On tap at Ambulance, cask conditioned Citra-hopped version of easygoing Big Daddy brings gentle creaminess to mild lemony orange-peeled grapefruit rind bittering and sweet-spiced peach-tangerine-melon tang. A soft-toned winner.
ANGRY ERIK HOP-N-AWE
On tap at New York Wing Factory, vibrant Imperial India Pale Ale equally distributes its prickly grapefruit-peeled bittering and herbal hop bite with luscious orange, apple and peach juicing. Sugary caramel malting keeps the pleasing fructose-sucrose sweetness on par with the well-hidden 10.3% alcohol astringency and bitter citrus rind finish.
902 HEAVEN, HELL OR HOBOKEN IPA
On tap at New York Wing Factory, diacetyl Cascade-hopped India Pale Ale may’ve been infected. Sour lemony orange rot meets musky vegetal murk to ill effect. Closer to a murkily defined pale ale.
RIVERTOWN LIL SIPA INDIA PALE ALE
Sessionable l’il IPA brings floral-nipped citrus tang to light grassy hop bittering and herbal pine resin. Lemony grapefruit-peeled tangerine, clementine and peach tang casually saunters by dewy pale malts. Just right for lighter thirsts.
HARPOON GHOST KING
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, approachably hybridized medium-bodied Imperial White India Pale Ale (with well hidden 9.3% ABV) truly suffices. Perfumed citric fruiting, sugary coriander spicing and syrupy crystal malting sweeten the front end as black-peppered orange peel bittering retains toned-down briskness. Candied red apple, peach, pear, melon and tangerine illusions provide jolly mood to contrast orange-peeled grapefruit rind splendor.
BLACK HOG S.W.A.G. WHEAT ALE W/ GRAPEFRUIT
On tap at Ambulance, peculiarly hybridized wheat ale offers summery yellow grapefruit peel tang to minty sage herbage and pale wheat malting. Recessive anise spicing dots herbal citrus finish.
BLACK HOG THC CENTENNIAL PALE ALE
On tap at Ambulance, snarky cannibas lupulined crew, ‘The Hop Collective’ (a.k.a. THC), puts forth soft-tongued citric spiced moderation. Hemp-oiled piney hops softly persuade grapefruit, orange and pineapple bittering that contrasts honeyed cara-pils malting (and syrupy peach sweetness) of brisk tropical fruited sedation.
BOLERO SNORT TABULL SAISON
On tap at New York Wing Factory, appeasing moderation brings sharp citrus fruiting to salty white-peppered hop bittering and soft-watered minerality. Sour lemon rot, mild mandarin orange tartness and light tangerine tang provide subtle illusions above mild barnyard rusticity.
OMMEGANG CALYPSO HENNEPIN
On tap at New York Wing Factory, perfunctory Calypso-hopped version of well respected saison fails to deliver. Pungent floral-perfumed citric spice and barren white-wined yellow grape tartness receive musky earthen barnyard rusticity. Fungi-like navel orange rot, lemon musk and dessicated pineapple never fully integrate.
OMMEGANG GAME OF THRONES #5 THREE-EYED RAVEN DARK SAISON
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, well-rounded dark saison squeezes many fine illusions out of dark-fruited souring, smoky mocha malting and variable nuttiness. Dried fig, prune and apricot tones deepen black chocolate roast, cola-hazelnut-walnut conflux and mild peppercorn herbage, finishing with a frothy pineapple-grapefruit fondue frenzy.
KELSO FUKU
Bland rauchbier-smoked, witbier-fruited, gose-salted hybrid stays softly light-bodied. Soapy curacao-mandarin orange wisp, tart lemon snip and sour lime pucker hide behind fragile peat-smoked black peppering, finishing inconspicuously dull, flat and buttery.
VICTORY SUMMER LOVE ALE
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, refreshing summertime golden ale becomes diacetyl at vegetal citric finish. Sunny yellow grapefruit tartness desiccated by sour lemon rot, raw-honeyed pale malts and grassy Simcoe-citra hop astringency. Light floral orange fruiting needs better penetration.