Veritable hopheads impressed by resinous bitter-hopped bite as well as gooey viscous yeast sediment will enjoy sinewy copper-clouded ‘Classic Pale Ale.’ Zesty citric fragrance and recessive apple-peach-pineapple-pear sweetness counter heavily embittered lemon-peeled grapefruit rind finish. Weary caramel-malted cocoa souring and wavering astringent mustiness deplete overall fruited nature. Withered herbal-floral spicing and wayward piney nuance lack luster.
SLY FOX INCUBUS TRIPLE
Interesting bottle-conditioned amber-yellowed Abbey-styled triple wraps butterscotch sweetness around daintily-hopped orange-soured peach-pineapple-kiwi tang. Recessive pear illusions fade into funky herbal spell at mild fruited finish.
HIGH & MIGHTY TWO-HEADED BEAST CHOCOLATE STOUT
Amiably smooth tan-headed brown-bodied milkshake-like dessert treat nowhere near as ferociously heady as beastly name implies. A tad watery for ‘luscious chocolate stout’ status, but truly rewarding as moderate-bodied crossover for dark lager stylists. Mildly creamed brown chocolate-y cocoa bean sweetness lingers above recessive espresso coffee bittering. Ashen hop-charred roast dryly counters oncoming vanilla-sugared toffee dalliance.
LILY’S SEAFOOD & BREWHOUSE
ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN
In suburban Detroit vicinity, family-owned LILY’S SEAFOOD & BREWHOUSE, opened in ’99 and first visited August ’04, featured beautiful carved wood bar, sundry fish tanks, and patio dining.
Calamari, blackened catfish, and exquisite mussels (with Chardonnay sauce and blue-cheddar cheese) are recommended alongside sharp-hopped red-fruited spice-tingled Reggie’s French River Red, cereal-grained orange-kissed perfume-hopped Harvest Ale and buttery grapefruit-peeled lemon rind-embittered Maddie’s Best Bitter.
Washed-out banana-clove-bubblegum-influenced lemon-soured Whitefish Bat Wheat and diacetyl yellow-fruited softie Lily’s Light Pilsner fared fair.
After dinner, sedate wood-burnt, black cherry-licked, oatmeal-sugared, chocolate-roasted Strange Stout proved elegant.
During August ’06 sojourn, tested diacetyl cereal-grained woody-hopped bark-tinged citric-depleted Sven & Ollies IPA and buttery rye-pumpernickel-fronted, lemon-seeded, perfume-hopped Rutgers Rye.
LAGUNITAS LITTLE SUMPIN’ EXTRA ALE
Tangy fruit juicy gush brightens floral-hopped lemon-peeled bittering of terrific Imperial IPA. Honeyed orange, peach, and pear illusions absorb red grapefruit tartness, caramel apple sweetness, and tropical pineapple-cantaloupe-mango ascension. Sugared wheat spine counters oncoming piney juniper berry pungency. Perfect summer fare brewer claims to be recession proof for ’09 only.
CISCO WHALE’S TALE PALE ALE
Up-front lemony orange rind repose, brisk floral hop resonation, and biscuit-y wheat sweetness settle to tart apple goodness. Back-throated piney peppercorn restraint allows earthy barnyard and vegetal notes to fill acrid dry oak void. On tap at Cape Cod’s Di Palma Italian Restuarant, spicy orange-yellow-red fruiting and nut-tinged caramel malting mired by astringent hop splotch.
WILLIAMSBURG STOCK ALE
Caramelized ruby-hued ale reliant on barley-toasted cracked wheat sweetness to soured fruit midst. Embittered hops enrich red grape, grapefruit, and melon tangent as butterscotch finish recedes. Brewery defunct: 2006.
HIGH & MIGHTY BEER OF THE GODS
Slowly pour sunny-hazed pearly-headed blonde to avoid over-carbonation. Bark-dried orange peel and grapefruit rind bittering reaches tart hard candied center, enlivening white peach, pineapple, and quince fruiting. Herbaceous twang lingers through ascending peppery-hopped lemon seed souring.
HIGH & MIGHTY PURITY OF ESSENCE
Pour slowly unfiltered alcohol-tinged malt liquor-like pale lager. Peachy orange-tangerine tang overtaken by pine-barked grapefruit peel bittering. Wavering floral bouquet enhances tropical pineapple passage, mild blueberry souring, and soft currant lacquering. Ultimately, stylistically expansive as an adjunct lager.
ROGUE RED FOX AMBER ALE
Alcohol-soaked amber retains superb head, bitterly hopped mineral grain authority and rich caramel finish. Cracked wheat, toasted barley, and cereal grain sweetness trumps sugared cocoa-butterscotch illusions. Definitely for strong ale lovers.
CLIPPER CITY WEIZEN DOPPELBOCK
Strong cognac-inspired ‘unfiltered wheat beer’ (with loads of viscous yeast resin) boasts bruised orange, fig juice, and prune-dried banana-clove resonation. Closer to a midrange barleywine or a less potent sherry.
(PENNICHUCK) POZHARNIK ESPRESSO RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Luxurious milk-sweetened chocolate-espresso theme runs through whiskey-creamed oak-barreled full body. Roasted hazelnut coffee slumber picks up cedar-burnt cherry bruise and raisin-pureed anise caress above rich oatmeal spine hiding vanilla bean reticence. Brewery defunct: 2010.