Well-integrated oak-aged stout complements dark-roasted mocha malt expectancy with tannic Bordeaux-wined Malbec grape juice and latent raisin-plum-prune swoon. Creamy brown chocolate sweetness overrides descending dried fruiting at cocoa-powdered finish. Hints of chewing tobacco, charred wood and anise add depth to fine purple grape-draped chocolate fondue alternative.
FIREMAN’S BREW GERMAN-STYLE DOUBLEBOCK BRUNETTE
Washed-out and stylistically anonymous doppelbock needs richer flavor profile and better definition. Instead, compromised smoked chocolate malting and flaccid caramel-tobacco roast play possum as dry-hopped astringency wavers. Black licorice hint seems out of place.
FIREMAN’S BREW REDHEAD ALE
Decent dry-bodied “red amber ale” brings kiln-smoked caramel-chocolate roast and crystal-malted millet graining to light hop toasting, recalling an English-styled bitter at the back end due to its earthen dewy peat respite. Resinous wood tones scamper below.
FIREMAN’S BREW BLONDE BEER
Bland blonde pilsner serves musky grains to clean rice adjunct and grassy hop waft. Lemony smidge recedes to cardboard-like oxidation. Cheap pale yellowed light body will barely satisfy Blue Collar thirsts.
BLUE MOON FARMHOUSE RED SAISON/ FLANDERS-STYLE RED
Part of “Expressionist Collection,” unenticing blend (tart Flanders Red with sour saison) lacks distinct Belgian farmhouse styling. Mushy mix combines sweet orange-peeled coriander blur, lightly peppered citric hop spicing and murky lemon-candied tartness. Wayward mandarin orange, curacao orange and green apple undertones fail to capture attention.
MILLER FORTUNE
Black-bottled straw-cleared lager considered a malt liquor due to its sneaky 6.9% alcohol astringency, slick pale malting and syrupy corn sugaring. Acrid lemony hop spritz and salty snip contrast murky caramel sweetness. Betters most malt liquors, for sure.
GREY SAIL BELGIAN BLONDE
On tap at Track 84, well designed moderation brings herbal white peppering and dewy mossiness to mild grapefruit-yellowed orange rind bittering, picking up phenol Band-aid reminder over salty mineral-grained bottom.
MYSTIC TABLE BEER
JACK’S ABBY COFFEE BARREL-AGED FRAMINGHAMMER BALTIC PORTER
On tap at Ambulance Brew House, aggressive mocha-rich full body layers dry black coffee bittering atop hop-charred oaken bourbon soothe and sugared oats spine with tremendous results. Majestic chocolate-fudged vanilla bean, espresso, hazelnut and molasses undertones reinforce jolly java theme of enviable bourbon-aged coffee porter that’s an absolute must. On tap at Beef Trust, 2020 version retained creamy milk-sugared coffee rampage and all pertaining references, gaining sweet rum influence.
JACK’S ABBY COCOA-NUT BARREL-AGED FRAMINGHAMMER BALTIC PORTER
On tap at Ambulance Brew House, persuasive bourbon-aged dessert treat enhances prominent toasted coconut theme with dark-roasted chocolate malting. Cocoa nibs shelter capacious coconut sweetness as well as ancillary chocolate fudge, marshmallow, toffee, praline and almond illusions. Dry bourbon sway adds warmth and elegance.
JACK’S ABBY VANILLA BARREL-AGED FRAMINGHAMMER BALTIC PORTER
On tap at Ambulance Brew House, scintillatingly sweet dessert treat drapes chewy vanilla creaminess above oaken bourbon leathering. Sugary vanilla sweetness efficiently contrasts bitter vanilla bean tannins. Marvelous mocha penetration conjures brown chocolate, creme brulee, burnt caramel, fudged brownie, chocolate truffle, chocolate cake and coconut illusions. Dry whiskey snip dips below tertiary pecan-almond cluster.
JACK’S ABBY PB&J BARREL-AGED FRAMINGHAMMER BALTIC PORTER
On tap at Ambulance Brew House, audacious bourbon-barreled Baltic porter distinctly re-creates peanut-buttered raspberry jam sandwich. Grape, strawberry and blackberry jelly illusions deepen fruity pureed sweetness while dark chocolate, vanilla, anise and coffee bean undertones gird mild hop-charred bittering. A hint of bourbon perks up the nutty mocha finish.