On tap at Seven Lakes Station, stylishly robust Czech-styled dark lager matches coffee-burnt brown breading with mild cocoa powdering as herbal Saaz hops provide slight earthen mustiness.
RESIDENT CULTURE THE HEART LIES BECAUSE IT MUST SCHWARZBIER
All posts by John Fortunato
GHOST HAWK BENEATH THE TREES PORTER
On tap at Plank Pizza, bitterly black-malted dark cocoa and dark-roast coffee reinforced by dark roast hop char given mild blackcurrant, black grape and figgy fruiting. One for the bitterer mocha lovers.
GHOST HAWK LEAVES TURN BROWN
On tap at Plank Pizza, caramelized Maris Otter malt sweetness, dewy tea-like brown malt mossing and leafy hop astringency combine for festive English-styled autumnal delight underscored by lightly creamed chocolate roast.
GEARBLOCK SPIRIT PIGEON
On tap at Plank Pizza, locally acclaimed dark lager retains debittered black malting and nutty dark-roast hop char, picking up dry coffee-stained espresso tones and tarry residue.
GROOVE CHIMNEY MAN RAUCHBIER
On guest tap at Last Minute Brewing, mild beechwood-smoked cured meat setting brings out distant salami, bacon and pastrami brining above powdered cocoa malting. In the can, creamy cocoa froth lathers peaty beechwood smoked cured meat spicing. A little too mild for rauchbier perfection – but getting close.
SULLIVAN’S MALTING RED ALE
Superb off-dry Irish Red Ale (from Kilkenny) retains thickly creamed head as toasted amber graining enriches nutty cocoa powdering, dewy peat mossing and latent red-orange fruiting, picking up mild peppery hop pungency in robustly well-balanced fashion.
MUTANT STUNTMAN: RASPBERRY SOUR ALE
Tart raspberry spritz picks up vinous green grape esters, sedate cranberry-boysenberry conflux, mild green apple bittering and salted pineapple-guava whims. Lemony sour-candied raspberry pucker persists.
WELDWERKS PEACH PIE BERLINER WEISS
On tap at Ambulance, confectionery pastry-like peach pie knockoff utilizes lactic milk-sugared vanilla to sweeten its peachy lemon meringue tartness, toasted coconut whim and cinnamon gingerbread respite above crusty honeyed wheat.
CHATHAM BLOOD ORANGE GOSE
Lemon-candied blood orange puree rides above coriander-salted white wheat base of fruited gose. Tart Pez candy powdering consumes ‘simple sour’ New York moderation.
ROUND TABLE BIFROST
On tap at Seven Lakes Station, ‘simple’ mixed fermentation sour ale with mildly acidic brettanomyces yeast lets tart lemon souring and vinegary green grape esters merge atop acidulated white wheat base for easygoing white wine alternative.
CONNECTICUT VALLEY MACKINAW PEACH SOUR
On tap at Hoovers Tavern, kettle soured peach ale with lightly vinous white grape tannins desiccating musky oaken parch underscoring tart Mackinaw peachiness. Pez-like Sweet-Tart candied backdrop adds depth.
AQUATIC BAY TO BAY STATE WEST COAST IPA
Classic West Coast-styled IPA (Columbus/ Simcoe/ Citra hops) lets lingered grapefruit-peeled orange rind bittering and tangy pineapple whims settle across dry piney hop resin and above pale malt sugaring. Sharp citrus bittering never coarse or astringent.
