On tap at Poor Henry’s, locally roasted Benfatto Coffee beans provide easygoing creamed espresso entry above wispy hop char. Milk-sugared light roast coffee splendor picks up mild vanilla bean bittering and possible cinnamon snip.
BOLERO SNORT MOOVEMBER MILK STOUT
On tap at Poor Henry’s, creamy lactose stout piles sweet ‘n sour milk chocolate splendor atop mild charred hop bittering. Sly coffee roast and nutty fudge apprehension waver below. Relaxing autumn 2015-debuted moderate-medium body retains delicate mocha richness and will satisfy dark ale majority. In the can, robust black malting inundates dark chocolate roast, milk-sugared coffee retreat and charred hop nut sear. Latent vanilla, burnt marshmallow and black cherry puree undertones secure full-bodied stout.
BRIX CITY R.I.P. IMPERIAL STOUT
On tap at Poor Henry’s, reliable medium-bodied stout brings smoky dark-roasted black chocolate malting, powdered cocoa dryness and black coffee bittering to black cherry-pureed anise spicing.
J. WAKEFIELD LA NADA IMPERIAL STOUT
On tap at Ambulance, affluent sweet stout packs dark-roasted black chocolate malting atop luxurious bourbon-burgundy warmth and burnt caramel creaming. Incidental black licorice, dark cocoa, fudge brownie, hazelnut coffee and vanilla undertones reinforce chocolate-y dessert treat.
BALLAST POINT THE COMMODORE STOUT
On tap at Poor Henry’s, reliable dry stout matches lightly smoked mocha malting to mild charred hop bittering. Dark-roasted black chocolate, powdered cocoa and ground coffee resonate above tertiary vanilla, chicory, espresso, molasses and burnt caramel undertones.
GREAT SOUTH BAY HOG CABIN MAPLE BACON PORTER
On tap at Ambulance, richly creamed mocha-bound full body (limited edition 2015 release) may not live up to its heady moniker, but the results are fine. Though lacking expectant bacon-greased surety and smoky maple molasses intrigue, nutty black chocolate thickness and roasted coffee bittering gain prominence with full-throttle luster. Sweet chestnut-hazelnut conflux and bitter walnut char receive minor candied maple glaze overridden by demanding mocha assault.
CALDERA MOGLI BOURBON BARREL AGED IMPERIAL CHOCOLATE PORTER
Remarkable bourbon-aged porter imparts creamy rum-spiced chocolate milkshake sweetness to dark Belgian candi-sugared molasses thickness. Lovely bourbon vanilla licks accentuate oncoming chocolate liqueur, creme brulee, Irish coffee, dark cocoa, fudged brownie, flam custard, sherry and blackberry illusions. A persuasive dessert treat for the holidays.
GOOSE ISLAND FESTIVITY ALE
Festive 2015 Christmastime brown ale blends “caramel and dark fruit malts,” picking up sharp hop astringency (50 IBU’s) and wily alcohol burn (7.7% ABV) to briefly overwhelm burgundy-dried fruit spicing. Dewy tobacco roast and dark chocolate mildness caress sugarplum, date, fig and raisin illusions as well as sweet orange peel spell. Subtle nutmeg, ginger and fennel wisps waver below.
DOGFISH HEAD HIGHER MATH
On tap at Poor Henry’s, tremendous 20th anniversary strong ale (with pulverizing 17% alcohol burn) rides the lightning. Bourbon-licked Maraschino cherry, cantaloupe, peach, nectarine and pineapple fruiting spreads above whiskey-sweetened rum spicing, honeyed caramel spicing and serene chocolate malting. “A big old cherry chocolate liquid birthday cake.”
TWO ROADS 20 TON BLONDE BARLEYWINE
On tap at Ambulance, “aggressively hopped English-styled blonde barleywine” retains affluent candi-sugared tropical fruiting above lilting caramel malting and wispy 12% alcohol burn. Sweet Sangria wining affects IPA-like orange-grapefruit-pineapple-lemon fruiting as well as sly cantaloupe, honeydew, melon, nectarine and tangerine undertones of fine 2015 vintage.
ALLAGASH INTERLUDE BELGIAN ALE AGED IN RED WINE BARRELS
On tap at Ambulance, dry red wine-barreled Interlude (2015 version) offers moderately vinous green grape esters and brettanomyces-affected farmhouse yeast to sedate residual sugaring. Eye-squinting lemon bittering gains affluence above plum-dried pear, apricot and fig subsidy.
BACCHUS KILLOWATT SOUR ALE AGED IN OAK
On tap at Ambulance, rare oak-aged sour ale (2015) allows vinous green grape tannins, ephemeral lemon rind acidity and wispy oaken cherry tartness to gather above reedy straw leathering. Pithy lemon-spiced orange rind bittering and tangy pineapple-peach-mango subtlety create sour-candied pucker at finish.
