RyansBooze

Irrational Brewing Company Opacity 33 – American IPA at 6.0% ABV (C$6.00 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 24-Jul-2026, reviewed 7-Sep-2026)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fine pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dank resin, tropical fruit, citrus. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, medium duration slightly spicy mildly warming finish. (4/5)

“Triple Dry-Hopped with Nelson, Kohia Nelson, Nelson Amplifire & Nelson Hop Juice”. Nice one. Pleasant dank resin balanced nicely with juicy fruit, restrained sweetness and a solid finish. (16/20)

This will be my 6,509th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Privatbrauerei Ettl Ettl Helles – Helles Lager at 4.8% ABV (C$4.83 at Costco Okotoks, 500 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Sep-2026, reviewed 6-Sep-2026)

Appearance: clear pale straw with one finger of fine white head diminishing gradually to a thick cap, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: biscuity malt, grassy hay, faint citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, clean short finish. (3/5)

My twelfth from a Costco 12-pack of German festbiers. (I couldn’t resist, since I’m flying to Munich in a couple of days, and will be at Oktoberfest in a couple of weeks.) I mean, you don’t go looking for ”interesting” or “challenging” in a Helles, do you? It’s fine – clean and crisp. Drink it and move on. (13/20)

This will be my 6,508th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

KALEA GmbH Beery Greetings from Bavaria – Witbier at 5.2% ABV (C$4.83 at Costco Okotoks, 500 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Sep-2026, reviewed 6-Sep-2026)

Appearance: hazy medium amber with two fat fingers of fine ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: banana, wheat, cloves. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium slightly sticky finish. (3/5)

My eleventh from a Costco 12-pack of German festbiers. (I couldn’t resist, since I’m flying to Munich in a couple of days, and will be at Oktoberfest in a couple of weeks.) A little sweeter than I like, carrying through into a slightly sticky finish. Maybe also a little more Belgian than German? In any case, it’s fine, but not much better than that. (13/20)

This will be my 6,507th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brauerei Rittmayer Hallerndorf  1422 Festbier – Festbier at 5.8% ABV (C$4.83 at Costco Okotoks, 500 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Sep-2026, reviewed 5-Sep-2026)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, moderate clingy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: honey, doughy bread, grass. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration finish. (3/5)

My tenth from a Costco 12-pack of German festbiers. (I couldn’t resist, since I’m flying to Munich in a few days, and will be at Oktoberfest in just over two weeks.) Fairly generic Festbier without a whole lot to distinguish it. (13/20)

This will be my 6,506th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Privatbrauerei Ettl Festbier – Festbier at 5.6% ABV (C$4.83 at Costco Okotoks, 500 ml, best before 1-Dec-2027, acquired 1-Sep-2026, reviewed 5-Sep-2026)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and moderate clingy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: honey, doughy bread, grass. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration finish. (3/5)

My ninth from a Costco 12-pack of German festbiers. (I couldn’t resist, since I’m flying to Munich in a few days, and will be at Oktoberfest in just over two weeks.) Fairly generic Festbier without a whole lot to distinguish it. (13/20)

This will be my 6,505th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Radbrauerei Gebr. Bucher Rosa’s Märzen Spezial – Festbier at 5.5% ABV (C$4.83 at Costco Okotoks, 500 ml, best before 1-Dec-2027, acquired 1-Sep-2026, reviewed 3-Sep-2026)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of fluffy pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: toasted crackery malt, floral, grass. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration finish. (3/5)

My eighth from a Costco 12-pack of German festbiers. (I couldn’t resist, since I’m flying to Munich in under a week, and will be at Oktoberfest in under three.) Meh. There’s nothing actually off here, but it’s pretty unremarkable. (12/20)

This will be my 6,503rd unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Privatbrauerei M.C. Wieninger Festbier Bavarian Lager Beer – Festbier at 5.8% ABV (C$4.83 at Costco Okotoks, 500 ml, best before 1-Dec-2027, acquired 1-Sep-2026, reviewed 3-Sep-2026)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two fingers of fluffy pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thick cap, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: honey, grass, toasted bread, faint citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration slightly spicy finish. (3/5)

My seventh from a Costco 12-pack of German festbiers. (I couldn’t resist, since I’m flying to Munich in under a week, and will be at Oktoberfest in under three.) There’s nothing specific here that I find problematic, but it doesn’t have a whole lot to recommend it. (13/20)

This will be my 6,502nd unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Hohenthanner Schlossbrauerei Märzen Festbier – Oktoberfest / Märzen at 5.6% ABV (C$4.83 at Costco Okotoks, 500 ml, best before 1-Dec-2027, acquired 1-Sep-2026, reviewed 3-Sep-2026)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two fat fingers of pillowy pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, toasted bready malt, light citrus, grass/floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration slightly spicy finish. (4/5)

My sixth from a Costco 12-pack of German festbiers. (I couldn’t resist, since I’m flying to Munich in under a week, and will be at Oktoberfest in under three.) A decent example of the style, albeit without much to distinguish it from other similar offerings. (14/20)

This will be my 6,501st unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Schlossbrauerei Herrngiersdorf Grantler Festmärzen – Oktoberfest / Märzen at 5.6% ABV (C$4.83 at Costco Okotoks, 500 ml, best before 1-Dec-2027, acquired 1-Sep-2026, reviewed 2-Sep-2026)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of fluffy pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, spotty soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: toasted almost smoky bready malt, minerality, grass/floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration slightly spicy finish. (4/5)

My fifth from a Costco 12-pack of German festbiers. (I couldn’t resist, since I’m flying to Munich in a week, and will be at Oktoberfest in three.) “Grumpy Bavarian Festbier” (“Grantler” literally means “grumpy”.) Is it a festbier for grumpy Bavarians, or a grumpy festbier for Bavarians? Inquiring minds want to know… I’m not suggesting this is a Rauchbier or anything, but for me this invites that comparison, with the toasted malt verging on smoky. Not that I’m complaining – I appreciate the variation, but I’m sure a purist would disagree. (13/20)

This will be my 6,500th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brauerei Aldersbach Kloster Festbier – Festbier at 5.8% ABV (C$4.83 at Costco Okotoks, 500 ml, best before 1-Dec-2027, acquired 1-Sep-2026, reviewed 2-Sep-2026)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of fluffy pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: honey, biscuity malt, mild citrus & spices. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, medium duration slightly spicy finish. (4/5)

My fourth from a Costco 12-pack of German festbiers. (I couldn’t resist, since I’m flying to Munich in a week, and will be at Oktoberfest in three.) As usual, there’s not a lot of variation in this style, and relatively little to distinguish one offering from another. (That’s why I’m glad I’m doing these in relatively quick succession, because it otherwise might be a bit hard to rank them.) Nothing egregious going on here, but ultimately it falls just a little lower on the scale. (13/20)

This will be my 6,499th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com