Hefty Madagascar vanilla bean adjunct and delicate cocoa nibs influence spread across capacious brown chocolate malting. Coarse dark-roasted hop char singes dark-roasted mocha malting, embittering the dry lactic finish.
GOOSE ISLAND THE MUDDY IMPERIAL STOUT
Commodious soft-watered medium body combines unusual adjuncts with stylish dark-roasted black chocolate malting and peat-smoked hop char. Brewers’ black licorice adjunct creates gentle anise spicing for Blackstrap molasses, and to a lesser extent, Belgian dark rock candy sugaring, affecting caramel-burnt dark bourbon, creme brulee, milked espresso and soy milk undertones. Burnt wood chaff, black tar residue and charred nut bittering contrast creamy mocha essence.
TEN NINETY JAGGERY TRIPEL
Engrossing Indian palm-sugared Belgian-style ale maintains strong medicinal pungency as dank cellar-like yeast mildewing and lemony white-peppered hops contrast honey-fruited caramel malting and creamy vanilla sedation. Obvious bourbon-tinged alcohol burn may dissuade lighter thirsts, its but massive flavor profile provides tremendous depth. Ancillary banana daiquiri, bruised orange, lemon meringue, peach, apricot, mango, pear, apple and mandarin orange undertones sweeten fulsome fruit-spiced finish.
FLORIDA SWAMP APE DOUBLE IPA
Swerving away from typical citric-pined India Pale Ale styling, rounded dry body suffers from overstated and everlasting 10% alcohol burn. Furthermore, toasted cereal graining and sweet floral fruiting overwhelm bitter grapefruit-orange-pineapple expectancy, never giving sweet pear-cherry-tangerine-peach illusions a chance to ascend. Sugared spruce niceties contrast piney bitterness in deep recess.
SIERRA NEVADA FLIPSIDE RED IPA
Tropical ‘mild mannered’ summer ale loads aggressive Citra-Simcoe-Centennial hop oil stickiness onto wood-grained yellow grapefruit bittering. Mild floral aspect secures sunny citric nature and toasted caramel malting provides ‘red’ ale respite. Pleasant peach-fuzzed pineapple, mango and kiwi undertones brighten the corners.
CARTON RAV
On tap at 381 Main, mystifyingly audacious pumpkin pie-spiced medium body succeeds at re-creating brown-buttered zucca ravioli with its doughy pasta flouring, herbal sage cream saucing, grated biscotti variance and anise cookie notion (picking up lacquered shellac varnishing). Roasted pumpkin seed midst allows botanical butternut squash, zucchini and white gourd illusions to lighten the herbal dry-hopped bittering. A stylishly hybridized autumnal original that’s sure to enlighten experienced palates.
BOLERO SNORT FALL PASTURE
On tap at 381 Main, capacious cinnamon-spiced pumpkin pie theme runs thru ambitious autumnal ale. Creamily rich caramel malting, modest gingerbread niche and sugared vanilla respite deepen detailed pumpkin puree interior. Sugar-spiced butternut squash, glazed acorn squash and sweet yam undertones add to overall sweetness. Sharp carbolic fizz nips at the nose. Perfect sweet-tooth dessert.
CRICKET HILL PUMPKIN ALE
On tap at 381 Main, sessionably smooth sweet-spiced pumpkin pie alternative offers cinnamon-sticked nutmeg, allpsice and ginger seasoning for elegantly buoyant setting. Sweet orange peel zest adds citric appeal to delicate pumpkin sugaring and thin pumpkin-skinned salting.
STONE LEVITATION
On Tap at Blue Ribbon Tavern, highly respected hop-forward amber ale compares favorably to sessionable IPA’s with its bright fruited frontage and resinous floral pining. Up-front, red apple and pear sweetness rules the roost over mild yellow grapefruit-peeled orange rind bittering. Wood-toned hops sharpen the bitter end and contrast the light biscuit-y malt base.
TROEGS OLD SCRATCH #139 BELGIAN STYLE SAISON
On tap at Blue Ribbon Tavern, soft-tongued saison brings lemony orange rot to herbaceous white-peppered hop zip and light crystal malted spicing. Silken French saison yeast adds champagne sparkle to wheat-honeyed tangerine, peach, apricot and banana snips. Minty evergreen freshness serenades zesty citrus finish.
SOUTHERN TIER FARMER’S TAN SESSION INDIA PALE ALE
On tap at Blue Ribbon Tavern, sessionable mainstream summertime IPA provides stylish lemony orange-peeled grapefruit rind bittering (and light floral-perfumed waft) to pleasantly spiced quince and stone-fruited sweetness. Red apple, red cherry, red peach, mango and anjou pear illusions hold up well against the increasingly sharp piney hop bite. Musty earthen grains and biscuit-y cracked wheat bottom stay soft anchoring the clean citric finish.
URBAN LEGEND THE CREATURE BLACK IPA
Embraceable black chocolate-smoked dark malt roast contrasts bitter hop-charred wood burn before reaching piney citric peel center. Dried cocoa, treacle and bonfire toffee illusions reinforce deep mocha influence.