Categories
Reviews

Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams) Rebel Grapefruit IPA – American IPA at 6.3% ABV

Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams) Rebel Grapefruit IPA American IPA at 6.3% ABV (US$1.99 at Publix Super Market at Lake Cay Commons, 355 ml, best before 1-Aug-2016, acquired 30-Apr-2016, reviewed 30-Apr-2016)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of rocky ivory head, good retention and spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: grapefruit (juice, not pith), sweet caramel malt, mild pine and earth. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Not bad at all – but I am a sucker for a grapefruit IPA. All things considered, pretty good for a fairly mass-market beer. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Categories
Reviews

Brouwerij Hoegaarden (InBev) Hoegaarden (Blanche) – Witbier at 5% ABV

Brouwerij Hoegaarden (InBev) Hoegaarden (Blanche) Witbier at 5% ABV (On tap at Boccone YYZ, reviewed 30-Apr-2016)

Appearance: cloudy opaque pale gold with one finger of fine off-white head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, minimal patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: orange peel, coriander, yeasty wheat, floral. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild tart, light peppery spice. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, short duration lightly tart and spicy finish. (4/5)

A classic that I’ve had many times, yet somehow never reviewed. And they served it in a bucket-sized glass so what’s not to like? (Honestly, it was a jug without a handle! It almost took two hands for me to drink from it when it was full! Ok, ok, I know it’s just thick glass – but it’s still impressive.) Serving size aside, it’s a pretty reliable mass-market standard. Light, easy to drink (though you might need to use both hands!) and probably the standard against which witbiers are measured. No complaints here. (16/20)

8/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Categories
Reviews

Mill Street Brewery Don Valley Bench – Hefeweizen at 4.5% ABV

Mill Street Brewery Don Valley Bench Hefeweizen at 4.5% ABV (On tap at Mill Street Brewpub YYZ, reviewed 30-Apr-2016)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of slightly creamy white head, moderate retention and lacing. (3/5) Aroma: muted, grainy pale malt, grassy. (4/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, very light tart. (4/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, short duration mildly bitter finish. (3/5)

Meh. Really bland. Almost no wheat at all, except for a very little sour-ish edge. But for that, it could almost be a macro lager – except it’s not that crisp. Finishes reasonably clean, but there’s just not much going on. (9/20)

4.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Categories
Reviews

The Bruery Or Xata – Spice / Herb / Vegetable at 7.1% ABV

The Bruery Or Xata Spice / Herb / Vegetable at 7.1% ABV (C$16.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, bottle date 19-Jan-2016, acquired 16-Apr-2016, reviewed 27-Apr-2016)

Appearance: hazy straw with one finger of loose fluffy white head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet lactic, vanilla, cinnamon, rice. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, mild bitter, light spice. (7/10) Palate: medium-light creamy body, moderate carbonation, short duration mildly spicy finish. (3/5)

What. The. Hell. Is. That? Seriously weird. Not offensive, mind you, but more like a milk shake than a beer. Creamy lactic, vanilla, and cinnamon. Ooo, ooo, no, it’s not a milk shake, it’s rice pudding. Boozy rice pudding. So, y’know, not a lot to actually DISlike. What? I like rice pudding, OK? (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Categories
Reviews

Phillips Brewing Company Phillips Benefit Brew Edmonton and Area Land Trust Oatmeal Brown – American Brown Ale at 5% ABV

Phillips Brewing Company Phillips Benefit Brew Edmonton and Area Land Trust Oatmeal Brown American Brown Ale at 5% ABV (C$6.99 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 26-Apr-2016, reviewed 27-Apr-2016)

Appearance: clear deep amber with a creamy dense light beige head, excellent retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: grainy caramel malt, dry cocoa, light coffee, slight earthy and nutty. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, short duration mildly sweet and lightly bitter finish. (3/5)

A mild brown ale with a hint of oatmeal smoothness. Nothing too thrilling. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Categories
Reviews

Parallel 49 Brewing Company Filthy Dirty IPA – American IPA at 7.2% ABV

Parallel 49 Brewing Company Filthy Dirty IPA – American IPA at 7.2% ABV

On tap at Craft Beer Market. A little muted, possibly from pillowy head. Floral, piney, tropical fruit. Medium slightly oily body but drops off rapidly, becoming watery. 6.5/10

#ryansbooze

Filthy Dirty IPA

Patrick is drinking a Filthy Dirty IPA by Parallel 49 Brewing Company on Untappd

Categories
Reviews

Blindman Brewing Longshadows IPA – American IPA at 7.1% ABV

Blindman Brewing Longshadows IPA – American IPA at 7.1% ABV

On tap at Craft Beer Market. Tropical fruit and citrus, clean pale malt backing. Might be “inspired by Vermont” but Heady doesn’t have anything to worry about yet. Ok. 6.5/10

#ryansbooze

Longshadows IPA

Patrick is drinking a Longshadows IPA by Blindman Brewing on Untappd

Categories
Reviews

Stone Brewing Stochasticity Project: Grainiac – Specialty Grain at 8.5% ABV

Stone Brewing Stochasticity Project: Grainiac – Specialty Grain at 8.5% ABV

On tap at Craft Beer Market. Citrus, pine, rye, and maybe triticale combine for a hoppy, spicy blend, just enough caramel. Been too long since I had a really good Stone! 7.5/10

#ryansbooze

Stochasticity Project: Grainiac

Patrick is drinking a Stochasticity Project: Grainiac by Stone Brewing on Untappd

Categories
Reviews

Big Rock Brewery Purple Gas – Fruit Beer at 5.2% ABV

Big Rock Brewery Purple Gas – Fruit Beer at 5.2% ABV

On tap at The Last Straw. No purple at all! Pale amber, light berry aroma and wheat quickly overwhelmed by cloying sugary sweetness. Not one of Big Rock’s best. 5/10

#ryansbooze

Purple Gas

Patrick is drinking a Purple Gas by Big Rock Brewery on Untappd

Categories
Reviews

Parallel 49 / Bridge Brewing Company Bat Outta Hell – Bock at 6.5% ABV

Parallel 49 / Bridge Brewing Company Bat Outta Hell Bock at 6.5% ABV (C$2.29 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 341 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 16-Apr-2016, reviewed 27-Apr-2016)

Appearance: clear deep amber with a short-lived fluffy ivory head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel malt, mild dark fruit, faintly bready. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, short duration mildly sweet and lightly bitter finish. (3/5)

A bit too middle of the road for my taste, but certainly pleasant and inoffensive. Rather light in flavour and texture for the colour, making it an easy beer to drink. This one marks the halfway point in the Brews Brothers Volume Two pack for me, and it’s been reasonably solid thus far. No big standout discoveries yet, but it seems a bit more consistent than the first one, last year. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com