Perplexingly complex nickel-hued Belgian Blond (aged in grappa barrels) picks up vinous red grape tartness, carbolic Brut champagne sweetness and brandy-soaked vodka fusels above musky fungi yeast strain. Cellar-like mildew seeps into white-wined Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Chardonnay effervescence as well as orange-spoiled lemon, peach, nectar, cherry, black plum and melon undertones. Herbal sidebar and vanilla wisp waver below residual-sugared white grape pomace.
FOUNDERS FURNITURE CITY STOCK ALE
Likable English brown ale valiantly hybridizes mildly creamed Black & Tan dark-roasted mocha nuttiness with India Pale Ale-derived dried fruiting. Fig-sugared black, purple and red grape tannins serenade hazelnut sweetness, walnut bittering and pecan-almond conflux over caramel chocolate cluster. Molasses-sapped mineral graining adds depth.
(SHMALTZ) HE’BREW MESSIAH NUT BROWN ALE
Soft-toned smoothie layers peated caramel nuttiness and brown-sugared dried fruiting over cocoa-dried chocolate base. Subtle peanut-shelled hazelnut, walnut, pecan and almond illusions receive polite fig-date sugaring. Toffee hints waver through delicate flow.
(SHMALTZ) HE’BREW GENESIS DRY-HOPPED SESSION ALE
Moderate 15th anniversary pale ale places West Coast-like India Pale Ale citric pining and rye-honeyed brown breading above roasted caramel malting. Pineapple, grapefruit and melon sweeten grape-nut tenacity and mild chocolate-vanilla respite as earthen mineral graining scours resinous hop oiling.
BIG MUDDY MONSTER INDIA-STYLE BROWN ALE
Happy marriage between robust brown ale and hop-centric India Pale Ale works dark chocolate nuttiness into citric-oiled hop resin and latent wood char. Burnt caramel malting picks up hazelnut molasses sweetness as recessive grapefruit, pineapple and tangerine fruiting dwells beneath.
WIDMER BROTHERS KGB RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Dryer than most sweeter stylistic competitors, robust mocha dessert beer balances dark-roasted chocolate malting, dried cocoa powdering and bitter coffee grinding. Tertiary vanilla, espresso, roasted tobacco and licorice root illusions float beneath.
WIDMER BROTHERS RASPBERRY RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT (2012)
Murky raspberry puree tartness never fully integrates with hop-charred black coffee nuttiness and dark-roasted chocolate malting. Chalky cocoa backdrop adds to rich mocha prominence, but raspberry flavoring seems a bit artificial.
SHIPYARD MONKEY FIST IPA
Heady English-styled India Pale Ale brings dry wood lacquered pungency to sharp lemon-peeled grapefruit and spoiled orange musk. Perfume-dusted peach, pear and apple illusions contrast coarsened plasticine hop oiling, resinous earthen pine char and fusel vodka-nipped alcohol astringency.
BOLERO SNORT RAGIN’ BULL AMBER LAGER
On tap at Taphouse Grille, rampageous amber lager is way busier and bolder than lighter, less fussy competition, spreading multifarious flavors atop its baked biscuit base. Despite low alcohol volume, pungent dry-hopped bittering, musky orange-grapefruit tartness, nutty caramel spicing and musty vegetal souring rage forth in a flurry. Heartier thirsts will appreciate its tenacity.
LEFT HAND AMBIDEXTROUS ALE STEP 3 (GRAND JUJU)
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, arcane herbal-spiced hybrid doubles the resinous hop earthiness of brewers’ Good Juju for an abstruse cross between alcohol-heightened Imperial IPA and ginger root tea. Light citric influence, licorice-rooted anisette spell and boozy vodka whir barely register as blatant raw-honeyed ginger influence rages forth.
FLYING DOG PUMPERNICKEL IPA
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, bold pumpernickel essence rolls over peat-smoked chocolate malting and caraway-seeded molasses breading. Cocoa-dried rye toasting and blackened hop char relegate dried fruited fig, date and plum undertones. Bittersweet mocha influence far outweighs any fruitful IPA tendencies.
(ALEMAN/ STONE/ TWO BROTHERS) DAYMAN COFFEE IPA
Revolutionary amber-coppered coffee-doused India Pale Ale leads the way for collaborative Chicago-bound gypsy brewer. Densely bittersweet fresh-roasted coffee bean theme usurps tropical-fruited grapefruit, mango, pineapple and guava regalia. Piney hop-charred resin deepens dark-roasted chocolate malt base. Espresso, hazelnut and molasses undertones complement bold black coffee flavoring. Uniquely compelling and worthy of its hype!
