ANDERSON VALLEY HORSE TONGUE WITBIER

March 28, 2015Beers A-ZwitbierJohn Fortunato

On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, vinous white wine-barreled Belgian witbier showers bacteria-cultured barnyard rusticity with soured Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, sparkling champagne, hard cider and red-wined vinaigrette pucker. Musty lemon-dried backdrop picks up dry oaken musk.

OTHER HALF NOT MY JAM BLACK IPA

March 28, 2015Beers A-Zblack ipaJohn Fortunato

On tap at Ambulance, fascinating Imperial Cascadian Dark places black-patented dark chocolate malting atop sappy pine tarring - blindsiding brisk grapefruit, pineapple, orange rind and black grape fruiting with a heavily roasted hop char. Tertiary black licorice, black coffee and charcoal illusions deepen massive mocha madness. Other Half Brewing Co. Not My Jam

URBAN CHESTNUT SCHNICKELFRITZ

March 28, 2015Beers A-ZhefeweissJohn Fortunato

On tap at Ambulance, desirably delicate Bavarian hefeweizen proves wholly sessionable. Lemony banana-clove-bubblegum expectancy picks up brisk orange-candied tartness, subtle vanilla creaming, peppy hop spritz and mild sourdough snip above lightly honeyed Graham Cracker spine. Crisply easygoing blissfulness.

Urban Chestnut Schnickelfritz Bavarian Weissbier

FOUNDERS BLUSHING MONK BELGIAN STYLE ALE ’15

March 19, 2015Beers A-ZframboiseJohn Fortunato

Essentially 'Imperial Rubeaus Ale' with four times the raspberry, this world-class framboise satisfies the senses immediately, leaving a beautifully effective tart raspberry rasp all over the tongue, nose and throat. Mouth-puckering hard candy tartness informed by lemon-drop souring, mild cider sweetness and dry cherry-pomegranate conflux, increasing sweet 'n sour raspberry theme profusely. Faint barnyard acridity softens dry-grained spine. Tertiary red grape, plum, cranberry and balsamic vinegaring crowd raspberry soda-like finish. Image result for founders blushing monk 2015

Image result for founders blushing monk 2015

FOUNDERS OATMEAL STOUT – NITRO

March 19, 2015Beers A-Zoatmeal stoutJohn Fortunato

On tap at Poor Henry's, 2015 nitro version of famous dark ale retains remarkable Guinness Stout-like nutty mocha creaminess. Mild black chocolate-informed coffee resonance gently flows into soft oats-flaked hop char, leaving peanut-shelled walnut remnant at mocha latte finish. Nitro Oatmeal Stout - Founders Brewing Co. - Untappd

Nitro Oatmeal Stout - Founders Brewing Co. - Untappd

FORGOTTEN BOARDWALK FUNNEL CAKE CREAM ALE

March 19, 2015Beers A-Zcream ale, FORGOTTEN BOARDWALKJohn Fortunato

Not far removed from Shebeen Cannoli Beer with its powder-sugared cupcake frosting and pastry-like sweetness. But its Nilla wafer waft, lactose-sugared vanilla bean influence and light funnel cake battering only affect the wispy cream soda finish as paltry lemon-dropped orange frontage fades fast above doughy white wheat base.

BRASH SMOGLIFTER ALE WITH COCOA

March 19, 2015Beers A-Zimperial stoutJohn Fortunato

Abundant cocoa bean adjunct given chewy black chocolate malting, creamy cookie dough yeast richness and charred hop roast. Gooey anise uprising and black coffee bittering coat the tongue in the midst. At the massive chocolate-y cocoa finish, fudged brownie, chicory and cola nut illusions reside.

AGAINST THE GRAIN 35K

March 19, 2015Beers A-Zmilk stoutJohn Fortunato

Fantastic milk stout powered by dark-roasted black chocolate creaminess and cookie dough yeast retains silken flow. Bittersweet cocoa, sweet brown chocolate, milk-sugared coffee, burnt caramel, espresso, marshmallow, molasses, vanilla and almond undertones enrich massive mocha mantra. Wispy blackberry, black cherry and blueberry undercurrents add further complexity to capacious chocolate-cocoa finish. On tap at Poor Henry's, smoked chocolate entry gets embittered by black patent malting and dark-roasted hop char, picking up subtle dried fruiting.

BROOKLYN WILD HORSE PORTER

March 19, 2015Beers A-Zmocha porterJohn Fortunato

Interestingly hybridized English-styled porter given sour brettanomyces yeast to influence peat-smoked mocha frontage. Dark-roasted black chocolate and black patent malts receive crisp black-peppered hop bittering as crisp lemon rind-soured hop spritz gains intensity. Dark cocoa, black coffee and raw molasses illusions abound. Unique stuff.

SUMMIT WINTER ALE

March 19, 2015Beers A-Zwinter aleJohn Fortunato

Admirable English-styled winter warmer blends Christmastime spicing with mocha nuttiness and dried fruiting. Creamy chocolate-caramel malting sweetens gingerbread-sugared nutmeg, coriander, clove and allspice seasoning as well as surging raisin, prune, black cherry, blackberry and red wine illusions. Cocoa-powdered chestnut, pecan and cola nut nuances saunter by.

KENTUCKY RYE BARREL IPA

March 19, 2015Beers A-Zrye aleJohn Fortunato

Crowded, yet creative, flavor profile brings oaken-dried rye whiskey and bourbon influence to highly spiced citrus fruiting. Grapefruit-peeled navel orange, peach, apple and tangerine tang to rye-malted finish, leaving mild black peppered tobacco roast in its wake. Citric rind bittering gains strength along the way. (Picture coutesy of mybeerbuzz.com)

SAUCONY CREEK HOP SUPLEX ALE

March 19, 2015Beers A-Zimperial india pale aleJohn Fortunato

Dried orange entry picks up ascending yellow grapefruit bittering and sweet tangerine tang above substantial pine lacquering for massively dry-hopped Imperial IPA. Candi-sugared malt sugaring overrun by intensely embittered citrus aftertaste.

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