RyansBooze

Sound Brewery Kanacitra American Pale Ale at 5.4% ABV | 26 IBU (C$2.55 at Oak & Vine, 355 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 26-Apr-2017, reviewed 13-May-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with one finger of fluffy ivory head, moderate retention and spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, pine, biscuity and pale malt, light earth. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter slightly spicy finish. (3/5)

Interesting that the hop aromas start off relatively pronounced, while the overall bitterness rating is a relatively benign 26 IBU – looks like the emphasis was on dry-hopping here. This is borne out by the fact that the hops aromas diminish fairly rapidly, leaving behind a mild bitterness that nevertheless lingers in the finish. Pleasant, but a bit too mild for my preference. And yes, I get it – it’s a “can a’ Citra”, roger that, very funny. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Hop City Brewing Co. Payday Saison at 6.2% ABV | 40 IBU (C$3.56 at NLC Stavanger, 473 ml, bottle date 24-Feb-2017, acquired 9-May-2017, reviewed 13-May-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: floral, spices, citrus, earth. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, lively to moderate carbonation, short duration moderate bitter slightly spicy finish. (3/5)

I wasn’t expecting a whole lot from this, so I wasn’t exactly disappointed. It falls into a lot of the traps that so many would-be Saisons do: too prominent an ABV (though technically within spec), too sweet (in the front and in the finish), too heavy, and slightly under-carbonated for the style. Most importantly, it’s not particularly refreshing, which I consider a central requirement for a Saison. To be fair, it’s not terrible, especially for the price – but it’s not particularly memorable, either. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mill Street Brewery Round Da Bay American Pale Ale at 6% ABV | 50 IBU (C$7.00 at Mill Street Brew Pub St. John’s, 945 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 12-May-2017, reviewed 12-May-2017)

Appearance: clear pale gold with three fingers of rocky white head, good retention and moderate clingy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, pale malt, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body tending slightly thin, moderate carbonation, moderate bitter slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

I’m not sure what the correct bitterness is for this: the tag said 56 IBU, but the board at the brewery said 50 IBU, so I’m going with the board. Initially I thought I’d rate this higher, because the front end is quite pleasant, with a load of Mosaic character. But as the pint progresses, the body seems to thin out a little, and the lingering moderate bitterness starts to feel very slightly astringent. Might be a case of needing a slightly heftier malt bill to balance out the bittering. Still and all, worth trying. Heck, I’m always up for an excursion around da bay! (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mill Street Brewery Rowhouse Amber Lager/Vienna at 5.5% ABV | 12 IBU (C$7.00 at Mill Street Brew Pub St. John’s, 945 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 12-May-2017, reviewed 12-May-2017)

Appearance: clear medium amber with a short, short-lived ivory head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel, biscuity malt, hint of grass. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, short finish. (3/5)

This is a case of, it is what it is. And what it is, is all about malt, with a smooth caramel dominating over a biscuity, almost graham crackery malt. There’s a hint of Noble hops coming through far in the background as a mild grassy note, but it’s very much an afterthought. A decent example of a boring style. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Nine Locks Brewing Company Dirty Blonde Wheat Ale at 5.0% ABV | 12 IBU (C$3.57 at NLC Stavanger, 473 ml, bottle date 27-Mar-2017, acquired 5-May-2017, reviewed 11-May-2017)

Appearance: cloudy medium gold with one finger of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, no lacing. (2/5) Aroma: brown apple, doughy wheat. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, sweetish short duration finish. (3/5)

A bit of a muddled – and, yes, dirty – mess, nowhere near as good as their IPA. Not a particularly interesting (or good) Weizen. (10/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Clown Shoes Beer Whammy Bar #2 American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 40 IBU (C$4.24 at Oak & Vine, 355 ml, bottle date 20-Oct-2016, acquired 26-Apr-2017, reviewed 11-May-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, caramel, pineapple. white wine, herbal. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter and lightly spicy finish. (3/5)

At seven months old, I don’t think there’s much doubt this is at least a little past its best-by, and it seems to have adversely affected the hops. There’s a hint of the white wine vinous character that I usually associate with the ANZ hops (and this is all ANZ hops – Ella, Galaxy, and Vic Secret) but the fruitiness is nowhere near as bright as I like. Pleasant and drinkable, but lacking a bright punch. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Vancouver Island Brewing 19 IPA American IPA at 4.8% ABV | 60 IBU (C$2.55 at Oak & Vine, 355 ml, bottle date 24-Feb-2017, acquired 26-Apr-2017, reviewed 11-May-2017)

Appearance: clear deep gold with three fingers of fluffy ivory head diminishing gradually to a tenacious cap, clingy moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, biscuity pale malt, pineapple, light resin. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering and building bitter finish. (3/5)

A fair bit better than their ISA, but there’s still a hint of something in the nose that isn’t entirely pleasant, which might be charitably described as “resin”. Fairly easy drinking despite the middling-high IBU, which really only manifests in the finish. Drinkable, but not really worth seeking out. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Vancouver Island Brewing Sombrio Citrus Session Session IPA at 4% ABV | 36 IBU (C$2.55 at Oak & Vine, 355 ml, bottle date 25-Feb-2017, acquired 26-Apr-2017, reviewed 11-May-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of creamy white head diminishing gradually to a tenacious cap, soapy moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweat, pine, pale malt, citrus, tropical fruit, light earth. (4/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium-light body tending watery, moderate carbonation, off-dry mild bitter finish. (3/5)

Tastes a bit better than it smells, but that’s not saying a whole lot – there’s a definite off note in the aroma that I can’t completely identify, but it’s as much sweat as anything. Finish is fairly pleasant, though, with a decent lightly spicy bitter. (10/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Nine Locks Brewing Company IPA American IPA at 6.9% ABV | 70 IBU (C$3.66 at NLC Stavanger, 473 ml, bottle date 29-Mar-2017, acquired 5-May-2017, reviewed 10-May-2017)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of creamy off-white head diminishing gradually to a tenacious cap, soapy moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, pine, caramel, tropical fruit, light earth. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering and building bitter finish. (3/5)

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much – but this ain’t half bad. Actually, it’s better than that. The fact that they bother to hop in three stages (wort, burst, and dry) would probably make me kindly disposed towards them even if the final product weren’t respectable – but it is. The aroma isn’t bright, as such, but it’s solidly hop-forward, and backstopped by an emphatic bitterness  well balanced against a decent caramel malt sweetness. As usual, I’d prefer the hops brighter and the malt cleaner, but it’s pretty darned good as it stands. Decent effort from a new brewery, and I’m slightly disappointed I didn’t go see them when I was in Dartmouth on Monday! (I did get to Propeller and Unfiltered, so I’m actually not all that disappointed.) (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Hell’s Basement Brewing All Hops for a Basement American IPA at 6.6% ABV | 65 IBU (C$2.55 at Oak & Vine, 355 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 26-Apr-2017, reviewed 10-May-2017)

Appearance: clear medium amber with one finger of loose ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pine, caramel, tropical fruit, citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering and building bitter finish. (3/5)

I was frankly disappointed by the dark colour on the pour, which made me expect it to play out the way it ultimately did: a more traditional/classic A/IPA, malt-forward if not exactly malt-dominant. I’ll give it this, though: the bitterness is higher than the traditional style would dictate, and not unwelcome. Decent enough, I guess – I’d be happier with less malt emphasis and more dry-hopping, but that’s just me. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com