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Lost Craft Brewing Co. Crimzen Premium Red Ale – American Amber / Red Ale at 4.7% ABV | 28 IBU

Lost Craft Brewing Co. Crimzen Premium Red Ale American Amber / Red Ale at 4.7% ABV | 28 IBU (C$3.57 at NLC Stavanger, 473 ml, packaged on 20-Apr-2017, acquired 29-May-2017, reviewed 30-May-2017)

Appearance: clear medium amber with one fat finger of fluffy ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: toasted grain, caramel, grass. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (4/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry mild bitter and slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Yeah, I know: it has “Premium” on the label, say no more. Boring at best, with a slightly unbalanced astringency in the finish. Don’t bother. (10/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Coronado Brewing Company Guava Islander Tropical IPA – American IPA at 7% ABV | 65 IBU

Coronado Brewing Company Guava Islander Tropical IPA American IPA at 7% ABV | 65 IBU (C$9.29 at Thumbprint Craft Beer Market, 650 ml, packaged on 11-Jan-2017, acquired 27-May-2017, reviewed 27-May-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with three fingers of fluffy ivory head, excellent retention and chunky, soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: vinous white grape, tropical fruit, citrus, crackery malt, earth, pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, drying mild bitter and slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Guava? If you say so. Personally, I’m getting more of a vinous white grape must, layered on top of the “usual suspects” starts-with-C hops, mediated by a little melon rind-like tropical fruit and crackery pale malt. Gotta say, if I’m being totally honest, I’m a fair bit less than impressed with Coronado after the three I tried this evening. Technically and structurally they’re fine (generally speaking, pretty as hell) but the flavours and balance leave much to be desired. Gee, who could’ve expected something coming from California to be pretty, but without much substance? (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Coronado Brewing Company / Cigar City Brewing Conquista – American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 55 IBU

Coronado Brewing Company / Cigar City Brewing Conquista American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 55 IBU (C$10.59 at Thumbprint Craft Beer Market, 650 ml, packaged on 14-Mar-2017, acquired 27-May-2017, reviewed 27-May-2017)

Appearance: clear medium gold with two fingers of fluffy white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, pineapple, bready malt, resiny pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Sometimes the whole is less than the sum of its parts – and that seems to be the case here. I generally enjoy both both Coronado and Cigar City, but this collaboration isn’t all that exciting. Kind of a traditional, malt-heavy (albeit not dominant) A/IPA. Well-crafted, but not very interesting. On the other hand, it was an excuse to listen to Procul Harum’s Conquistador, so there’s that…

(14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Coronado Brewing Company Waylaid White IPA – White IPA at 6.5% ABV | 55 IBU

Coronado Brewing Company Waylaid White IPA White IPA at 6.5% ABV | 55 IBU (C$10.59 at Thumbprint Craft Beer Market, 650 ml, packaged on 6-Apr-2017, acquired 27-May-2017, reviewed 27-May-2017)

Appearance: clear straw with three fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and well-defined lacing. (4/5) Aroma: coriander, citrus, crackery malt, white pepper, tropical fruit. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively to moderate carbonation, off-dry bitter and lingering spicy finish. (3/5)

Pretty clear for a “White”, if you ask me. I can’t find an ingredients list, but this thing must have added spices, and a lot of them. To my nose, citrus takes a back seat to coriander, and white pepper beats out any pineapple or tropical fruit notes. There’s some pleasing complexity, fair enough, but it’s a bit obscured by the heavy-handed spice. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Blindman Brewing New England-Style Pale Ale – American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV | 35 IBU

Blindman Brewing New England-Style Pale Ale American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV | 35 IBU (C$3.98 at Liquor Crossing Red Deer, 473 ml, best before 11-Aug-2017, acquired 27-May-2017, reviewed 27-May-2017)

Appearance: opaque deep gold with two fingers of rocky ivory head diminishing gradually to a loose cap, moderate patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, tropical fruit, oats and wheat malt, hint of pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, soft to moderate carbonation, off-dry mild bitter finish. (4/5)

