AMAGER BRYGHUS/ HOPPIN’ FROG FROG HOPS TO AMAGER

April 1, 2014Beers A-Zimperial stoutJohn Fortunato

Lavishly designed “chocolate wheat Imperial” collaboration between Danish gypsy brewer and respected Akron craftsmen evenly spreads various mocha indulgences above heightened dark-roasted Tomahawk/ Chinook hop bittering and ashen pine embers. Creamy black chocolate, dark coffee, fudge, espresso, cocoa and vanilla overtones pick up smoked oats char at peat-moistened hazelnut bottom. Heavy anise influence tethers light dried fruiting to bustling chocolate-coffee theme. Leaning towards the bitter side, complex full-bodied dark ale never fails to intrigue.

NOGNE O PECULIAR YULE – 2013

April 1, 2014Beers A-Zwinter aleJohn Fortunato

Supple updated 2013 version heightens Christmas spicing and wintry peculiarities to amplify overall taste sensation. Chewy caramelized chocolate malts and syrupy molasses sapping perfectly punctuate wintry brown-sugared cinnamon-gingerbread-nutmeg seasoning. Ancillary orange-peeled coriander, clove and cardamom tingle sweetens sticky anise minting as well as dark floral hop earthiness. Plastique black grape nuance slips thru serene holiday spicing.

(KLOSTER BRAUEREI) ANDECHSER DOPPELBOCK DUNKEL

April 1, 2014Beers A-ZdoppelbockJohn Fortunato

Fantastic ‘velvety’ dark bock spreads brown-sugared fruit spicing and creamy caramel-burnt brown chocolate sweetness across tingly bourbon-sherry wining of complex Bavarian full body (originating way back in 1455). Dewy peat moss drips onto ancillary candied apple, buttered pecan, cherry cordial, marzipan and toffee illusions, providing contrasted earthen mustiness to expressive yeast profile. Tertiary cinnamon molasses cookie sugaring drapes distant raisin-fig-grape conflux.

INNIS & GUNN SCOTTISH PORTER (WITH MOLASSES)

April 1, 2014Beers A-Zhoney porterJohn Fortunato

Dashing molasses-sugared oak-aged porter whimsically compares favorably to Newcastle Brown Ale. Treacly molasses sapping softly layers brown chocolate-malted vanilla, coconut, butternut, honey-glazed maple, spice cake and cola illusions as well as lesser rum-spiced sherry, bourbon and burgundy wining. Oaken whiskey snip gets diluted over time.

GRIMBERGEN BLONDE

April 1, 2014Beers A-ZBelgian pale aleJohn Fortunato

Delicately complex Belgian pale ale never fails to delight. Lemony banana bubblegum blast sweetened by cotton-candied butterscotch sensation, syrupy peach-pear sinew and creamy vanilla-caked spicing. Peppery hop bittering wispily imbues subtle clove, coriander and allspice seasoning before reaching doughy baked bread bottom. A luscious stylistic marvel.

TOMMYKNOCKER ALPINE GLACIER PILSNER LAGER

April 1, 2014Beers A-Zlight pilsnerJohn Fortunato

Crisp mountain-watered golden-hazed German-styled pils (not to be confused with Alpine Glacier American Lager) betters its similar-named predecessor. Honeyed cereal graining backs up grassy-hopped citric zest. Lemony briskness brightens the overall mood as sourdough, baguette, white rice and sweet corn dalliances overwhelm any metallic solvency.

KENTUCKY KOLSCH

April 1, 2014Beers A-ZkolschJohn Fortunato

Sour yellow-fruited Saaz hop astringency and meager white-breaded sourdough spine too thin for musty dry-bodied moderation. Murky lemony orange tartness picks up bubbly champagne grape esters and rotted green apple wisp over acrid straw-hay parch. Salty carbolic tingle underscores slim citric setting.

(TRI-CITY) TORCHON BELGIAN STYLE PALE ALE

March 30, 2014Beers A-ZBelgian pale aleJohn Fortunato

Almost as intricately woven as its Belgian-styled bobbin lace moniker suggests, copper-hazed light-to-medium body offers candied yeast sweetness to tart lemon-soured plantain flatness and hefeweizen-related banana-clove bubble gumming. Distant clove-coriander spicing and murkily fig-dried peach tones curtailed at biscuit malt bottom .

GRIFFIN CLAW GRAND LINE PALE ALE

March 30, 2014Beers A-Zpale aleJohn Fortunato

Indelible canned medium body brings sunny grapefruit-orange tang and zesty lemon twist to clean-watered saltine cracker spine. Bright citric briskness scurries through grassy hop spicing, sugary dough starching, barley biscuit toasting and earthen floral nuances. One of the best sessionable pale ales marketed.

LIBERTY STREET STEAMY WINDOWS CALIFORNIA COMMON-STYLE ALE

March 30, 2014Beers A-Zsteam beerJohn Fortunato

Sharp yellow-fruited grassy hop affability ascends above musky pale lager yeast (fermented at colder ale temperatures) for smoothly crisp yellow-bellied middleweight. Zesty lemon, grapefruit and orange tang stays brisk as musty floral earthiness settles behind honey-soured caramel malting.

LIBERTY STREET RED GLARE AMBER ALE

March 30, 2014Beers A-Zamber aleJohn Fortunato

Mediocre blue-collar fodder with heightened toasted hop astringency and murky citric souring fails to ignite. Rotted grapefruit-orange-tangerine tartness gets washed-out at sourdough bottom. Metallic tinge lowers impact further.

LIBERTY STREET STARKWEATHER STOUT

March 30, 2014Beers A-Zdry stoutJohn Fortunato

Dark-roasted mocha graining and nutty hop oiling fuel unspecific dry-bodied ‘export stout.’ Fresh-roast coffee waft reinforces cocoa nibs chalking, black chocolate fudging and raw maple sapping. Walnut-charred pungency deepens ashen charcoal astringency.

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