Updated, downgraded, unbalanced version of former ‘Laughing Buddha’ labeled fruit beer (with sinewy yeast sediment) lacks proper mango influence to fragile pale wheat spine. Leathery white grape acridity, comparable to Belgian gueuze, encumbers lemon-soured mango tartness and unripe peach nullity that becomes overbearingly mouth-puckering in its acidic dryness. Serve with barbecue steak or pork to bring out further illusions.
SAMUEL SMITH ORGANIC RASPBERRY ALE
Ripe mega-raspberry theme and chambord liqueur mouthfeel counteract dry eye-squinting lime-like brimstone aromatics of opaque magenta-bodied pink-headed soda-popped fruit ale. Tart cranberry pucker overrides candied apple sweetness, medicinal black cherry coughdrop slurp, and pureed strawberry-blackberry pasting. Syrupy malt extract emulates carbonated soft drink for better or worse.
LEFT COAST HOP JUICE DOUBLE I.P.A.
Enticingly fruit-juiced hop-walloped amber-hazed full body first introduced in ’03 furnishes bright floral-spiced red apple, brown pear, apricot, pineapple, and grapefruit melange over honey-sapped spruce pining. Mild orange peel bittering deepens gin-soaked citric rind bite inundating syrupy nectar finish seasoned hopheads will adore but lightweight novices may ignore.
(LEFT COAST) ASYLUM BELGIAN-STYLE TRIPEL ALE
Woozy 11% alcohol whir provides medicinal strength to peach lacquered caramel apple fruiting and sweet-spiced butterscotch malting overriding peppery hop splotch. Tertiary orange marmalade, tangerine, and pineapple illusions enliven mint-y evergreen freshness but thin wheat spine fractures due to candi-sugared Belgian yeast density.
ITHACA COLD FRONT BELGIAN-STYLE AMBER ALE
Conflicted winter ’09 release closer to funky fungi-scented farmhouse ale than ‘saison yeast’-injected amber ale (with strangely off-colored tan-headed brown-bodied appearance). Leathery smoked salami snippet fades out rapidly as inadequate prune-date souring and perplexed brown sugared banana-clove trifle prove less fruity than Saison styling indicates. Leafy earthiness lambastes warbled spicing, resinous backdrop, and cigar ash hint.
THE BRUERY AUTUMN MAPLE BELGIAN-STYLE BROWN ALE
Terrific bottle-conditioned autumnal Belgian knockoff works oaken cherry aromatics into sour raisin-prune-plum ripeness and maple-sapped molasses sweetness, leaving funky candi-sugared Belgian yeast in its wake. Boozy alcohol whir picks up strength as tertiary hard cider, pumpkin pie crusting, and buttered pecan illusions surmount dark-spiced hop sharpness.
SHIPYARD SMASHED PUMPKIN ALE
Enjoyable sipping ale is part of Pugsley’s ’09 Signature Series. Heady 9% alcohol autumnal may lack expected pumpkin pie spicing, but lusciously creamy vanilla malting and hop-tingled cinnamon-spiced ginger-allspice-cardamom sweetness seep into warm gin-soaked boozing with gusto. Abrupt bruised lemon bittering counters advertised pumpkin-nutmeg influence, creating honeyed lemon illusion.
(MCAUSLAN) ST. AMBROISE PUMPKIN ALE
Well-balanced gourd-spiced autumn ale (known to French Canadians as Citrouille Ale) brings darker spicing and creamier resolve to the usual pumpkin-pied seasonal. Myriad pumpkin tannins enrich cinnamon-nutmeg-clove spicing to molasses-sapped rye wheat spine. Earthen vegetal flutter wards off tinny void that suffocates lesser pumpkin ales. Aggressive enough for dark ale thirsts yet not too intimidating for dabblers.
LONG TRAIL IMPERIAL PORTER (VINTAGE 2010)
Creamy mousse-headed mahogany-bodied Baltic porter coalescing mild hop-charred coffee roast with bittersweet black chocolate malting gains resinous pine essence. Molasses, hazelnut, walnut, and espresso infiltrate cocoa bean finish. Earthen peat backdrop deepens rich mocha theme.
HOPPIN’ FROG OUTTA KILTER WEE HEAVY SCOTCH-STYLE RED ALE
Likable brown-sugared caramel-malted butterscotch sweetness and cotton-candied red apple follow-up reach tangy orange-tangerine theme that brightens zesty medium body. Toasted almond illusion trails peated rye spine.
(CLIPPER CITY) HEAVY SEAS ‘THE GREAT PUMPKIN’ IMPERIAL ALE
Wondrous orange-hazed Imperial Pumpkin Ale (with lusty 8% alcohol) maintains rich pumpkin-spiced theme above brisk citric backdrop and lively hop-spiced continuance. Brown-sugared cinnamon-baked nutmeg-clove-allspice-daubed sweetness receives honeyed maple sapping and candied apple lacquering as full-on gourd-squash essence reaches crisp-watered gin-soaked easement. Perfect autumnal offering also blends tertiary cider notes into pumpkin-pied crust.
(CLIPPER CITY) HEAVY SEAS PROSIT! IMPERIAL OCTOBERFEST LAGER
Sassy Marzen-styled seasonal utilizes suitable Munich and Vienna malts to create red-fruited barley-roasted almond-toasted sweetness countering hop-spiced orange peel bittering. Tangy apple, apricot, pear, and tangerine ripeness soaks into alcohol whir of robust lager that could be mistaken for crisp red ale in a sec. Busier than most in its stylistic range.