Refreshingly sessionable hybridized wheat ale brings aromatic IPA fruiting, light floral herbage and spiced sugaring to soft cracked wheat spine. By downplaying its tart citric aspect, delicate wood tones and salty white peppering emerge alongaside zesty lemon, grapefruit, orange, pineapple, mango and peach tropicalia. Serve to fruity pilsner lovers as well as frisky pale alers.
On tap at Ambulance, sessionable soft-toned West Coast-styled IPA layers lemony grapefruit-orange tang above modest piney hop resin, toasted caramel malting and wispy pineapple-mango-peach tropicalia.
On tap at Ambulance, “paradoxical” Black India Pale Ale works smoky hop-charred black patent malts into sweet ‘n sour fruit tartness. Moderate black grape, pineapple, orange and tangerine illusions graze cocoa-powdered dark chocolate roast. Latent anise influence affects dried-fruited mocha finish.
Well-designed ‘Planets Series’ release (circa 2014) is Bell’s first foray into Black IPA styling. Dehusked black malt roast reinforces syrupy dark chocolate entry that peaks above zesty citra-hopped resilience and resinous pine sapping. Caramel-burnt molasses follow-thru sweetens dark mocha theme above lemony grapefruit-pineapple bittering as well as black grape tartness and distant clementine-tangerine-peach-mango inkling.
On tap at Ambulance, sessionable midwestern India Pale Ale maintains centrist ‘tude. Citric floral-perfumed Cascade hops pickup fresh-cut grass astringency before gaining honeyed fruit sweetness. Orange-juiced mango, pineapple, peach and grapefruit tang seeps into piney earthen recess.
Leaving a peaceful easy feeling upon the palate, sessionable IPA layers rock-candied sugar malts atop sunny tropical fruiting and clean mineral watered crisping in a highly appealing manner. Lightly pined grapefruit, pineapple, mango and papaya tang combines with zesty orange peel bittering and subtle berry tones. Sweet caramelized wheat backdrop picks up wispy butterscotch twist at brisk fruit-spiced finish.
Approachable oak-aged sour ale brewed in collaboration with famed Kansas City chef (circa 2015) proves fruitful. Sweet ‘n soured mango and tamarind adjuncts pick up tart Granny Smith apple pucker, oaken cherry subtlety, spicy mustard twang and raspberry vinaigrette smidge above musty earthen yeast fungi. Lime-dried papaya, pineapple, peach and guava nuances waver. Elegant soft-toned moderation will appeal to expansive mainstream thrists as well as less restrictive sour heads.
Profound vegetal-herbed India Pale Ale extends stylistic boundaries with positive results. Tart green tomato-like naranjilla adjunct brings light celantro-peppered wisp, limey rhubarb twist and neutral celery crisping to daintily spiced grapefruit-orange tang. Just another interesting IPA offshoot.
Well-balanced medium body (in a can) brings brisk citrus pining and pale malt stimulance to sweet cookie dough center. Sharp citric hop bittering and grassy residue never outdo summery orange-peeled lemon zesting. Tangy pineapple, grapefruit, tangerine and cantaloupe undertones sweeten the core.
Drab “Imperial Oatmeal Coffee Stout” in a can leaves phenol day-old coffee ground souring and musty dark chocolate chalking upon oily hop resin. Aromatic milk chocolate-y Yoo-Hoo sweetness totally undermined by cocoa-soured soy sludge.
Intriguing Belgian-styled dark ale (with robust 11% ABV) proves worthy as brewers’ 20th anniversary offering circa 2015. Ripe dried fruiting inundates coriander-spiced star anise sugaring and chewy caramel malting. Elevated raisin, plum, fig and prune conflux regales front end while less prominent blackberry, blueberry and red grape undertones as well as buttery coconut smidge add depth to richly complex dessert treat.
First new year round offering in four years, 2015’s supposedly profane brown ale loads “obscenely malted hoppiness” atop dark-roasted nuttiness, black tea herbage and light floral citrus perk. Dry walnut, sweet pecan and honey-glazed hazelnut illusions inundate black patent malt setting. But its charred hop bittering seems understated despite obscene gesture.