Sessionable moderate body brings subtle pecan roast to faded caramel-toffee sugaring. Honeyed peanut, praline, cola nut and brown rice tea illusions stay below the surface. Cardboard-like malts pick up buttery rye smidge at the distant nutty finish.
LAZY MAGNOLIA ME & THE DEV-ALE
Confusingly “rustic” Delta Blues-inspired ale (with unsuspecting 8% ABV) recalls a nondescript brown ale with its phenolic maple-honeyed pecan and walnut influence as well as deficient caramel malting and meager earthen singe. Light pine twinge, delicate citrus tinge and latent black tea fringe overrun by metallic astringency.
TWO ROADS ROADSMARY’S BABY RUM BARREL AGED PUMPKIN
Exquisite 2014 rum-barrel aged pumpkin ale sequel brings lemony orange peel souring to the fore alongside roasted pumpkin spicing. Vanilla beans lightly embitter the sour citric facade until autumnal brown-sugared gingerbread, cinnamon and nutmeg seasoning sweetens the pumpkin puree finish.
ALVINNE PHI SOUR ALE
Lactic amber-cleared wild ale spreads acidic orange-soured lemon rot across white-wined vinegaring and herbal whims. Green grape tartness and raspberry vinaigrette bittering influence sharp citric facade. Rustic earthen compost waft picks up horse-blanketed hay, alfalfa and barnyard mustiness. Nowhere near as good as brewers’ sterling Omega.
DE LA SENNE JAMBE-DE-BOIS
On tap at Ambulance, contrarian yellow-clouded Belgian tripel seems closer to an American pale ale with its mild yellow-orange fruited souring, subtle grassy hop bittering and sugary spiced malting. Orange-peeled grapefruit, pineapple, tangerine, apricot, peach, mango and clementine tang picks up herbal nip. Phenolic fruity finish fades quick, but retains a nice hop bite.
ROTHAUS PILS TANNEN ZAPFLE
On tap at Ambulance, famed Bavarian cult beer brings sour yellow fruited pungency to delicately skunked dry hop bittering and light pilsner malting. Mild lemon-rotted grapefruit zing gets scattered across raw-honeyed mineral graining, sourdough yeast and grassy herbal niche.
PERENNIAL ABRAXAS
On tap at Ambulance Brew House, determinedly “challenging” Imperial Stout drops roasted ancho chili peppers onto intensely rich and creamy dark-roasted mocha malting while advertised cacao nibs, vanilla bean and cinnamon sticks prove just as provocatively influential upon Abraxas’ thick ‘n chewy nature. Brown chocolate spicing, fudgy vanilla sugaring and milked coffee rasping pick up distinct cinnamon-sticked chocolate mint overtones along the way. Anise, cappuccino, chocolate liqueur, bourbon, black cherry, toasted almond and marshmallow undertones deepen its incredible complexity. A perfect nightcap!
FOUNDERS BIG LUSHIOUS CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY STOUT
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, devastatingly fine dessert treat is perfect nightcap. Like a chocolate raspberry layer cake, chocolate raspberry truffle or Black Forest cake, its sweet-toothed goodness cannot be denied. Black and brown chocolate blend perfectly with pureed raspberry tartness, receiving a thickly syrupy molasses sugaring. In the distance, burnt coffee grounds lightly embitter dark-roasted mocha malting. Beneath, vanilla, hazelnut and cocoa subtleties spread across tertiary blackberry, black cherry and blueberry fruiting. Arguably the best raspberry chocolate stout ever made. In the bottle (2020), richly creamed dark chocolate syruping drapes bittersweet raspberry tartness of luscious tan-laced mahogany-hued dessert treat. Decadent chocolate raspberry caking picks up fudged molasses, toffee, cocoa and vanilla serenity and wispy cherry-bruised dried fruiting.
ALMANAC COWBELL IMPERIAL CHOCOLATE STOUT
On tap at Ambulance Brew House, creamy mocha-bound full body raids dry dark-roasted coffee salvo with brazen black chocolate, fudge brownie, cacao nibs and cocoa powder scrum. Serene vanilla bean influence mildly embitters chocolate-malted espresso coffee finish.
STARR HILL SHAKEDOWN IMPERIAL CHOCOLATE CHERRY STOUT
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, chewy chocolate cherry cordial alternative makes fine dessert treat. Dark-roasted mocha malts create cocoa-powdered black chocolate, milk chocolate and fudge brownie illusions. Just a tad more dried fruited sweetness needed to overcome minor astringency.
STONE SMOKED PORTER CHOCOLATE & ORANGE PEEL
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, intriguing smoked porter offshoot adds dried orange peel tartness to heady full-bodied elixir. Expectant black chocolate payload picks up peat-smoked beechwood influence above black cherry-pureed orange peel subsidy. Coffee-stained Baker’s chocolate, dark cocoa, cacao nibs and chocolate cake illusions reinforce sturdy mocha theme.
(ALLTECH) KENTUCKY HONEY BARREL BROWN ALE
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, sweet bourbon-honeyed brown ale expands stylish horizons. Made in oak bourbon barrels, its brown chocolate continuance picks up dark cocoa, molasses, vanilla, toasted coconut and toffee illusions. Nutty tobacco roast found at recess, but advertised ginger influence seems nebulous.
