Category: Reviews

Ballast Point Brewing Company Sea Monster American Double / Imperial Stout at 10% ABV | 65 IBU (C$13.50 at Sundance Wine Market, 650 ml, bottle date 21-Dec-2015, acquired 28-May-2016, reviewed 3-Jan-2017)

Appearance: opaque black with deep ruby highlights, one fat finger of fluffy medium beige head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: cocoa, coffee, boozy dark fruit and red berries, hint of vanilla, pale malt, lightly earthy. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter, light metallic. (7/10) Palate: medium-full body dropping off to watery, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter and warming finish. (3/5)

Not bad, but falls a little short. There’s a slight metallic tinge instead of a clean high ABV heat, and the body seems to fall off just a touch to a slightly watery finish. I’m starting to think that oatmeal – somewhat counterintuitively – makes for a thinnish (imperial) stout. Bottom line, not as good as I was hoping for, but not bad. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Anchorage Brewing Company Rondy Brew (Batch #5) Saison at 6% ABV | 30 IBU (C$15.00 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, bottle date 1-Feb-2015, acquired 18-Aug-2016, reviewed 2-Jan-2017)

Appearance: hazy pink-tinted amber with one fat finger of rocky pinkish head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: barnyardy funk, floral, oak, white pepper, hint of stone fruit. (8/10) Taste: low sweet, moderate bitter, moderate-high tart. (8/10) Palate: medium body, lively carbonation, bone dry funky finish. (4/5)

Really nice example of a brett saison, even if the ABV is tending just slightly high for the style. Minimal sweetness, complex aromatics, vinous oaky tones, and a bone dry finish all work well together. Somewhat pricey stuff, but worth it – would totally get this again. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brewsters Brewing Company Blue Monk Bourbon Barleywine (2015) American Barleywine at 11.8% ABV | 60 IBU (C$12.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 28-Sep-2015, reviewed 1-Jan-2017)

Appearance: hazy medium amber with one fat finger of rocky light beige head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: orange peel, bready caramel malt, bourbon, dark fruit, resin. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter, slight metallic. (7/10) Palate: medium-full slightly slick body, soft carbonation, lingering bitter and warming finish. (4/5)

Similar to its non-bourbon compatriot, but distinctly hotter. Where I described the other as “not solventy or excessively hot,” this one… is. Well, perhaps not “excessively,” but certainly “emphatically.” On the other hand, the bourbon works reasonably well with the citrus, dark fruit, and hop notes. Again, it seems that the year’s cellaring has helped mellow it. Not clearly better than the original, but a solid alternative. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

White Pony Microbirrificio December Flower Winter Season Ale 2016 Winter Warmer at 11.8% ABV | 46[?] IBU (2016 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #24, 330 ml, bottle date 1-Jan-2016, best before 25-Jul-2020, acquired 25-Sep-2016, reviewed 23-Dec-2016)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with some particulate, one finger of loose off-white head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, soapy moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel, dried fruit, citrus zest, floral/herbal, spices. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate-low carbonation, lightly spicy warming and lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

And so the Advent calendar closes with #24, another Winter Warmer-ish ale, this one based upon the Belgian Strong Pale style. I like this one quite a bit more than yesterday’s, probably due in no small part to it being nearly triple the ABV. It’s certainly a much more interesting beer, with some citrus peel and spices adding complexity to the herbal/floral hop notes, and a fairly beefy bitter that really only becomes apparent in the lingering finish. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Orkney Brewery Clootie Dumpling Winter Warmer at 4.3% ABV (2016 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #23, 330 ml, best before 31-Jul-2018, acquired 25-Sep-2016, reviewed 23-Dec-2016)

Appearance: clear deep gold with two fingers of fluffy ivory head, good retention and patchy, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel, seasonal spices, bready, banana, light metallic. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-low carbonation, medium duration lightly spicy finish. (3/5)

Advent day #23 is another example of that style-but-not-really-a-style that I love to complain about, the Winter Warmer. And, unfortunately, this isn’t a particularly good example of that “style” – really just more of a fairly unremarkable ESB with some mild “seasonal spices”. (The ABV is far too low to contribute any warming character.) Aside from the frankly off-putting name, there’s nothing much to recommend it one way or the other. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Evil Twin Brewing Sauerkirsche Stout American Double / Imperial Stout at 10% ABV (2016 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #22, 330 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 25-Sep-2016, reviewed 22-Dec-2016)

Appearance: solid viscous black with a short fluffy beige head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sour cherry, chocolate, dark roasty malt. (8/10) Taste: high tart, moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Palate: full slick body, moderate carbonation, hot and astringent finish. (3/5)

