Category: Reviews

Sweetwater Brewing Company Goin’ Coastal American IPA at 6.1% ABV | 50 IBU (US$2.29 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, best before 16-Jul-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 21-May-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy deep gold with one finger of rocky white head that retains well, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet pineapple, citrus, pale crackery malt, floral. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short bitter finish. (4/5)

I  know people like to slag fruit IPAs, but dammit, I like this. The fruity pineapple leads the way, but is backed up by both citrusy hops and a clean malt backbone. As the sweetness fades, a pleasantly bitter finish reveals and invites the next sip. Very crushable. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Sweetwater Brewing Company 420 Extra Pale Ale American Pale Ale at 5.7% ABV | 41 IBU (US$2.29 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, best before 12-Jul-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 21-May-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy medium gold with one finger of rocky white head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet citrus, grass, pale crackery malt, floral. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively to moderate carbonation, off-dry short duration finish. (3/5)

Mild hoppy aromas, not too sweet, and a reasonably crisp and clean finish. It doesn’t do anything wrong, but it’s also not very interesting – and certainly not very “West Coast / dank” as suggested by the label. Pleasant enough for what it is, and a decent thirst quencher with a spicy lunch. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Coppertail Brewing Co. Unholy Tripel at 9.5% ABV (US$2.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, best before 28-Aug-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 20-May-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky white head diminishing gradually to a creamy dense cap, moderate chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: doughy yeast, coriander, candi sugar, banana, apples and pears, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, mild peppery spice. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, sweetish moderately spicy finish. (3/5)

So, I was thinking (yeah, I know, first mistake): pale, clean, dry, highly attenuated… those characteristics definitely aren’t my bag when it comes to IPAs, but they sure as hell are when it comes to Tripels. So, precisely the characteristics that made me so dismissive of their Free Dive and Hyperbolic IPAs, should be exactly in keeping with what I’d like to see here, right? Well… maybe. I mean, there’s some of that. But it leads out with a doughy yeast, and carries through with a little more sweetness than I’d like, and finishes with a spicy coriander that to some extent balances the slightly heavy-handed and slick alcohol, but mostly just overwhelms everything that came before. It’s not bad, y’know?, but I was hoping for more. It’s very possible I haven’t had a better American Tripel, and it’s actually better than some Belgians I’ve had – but I’ve certainly had many better examples of the style, whether Belgian, French, or, yes, Canadian. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Coppertail Brewing Co. Hyperbolic American IPA at 8% ABV (US$2.29 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, best before 20-Jun-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 20-May-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy medium gold with one fat finger of fluffy white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: vinous white grape must, lightly dank pine, pale crackery malt, citrus, floral. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body tending slightly thin, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Yeah, I’m getting the Vic’s Secret here – the white wine vinous notes I find fairly typical of ANZ hops are coming through in the forefront. It’s pleasant overall, and I guess given the relatively high ABV, the fact that there’s no heat at all is pretty impressive. On the other hand, it might not be not quite as mild and thin as their Free Dive, but it’s not exactly emphatic, either. Similar to Free Dive, I find this to be so light so as to verge on, well… boring. Sorry, but there it is. In fact, I’d go so far as to suggest it’s an unintentionally accurate name: Good? Sure. Great? Nuh-uh. Would suggesting it’s great be hyperbolic? Bingo. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Coppertail Brewing Co. Free Dive American IPA at 5.9% ABV | 65 IBU (US$2.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, best before 9-Jun-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 20-May-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, citrus, pine, pale crackery malt, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body tending thin, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Really light and mild on the outset, with a moderately high bitter finish that for me comes across as a bit thin and unbalanced given the very light character of the malt. I’m not quite sure what they were going for here, but you certainly don’t get the “huge hits of citrus and pine aromas” the label promises. The wateriness of the body just isn’t supporting the hop profile, and it ends up being a bit sharp. There are no off notes, and it’s not offensive by any means, but it’s not something you need to go out of your way for either. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Heavy Seas Alpha Effect Hazy IPA American IPA at 7% ABV | 75 IBU (US$2.59 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, best before 21-Jul-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 20-May-2017)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with a massive fluffy off-white head diminishing rapidly to a persistent one finger cap that retains well, moderate chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, pine, pale and caramel malt, floral, slightly dank. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Not quite what I was expecting – I was hoping for an NE-style IPA, which this isn’t. But, it’s pretty danged good, with lots of lingering bitterness. The lingering bitterness was also something I was hoping for based upon the name: I presumed the “Alpha” referred to hop alpha acids, which it apparently did given the levels of haze. Recommended if you’re a hophead like me. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Heavy Seas TropiCannon Citrus IPA American IPA at 7.25% ABV | 45 IBU (US$2.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, best before 24-Jun-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 20-May-2017)

Appearance: clear deep gold with one finger of off-white creamy head, excellent retention and patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: sweet juicy oranges, pineapple, pale malt, pine, floral. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter and slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

No exaggeration, you could have this for breakfast. Loads of juicy citrus up front, yet the sweetness doesn’t come across as cloying. There’s an emphasis on citrus up front, but hints of pine and floral in the finish, accompanied by an almost oily citrus peel astringency. Good stuff! (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Crooked Stave Origins Sour / Wild Ale at 6.5% ABV (US$11.99 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 375 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 20-May-2017)

Appearance: hazy/opaque deep amber with a short, short-lived creamy ivory head, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: vinous, oak, leather, dark fruit. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high tart, moderate sweet, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, lively to moderate carbonation, drying tart and warming finish. (4/5)

Something a little special for this, the 2500th unique beer I have a record of rating. Prior to this, the only Crooked Stave offerings I’d been able to locate were collabs with Epic and Evil Twin. This is a good example of a Flanders Brown, if slightly more emphatically tart on the tongue than typical for authentic versions. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Boulevard Brewing Co. Smokestack Series: The Calling American IPA at 8.5% ABV | 75 IBU (US$3.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, best before 22-Jun-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 18-May-2017)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of creamy white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, honey, citrus, resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, lingering building bitter finish. (4/5)

Boulevard isn’t a brewer who I associated with IPAs, though their Single-Wide is a decent effort. This, however, is next level for them, consistent with their better offerings (and, I guess, the Smokestack series in general). It starts off more fruity than anything, with an almost pineapple sweetness. As it warms, some of the deeper notes come to the fore, and a resiny pine bitterness builds. The higher ABV is not apparent at all, except possibly for a slight slickness in the body, and a general warm fuzziness at the end of the pint. Good stuff. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

DuClaw Brewing Company Farmhouse Gypsy Neon Gypsy IPA American IPA at 7.3% ABV (US$2.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, bottle date 31-Jan-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 18-May-2017)

Appearance: clear pale amber with a short, short-lived off-white head, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: grapefruit, apples and pears, doughy yeast, light funk, white pepper. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration lightly funky and slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

As an IPA brewed with Saison yeast, this is an interesting hybrid of IPA and Saison – it might even have been appropriate to classify it as a Belgian IPA, because that’s very much what it’s like. Good complexity on both the nose and the tongue, but the finish is just a little astringent. Wouldn’t say no to another, but probably couldn’t be bothered to look for it again, either. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com