Wavering honey sourness drapes dry hop bitterness and complacent chocolate sweetness of moderate body. Ascending mocha malt creaminess resonates to finish, but melts away by mushy aftertaste.
Tag Archives: dark ale
(HUONG SEN) DAI VIET DARK ALE
Generic honey-browned ruby-tinged German-styled altbier from Vietnam tosses soured chocolate malt astringency across rice-sweetened powdery cocoa parch. Metallic cardboard ridge depletes mild raisin-date snip and raw molasses acridity. Frisky 5% alcohol range, relatively high for Asian brew, never impinges.
PELICAN DORYMAN’S DARK ALE
(ANDELOT) CUVEE ANGELIQUE BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE
IPSWICH DARK ALE
Along with Guinness, Ayinger, Sam Smith, Rogue, and a host of Belgian breweries, Ipswich remains one of the finest beer and ale producers in the world. This burnt sienna (or thick cider) hued dark ale enjoins sweet burgundy essence, lingered candied yeast consistency, spicy hop tingle, and bitter cocoa-espresso confluence for fervent opening. Frisky barley-hopped strength, fluctuant almond-walnut-chicory dab, and prune-port undertones combine with rich maple-butterscotch succulence to complete fantastic full-bodied finish. Difficult to pigeonhole; continuously rewarding.
REAPER RITUAL DARK ALE
AUCKLAND DARK ALE
JEROME CERVEZA NEGRA
Negligible mahogany-hued dry stout ransacks milk-soured chocolate malting, settling for coarsely char-hopped burnt toast innocuousness. Prickly Concord grape esters affect muted prune-raisin chasm and black licorice stint but deplorably relegate coffee bean discretion.
RIVER HORSE DARK HARVEST ALE
BIG HOLE DIABLO DARK ALE
(HUNTERDON) JERSEY ALE
ST. SEBASTIAN DARK BELGIAN ALE
In 16-ounce brown jug, top fermented Abbey ale works inviting caramel-candied apple sweetness into sugared raisin-fig continuance, floral citric-coriander grove, and buttery malt woo. Subtle barley insinuation lacks determination as musty brown-sugared molasses finish fades quickly. Better than average; substandard and watery for Belgian ale.