Chewy chocolate cinnamon caking abruptly enjoined by black-peppered ginger spicing above sharp hop char. Evenly spread black chocolate, black coffee and espresso illusions enrich the raw molasses-sapped backend.
FAT HEAD’S HEAD HUNTER INDIA PALE ALE
Fiercely outstanding dry-hopped West Coast IPA balances zesty floral fruiting with sticky pine resin above creamy crystal-malted cookie dough yeast. A juicy array of lemon-candied orange peel, grapefruit, pineapple, tangerine, peach, apple, melon, pear and marmalade illusions reach fruition quickly, providing an amazingly resilient bittersweet tang. Ancillary mango, guava and passion fruit tropicalia adds to its roaring thunder.
ANCHOR STEAM BREKLE’S BROWN ALE
Generously detailed mocha-nutty dried fruiting sweetens above minor citra hop bittering. Black cherry, black grape, blackberry and soured prune influence roasted chocolate-cocoa malting as well as penetrating hazelnut-walnut-cola nut resilience. Black-breaded pumpernickel spine picks up brown-sugared molasses sapping.
WYNKOOP B3K BLACK LAGER
Pleasing canned schwarzbier loads smoky dark-roasted black chocolate and caramel-burnt molasses atop musty earthen hops. Sweet toffee midst contrasts soy-sauced souring, burnt toast acridity and rubber-like. Best of a nominal dark ale styling.
TWISTED PINE BILLY’S CHILIES
Considering its erratic stylistic competition, initial green chili pepper burn and red chili-peppered habanero/ jalapeno follow-up stay resilient above mild hop fizz. Crisp mineral watering provides delicate relief against heated chili theme. Aromatic pico de gallo salsa influence reinforces the backend.
BLUE MOON WINTER ABBEY ALE
Imprecise winter spicing gets spread across Belgian-sugared caramel malting. Mild gingerbread, cinnamon and nutmeg accents dessicated by phenol hop fizz. Curious tobacco roast and distant dried orange tartness backend decent find.
VICTORY SWING SESSION SAISON
Sessionable dry-bodied moderation places citric souring above herbaceous spicing. Sugary Belgian yeast softens lemon-candied orange peel bittering, musty lemongrass-basil-sage herbage and earthen barnyard leathering.
HIGH WATER RETRIBUTION IMPERIAL IPA
Retaining many fine attributes of brewers’ Hop Riot, heightened 9.5% alcohol volume well hidden behind floral grapefruit-peeled peach-pear-apple tang and mild grassy-hopped easement. Sweet almond, chestnut, praline and pecan notions ride alongside ancillary hemp resin, sappy pine and black tea nuances.
HIGH WATER HOP RIOT I.P.A.
Aggressively enticing flagship offering brings stylish West Coast IPA fruiting to mineral-grained juniper hop bittering and contrasted creamy crystal malting. Lively grapefruit-peeled pineapple, peach, orange, tangerine and pear tang surfaces above almond biscotti base. Frantic piney fruited finish lingers.
DUGGES RUDOLF WINTER ALE
Rich brown choclate creaming overlays dry bourbon-burgundy-plum wining and prune-soured raisin sweetness of porter-styled holiday ale. Smoky mocha malt midst deepened by sharp hop spicing, purple grape tartness, molasses-sapped pumpernickel breading and brown-sugared gingerbread niceties. Tertiary black cherry, sherry, blackberry, raspberry and blueberry nuances seep in.
BELLEROSE BLONDE
Despite ‘intensely hoppy’ and ‘stoutly refreshing’ descriptives, top-fermented ’50s-era blonde ale (formerly St. Amand) remains approachably easygoing, blending estery French Biere de Garde styling with India Pale Ale fruiting. Honeyed vanilla creaming sweetens herbaceous white-peppered citrus theme. Ripe tangerine, orange and lemon tones meet floral-dusted lychee perfuming and rustic peppercorn seasoning.
STOUTERIK BELGIAN DARK ALE
Musky coffee-soured dry body (nicknamed “The Brussels Stout”) falls short. Dirty earthen bottom drags down politely creamed dark chocolate chalking, tart cocoa nibs influence and dry fig-date murk. Oily hop resin and mineral grain char deepen bitter end.
