Author: dpatrickryan

Collective Arts Brewing Collective Project: Black IPA Black IPA at 6.8% ABV | 75 IBU (C$3.99 at Oak & Vine, 473 ml, bottle date 4-Jan-2017, acquired 11-Mar-2017, reviewed 11-Mar-2017)

Appearance: clear brown with two fingers of dense mocha head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: roasty malt, citrus, dark chocolate, coffee, resin. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter and burnt finish. (3/5)

I went through a brief period of flirting with Black IPA as my new favourite style, before becoming bored with them. This came close to rekindling the old flame, but ultimately comes across as a little too edgy. It verges on burnt, rather than toasted or roasted, making it sharp. Enjoyable, but nothing earth-shattering. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Collective Arts Brewing State of Mind Session IPA at 4.4% ABV | 38 IBU (C$3.00 at Oak & Vine, 355 ml, bottle date 9-Sep-2016, acquired 11-Mar-2017, reviewed 11-Mar-2017)

Appearance: clear pale straw with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, pine, pale malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, short mildly bitter finish. (4/5)

Quite a pleasant Session IPA. There’s lots of hop character, but it doesn’t come across as sharp despite the thin body and low ABV. And, even though it’s six months old, it’s still bright and crisp. A guy could drink a whole lot of these. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Microbrasserie Le Bilboquet L’Archange Hefeweizen at 5% ABV (C$6.65 at Crowfoot Wine & Spirits, 500 ml, bottle date 21-Jun-2017, acquired 23-Feb-2017, reviewed 11-Mar-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale straw with one fat finger of rocky white head diminishing gradually to a thick cap, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: banana, cloves, wheat. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter, light tart. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, short mildly bitter and lightly spicy finish. (3/5)

Not a bad Hefe at the outset, but the sweetness tends to get a little cloying after a bit, and the flavours a little medicinal. Neither is a dealbreaker, but taken as a whole the beer is just a little less than impressive. I wouldn’t suggest you avoid it, but I’d stop short of recommending you make a special effort to find it. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Clown Shoes Beer Pecan Pie Porter (2016) Imperial Porter at 8.5% ABV (C$14.03 at Crowfoot Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 23-Feb-2017, reviewed 10-Mar-2017)

Appearance: near opaque ruby/deep brown with one finger of dense beige head diminishing gradually to a thick cap, spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild/muted, chocolate, biscuit malt, honey, vanilla, nuts, hint of coffee. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate-lively carbonation, slightly sticky warming finish. (3/5)

My third and final Clown Shoes of the night, promise. (Considering I don’t have any more on hand at present, that’s an easy promise to keep!) I last tried this a couple of years ago, when I didn’t get much pecan. I think I’m getting a little more this time ‘round, but still not all that much. Guess that fat bastard Genghis is eating it all – no wonder he can’t fit into his armour. According to their web site, they tweaked the recipe this year to add more honey malt. (Because apparently this wasn’t sweet enough to start with?) And maybe I just can’t appreciate the distinction between Porters and Stouts, but this really feels too thin in the body for the sweet booziness. I think I’d like this more if it were thicker and less carbonated. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Clown Shoes Beer Space Cake #7 American IPA at 7.77% ABV (US$5.99 at Specs Main Houston, 650 ml, bottle date 28-Nov-2016, acquired 8-Mar-2017, reviewed 10-Mar-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with two fingers of loose off-white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pithy citrus, pine, caramel malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

