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.
SAMUEL ADAMS WHITEWATER IPA
Fine golden-hazed medium body retains zesty fruiting. But delicate apricot-laden theme nearly lost to grapefruit-peeled orange rind bittering and dry wood tones. Mild crystal malt creaming contrasts mild juniper bite. Lightens up a tad at citric finish.
RJ ROCKERS BALD EAGLE BROWN
Mild-mannered middle of the road English-style brown ale fails to fully ignite. Clean-watered chocolate milking, subtle toffee sweetness and brown-sugared cocoa malting outdo feint coffee souring, but the flavors get sterilized by its fading toated molasses finish. Tertiary nut-skinned hazelnut, walnut and Brazil nut illusions perish quickly.
BAKELAAR’S 1776 PORTER
Historically accurate 18th century mocha porter drapes unsweetened molasses sinew onto prominent dried cocoa entry, sweet dark chocolate midst and ancillary hop-charred nuttiness. Peat-y malts provide dirty earthiness to toasted oats backdrop.