Month: August 2015

Steamworks Brewing Company Jasmine IPA American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$6.70 at Fernie Mountain Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear straw with a short white head, good retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: floral jasmine, citrus, grassy and herbal. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, lively carbonation, decent bitter finish. (4/5)

Not bad at all. Lots of jasmine flower perfume character, but it’s not off-putting. Not as smoothly done as Elysian’s version, perhaps, but still pleasantly entertaining and bitter. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mt. Begbie Brewing Co. Powerhouse Pale Ale English Pale Ale at 4.8% ABV (C$5.70 at Fernie Mountain Spirits, 650 ml, bottle date 12-Jul-2015)

Appearance: clear pale amber with a short ivory head, good retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: biscuity and caramel malt, honey, grassy, light diacetyl. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, lively carbonation, brief duration finish. (3/5)

I guess it’s reasonably true to style, but I’d be happier with more hop presence. Sessionable, and would probably go well with fish and chips. Can’t see ever bothering to try it again. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Nelson Brewing Company Full Nelson Organic Imperial IPA American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.2% ABV (C$8.25 at Hume Hotel Liquor Boutique, 650 ml, best before 11/24/15)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pine, caramel malt, light tropical fruit and citrus, earthy and woody. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering and building bitter finish. (4/5)

Tried five other Nelson Brewing Company products on tap at the pub down the block this evening (check my Untappd profile if you care), but this one – no longer available on tap, they tell me – is the belle of the ball. Beefy big D/IPA, with an OK malt/hop balance (as usual, I’d prefer more hop-forward), some interesting earthy/woody complexity, and a decent integration of a respectably high ABV. (Snagged another dozen local/new-to-me at the same time, but can’t be bothered to do the haul list tonight.) (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Rogue Ales 7 Hop IPA American Double / Imperial IPA at 7.77% ABV (C$7.21 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear deep gold with one finger of ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pine, caramel malt, tropical fruit, light citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Little disappointing. Aw, who’m I kidding: it’s Rogue, it’s not like I’m surprised or anything. The kitchen sink of hops is a bit muddled and doesn’t come through cleanly over the caramel malt. OK, not great. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Warka (Zywiec Group/Heineken) Warka Strong Imperial Pils/Strong Pale Lager at 6.5% ABV (C$3.49 at South Trail Calgary Co-Op, 500 ml, best before 16-Feb-2016)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and good lacing. (4/5) Aroma: biscuity malt, toffee. (5/10) Taste: moderately strong sweet, moderately low bitter. (5/10) Palate: full slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, moderately bitter and syrupy finish. (2/5)

Meh. Not my preferred style, but not bad. The profile is completely malt, with no hop character at all, but it’s not unpleasant. (12/20)

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Ninkasi Brewing Company Maiden the Shade Summer Style India Pale Ale American IPA at 6.8% ABV (C$7.16 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with two fingers of fluffy off-white head, excellent retention and good lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus (mostly pithy grapefruit), tropical fruit (mango), pine, mild grass. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering mildly bitter finish. (4/5)

Quite nice – a bright and pleasant A/IPA with decent citrus and tropical fruits. Hop forward, with just enough malt to support. Brighter would be nice, sure, but I’m greedy that way. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasserie Les 2 Frères Hickson IPA American IPA at 6.2% ABV (C$4.15 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 500 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with two fingers of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and heavy chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, floral, caramel. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, moderately bitter finish. (4/5)

Quite nice. Lots of interesting hop aromas – all the starts-with-C usual suspects are there, and it shows. The malt is nicely balanced, providing decent backup for the hops, without making the brew malt-forward. There’s a lingering but not overwhelming bitter finish, but I’m a little surprised by the 53 IBU the label claims – I’d’ve guessed it was more. Another Quebec brewery that bears watching. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasserie Les 2 Frères Charles Henri Blanche Witbier at 5.1% ABV (C$4.15 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 500 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: hazy pale straw with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and heavy chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: lemon, grassy, light yeast. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium light body, moderate carbonation, crisp and lightly tart finish. (4/5)

A pleasantly citrusy and tart witbier. A little one-dimensional, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing if you enjoy that dimension – and I like tart citrus, so… (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com