CISCO ISLAND RESERVE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT

Beers A-Z
Dissuasive full-bodied stout unconvincingly blends deep anise richness into molasses-buttered pumpernickel breading, Tootsie Roll-like sweetness and mild dark-roasted coffee bittering. Furthermore, despite its softly creamed Godiva chocolate froth and tertiary brown-sugared cola-hazelnut roast, the expansive flavonoids don’t mesh as well as more regimented and stylistically specific Imperials marketed towards mocha lovers.
 

 Cisco Island Reserve Series Russian Imperial Stout | GreatBrewers.

RUCKUS EUPHORIA BELGIAN-STYLE TRIPEL

Beers A-Z
Stimulatingly euphoric ‘ale brewed with spices’ places candi-sugared yeast and sweetly soured citric fruiting above soft-hopped sourdough breading. Subtle ethanol burn scours lemony orange juicing, tangy cherry-peach-canteloupe-melon-pineapple gleam, ripened banana sweetness and withering white grape tannins as spice-racked white peppering contrasts almond-buttered butterscotch and vanilla dalliance. 

SIERRA NEVADA BEER CAMP FLORAL I.P.A.

Beers A-Z
On tap at Andy’s Corner Bar, vaguely defined English-styled India Pale Ale nonetheless scores points for intriguing hybridized blend. ‘Floral’ rose hips, rose petal, honeysuckle, dandelion, lavender and wildflower illusions merely play backup for lacquered lemon-orange-grapefruit zest, resinous hop-oiled pine needling and white-peppered tea-leafed herbage. Sweet caramel malted backbone brings sugary resolve to hop-prickled fruited floral frolic, negating phenol-spiced metallic reminder.

 

SIERRA NEVADA BEER CAMP OATMEAL STOUT

Beers A-Z
On tap at Andy’s Corner Bar, middling full-bodied after dinner drink (a.k.a. Snowed In Imperial Oatmeal Stout) retains silken dark-brown chocolate creaminess over rolled oats-smoked cocoa beaning and mild molasses-draped caramelization. Bourbon vanilla-extracted serenity hits the midst alongside soy-milked espresso tinge, teasing fennel-anise nip and restraint nuttiness. But slick mocha finish allows slight plasticity to sully its rangy profile.

SAMUEL ADAMS FAT JACK DOUBLE PUMPKIN ALE

Beers A-Z
Luxurious 2012-vintage Imperial Pumpkin Ale offers powerful gingerbread-glazed pumpkin pie spicing to brown-sugared nutmeg-cinnamon-cardomom-allspice sweetness above sharp carbolic hop briskness. On tap, sugar plum, dried cherry, pecan, vanilla and caraway illusions firm up the busy backend. Spiced rum boozing and tingly brandy nip add boozy whir. Bottled version may have less creamy sugar-spiced malt thrust, coarser wood-grained bourbon smidge and astringent gourd glitch, but its raspy cinnamon-toasted pumpkin spicing loses little luster.  

AVERY NINETEEN BELGIAN-STYLE TRIPEL

Beers A-Z

Meritorious yellow-hazed Belgian tripel brings candi-sugared sweetness and citron-like alcohol burn to white-peppered herbal nip. Lemony grapefruit, peach, pear, apple and pineapple illusions override slight coriander-clove spicing to butterscotch malted bottom. Tertiary banana daiquiri nuance infiltrates phenolic boozing at fruitful finish of celebratory 19th anniversary vintage.

Nineteen Belgian-Style Tripel - Avery Brewing Co. - Untappd

(WILD ONION) PADDY PALE ALE

Beers A-Z

Though its sharp hop bittering emboldens the briskly carbolic front end, scaring away less seasoned pale ale imbibers, gnarly vodka-like alcohol burn, wafting compost flutter and rusty metallic sheen overwhelm expectant orange-grapefruit-pineapple-quince fruiting of canned medium body. Backsided sourdough breading feels right but vegetal tinge disrupts murky flavor profile.