Month: August 2015

Muskoka Brewery Moonlight Kettle Summer Saison Saison at 7.3% ABV (C$9.95 at Sundance Wine Market, 750 ml, best before 28-Aug-2015)

Appearance: hazy pale to medium amber with one finger of loose light tan head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, Belgian yeast, cloves and spices, citrus, pale malt, light pepper. (7/10) Taste: mild sweet, mild bitter, mild tart, light spicy pepper. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry warming finish. (4/5)

Not a bad implementation of the style, albeit a bit heavier and boozier than tradition would dictate. And yes, I realize my tasting notes make it sound like a kitchen sink of aromas and tastes – which it is – but it’s not bad for all that. That said, I’d prefer lighter (body and ABV), crisper and dryer as a summer beer. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasseurs du Monde / Le Picoleur Houblonnière American Pale Ale at 5.2% ABV (C$5.00 at Epicerie J.A. Moisan, 500 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: slightly hazy medium gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pithy citrus, pine, floral, pale malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body tending slightly to the watery, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Not bad at all! More like an A/IPA than an APA, perhaps, but as I’ve observed on more than one occasion, the finer points of the distinction between those two styles continues to elude me. Sufficed to say this thing has lots of fragrant hop aroma, backed up by a decent but not overwhelming bitterness on the tongue, and in particular on the finish. A bit simplistic, perhaps, but ultimately it’s clean and pleasant. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Le Bilboquet MacKroken Flower Scotch Ale at 10.8% ABV (C$7.10 at Epicerie J.A. Moisan, 500 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear deep amber with one finger of loose tan head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: honey, floral, toffee and butterscotch, molasses, boozy dark fruit. (6/10) Taste: moderately strong sweet, very mild bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium to full body, moderate carbonation, sweet warming finish. (3/5)

I continue to be unimpressed by the style in general, but this isn’t a bad one, as it goes. It’s a big boozy beast, which of course warms me up to it (no pun intended). Worth trying if you happen across one. (13/20)

My 196th from the 2010 Edition (184rd from the 2013 edition), and 206th combining both editions.

6.5/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasseurs du Nord Boréale Blanche Witbier at 4.2% ABV (C$2.50 at Epicerie J.A. Moisan, 473 ml, best before 22-Oct-2015)

Appearance: hazy straw with a short frothy white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus zest, ginger, coriander, wheat, bready yeast. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, moderate peppery spice. (6/10) Palate: light body, lively to moderate carbonation, zesty peppery finish. (3/5)

I don’t think I’ve ever had a witbier quite like this before – it’s distinctly gingery in addition to the normal coriander, giving it a not-unwelcome peppery bite. Decently light and crisp, but the spices don’t feel integrated all that well. Good, but not great. (12/20)

My 195th from the 2010 Edition (183rd from the 2013 edition), and 205th combining both editions.

6/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Breakside Brewery Lunch Break India Session Ale Session IPA at 4.7% ABV (C$8.75 at Hume Hotel Liquor Boutique, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear straw with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and good lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pine, pithy citrus, pale malt, light herbal. (8/10) Taste: mild to moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: light to medium body, moderate carbonation, short duration mildly bitter finish. (4/5)

Quite nice. Just slightly lighter in flavours and body than a full-on IPA, with a clean and crisp more-ish finish. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Torchlight Brewing Co. Broadside IPA American IPA at 7% ABV (C$7.85 at Hume Hotel Liquor Boutique, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear medium amber with one finger of rocky ivory head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: grassy/herbal, caramel malt, coffee, bready yeast. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (4/10) Palate: medium to full body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Not great. And really not an IPA. Kind of a highly hopped amber ale, more than anything. I like supporting micro/nano breweries, but this is a bit of a disappointment. (10/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Breakside Brewery Wanderlust India Pale Ale American IPA at 6.7% ABV (C$8.75 at Hume Hotel Liquor Boutique, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with a fat finger of rocky ivory head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pine, pithy citrus, pale malt, mild catty, light herbal. (8/10) Taste: mild to moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Interesting doing this one side by side with their Session IPA. There’s a strong family relationship, but I think I slightly prefer this one. Not that it’s necessarily better, as such, just different. A little heavier in the body, with more pronounced flavours, and what might be Citra coming through with just a hint of cattiness that’s not present in the ISA – but not in a negative way. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Tofino Brewing Co. Hoppin’ Cretin American IPA at 7.5% ABV (C$7.15 at Hume Hotel Liquor Boutique, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and well-defined lacing. (5/5) Aroma: woody pine, floral, citrus, caramel. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium to full body, moderate carbonation, lingering and building bitter finish. (4/5)

“Nunc est bibendum” indeed. The hops are all the usual starts-with-C varietals that I know and love so well. And it’s such a pretty beer, with pretty much perfect colour, retention and lacing. While we’re talking appearance: the label, I’m more than halfway convinced, is a backhanded compliment to our lovely neighbours south of the border, or at least their passports – so there’s that. Bottom line? I’ll bibendum this all day long. (Hold on – ain’t “Bibendum” the Michelin Man’s name? Another tick in the “pro” column!) (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

pFriem Family Brewers pFriem IPA American IPA at 7.2% ABV (C$7.35 at Hume Hotel Liquor Boutique, 500 ml, bottle date 19-May-2015)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two fingers of loose ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dank, pine, floral, citrus, pale biscuity malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium to full body, moderate carbonation, lingering and building bitter finish. (4/5)

That’s a nice IPA – West Coast dank (yes, I mean pot – it smells like pot) and slightly funky, with a well-balanced pale malt supporting on the back end. Dunno what else there is to to say here. Fun. Get it. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Persephone Brewing Company India Summer Ale Session IPA at 5.5% ABV (C$7.85 at Hume Hotel Liquor Boutique, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear pale straw with a fat finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pithy citrus, crackery malt, light floral, slight catty. (7/10) Taste: mild sweet, moderately strong bitter. (7/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, lingering and building dry and bitter finish. (4/5)

I generally quite like ISA’s, and it’s not that I don’t like this one – but somewhat to my surprise, I think I actually prefer their APA. The low sweetness makes this more-ish and clean, sure, but this verges on the astringent. I don’t say this often, but it might actually benefit from a little more sweetness. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com