First impression: lightly pined copper-hazed ale compared favorably to Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Sinewy caramel yeast foundation provides perfect ‘tap beer’ essence while subtle nut bitterness firms up wheat-chaffed floral bouquet. Damp dry-hopped orange rind dankness envelops succinct mineral grain finish.
WOLAVERS OAK BARREL AGED INDIA PALE ALE
Tried on tap at brewery, this valiant limited edition oak-aged IPA offers dark-spiced citric setting, sugar maple sapping, and rum-soaked sherry finish. Bubblegum, banana, sliced peach, and cherry illusions round out full-bodied perfection.
WOLAVERS I.P.A.
Perfumed-hopped orange-peeled grapefruit tang and glutenous blackened mocha malts vie for dominance above neutral organic barley base. Closer, at times, to an Extra Special Bitter, with its sharp mineral graining.
WOLAVERS CERTIFIED ORGANIC PAT LEAVY’S ALL-AMERICAN ALE
Weary earthen-grained rawness and card-boarded barley-oats blandness slacken dried-out peach-tangerine astringency. Buttery phenol offing doesn’t help matters.
WOLAVERS CERTIFIED OATMEAL STOUT
Promising coffee-oiled cappuccino entry and transient cocoa-dried dark chocolate spell bring dissipating up-front pleasantry. But oats-charred hop bittering and ashen tar acridity subsume initial mocha bounty as well as ancillary dried-fruited cherry-fig souring and smoked nut segue, allowing musty earthen graining to relegate mushroomed piney bottom.
WOLAVERS BROWN ALE
Sweet yeast aromatics grace organic barley-hop palate, initiating elegant butterscotch mouthfeel complemented by silken crisp-watered carbonation. Only the quickly dissipating mocha finish keeps this from absolute perfection.
WITKAP-PATER ABBEY-SINGEL ALE
Yet another brew that rips us off for .8 ounces (11.2 oz. instead of 12). Smooth, somewhat fruity Belgium ale goes down like clove-spiced champagne. Musty apple-pear misting and phenolic lemony grapefruit dissonance reach ransacked doughy bottom. A tad too sudsy to fully satisfy the beast within, lacking body and character (especially when compared to finer Belgian ales).
WIT BOCK BLACK
Black-as-night Belgian bock with brown chocolate sweetness, stiff hop bite, and stout-heavy mocha finish softened by toned down grain subtleties. Muted fruit spicing and orange blossom inflate deep roasted caramel malt backdrop of unexpectedly gentle ‘black beer.’ Brewery defunct: 2005.
(SPRING STREET) WIT BLACK WHEAT ALE
Made from a 1444 recipe, this reddish-brown Belgian-styled ale has sassy appeal but lacks focus. Dark roasted grains blend with exotic spices and smoked mocha-chocolate, but flaccid wheat finish needs extra strength. Brewery defunct: 2005.
(SPRING STREET) WIT AMBER
Deceptive prune-hued wheat brew gives unexpected dry plum essence a flirtatious chocolate truffle shuffle and teasing caramel lag countering butterscotch-candied souring to slim lemon-coriander coil. Brewery defunct: 2005.
WILLOUGHBY WHEAT
Ticklish hop fizz delicately underscores water-softened chaff wheat profile of straw-hued light body. Grassy mouthfeel permeates tempered peat-backed oats nuance, casual grain bitterness, and slight banana snip, but uninvolved finish fades to sweet pilsner-like oblivion.
WILLOUGHBY RAILWAY RAZZ ALE
Pink-magenta head fades as easy flowin’ raspberry nose confirms fizz-hopped berry permanence, mild cherry tartness, and red grape hint. But soft wheat backbone and soapy finish dilute fructose funk.