RyansBooze

Mill Street Brewery Tankenstein American IPA at 5% ABV (On tap at Mill Street Brewpub YYZ, reviewed 12-Jan-2016)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of fluffy ivory head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, resiny pine, citrus, grainy malt. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry slightly sweet and sticky finish. (3/5)

Not terrible, but a fairly pedestrian malty A/IPA. There’s lots of hop character going on, but for me it feels like it’s, if not actually drowned out by the malt, at least fighting the malt for dominance. Bit of an odd duck, in that all the elements are there, but they just don’t seem to come together effectively, and it doesn’t feel all that well-balanced. I waffled on scoring the aroma and flavour components for this one, and if anything I’m being somewhat generous here – in a bad mood, I could potentially drop the total score by a half to a full point. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

HaandBryggeriet Dark Force Russian Imperial Stout at 9% ABV (US$12.99 at Total Wines & More, Henderson NV, 500 ml, Batch 538 (2013?), reviewed 11-Jan-2016)

Appearance: solid unrelieved black with one finger of dense beige head, excellent retention and patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: boozy dark fruits, wheat malt, coffee and cocoa, tobacco and leather, dark fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild smoke. (8/10) Palate: full body, lively carbonation, off-dry mildly boozy finish. (4/5)

With surprisingly lively carbonation and initial smokiness on the tongue, this beast tastes very little like it smells. As it warms, it opens up, providing an impressive depth of complexity in aroma and flavour. But, come on: “Double, Extreme, Imperial” Wheat Stout? Department of Redundancy Department much? I mean, yes, either of those appellations could reasonably be applied – but all three are gilding the lily just a bit. Big, sure, but quite drinkable. I don’t think I’ve ever had a wheat stout before, let alone a Double (Extreme, Imperial) one, but if this is normal for the style, damn. Paired with Belgian chocolate, double damn and then some. (16/20)

My 212th from the 2010 Edition (201st from the 2013 edition), and 223rd combining both editions.

8/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Boulevard Brewing Co. Smokestack Series Saison-Brett (2015) Saison at 8.5% ABV (C$19.23 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, bottle date 4-Feb-2015, best before 1-Feb-2017, reviewed 11-Jan-2016)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky off-white head, excellent retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: complex, earthy funk, citrus zest, straw, stone fruit, vinous. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, mild bitter, mild spice. (9/10) Palate: medium body, lively carbonation, off-dry funky finish. (5/5)

Like saisons? Like brett? You owe it to yourself to find and try this. Really nicely done, with a nigh-on perfect balance of dry nearly vinous saison and funky brett characters. I’d love to try this after a couple of years of cellaring, to really give the brett time to get going, but it’s really, really good with just under a year on it. (18/20)

My 211th from the 2010 Edition (200th from the 2013 edition), and 222nd combining both editions.

9/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brewsters Brewing Company Hawaiian Coconut Porter American Porter at 5% ABV (C$5.79 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, bottle date 1-Aug-2015, reviewed 10-Jan-2016)

Appearance: clear deep brown with ruby highlights, one finger of fluffy beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet caramel, roasty notes, dried fruit, building coconut. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-full body, soft carbonation, lingering sweetish finish. (3/5)

I initially thought there was no coconut at all in this, but as the pint progressed and warmed up, a mild presence became apparent. I think I’d be happier with a bit more emphasis on the coconut, to to distinguish it a little more from a standard light sweet American-style porter. That might also make the sweetness more appropriate – as it stands I find it somewhat too sweet, particularly the lingering sweet finish, which becomes a little mouth-coating and cloying towards the end. (12/20)

6/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

HaandBryggeriet Norwegian Wood Smoked Beer at 6.5% ABV (C$13.49 at Total Wines & More, Henderson NV, 500 ml, bottle date 14-Jan-2013, best before 14-Jan-2015, reviewed 9-Jan-2016)

Appearance: clear medium-deep amber with two fingers of fine light tan head, good retention and patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: smoke, caramel malt, floral, light sharp juniper. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate smoke, mild bitter, mild spice. (7/10) Palate: medium body, lively carbonation, lingering smokey finish. (3/5)

Smoke definitely leads the way here, but it doesn’t overwhelm the sweet caramel and floral aromas – think smokey bacon and you’re not far off. There is a subtle juniper presence coming through as a bright sharpness in the aroma and a mild spiciness on the tongue, but I think I’d prefer a little more emphasis there. The body is surprisingly light, driven by a lively sustained carbonation, which I think prevents the smoke from building and lingering more than it does. Quite pleasant and approachable for a smoked beer, and reminiscent of Aecht Schlenkerla rauchbier, but definitely not everybody’s cup of tea. (14/20)

My 210th from the 2010 Edition (199th from the 2013 edition), and 221st combining both editions.

