Curious springtime IPA more reliant on smoky beechwood-malted Band-aid astringency than overwhelmed peach adjunct and stylish citric zest. Peachy apricot and fig tones and mild floral nuances fail to gain efficient strength against dry smokiness.
DESTIHL WEISSENHEIMER HEFEWEIZEN
On tap at Flytrap, adequate moderate-bodied hefe brings zesty lemon spritz to stylish banana-clove-bubblegum triumvirate as well as cotton-candied vanilla sweetness. For contrast, dry plantain starching seeps into sourdoughed banana-clove continuance. On tap at The Oath (2018), dry hop phenols mildly affect soured plantain esters and sweet banana sugaring while lemony vanilla stint and wispy clove-nutmeg illusions stay near doughy bottom. In the can, mildly creamed banana-clove flurry and fizzy lemon spritz saddle sweet Graham Cracker base.
CORONADO BERRY THE HATCHET
Summery fruit-infused wheat ale utilizes tart blackberry, red raspberry and boysenberry adjuncts to contrast light lemony blueberry-cranberry souring to wafer-sugared honey wheat spine.
AMBULANCE 2nd ANNIVERSARY PARTY ROCKS NANUET!
On Saturday, June 11, increasingly popular Nanuet beer joint, Ambulance Brew House, celebrated its 2nd Anniversary in glorious fashion. A sensational amalgamation of limited editions, one-offs, small batches and redesigned beers (Barrier/ Ambulance collaboration Siren 2.0) took over the 20-plus draught lines while barbecued ribs and other fine food was served to the huddled masses.
I got to try six beers from 1 PM to 3 PM – reviewed separately below. Concentrating on springtime fare such as saisons, fruited sour ales and sessionable India Pale Ales, Ambulance introduced its dedicated minions to some fare I couldn’t get my hands on during an abbreviated stay. Hopefully, in the near future, I’ll get to enjoy Singlecut Fuzzbox Imperial IPA, Grimm Dream Weapon IPA and Finback/J. Wakefield Smooth Beats Miami IPA alongside Allagash Astrid Saison, Oxbow Freestyle Pils and Kent Falls Blueberry Vs. Blackberry Sour.
PEEKSKILL DEAD TO ME BARLEYWINE
On tap at Ambulance, astounding collaboration with Poughkeepsie’s nearby Plan Bee Farm Brewery brings forth elegant port-wined bourbon warmth and maple molasses sugaring to guard dried-fruited prune, raisin, red grape and cherry overtones. Sharp hop spicing penetrates the sweet surface at rummy fruitcake finish.
THE BRUERY POTERIE
On tap at Ambulance, subtly Scotch-aged 8th anniversary English old ale brings oaken vanilla restraint to mocha-dried dark fruiting and dewy peat bottom. Toffee-spiced cocoa nibs and brown chocolate tones as well as restrained red grape, raisin and date illusions gain earthen hop astringency.
KUKA TRIPEL – CASK
On tap at Ambulance, cask conditioned version of tony amber-glazed tripel utilizes dry clover-honeyed honeydew and canteloupe adjuncts to sourly affect soft-toned Citra hop subtlety. Soothing orange peel twist flutters amidst teasing grapefruit and pineapple tartness. Mild maca-rooted herbal musk picks up ginseng reminder.
CARTON ALL ORANGE EVERYTHING
On tap at Ambulance, approachable (despite mighty 10% ABV) Imperial IPA with zesty orange peel perfuming and easygoing mango-passionfruit-tangerine tang gains astringent pine musk as wispy grain alcohol burn soothes polite citric finish. Mandarina Bavaria hop profile brings latent blood orange, mandarin orange and clementine influence to the surface.
MONKISH STONE KISSES
On tap at Ambulance, vinous saison promotes bacterial Wild-Sour Ale styling as mouth-puckering lemon salting dries out above orange-soured peach and apricot tartness. Lemony seltzer fizz adds nose-tingling carbolic spritz. A pretty compelling semi-hybrid.
OEC EXILIS BERLINER WEISSE
On tap at Ambulance, simply refreshing Berliner weisse stays light and breezy as briny sea-salted lemon acidity picks up effervescent mandarin orange spritz, tart yogurt tang and light woodruff syruping over wheat-husked barnyard leathering.
BREAKSIDE SALTED CARAMEL STOUT
On tap at Ambulance, unconvincing soft-toned dessert beer lacks proper lactic caramel syruping to reinforce thin sea-salted ice cream theme. In the distant backdrop, caramelized peanut, brown chocolate and vanilla illusions ride alongside wispy black grape, blackberry and raspberry fruiting as barley-roasted sea salting fades.
EVIL TWIN BIKINI IPA
“Seductive” light-bodied India Pale Ale proves it’s possible to design a tasteful low alcohol (2.7% ABV) summertime refreshment without becoming sissies. Lightly pined grapefruit, lemon and orange rind bittering settles above sharp hop astringency as ancillary pineapple, tangerine, peach and mango tang picks up floral accents.
