On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, Kane’s flagship IPA gets redirected by local Oast House farm hops for a double-dried version that enhances the original recipe. Bright pink grapefruit entry given brisk lemon-peeled bittering and bark-dried wood parch. Crystalline cane-sugared sweetness enlivens citric Cascade hop bite. Another hophead delight!
BALLAST POINT INDRA KUNINDRA
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, extreme cayenne-peppered dark ale spices up brown chocolate creaminess and coconut-toasted milking with sweet curry seasoning to hot jalapeno finish. Garam masala, cumin, paprika and kaffir lime add further Middle Eastern intrigue to complex elixir. A natural with spicy Indian dishes.
LOST ABBEY LOST & FOUND ALE
Musky monastic-styled Belgian dubbel, “brewed with raisins,” works sour dried fruiting into phenol hop coarsening and a sharp metallic sheen. Tempered raisin persuasion picks up light molasses-sapped caramel malting, but expectant candi-sugared sweetness lacks. Vinous green and yellow grape tannins bring mid-palate pucker to fig-dried banana breading. A hint of bourbon, almondine and chestnut found in deep recess.
PRETTY THINGS FIELD MOUSE’S FAREWELL GOLDEN ALE
Defying timid golden ale designation and much better defined as a fruitier saison, action-packed full body tosses peppery herbal-hopped briskness and honeyed rye graining at sleek citric-spiced persuasion. Lemon zest, naval orange, pink grapefruit, honeydew, peach, nectarine and banana illusions caress crystal-sugared malts. Mild sage, rosemary and woodruff seasoning brings musty twilight setting to lovely all-around fruiting.
(SKA) MODUS HOPERANDI INDIA PALE ALE
Reliable canned IPA faces enormous competition from friendly Rocky Mountain state. Plentiful red-fruited citric spicing receives sharp piney bittering and floral hop perfuming over creamy crystal-vanilla malting. Tart orange-tangerine splash and ancillary grapefruit-pineapple tang brighten fruitful finish.
GREAT RIVER REDBAND STOUT WITH COFFEE
Marvelously mellow espresso-beaned stout so soft and creamy it’s got to be a godsend. Prodigious Jamaican roast coffee theme soars above milky black chocolate backdrop where pithy cocoa, vanilla and hazelnut illusions lurk. After a few sips, distant black-peppered jalapeno heat creeps into resilient green coffee bean extraction. Mild enough for softies but rich enough for mocha lovers. Arguably the best canned dark ale from America.
GREAT RIVER ROLLER DAM RED ALE
OK tin-canned version of amber-hazed moderate body proves to be a dependable, if subdued, Irish Red Ale blending saison-like fruiting with toasted caramel malts. Wispy orange-soured grapefruit peel entry fades into cherry-dried green apple tartness above peppery juniper hop spicing. Black tea dalliance and earthen minerality negatively affected by coarse metallic rusting as well as funky compost waft.
URTHEL HOP-IT BLOND ALE
On tap at Chappy’s, first-rate Belgian India Pale Ale brings herbal black-peppered seasoning and sweet crystal malting to frisky floral fruited frolic. Lemon zest, grapefruit rind, mandarin orange, honeydew and melon rally past the boozy midst above soft lemongrass, basil and thyme undertones.
SOUTHAMPTON PUMPKIN ALE (2012)
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, lackluster 2012 tapped version stays indistinct. Its autumnal pumpkin spicing fades too quickly, becoming an afterthought as bleary lemon-soured orange rind bittering eclipses seasonal expectancy. Phenol gingerbread-nutmeg-cinnamon spicing and vegetal squash-gourd acridity further mire drab liquid.
CAPITAL SUPPER CLUB LAGER
Truly middle-of-the-road canned pale body merges sour Kolsch fruiting with toasted lager crisping. Tart orange oiling, parched lemondrop-candied pucker and dry cherrywood reminder waver through sedate grassy-hopped prickle as well as distant corn-sugared Vienna malting. Musky sourdough breading envelops honeyed biscuit wheat spine. Tertiary banana, apple and grape illusions need ripening.
RJ ROCKERS BLACK PERLE DARK INDIA PALE ALE
Velvety smooth fireside sipper picks up piney molasses sapping over soft hop roast, wavered chocolate liqueur spell, dry-roasted coffee resin and wet-grained wort-like aromatics. Busy backdrop gathers dark chocolate chalking, black grape tannins, astringent nuttiness and fudgy vanilla. Arguably South Carolina’s best dark ale.
LIEFMANS FRUITESSE
Lollipop-like ‘malt beverage’ with pinkish garnet hue relies on Sweet-Tart candied pucker to enliven fruity front end. Pronounced cherry, raspberry and strawberry tang inundates Asti Spumante champagne sparkle, vinous grape tannins and zippy lemon tartness. Strawberry-seeded raspberry compote and apple-soured cranberry juicing solidify sharp-fruited finish of soda-like dessert treat.
