Author: dpatrickryan

Ballast Point Brewing Company Watermelon Dorado American Double / Imperial IPA at 10.0% ABV (US$2.17 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 7-May-2016, reviewed 8-May-2016)

Appearance: clear pale amber with a short, short-lived off-white head, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pithy grapefruit, watermelon rind, resiny pine, grainy caramel malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, strong bitter. (6/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

I knew this was rated on the low side going into it, and was quite surprised for that to be the case with a Ballast Point beer. Having now tried it, I’m not surprised by the low ratings: the watermelon flavour is definitely there, but presents as acrid and astringent watermelon rind, rather than juicy watermelon pulp. I suspect it’s a case of the hop bitterness playing up to that aspect of the flavour, and think that watermelon might be a better combination with a lighter, less intensely bitter base beer. Not terrible, by any means, and it grows on you after a bit, but definitely not one of their stronger performers. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Victory Brewing Company Sour Monkey Sour / Wild Ale at 9.5% ABV (US$9.99 at Knightly Spirits Williamsburg, 750 ml, bottle date 1-Jul-2015, acquired 1-May-2016, reviewed 8-May-2016)

Appearance: clear pale amber with a short, short-lived off-white head, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tart citrus, apples and pears, wet hay and barnyard funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, moderate tart. (8/10) Light body, moderate carbonation, short mildly warming finish. (4/5)

It’s been quite a while since I had Golden Monkey, but I think this is just a little better. Sour all the things! Like Golden Monkey, the ABV is extremely well-integrated, coming through as only a mild warming in the finish. The tartness of this one works well with the light, clean body. It’s quite bizarre, though, that essentially none of the original Golden Monkey flavours are coming through: I’m getting none of the banana and cloves that were so present there. Maybe the year in the bottle is the explanation there, but in any case: a solid performer. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company BeerGarten Tart Berliner Weisse at 4.8% ABV (US$1.50 at Publix Super Market at Lake Cay Commons, 355 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 30-Apr-2016, reviewed 8-May-2016)

Appearance: clear pale straw with a short, short-lived white head, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: apple, burnt rubber, wheat. (3/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild tart. (5/10) Light body, soft carbonation, short finish. (3/5)

A long way short of good. I was uncertain whether the overtones were burning rubber or burning hair, but either way definitely not what I’m looking for in a beer. OK, so it only cost a buck(-ish) but that’s hardly a good enough reason to do something crazy like drink it. (9/20)

4.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bell’s Brewery Two Hearted Ale American IPA at 7% ABV (US$2.17 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, bottle date 15-Feb-2016, acquired 7-May-2016, reviewed 7-May-2016)

Appearance: clear pale amber, one finger of rocky off-white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pine resin, pithy grapefruit, pale malt, light floral/herbal. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (8/10) Medium-full body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter and slightly sticky finish. (4/5)

My initial reaction was one of slight disappointment – I mean, come on, this beer is fairly legendary! Perhaps not to the extent of, say, Heady Topper, or Pliny, but it’s up there. When I uncapped it, though, the initial aroma was not as penetrating as I was expecting or hoping for. However, once I started drinking it, the flavours started to build and assert themselves. Not as citrusy as a lot of current A/IPAs, the resiny pine really dominates this. Finishes strong, with just enough malt sweetness to balance the moderately high bitterness. (And, to be fair, at three months old it’s entirely possible that the aromas have faded significantly. Might have to try it again if I can find a newer one.) (15/20)

My 225th from the 2010 Edition (214th from the 2013 edition), and 236th combining both editions.

