On tap at Doherty’s, impressive java-powered version of Ithaca Flower Power utilizes nutty Tanzanian coffee to contrast orange-peeled tangerine, grapefruit, pineapple, mango, peach and melon tropicalia as well as dry pine bittering. By the finish, its IPA fruiting overpowers the casual coffee caress.
Fudgy Yoo-Hoo milk chocolate entry upends frothy nitro aridity to make more distinct imprint than advertised toasted coconut chips. Dark-roasted brown chocolate sweetness overruns mild coffee creaming, light vanilla sugaring, distant cocoa hint and wispy sarsaparilla nip to molasses-sapped oatmeal base.
Soft-toned India Pale Ale utilizes powdered lupulin for lightly spiced floral fruiting and mild spruce-needled pine resin. Lemony grapefruit, orange and pineapple tang sweetened by oats-sugared Maris Otter malts and pastry-caked cookie dough yeast. Ancillary peach, mango, tangerine, cantaloupe and melon illusions make cameos.
On tap at Doherty’s, moderate yellow grapefruit peel bittering and spruce-needled pine resin contrast sweet crystal malting. Tertiary blood orange, lemon, pineapple and peach illusions add zesty reminder.
Despicable drain pour feigns English IPA styling with dewy mildewed foliage, twiggy black tea dankness and musty lemon-dried musk, finishing unappealingly indistinct. Waxy crayon grouting leads to nastily elongated aspirin-like finish. Must be better on tap.
On tap at Doherty’s, sessionable citric-centered moderation retains easygoing appeal as yellow grapefruit spicing gains resinous pine lacquering. Brisk grapefruit peel and rind bittering picks up floral orange-pineapple-mango exchange.
On tap at Doherty’s, enchanting rum-barreled Flanders Red hybrid adds subtle blueberry, blackberry and raspberry adjuncts to oaken cherry souring and acrid barnyard musk. Though light rum influence flags, soft-toned green grape pucker, unripe peach snip and musky cologne waft add complexity to ‘berry’ good sour ale.
On tap at Doherty’s, delicately easygoing bock brings dried fig tartness, light molasses sinew, subtle raisin notions and nutty toffee tinge to clean-watered crisping. Subtle leafy hop astringency affects dried-fruited nature.
Foremost gose utilizes prickly pear cactus juice to heighten lightly salted yellow grapefruit souring and fresh-squeezed lemon bruise. At midst, crisply clean cucumber watering picks up limey plantain, white peach and gooseberry licks. Saltine cracker-like white wheat bottom perfectly suits dry light-bodied template.
Pleasant, but inessential, Belgian-styled witbier stays nebulous. Coriander-spiced navel orange peel sweetness and sugary pale malting contrast mild lemony peach tartness and white-peppered restraint above grassy hop astringency. By desolate citric-spiced finish, stylish template unravels.
Refreshingly tart summertime pale lager suits shandy lovers with its lemon-dropped ruby red grapefruit juicing and candied pineapple snip. Sugar-spiced ginger adjunct reinforces herbal-tinged citric splurge, but saw dust reminder and murky hop splotch prove weirdly astringent.
MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY
In a red-bricked, white-windowed corner spot across the street from Morristown’s railway. END OF ELM has operated as a cocktail-lounged gastropub since 2013. Featuring 24-plus brass-handled tap lines while specializing in unique cocktails and upscale food, this quaint one-room tavern brings low key elegance to this mid-Jersey county seat.
On my initial February ’16 stopover, my wife and I grab a seat at the windowed front corner booth to sample four diverse brews, including Magnify Low Visibility IPA, Rodenbach Caractere Rouge, Founders Nitro Rubeaus and Stone Bitter Chocolate Stout (reviewed in Beer Index).
Creative lunch menu brought forth distinctively innovative items such as Grilled Artichoke Bruscetta (with Almond Romesco-sauced fennel), Charred Jersey Beets, Lamb Burger and sticky-riced Sashimi Tuna Pizza.
As for its exquisite architectural design, the sage green interior spotlights a 10-seat copper-topped banquet table, eight 4-seat tables and a few side and back booths. Traditional walnut decor adds a tasteful backdrop to the granite-topped 14-set bar while railroad-tied pillars connect slotted flat scrap wood at the front right side, an artful exhibit complementing the train station.
A comfortable neighborhood pub with a friendly attitude, warm atmosphere and charming ambiance, End Of Elm will impress sophisticated beer snobs as well as casual cocktail enthusiasts and may be the best gastropub Morristown has to offer.
www.endofelm.com