KARBACH HELL-FIGHTER IMPERIAL PORTER

October 2, 2014Beers A-Zimperial porterJohn Fortunato

Excellent strong porter (9.5% ABV) drapes capacious caramel-burnt brown chocolate sweetness atop subtle oak-charred bittering and nutty dried fruiting. At first, chocolate milkshake creaming gathers strength, followed by coffee-roasted cappuccino, espresso and cocoa nibs respite. Beneath chewy mocha surface, fudgy dark toffee, hazelnut, walnut, cola nut and molasses illusions reside alongside bittersweet raisin-prune conflux. Scattered anise, licorice nibs, sarsaparilla and burgundy undertones complete the score. A busier chocolate milkshake!

KARBACH EL HOPADILLO NEGRO BLACK IPA

October 2, 2014Beers A-Zblack ipaJohn Fortunato

Heavy dark-roasted graining, smoked mocha malting and Blackstrap molasses sinew envelop bitter chocolate-cocoa stead above piney citric hop restraint. Subtle grapefruit, black grape and pineapple fruiting picks up amiable spruce-tipped bittering as well as ashen nuttiness.

KARBACH RODEO CLOWN DOUBLE IPA

October 2, 2014Beers A-Zimperial india pale aleJohn Fortunato

Miscast as an India Pale Ale, its honeyed cereal oats, toasted caramel malting and cookie dough richness befit a sweet helles lager instead of a hop-embittered IPA, regaling stylistic orange-peeled pineapple-grapefruit-tangerine tang and resinous pine oiling with more resonant peach-pear-apple supplement. Peppery hop-spiced influence stays moderate.

SAINT ARNOLD BOILER ROOM BERLINER WEISSE

October 2, 2014Beers A-Zberliner weisseJohn Fortunato

Likable light-bodied (3.5% ABV) sour wheat ale brings tart lemon limed pucker to the fore as gose-like coriander salting takes a backseat. Lightly acidic green apple mildness and vinous grape tannins provide soft pungency. At the finish, fresh-squeezed lemonade niche and plain yogurt milking reinforce lactic wort-soured citrus continuance.

SAINT ARNOLD ENDEAVOR IPA

October 2, 2014Beers A-Zindia pale aleJohn Fortunato

Indelible amber-bronzed full body gains sweeter candied citrus fruiting and oilier piney hop bittering than usual IPA suspects. Furthermore, creamier honeyed malt bill, sinewy cookie dough-like yeast and whimsical Maraschino cherry sugaring provide richer textural flavoring. Zesty grapefruit, navel orange, pineapple, peach and apricot fruit punch outlasts unique whiskey-bent Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and cognac wining.

(TEXAS BIG BEER) TEXAS CRUDE PORTER

October 2, 2014Beers A-Zmocha porterJohn Fortunato

Not as rich and bold as Texas crude namesake. Dark-roasted chocolate malt creaming subsides over time and minor carbolic aridity interferes with ancillary coffee-burnt Blackstrap molasses, Baker’s chocolate and cocoa nibs subsidy as well as restrained pecan-walnut-hazelnut conflux.

(SOUTHERN STAR) VALKYRIE DOUBLE IPA

October 2, 2014Beers A-Zimperial india pale aleJohn Fortunato

Respectable copper-hazed medium-full body (with hidden 9.2% ABV) plies expectant citric bittering to sticky piney spruce resin. Tangy orange-peeled yellow grapefruit bite leads the way as ancillary tangerine, peach, pear and apple illusions scatter across zesty lemon tartness. Bitter bark-dried hop roast deepens as sugary caramel malting sweetens floral fruit-juiced finish.

SOUTHERN STAR PINE BELT PALE ALE

October 2, 2014Beers A-Zpale aleJohn Fortunato

Bettering most lighter bodied pale ales with its full flavored profile, murkily rust-hazed Texan (in a can) offers crystal-malted cereal grain toasting and moderate piney hop bittering to delicately sugar-spiced grapefruit, pineapple and orange tang as well as zesty lemon twist. Crisp well-watered minerality provides clean base for brisk floral-fruited finish. Recommended to softer ale palates.

REAL ALE FOUR SQUARE DRY-HOPPED ALE

October 2, 2014Beers A-Zamber aleJohn Fortunato

Crisply clean dry-hopped moderation (in a can) takes brewers’ standard Fireman’s #4 Blonde Ale and increases its malted barley grain bill while heightening the piney hop bittering to boost gravity and intensify the frisky fruited frolic. Candied tangerine, pineapple, grapefruit and lemon tang lingers above soft-grained toasted bread spine.

BUFFALO BAYOU ABRIKOOS

October 2, 2014Beers A-Zbelgian india pale aleJohn Fortunato

A cornucopia of bittersweet tropical fruits gain affluence above advertised ‘caramelized apricot’ tartness serenading hybridized Belgian IPA. Ancillary lemon-dried mango, kiwi, papaya, grapefruit and peach tones contrast assertive hop-charred ethanol bittering. Herbaceous black-peppered Belgian yeast funk grazes acrid alfalfa, wheat straw and hay backdrop.

CEDAR CREEK ELLIOTT’S PHONED HOME PALE ALE

October 2, 2014Beers A-Zpale aleJohn Fortunato

Dandy li’l canned pale ale brings German alt yeast to soft-toned fruit spicing and mild grassy hops. Lemony grapefruit, tangerine and Bartlett pear illusions soak up dry piney niche. Cereal grain remnant found at sourdough bottom.

(TEXIAN) BRUTUS ENGLISH-STYLE IPA

October 2, 2014Beers A-Zindia pale aleJohn Fortunato

Muddled rust-hazed English IPA with wavered ESB tendencies lacks firm direction. Canned dry body offers earthen dewiness, brown tea-like musk and reedy hop grouting to lemon-rotted prune-fig-date conflux. Minor West Coast-styled citric vibrancy lost in the carbolic fizz.

BEERMELODIES

For Beer Geeks And Rock Freaks

KARBACH HELL-FIGHTER IMPERIAL PORTER

KARBACH EL HOPADILLO NEGRO BLACK IPA

KARBACH RODEO CLOWN DOUBLE IPA

SAINT ARNOLD BOILER ROOM BERLINER WEISSE

SAINT ARNOLD ENDEAVOR IPA

(TEXAS BIG BEER) TEXAS CRUDE PORTER

(SOUTHERN STAR) VALKYRIE DOUBLE IPA

SOUTHERN STAR PINE BELT PALE ALE

REAL ALE FOUR SQUARE DRY-HOPPED ALE

BUFFALO BAYOU ABRIKOOS

CEDAR CREEK ELLIOTT’S PHONED HOME PALE ALE

(TEXIAN) BRUTUS ENGLISH-STYLE IPA