Author: dpatrickryan

Stieglbrauerei zu Salzburg GmbH Stiegl Pils Pilsener at 4.9% ABV (C$2.79 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 330 ml, bottle date 11-Feb-2016, reviewed 19-Apr-2016)

Appearance: clear pale straw with one finger of fine white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: grassy, grainy pale malt. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter. (6/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, crisp lightly bitter finish. (3/5)

Decent, if not very exciting. Clean grassy hops and grainy pale malt, with a light body and crisp finish. Fine with lunch. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Yukon Brewing Company Some Like It Haskap Kölsch at 5% ABV (C$7.79 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 18-Apr-2016)

Appearance: red-tinged pale amber with one finger of creamy off-white head, excellent retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tart red berries, grassy, biscuity malt. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild tart. (6/10) Palate: medium body, soft carbonation, medium duration lightly tart finish. (3/5)

A bit of an odd beer – much darker than I’d consider appropriate for a Kölsch, and somewhat heavier, too. The berry presence fades somewhat as the pint progresses, leaving behind a more traditional Kölsch character. Not overly sweet, but ultimately it struggles about as much as the lame Marilyn Monroe reference on the label. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Badger (Hall & Woodhouse) Fursty Ferret English Bitter at 4.4% ABV (C$4.89 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 500 ml, bottle date 16-Feb-2016, reviewed 18-Apr-2016)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of creamy ivory head, excellent retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel/toffee, fruity esters, bready yeast, grassy. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, soft carbonation, mild malty finish. (3/5)

I really wasn’t expecting much from this, but it’s not bad at all. Definitely malty as promised, but also reasonably moreish. Not much of a hop profile to speak of, except for a little grassiness and a mild bitter finish, but it’s working for me. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Löwenbräu Munich (InBev) Löwenbräu Radler Radler at 2.5% ABV (C$3.49 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 473 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 18-Apr-2016)

Appearance: clear pale straw with one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (2/5) Aroma: tart lemon. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, mild bitter. (6/10) Palate: light body, soft carbonation, crisp off-dry tart finish. (3/5)

This is the real reason I bought the Löwenbräu Original – to compare the base lager to the radler. And, you know what? This is better. Not immensely so, but I would totally have this again. I mean, yeah, I’m always a sucker for a radler, but this one’s pretty drinkable – the lemonade is clean and tart, and it’s not too sweet, although it is a little artificial. Fairly refreshing, if really simple, and not really much beer character to speak of. (11/20)

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Löwenbräu Munich (InBev) Löwenbräu Original Helles Lager at 5.2% ABV (C$3.49 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 473 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 18-Apr-2016)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of fine white head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: grassy, grainy pale malt, slight metallic. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter. (5/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, crisp off-dry lightly bitter finish. (3/5)

I’ve become convinced that putting “Premium” on the label is an in-joke amongst brewers. “Man, this is shit. Better slap a ‘Premium’ label on there!” OK, OK, I’m being a little unfair – it’s not complete shit. But it’s not great, either. (10/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Dandy Brewing Company Not Looking for a New England English IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$7.79 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 17-Apr-2016)

Appearance: hazy medium amber with two fingers (and growing) medium-dense light beige head, excellent retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel malt, apples, grassy, light citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky and lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Definitely an English-Style IPA, with caramel and fruit dominating. The bitterness is definitely present in the finish even though it’s not all that emphatic on the nose. A bit muddled, but not unpleasant. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Wild Rose Brewery Rare Czech Style Pilsner (2016) Czech Pilsener at 4.8% ABV (C$8.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, bottle date 24-Mar-2016, reviewed 17-Apr-2016)

Appearance: clear pale straw with one finger of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to a thick cap, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: grainy pale malt, grassy, floral. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter. (6/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, crisp light bitter finish. (3/5)

Middle of the road pils. Nothing thrilling, but decently crisp, with a grassy floral note. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Stanley Park Brewing Windstorm West Coast Pale Ale American Pale Ale at 5.7% ABV (C$3.29 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 500 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 17-Apr-2016)

Appearance: slightly hazy deep gold with two fingers of rocky ivory head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: grapefruit, tropical fruit, pale grainy malt, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body tending to watery, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Not bad. Smells almost like it’s going to be a full-on IPA, actually, but the flavour and mouth feel are more in keeping with the APA style. That’s not entirely a good thing, mind – in some ways, it does come across as just a slightly watered-down IPA. All in all, though, it’s an enjoyable pint. (Surprisingly enjoyable, if you consider it’s an ABInBev product!) (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Stieglbrauerei zu Salzburg GmbH Stiegl Weisse Naturtrüb Hefeweizen at 5.1% ABV (C$2.79 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 330 ml, bottle date 19-Feb-2016, reviewed 17-Apr-2016)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, excellent retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: banana, clove, yeast, stone fruit. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild spice. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry spicy short finish. (3/5)

Quite drinkable example of the style. Refreshing, with an interesting little spicy edge. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Waterloo Brewing Co. Lemonade Radler Radler at 3.1% ABV (C$3.99 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 473 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 17-Apr-2016)

Appearance: clear straw with one finger of dense white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet and sour lemon, light malt. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, mild bitter, mild tart. (6/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, crisp tart finish. (3/5)

Not bad, but too sweet. Definitely a decent thirst quencher with lunch, but more like (sweet) lemon soda than beer. The saving grace is that I don’t find the lemon to be artificial-tasting. Wouldn’t say no to another on a hot day. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com