Month: July 2015

Pike Brewing Company India Pale Ale American IPA at 6.3% ABV (C$6.99 at South Trail Calgary Co-Op, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear pale amber with a fat finger of light tan head, good retention and moderate patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pine, caramel/toffee malt, light citrus, light diacetyl. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

A fairly pedestrian A/IPA. Yes, it’s bitter, and there’s a fairly good balance between the mildly dark malt and the slightly dank bitterness. But the hops don’t have a lot of character other than bitterness – no real brightness or pop. It definitely tastes every inch the 60 IBU the bottle claims – but it isn’t very interesting in the process. (12/20)

My 190th from the 2010 Edition (178th from the 2013 edition), and 200th combining both editions.

6/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Phillips Brewing Company Elsinore Pale Lager at 5.0% ABV (C$2.00 at South Trail Calgary Co-Op, 341 ml, best before 31-Jul-2015)

Appearance: crystal clear pale straw, short white head diminishing rapidly to a ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: grassy, faint floral and citrus, pale malt. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter. (5/10) Palate: light body, lively to moderate carbonation, crisp finish. (3/5)

Take off, eh! What mind-controlling chemicals were Phillips on when they decided to make a Coors light? A mouse in the bottle would’ve been interesting, at least… (Google “Strange Brew” and “Elsinore” if you don’t get any of that.) So anyway, yeah, Coors Light. It’s fine, I was thirsty and it only cost me $2, so why not? Fine, it’s a good Coors Light, with no cheap adjunct flavours. (10/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

LaCotta Cottina Birra Chiara Belgian Pale Ale at 4.8% ABV (C$2.00 at South Trail Calgary Co-Op, 330 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: slightly hazy (with big chunky sediment) straw, two fingers of fluffy white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (2/5) Aroma: grassy, herbal, pale malt. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium light body, lively to moderate carbonation, crisp finish. (3/5)

Dunno what the hell this is. RateBeer says it’s a Pilsener, but La Cotta’s web site says it’s top-fermented, so it can’t be. Beer Advocate says it’s a Belgian Pale, but that’s on the strength of one review. And Untappd says it’s a weizenbock. Looks kinda lager-ish, but it has loads of chunky sediment. Smells like a pils, tastes like a very light Belgian Pale. Hybrids like this make my OCD hurt. On the up side, it’s crisp and refreshing, and it’s not light-struck despite the crappy green bottle. (10/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Laughing Dog Brewing De Achste Hond (Peach) Sour/Wild Ale at 7.0% ABV (C$9.95 at Sundance Wine Market, 650 ml, bottle date 8-Jun-2015)

Appearance: clear pale amber with minimal short-lived head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: short-lived sour peach, apricot, black tea. (7/10) Taste: moderately strong sweet, moderate tart, very mild bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium light body, moderate to low carbonation, crisp finish. (3/5)

Starts off extremely promising with an intensely sour peach nose – that unfortunately then just disappears. Ends up tasting like a mildly tart peach iced tea. Kinda disappointed. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Logsdon Farmhouse Ales Kili Wit Witbier at 5.5% ABV (C$7.10 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 500 ml, best before 1-Oct-2015)

Appearance: slightly hazy extremely pale straw with one finger of white head diminishing rapidly to a thick cap, moderate spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dry yeasty funk, green apple, citrus, coriander. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light funky tart. (8/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, crisp finish. (4/5)

What the heck is that? Nothing like other wits I’ve had – not creamy, not white (at least not with a careful pour, trying to avoid the characteristic Logsdon gusher – but the last inch turned it white), lots of tart. Rather more like a wild or lambic than anything else, to be honest. Bright, crisp, and tart. Really nice and only slightly less interesting than the Logsdon Seizoen. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Logsdon Farmhouse Ales Seizoen Saison at 7.5% ABV (C$7.62 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 500 ml, best before 1-Nov-2017)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers plus of growing pillowy ivory head, excellent retention and chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dry yeasty funk, citrus, earth, herbal, white pepper and other spices. (9/10) Taste: mild sweet, moderate bitter, light funky tart. (9/10) Palate: medium body, lively carbonation, crisp spicy finish. (5/5)

Excellent, highly authentic Franco-Belgian style saison. Dry and funky on the nose, crisp on the tongue, with a developing green apple finish. Complex and enjoyable. (18/20)

9/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Nøgne Ø (Hansa Borg) Vic Secret IPA American IPA at 7.5% ABV (C$8.01 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 500 ml, bottle date 3-Oct-2014 best before 3-Oct-2016)

Appearance: cloudy pale amber with one finger of rocky light tan head, poor retention and spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pine, tropical fruit, caramel malt, citrus. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, strong bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter and slightly warming finish. (3/5)

Less than a year old, and well under its two year BB date – but I still think it’s a bit faded. Not that it isn’t massively bitter – it is (100 IBU) – but I think some of the brightness has dulled with time. I’d like to try this fresher. That said, a quality IPA if you don’t mind massive dank bitterness. Just not a lot of bright citrus left at this point. Nearly translucent cloudiness due to the big chunky sediment you find in the last inch of so many of Nøgne Ø brews, despite my trying to avoid the worst of it during the pour. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Privatbrauerei Erdinger Weißbräu Werner Brombach GmbH Erdinger Urweiss Hefeweizen at 4.9% ABV (C$5.20 in a mixed pack at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 500 ml, best before 03/2016)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with two fingers of frothy light tan head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: banana, bubblegum, coriander, doughy wheat. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, very mild bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body tending somewhat to watery, moderate carbonation, brief off-dry finish. (3/5)

A nice hefeweizen with lunch. Pleasant aroma, balanced taste and a non-intrusive finish. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Nøgne Ø (Hansa Borg) Asian Pale Ale American Pale Ale at 4.5% ABV (C$7.21 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 500 ml, bottle date 16-Jan-2015 best before 16-Jan-2016)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with two fingers of fluffy off-white head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: lemongrass, lime and tropical fruit, pale malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate to strong sweet, moderate bitter, moderate tart. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration tart finish. (4/5)

Lots of fun – bright and citrusy, and it tastes far more bitter than the 10 IBU the labels claims. I think maybe it’s the lemongrass? Overall, it feels like a lot of added flavours, but I have to admit they integrate reasonably well, and never feel artificial. It’s sweet, but not sickly. Huge chunky sediment in the last inch, too, but that’s not really an issue – especially since the bottle explicitly warns you to pour carefully to avoid the sediment. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com