Just like any contemporary brewpub keen to explore, the T-Bone brewers have been firing off shots in many a direction as autumn heads into spring, with this pair of releases about as far from each other as you could imagine. Rye IIPA is, as you'd expect, high in rye malt content and at imperial levels when it comes to booze. And, while they've double dry-hopped with Centennial, Citra and Simcoe hops, it's the ingredient that dominates proceedings.
Pouring a deep, rusty hue, it's more a showcase for rich, sweet, slightly spicy, toffee and cake batter like rye malt than anything too imperial and Indian. Imagine an English strong ale with a decent bitterness and you're on the right track.
As for Puck'n Clouds, it was their fresh hop entry for this year's Fresh Hop Beer Festival at Saint John. As with many such beers, the hop aromatics are of the softer sort, with mandarin, melon and grassiness at play. The acidity is gentle too, with a touch of toasted almond appearing late on.
James Smith
Published June 14, 2019 2019-06-14 00:00:00
