Mellow Belgian dark ale aged in whiskey barrels (2014) hides mighty 10.5% ABV inside well-balanced blend of tart citric fruiting, sweet caramel malting and oaken vanilla creaming, picking up bourbon-tinged peat whiskey subtlety along the way. Lemony orange marmalade, peach, pineapple, banana and golden raisin illusions settle alongside light almond-chestnut roast, tingly marzipan sugaring and delicately vinous green grape esters for surprisingly approachable strong ale.
ELYSIAN DAYGLOW INDIA PALE ALE
Enduringly approachable medium body leans on tropical-fruited Mosaic hops, crystal sugar malts and piney molasses sapping to provide amiable West Coast IPA spirit. Lemony pink grapefruit and pineapple tang leads the parade of fascinatingly floral-fruited fulsomeness. Juicy orange-peeled mango, peach, tangerine, nectarine, honeydew and cantaloupe illusions contrast never-too-bitter peppery astringency. Like springtime blossoming, Dayglow’s bright, fresh, ripe, lively, sweet, engaging and zesty.
HOPPIN’ FROG FROG’S HOLLOW DOUBLE PUMPKIN ALE
Meticulously frenzied pumpkin spicing gains full throttled momentum as stylish cinnamon-nutmeg-ginger-allspice-clove seasoning drapes honey-glazed Jack Daniels whiskey sweetness and brown-sugared Graham Cracker spine. Gingerbread cookie sugaring, zesty orange peel piquancy, bruised banana tartness and rum-soaked brandy wining secure tertiary space. Engaging soft-watered pumpkin pie finish sprinkles delicate black-peppered hop bittering inside the dense sugar-spiced interior.
CLOWN SHOES COUSIN STEVE AND THE LEMON HEARTS
Refreshingly mellow Imperial IPA features sharp lemondrop hop spree tantalizing less prominent tropical-fruited Mosaic/Sorachi Ace hop splendor and soft piney dalliance. Honeyed lemon juicing leads the way as yellow grapefruit tang, orange pith bittering and caramelized pineapple sweetness vie for space above French-breaded spine. Lemon-peeled tangerine, mango and clementine illusions heighten zesty citric finish.
AMAGER ORANGE CRUSH SESSION IPA
Despite humble ‘session’ tag and low alcohol content, mesmerizingly crystalline Danish IPA (brewed in conjunction with Florida’s Cigar City) assaults the senses with its lingered citric-pined bittering. Exceptional on many levels, framing up-front orange rind bittering with juniper berry sharpness and sturdy hop-charred graining while clean-watered lemon peel zest and pink grapefruit tang brighten sweet sugar-caned crystal malting for contrast. Highly visible yeast clumps settle inside the hazy copper body.
DIEU DU CIEL ROUTE DES EPICES RYE BEER WITH PEPPERCORNS
On tap at Ambulance, flawlessly easygoing spice ale will appeal to experimental thirsts as well as lighter ale heads ready for a light peppery pep. Succulent black and green peppercorn burn mildly soothes creamy brown-sugared molasses caramelization, polite rye breading and nutty mocha quip. Roasted peppercorn template dried-out by resinous hops. Delightful pepper-spiced alternative to usual grain-based ales.
HITACHINO NEST DAI DAI IPA
On tap at Ambulance, refreshingly dry Japanese India Pale Ale stays stylistically moderate as subtle mandarin orange adjunct seeps into wispy Maris Otter pale malting and herbal honeyed grain alcohol whisk. Light mandarin orange tang picks up restrained lemon, tangerine, mango, pineapple and passionfruit tropicalia as well as peppery floral nip.
(GRADO PLATO) STRADA S. FELICE AMBER ALE WITH CHESTNUTS
Well-designed alcoholic amber ale (8% ABV) with subtle chestnut adjunct receives toffee-spiced caramel malting and caraway-seeded rye molasses dab (and quick sugar cake rush). Honey-roasted chestnut keepsake further aligned by light butternut-hazelnut conflux, sweet almondine-wined Amaretto liqueuring and distant fig-plum wisp.
SMUTTYNOSE SMUTTLABS: BIERE DE’SHIRE AMBER SAISON ALE
On tap at Ambulance, strong ethyl-charged saison (with pronounced 9.1% ABV) buttresses stylish dry-spiced citrus tones against fungi-like French saison yeast pungency, sugary vanilla vodka boozing and light brettanomyces funk, creating a bustling biere de garde for heartier thirsts. When the alcohol astringency subsides, its sweetly soured orange, pineapple and grapefruit tartness envelops musty barnyard acridity, wispy white peppering, herbal thyme-basil remnants, phenol red grape esters and earthen musk above its buttered biscuit spine.
NEW GLARUS SERENDIPITY
Inimitable “happy accident fruit ale” retains awesome sweet-tart cherry pucker, tangy green apple spritz and ripe cranberry piquancy for indelible eye-squinting Flanders red-derived perfection. Wild oak-aged fermentation brings sour cherry rasp to the complex fruit salad finish. Tannic red grape, pureed raspberry, hard cider, lemon candy and glazed pineapple illusions pick up musty earthen leathering and light acidity beneath sugary soda-like carbonation. The most perfect fruit dessert imaginable.
THE BRUERY SMOKING WOOD IMPERIAL RYE PORTER AGED IN BOURBON BARRELS
On tap at Ambulance, rich and sticky bourbon-barreled porter picks up sweet rum spicing to affect molasses-smoked mocha malting, blackcurrant-liqueured anise goo and oak-toasted peat whiskey nip. Fudgy chocolate, cocoa and walnut illusions deepen bourbon vanilla seduction. Latent cherrywood char dampens campfire setting.
FREE WILL BONESAW BARREL-AGED BARLEYWINE
On tap at Poor Henry’s, French oak-barreled English-styled barleywine (with lightly vinous pinot noir wisp) secures ripened fruit tang and creamy caramel malting over moderate dry hop astringency. Candied cherry, bruised orange, honeyed peach and spiced rum sweetness as well as subtle raisin, prune and plum illusions enliven bold 9.6% ABV strong ale.
