notalush Profile

Can - pours jet black with a thick tan head that settles to a clingy lace - nose is vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, whiskey, oak, earthy, mushroomy malt - creamy texture, full body - unlike other beers with this kind of adjunct addition, it is not overly sweet and the hazelnut and vanilla do not bludgeon you over the head - they are present but compliment the barrel treatment and malt tones of chocolate, coffee, slight umami, light red wine - warming, lightly oaky finish - it’s nice.

Tried on 13 Nov 2025 at 23:31

notalush (7362) reviewed

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang from Breakside Brewery

6 months ago

8.1/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8.5 Texture 8 Overall 8

Bomber - pours a viscous jet black - headless - nose is full of oaky bourbon, light umami, espresso, jammy red wine - slick mouthfeel, full body - warming, but not boozy - very well-makes alcohol - deeply oaky, with rich whiskey in the background under umami and dark chocolate black malt richness - whiskey comes to the fore in the finish, along with some tannic jammy red raspberry - it’s damn balanced and refined for a beer of this strength.

Tried on 08 Nov 2025 at 00:08

notalush added a new beer Kiss Kiss Bang Bang by Breakside Brewery
6 months ago

notalush (7362) reviewed

Free Wave from Athletic Brewing Company

6 months ago

6.9/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 7 Overall 7

Can - this is probably one of the more satisfying N/A IPA's I've tried, and is authentic enough to make me forget I am drinking an N/A beer - pretty decent heft to the body - hop profile is pleasant, herbal, and citric - the malt profile is more robust than you'll typically find in an N/A and is not at all watery on the tail end, which can also often happen - this is now my go-to N/A IPA.

Tried from Can on 07 Nov 2025 at 19:07

notalush (7362) reviewed

Invisible Smoke from New Image Brewing Company

6 months ago

7.5/10 — Appearance 7 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 7 Overall 8

Pint can - clear medium gold - small lace that completely dissipates - nose of caramelized sugars, deep smokiness, a bit or bright, sort of maibock-like fruitiness - medium body - rich malt approach with notes of honey and kettle caramelization - strong smokiness follows - the malt richness rides through to the finish so the smoke has something to hand on to - lightly bitter and lightly spicy finish - the smoke lingers, woody and autumnal - autumn is my favorite time of beer!

Tried on 01 Nov 2025 at 23:36

notalush (473) reviewed

Lost Dog Cafe - North Arlington

6 months ago

6.8/10 — Setting 6 Selection 7 Service 8 Food 7 Value 7 Overall 6

This is one of those places that feels like a relic from another time - so, the kind of place I might have found exciting 15 years ago - it’s a so-so pizza place with a brightly-lot bar that has an okay draft list that is mostly IPAs and has just a few too many national “craft” things on tap, but enough local stuff to find something marginally exciting - the to-go beer coolers are at the entrance, and that is really the more exciting part for me - this area was cluttered, with a lot of boxes on the floor - did not feel inviting, especially for someone coming to eat - service was good - I paid 8 bucks for a tumbler of okay local IPA, which is sadly pretty standard now - the personal-side pizzas are just a little too small to satisfy an adult man’s hunger, which kind of sucked, but what I ate was decent - the place is fine - if not local, come for the to-go beer, but maybe eat and get your draft beer on somewhere else.

Visited on 16 Oct 2025 at 02:42

notalush (7362) reviewed

Kasteel Donker from Brouwerij Vanhonsebrouck

6 months ago

6.8/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 6.5 Flavor 6.5 Texture 7 Overall 6.5

500ml can, which is, or course, the appropriate serving size for such a beer - pours dark ruby with an off-white lace that is thick and lasts a while - lacks complexity for the style - mostly sweet dark fruit with faint spicy yeast character on the tail end - if I went in cold I would probably not guess the style - finish is plum and caramelized sugars - meh, it’s fine.

Tried from Can from Mayfair Liquors on 15 Oct 2025 at 23:05