STONE LUKCY BASARTD

Beers A-Z

Adequately familiarized 13th anniversary celebrator combines brewers’ renowned Arrogant Bastard Ale with offshoot Double Bastard and Oaked Arrogant Bastard for respectful limited edition amber-hazed strong ale redux true Stone heads are accustomed to. Spruce-sapped brown-sugared caramel malting protrudes above resinous oaken-pined hop sharpness, grapefruit-peeled orange rind bittering and dry juniper berry swipe. Peach, pear, pineapple and apricot ripeness shines through midst, gathering hazelnut-pecan-almond nuttiness. Just another typically fine, well rounded, fruit-ripened, dry-hopped India Pale Ale-styled Stoner.

Lucky Bastard Ale from Stone Brewing - Available near you - TapHunter

HARPOON CHOCOLATE STOUT

Beers A-Z

Supreme limited edition 2010 seasonal offers sweet chocolate-kissed sensation. Dark chocolate malting elevates deep mocha penetration. Chocolate cake, crème brulee, Bailey’s Irish Cream, and chocolate liqueur illusions embellished by dry hop-charred cocoa-nutty vanilla bean bittering. Walnut-shelled hazelnut-cola sharpness seeps into French roasted coffee cove and chocolate-covered cherry treasure-trove.

ELLICOTTVILLE WINTER WITTE

Beers A-Z

Profound Belgian-American witbier initially brings abstruse herbal-citric souring to leafy green-hopped bitterness. Thereupon, mild orange-peeled juniper bittering delves into lemon-candied tartness and fluctuant lemongrass-thyme-rosemary herbage. Dark floral hibiscus-chamomile thicket seeps into raw-honeyed molasses sapping that sticks to the tongue before dank alcohol burn emerges. As it warms, red cherry, black cherry, blackberry, and raspberry fruiting reaches the summit.

BROOKLYN SORACHI ACE

Beers A-Z

Busily effervescent straw-hued meringue-headed moderate-bodied saison brings sour citric-quince salience to large herbaceous profile. ‘Spicy lemon zest’ aromatics and re-fermented champagne yeast reinforce Granny Smith apple, tangerine, clementine, and wild berry nuances bubbling under salty white-peppered basil-rosemary-thyme-sage seasoning. Honeyed malt sweetness contrasts tart curried fruiting, mild lemongrass-eucalyptus surge, and dry farmhouse ale penchant for weedy wild oats, alfalfa, fennel, and barnyard parchedness. Mulling-spiced cardamom, nutmeg and clove find tertiary space.

Brooklyn Sorachi Ace - Brooklyn Brewery - Untappd

BECK’S ORIGINAL-BRAUEREIABZUG

Beers A-Z

Very little is known about obsolete whiskey-wafted Caribbean Island-acquired German brew. Aged seven years in clear-toned red-labeled 12-ounce bottle, uncommon Bavarian pilsner-lager transcends typical stylistic boundaries a bit with its vintage Scotch Ale twist and sneaky alcohol whir. Mild and rounded vermouth-dried Chardonnay buttering lingers softly to caramelized fig-sugared apple-candied apricot-nectar whim. Try in lieu of dessert wine, if you can find ‘em anywhere.

ALLAGASH INTERLUDE 2010

Beers A-Z

Complexities abound for 2010 version of French Merlot-aged sour ale (a.k.a. American wild ale) that effectively utilizes Belgian- originated lambic-styled spontaneous fermentation. Piquant farmhouse yeast brettanomyces affects oaken grape dryness, leathery wet-grassed bark-dried barnyard funk, and dry herbal innuendo. Tart raspberry souring and sharp cider astringency slip into champagne-flowed white-wined pucker. Ancillary Bosc pear, green apple, persimmons, pomegranate, plum, and fig illusions absorb oaken vanilla acridity to dark-spiced tea-like backdrop.

Allagash Brewing Company - Portland, ME - Untappd

BALASHI PILSENER

Beers A-Z

Not far removed from styptic herb-embittered dry-grained 80 Shilling Scottish Ale or bland baquette-like Copper Ale, this medium-bodied pilsner-lager may be somewhat robust, but cardboard-like rye-breaded pungency, corn-husked brown rice musk and dirty vegetal earthiness skulk subsidiary sulfuric skunking. Desalinated tap water brings slight saltine hint. Richer and headier than Aruba brewery’s ‘Limited Brew’ as well as most lighter-bodied Caribbean beers, but dirtily vegetal and ultimately less rewarding.

BARRIER BULKHEAD RED ALE

Beers A-Z

On tap, complex, yet approachable, red ale contrasts mildewed fungi acridity, mild hop-charred bittering and vinous cider sharpness against candi-sugared orange-oiled sour malting. Red-green apple tartness and teasing grapefruit-peach hunch backend ruddy-hazed moderate-bodied ‘bitter’ possibly better defined as Flemish Sour Ale. Further sips revealed pine-combed peach, pineapple and tangerine tang.

BARRIER RUTHLESS RYE I.P.A.

Beers A-Z

Immediate grapefruit-peeled orange rind bittering reinforced by juniper berry, black tea, and peppery sage to white rye base of abstruse golden-hazed medium-bodied India Pale Ale. Though designated rye influence is minimal, earthen grassy-hopped peat malting firms up dry-spiced yellow-fruited finish. Finds convenient middle ground betwixt West Coast IPA and newfangled Black IPA styling.