On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, somewhat unassuming hybridized amber ale attaches wet Citra-hopped fruiting to musky lemon murk, leafy earthen graining and dried floral nuances. Slim mango-pineapple remnant and minor herbal tinge round out 2012 limited edition medium body.
Revelatory hybridized full body brings expressive espresso coffee theme to the forefront. Persistent bitter coffee bean rampage pleasantly relegates sweet caramel roast and toasted hop levy. Charcoal afterburner reinforces plentiful java rush. Tertiary cappuccino, vanilla bean, caramel latte and chocolate hazelnut biscotti illusions slide by. An ambitious amber ale easily mistaken for a stout. Betters all Peak Organic offerings (though I haven’t tried one since ’09).
Simple Maine-based canned ale goes right down the middle stylistically. Nose-tingling deep-grained hop spices complement easygoing caramel-toasted barleymalts. Delicately brisk orange-grapefruit bittering belies slightly tinny mainstreamer.
Indistinct, but not unwelcome, stylistic changeup, rich for its class, but completely desolate up-front. Bittersweet apple-skinned naval orange, pink grapefruit, peach, and cherry tartness evaporates above chewy caramel buttering. Minor vegetal-wafted fungi sourness befits tertiary celery, rhubarb and spinach musk. Frugal flavoring stays at back of the throat. Under Red Brick banner (2013), leathery tobacco-roasted minerality brought dryer rye-breaded ESB-like profile to the citric-slighted fore.
Brewed by Olde Saratoga Brewery for excellent Hartford brewpub, signature crystal-malted grassy-hopped medium body drapes toasted baguette, croissant, pumpernickel, and caramelized rye illusions over floral honey-spiced orange-tangerine sourness and negligible nutty nuance. Advertised licorice nuances nowhere to be found. Better on tap.
Perfunctory moderate-bodied gold-hazed ‘Ourtoberfest’ (registered as nebulous amber ale) lacks expectant autumnal gourd seasoning and suffers slightly from metallic soapiness. Mild honey-glazed pale malting weakened by soured orange-spiced lick, astringent lemon-drop slip, and arid apple-skinned apricot blip to washed-out dry-hopped citric finish. Slick toffee-caramel influence too weak to matter.
Bustling ruddish-hazed khaki-headed medium body with fruitful pining reminiscent of IPA styling (and biscuit-y caramel roast conjuring Rogue Dead Guy Helles Bock). Dry wet-leafed hops saturate resinous pine sapping and spiced-up lemon-limed peach, apple, orange, grapefruit, pineapple, watermelon and mango tang to cereal-grained baguette-buttered caramel-chocolate malting. Almond, praline, and chestnut augment pasty marzipan sweetness.
Brewed at the foot of Mount Fuji, excellent citric-fruited medium body retains sharp grassy-hopped fizz, dark floral bouquet, and understated nuttiness to contrast creamy caramel malting. Graham cracker spine holds up tart orange-dried cherry-pied apple-jacked souring and sweet apricot-peach-strawberry nuance. Almond, praline, and cashew fill out busy backend.
Amiable light-to-medium-bodied softie provides easygoing drinkability. Plaintive caramel malt setting highlights spiced apple modesty, mild orange-grapefruit tang, and dinky chestnut-almond nicety. Peat-y tea-like earthiness settles below thin mocha-fruited finish. Well-rounded, though needing to push standard ingredients forward a bit more.
Wavering mocha-spiced sweetness fades into honeyed wheat spine. Nominal citric twang falters, leaving sugared date, dried fig, hazelnut, and tobacco illusions to wallow in the delicate caramel midst. Under-whelming and uninteresting.