Month: May 2020

Troubled Monk Brewery Juicy Gossip – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-May-2020, reviewed 2-May-2020)

Appearance: bright clear straw with one fat finger of loose off-white head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, pale malt, melon, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry mild bitter finish. (4/5)

Ummm… This is not just clear, but brightly clear. I mean, brilliantly clear. And the flavour profile is more crackery and lager-y, than juicy fruit. This is a rare swing and a miss for Troubled Monk, at least in the sense of hitting the numbers on the style. It’s pleasant enough, but it’s really not an NEIPA. Like, emphatically not an NEIPA. Surprising and a little disappointing. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Ale Architect Brewing Ltd. Colour Burst – American IPA at 6.3% ABV (C$4.81 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-May-2020, reviewed 2-May-2020)

Appearance: opaque pale gold with one fat finger of loose pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: bright tropical fruit, citrus, pale crackery malt, pine, light cattiness. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-soft body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry mild bitter finish. (4/5)

Lovely bright hops dominate from the outset. Label says this is hopped with Galaxy, Citra, and Simcoe. Definitely getting just a very mild hint of that catty Simcoe note in the finish, but in a restrained way that doesn’t detract from the overall experience. Interestingly there’s a soft body despite the relatively lively carbonation. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Hell’s Basement Brewing Double DIPA – American Double / Imperial IPA at 9% ABV (C$4.00 at Collective, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-May-2020, reviewed 2-May-2020)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with one finger of fine ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, caramel, citrus, grass, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky lingering building bitter finish. (4/5)

I kind of assumed that at least one of the Doubles on the label referred to dry hopping, but this is pretty malt-dominant if that’s the case. It’s malt-dominant regardless, actually. In my opinion, this should be more hop-heavy, especially to balance against the big boozy malts. Not bad, but not quite as good as their One Shot Left – which is a pretty rare outcome for me when the loser is fifty percent higher in ABV than the winner! (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Baffin Brewing Company Mango Unchained – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$5.55 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 16-Jan-2020, acquired 1-May-2020, reviewed 1-May-2020)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of dense pillowy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mango, citrus, caramel, grass, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

“Dry-hopped with Mosaic” is generally a safe bet that I’ll approve, and I’m usually OK with mango as an adjunct, though it’s not a slam-dunk by any means. This… well, let’s just say it’s not exactly unchained. Heck, it’s barely sniffing butts at the off-leash park. That’s not necessarily a negative, since the restrained mango means you can actually detect the hops, and it doesn’t come across as sickly sweet – but a little more enthusiasm wouldn’t have gone astray. It’s OK, but certainly not great. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Rogue Ales Newport Daze – American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV | 35 IBU (C$4.18 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 2-Mar-2020, acquired 24-Apr-2020, reviewed 30-Apr-2020)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of fine white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical & stone fruit, citrus, pale crackery malt, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

Almost juicy, but not quite – but still pretty refreshing. I might appreciate it more if I were within a few hundred miles of a proper beach, but I guess ya gotta make do. Pretty decently full aroma and flavour for an APA. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bridge Brewing Company Prime Time IPA – American IPA at 5.0% ABV (C$3.25 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 8-Apr-2020, acquired 24-Apr-2020, reviewed 30-Apr-2020)

Appearance: hazy slightly murky medium amber with one finger of loose pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, caramel, grass, hint of pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Not bad for a low-cal beer, but does have a slightly watered-down IPA thing going on, especially in the finish, which is a little thin and sharp. Slightly better than their Prime Time APA, and not unpleasant, but not quite as easy-drinking or clean as I’d like to see from a low ABV ale. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com