Oh hell yes. I keep wanting to say there’s a creamy lactose sweetness in there because it looks like a creamsicle, but I don’t think there actually is – it’s probably actually the oats. Either way, this thing is juicy and fresh, refreshing and easy drinking. I’ll have another 3 or 4 of these, please. Hell, just keep bringing them every 10 minutes or so till I’m under the table… then keep bringing them every 20 minutes or so… (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Cannery Brewing Company Hop Chowdah New England IPA – American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 45 IBU

Cannery Brewing Company Hop Chowdah New England IPA American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 45 IBU (C$3.19 at Thumbprint Craft Beer Market, 355 ml, bottle date 28-Apr-2017, acquired 27-May-2017, reviewed 27-May-2017)

Appearance: cloudy medium gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, with decent retention, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, tropical fruit, pale malt, hint of pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, soft to moderate carbonation, off-dry mild bitter finish. (4/5)

Man, I love this style – and this is a decent example of the style. Sadly, although huge bright hops leap out upon first opening the can, they do diminish somewhat fairly rapidly. There’s still plenty of fun left, but don’t linger, because this actually fades pretty quickly. The juicy citrus notes on the nose translate through onto the tongue, so that the front end feels and tastes an awful lot like orange juice, or maybe a mimosa. Hops are dominant but never become thin or astringent, well-balanced by a lean pale malt body. And bonus points for the Simpsons reference because Simpsons, duh. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Troubled Monk Brewery Oblation (2016) – Barley Wine at 11.76% ABV

Troubled Monk Brewery Oblation (2016) Barley Wine at 11.76% ABV (C$12.50 at Troubled Monk Brewery, 500 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 26-May-2017, reviewed 26-May-2017)

Appearance: clear deep amber with one finger of creamy beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, with decent retention, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: toffee, boozy dark fruit, bourbon, oak. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, slightly prickly carbonation, sweet boozy slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Not bad at all. Pleasantly boozy dark malt and fruit, with hints of bourbon and wood. It’s sweet to the point of stickiness, but not really out of spec for the style. The finish leaves a little to be desired, though: once the sweetness fades, there’s a slight lingering astringency. Pretty drinkable overall, though, which is no mean feat for a challenging style. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Due South Brewing Co. Category 5 IPA – American Double/Imperial IPA at 8.5% ABV | 96 IBU

Due South Brewing Co. Category 5 IPA American Double/Imperial IPA at 8.5% ABV | 96 IBU (US$2.99 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, bottle date 16-Feb-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 25-May-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with one fat finger of loose ivory head with decent retention, moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel and toffee, resiny pine, citrus, floral. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter oily finish. (3/5)

Well, it didn’t deliver what I was hoping, that’s for sure. Very much an old-style D/IPA, heavy on the malt and blunt with the bitter. I’m not opposed to big bitter, but I prefer it to have an edge, and not be obscured by heavy malt sweetness. At least it’s got some dankness, so it’s got that going on – but it doesn’t do enough to recommend it. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Due South Brewing Co. Category 3 IPA – American IPA at 6.1% ABV | 63 IBU

Due South Brewing Co. Category 3 IPA American IPA at 6.1% ABV | 63 IBU (US$2.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, bottle date 8-Feb-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 25-May-2017)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with two fat fingers of rocky ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pine, citrus, caramel, floral. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter oily finish. (3/5)

A bit muddled and unbalanced. The hop aromas aren’t bright, and struggle to rise above the caramel mail backbone, but as the malt fades on the tongue, a lingering bitterness remains, verging on harsh. I’m hoping their Category 5 ups the ante with better hop definition. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Cigar City Brewing Guayabera Citra Pale Ale – American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV | 42 IBU

Cigar City Brewing Guayabera Citra Pale Ale American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV | 42 IBU (US$2.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, bottle date 23-Mar-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 25-May-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bright citrus, crackery pale malt, tropical fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry mild bitter finish. (4/5)

Yep, that’s Citra all right – and loads of it. Not overly complex, by any means, but you can’t go wrong with lots of bright Citra. Well, you can, of course, but they haven’t. This is nice and clean, with no cattiness at all. Bright citrus leads the way over a clean crackery malt, with just a hint of tropical fruitiness bringing up behind. Bright, clean, and refreshing. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com