Month: May 2016

Phillips Brewing Company Hop Circle IPA American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$2.67 at Crowfoot Liquor Douglas Square, 341 ml, best before 18-Jul-2016, acquired 24-May-2016, reviewed 24-May-2016)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one fingers of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pithy grapefruit, caramel malt, pine resin. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, medium-dry slightly sticky and lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

I understand this is the replacement for Phillips Original IPA, so I’m counting it as a 1001. Nice IPA, but maltier than my preference. Not malt-forward, as such, but it’s obvious that this is an older-style, still strongly English-influenced IPA. The big bitterness is there, but it’s well-integrated and supported by the sweet caramel malt. The ABV doesn’t really factor, and is apparent only as a mild warming at the very end. (15/20)

My 226th from the 2010 Edition (215th from the 2013 edition), and 237th combining both editions.

7.5/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brewsters Brewing Company Mad Hops Double IPA (2016) American Double / Imperial IPA at 8% ABV (C$7.79 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 23-May-2016, reviewed 23-May-2016)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and chunky lacing. (5/5) Aroma: pithy grapefruit, pine resin, caramel malt, mild floral, light tropical. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, medium-dry slightly sticky and lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Pretty similar to the last time I tried it – lots of hops leading the way, with just enough sweet malt for support, and a well-integrated mild ABV. It’s actually not as bitter as I’d expect for the 100IBU that the brewer claims, but it’s still pretty damn hoppy. Lots of fun. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasserie Belgh Brasse Mons Abbey Blonde Belgian Pale Ale at 7% ABV (C$8.04 at NLC Stavanger, 750 ml, bottle date 17-Nov-2015, acquired 13-May-2016, reviewed 21-May-2016)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky off-white head, excellent retention and chunky lacing. (5/5) Aroma: banana, apple and pear, yeast, bubblegum. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, mild bitter, light tart. (7/10) Light body, lively carbonation, off-dry slightly sticky and mildly warming finish. (3/5)

Reasonably authentic Belgian-syle ale, with lots of yeast-derived character. The apple note is almost but not quite brown apple, and the flavours linger in a not entirely desirable fashion, but overall it’s a fairly decent example of the style. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Phillips Brewing Company Amnesiac American Double IPA at 8.5% ABV

Pours a clear straw gold with one finger and a bit of persistent white head and moderate lacing. Nose is piney hops, with a little citrus. Taste is similar, with a little mango and grapefruit, with a little malt following. Mouth feel is medium-bodied, with a lingering bitter finish. Decent DIPA – 8.5/10.

#ryansbooze #1001beers

Grand River Brewing Mill Race Dark Mild Ale at 3.6% ABV (C$4.97 at NLC Stavanger, 500 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 29-Apr-2016, reviewed 20-May-2016)

Appearance: clear amber-brown with one finger of creamy ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dark roasty malt, cocoa, vinous red berries, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, mild bitter, light tart. (7/10) Medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry slightly sticky finish. (4/5)

Wow, these guys are just nailing the traditional styles. First, an amber that I actually enjoy, and now a mild that’s actually interesting even though it’s got an ABV that you could feed to a kid. (Well, almost. If it were at the end of hectic day, maybe, and you just wanted a few minutes’ peace and quiet…) Despite the fairly forbidding colour, this thing is mild and approachable, and I hesitate to even call the body “medium”. Gotta be one of the best milds I’ve ever had. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Grand River Brewing Plowman’s Ale American Amber / Red Ale at 4.7% ABV (C$4.97 at NLC Stavanger, 500 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 29-Apr-2016, reviewed 20-May-2016)

Appearance: clear medium amber with one finger of creamy ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel/toffee malt, pine, toast, citrus zest, earth. (7/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry slightly sticky lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Well, that’s a bit of a surprise: it looks like an amber, but the aromas include a decent hop character in addition to the malt. Moreover, although the taste has some malt elements, it’s not sweet at all, and the bitterness is quite pronounced. I find it hard to believe that it’s only 35 IBU, actually, and can definitely taste the super-alpha hops. The bitterness really sticks around in the slightly sticky finish, lingering and growing. An amber I actually like – who’d’a thunk it? (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Granville Island Brewing Hey Day Hefeweizen at 5% ABV (C$3.45 at NLC Stavanger, 473 ml, bottle date 2-Mar-2016, acquired 15-May-2016, reviewed 19-May-2016)

Appearance: cloudy deep gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: banana, yeasty wheat, bubblegum, oranges, cloves. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, light spice. (7/10) Light body, lively carbonation, off-dry short duration slightly spicy finish. (3/5)

Nice little hefe. Lots of banana flavour on the outset, with a nicely balanced spicy clove/coriander in the finish. Nothing thrilling, but it works for me. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Hop City Brewing Co. Lawn Chair “Classic” Weisse Hefeweizen at 5% ABV (C$3.56 at NLC Stavanger, 473 ml, bottle date 30-Jul-2015, acquired 13-May-2016, reviewed 19-May-2016)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: yeasty wheat, banana, citrus, coriander. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, light spice. (6/10) Light body, lively carbonation, off-dry short duration slightly spicy finish. (3/5)

I’m not entirely sure about that packaging date – there’s a stamp on the can reading G30512, which I’m interpreting as July 30, 2015 (i.e. like Unbroue’s format) but I could be wrong. It’s not like there’s a lot of hop character to degrade here, but it might explain why it’s only slightly hazy, instead of actually cloudy. Regardless, as it stands right now, it’s an inoffensive and quaffable summer ale, without a whole lot to distinguish it. OK, but nothing exciting. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Lake of Bays Brewing Company Spark House American Amber / Red Ale at 5% ABV (C$3.33 at NLC Stavanger, 473 ml, bottle date 8-Apr-2016, acquired 15-May-2016, reviewed 19-May-2016)

Appearance: clear red-tinged deep amber with one fat finger of fine ivory head, good retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel malt, grassy and earthy hops, wood and light smoke. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration mildly bitter and lightly smoky finish. (3/5)

Sorry, but I find it really hard to get excited about yet another middle-of-the road amber, distinguished only by the roasty malt tones coming through as slight smoke. Fair enough, that slight smokiness adds some depth, but it’s hard to call it “complexity” (and I’m not entirely sure it’s deliberate). A reasonably well-executed but ultimately boring beer. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com