Category: Temporary

No numbering data as I ticked this one off ages ago without having done a proper review.

Patrick Ryan originally shared this post:

Wells & Young's Brewery Banana Bread Beer English Strong Ale at 5.2% ABV (C$5.79 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 500 ml, best before 28-Jun-2016, reviewed 15-Dec-2015)

Appearance: clear pale amber with a short, short-lived head, no lacing. (2/5) Aroma: banana, toffee, bready yeast. (4/10) Taste: moderate-strong sweet, mild bitter. (4/10) Palate: medium-light body tending to watery, moderate carbonation, off-dry slightly metallic finish. (2/5)

Yes, it sort of tastes like banana bread. Extremely sweet and artificially-flavoured banana bread. I suppose it’s OK as a one-time alternative to a macro lager, but that’s about it. (8/20)

4/10 #1001beers   #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Sierra Nevada Celebration Fresh Hop IPA American IPA at 6.8% ABV (C$2.77 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 355 ml, bottle date 19-Oct-2015, reviewed 11-Dec-2015)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pine, citrus, floral, caramel. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-strong bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

I’m a little baffled by what makes this a “holiday” beer. Don’t get me wrong: I don’t need an excuse to drink a good IPA, and this is in fact a good IPA. Actually, I did a little reading, and understand this is one of the first of the modern A/IPA’s, and could legitimately take the credit for spawning – or, at least, helping popularize – one of my favourite styles. But any spiciness in this is strictly hop-derived – there’s none of the “usual suspect” gingerbread spices usually associated with Wintereenmas here. Big bitter nicely balanced with pleasant caramel malts, and an off-dry lingering bitter finish. (16/20)

My 207th from the 2010 Edition (196th from the 2013 edition), and 218th combining both editions.

8/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Sierra Nevada Celebration Fresh Hop IPA American IPA at 6.8% ABV (C$2.77 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 355 ml, bottle date 19-Oct-2015, reviewed 11-Dec-2015)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pine, citrus, floral, caramel. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-strong bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

I’m a little baffled by what makes this a “holiday” beer. Don’t get me wrong: I don’t need an excuse to drink a good IPA, and this is in fact a good IPA. Actually, I did a little reading, and understand this is one of the first of the modern A/IPA’s, and could legitimately take the credit for spawning – or, at least, helping popularize – one of my favourite styles. But any spiciness in this is strictly hop-derived – there’s none of the “usual suspect” gingerbread spices usually associated with Wintereenmas here. Big bitter nicely balanced with pleasant caramel malts, and an off-dry lingering bitter finish. (16/20)

My 207th from the 2010 Edition (196th from the 2013 edition), and 218th combining both editions.

8/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Patrick Ryan originally shared this post:

Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams) Samuel Adams Utopias (2013) Barley Wine at 28% ABV (C$198.99 at NLC Howley Estates, 710 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 29-Nov-2015)

Appearance: clear medium amber with no head or lacing. (4/5) Aroma: boozy dark fruit, raisins, maple, earthy. (9/10) Taste: moderately strong sweet, mild bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-full syrupy body, flat carbonation, boozy finish. (4/5)

Looks, smells, and tastes like a liqueur – a sherry or a port, for example – and not at all like any other beer. The aromas promise a boozy sweet blast, but the flavour is actually surprisingly smooth, with much less sweetness than expected. Sure, it's hot – with a nearly 30% ABV, that's fairly unavoidable – but not aggressively so. A unique brew that's definitely worth sampling. (17/20)

My 206th from the 2010 Edition (195th from the 2013 edition), and 217th combining both editions.

7/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Anchor Brewing Company Our Special Ale (2015) Christmas / Winter Specialty Spiced Beer at 5.5% ABV (C$3.23 at NLC Stavanger, 355 ml, best before 1-Jan-2017, reviewed 29-Nov-2015)

Appearance: nearly solid black with only faint ruby highlights, one finger of rocky tan head, good retention and spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: toffee, molasses, coffee, dark chocolate and fruits, spices, woody spruce. (7/10) Taste: moderately strong sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, lingering slightly sticky finish. (4/5)

Definitely an interesting winter warmer style of brew. Lots of traditional midwinter spices and dark, molasses-y malt give it a lot of the “fruitcake in a glass” character I like to see in these ales. There’s more than a hint of spruce, which makes me think they might actually incorporate spruce tips into the brew, but it’s not overwhelming or medicinal. (14/20)

My 205th from the 2010 Edition (194th from the 2013 edition), and 216th combining both editions.

7/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com