Top Tastings 2008. A shorter version was first published on facebook January 2009.
ABV: 9%
Origin: New York City, New York, USA
Website: www.brooklynbrewery.com
Celebrity brewer Garrett Oliver of the influential Brooklyn brewery has excelled himself with this stylishly bottled and bottle conditioned premium treat, and New Yorkers should think themselves lucky their local brew, available widely in supermarkets throughout the city, is as good as this. It’s a Belgian inspired ale made with German ingredients — Bamberg two-row pils malt, German Hallertauer, Perle and Styrian Goldings hops – with a dose of Madagascan first pressing Demerara cane sugar and, as the publicity has it, some “Brooklyn fortitude.”
The beer is a hazy gold with a lively bead and a fine white head, from which emerges a complex apple, marmalade, phenol, vanilla and fig aroma. The palate is very firm with mouth numbing alcohol, slightly sweetish but lifted by bitter orange and a hint of fruity green herbs, with some chewy hops too. There’s a slightly burnt note creeping into a tangy, chewy and lasting orange finish. It’s a big beer, but dry, crisp and very distinctive.
Read more about this beer at ratebeer.com: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/brooklyn-local-1/70492/
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