CLOWN SHOES EVIL CRAWFISH IMPERIAL RED INDIA RED ALE

July 26, 2016Beers A-ZCLOWN SHOES, imperial red aleJohn Fortunato

Up in Ipswich, Massachusetts, a few fantastic East Coast India Pale Ales call home. One, Ipswich IPA, has been a well-received full body since the ’90s, clearly inspiring the other two, Clown Shoes’ Evil Crawfish Imperial Red Ale and Space Cake Double IPA. Despite its similar name, the ’16 version of Evil Crawfish Imperial Red IPA neatly dupes the Space Cake instead. A well-balanced update placing creamy cookie dough pastry cake sugaring and sweet peach-cherry-mango-nectarine-tangerine tang against rearranged Citra-Simcoe-Mosiac-Nelson Sauvin hop-embittered floral perfuming and sharp orange-peeled grapefruit and pineapple bittering, its depth and richness cannot be denied. Piney spruce sapping works its way into cereal-honeyed citric finish.

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BRIX CITY ’68 RYOT RYE IPA

July 26, 2016Beers A-ZBRIX CITY BREWING, india pale aleJohn Fortunato

On tap at River Of Beer, brisk medium body brings sharp piney hop fruiting to rich rye malting. Floral-perfumed orange peel, red cherry, pineapple, peach and tangerine tang receives zesty lemon spritz at the midst. Bright tropical fruited finish gains spicy tingle.

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BRIX CITY JUST ANOTHER DOUBLE IPA

July 26, 2016Beers A-ZBRIX CITY BREWING, imperial india pale aleJohn Fortunato

More than “just another Double India Pale Ale.” Sunshiny yellow grapefruit zest distinctively affects moderate dry-hopped bittering and mildly sugar-spiced pale malting of easygoing, murkily clouded, chartreuse-coppered summertime suds. Sour lemon seed follow-up and resinous pine notion gain momentum as crisply clean water base provides brisk flow.

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MYSTIC DAD PUN DOUBLE IPA

July 26, 2016Beers A-Zimperial india pale ale, MYSTIC BREWERYJohn Fortunato

On tap at Ambulance, soft-toned medium body from Mystic’s “Hop Experiment Series” (with well-hidden 8.6% ABV) drapes sugar-spiced caramel malting with dank hemp-hopped oiling, leaving lemony grapefruit, peach and orange tones to illuminate the bittersweet symphony.

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BARRIER/ ABH SIREN 2.0 DOUBLE IPA

July 26, 2016Beers A-ZBARRIER BREWING, imperial india pale aleJohn Fortunato

On tap at Ambulance, exclusive Barrier offering (2nd anniversary 2.0 version) brings dry citrus-spiced hop pleasantry to caramelized barley-rye malting. Mild hop astringency benefits lemony orange tartness and bright grapefruit juicing contrasting spun-sugar cotton candy sweetness. Sessionable sunshiny day fare fine as introductory IPA crossover for lighter thirsts.

Barrier Money IPA with Nectarines and Cascade Beer

RIVERTOWNE JAH MON IPA

July 26, 2016Beers A-Zindia pale ale, RIVERTOWNE BREWINGJohn Fortunato

On tap at Triton, up-front pine needling embeds sharp lemon-limed yellow grapefruit and orange rind bittering as well as hemp-oiled hop resin and floral-spiced whim above recessive oats-dried spine. A dry medium body for stony hot-weathered hopheads.

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RIVERTOWNE HALA KAHIKI PINEAPPLE

July 26, 2016Beers A-Zpineapple ale, RIVERTOWNE BREWINGJohn Fortunato

On tap at Triton, “enticing” fruited novelty initially strikes the senses with sweet pineapple juicing, becoming mildly tart above light hop astringency. Sugar-candied pineapple theme overrides wispy mango-orange-tangerine tang, getting cloy in a fizzy ginger ale-like manner over the course of several sips. A dessert beer for pineapple pie eaters.

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LA TRAPPE ISID’OR TRAPPIST ALE

July 26, 2016Beers A-ZBelgian pale ale, BREWERY DE KONINGSHOEVENJohn Fortunato

On tap at Ambulance, mighty fine Belgian strong pale ale maintains soft tone as juicy nectarine, cantaloupe, banana, honeydew and pineapple tang gains zesty lemon twist above honeyed wheat biscuit spine. Capacious candied citrus follow-thru picks up subtle sugar-spiced tingle.

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ANGRY ERIK PAULINSKILL PALE ALE

July 26, 2016Beers A-ZANGRY ERIK, pale aleJohn Fortunato

On tap at River Of Beer, stylishly expansive pale ale brings floral-bound lemony herbage to oats-sugared crystal malting and mild peppery hop respite. Mild lemongrass adjunct increases zesty lemon splurge above gluey plastique stead. Betters simpler amber-grained competition.

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BISSELL BROTHERS BUCOLIA AMBER ALE

July 26, 2016Beers A-Zamber ale, BISSELL BROTHERSJohn Fortunato

One step beyond amber-grained pale ales, murkily hazed burnt sienna-hued medium body (in a can) subtly defies simple stylistic profile. Soft-toned yellow grapefruit, orange and peach tones bring IPA fruiting to herbal-hopped rye malting and dry earthen bottom for slightly defiant hybrid.

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HILL FARMSTEAD EDWARD

July 26, 2016Beers A-ZHILL FARMSTEAD, pale aleJohn Fortunato

On tap at Ambulance, irresistible well-watered American pale ale stays crisp and clean while appealingly resembling a sessionable IPA. Tangy yellow grapefruit prominence, zesty lemon brightness and light orange peel bittering pick up dry floral-daubed piney hop resin. Spritzy carbolic thrust increases zesty citrus entry as mildly spiced tangerine-peach-pineapple medley increases fruity fortitude.

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HILL FARMSTEAD MARY

July 26, 2016Beers A-ZHILL FARMSTEAD, light pilsnerJohn Fortunato

On tap at Ambulance, brusque German-styled dry pilsner surrenders zesty lemon tang and sour lemon-pitted tartness above musky sourdough malting. Mild herbal hop pungency picks up crisp leafy earthiness and dank mineral-grained hay astringency beneath serene citric stead.

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