Month: February 2016

Kiuchi Brewery Hitachino Nest Real Ginger Brew Ginger Beer at 8% ABV (C$4.28 at Andrew Hilton Wine & Spirits, 330 ml, bottle date 1-Jun-2015, best before 1-Jun-2016, reviewed 14-Feb-2016)

Appearance: cloudy medium amber with one finger of medium dense light beige head, good retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel malt, citrus, mild ginger, mild mixed spices. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, mild bitter and lightly spicy finish. (3/5)

I just realized what this reminds me of: pumpkin beer. Oh, and American Strong Ale. I mean, yeah, I get the ginger – eventually – but it takes a seat right at the very back of this bus. This is nothing like your typical Jamaican-style ginger beers. In fact, it sort of reminds me of Arrogant Bastard. With a shot of pumpkin spice. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasserie de la Senne Jambe de Bois Belgian Revolution Tripel Abbey Tripel at 8% ABV (C$3.78 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 330 ml, bottle date 10-Jun-2015, best before 10-Jun-2016, reviewed 14-Feb-2016)

Appearance: cloudy pale straw with two fingers of fluffy eggshell head, excellent retention and good lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dry dusty citrus, bready yeast, white pepper, earth. (8/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate-strong bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, dry medium duration mild bitter finish. (4/5)

Well that’s a bit of all right. Dry and bitter, with just enough mild sweetness to keep it from being unbalanced. Sort of reminds me of their Taras Boulba, but drier and not tart. Refreshing and more-ish, with absolutely no indication of the relatively high ABV. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Ninkasi Brewing Company Noir Milk Stout at 7.6% ABV (C$7.94 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 13-Feb-2016)

Appearance: opaque black with brown margins, one fat finger of fluffy light beige head, moderate retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: coffee, sweet lactose, milk chocolate, dark roast malt, slight metallic. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration mild bitter finish. (3/5)

Nice. Smooth café au lait marred by only a (very) slight metallic note on the nose. Creamy, mildly sweet and pleasant on the tongue, with a rich coffee that never gets astringent or overextracted. Not up to the level of e.g. Brunch Weasel, perhaps, but still pretty enjoyable. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij Bosteels DeuS Brut des Flandres Bière de Champagne at 11.5% ABV (C$20.61 at NLC Stavanger, 750 ml, best before 1-Jun-2016, reviewed 12-Feb-2016)

Appearance: clear pale gold with a tall white head that diminishes rapidly to one finger with good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: apples and pears, spices, white grape must. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: light body, high to lively carbonation, off-dry crisp and lightly tart moderately warming finish. (4/5)

Pretty easy drinking for a massive ABV beast, buoyed by a lively carbonation. I see the champagne comparisons, but unfortunately I think there’s an element of it showing its age (again – the last Bière de Champagne I tried was well past its best-before). Even though it’s four months before its BB date, I think the cidery apple has gone a touch brown, and I can’t help but think this would be nicer – crisper and cleaner – were it fresher. But hey! It’s a 1001 beer, from my local distributor? I don’t remember the last time that happened! (15/20)

My 218th from the 2010 Edition (207th from the 2013 edition), and 229th combining both editions.

7.5/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Dogfish Head Brewery Palo Santo Marron American Strong Ale at 12% ABV (US$6.12 at Specs Main Houston, 355 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 12-Feb-2016)

Appearance: inky unrelieved black with a short fine light beige head that diminishes rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (4/5) Aroma: boozy dried fruit, dark malt, woody perfume. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: full slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, lingering sticky and warm (verging on hot) finish. (4/5)

I have no idea what the cryptic date code on the bottle (“2395 B2 0616”) means. Obviously it isn’t a brew date in June of 2016, and hot as it is I can’t see that being a BB, so your guess is as good as mine. Flavourful and hot, a slow sipper that opens as it warms. Calling it an “American Strong Ale” here, but it’s got a lot in common with Quads/Abts. About as subtle as ‘arf a brick in the teeth, but boozy good fun. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Old Yale Brewing Co. Sasquatch Stout Stout at 5% ABV (C$5.99 at Quarry Park Co-Op, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 11-Feb-2016)

Appearance: opaque black with brown margins, two fingers of rocky light beige head, moderate retention and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: dark roast malt, grassy hops, earth. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body tending slightly to the watery, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration mild bitter and lightly tart finish. (3/5)

Another less than memorable BC stout. It’s not great, nor is it terrible: it’s OK. Not sure why it’s won awards, to be honest, but hey, if it works for you, have at it. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bad Tattoo Brewing Full Sleeve Strong Stout Irish Dry Stout at 5.5% ABV (C$4.58 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, bottle date 1-Jul-2015, reviewed 11-Feb-2016)

Appearance: opaque black with brown margins, one finger of fluffy light beige head, excellent retention and patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dark roast malt, grassy and lightly floral hop, earth. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body tending slightly to the watery, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration mild bitter and lightly metallic finish. (3/5)

Nothing too memorable on the positive or negative side – straightforward Dry Irish Stout. Try it if you’re in the mood for that style, I guess? And if you ask me, that brewery name is a bit on the nose, given the prevalence of such among both craft brewers and their customers. Hell, you might as well call yourselves “Hipster Beard” or “Lumberjack Shirt”… Hold on, I need to go register a couple of trademarks… (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

8 Wired Brewing Company C4 Double Coffee Brown Ale American Brown Ale at 8% ABV (C$11.30 at Sherbrooke Liquor, 500 ml, best before 14-Dec-2016, reviewed 10-Feb-2016)

Appearance: clear amber-brown with one finger of fluffy light beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: coffee, caramel, light vanilla, bready yeast, floral and peppery hops. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, lively to moderate carbonation, medium duration bitter and light tart finish. (3/5)

Again with the unexpected tartness in a coffee beer? I don’t know what they’re doing in New Zealand, but presumably it’s not an age issue, since they (Hallelujah! Finally!) put a BB date on the bottle. There is a small amount of hop profile present here, but it’s largely washed out by the coffee. Once again, I’m not all that thrilled with the coffee, though – it’s coming through as watered down and acrid, instead of smooth and rich (like e.g. Brunch Weasel). Somewhat surprisingly, it’s a bit better balanced than their coffee stout, but it’s still not what I would consider their best work. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com