RyansBooze

Collective Arts Brewing Collective Project / Papaya Saison Saison at 6% ABV | 27 IBU (C$2.70 at Oak & Vine, 473 ml, bottle date 3-Aug-2016, acquired 1-Apr-2017, reviewed 9-Apr-2017)

Appearance: opaque pale gold with one finger of fizzy white head settling rapidly to a think skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit rind, wheat, stone fruit, light earthy funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high bitter, moderate tart, moderate sweet, light peppery spice. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, drying short duration astringent and lightly spicy finish. (3/5)

I was pretty leery of this, but the fact that it was Collective Arts meant I was willing to take a flyer on it – and, oh my goodness, no regrets. Pretty darned solid in general, but for the price? Might be unbeatable. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not perfect: in particular, there’s a mild astringent edge (I attribute it to the papaya) that, though not entirely unwelcome, is almost vegetal or gourd rind in character, making it taste much more bitter than the IBU rating would suggest. Still and all, very approachable and enjoyable. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Microbrasserie Les Trois Mousquetaires Hors Série Saison Brett Saison at 7% ABV | 35 IBU (C$14.00 at Zyn, 750 ml, bottle date 14-Jul-2016, acquired 16-Feb-2017, reviewed 9-Apr-2017)

Appearance: opaque deep gold with one finger of fizzy white head settling rapidly to a think skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone fruit, leather, barnyard, wood, earth. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high tart, moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light peppery spice. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, drying moderate duration tart and lightly spicy finish. (4/5)

Really nice, almost Gueuze-like in the funky tartness. Aromas are just very slightly muted and would in my humble opinion be more fun if allowed to be a bit more aggressive. The ABV is definitely on the high side for the style as well, but doesn’t intrude on the flavours or my enjoyment. I’m impressed with the sweetness, which initially seems like it’s going to be high because of the intense stone fruit (peaches and apricots) flavours, but it’s well-moderated by the lively carbonation and balanced tartness, and ends up finishing nearly bone dry and just slightly peppery. I could drink a whole lot of this! (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

8 Wired Brewing Company Rendition Belgian Strong Pale Ale at 7.5% ABV (C$13.94 at Oak & Vine, 500 ml, bottle date 4-Jun-2016, acquired 1-Apr-2017, reviewed 6-Apr-2017)

Appearance: clear pale  amber with one fat finger of rocky ivory head settling to a persistent thick cap, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, caramel malt, stone fruit, hint of tobacco and coffee. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short duration finish. (3/5)

Pleasant, but not the kind of stonking good ale I’ve come to expect from 8 Wired. (I’ve had ten others by them, of which six were 8/10 or better.) A little too muted on the nose, and a bit malty for my preference. The Brettanomyces is present, but extremely sedate, manifesting only as a hint of tobacco and coffee towards the back. Dial up the hops and the Brett, and dial back the malt, and you might have something here. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Microbrasserie Le Castor Le Moine Féral Abbey Tripel at 8% ABV (C$10.59 at Oak & Vine, 500 ml, bottle date 2-Feb-2016, acquired 11-Mar-2017, reviewed 6-Apr-2017)

Appearance: clear (first glass) to opaque (second glass) medium gold with one fat finger of rocky white head settling to a persistent thick cap, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, leather, floral, stone fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate bitter, light peppery spice. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, dry short duration finish. (4/5)

Very nice implementation of Brett yeast – there’s enough to give some barnyardy funk, but it’s even-handed and never gets out of control. There’s complexity there, but not to the point of distraction. The finish is bone dry, but not astringent, and the high ABV never intrudes. This is only the second beer I’ve had by this brewery, but I definitely regret not taking a side trip to Rigaud when I drove from Ottawa to Montreal last summer. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Bruery The Order Belgian Strong Dark Ale at 10.6% ABV | 30 IBU (C$16.99 at Oak & Vine, 750 ml, bottle date 12-Jan-2017, acquired 27-Mar-2017, reviewed 5-Apr-2017)

Appearance: clear brown with one fat finger of fluffy beige head, moderate retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: Demerara sugar, dates, dark fruit and red berries, light bubblegum, hint of coriander. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter, light peppery spice. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium duration finish. (4/5)

Oh yeah – with the name, and the label’s stained glass effect, when I first smelled this? It was some Ozzy Centre of Eternity shit. Surprisingly light in the body, and for that matter, in colour (the brewery claims 30 SRM but there’s no way that’s true). Decent depth and complexity of flavour, and little to no hint of the double digit ABV, until it puts you on your ass. I’m not entirely sure whether this is best characterized as a BSDA or an Abbey Dubbel (or maybe even an Abt/ Quad), but either way it’s my kind of monster. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Four Winds Brewing Co. La Maison Wild Saison Saison at 4.5% ABV | 30 IBU (C$8.49 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 10-Mar-2017, reviewed 5-Apr-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: grapefruit and lemon, pineapple, pale grainy malt, stone fruit, white pepper, light earthy funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, mildly funky and lightly spicy finish. (4/5)

Another solid one from Four Winds. Lots of complexity and flavour despite the really low ABV. I’m nowhere near Vegas, but this house is winning. This is how you do a Saison. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Matt Brewing Co. Saranac Legacy IPA American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 60 IBU (C$2.70 at Oak & Vine, 355 ml, bottle date 27-Oct-2016, acquired 1-Apr-2017, reviewed 5-Apr-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, pineapple, pale malt, floral, light earth. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, moderate bitter slightly spicy finish. (3/5)

Middle-of-the-road older-style A/IPA – nothing remarkable one way or the other. If you like IPAs and there are no others you haven’t tried on the menu, have at it, I guess. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Matt Brewing Co. Saranac Adirondack Lager Amber Lager/Vienna at 5.5% ABV | 20 IBU (C$2.70 at Oak & Vine, 355 ml, bottle date 27-Oct-2016, acquired 1-Apr-2017, reviewed 5-Apr-2017)

Appearance: clear deep gold with one finger of fluffy off-white head, moderate retention and soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet and crackery malt, grass. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, crisp off-dry mild bitter finish. (3/5)

Not a bad example of a German-style Amber Lager – which is to say, a blindingly boring beer overall. (11/20)

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Matt Brewing Co. Saranac Gen 4 Session IPA Session IPA at 4.5% ABV | 30 IBU (C$2.70 at Oak & Vine, 355 ml, bottle date 27-Oct-2016, acquired 1-Apr-2017, reviewed 5-Apr-2017)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with one fat finger of fluffy off-white head, moderate retention and lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pithy citrus, tropical fruit, pale malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body tending slightly watery, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Not as good as their APA, if I’m honest, possibly because it’s even more of a bandwagon beer? And unfortunately, like so many attempts at this style, it comes across as a watered-down IPA. Not only does the body tend slightly watery, the finish turns slightly astringent. Inoffensive, I suppose, but not very interesting. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Matt Brewing Co. Saranac American Pale Ale American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV | 32 IBU (C$2.70 at Oak & Vine, 355 ml, bottle date 26-Oct-2016, acquired 1-Apr-2017, reviewed 5-Apr-2017)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one fat finger of fluffy off-white head, moderate retention and lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pithy citrus, crackery malt, pine, earth, grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter finish. (3/5)

Decent enough, if a little safe. The brewer’s decision to change this to an American Pale from an English Pale using a pretty standard starts-with-C hop selection feels like an attempt to catch up with a bandwagon that’s already fairly out of date. But, it’s fairly hop-forward yet well-balanced, drinks pretty easy, and has a fairly robust lingering bitterness in the finish, so it’ll do. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com