Reliably sessionable milk stout may only have 4% alcohol volume, but its expectant mocha richness and hop-charred grain roast will please any hearty dark ale fan. Lactic black chocolate entry picks up coarse coffee-oiled walnut and black currant illusions. Silken milky backend tethers medium-bodied easygoer.
POINT WHOLE HOG RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Worthy 2011 limited release brings rich chocolate-caked creaminess and molasses-sapped toffee sweetness to roasted hop char. Brown-sugared Belgian chocolate spicing, variable vanilla verve and minor coffee roasting affect ancillary bourbon-barleywine boozing.
WEYERBACHER FIFTEEN SMOKED IMPERIAL PORTER
Intensely bold 15th anniversary celebrator pleats burnt cedar, pine and hickory wood tones to gargantuan smoked mocha malting, elevating molasses-sapped black chocolate, vanilla and anise viscosity above dried fruited bourbon wining. Ashen cinder bittering nestles bacon-greased rye toasting and mild espresso whim of well-integrated full body.
CRICKET HILL BARREL AGED RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
On tap, marvelous sweet-toothed chocolate-vanilla conflux saturates wafting bourbon, burgundy and barleywine illusions over contrasting hop-roasted charcoal bittering. Black cherry-bruised raisin puree center thickens sinewy mocha resolve. Serve for dessert in lieu of chocolate cake-filled bon-bons.
CRICKET HILL AMERICAN BROWN ALE – RESERVE
Approachable dark ale places dried-fruited black cherry, raisin, fig and date sugaring over soft-watered dark chocolate base. Tamped down hop toasting allows minor nuttiness to ensue. Easygoing carbolic flow lighter than most stylistic competitors.
CRICKET HILL BARREL AGED PORTER SOUR
Funky oak-barreled sour ale places sour citrus tartness against mild coffee oiling. White grape esters waft through fig, date and cherry tartness as well as bubbly champagne-wined hard cider pucker.
LEFT HAND FADE TO BLACK VOL. 3 PEPPER PORTER (2011)
On tap at Cloverleaf, vigorous full-bodied porter crosses the line into German rauchbier territory with its wood-seared chipotle-peppered serrano and ancho chili burn lingering inside affluent caramel-burnt brown chocolate richness. Cocoa, vanilla, espresso and cappuccino underscore fascinating hybrid. Tertiary raisin, fig and prune illusions deepen robust conviction.
CRICKET HILL RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Seductively robust full body anchored by coffee-roasted black chocolate richness. Sweet vanilla aspect sidles rich mocha theme as persistent Black Forest caking reaches summit. Ancillary black cherry, blackberry and black currant illusions provide further luster.
INNIS & GUNN IRISH WHISKEY CASK (SCOTTISH STOUT)
Subtly sweet Scottish stout matured in Irish whiskey barrels retains smooth brown chocolate creaminess crosscut by mild Bushmill Irish coffee surety and faded pine-sapped bittering. Serene maple molasses sugaring contrasts ashen peat-smoked whiskey nip, soft dark-roasted espresso snip and sedate vanilla blip prompting ancillary almond, rum raisin, coconut and wet tobacco nuances. Perfect as crossover for lighter ale drinkers.
SAMUEL ADAMS ALPINE SPRING LAGER
Decent pearl-headed copper-toned helles-like spring bock spreads capacious lemon-seeded sourness across floral citric niceties, grassy Noble hops and doughy white breading. Setback honeyed grain sweetness enlivens wavered pink grapefruit, navel orange, tangerine, mango and melon fruiting.
SAMUEL ADAMS MIGHTY OAK ALE
Convincingly well-balanced ‘deep red ale’ brings honeyed caramel malting to cereal-grained barley roast, oaken vanilla midst, tertiary Maraschino cherry sweetness and chewy cookie dough reminder. Earthen backdrop deepens over time. A bit slick but nicely rounded.
SAMUEL ADAMS GRIFFIN’S BOW OAKED BLONDE BARLEYWINE
Elegant lighter-bodied ‘blonde’ barleywine stays smoother and more sessionable than darker, more robust traditional fare, satisfying Chardonnay lovers more than port-burgundy imbibers. Bruised cherry and orange waft through creamy marzipan center, leaving toasted almond, pecan, coconut and oaken vanilla in its wake. Lilting cognac kick and surging maraschino cherry lick sweeten vodka-like ethanol astringency of soft-toned 11.5% alcohol elixir. 2012 re-tasting: Piney citric overtones ride above tangy apricot, nectarine, cantaloupe, melon and red cherry illusions. At the midst, surging grapefruit-peeled bittering contrasts tart pineapple juicing and honey-spiced Mead wining. Tried Batch #2, autumn 2012, and noticed its lower 10% alcohol volume may’ve propeled the white-wined Sauvignon Blanc-related Nelson Sauvin hops above the oak toasted residual sugaring.
