting of spry medium body. Floral wisp serenades ancillary mango, pineapple, passionfruit, papaya, peach and tangerine tropicalia.
CAPTAIN LAWRENCE/ DE CICO DOUBLE COUSINS
On tap at The Oath, tropical Citra-Mosaic hop combo provides zesty citrus entry. Lemony yellow grapefruit and Valencia orange juicing picks up mild dry-hopped bittering over spunky oats-spelt graining for sessionable moderation.
PINELANDS SWAMP DONKEY IPA
Polite floral-fruited India Pale Ale picks up moderate pine-oiled pungency above sugary pale malting. Lemony yellow grapefruit tang embittered by dry hop sedation. Fine sunny day Jersey Shore fare.
NEW BELGIUM OSCAR WORTHY COFFEE
On tap at Poor Henry’s, smooth light-bodied ‘wild’ ale lets sour lemon acidity ascend atop mild cold-pressed coffee bittering. Lactic green grape vinegaring and tart oak tannins reinforce juicy lemon pucker. Delicate lemon-peeled espresso finish has calming affect.
NEW BELGIUM LA FOLIE SOUR BROWN ALE
On tap at Poor Henry’s, “mouthpuckering” Flanders Reddish Brown Ale aged in French oak barrels spreads sour lemon peel bittering, vinous balsamic vinegaring, tart plum-dried dalliance and oaken black cherry tannins over musty barnyard leathering. Salty citrus acidity and lactic yogurt milking contrast moderate residual sugaring.
BACCHUS LILITH DARK SOUR ALE
On tap at The Oath, elite sour ale with wild brettanomyces-affected yeast acidity and dry oak-barreled raspberry adjunct produces mild Flanders Red Ale pleasantries and delicate Merlot-like eccentricites. Tannic red grape, vinous dark cherry and sour crab apple tartly coalesce beside mild raspberry vinaigrette pucker (above musky cellar funk). Sour heads may find Lilith uncompromisingly splendid.
O’FALLON HEMP HOP RYE AMBER ALE
On tap at River Of Beer, ambitious amber ale utilizes nutty hemp seed toasting to affect caramelized rye malting and mildly musky citric hop thrust. Easygoing lemony tangerine and orange tang plus latent peach, fig and apricot lacquering load effervescent fruity spritz onto honeyed Graham Cracker base.
PIPEWORKS WAR BIRD SAISON
On tap at The Oath, slyly sessionable soft-toned saison deploys citric India Pale Ale-styled tang to grassy-hopped earthen barnyard dryness. Lemony yellow grapefruit entry picks up tertiary pineapple, passionfruit, guava and mango seduction.
GOOSE ISLAND GILLIAN BELGIAN FARMHOUSE ALE
On tap at The Oath, quaint wine-barreled farmhouse ale (with unassuming 9.5% ABV) brings bacterial brettanomyces-bound Champagne yeast souring to raw-honeyed lemon juicing, white-peppered hop pep, musky dried fruiting and murky strawberry adjunct. Vinous white grape tannins soak desiccated plum, pomegranate, white peach, crab apple and mandarin orange sedation above even dryer straw-hay-barnyard acridity . Not far removed from buckwheat honey mead styling.
