Sour citrus fruiting overrides fresh mineral-watered crisping and salty piquancy of easygoing summertime fodder. Moderated orange, tangerine, grapefruit and lemon tartness needs upgrading.
FIRESTONE WALKER EASY JACK IPA
IPSWICH ROUTE 101 WEST COAST STYLE INDIA PALE ALE
BAY STATE HOPPY DREAMS AMERICAN IPA
BAY STATE TIME TRAVELER MAIBOCK
BAY STATE SIEBEN LAGER
Perhaps emulating Augustiner’s lager with its Munich pilsner malting and delicate Noble hop pep, German-styled moderation picks up sweet honey sedation over buttered biscuit bottom. Suited for summertime sessioneering.
BAY STATE VELVET REVOLUTION BLACK LAGER
One of the better Czech-styled black lagers. Black patent-like Vienna malting and dark-roasted barley-oats graining gain mild chocolate sweetness, retaining light-bodied crisping to the delightful mocha finish.
BACKLASH DEATH IMPERIAL STOUT (WITH BOURBON BARRELED ESPRESSO)
BACKLASH GROUNDSWELL BLOND
Smooth moderation lacks specific Belgian styling, instead relying on lemon rind bittering, sour orange rot and bruised peach innuendo. Musty mineral graining contrasts sweet floral accents and mild candi-sugared malt creaming, but white-peppered Indian coriander adjunct never suffices.
BANNER IPA
BANNER ALL NIGHTER ESB
(BAD MARTHA) MARTHA’S VINEYARD ALE
Affable English-style bitter brings stylish black tea pungency and raw-honeyed peat mossing to grape-leafed citric swirl. Light caramel malting and sweet-breaded sourdough sinew provides sugary backdrop for Ipswich-bottled moderation.