Soft-toned pleasantry lacks body as watery briskness coddles freshly-squeezed lemon tartness and modest grassy-hopped astringency to its weak white wheat spine. Wispy floral-spiced herbage fades beneath lazy lemon-limed finish.
CHURCH STREET HEAVENLY HELLES LAGER
Mellow straw-cleared Bavarian lager offers sour yellow fruiting to subtle sourdough scamper and light herbaceous tease. Initial lemony grapefruit souring secured by mild grassy hop astringency and wispy white-wined cider tartness. Effervescent citric-spiced finish will please lighter thirsts.
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CHURCH STREET MAGISTERIUM MAIBOCK LAGER
Soured green grape tartness and lemony orange rind bittering softly linger above toasted white bread spine. Astringent hops affect dry citric finish. Wispy strawberry, banana and cider undertones stay submerged.
OFF COLOR APEX PREDATOR FARMHOUSE ALE
Smoothly rustic moderation brings tingly lemon zest to wheat-flaked honey malts, salty hop astringency and peppery yeast musk. Herbal lemongrass and basil notions recede below silken grapefruit pith bittering at earthen midst. Lemon rind, pineapple and apricot illusions provide tertiary relief.
OFF COLOR FIERCE WEISSE BEER
Whispery straw-paled Berliner Weisse with ‘Napoleanic sour streak’ places lactic citrus tartness and subtle limestone bittering above delicate wheat-flaked pilsner malts. Kettle-soured lemon zest, green lime and tannic white grape illusions receive stylish briny salting. At the salty lemon-limed finish, plain yogurt tang adds delicate intrigue to low alcohol delight.
FLYING DOG DOPPELBOCK
Gruff for its style (and circulated as part of 2014 ‘rarities’ series), medium-full-bodied doppelbock blends dewy earthen musk and sharp hop char into expectant Vienna-malted dried fruiting. Burgundy-wined raisin, plum and prune illusions pick up likable black cherry puree snip at black chocolate-spiced midst. Gunky fruitcake finish holds steady.
SARANAC LONG JOHN LAGER
Unspecific German-styled dunkel lager allows phenol hop astringency to drag down chocolate-caramel malting and brown-sugared winter spicing. Toasted nuttiness adds some depth as wavered red and orange fruiting dissipates.
TERRAPIN MOO-HOO CHIATO CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO MILK STOUT
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, exemplary chocolate-espresso blend retains refreshingly clean-watered crisping. Delicately creamed milk chocolate sweetness and lactic-sugared vanilla surge pleat neutral cocoa nibs midst. Mellow espresso macchiato roast deepens mocha resolve. Wispy jalapeno burn stays recessive.
HARPOON LEVIATHAN CZERNOBOG
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, impressive 2014 Leviathan offshoot proves worthy. Smoky dark-roasted mocha malts and unsweetened black chocolate chalking lead the way over moderate hop-charred bittering. Caramel-burnt espresso charm deepens mighty mocha mainframe. Dark-fruited black cherry, raisin and fig undertones bring up the rear next to tertiary vanilla, chocolate truffle and molasses illusions.
DOGFISH HEAD BEER THOUSAND
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, subtle Imperial Lager inspired by Guided By Voices underground rock classic, “Bee Thousand,” ties peaty Scotch licks to varied fruited nuances. Wafting perfumed hops delicately enhance soft-toned apple, peach, strawberry and banana illusions as well as vinous grape wisp. Fusel alcohol nip spikes sweet Scotch frontage.
BOULEVARD SMOKESTACK COLLABORATION #4 SPICED SAISON
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, excellent collaboration between broad-minded Kansas City brewer and Belgian-inspired New York mainstay, Ommegang, utilizes unique house yeast from blended batches. Lemony orange rind sedation, brisk yellow grapefruit tartness and white grape tannins spiced up by white-peppered grassy hops. Pink peppercorn pep enlivens honeyed grain base.
BOULEVARD POP-UP SESSION IPA
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, sessionable India Pale Ale balances stylish citric fruiting with biscuit-y pale malts. Crisp orange peel, lemon zest, grapefruit and pineapple tang picks up light pining over tropical Mosaic hops, becoming a tad astringent by fruit-looped finish.