Month: December 2015

Wells & Young’s Brewery Banana Bread Beer English Strong Ale at 5.2% ABV (C$5.79 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 500 ml, best before 28-Jun-2016, reviewed 15-Dec-2015)

Appearance: clear pale amber with a short, short-lived head, no lacing. (2/5) Aroma: banana, toffee, bready yeast. (4/10) Taste: moderate-strong sweet, mild bitter. (4/10) Palate: medium-light body tending to watery, moderate carbonation, off-dry slightly metallic finish. (2/5)

Yes, it sort of tastes like banana bread. Extremely sweet and artificially-flavoured banana bread. I suppose it’s OK as a one-time alternative to a macro lager, but that’s about it. (8/20)

4/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Alley Kat Brewing Co. / Big Rock Brewery Big Brown Kat American Brown Ale at 4.8% ABV (C$7.50 at Sundance Wine Market, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 15-Dec-2015)

Appearance: clear deep amber with one finger of rocky light tan head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, chocolate, pine, citrus, nutty. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry finish. (4/5)

Not a bad brown ale – decent pine and citrus hops provide an interesting added dimension to a mild brown ale. Still not exactly thrilling, but an OK collaboration between two decent brewers. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

West Sixth Brewing Christmas Ale Christmas / Winter Specialty Spiced Beer at 9% ABV (2015 Craft Beer Advent Calendar Day #15, 355 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 15-Dec-2015)

Appearance: opaque brown with hints of clear deep amber-brown around the margins, thin beige head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, minimal patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: ginger and nutmeg, cloves/cardamom, orange peel, other dark roasty malt tones. (7/10) Taste: moderate-strong sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-high carbonation, shortish duration slightly boozy finish. (3/5)

Not a bad little warmer for a cold winter night. Carbonation is higher than I’d like for the style, making the body feel lighter than I’d prefer, and the strong spice mixture is for all intents and purposes identical to any number of “pumpkin” ales I’ve had. The spice is actually just about the entire story: although there’s a little citrus and malt lurking in the background, it’s a long way behind the aggressive spices. But, that said, it’s not unpleasant. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasserie Artisanale de Rulles La Rulles Saison XIII Saison at 5.3% ABV (C$7.91 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, best before 1-Jan-2017, reviewed 14-Dec-2015)

Appearance: cloudy pale amber with two fingers (and growing!) of fluffy ivory head, excellent retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: berries, caramel malt, hay, nuts, dried fruit. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, mild tart and funk. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry earthy funky finish. (3/5)

Not entirely certain what they were going for here. Earthy? Rustic? Whatever it is, I was initially unconvinced, but it grew on me. An interesting beer despite its rough edges. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Jester King Brewery / Brasserie Thiriez La Petite Princesse Saison at 2.9% ABV (C$7.46 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, best before 1-Sep-2019, reviewed 14-Dec-2015)

Appearance: cloudy pale straw with one finger of fluffy white head, excellent retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: lemon zest, brett funk, hay, apples and pears, very light crackery malt, faint catty. (7/10) Taste: mild sweet, moderate tart, mild bitter. (7/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, crisp tart finish. (4/5)

I gotta say, the weirdest thing about this is that it cost me pretty much the same number of Canadian dollars, in Canada, as it did to buy its brother Le Petit Prince, in US dollars, in Texas! Very similar, of course, but I think a little less sweet. Also, perhaps a very little (and by no means unpleasant) catty tone due to the different hop selection? Much as with the Prince, my major objection to this is that it could stand to be more… well… everything. Sweet, in particular. Good, though. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Saugatuck Brewing Company Blueberry Maple Stout Sweet Stout at 5.9% ABV (2015 Craft Beer Advent Calendar Day #14, 355 ml, bottle date 16-Jun-2015, reviewed 14-Dec-2015)

Appearance: opaque deep brown / black with only a hint of clear brown around the margins, thin beige head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, minimal patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: maple syrup, sweet artificial blueberry, milk chocolate, roasty malt. (6/10) Taste: strong sweet, moderate-low bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium syrupy body, moderate carbonation, longish sticky sweet  slightly boozy finish. (3/5)

Cloying sweet maple syrup and artificial-tasting blueberry make this less than convincing. Surprisingly boozy finish given the moderate ABV. OK as a fireside sipper on a cold night, I guess, but I can’t say I’d recommend going out of one’s way to try it. (11/20)

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Stone Brewing Company Depth-Charged Double Bastard Ale American Strong Ale at 11% ABV (C$10.78 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, bottle date 1-Oct-2015, reviewed 13-Dec-2015)

Appearance: clear medium amber with one finger of dense light tan head, short retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: espresso, caramel/toffee, pine, woody, citrus, tobacco, mild vanilla, spicy chile. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, strong bitter, moderate chili spice. (7/10) Palate: full body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter, spicy, and boozy finish. (4/5)

Woof. This makes Arrogant Bastard look like a light sipper: pile an espresso depth charge on top of the unleashed beast that is Double Bastard, and I think maybe add a chipotle pepper or two, just for fun. Literally nothing about this is moderate, except maybe the carbonation. Is it the best beer you’ll try? Hell, no – but try it anyway. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Stone Brewing Company Oaked Arrogant Bastard American Strong Ale at 7.2% ABV (C$10.78 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, bottle date 9-Oct-2015, reviewed 13-Dec-2015)

Appearance: clear medium amber with one finger of dense light tan head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel/toffee, pine, woody, citrus, tobacco, mild vanilla, hint of spicy rye. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, strong bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Big oaky bastard with huge maltiness that is nevertheless just barely sufficient to balance the massive bitterness. Subtle, it ain’t, but man, it’s good. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Phillips Brewing Company Scarfface Cranberry Orange Wit Witbier at 5% ABV (C$7.95 at Sundance Wine Market, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 13-Dec-2015)

Appearance: hazy peach-tinted pale amber with one finger of fluffy slightly pink head, good retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mandarin oranges, cranberry, wheat malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-low bitter, moderate tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry tart finish. (4/5)

Just like the label promises, an interesting change of pace from your typical holiday beer, though it’s hardly “light” by any means. Sweet, but reasonably well balanced with decent tartness. Pretty filling, though, and I don’t think I’d want more than one! (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Innis & Gunn Brewing Company Innis & Gunn Oak Aged Beer Rum Finish English Strong Ale at 6.8% ABV (C$4.37 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 330 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 13-Dec-2015)

Appearance: clear medium to deep amber with one finger of fluffy ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel, vanilla, woody, rum. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly boozy finish. (3/5)

I’ve been really bored with Innis & Gunn for quite some time, but this was in one of Calgary Co-Op’s Discovery Beer Packs, so I was kind of stuck with it. I hadn’t had it before, so I figured, what the hell. And, actually, it’s not bad. Like pretty much everything they make, it’s really too sweet, but the rum character is actually quite mild and pleasant. I thought it would be a Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy, but I think the correct stye is actually an English Strong, which is probably why I like it more than I expected to. I also went back and re-reviewed my notes for other I&G’s, and came to the conclusion that I dramatically overrated them all. My only defence was that I was young(er), foolish(er), and enthusiastic(er). This is a more correct rating, and should be counted among their best. And no, I’m not going back and re-doing the others, unless some very silly person insists – and then buys them for me. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com