I last had Space Cake a couplethree years ago, but had to avail myself of the special 7th anniversary edition, even if the 7.77% ABV is a bit of a step down from the prior 9%. (And by the way, I’m such a naïf that I didn’t even know that “space cakes” refer to cannabis edibles until today.) Checking my notes, it doesn’t seem much different than the last version I had, even though this is hopped with no fewer than seven different varieties: Centennial, Citra, Ella, Galaxy, Idaho 7, Mosaic, and Nelson Sauvin. The choices of Galaxy and Idaho 7 seem obvious given the name, of course, and the typical starts-with-C varieties play well with the Mosaic, with no catty or onion notes coming out. Can’t say I’m getting a lot of the white wine character I usually associate with Nelson Sauvin, though. And, just like the namesake, I can’t find the IBU rating, though it must be fair-to-middlin’ high. Another solid performer from Clown Shoes. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Clown Shoes Beer Josh the Guava King American Double / Imperial IPA at 7.4% ABV (US$5.99 at Specs Main Houston, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 8-Mar-2017, reviewed 10-Mar-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with two fingers of rocky off-white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, resin, pale malt, light onion. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter and mildly warming finish. (4/5)

No bottle date or best before, but I think it was first released in January of 2017, so it must be (relatively) young.  I can’t find a proper reference for the bitterness rating, but it’s gotta be on the high side, probably clocking in at 70+ IBU, maybe 80+. It’s an oily, resiny bitter, too – just the way I like it. It’s not completely clean, however: there’s an onion note in the finish that Mosaic can sometimes exhibit. Punches above its weight in the slightly warming finish, though, so there’s that. Good fun. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Lagunitas Brewing Company Aunt Sally Sour / Wild Ale at 5.7% ABV | 33 IBU (US$2.79 at Specs Main Houston, 355 ml, bottle date 9-Nov-2016, acquired 8-Mar-2017, reviewed 10-Mar-2017)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: lemon zest, lacto sour, light funk. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high tart, low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, dry tart finish. (3/5)

A pretty plain lacto sour, without much complexity or depth. Think Jolly Ranchers or Flintstones vitamins, except not quite as sweet. To be honest, I’m getting a bit tired of these bandwagon kettle sours. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Stone Brewing Company Jindia Pale Ale American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.7% ABV | 70 IBU (US$3.59 at Specs Main Houston, 355 ml, bottle date 3-Feb-2017, best before 3-Jun-2017, acquired 8-Mar-2017, reviewed 9-Mar-2017)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of rocky ivory head, good retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: ginger, juniper, pine, caramel malt, citrus zest. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter and spicy finish. (4/5)

Woof… I had some trepidation regarding this one – and it was well-founded. Big ginger and juniper notes impart a heavily botanical, nearly medicinal character that mercilessly dominates over a nearly English-style base IPA. Not unpleasant, but a bit of a hot mess, and not something I’d seek out again. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Stone Brewing Company Tangerine Express IPA American IPA at 6.7% ABV | 75 IBU (US$4.99 at Specs Main Houston, 650 ml, bottle date 7-Feb-2017, acquired 8-Mar-2017, reviewed 9-Mar-2017)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy ivory head, moderate retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: grapefruit, pineapple, caramel malt, slight onion. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

In some ways I find this to be pretty similar to their Ripper APA, especially in the slight onion note at the end. Definitely a lot more citrus, though, and the pineapple also makes its presence known before the emphatic bitter finish establishes itself. Despite being bigger in every way, though, it’s a lot paler. (And just to be clear, when I say it’s a “clear” pale gold, that was the first glass. The second glass is basically extra pulp orange juice.) There’s a heck of a lot of added fruit in this, but that’s far from a criticism. Punchy big fun. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Stone Brewing Company Ripper Pale Ale American Pale Ale at 5.7% ABV | 40 IBU (US$2.49 at Specs Main Houston, 355 ml, bottle date 2-Feb-2017, acquired 8-Mar-2017, reviewed 9-Mar-2017)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of fluffy ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: grapefruit, tropical fruit, resiny pine, pale malt, slight onion. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter finish. (3/5)

Yep, that’s a “rippin’ swell of juicy hops”, all right. Fades a little quickly, though, and finishes with just a hint of onion. The body tends a little thin as well, but reasonably within spec for the style. Easy drinking good fun. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com