On tap at Mohawk House, blackberry-infused full body utilizes subtle bourbon sweetness and lightly creamed milk chocolate sugaring to reinforce its berry goodness. Tart, tangy and tannic blackberry essence fortifies syrupy chocolate stead as sweet vanilla snips as well as black cherry, raspberry puree and sugarplum whims add depth.
On tap at Ambulance, moderate blackberry-juiced sour ale retains dry oaken acidity, lightly vinous green grape pucker and prickly salted seltzer spritz just below serene blackberry tartness, gaining subtle cranberry, lime and crabapple licks.
Some may quibble, but 2011-bottled version of soapy fruit ale lacked proper blackberry-soured flavoring, coarsening to a phenol citric harshness worsened by carbolic aridity and sulfuric sways. Tart grape, dried fig and vermouth illusions come crashing down haphazardly. Like many lighter fruit beers, its unpredictable nature is cautionary. Drab stuff.
Blackberry added to rich malted grain roast and pure spring water for bold initiation, but processed, ambiguous, derivative nature precludes punctual wheat essence by indistinct finish. Softly sweet raspberry-boysenberry nuance dribbles forth with veiled tartness.