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Amsterdam Brewery 3 Speed Lager – American Pale Lager at 4.2% ABV | 11 IBU

Amsterdam Brewery 3 Speed Lager American Pale Lager at 4.2% ABV | 11 IBU (Gift – thanks, Kath M!, 473 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 14-Dec-2016, reviewed 10-Jan-2017)

Appearance: clear pale straw with one finger of fluffy white head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, no lacing. (2/5) Aroma: sweet cereal grain and pale malt, grassy. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (5/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, crisp finish. (3/5)

Let’s be honest here: there’s no point expecting this to be anything other than what it is. But, what it is, it does pretty well (as one would expect from Amsterdam Brewery). It’s clean and crisp, with no off flavours. At the end of the day, though, it’s about as boring as watching paint dry. Still and all, I’d rather have this with a meal than a macro lager. (11/20)

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Epic Brewing Utah Sage Saison (Release #31) – Saison at 7.9% ABV

Epic Brewing Utah Sage Saison (Release #31) Saison at 7.9% ABV (C$15.10 at Sherbrooke Liquor, 650 ml, bottle date 13-Aug-2015, acquired 17-Dec-2016, reviewed 9-Jan-2017)_

Appearance: cloudy pale gold with one fat finger of medium-dense off-white head, excellent retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: resiny evergreen, sage, citrus, floral, earthy, light pepper. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry finish. (3/5)

Hoooo-eee – subtle, this ain’t. Big resiny evergreen notes almost suggest pine at first, before resolving into (mostly) sage. But of course they’ve got rosemary and thyme in there as well, which begs the question: why not whack in a little parsley, and call it “Scarborough Fair”? Or maybe given how savoury a mixture it is, “Thanksgiving”? A little busy, perhaps, but decent fun regardless. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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To Øl Yeastus Christus – India Pale Ale (IPA) at 7.4% ABV | 62 IBU

To Øl Yeastus Christus India Pale Ale (IPA) at 7.4% ABV | 62 IBU (C$14.20 at Sherbrooke Liquor, 500 ml, bottle date 29-Jun-2015, acquired 17-Dec-2016, reviewed 9-Jan-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with two fingers of fluffy growing ivory head, excellent retention and heavy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: Brett funk, stone fruit, grapefruit, some tropical fruit. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, lively carbonation, lingering bitter and mildly warming finish. (3/5)

Yup, “farmhouse IPA” is definitely a valid style label to hang on this thing (BJCP be damned!): lots of farmhouse (well, that, or barnyard) Brett(-like? I dunno, I’m not a mycologist.) funk character battling for supremacy with grapefruit and tropical fruit IPA notes. Not all that tart, though, despite the commercial description. Might be interesting newer – perhaps there’d be more of the pithy grapefruit if you caught it within 90 days or so – but given the dominance of Brett(-like? Whatever.) wild yeast here, I kind of doubt it. If anything, this strikes me as the kind of IPA you could stick in a cellar for a couple of years just to let the funk really dig down and get established. If I happen to notice another one of these around, I might do just that. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Taps Brewing Company Rye Knot – Rye Beer at 5% ABV

Taps Brewing Company Rye Knot Rye Beer at 5% ABV (Gift – thanks, Kath M!, 473 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 14-Dec-2016, reviewed 9-Jan-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of fluffy growing ivory head, excellent retention and clingy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: caramel malt, rye bread, citrus, coriander. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, mild peppery spice. (6/10) Palate: medium body, lively to moderate carbonation, lingering bitter and spicy finish. (3/5)

Not without its charms, and to be honest, better than I was expecting. The rye isn’t as well-defined or spicy as I like, but it’s definitely there. The carbonation tends a little to the high side as suggested by the large marshmallowy head, but isn’t off-putting for the style. All in all, a decent enough pint if you like yours a little spicy, especially given the extremely reasonable price point it occupies (under $3 at LCBO). (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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The Bruery 9 Ladies Dancing – American Strong Ale at 11.3% ABV

The Bruery 9 Ladies Dancing American Strong Ale at 11.3% ABV (C$13.48 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, bottle date 26-Oct-2016, acquired 13-Dec-2016, reviewed 8-Jan-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy amber-brown with one fat finger of fluffy ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: astringent coffee grounds, caramel, cocoa, vanilla. (4/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, moderate astringent. (3/10) Palate: medium body tending watery, moderate to low carbonation, moderate bitter and astringent finish. (2/5)

Well, that’s coincidental – just earlier today, I expressed surprise that The Bruery could be capable of producing a sink pour, then lo and behold, I get my own. I was reserving this for my last gasp at Christmas, and that’s pretty much precisely what it ended up being: the last kick in the nuts from one of the worst Christmases on record. A muddled mess of overextracted coffee grounds in dishwater – deeply disappointing. (8/20)

4/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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YellowBelly Brewery Mummer’s Brew (2016) – Imperial Stout at 8.5% ABV | 50 IBU

