On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead – Hoboken, approachable moderation tones down the grassy-hopped citrus pining its American-styled IPA profile promotes, yet still gains a refreshingly crisp gin-like juniper boozing and delicate herbal wisp to engage the lightly embittered yellow grapefruit, orange rind, pineapple and lemondrop illusions. Great clarity of flavor.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead – Hoboken, mild marzen links lightly creamed raw-honeyed Augustiner Vienna malting and biscuity lager yeast to serene citric-spiced briskness and dewy leafy-hopped earthiness. Note: ‘Oak’ in Oaktoberfest refers to Oakland, California’s annual beer festival instead of any true oak influence on the flavor.
Diligently combining brewers’ oak-forward Bravo Imperial Brown, Stickee Monkee Barleywine, Helldorado Blond Barleywine, Velvet Merkin Oatmeal Stout, Parabola Imperial Oatmeal Stout and Wooky Jack Black Rye IPA, velvety smooth full body reaches dessert beer nirvana on first sip. Lovely bourbon warmth reigns supreme above decadent vanilla-creamed chocolate caking, comprehensive fruit-dried red wining and advertised ‘cinnamon-glazed almond’ waft. Inviting cognac, whiskey, sherry, port and dark rum boozing reinforces bruised cherry, rum raisin, sugared fig and black grape fruiting. Molasses cookie dough richness increases rounded complexity further. Creme brulee, cocoa nibs, toasted coconut, hazelnut and marshmallow illusions deepen mocha pervasion. Highly recommended.
