All-consuming anise influence almost buries ‘decadent’ Ecuadorian cocoa nibs flavoring. Sweet brown chocolate-fudged caramel roast needs deeper resonance above ashen wood-charred hop bittering.
GREAT DIVIDE WOLFGANG DOPPELBOCK LAGER
Well-defined caramel-hazed dark lager spreads lofty toffee-marzipan sweetness across molasses-buttered rye breading , brown-sugared Vienna malts and fig-spiced raisin-plum tartness. Dewy peat earthiness and distant hazelnut oiling underscore respectable medium-full body.
SAMUEL ADAMS BELGIAN SESSION
Sessionable Belgian pale ale binds mellow crystal malt creaming to soft floral-spiced banana, clove, coriander and bubblegum sweetness. Delicate white-peppered blood orange peel, mandarin orange, tangerine lemon zest undertones contrast salt-watered brining.
SAMUEL ADAMS PORCH ROCKER
Cloying summery fruit-based malt liquor (inexplicably labeled a golden Helles lager though better defined as a lemon-sugared Bavarian radler) offers sparkling lemonade tartness to spritzy corn-sugared ginger ale likeness. Acidic lime juice pucker fortifies lemon tea backend. Hot afternoon fodder for summer shandy sissies and wine cooler fools.
SAMUEL ADAMS BLUEBERRY HILL LAGER
Adequate springtime fruited lager loads sweet ‘n sour blueberry flavoring atop soft phenol-hopped wheat biscuit spine. Blueberry puree, blueberry pie and blueberry muffin illusions resonate above syrupy molasses malting. Tertiary blackberry, boysenbery and red grape wisps fade into oblivion.
ABITA STRAWBERRY HARVEST LAGER (2014)
Washed-out strawberry-juiced sweetness gets sourer and loses thrust as cereal-grained honey wheat bottom falls out and coarse phenol hop astringency comes to the fore. Ancillary watermelon, honeydew and apricot illusions drowned out by soapy strawberry finish. Lemon-soured strawberry Pez-like tartness engulfed 2022 version.
MAGIC HAT PISTIL
Vaguely defined floral-spiced summertime moderation with foamy white head and yellow-hazed body never fully integrates variegated flavor profile. Subtle dandelion petal flowering fades into abstruse mix as acidulated malts and fresh-cut grassy hops temper citric-bound lemon custard, key lime pie and pineapple tartness. Herb-dried marigold, heather, honeysuckle and lemongrass nuances barely register at doughy oats-flaked bottom.
UNCOMMON BACON BROWN ALE
Negligible honey-glazed cured ham influence fails to adequately integrate with molasses-sapped brown chocolate spicing, astringent nuttiness and toasted buckwheat base. Strangely, Belgian-like candi-sugared fig and date sweetness picks up the slack. But phenol butternut, hazelnut and cola salting receives sour metallic solvency.
HITACHINO NEST NIPPONIA PILSNER
Sessionable Sorachi Ace-hopped Imperial Pilsner (an updated 2012 version of original top-fermented golden ale) plies sugary soda-fizzed citric spritz to candied pear-peach-pineapple fruiting, mild green-skinned grape Chardonnay wining and ginger-honeyed herbal nip. Grain-toasted crystal malting grounds detailed contour of heady bottom-fermented lager. Aspirin-like astringency negates perfection. Another exotically distinct offering from world class Japanese brewer.
EMELISSE IMPERIAL RUSSIAN STOUT
Expressive Dutch dark ale goes a tad beyond stylistic boundaries with successful results. Lovely bourbon aromatics spread across swamp-watered dark chocolate entry. Black licorice influence gains prominence above molasses-smoked mocha malting over time. As latent cocoa-powdered burnt coffee acridity seeps into dried-fruited fig, black cherry, black grape and prune illusions, dingy cellar pungency ascends. Sherry, barleywine and burgundy undertones add depth.
OMNIPOLLO NEBUCHADNEZZAR DOUBLE IPA
Gleaming tropical-fruited delight bounds forth with crystalline sugar-caned pineapple, pear, orange, apple, mango, melon and passion fruit tang. Lemon zest midst further brightens its resolve. For elegant contrast, grapefruit-peeled juniper hop bittering deepened by resinous hop oils to pine-sapped bottom.
ENGELSZELL GREGORIUS TRAPPISTENBIER
Pleasing honey-draped Trappist quadrupel from Austria (instead of Belgium) brings molasses-sugared cookie dough yeast to dark chocolate-spiced raisin, plum, prune and purple grape dried fruiting as well as port-wined liqueur sweetness.