Muddled dry porter/ Black IPA hybrid (with billowy tan-headed Brussels lace) leans towards the mocha side as burnt coffee bittering and slick hop-charred oiling override meager dried fruiting. Molasses-buttered pumpernickel breading and resinous cocoa-soured Baker’s chocolate residue contrast mild white-wined Sauvignon Blanc niche.
BREW KETTLE OLD 21 IMPERIAL INDIA PALE ALE
On tap at Chappy’s, vibrant tangy fruited full body seduces the senses immediately. Brisk grapefruit peel bittering, resinous hop oiling and sugary malt sweetness get captivated by luscious cherry-apricot-apple entry. Ripe orange-tangerine-pineapple-mango-raspberry blitzkrieg storms ahead, magnifying the zesty fruitful resilience and distant rosebud-dandelion-tulip bouquet. A terrific fruit cocktail.
SPIDER BITE FIRST BITE PALE ALE
Bold and bitter enough to be considered a full blown IPA. Fine copper-toned medium-full body will please hearty hopheads, serving as a delightful crossover for daring pale ale imbibers. Juniper hop bite, oaken bark parch and charcoal tarring emblazen lemony grapefruit rind bittering above pithy sugared malt counteraction. Herbal yeast residue at sinewy bottom deepens its complexities.
PORT JEFF RUNAWAY FERRY IMPERIAL I.P.A.
Jubilant full-bodied merriment’s the pride of Strong Island. Cognac-spiked bruised orange overtones provide a tart lead-in above pine-sapped bittering hops and spicy floral nuances. Ripe cherry, cantaloupe, pineapple, peach and melon illusions add depth while buttery Chardonnay undertones receive a strong ‘whiskey back,’ affecting the fresh fruited finish, where a brazenly boozy alcohol burn awaits.
ROOSTERFISH HOP WARRIOR IMPERIAL I.P.A.
Well-rounded medium-bodied tropical-fruited refresher stays less hop-embittered than defensive war handle suggests. Soft-toned grapefruit/orange-peeled bittering receives grassy hop respite contrasting juicy pineapple-tangerine-peach-apple tang sweetening its creamy malt subsidy. Subdued ethanol crescendo ensues.
ROOSTERFISH SCOTCH ALE
Admirable wee heavy spikes dry Scotch palate with gruff orange-soured cherry tartness, sugary fig spicing and sweet tea nuances. Reluctant red wine, pinot grigios and rose’ undertones figure in the score.
ASS KISSER ROYAL DONK DOUBLE I.P.A.
Apropos piney grapefruit rind bittering coats sticky sugar-caned malting as well as orange-peeled apricot-apple-pineapple fruiting, honey nut smear and wafting floral nuances. Less aggressively hop-infused than typical Imperials (despite heady 9% alcohol flow), but more accessible for moderate thirsts.
(RINKUSKAI) COCKA TOO POMEGRANATE LAGER
Cruddy fruited lager (with heightened 12% alcohol flow) tastes like cheap corn-syrupy malt liquor dreck. Cloy sugaring ruins advertised pomegranate influence and slushy strawberry-cranberry slurp. Miserable whiskey-backed honey wheat base and dreadful vodka niche further deride Lithuanian stinker.
PERENNIAL BLACK WALNUT DUNKELWEIZEN
Leaning more towards dried fruiting than most banana-sweetened dark wheat ales, its advertised walnut essence gets upended by an overriding fig-sugared green raisin and purple grape souring that works its way into creamy Vienna malts. Banana nut bread, honeyed praline and almond illusions provide background subtleties.
RED HOOK PUMPKIN PORTER
August gourd-spiced mocha-bound 2012 full body packs spicy pureed pumpkin frontage with caramelized dark chocolate richness. Coarse cola-hazelnut confluence and peaty Scotch sweetness relegate tertiary cinnamon-nutmeg-ginger seasoning of bold autumnal offering.
DUPONT MONK’S STOUT
Particularly peculiar soured stout (contentiously listed as a Belgian dark ale) provides cocoa-powdered chocolate chalking to wood-burnt molasses sapping, ashen nuttiness and dingy basement funk. Ancillary chicory, carob and ice coffee illusions and distant lemony tartness fill out mocha finish.
SAMUEL ADAMS DARK DEPTHS BALTIC I.P.A.
Solid Baltic Porter/ India Pale Ale hybrid (not far removed from a Cascadian dark ale) brings pine-fruited hop spicing, latent wood burnt bittering and earthen herbal respite to sweet mocha molasses sugaring. At its center, tangy grapefruit-pineapple-melon-cherry conflux contrasts dark chocolate malting. Clandestine hazelnut-chestnut-walnut conflux and mild maple molasses nuance fill out backend. Well-balanced medium-full body introduced in 2012 just after trendy Black IPA fad settled down a tad.