RyansBooze

Driftwood Brewery Arcus Pilsner Pilsener at 5% ABV (C$8.49 at Oak & Vine, 650 ml, packaged on 31-May-2017, acquired 3-Jul-2017, reviewed 5-Jul-2017)

Appearance: clear pale straw with two fingers of fluffy white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: grass, grainy pale malt, floral, white pepper. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively to moderate carbonation, crisp short lightly spicy finish. (4/5)

Another gorgeous label from Driftwood, but I’m starting to think that juuust maybe they might be well advised to spend a little more time on the beer, than on the label. (And while we’re on the topic of the label, what exactly is her right foot supposed to be doing?) Anyway, decent little Pils, tending a bit more to the German than the Czech (bright, grassy, more bitter, and less earthy – though there is a little spice that I associate with the Czech style). Hard to get excited about any Pils, but this is absolutely fine for a hot summer evening. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Crux Fermentation Project Cast Out IPA American IPA at 7.6% ABV | 60 IBU (C$8.99 at Oak & Vine, 500 ml, packaged on 30-Apr-2017, acquired 3-Jul-2017, reviewed 5-Jul-2017)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two fat fingers of rocky light ivory head, good retention and well-defined lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, pale malt, citrus, pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter finish. (4/5)

Getting slightly elderly, perhaps, but still well under that magic ninety day mark. Not quite bright, perhaps, but definitely fruity hop forward over a clean pale malt backbone. Much better than their Gimme Mo, probably due to their use of Galaxy hops – you can’t go wrong with ANZ hops, in my opinion. (Well, you can, but you have to work at it. You know what I mean.) Definitely worth seeking out. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Dead Frog Brewery Obsidian Dagger Black IPA at 6.5% ABV | 50 IBU (C$6.00 at Oak & Vine, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 3-Jul-2017, reviewed 4-Jul-2017)

Appearance: clear brown with three fingers of rocky beige head, good retention and patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: roasty malt, coffee & chocolate, citrus, leafy green herbs, earth. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration moderate bitter finish. (4/5)

See, it’s beers like this that were the reason for my brief flirtation with this style. But then, so many failed to do better than mediocre, that the shine was seriously off the apple. This, though? Nicely balanced and very pleasant. I’m inclined to call it malt dominant, with roasty malts leading the way over pithy citrus, but it’s a close thing – and, more importantly, it feels cooperative rather than combative. I’ve only had a couple of other beers by this brewery, and they didn’t come close to this, so well done indeed. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Powell Street Craft Brewery Daybreak White IPA White IPA at 6% ABV | 56 IBU (C$8.99 at Oak & Vine, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 3-Jul-2017, reviewed 4-Jul-2017)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with two fingers (and growing) of fluffy pale ivory head, good retention and patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: orange zest, banana, doughy wheat, floral & weeds, white pepper. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light peppery spice. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, short duration moderate bitter and mildly spicy finish. (3/5)

Decent and approachable example of the style. On the nose it’s much more Witbier than IPA, but there is a definite lingering hop bitterness that goes hand-in-hand with a mild peppery spice. Mild and pleasant. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Crux Fermentation Project Gimme Mo Not Just Another IPA American IPA at 6.2% ABV | 50 IBU (C$4.49 at Oak & Vine, 355 ml, packaged on 2-May-2017, acquired 3-Jul-2017, reviewed 4-Jul-2017)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one fat finger of rocky ivory head, good retention and patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, melon, caramel, pine, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Despite the label’s claim that this is “not just another IPA,” it kinda is. A decent one, sure, but nothing cutting edge, or even particularly out of the norm. Yeah, OK, it emphasizes tropical fruit and melon instead of pine, fair enough, and I’m getting a hint of tartness, presumably from the acidulated pilsener malt – but none of that adds up to ground-breaking for me. Good, but hardly unique. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bridge Brewing Company Side Cut North East IPA American IPA at 7.3% ABV | 59 IBU (C$10.99 at Oak & Vine, 650 ml, packaged on 24-May-2017, acquired 3-Jul-2017, reviewed 3-Jul-2017)

