The Establishment Brewing Company Elaborate Atractions – American IPA at 6.4% ABV (C$5.50 at Safeway, 473 ml, packaged on 21-May-2026, acquired 3-Jun-2026, reviewed 12-Jun-2026)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone fruit, citrus, berries, lactose. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry medium finish. (4/5)
Peacharine, Citra, Nelson Sauvin, and Rakau. Fruity and creamy without being too sweet. Very nice. (16/20)
The Establishment Brewing Company As the Hummingbird Hovers – American IPA at 6.8% ABV (C$5.50 at Safeway, 473 ml, packaged on 22-May-2026, acquired 3-Jun-2026, reviewed 12-Jun-2026)
Appearance: brilliantly clear pale straw with one fat finger of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: berry, stone fruit, citrus, dank resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium light body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry medium finish. (4/5)
Mosaic, Nelson Sauvin, Columbus Cryo, Riwaka Hop Kief. I mean, yes, it’s exactly what it says on the tin: a modern WCIPA, with an added kick of ANZ hops for colour (speaking philosophically, not chromatically). And it’s well implemented, and I have absolutely no complaints. And yes, I know, you’re waiting for the shoe to drop – but it really doesn’t. It’s yet another world-class beer from The Establishment. The fact that I’m not embarrassingly excited about it is due to their now long standing tradition of reliably producing just that. I’m sure any number of pithy aphorisms apply here, but the bottom line is that they are, at least from my perspective and to a limited extent, the victims of their own success. After a certain number of repetitions, even miracles become blasé. And on that depressing condemnation of the human condition, I bid you a very good evening. (16/20)
The Establishment Brewing Company Something For Your M.I.N.D. – Pilsner at 5.0% ABV (C$5.00 at Safeway, 473 ml, packaged on 15-May-2026, acquired 3-Jun-2026, reviewed 4-Jun-2026)
Appearance: brilliantly clear pale straw with one fat finger of creamy white head, excellent retention and moderate clingy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: crackery malt, citrus, floral & grassy, hint of DMS. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium light body, moderate-high carbonation, dry crisp finish. (4/5)
Experimental hop HBC 1134. I dunno, maybe I have to drink more Pilsners and get tuned up on the style, but it’s hard for me to get excited about them unless they’re highly-hopped abominations that would cause a German brewer to have a seizure. As far as I can tell, this conforms well to the BJCP guidelines for a German Pils, which is basically the base style to the hoppier Italian style. (15/20)
The Establishment Brewing Company Temptation Sensation – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.2% ABV (C$6.25 at Safeway, 473 ml, packaged on 21-May-2026, acquired 3-Jun-2026, reviewed 3-Jun-2026)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of creamy pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thick persistent cap, heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, stone fruit, dank resin, cereal grains. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry mildly warming finish. (4/5)
Citra, Nelson Sauvin, Rakau, Motueka. Starts off deceptively mild, dominated by fruit and citrus notes, and finishing with just a hint of warming. However, as the pint progresses, the dank notes become more and more prominent, as does the warming. It never becomes aggressive, though, and remains very easy to drink throughout. Heckuva nice beer. (17/20)
Cabin Brewing Company / Camp Beer Co. Happy Campers – American IPA at 6.7% ABV (C$6.15 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 25-Mar-2026, acquired 29-Apr-2026, reviewed 28-May-2026)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of creamy pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, zesty citrus, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry finish. (4/5)
Apparently hopped with Krush and Citra. Nicely balanced with bright juicy aromas and restrained sweetness on a smooth body leading to a clean off-dry finish. No complaints. (16/20)
Eighty-Eight Brewing Happy Dance – American IPA at 6.7% ABV (C$6.35 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 29-Apr-2026, reviewed 26-May-2026)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of creamy white head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: lime, tropical fruit, cereal grains, light vinous and herbal. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, medium finish ending very slightly tart. (4/5)
“Hazy New Zealand IPA” supposedly hopped with Citra, Motueka, Riwaka, and Maui Nelson SubZero Hop Kief. Works for me. I might even have been inclined to do a little happy dance, if I weren’t dead inside. (16/20)
Born Brewing Co. Basecamp #8 Pacific Ale – American Pale Ale at 4.4% ABV (C$5.75 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 16-Apr-2026, acquired 29-Apr-2026, reviewed 23-May-2026)
Appearance: clear straw with one finger of fine white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, stone fruit, citrus, light funk. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, slightly astringent finish. (3/5)
“Hops: Galaxy, Vic Secret, Eclipse” Not working for me. The promised bright hops are actually pretty muted, and the finish tends over-attenuated and slightly astringent. I wonder if it might be damaged, actually, because there’s a light funkiness present that seems completely out of character. A rare swing and a miss for this brewer. (13/20)
The Establishment Brewing Company Walking on Sunshine – American Pale Wheat Ale at 5.0% ABV (C$5.85 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 8-Apr-2026, acquired 29-Apr-2026, reviewed 22-May-2026)
Appearance: slightly chill hazed straw with a short thin white head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: orange pith & zest, wheat. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, short clean finish. (4/5)
I will now proceed to damn this with faint praise: it’s fine. Which, in the context of this brewer, is equivalent to “among the worst they’ve ever made”. Seriously: in over a hundred of their beers tasted, I’ve never once seen them do worse than a seven out of ten, and that’s what this is. Is there anything wrong with it? No. Is it bad? Absolutely not. Is it on par with their average? Not even close. But, it’s fine. (14/20)
The Establishment Brewing Company Space Lord – Quadruple IPA at 11.9% ABV (C$7.55 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 16-Apr-2026, acquired 29-Apr-2026, reviewed 20-May-2026)
Appearance: hazy deep gold with one fat finger of creamy pale ivory head, excellent retention and stringy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pineapple, tropical fruit, citrus, light resiny dank. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate-soft carbonation, mildly warming finish. (4/5)
Citra, Simcoe, Motueka, Motueka Kief, Nectaron, and Mosaic Hyperboost. Loads of flavour and a fairly full body make this a sipper, but not because the ABV intrudes. Just the opposite, in fact – it’s deeply deceptive until you’re well into the pint and you realize this is the equivalent of two or three normal big-boy beverages. Their first Quad IPA, and it’s an absolute banger. (17/20)
The Establishment Brewing Company The Chronic – American IPA at 6.8% ABV (C$6.45 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 8-Apr-2026, acquired 29-Apr-2026, reviewed 8-May-2026)
Appearance: brilliantly clear straw with one fat finger of fluffy white head, excellent retention and stringy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bright citrus, dank resin, field berries. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter tending slightly high. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (4/5)
Mosaic, Nelson Sauvin, Columbus Cryo, Nectaron. It’s not quite as bombastically piney as I like a WCIPA to be, and nowhere near as dank as I’d expect given the name – but it will certainly do. (16/20)
