RyansBooze

Birrificio del Ducato Molotov Spice / Herb / Vegetable at 7% ABV (2016 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #18, 330 ml, bottle date 27-Jun-2016, best before 1-Aug-2017, acquired 25-Sep-2016, reviewed 18-Dec-2016)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with one finger of white head diminishing quickly to a persistent thick cap, moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: brown apple, yeasty malt, very light spice. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter, mild spice. (5/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration slightly spicy finish. (3/5)

Advent calendar day #18 is pretty boring. Based upon my admittedly limited experience with Italian beers, I tend to find them a pretty middle-of-the-road bunch, and this is no exception. “Proudly brewed with wasabi and appetite for destruction” this might be, but said appetite for destruction does not seem to extend to one’s taste buds, because any wasabi in this is well in the background. For the most part, this comes across as an unremarkable golden ale until well into the glass, at which point a hint of warming becomes apparent (and I might be tempted to conclude this was as much due to the 7% ABV, as to wasabi, were it not for the way it tends to build in the sinuses). (11/20)

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

MONYO Brewing Black Alligator Imperial Dark Saison at 9% ABV | 19.5 IBU (2016 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #17, 330 ml, best before 30-Jun-2017, acquired 25-Sep-2016, reviewed 17-Dec-2016)

Appearance: clear deep brown with one finger of loose beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: vinous red berries, chocolate, roasty malt, peppery spice, dried fruit, leather. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter, mild spice. (7/10) Palate: medium body, lively carbonation, slightly funky warming finish. (3/5)

Advent calendar day #17 brings (I think) my first ever Hungarian beer. Aside from my standard rant about how saisons shouldn’t be high in alcohol, this is actually fairly decent. The warming finish seems to be due in equal parts to the 9% ABV and to the presence of peppers, but it’s fairly well-balanced. I drank it fairly warm, which might have been a contributor to a fairly explosive decapping and short-lived gusher, but I caught it all with the glass so no harm done. The carbonation stayed fairly high throughout, which helps keep this from feeling overly heavy, which is to the good for the stated style. Speaking of which, stylistically, I’ve lumped this in with Dieu Du Ciel!’s Isseki Nichō, but it isn’t quite as good. Still and all, fairly pleasant. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brewski / Evil Twin Brewing Gno More Gnomes Barley Wine at 10% ABV (2016 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #16, 330 ml, best before 13-Jul-2018, acquired 25-Sep-2016, reviewed 16-Dec-2016)

Appearance: cloudy medium to deep amber with one finger of rocky beige head, good retention and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: figs and dark fruit, toffee, plums and raisins. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full slightly slick body, low carbonation, sweet warming finish. (4/5)

Y’know, I’m really starting to enjoy a good Barley Wine – and day #16 of the Advent calendar brings us a good Barley Wine. It’s Evil Twin, so need I say more? (OK, fine, I might not need to say more, but I will, because that’s how I roll, y’all. This is nice – figs and other dark fruit masterfully blended with a double-digit ABV that never becomes intrusive. Gets just slightly harsh in the finish, which is why I’ve marked it down slightly, but it’s quite nice otherwise.) (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Fuggles & Warlock Craftworks Icarus Mosaic Saison Saison at 7% ABV | 35 IBU (C$6.66 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 13-Dec-2016, reviewed 15-Dec-2016)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of rocky white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: lemon zest, yeasty funk, tropical fruit, floral. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light funky spice. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, light to moderate carbonation, short mild bitter peppery and funky finish. (4/5)

Nice. Another strong performer from F&W. Mosaic has to be one of the best hops ever.

Fly, on your way, like an eagle,
Fly as high as the sun,
On your way, like an eagle,
Fly and touch the sun.

You go, Icarus. You go, brother. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Fuggles & Warlock Craftworks Chrono Wet Hop IPA American IPA at 6.9% ABV | 66 IBU (C$6.65 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, bottle date 11-Jul-2016, acquired 13-Dec-2016, reviewed 15-Dec-2016)

Appearance: clear straw with two fingers of fluffy light ivory head, excellent retention and moderate lacing. (5/5) Aroma: dank resin, citrus, pale malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter, light peppery spice. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, short duration bitter and slightly peppery finish. (4/5)

The best way I can describe how this smells and tastes is, “green.” If you have my particular brand of synaesthesia, you’ll get what I mean. Another way of describing it would be, “Damn, that be some shit!” Unless, y’know, you consider that culturally insensitive, in which case… don’t describe it that way? (It still be some shit, though.) Juicy and dank, my kind of hops. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Fuggles & Warlock Craftworks The Last Mango Witbier at 4.9% ABV | 8 IBU (C$6.66 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, bottle date 16-Jul-2016, acquired 13-Dec-2016, reviewed 15-Dec-2016)

Appearance: opaque pale gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: peaches, mango, wheat, light citrus, floral, band-aid. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, light bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, short duration light tart finish. (3/5)

Hmmm… my opinion of this diminished as the pint progressed. The initial taste, of the lees out of the bottle, was frankly awesome, verging more on puréed peaches than on mango. As the beer warmed, though, that dropped off rapidly, and the last third or so of the glass carried a distinct burnt rubber / bandaid aroma. I dunno – it’s only 4.9% ABV, so drink it fast? (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Õllekunsti OÜ (Põhjala Brewery) Põhjala Öö Baltic Porter at 10.5% ABV | 60 IBU (2016 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #15, 330 ml, best before 13-Jun-2018, acquired 25-Sep-2016, reviewed 15-Dec-2016)

Appearance: solid black with one finger of rocky beige head, good retention and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: roasty malt, dark chocolate, jammy red berries, coffee, liquorice. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (9/10) Palate: full slick body, low carbonation, sweet warming finish. (4/5)

Oh, hells yes, the Advent calendar is really moving in the right direction now! Day #15 is a Baltic Porter actually brewed on the shores of the Baltic, and it is fine. Its colour is what you’d expect for a beer named “Öö” (“night”) but it tastes sweet and pleasantly boozy. (Böözy?) I’m reminded of the Turkish description of how coffee should be: “black as hell, strong as death, sweet as love”. It’s not perfect – I’d like to see better retention and lacing, the flavours aren’t completely integrated (though I suspect this would age beautifully), it finishes a bit sticky and mouth coating, and the alcohol carries a distinct sharp edge – but these are relatively minor considerations. Really gööd! (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Phillips Brewing Company Citricity Grapefruit Zest IPA American IPA at 6.2% ABV (C$2.58 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 355 ml, best before 25-Mar-2017, acquired 13-Dec-2016, reviewed 14-Dec-2016)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of loose white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: zesty grapefruit, pale malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, short duration bitter finish. (3/5)

I actually like this. There’s so much grapefruit that it verges on a radler, making it a bit simplistic, but it’s a good simple. It’s pretty much what it says on the tin: a grapefruit zest IPA. No more, no less. Works for me! (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Hell’s Basement Brewing Polly’s Pale Ale American Pale Ale at 5% ABV | 35 IBU (C$1.98 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 355 ml, bottle date 11-Oct-2016, acquired 13-Dec-2016, reviewed 14-Dec-2016)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with one finger of rocky ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pine, citrus, caramel, green onion. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

I’ve had better APA’s. And I’ve had worse. Not without its charms, but the hop character tends a bit to the green onion or catty – I’m guessing there’s some Simcoe hops (or similar) in there. Not bad for a sophomore attempt, though! (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com