Author: dpatrickryan

Cruzcampo Cruzcampo Gran Reserva – Imperial Pils/Strong Pale Lager at 6.4% ABV (€0.99 at Carrefour Express, 330 ml, best before 31-Jan-2025, acquired 19-Feb-2024, reviewed 20-Feb-2024)

Appearance: clear pale amber with a short fine off-white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet pale malt, hints of fruit. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, medium duration mildly warming finish. (3/5)

Better than the basic Cruzcampo, that’s for sure, and only partly because of the higher ABV. On the other hand, Spain is definitely lagging in the craft beer arena, and it’s obviously going to take some time and effort to dislodge macro production when this is considered edgy. (12/20)

This will be my 5,768th unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Hijos de Rivera Estrella Galacia Cerveza Especial – Helles Lager at 5.5% ABV (€0.82 at Carrefour Express, 330 ml, packaged on 25-Jan-2024, acquired 19-Feb-2024, reviewed 20-Feb-2024)

Appearance:  with a short fine off-white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet grains, toasted bread, light grass. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, short grassy finish. (3/5)

Pretty basic, but, hey, it was €0.82. (11/20)

This will be my 5,767th unique Untappd check-in.

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

La Sagra Brew S.L. Carrefour Sensation Rubia Sin Filtrar – Golden Ale at 5% ABV (€0.95 at Carrefour Express, 330 ml, best before 11-Dec-2024, acquired 19-Feb-2024, reviewed 19-Feb-2024)

Appearance: hazy/muddy pale amber with a short fine off-white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, fruit, cereal grains, grassy hops. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, medium duration finish. (3/5)

I mean, I don’t hate this – and I’ve certainly paid a lot more for a lot worse. (13/20)

This will be my 5,765th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bavaria Brewery 8.6 Extreme – Malt Liquor at 8.6% ABV (€2.00 at Carrefour City, 500 ml, packaged on 3-Jan-2024, best before 7-Jan-2025, acquired 15-Feb-2024, reviewed 16-Feb-2024)

Appearance: clear pale gold with a short, short-lived off-white head, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet muddled fruit, floral, doughy yeast, solvent. (5/10) Taste: high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sticky warming finish. (3/5)

I suppose that since I had zero expectations here, I technically can’t claim to be disappointed. And I can’t say there’s damage here, in that I’m not detecting actual off notes. But, this is a boozy muddled fruit and floral mess, reminiscent of dish soap-laced vodka, which is to say: gas station hobo beer at its finest. (Fine, I got it at a supermarket, but the point remains.) Look, if you want to get fucked up for ten bucks, no judgement, this is your friend. Otherwise, you might want to avoid this. (11/20)

This will be my 5,761st unique Untappd check-in.

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasserie Castelain La Charnue Triple – Tripel at 8% ABV (€1.84 at Carrefour City, 330 ml, packaged on 6-Oct-2023, best before 1-Oct-2024, acquired 15-Feb-2024, reviewed 16-Feb-2024)

Appearance: clear deep gold with one finger of fluffy pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: candi sugar, floral grainy malt, Belgian esters, oranges, earth. (7/10) Taste: high sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweet mildly warming finish. (3/5)

It kind of hits the targets for the style, but it’s really too sweet. And for that matter, it feels a bit clumsy throughout. I guess it’s fairly drinkable for the ABV, but it’s otherwise lacking in most categories. (13/20)

This will be my 5,760th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasserie Goudale La Goudale – Bière de Garde at 7.2% ABV (€2.31 at Carrefour City, 330 ml, best before 31-Jul-2025, acquired 15-Feb-2024, reviewed 16-Feb-2024)

Appearance: clear deep gold with one finger of loose pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin persistent cap, moderate spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: grainy malt, Belgian esters, oranges, earth. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration lightly funky mildly warming finish. (4/5)

A surprisingly good farmhouse-style ale with light Belgian esters and earthy notes leading to a slightly funky finish. Nice complexity without being overwhelming, and the higher ABV is handled well. (16/20)

This will be my 5,758th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij Van Steenberge St. Stefanus Blonde – Belgian Blond Ale at 7% ABV (€3.47 at Carrefour City, 330 ml, best before 10-May-2025, acquired 15-Feb-2024, reviewed 15-Feb-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy deep gold with one finger of loose pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin persistent cap, moderate spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: clove, Belgian esters, cereal grains, hint of banana. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, medium duration mildly warming finish. (4/5)

I don’t get gushers very often these days, but this was one, and I marked down the appearance slightly as a result. Other than that, it’s a fairly typical Belgian Blond, albeit one that does a decent job of hiding its somewhat higher than normal ABV. Decent. (14/20)

This will be my 5,756th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

H-West B.V. Koenigsbier (Carrefour) – Blond Ale at 4% ABV (€0.87 at Carrefour City, 500 ml, best before 1-Jul-2025, acquired 15-Feb-2024, reviewed 15-Feb-2024)

Appearance: clear straw with one finger of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to nothing, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: grass, sweet grains, slight diacetyl. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: light body, high carbonation, off-dry short finish. (3/5)

€0.87 and worth every penny. It’s not actually bad, but it’s almost aggressively boring. Which is to say, I didn’t finish it. (12/20)

This will be my 5,755th unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij Haacht Brasserie Levrette Blanche à La Cerise – Wheat Ale at 3.5% ABV (€2.40 at Carrefour City, 330 ml, best before 6-Jul-2024, acquired 15-Feb-2024, reviewed 15-Feb-2024)

Appearance: clear pink with a large fluffy pale pink head, good retention and spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet slightly artificial cherry. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: light body, high carbonation, short tart finish. (3/5)

It is what it is: a flavoured wheat ale, completely and utterly dominated by the adjunct. A little fake and cough syrup-like, and definitely nothing interesting, but it would probably be fine over ice on a sunny patio. (12/20)

This will be my 5,754th unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Saint Arnold Brewing Company Banger IPA – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.4% ABV | 29 IBU (C$5.59 at Jetway Mr. Express, 568 ml, packaged on 20-Nov-2023, acquired 4-Feb-2024, reviewed 4-Feb-2024)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with one finger of fluffy pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, spotty soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, tropical fruit, melon, cereal grains. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body falling off slightly thin, moderate-low carbonation, off-dry short finish. (3/5)

Hopped with Strata and Simcoe, malts are 2-row, torrefied wheat, white wheat, carafoam. The aroma is mild without a whole lot of hop presence, and although the body seems to start off nominally medium, it falls off slightly thin. Yes, it’s on the older side, but even so: not in fact a banger. There’s nothing offensive here, but I couldn’t be bothered to finish the pint. (12/20)

This will be my 5,751st unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com