Month: January 2019

Rogue Ales Outta Line IPA American IPA at 6.9% ABV | 66 IBU (C$3.64 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 26-Nov-2018, acquired 15-Jan-2019, reviewed 23-Jan-2019)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy chunky lacing. (5/5) Aroma: citrus, floral, caramel, resiny pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering building bitter warming finish. (4/5)

“Outta line”? I beg to differ: at 6.9% and 66 IBU, this is precisely in line with what I expect for a modern West Coast IPA. Not that I mean that as a criticism at all – unless you’re going for a low-bitterness hazy style, that’s a good thing. Structurally, this is great: excellent head retention and lacing on a bright body, and a clean bitter warming finish. It’s in between those two experiences that things are somewhat less impressive. There’s nothing really wrong with the aroma and flavour, but neither are very exciting. Not the first time I’m made this observation about a beer, but if it was ten years ago, this would be amazing. As it is, it’s just solid. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Rogue Ales Batsquatch Hazy IPA American IPA at 6.7% ABV | 54 IBU (C$3.64 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 23-Nov-2019, acquired 15-Jan-2019, reviewed 23-Jan-2019)

Appearance: opaque medium gold with one finger of rocky pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim and ring, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, tropical & stone fruits, oats, citrus, caramel, pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-low carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter mildly warming finish. (3/5)

No real negatives to report here, other than the absence of any real positives. It tastes fine, but the aroma is mild almost to the point of boredom. I don’t have any objections to its opaque juicy appearance, but I would like better retention and lacing. And the body is smooth and creamy with a mild finish, but by that time I’m almost asleep. You won’t go wrong here, but no more should you suffer from FOMO if you don’t stumble across it. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Outcast Brewing Make That A Double American Double / Imperial IPA at 7% ABV | 40 IBU (C$4.23 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 12-Dec-2018, acquired 15-Jan-2019, reviewed 22-Jan-2019)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, caramel, dank pine, melon. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body tending slightly watery, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

“Make that a double” – good advice in just about every situation, if you ask me. Mind you, I’m not entirely clear how one distinguishes an Imperial APA from an Imperial IPA, but I’m not exactly complaining, either. Well… not much, anyway. To the extent I have a complaint, it’s in the finish, where it seems to drop off just a touch watery, with an associated thin astringency. Maybe a reflection of the lighter malt bill? Good, and I’m pleased to get the chance to sample an early effort that I had previously missed, but not as good as some of his more recent efforts. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Twin Sails Brewing Vapor Wave American IPA at 6.7% ABV | 41 IBU (C$5.85 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 14-Dec-2018, acquired 15-Jan-2019, reviewed 22-Jan-2019)

Appearance: hazy straw with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus zest, caramel, tropical fruit, brine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light salt. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry mild bitter lightly briny finish. (4/5)

I can’t make up my mind whether the acidulated malt and sea salt are actually in conflict with the fruit and boozy warmth, or whether it’s actually providing balance to the sweetness and making it more drinkable. Either way, it’s drinkable and pleasant. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Cabin Brewing Company Sunshine Rain IPA American IPA at 6.7% ABV | 60 IBU (C$4.09 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 7-Dec-2018, acquired 15-Jan-2019, reviewed 21-Jan-2019)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, vanilla, caramel, pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Big fruit on the front end, with just a little resiny pine on the back end, and a big bitter that tastes even more than the 60 IBUs claimed by the brewer. The combination of juiciness and dry finish make this extremely crushable. I could drink a lot of this. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Cabin Brewing Company Super Saturation American Pale Ale at 6% ABV | 40 IBU (C$4.09 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 27-Dec-2018, acquired 15-Jan-2019, reviewed 21-Jan-2019)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of rocky white head diminishing gradually to a thin persistent cap, moderate chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, oats. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, sweetish moderate bitter finish. (3/5)

Another first for me from another brand-new Calgary brewery. I initially classified this as an IPA (NEIPA), but think given its mild character it’s more appropriately considered an APA (NEPA). Decent, if not particularly emphatic, particularly in the aroma. Which I’d be OK with, except it’s a bit too sweet to call the finish clean and refreshing. I think I’d’ve liked this more if it were either boozier and more emphatic, or less sweet, but as it is it’s just a little tiny bit neither fish nor fowl. I’m guessing it might be a tad better on tap, and will probably darken their doorstep sooner rather than later. Still and all, a strong first effort, and I’m looking forward to their IPA with the hopes it’s not quite as on-the-fence. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Three Ranges Brewing Co. Sidehill Gouger American Double / Imperial IPA at 8% ABV (C$2.79 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 13-Nov-2018, acquired 15-Jan-2019, reviewed 18-Jan-2019)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: bready caramel, pine, citrus, floral. (7/10) Taste: high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, soft carbonation, sticky lingering building bitter finish. (4/5)

Total old skool, big caramel barely compensating for even bigger bitter (I’m guessing 80+ IBU, but can’t find a solid reference). No surprises with the hop selection: all the old starts-with-C usual suspects (Ca, Ce, and Ch – I shouldn’t need to add any more letters there, should I?). Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing, but it means this is very much what it is: a recipe from several years ago. If that’s your thing, have at it. Me, I’m more of an “onward and upward” kind of guy. No big complaints here, but not one I’ll go back to. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Scuttlebutt Brewing Company Mosaic IPA American IPA at 8% ABV | 73 IBU (C$2.56 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 25-Sep-2019, acquired 15-Jan-2019, reviewed 18-Jan-2019)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: resiny pine, citrus, bready caramel, melon. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, sticky lingering building bitter finish. (4/5)

Pretty heavy-duty for a plain old IPA, and probably better characterized as a DIPA (in addition to being DDH) in both ABV and IBUs. Kind of bridges the gap between old-skool and new hotness, what with its unfiltered haziness and ANZ hop selection offset by its big malty caramel. It’s not without its charms, but no more is it an unqualified success. At the end of the day, what I can say is: it’ll do. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Snake Lake Brewing Company Norglenwold American IPA at 7% ABV | 60 IBU (C$4.27 at Collective, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-Jan-2019, reviewed 17-Jan-2019)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bright citrus, sweet caramel, pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate carbonation, off-dry mildly bitter finish. (4/5)

Really solid NEIPA. The emphatic fruitiness keeps threatening to tend too sweet, but never actually does. My second from this brewery, and the second eight out of ten. I’m going to have to go to their taproom the next time I’m in the neighbourhood of Sylvan Lake! (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Hi-Wire Brewing Lo-Pitch Juicy IPA American IPA at 4.9% ABV | 35 IBU (C$4.54 at Collective, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-Jan-2019, reviewed 15-Jan-2019)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with one fat finger of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, citrus, crackery malt, slightly dank pine. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry mildly bitter finish. (3/5)

A bit bandwagon-ish, I think. It’s not particularly “juicy”, coming across as a fairly standard AIPA. (It’s certainly not an NEIPA, by any means.) It might simply be that it’s a bit elderly and has faded, but the bottle isn’t dated, so I have little choice but to assume it was intended to be like this. All in all, not bad, but not memorable, and not one I’d seek out. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com