RyansBooze

Snake Lake Brewing Company Marina Bay New England IPA – American IPA at 7% ABV | 40 IBU (C$2.97 at Collective, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 15-Oct-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with one finger of pillowy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: zesty & juicy citrus, resiny pine, cereal grains, tropical fruit, melon. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter, light tart. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

“Aggressively dry-hopped with Citra, Idaho 7, and Azacca” – yes, please.  Juicy fruit and pleasant resiny pine on an oaty, cereal grain base make for an approachable, crushable offering, with no hint of the fairly sturdy ABV. Very nice. (16/20)

This will be my 5,092nd unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Belching Beaver Brewery Deftones Ceremony – American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 30 IBU (C$5.04 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 23-Aug-2021, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 15-Oct-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of rocky off-white head, good retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, resin pine, tropical fruit, pale malt, light leather / tobacco. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

As has now pretty much become a tradition with me, I listened to the track while drinking the beer. Much to my approval, this one is all about the hops, with the malt being very clean and neutral. In fact, the hops are almost all aroma, with very little bitterness. Only a couple of the Deftones collaborations I’ve had so far (I want to say, six?) have disappointed me, and this isn’t one of them. (16/20)

This will be my 5,091st unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Rogue Ales Pineapple Party Punch – American IPA at 8.4% ABV | 40 IBU (C$5.98 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 29-Jul-2021, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 14-Oct-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with two fingers of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, caramel, citrus, coconut, earth. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate-soft carbonation, sweet slightly sticky warming finish. (3/5)

The brewer notes indicate 2-Row, Wheat, Rye Malt, Dex Pils, Lactose, Mosiac hops, and Hot Head yeast. They also draw the inevitable comparison to a Piña Colada, with caramel and tropical fruit front and centre, and coconut on the back end, but for me it’s almost like an Old Ale.  The Mosaic hops really don’t come through with any kind of clarity, and ultimately it’s heavy-handed, and not very impressive. (13/20)

This will be my 5,090th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Familia Brewing Hazy Morning New England Pale Ale – American Pale Ale at 6.3% ABV (C$4.41 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 7-Jul-2021, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 14-Oct-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of fluffy white  head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: zesty citrus, herbal, resiny pine, pale malt, tropical fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly spicy finish. (4/5)

It’s hard to know how to properly rate this one: it’s not really a “hazy” (NEIPA) visually, and the bitterness tends slightly high for that style. On the other hand, the aroma and flavour, though less juicy than I like to see, are pleasant and interesting. On the whole, I quite like this. (15/20)

This will be my 5,089th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Omnipollo Legacy IPA – American IPA at 7% ABV (C$5.95 at Collective, 330 ml, best before 9-Mar-2022, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 13-Oct-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of fluffy white  head, good retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, sweet vanilla, pale malt, melon. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: soft medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

An interesting offering, with a lot of fruit character on a soft, approachable body. It’s maybe a hair sweeter than I’d like it, but that’s a minor quibble and completely personal preference. That said, it’s just not as bright and enthusiastic as some others. Good, but not great. (15/20)

This will be my 5,088th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Fremont Brewing Interurban – American IPA at 6.2% ABV | 80 IBU (C$4.81 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 12-Aug-2021, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 13-Oct-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy medium gold with two fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: sweet citrus, pine, pale malt, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky medium duration lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

The brewer says this uses 2-Row Pale, Munich, and Honey malts, and is hopped with Chinook, Centennial, and Amarillo. There’s no one single thing I can point to here that I would consider a flaw, as such. However, I spent quite a bit of time wondering why something that looks so good on paper just didn’t excite me, and all I can come up with is that it tends a little too sweet across the board, limiting the brightness. Overall, it’s a solid WC-style IPA with old-school bitterness. It’s good, but it doesn’t stand out of a pretty overcrowded field. (15/20)

This will be my 5,087th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Common Roots Brewing Company Something Secret – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$8.80 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 17-Aug-2021, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 12-Oct-2021)

Appearance: hazy near-opaque pale gold with two fat and growing fingers of rocky off-white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, pale malt, earth, herbal. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short duration mild finish. (4/5)

The label and brewer’s notes say that this “features” Vic Secret, but don’t actually say it’s single-hopped – although the name certainly suggests that, doesn’t it? That said, the profile is not quite what I’d normally expect from a single-hopped Vic Secret, in particular with the earthy, herbal notes. I like it, but fell like it could have been better. (16/20)

This will be my 5,086th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Superflux Beer Company Jellystone – American IPA at 6% ABV (C$5.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 19-Aug-2021, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 12-Oct-2021)

Appearance: hazy near-opaque straw with one finger of fine pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dank & zesty citrus, pale biscuity malt, faint pine. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, dry crisp finish. (4/5)

Now that’s the way I like it! Citrus leads the way here, roughly equal parts zesty, dank, and bright. Very aromatic and flavourful, with an emphatic hop punch, but restrained bitterness and a lean malt bill. As usual, Superflux nails it. (For an admittedly small n=6, the performance is an impressive μ=8.3 & σ=0.27. They just don’t know how to do a bad beer.) (15/20)

This will be my 5,085th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Newburgh Brewing Company Gigaboss – American Double / Imperial IPA at 9.0% ABV (C$8.90 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 11-Oct-2021)

Appearance: clear medium gold with one finger of fine pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: boozy tropical fruit, citrus, biscuity malt, melon, herbal. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, sweetish building lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Brewer notes say “loaded with American hops, but we […] added some English hops too” without giving specifics. And that’s what I’m getting form the aroma and flavour: non-specific hoppiness, with a lean towards the Noble/English style, and significant malt presence. Not bad, but not great. (15/20)

This will be my 5,084th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Born Colorado Brewing Racing Moose – American Pale Ale at 5.6% ABV | 15 IBU (C$4.05 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 20-Sep-2021, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 11-Oct-2021)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of fine pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, dank resiny pine, caramel, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, medium duration mild bitter finish. (4/5)

Hopped with Centennial, Cascade, and Simcoe, and it’s very bit as traditional as that would imply. My only real complaint here is that I’m finding the aroma to be a bit on the mild side – maybe not boring, as such, but not far off that, either – and a bit more malt-heavy than I’d prefer. I acknowledge that’s a personal preference, and that not everyone wants a hop bomb… but I do. A very straightforward and well-executed beer that’s just not all that interesting. (15/20)

This will be my 5,083rd unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com