BOULDER SHAKE CHOCOLATE PORTER – 2013

While its opening chocolate-caked dark toffee salvo really rocks hard, dirty earthen mustiness and phenolic carbolic fluff seem out of place ruining the acrid mocha finish of this initial faulty 2013 version. Initial dark-roast coffee and black chocolate overtones enrich syrupy molasses sugaring above musky hop char. Chalky Bakers chocolate, vanilla bean and cherry cordial nuances dance by.

CORONADO ORANGE AVENUE WIT

Casual light-bodied witbier hastily gets watery as faltering sweet ‘n soured orange peel entry picks up ginger-honeyed orange blossom perfuming and mild grassy hop acridity over soft white wheat bed. Lemon-candied raspberry tartness, latent coriander spicing, tangy tangerine respite and wispy curacao orange smidge drowned out by phenol carbolic fizz. Faded fruit-spiced finish lacks sugary punch.

      

WYNKOOP ROCKY MOUNTAIN OYSTER STOUT

Despite dropping roasted bull testicles into the mash tun, creamily rich stout retains lovely dark and brown chocolate sweetness. Fudgy chocolate-kissed Nestles Quik cocoa powdering deepened by chocolate mousse caking and oily anise spicing to contrast ashen nuttiness. Tertiary espresso coffee, black cherry and hazelnut undertones fade away. Forget about the advertised bovine nuts, this one’s way closer in taste to malt balls.