On tap at Craft House, dry bourbon influence affects peaty rye whiskey continuance, smoky mocha malting and brown-sugared dried fruiting. Black cherry, soured fig and green raisin illusions receive oaken vanilla respite below steadfastly bittersweet bourbon chocolate spicing.
OTTER CREEK COUCH SURFER OATMEAL STOUT
Durable full-bodied stout combines creamy coffee bean richness, penetrative dark-roasted black chocolate syruping and oats-charred nuttiness. Molasses-smoked mocha malting and caramel-burnt vanilla sweetness contrast tobacco-chawed scorched earth bittering by the velvety java finish.
HINTERLAND LUNA COFFEE STOUT
Stagnant day-old black coffee bittering picks up dry wood-burnt hop oiling to contrast black-malted burnt caramel subsidy. Black chocolate subsidy retrieves raw molasses astringency, delicate espresso milking, charred nut reminder and simmered black peppering.
OSKAR BLUES HOTBOX COFFEE PORTER
Whimsical medium-full-bodied porter (in a can) brings lightly creamed Nescafe instant coffee powdering to roasted Ethiopian coffee core, picking up mild saline blood smudge beneath oily hop resins. Heavily caffeinated cold-press coffee influence overwhelms subtle black chocolate, charred walnut, espresso, cocoa, blueberry and blackberry illusions.
STONE CRIME (ALE WITH PEPPERS AGED IN BOURBON)
“Egregious” 2015 blend sequesters Stone’s Arrogant Bastard (7%ABV), Double Bastard (11%) and Oaked Arrogant Bastard in Kentucky bourbon barrels while adding  serrano chili peppering for moderate jalapeno-like heat. Subtle bourbon influence picks up dry peat whiskey licks over light wood char. As peppery heat subsides, dark chocolate malts surge. But busy elixir lacks sweetness for contrast and needs firmer direction at murky finish.
(CAPITAL) JOBU RUM BARREL AGED BROWN ALE
Abstruse soured brown ale (a.k.a. Flanders oud bruin) brings minimal buttered rum influence to oaken vanilla, raw molasses and vinous green grape tartness. Acidulated malt pucker and wispy vermouth hint deepen overall sourness.
ABITA BAD MOTHER SHUCKER OYSTER STOUT
Despite all its smug ‘Bad Mother’ braggadocio, even-keeled medium-bodied oyster stout stays stylistically reserved. Briny oyster-shelled adjunct creates creamy bed for roasted brown chocolate and burnt caramel malts. Molasses-sugared oats pick up oak-smoked tangent in the distance.
JACK’S ABBY SIBLING RYE-VALRY
On tap at Julian’s, crisply clean medium body places yellow grapefruit spicing atop piney Simcoe-Chinook-Columbus hop resin and biscuity rye-toasted spine. Ancillary lemon zest, navel orange, tangerine, mango and pineapple illusions provide delightful accessory.
SOUTHERN TIER TRIPEL CAFE
Syrupy fruit cocktail with serious green coffee bean overtones and just enough chili peppering to not be intrusive. Orange-peeled coriander adjunct stands firm as juicy honey-malted pineapple, peach, honeydew, cantaloupe, mango and nectarine tang gains intensity (alongside persistent sweet banana whim) contrasting mild gin-like juniper bitterness and herbal lemongrass-peppercorn snips. Unroasted coffee bean influence stays just below the frolicking fondue-fruited finish of fascinating tripel/ stout hybrid.
ITHACA JAVA POWER INDIA PALE ALE WITH COFFEE
On tap at Doherty’s, impressive java-powered version of Ithaca Flower Power utilizes nutty Tanzanian coffee to contrast orange-peeled tangerine, grapefruit, pineapple, mango, peach and melon tropicalia as well as dry pine bittering. By the finish, its IPA fruiting overpowers the casual coffee caress.
CALDERA TOASTED COCONUT PORTER
Fudgy Yoo-Hoo milk chocolate entry upends frothy nitro aridity to make more distinct imprint than advertised toasted coconut chips. Dark-roasted brown chocolate sweetness overruns mild coffee creaming, light vanilla sugaring, distant cocoa hint and wispy sarsaparilla nip to molasses-sapped oatmeal base.
CALDERA HOP HASH
Soft-toned India Pale Ale utilizes powdered lupulin for lightly spiced floral fruiting and mild spruce-needled pine resin. Lemony grapefruit, orange and pineapple tang sweetened by oats-sugared Maris Otter malts and pastry-caked cookie dough yeast. Ancillary peach, mango, tangerine, cantaloupe and melon illusions make cameos.