Author: dpatrickryan

Mikkeller California Dream Pilsener at 4.6% ABV (US$2.79 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, packaged on 11-Nov-2016, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 16-Jun-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, stone fruit, biscuity malt, pine, grass. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, building emphatic bitter finish. (4/5)

I’d be tempted to call this a fairly unique take on the Pilsener style, if I hadn’t already tried American Dream, which is another hoppy pilsener by Mikkeller. Pretty impressive hop character for such a light malt bill and ABV. Except for crackery malt instead of caramel, I’d be tempted to say this was almost an APA. Good stuff! (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mikkeller Brand New Normal Berliner Weisse at 3.2% ABV (US$2.79 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, packaged on 12-Feb-2016, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 16-Jun-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: lemon zest, soured wheat malt, light earthy funk. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (8/10) Light body, lively carbonation, crisp tart finish. (4/5)

Not as nice as the couple with added fruit I just tried, but still a decently clean example of the style. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mikkeller Hallo Ich Bin Berliner Weisse Raspberry Berliner Weisse at 3.7% ABV (US$4.99 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 500 ml, best before 20-Oct-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 16-Jun-2017)

Appearance: clear reddish gold with one fat finger of fluffy light pink head, excellent retention and well-defined lacing. (5/5) Aroma: raspberry, light funk. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (9/10) Light body, lively carbonation, crisp tart finish. (4/5)

I was hoping the raspberry would work better than the passionfruit, and it did not disappoint. The raspberry dominates, with the only other aroma being a slight funkiness, but that’s not a negative. Slightly less tart, and slightly fruiter than the passionfruit version. Basically a super tart, low sugar, slightly alcoholic raspberry soda, and totally the kind of thing you could drink all day long on a hot sunny day. (18/20)

9/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mikkeller Hallo Ich Bin Berliner Weisse Passion Fruit Berliner Weisse at 3.7% ABV (US$4.99 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 500 ml, best before 19-Oct-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 16-Jun-2017)

Appearance: clear paler-than-pale straw with one fat finger of fluffy white head, excellent retention and well-defined lacing. (5/5) Aroma: tart fruit, bready yeast, tropical fruit, stone fruit, citrus, light funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (8/10) Light body, lively carbonation, crisp tart finish. (4/5)

Can’t say I’d identify that as passionfruit to save my life (and, heck, the images on the can look like Homer Simpson donuts to me!) but there’s a definite tropical fruit presence over top of a fairly pronounced soured wheat malt tart. Refreshing and easy-drinking with allow ABV that makes this a definite all-day patio beer. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Postmark Brewing Mandarina Wheat Wheat Ale at 5.3% ABV | 15 IBU (C$6.01 at Oak & Vine, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 5-Jun-2017, reviewed 15-Jun-2017)

Appearance: clear medium gold with two fingers of rocky ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: doughy bread, citrus, floral, earth and grass. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (6/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, sweet medium duration finish. (3/5)

I was hoping for more citrus presence in something called “Mandarin[a],” but it’s really dominated more by doughy wheat, than citrus. Similar to Lemon Drop hops, Mandarina Bavaria hops seem to be another case of a hop that, in my opinion, overpromises and underdelivers. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Central 28 Beer Company Up River American Pale Ale at 6% ABV | 50 IBU (US$2.29 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 15-Jun-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with one fat finger of rocky ivory head diminishing gradually to a persistent cap, moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pine, grapefruit, caramel malt, floral, earth. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter finish. (3/5)

This brewery continues to underwhelm. I was really hopeful that an American style would be more up their alley than their Belg-ish efforts. Despite their label claims of aggressive hopping and barely-sufficient malt, this is relatively mild in its hop profile, with a significant (though admittedly not dominant) caramel malt presence. Yeah, it might be an older can (because they don’t date them) but I doubt it, given the retention and lacing. Again, not bad, and perfectly serviceable, but not memorable in the least. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Central 28 Beer Company Dancing Pierre Belgian Pale Ale at 5.9% ABV | 30 IBU (US$1.99 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 15-Jun-2017)

Appearance: cloudy, almost opaque deep gold with a short, short-lived white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone fruit, caramel, floral, spices. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, mild peppery spice. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry mild finish. (3/5)

When I opened this, I was thinking, “I haven’t had a good BPA for ages.” Unfortunately, I still haven’t… OK, OK, I’ll be nice. It’s actually not bad – in a lot of ways, it’s like a slightly beefier version of their Saison, although with more fruit emphasis relative to the spices. Again, though, I’m left slightly cold by it – it’s just not very clean or exciting. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Central 28 Beer Company Trekker Bier Saison at 4.5% ABV | 20 IBU (US$1.99 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 15-Jun-2017)

Appearance: hazy straw with a short, short-lived white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, crackery malt, light citrus & stone fruit, coriander. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild peppery spice. (7/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry mild finish. (3/5)

On the up side, they haven’t gone overboard with the spices, as so many “Belgian-style” ales tend to. On the down side, they haven’t really gone anywhere at all. Aromas are really mild, almost to the point of muted, and the taste isn’t any more emphatic. On the other hand, it’s not far off ticking all the boxes for a truly traditional Saison/Grisette: light in body and ABV, easily drinkable, and thirst-quenching. I’d just like it to be cleaner, crisper, and more aromatic, is that too much to ask? (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Whistler Brewing Co. Pineapple Express Wheat Ale Fruit / Vegetable Beer at 5% ABV (C$2.69 at Thumbprint Craft Beer Market, 355 ml, packaged on 31-Mar-2017, acquired 27-May-2017, reviewed 15-Jun-2017)

Appearance: cloudy medium gold with one fat finger of creamy ivory head diminishing gradually to a persistent cap, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet pineapple, bready grain, stone fruit, spices. (5/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, mild bitter, mild peppery spice. (5/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium duration peppery finish. (3/5)

I’m not entirely sure why this isn’t working for me. All I can figure is, the sweetness of the pineapple combined with the wheat malt is making for a duller, blunter flavour than I was expecting. That, combined with a spicy, peppery finish, makes for an almost savoury character to a beer that should be light and crisp. More puzzled than disappointed by this one. (11/20)

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Trinity Brewing Company DaMn, it FeeLs GoOD to bE a GanGsta! Sour / Wild Ale at 8.1% ABV (C$12.99 at Oak & Vine, 375 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 27-Mar-2017, reviewed 14-Jun-2017)

Appearance: near opaque black with the merest hint of brown relief in the margins, with a short, short-lived beige head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: coffee, tart red berries, vinous grape must, oak, mild leathery funk. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet and funky tart, mild bitter. (7/10) Medium body, soft carbonation, medium duration tart finish. (3/5)

Bit of a kitchen sink of ingredients (and flavours) going on here, but they work reasonably well together. Not a fan of the fairly racist suggestions of the name, if I’m honest, but I suppose that’s neither here nor there with respect to the beer itself. A bit busy and a bit all over the place, but not terrible. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com