On tap at Plank Pizza, murkily wet-hopped Imperial IPA (with 7.1% ABV) contrasts rotted lemony grapefruit pungency with wheat-flaked pilsner malts and sticky sugared spicing. Musky citrus tartness gains light herbal nip, but damp Jersey-hopped acridity may be off-putting to lighter thirsts.
HOP CONCEPT LEMON & GRASSY INDIA PALE ALE
On tap at Plank Pizza, refreshingly summery Imperial IPA (with well-disguised 8.5% ABV) balks at expectant ‘extreme’ hop bittering. Instead, brisk lemon zest and light sugared spicing provide smooth mouthfeel. Floral grapefruit-peeled tangelo, pineapple, orange, mango and peach tang reinforces brisk lemon-dropped Sorachi Ace hop sharpness. Lemon pith souring, fresh-cut grass astringency and faint lemongrass herbage fortify dank citric back end.
SCHLAFLY TASMANIAN INDIA PALE ALE
On tap at Plank Pizza, propulsive dry-hopped IPA (with 7.2% ABV) brings affluent Galaxy-hopped tropical fruiting to resinous pine bittering and earthen floral accents. Bright yellow grapefruit-peeled pineapple, orange, lemon and clementine resilience as well as brisk mango, peach, papaya, tangerine and passionfruit tang overload pithy pale malting. Tremendous clarity, depth and fruitfulness lift engaging medium body.
BRIX CITY WET HOP PALE ALE
On tap at Plank Pizza, sharply embittered medium body given musky dry-hopped pungency and rotted yellow-fruited phenolics that will satisfy manly Czech pilsner imbibers or bolder Bavarian lager quaffers. Dank lemon putridity and tart orange desiccation rise above hay-like acridity of amped-up pale ale.
SWEETWATER HASH BROWN INDIA STYLE BROWN ALE
On tap at Plank Pizza, “hoppy” India Brown Ale contrasts astringent earthen nuttiness and piney citrus resin against intimate black chocolate-malted caramelized wheat. But its murky orange-peeled grapefruit rind bittering and barren nut influence never fully materialize, leaving lightly pungent phenolic acridity in its wake.
21ST AMENDMENT/ ELYSIAN HE SAID TRIPEL
On tap at Plank Pizza, exhilarating hybridized pumpkin-spiced tripel (a nifty 2015 Elysian collaboration with well-hidden 8.2% ABV) loads advertised terragon-galangal piquancy to stylish candi-sugared Belgian yeast and white-peppered tropical fruiting, picking up lightly sprinkled ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and allspice seasoning as well as creamy vanilla sweetness. Subtle pumpkin pie influence fades softly as caramel-malted banana, pineapple, peach and lemon fruiting gains momentum.
LIFT BRIDGE COMMANDER BARLEYWINE
“Bonafide” English-styled barleywine (2014 limited edition with well-hidden 12.5% ABV) aged in bourbon barrels spews hefty cardamom spicing inside sweet-toothed dessert treat. Like a rum-spiced Christmas liqueur, its brown-sugared plum, raisin and candied yam illusions as well as gingerbread cookie sweetness, Scotch-dried sherry wining, swerved Drambuie wisp, light almondine snip and vanilla-creamed butternut, pecan and hazelnut conflux guard nutmeg-milked cardamom adjunct. Happy holidays!
CENTRAL WATERS BOURBON BARREL SCOTCH ALE
Terrific bourbon oak-barreled Scotch ale allows molasses-sapped maple syruping to soak up luxurious brown chocolate sugaring, dark rum-spiced caramel malting and fudgy vanilla creaming as well as candy-glazed Jack Daniels whiskey sweetness. Dried-fruited red grape, raisin and plum undertones fill out rich bourbon chocolate profile.
BRECKENRIDGE BATCH #2 BARLEYWINE – 2015
Voluptuous barleywine aged in French oak Cabernet Sauvignon barrels gains rich chocolate-toffee sweetness to complement tangy dried fruiting and lively vanilla bourbon sugaring. Tannic red grape, black cherry, blackberry, green raisin, fig and plum illusions swirl around subtle Sauvignon blanc red wining as syrupy molasses sapping thickens beneath mocha fruiting.
BRECKENRIDGE TEQUILA BARREL AGED OPHELIA HOPPY WHEAT ALE
Soft-toned barrel-aged hybrid brings light hop-embittered India Pale Ale fruiting to wispy blue agave-spiked tequila buzz. Lemon-limed orange spicing, faded oaken mezcal tinge and mild herbal freshness reach delicate cracked wheat spine, losing tequila distinction at watery finish.
ALLAGASH FLUXUS 2015
From 2015 limited series, 20th Anniversary edition is merely OK Belgian-styled Strong Ale. Mild candi-sugared Belgian yeast gains local maple syruping, light pilsner malting, herbal honey tea sweetness and misty floral waft. Find Allagash ales from older ‘tribute series’ for more fun.
FLYING FISH PESCADO ROJO GRANDE
Thin barrel-aged Redfish Red Ale hybrid (with unassuming 9% ABV) seems awkwardly designed as mild Jose Cuervo tequila adjunct and rummy mojito wisp drop off alongside citric mist to acrid alkaline astringency at barren oaken vanilla finish. Somewhere in the mix, limey agave briskness sweetened only slightly by sugary pecan-almond conflux, ginger-spiced grapefruit-pineapple-orange fruiting and high fructose corn syruping.