Phew. Advent day #22 is a massive beast, aggressive nearly to the point of being harsh and brutal. By way of comparison, there’s a species of wild cherry tree in Newfoundland we call “chocolate cherry,” or more to the point, “chokecherry”. That’s what this thing is: big chocolate notes, yes, but completely overshadowed by huge, chokingly tart and astringent cherry. This is far more aggressive than its presumable namesake, kirsch. The first sip is like a punch in the face, and it remains a slow sipper even after the taste buds have been bludgeoned into submission and the 10% ABV starts to work its magic. It might very well improve, possibly dramatically, with a year or two in the cellar, but right now it’s a hot mess. With that in mind, I admit that it grew on me towards the end – but oh, that first sip! (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasserie La Débauche Cognac Barrel Barley Wine at 9.5% ABV (C$4.79 at 2016 Craft Beer Advent Calendar, 330 ml, best before 29-Jun-2018, acquired 25-Sep-2016, reviewed 21-Dec-2016)

Appearance: hazy deep amber with three fingers of fluffy beige head, excellent retention and chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: metallic, evergreen, caramel malt, bandaid. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body tending to watery, soft carbonation, warming finish. (3/5)

Advent day #21 is a style that I’ve tended to struggle with, and the second appearance of that style in the calendar. I used to actively dislike Barley Wines, but that’s changed, to the point where I think I can now actually appreciate the style. But, there are aspects of this one that perplex me. For example, how can the head be so pronounced, while the carbonation is so soft? I mean, yes, I understand that head retention is a function of proteins, but how does this froth up and generate so much head to retain in the first place, during a relatively gentle pour, while having such mild carbonation? This isn’t just an aesthetic objection, because the sheer volume of head actively dampens the aromas, while the body falling off to watery affects the finish. I want to like this more than I do, and given the big ABV I’m honestly surprised I don’t, but ultimately it falls short. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Fernie Brewing Company Black Mammoth Winter Ale Winter Warmer at 8% ABV | 25 IBU (C$8.29 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 13-Dec-2016, reviewed 20-Dec-2016)

Appearance: hazy deep brown with amber margins, one finger of fluffy beige head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: chocolate malt, cocoa, orange peel, oak. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full body, soft carbonation, off-dry finish. (3/5)

OK, let’s do this one by the numbers: Black? Well… sorta. Mammoth? Well… maybe. Winter? Yes! Yes! Nailed it! This is, in fact, the first day of winter! Ale? Another solid one! Batting at least .500! Ok, fine, sarcasm aside, this might not be quite the beast it promises – truth be told, it’s pretty much a standard Porter in terms of flavour profile, except for the ABV – but it’s fairly respectable. Or at least, it would be, with some more bitterness backing up the malt bill. In my humble opinion, something this dark (-ish) and heavy (-ish) can pull off a decent IBU value – particularly if it wants to brag about being “mammoth”. And another damn thing, while I’m at it: pick a style. If y’all had called this a Porter (like I think it is), or even made the argument it’s an Imperial Porter, I’d probably have been a bit more enthusiastic. I hate classifying things as Winter Warmers, because it’s a bullshit style encompassing a wide range of ABV’s, malt bills, and spice profiles. Might as well call it an American Strong Ale, for all the help that provides. Do I like it? Yeah, sorta. Am I happy about that? No, not particularly. A bit more direction would help this immensely. I’ll grudgingly call this a seven, but I’m not happy about it. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

4 Mile Brewing Co. Rice Pudding Porter American Porter at 6% ABV | 28 IBU (C$7.79 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 13-Dec-2016, reviewed 20-Dec-2016)

Appearance: slightly hazy reddish-tinted deep brown with amber with one fat finger of creamy beige head, moderate retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: vanilla, toasted rice, caramel, cocoa, cinnamon. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter, light spice. (6/10) Palate: medium-full body, soft carbonation, off-dry sweet and mildly spicy finish. (3/5)

A bit strange – simultaneously sweet and drying, with chocolate and vanilla notes. I guess it’s… sort of… rice pudding… ish? Not unpleasant, but I can’t say I’d go looking for it again. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Whistler Brewing Co. Dark and Stormy Ginger Beer at 5% ABV | 17 IBU (C$7.99 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 650 ml, bottle date 7-Sep-2016, acquired 13-Dec-2016, reviewed 20-Dec-2016)

Appearance: clear amber-brown with one fat finger of creamy beige head, good retention and patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: ginger, liquorice, molasses, caramel malt, grassy, hint of chocolate. (5/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, mild bitter, light tart. (5/10) Palate: medium body tending thin, moderate carbonation, sweet and sticky mildly spicy finish. (3/5)

Meh. Pretty, but ultimately a mess. Spicy and sticky sweet overwhelms everything else. I had cautious hopes for this, but they were cruelly dashed. (11/20)

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com