Category: Reviews

Collective Arts Brewing Ransack the Universe Hemisphere IPA American IPA at 6.8% ABV (C$3.59 at NLC Stavanger, 473 ml, bottle date 14-Apr-2016, acquired 13-May-2016, reviewed 14-May-2016)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one fat finger of rocky ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus rind, slightly dank resiny pine, caramel malt, light floral, faint vinous. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, light bitter. (8/10) Medium slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, short duration moderate bitter finish. (4/5)

I gotta say, these guys are really growing on me. Their brews are decent, their labels are fun, and that Blippar integration is a hoot. This is just a shade better than their Rhyme & Reason Pale Ale, with a bit more bite, both in terms of bitterness and ABV. I dunno what the heck “Hemisphere” is supposed to mean – since they’re combining ANZAC and PNW hops, shouldn’t it be a “Spherical” IPA? – but either way it’s one of the better IPA’s the NLC has gotten in, and reasonably fresh at that. Might have to snag a few more of these for entertaining! (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Spindrift Brewing Co. Knotty Buoy Pils Pilsener at 4.8% ABV (C$3.57 at NLC Stavanger, 473 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 13-May-2016, reviewed 14-May-2016)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: grainy pale malt, grassy, light floral. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, light bitter. (5/10) Light body, lively carbonation, crisp light bitter finish. (3/5)

Typical Saaz hops grassiness and pils malts. Fairly unremarkable but clean, crisp, and easy drinking. Definitely a summer thirst-quencher. (10/20)

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Founders Brewing Company All Day IPA Session IPA at 4.7% ABV (Trade – thanks, Norm!, 355 ml, bottle date 2-Mar-2016, acquired 11-May-2016, reviewed 13-May-2016)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of creamy off-white head, good retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: resiny pine, pithy citrus, pale malt, light tropical fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Medium-light body tending to watery, moderate carbonation, lingering moderately bitter finish. (3/5)

Starts off promising with a decently hoppy presence at the outset. However, the light body definitely tends to the watery, and this becomes more and more pronounced as the pint progresses. Ultimately the bitterness comes across as being a little too sharp for the thin underlying body, even though it’s not all that bitter in absolute terms. Definitely does not improve as it warms, and is best drunk quickly, before that happens. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Great Lakes Brewing Company Chillwave American Double / Imperial IPA at 9.0% ABV (Trade – thanks, Norm!, 355 ml, best before 3-Jul-2016, acquired 11-May-2016, reviewed 12-May-2016)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of creamy ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pithy citrus, moderately resiny and dank pine, pale malt, floral, slightly earthy. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (9/10) Medium-full slightly slick body, moderate-high carbonation, lingering moderately bitter lightly warming finish. (4/5)

Oh yeah, that’s what I’m talkin’ ’bout. Nice example of one of my favourite styles. Fresh enough that the hops haven’t lost ground to the pale (and maybe a hint of caramel) malt, big bitter but clean in the finish. The higher ABV is nearly completely integrated, manifesting only as a slight warming in the finish. Big without being overwhelming, confident without being brash. I could drink a whole lot of these. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Funky Buddha Brewery Floridian Hefeweizen – Hefeweizen at 5.2% ABV

On tap at T-Rex Cafe Disney Springs Orlando. Nice hefe. Decent balance of orange peel, banana, wheat, cloves. Well moderated sweetness and a nice mild tart in the finish. 7/10

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Floridian Hefeweizen

Patrick is drinking a Floridian Hefeweizen by Funky Buddha Brewery on Untappd

Orlando Brewing I-4 IPA – American IPA at 5.8% ABV

Bottle at T-Rex Cafe Disney Springs Orlando. Pleasant mild A/IPA. Floral, pine, and grassy hops, grainy caramel malt. 6/10

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I-4 IPA

Patrick is drinking a I-4 IPA by Orlando Brewing on Untappd

Big Storm Brewing Co. Arcus IPA – American IPA at 6.9% ABV

Can at Sheraton Sand Key Resort Clearwater. Not bad for zero expectations. Fruit punch, resiny pine, caramel malt, and grassy/floral. Somewhat heavy but not malt forward. Worth trying. 7/10

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Arcus IPA

Patrick is drinking a Arcus IPA by Big Storm Brewing Co. on Untappd

Pair O’ Dice Brewing Turtle Ale – American Amber/Red at ??ABV

On tap at Sheraton Sand Key Resort Clearwater. Not bad at all. Crisp and hoppy for an amber, decent head and lacing. 6.5/10

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Turtle Ale

Patrick is drinking a Turtle Ale by Pair O’ Dice Brewing on Untappd

Cigar City Brewing Invasion Pale Ale – American Pale Ale at 5% ABV

Can from Whole Foods Orlando. Not bad. Grassy and resiny, with a little tropical fruit. Pale malt and a reasonably robust presence for a relatively low ABV. 7/10

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Invasion Pale Ale

Patrick is drinking a Invasion Pale Ale by Cigar City Brewing on Untappd

Abita Brewing Company Purple Haze – Fruit Beer at 4.2% ABV

Bottle at Universal CityWalk Orlando. Wheat, sweet malt, fruit puree (maybe raspberry). Not terrible, but really too sweet. 5.5/10

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Purple Haze

Patrick is drinking a Purple Haze by Abita Brewing Company on Untappd