On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, crisply tropical-fruited 2015 update of brewers’ Captain’s Reserve stays refreshingly invigorating. Tangy orange-peeled grapefruit, pineapple, mango, peach, papaya, nectarine and cantaloupe juicing gets sweetened by wheat-honeyed caramel roast while moderate hop-oiled pungency, earthen pine resin and herbal notions provide sharp contrast.
PERENNIAL SUMP
On tap at Ambulance, elite Imperial Stout with advantageous dark-roast coffee richness spreading across wood-smoked mocha malting hides hefty 10.5% ABV extremely well. Black chocolate creaminess increases freshly ground coffee insistence. Milky espresso, hazelnut cappuccino, creme de cacao, sugared cocoa, fudge brownie and vanilla latte illusions deepen resolve while burnt caramel, spicy anise and sour black cherry hints add further complexity to highly recommended full body.
THE BRUERY CUIVRE
On tap at Ambulance, majestic 7th anniversary bourbon-barreled English Olde Ale allows expressive Belgian yeast spicing to enhance sumptuous mocha-sweetened dried fruiting. Sweet bourbon subtlety drives 16.2% ABV hybrid, providing alcohol warmth to sweet n’ sour chocolate roast, syrupy maple molasses, vanilla and toffee illusions as well as prune, plum, raisin, apricot, fig and raspberry dalliances. Whiskeyed chocolate finish picks up mild coconut, almond and walnut snips. Highest recommendation.
URBAN CHESTNUT DAFT BARREL-AGED BARLEYWINE
On tap at Ambulance, desirous rye whiskey-barreled barleywine balances butterscotch-licked caramel malting, nut-backed dried fruiting, sweet vanilla creaming and brown-sugared rum spicing. Ultimately, dry rye spicing infiltrates ascending fig-raisin-plum conflux, docile praline-chestnut-almond triage and wispy bourbon-burgundy wining. A winning combination.
BEANERY LATTE MILK STOUT
On tap at Ambulance, intense espresso bean roast overloads wood-burnt hop char and black patent malting. In the midst, tarry coffee bitterness contrasts sweet vanilla rampage as cola, walnut and hazelnut illusions pick up steam. Caffe macchiato milking soaks the nutty mocha finish.
BEANERY COFFEE IPA
On tap at Jimmy’s No. 43, bold amber-coppered hybrid fuses resinous wood-dried citrus tang with light-roasted Costa Rican coffee beans. Intense hop-oiled coffee roast deepened by brown-sugared dark chocolate creaming to counter lemony grapefruit, orange and pineapple sharpness.
BARRIER/ ABH SIREN IPA
On tap at Ambulance, exclusively consigned India Pale Ale explores dryer aspect of piney citrus style. Light wood parch seeps into tart lemon-seeded orange rind bittering, brisk yellow grapefruit tang and subtle sugar spicing above mild pale malting. Lightly pined earthen musk found at crisp citrus finish.
BAXTER SUMMER SWELTER
On tap at Ambulance, modest sessionable pale ale brings soft yellow fruiting to raw-honeyed souring and mild floral herbage. Tart lemon-juiced kaffir lime peel freshness receives light lemongrass lilt and distant coconut wisp. Dry citrus-laden summertime fodder will please lighter, less discriminating thirsts.
WEYERBACHER TARTE NOUVEAU SESSION SOUR
On tap at Ambulance, loosely defined Berliner Weiss brings tart lemon-soured pucker to the fore above musty barnyard-dried straw wheat leathering. Vinous white-wined cider acidity, sharp green apple pucker, oaken cherry snip and mild peach-mango caress pick up salty limestone acridity. Sessionable citric-soured moderation works as stylish crossover for lighter thirsts previously apprehensive about ‘wild ale’ styling.
BUNKER MACHINE PILZ
On tap at Ambulance, likable Czech pilsner offers raw grained pungency, grassy hop freshness and cracker-like bread crusting to crisp citric spicing. Mild lemon-sugared sweetness counters light phenolic acidity.
RUSHING DUCK CONSUMER FRIENDLY KEG MOVER HOPPY LAGER
On tap at Ambulance, mildly aggressive dry-hopped pale lager brings wood-parched IPA fruiting to sugar-spiced crystal malting. Chinook, Centennial and Simcoe hops create sharp hardwood astringency for lemony mango, guava and pineapple tang.
TWO ROADS ROAD JAM ALE W/ RASPBERRIES & LEMONGRASS
Quaint pinkish amber wheat ale “brewed with raspberries and lemongrass” receives subtle pale-malted wheat penetration. Tart raspberry pungency picks up wispy red grape, cranberry and gooseberry illusions while light lemongrass herbage stays far beneath the fading fruited surface. Seltzer-watered phenol hop fizz depletes spicy raspberry finish. On tap at Poor Henry’s, fluffy foamed head aerates soft lime-soured raspberry rasp and light woodruff syruping over delicate white wheat bed.