Uniquely hybridized Oklahoman saison drops subtle brettanomyces acidity onto citric-candied tartness and white wine yeast tannins. Lemony grapefruit-pineapple-mango fruiting as well as astringent black-peppered Saaz hop spicing override cane-sugared banana, clove and coriander reminder caressing soft wheat-flaked spine.
Paramount Kentucky bourbon-barreled Imperial Stout (2014) loads dark cocoa sugaring and creamy black chocolate malting upon sharply embittered hop char. Oaken bourbon vanilla sweetness magnifies up-front mocha resonance and ascending coffee bean roast. After a few sips, chewy anise spicing deepens its forward thrust as dark-fruited raisin, fig, prune and black cherry illusions settle below alongside caramel-toasted molasses, hazelnut, burnt marshmallow and creme de cocoa snips. Buttery smooth bourbon luster perfectly complements milky chocolate-cocoa affluence.
On tap at Ambulance Brew House, tight bourbon-barreled stout (with well-hidden 11% ABV) bursts forth with dark and brown chocolate richness. Serene bourbon vanilla warmth pleats creamy mocha frontage as well as oats-charred hop bittering, latent anise sugaring and dark-roasted coffee sentiment. Ancillary molasses, vanilla and coca nibs illusions increase fortitude.
Valiant dessert treat drapes Nestles brown chocolate sweetness atop glazed doughnut sugaring with fascinating results. Milked coffee sedation, chocolate caked creaming, black patent malt backdraft, vanilla bean surge, Belgian-dipped cappuccino waver and dry cocoa whims amp up rich hop-charred mocha madness. Anise, black cherry, bourbon and burgundy illusions drift below.
Masterfully hybridized dark lager (named after devilish rocker John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne) is a cut above the rest of most so-called German-styled schwarzbiers. Resonating ‘white’ Ethiopian coffee roast pleasantly inundates light dry-hopped bittering and dark-roasted mocha malting. Milked espresso, cocoa bean and toffee subsidies wispily affect persuasively bittersweet creamed coffee theme. Perfect for light-roast coffee fanatics as a seductive after dinner relaxant.
Nebulous autumnal medium body adds fresh-pressed apple juice to musky raw-honeyed graining and leafy hop stead, but lacks sufficient stylistic intention. Barren apple juicing shadows tannic grape snips and spiced citric nips, fading away quickly with nary a trace.
Tempting ‘tripel crossed with an American IPA’ opens with zesty grapefruit-peeled effervescence gliding easily into lemon-candied clementine, tangerine, pineapple, mango, tangelo and nectarine tang that contrasts musty orange-rotted souring. Black-peppered Belgian ale yeast creates herbal underbelly for sweet-spiced citric snazz.
On tap at Ambulance Brew House, fully expressive dark-roasted mocha malt creaminess nearly overwhelms dark-fruited constituency. Coffee-sugared black chocolate frontage, black patent malt subsidy and dark cocoa reminder get soaked in sappy molasses as blackened charcoal-singed hop bittering deepens the contagious mocha prominence. Burgundy-wined black grape and black cherry tones settle beneath the surface. In the can, thickly frothed mahogany-bodied Cascadian Dark Ale seeps black malted dark chocolate bittering into mild coffee sugaring and ashen hop-roasted nuttiness as well as IPA-suited orange peeled yellow grapefruit twist.
On tap at Ambulance Brew House, modified Imperial Stout relies not only on expectant black chocolate creaminess, but also evenly spread anise sweetness, hop-charred wood dryness and black grape souring. A daring dark ale likely to impress some avid imbibers, though stylistically, its puzzling blend may not appeal to traditionalists.
Affable moderate-to-medium body stays dryer than less intimate, more intimidating Tricerahops Double IPA as orange-peeled yellow grapefruit rind briskness picks up sticky piney hop bittering. Sugary caramel malt subtlety sweetens tertiary peach-tamgerine-pineapple-mango tang.
Monstrous Imperial India Pale Ale (8.8% ABV) allows pungent perfumed musk to boost bitter yellow grapefruit and orange pith rampage above dry piney hop resin. Floral-bound peach, pear, apple, tangerine, mango and pineapple illusions seep inside crisp citric setting.
One of the best Cascadian Dark Ales marketed, bringing dark-roasted black chocolate insistence, smoky black patent malting and ashen piney hop bittering to less prominent dried fruiting. Pineapple, grapefruit and clementine fondue illusions straddle mighty charcoal-seared mocha malt mass. Tertiary mango, papaya and orange marmalade undertones vie for space in ‘noirish’ environment.
