Murky saison brings sour-fruited expectancy and hard cider bite to delicate hop spicing, losing luster by citric-spoiled finish. Orange-oiled tartness, honeyed lemon herbage and terse lemongrass-coriander snip fit stylistic realm.
MAINE ANOTHER ONE
Lightly creamed, ‘intensely hopped,’ and unstylishly yellow-cleared India Pale Ale goes down smooth for such a bitter seducer. Using the same citric hop profile as Maine’s Weez, its sharp yellow grapefruit peel and rind bittering lingers delicately, yet profoundly, above resinous hop oiling, subtle white-peppered juniper bite and lilting herbal whim. Wispy orange-peeled tangerine, mango, pineapple, lemon and kiwi tropicalia usurped by grandiose grapefruit profile. Ultra smooth.
OSKAR BLUES PINNER THROWBACK IPA
Totally sessionable India Pale Ale offers soft piney grapefruit bittering and sweet pineapple tang to grassy hop astringency. Crisp tropical-fruited briskness sweetened further by light floral-perfumed waft. Frisky carbolic pep prickles subsidiary orange-peeled lemon, tangerine, mango and guava undertones.
FLYING DOG BLOODLINE BLOOD ORANGE IPA
Subtle blood orange peel influence thinly disguised by misty citra hop bite, light resinous pine oiling and sweet caramel malting of light-bodied pleasantry. Musky grapefruit, tangerine and lemon tartness contrasts misty floral waft beneath the soft surface.
FLYING DOG SUPERTRAMP TART CHERRY ALE
Silken mouth-puckering spring seasonal loads ultra-dry red cherry tartness atop lightly vinous white wining and dessicated lemon parch, but lacks advertised ‘sweetness.’ Instead, easygoing fruit ale becomes too arid as its seltzer-like fizz depletes cherry influence rapidly.
PORT CITY COLOSSAL FOUR BELGIAN QUAD
On tap at Ambulance, persistent ‘dark candy date sugaring’ sweetened further by caramel-butterscotch-chocolate swirl. Orange-dried raisin, prune and fig undertones pick up light cognac-bourbon boozing.
SMUTTYNOSE SMUTTLABS: OL’ GRUNDY HUMPER PALE BARLEYWINE AGED ON OAK CHIPS – 2015
On tap at Ambulance, stylishly moderate ‘pale barleywine aged on oak chips’ contrasts honeyed yeast sweetness and sugared grapefruit-orange tang with soured fig tartness. Oaken vanilla buttering and crayon-like grouting drape the backend.
ALESMITH GRAND CRU
On tap at Ambulance, wonderful Belgian dark ale loads bittersweet dried fruiting onto candi-sugared yeast and toasted caramel malting. Candied fig, date, plum, raisin and cherry overtones consume sweet chocolate-vanilla-molasses conflux. Sour orange, bruised banana, brown pear and red apple subtleties as well as teasing chestnut-pecan wisps seep below the surface. Brandy, vermouth and Grand Marnier illusions add boozy warmth to the complex finish.
SPEAKEASY THE COVER UP WHITE IPA
On tap at Ambulance, hybridized Belgian witbier/ American India Pale Ale leans to the latter as lemon-peeled orange rot souring, spry white wine zest and dry hop acridity soar ahead of mellow Belgian yeast sweetness. Lemongrass-oiled peach, pineapple and tangerine whims drift below.
BRONX SPRING HOPBACK WITH JUNIPER
On tap at Ambulance, ‘botanical’ medium-bodied pale ale with subtle juniper berry adjunct sweetens over light caramel roast. Raw-honeyed astringency, reedy Amarillo hop bittering and soft herbal whim provide backup.
ELYSIAN LOSER PALE ALE
Pioneering local grunge label, Sub Pop, celebrated with sessionable tropical-fruited medium body. A centrist delight, its brisk orange rind, yellow grapefruit, mango and lemon tang picks up caramel malt sugaring as well as refreshing floral notion above doughy white breading. Candied citrus tartness gains bitter edge by crisp finish.
GOOSE ISLAND TEN HILLS AMERICAN PALE ALE
Updated 2015 ‘American’ version allows refreshingly crisp citric hop spicing and grassy herbage to ride above cracker-salted pale malting. Alkaline astringency may be a bit much for lighter thirsts, but tangy grapefruit, orange, tangerine, pineapple and mango thrust as well as zesty lemon briskness, mild lemongrass minting and resinous pine twinge ultimately overcome any acidic alcohol burn.