Appearance: opaque pale amber with three fingers of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus zest, grainy caramel, pine, tropical fruit. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Well, that was a disappointing evening of “NE/IPA’s”. This one might’ve come closest to meeting the test, but to be honest, it wasn’t that high of a bar. It’s like the west coast breweries have no understanding of the style. Would it really be that big of an investment for you guys to lay hands on some Heady Topper? I mean, hell, send your brewmaster to Boston from Vancouver, rent a car, and have him visit The Alchemist for under a grand. Throwing in side trips to Trillium and Tree House would add essentially nothing, other than an extra day. Look, I’ll contract to teach you this shit, OK? Cheap. Hell, give me a heads up and I’ll come back to AB from NL via MA, and haul a couple of cases for you. Not good enough, not by far. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Powell Street Craft Brewery Lazy D’Haze East Coast IPA American IPA at 7% ABV | 58 IBU (C$8.99 at Oak & Vine, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 3-Jul-2017, reviewed 3-Jul-2017)

Appearance: crystal clear deep gold with two fat fingers of rocky white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone fruit, resiny pine, grainy and crackery caramel, melon rind, citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly spicy finish. (3/5)

I’m starting to cringe doing these – I love the NE/IPA style, but I hate how people are butchering it. And please don’t claim this isn’t supposed to be that: when you use “haze” and “east coast” in your name, it’s a little difficult to defend a brilliantly clear West Coast IPA. Is it a good beer? Hell yes. Is it what you claim it is? Hell no. Bad brewer! No cookie for you! I’m going to evaluate this according to the style you claim it to be, which means it’s merely good. Send your brewmaster to Boston and let him try a few Trillium, Tree House, and Alchemist, so he knows what the fuck he’s supposed to be doing. Yes, I’m getting surly with this shit – man up. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Fernie Brewing Company Hit The Deck New England IPA American IPA at 6.7% ABV | 50 IBU (C$7.99 at Oak & Vine, 650 ml, packaged in May-2017, best before Nov-2017, acquired 3-Jul-2017, reviewed 3-Jul-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of rocky off-white head, good retention and sticky chunky lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone fruit, grainy malt, citrus, leafy green hops, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (3/5)

Categorically not an NE/IPA – not in appearance, not in hop profile, not in juiciness. Not a bad beer, just not what it claims to be. Though, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that a brewery in the Rockies failed to hit the numbers on this style… I went so far as to phone the brewery and confirm that this really is just a little over a month old, so there are no excuses regarding freshness. A bandwagon attempt that falls short of the wagon. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Moody Ales Sociable Pale Ale American Pale Ale at 4.8% ABV | 26 IBU (C$12.49 at Oak & Vine, 946 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 3-Jul-2017, reviewed 3-Jul-2017)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with three fingers of rocky off-white head, good retention and sticky chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus zest, pale malt, floral, pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body tending slightly watery, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (3/5)

Well, that 32oz crowler is certainly big enough for one to be sociable with – not that I was, y’unnerstand. (Like the sticker on the the back of my truck says, “Does Not Play Well With Others.” What? Tasting beer is Serious Business, not something one can do when distracted by the necessities of social interaction. I drink alone, baby.) This is a decent Pale, with a pleasant balance between hops and malt, and the low ABV makes it eminently sessionable. My major complaint is that it comes across as slightly thin in the body and soft in the carbonation. This would be a whole bunch more fun if it were livelier and crisper – but it’s not half bad as it stands. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Crazy Mountain Brewing Company Hookiebobb IPA American IPA at 6.7% ABV | 87 IBU (C$4.29 at Oak & Vine, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 3-Jul-2017, reviewed 3-Jul-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a persistent cap, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: bready caramel, pine, spent grains, citrus, weeds and grass. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body tending slightly watery, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter and slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Gngngngngngng!!! Let’s get one thing straight: labelling your can “fresh” makes every bit as much sense as labelling it “cold” or other such foolishness – which is to say, none whatsoever. If you’re not dating your package, I have no way of knowing whether it’s fresh or not. I appreciate that you’ve got ABV, SRM, and IBU on the can, but how about adding a clear, human-readable packaging date instead of marketing fluff? Now, that said, this isn’t bad, albeit slightly “traditional” in its hop-malt balance. Aside from the magnitude of bitterness, this tends towards an English style IPA. OK, but I wouldn’t bother seeking it out. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com