On tap at The Office-Ridgewood, English strong ale spreads astringent Blackstrap molasses atop dry-honeyed rye malting, bark-dried pine hop bittering and sharp grapefruit-peeled orange rind resilience. Resounding alcohol-burnt vodka and gin whir seeps into the mix. In the bottle, dry plank wood tones drape syrupy Blackstrap molasses while honeyed malt sweetness contrasts tangy yellow grapefruit bittering.
Exhilirating ruby-browned Belgian strong dark ale (2013) brings brown-sugared candied fruitcake holiday decadence to chocolate-spiced caramel malting and toasted hop bittering. Its syrupy orange-bruised black cherry fruiting weaves thru mild alcohol warmth. Anisette, coffee brandy and caraway illusions fade into molasses-sweetened sugarplum, stewed prune, raisin and fig nuances, giving the chewy medium-full-bodied winter seasonal further complexity.
Unspecific ruby-browned limited edition (2014) American strong ale never truly suffices, defying easy categorizing by mismanaging enormous 100 IBU hop char. Mish-mashed black chocolate roast, black-breaded pumpernickel bittering and ashen nuttiness lose firm footing as distant fig-date-pecan conflux picks up tobacco-dried crisping. Simply imprecise.
On tap at Track 84, rich dark ale brewed with maple syrup and aged in oak rum barrels drapes molasses-sapped dark rum spicing onto sweet sherry-bourbon-burgundy wining. Sinewy maple syrup glutenizes sugary mocha malts. Toasted almond and coconut undertones drift by. Limited edition 2013 holiday ale should be given a rebirth.
On tap at Twisted Elm, fudgy winter warmer spreads maple-sapped golden and Blackstrap molasses atop sweet toffee, dried cocoa, bitter Baker’s chocolate and sour dried fruiting. Toasted hops fortify ancillary tobacco-roasted crisping. Distant port and burgundy undertones waver.
Well-attenuated Belgian strong dark ale transitions candi-sugared Belgian yeast sweetness and honey-spiced mead spree to dry red wine acridity. Fructose black cherry, sultana grape, bruised banana and green raisin sugaring contrasts raspberry-soured rhubarb pie tartness. Light bourbon, burgundy, port and brandy undertones fortify tannic back end.
On tap at Twisted Elm, deeply penetrating slow sipper (with heady 17% alcohol volume/ 17 malts/ 17 hops) places molasses-sugared brown chocolate sweetness against dry plum-wined bourbon-burgundy-sherry scurry. Dark rum, sugared fig, black cherry and candied apple illusions enrich syrupy molasses malting. A hint of vanilla found at rich mocha-fruited finish.
On tap at Growler & Gill, mocha-bound Belgian dark ale (a.k.a The Living Dead) provides powdered Baker’s chocolate theme for dried fruited nature. Belgian Trappist yeast influences sweet chocolate-spiced midst as well as desiccated fig, cherry and grape notions. Ancillary anise-oiled fennel snip deepens semi-complex nature.
On tap at Three Wise Monks, boozy celebrator brings caramelized birch syrup to brandy-fueled fruiting. Orange-bruised apple buttering and tangy pineapple-peach-tangerine-melon juicing meld to vanilla-creamed coconut milking. Grand Marnier, brandy and tequila snips crowd the vodka fruited finish.
Voluptuous dessert wine-like Belgian dark ale (aged in Madeira barrels) brings contagious tropical-fruited Sangria sweetness to lively spiced rum sugaring. Complexities abound as gelatinous grape jelly viscousness spreads across ripe cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon, pineapple, strawberry, cherry, raspberry and peach illusions. Syrupy fruit compote thickens alongside sticky caramel apple uprising. Simply undeniable.
Busily cluttered limited edition strong ale combines Jewbelation 15, Origin Pomegranate Strong Ale, Bittersweet Lenny’s R.I.P.A., Messiah Nut Brown, Coney Island Lager and Albino Python in bourbon and rye whiskey barrels. Fig-juiced red, purple and green grape tannins add vinous pucker to plum-wined port, bourbon and sherry illusions as well as oaken vanilla spell. Tart pomegranate and cranberry undertones gather alongside tertiary prune-raisin-plum dried fruiting.