7.5/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Ballast Point Brewing Company Pineapple Sculpin American IPA at 7% ABV (US$2.17 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 7-May-2016, reviewed 7-May-2016)

Appearance: clear pale amber, two fingers of rocky off-white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, pineapple, pale malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Better than I was expecting, but definitely not as good as the grapefruit or original versions. I was afraid the pineapple would be overwhelming or cloying, and it isn’t – but the sweetness definitely dulls the edge of the bright hops that comes through so well with grapefruit. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales Luciernaga (The Firefly) Belgian Pale Ale at 6.5% ABV (US$12.99 at Knightly Spirits Williamsburg, 750 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 1-May-2016, reviewed 6-May-2016)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with two fat fingers of fluffy ivory head, good retention and decent lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tart citrus, yeast, peppercorn, wood, barnyard funk. (9/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate-low bitter, moderate-high tart, light funk. (9/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, mildly funky finish. (4/5)

Another lovely tart wild from JP. I’m assuming the Grains of Paradise are responsible for the almost peppercorn-like spiciness on both the nose and the tongue. Again, nicely balanced tones of citrus, wood, and barnyard funk. Definitely a nice example of how to do brettanomyces properly. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales Weizen Bam Sour / Wild Ale at 4.5% ABV (US$9.99 at Knightly Spirits Williamsburg, 750 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 1-May-2016, reviewed 5-May-2016)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale straw with two fat fingers of fluffy white head, good retention and chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tart citrus, banana, wheat, wood, barnyard funk. (9/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate-low bitter, moderate-high tart, light funk. (9/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, mildly funky finish. (4/5)

Typical JP head that threatens to explode completely out of control unless poured ridiculously gently – which I did. I’m on to you, JP! A lovely tart saison/wild/sour/whatever, with nicely balanced tones of citrus, wheat, wood, and barnyard funk. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Terrapin Beer Co. Poivre Potion Saison at 9.3% ABV (US$8.99 at Knightly Spirits Williamsburg, 650 ml, best before 7-Dec-2016, acquired 1-May-2016, reviewed 5-May-2016)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of rocky white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, peppercorn, pale malt, floral, earthy. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, mild spice. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, mildly warming spicy and funky finish. (4/5)

Not a bad saison. A little hard to tell whether the warming is from the peppercorn or the fairly high ABV, but I guess that constitutes pretty good integration. Definitely one from the odder side of the spectrum, but pleasant nonetheless. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Dogfish Head Brewery Noble Rot Fruit / Vegetable Beer at 9% ABV (US$12.99 at Knightly Spirits Williamsburg, 750 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 1-May-2016, reviewed 2-May-2016)

Appearance: clear pale gold with a short, short-lived white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: complex, grape must, stone fruit, oaky, gooseberry, and really pretty much any other bush/wild/field berry you can think of. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, moderate tart. (9/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry mildly warming and funky finish. (4/5)

Wow. I went with “Fruit / Vegetable Beer” because to my knowledge there’s still no BJCP classification for “Weird Hybrid Grapey Thing”. This might be the first hybrid I’ve had that’s worth a damn. Rather than a hint of white wine (i.e. Nelson Sauvin hops, still my favourite, I love you Nelson Sauvin, don’t ever change) or an overwhelming cheap wine kit must (I’m looking at you, Phillips’ Sax in the Dark) this is a well-balanced integration of beer character with botrytis-infected Viognier (officially two of my favourite new words) grape must. Deep, lingering complexity on a light, crisp body. This shit will very politely fuck you up. God. Damn. I won’t actually recommend robbing your local liquor store, but anything short of that is fair game. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Dogfish Head Brewery Squall IPA (2016 Limited Release) American Double / Imperial IPA at 9% ABV (US$10.99 at Knightly Spirits Williamsburg, 750 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 1-May-2016, reviewed 2-May-2016)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one fat finger of fluffy ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: initial piney resin and citrus, pale and caramel malt, then coffee, light floral, earth. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, moderate duration mildly warming bitter finish. (4/5)

Coffee? Why’m I getting coffee? Is it the Palisades? The Amarillo? I’m puzzled… Initially upon decapping, there is a pleasant room-filling aroma of piney resin and citrus, but that abates to, well, coffee. Everything else is quite nice: the body is on the pleasantly full side of medium with a slightly oily texture, carbonation is good, and the malt backing is clean and appropriate to the bitter. The ABV is sufficient for just a gentle warming but otherwise unobtrusive. I’d call this a very, very good DIPA, if I were only getting more sustained citrus/pine/floral on the nose. As it stands, there’s a lingering and inexplicable coffee, and it’s merely good. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com