7/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Cameron’s Brewing Company Obsidian Imperial Porter Rum Barrel Imperial Porter at 9.2% ABV (C$11.75 at Sundance Wine Market, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 8-Jan-2016)

Appearance: solid black with one finger of dense dark beige head, excellent retention and lacing. (5/5) Aroma: cocoa and dark chocolate, rum, liquorice, woody, dark fruit, roasty notes. (8/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate bitter, moderate alcohol. (8/10) Palate: full slick body, soft carbonation, off-dry boozy mildly bitter finish. (4/5)

Quite a nice example of the style – lots of dark malt and fruit notes, but without the associated sweetness. The full body carries off the bigger ABV quite well, and the finish is decently dry, albeit somewhat boozy. On the subject of the booziness, the rum finish is quite even-handed, and the rum flavours do not dominate. This is the way I like this style done, but I think it would be even better after a year or two in the cellar. (17/20)

8.5/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

St. James’s Gate (Diageo) Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale Cream Ale at 4.3% ABV (C$2.91 at NLC Stavanger, 500 ml, packaging date 22-Sep-2015, reviewed 8-Jan-2016)

Appearance: clear pale to medium amber with one finger of dense ivory head, excellent retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: muted, caramel, grassy, light earthy hops. (5/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate-low bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium nitro creamy body, moderate-low carbonation, short duration bitter finish. (4/5)

Well, nobody ever accused Diageo of being unable to make a pretty beer, that’s for sure – with a bit better definition in the lacing, I’d have given it full marks for appearance, especially with the characteristic nitrogen cascade. The body is similarly well done, with a pleasantly creamy texture and decent bitter finish. Unfortunately, though, structure is far and away the highlight of this story. The aromas are muted, presumably at least somewhat by the dense head, and are limited to slightly weedy grassy and earthy hops on a plain caramel base, and the taste is similarly uninspiring. Neither are bad, but they’re certainly a bit of a letdown by comparison to the appearance. (12/20)

6/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Greene King Abbot Ale Premium Bitter / ESB at 5% ABV (C$3.18 at NLC Stavanger, 500 ml, bottle date 1-Sep-2015, best before 30-Sep-2016, reviewed 7-Jan-2016)

Appearance: clear medium amber with a short, short-lived off-white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel, grainy malt, apple, light earthy hops. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, low carbonation, short duration bitter finish. (3/5)

A pretty unenthusiastic English bitter. I mean, I know “boring” is pretty much in-spec for the style, but this takes it to a whole new level. Sweet and malty, with very little discernible hop character except for a generalized moderately bitter finish. Really not much to recommend it. (11/20)

5.5/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Unibroue Éphémère Cranberry Fruit / Vegetable Beer at 5.5% ABV (C$8.29 at South Trail Calgary Co-Op, 750 ml, bottle date 6-Mar-2014, best before 6-Mar-2016, reviewed 7-Jan-2016)

Appearance: very slightly hazy orange-tinted medium gold with two fingers of fluffy white head, short retention and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: slightly muted, apple and cranberry, candi sugar, light yeast. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, low bitter, moderate tart. (6/10) Palate: light body, lively to moderate carbonation, off-dry tart finish. (3/5)

Not terrible, by any means, but just not very interesting. Sweet and, if not actually artificial, at least unimpressive fruit flavour. The cranberry character is present, but very mild, and I get the impression that it’s just not a flavour that expresses well in this context. (Unlike, for example, peach or raspberry.) Definitely nothing resembling a real fruit lambic. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Unibroue La Fin du Monde (2014) Tripel at 9% ABV (C$2.79 at NLC Howley Estates, 341 ml, bottle date 19-Nov-2014, reviewed 6-Jan-2016)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy off-white head, short retention and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: slight citrus, banana, malt, candi sugar, stone fruit, and yeast. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, mild bitter, moderate spiciness. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively to moderate carbonation, medium duration slightly boozy finish. (5/5)

Pretty consistent with the prior vintages I’ve tried. Solid Belgian character, light mouth feel for a high ABV. I still find it just slightly too sweet, but it’s an otherwise solid performer. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com