YellowBelly Brewery Mummer’s Brew (2016) Imperial Stout at 8.5% ABV | 50 IBU (C$11.00 at YellowBelly Brewery, 1 l, no bottle date or best before, acquired 6-Jan-2017, reviewed 8-Jan-2017)_

Appearance: nearly opaque black with little or no relief around the margins, one finger of fluffy beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: dark chocolate, briny, boozy dark fruit. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate to low carbonation, off-dry bitter and lightly tart finish. (4/5)

Somewhat surprising, especially when compared side-by-side to last year’s Porter. Yes, the Porter had an extra year of ageing, but this is surprisingly thin for an Imperial Stout. That’s not to say it’s necessarily lacking, but it might be another one that will benefit from some additional cellaring: there’s a lot going on here, and some extra time to mellow might help. It’s pretty mild for the high ABV, but the brine from the oyster is a little more emphatic than I think it should be, as is the rum note from the Lamb’s-soaked dark fruits. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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YellowBelly Brewery Mummer’s Brew Cranberry Chocolate Porter (2015) – American Porter at 7% ABV | 38 IBU

YellowBelly Brewery Mummer’s Brew Cranberry Chocolate Porter (2015) American Porter at 7% ABV | 38 IBU (C$10.00 at YellowBelly Brewery, 1 l, bottle date 10-Dec-2015, acquired 19-Dec-2015, reviewed 8-Jan-2017)

Appearance: nearly opaque black with the merest hint of brown around the margins, two fingers of dense fine beige head, good retention and moderate chunky lacing. (5/5) Aroma: chocolate malt, red berries, toasted bread, light earthy. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate to low carbonation, off-dry bitter and lightly tart finish. (4/5)

I wasn’t all that impressed when I tried this new, but predicted it might benefit from some ageing. It would appear that I was gratifyingly correct in that regard: at just over a year in the cellar, this has become a smooth, well-integrated porter that could just as easily be called a stout, if not an imperial stout. The chocolate flavours dominate over the very mild red berry tartness (OK, fine, we’ll call it cranberry if you say so) but both are present with relatively restrained sweetness. Well-balanced and easy-drinking, we’ll see what happens to my last one of these after another couple of years’ ageing. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Central City Brewers + Distillers Thor’s Hammer (2014) – American Barleywine at 11.5% ABV | 85 IBU

Central City Brewers + Distillers Thor’s Hammer (2014) American Barleywine at 11.5% ABV | 85 IBU (C$9.64 at NLC Stavanger, 650 ml, bottle date 2-May-2014, acquired 8-Oct-2015, reviewed 7-Jan-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy amber-brown with a short loose beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, minimal patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: boozy caramel malt, dried fruit, nutty, vinous, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate to low carbonation, lingering boozy bitter and lightly tart finish. (4/5)

I didn’t try this when I first bought it new more than a year ago, but I’m sure the additional year’s (and then some) cellaring hasn’t harmed it any. Perhaps the slight resiny pine hop note would’ve been more pronounced when new, but I doubt it, since it was already aged a year prior to release. There’s no hiding the 11.5% ABV even with extended ageing, but that being said it’s not solventy or excessively hot. No major character changes took place between opening it chilled (~10ºC) and allowing it to sit at room temperature for over an hour. A solid and enjoyable sipper. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Mill Street Brewery St. John’s ESB – Premium Bitter / ESB at 4.8% ABV | 25 IBU

Mill Street Brewery St. John’s ESB Premium Bitter / ESB at 4.8% ABV | 25 IBU (C$7.00 at Mill Street Brew Pub St. John’s, 945 ml, bottle date 6-Jan-2017, acquired 6-Jan-2017, reviewed 6-Jan-2017)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of medium dense off-white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel malt, nutty, diacetyl, lightly earthy. (4/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter, light tart. (4/10) Palate: medium body, moderate to low carbonation, off-dry bitter and lightly sour finish. (3/5)

Second disappointment in a row from Mill Street. Unlike the dopple, this isn’t actually bad, but it’s not very good, either. This is hardly my favourite style to begin with, and I hate to claim diacteyl twice in a row, but dammit, it smells buttery to me, and unless I’m at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, butter’s got no place in beer. A second sink pour. (10/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Mill Street Brewery Downtowner – Doppelbock at 7.7% ABV | 24 IBU

Mill Street Brewery Downtowner Dopplebock Doppelbock at 7.7% ABV | 24 IBU (C$7.00 at Mill Street Brew Pub St. John’s, 945 ml, bottle date 6-Jan-2017, acquired 6-Jan-2017, reviewed 6-Jan-2017)

Appearance: clear medium amber with a short fine ivory head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel malt, diacetyl, lightly earthy. (4/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, low bitter. (4/10) Palate: medium body, moderate to low carbonation, slightly sweet and bitter finish. (2/5)

I’m actually quite disappointed by this. I was initially going to say it wasn’t actually bad, just not up to Mill Street’s standards, but no: it’s bad. Finishing the first small glass was a chore, and confronted with the spectre of finishing off the 32oz grunter I chose the better part of valour and dumped it. Serious swing and a miss, don’t bother. (8/20)

4/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com