4 Hands/Bale Breaker/Stone Sorry Not Sorry IPA – American IPA at 9.3% ABV
Aroma: caramel malt, peaches and other stone fruit, citrus, light pine, earth. Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. Oily body. 7/10
4 Hands/Bale Breaker/Stone Sorry Not Sorry IPA
Patrick is drinking a 4 Hands/Bale Breaker/Stone Sorry Not Sorry IPA by Stone Brewing on Untappd
Orlando Brewing Alligator Drool – American Pale Ale at ??% ABV
On tap at Rosen Shingle Creek Orlando. A fairly pedestrian and unremarkable pale. Not a lot to recommend it one way or the other. Better than a macro lager – but only barely. 4.5/10
Patrick is drinking a Alligator Drool by Orlando Brewing on Untappd
New Belgium Brewing Company Lips of Faith Series Eric’s Ale American Wild Ale at 7% ABV (US$17.78 at Specs Main Houston, 650 ml, best before 2-Apr-2017, acquired 23-Jan-2016, reviewed 11-May-2016)
Appearance: hazy medium gold with a short, short-lived fizzy off-white head, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tart vinous, stone fruit, woody. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, light bitter. (7/10) Medium-light body, low carbonation, off-dry mildly tart finish. (3/5)
So, the bottle says it’s a “sour beer for those who don’t like sour beers and a fruit beer for those who don’t like fruit beers.” This comes perilously close to the truth in the contrapositive: it’s not really a sour beer for those who DO like sour beers, or a fruit beer for those who DO like fruit beers. That’s not to say it’s bad, as such, but it’s more like a bottle of supermarket chardonnay, than a beer. A light vinous tart aroma presents upon decapping, and pretty much sets the stage for the white wine character that follows. Stone fruit is present, but not well-defined. There’s even a light, gose-like saltiness toward the end, making this very much a hybrid style, but it’s more a case of “too many cooks” than anything else. A bit muddled, but ultimately not unpleasant. (13/20)
6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Brasserie Thiriez La Blond d’Esquelbecq Saison at 6.5% ABV (C$7.17 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, best before 30-Jun-2016, acquired 31-Jul-2015, reviewed 10-May-2016)
Appearance: clear deep gold with one fat finger of creamy dense ivory head, excellent retention and patchy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: floral, citrus, yeasty, grassy, honey and pale malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart, light peppery spice. (8/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, moderate bitter and slightly spicy finish. (4/5)
Another solid performer from Thiriez, if maybe not quite as good as their Etoile Du Nord. I have to admit a real weakness for this Franco-Belgian style, but even so, this is a good interpretation of that style. (14/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Ballast Point Brewing Company Watermelon Dorado American Double / Imperial IPA at 10.0% ABV (US$2.17 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 7-May-2016, reviewed 8-May-2016)
Appearance: clear pale amber with a short, short-lived off-white head, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pithy grapefruit, watermelon rind, resiny pine, grainy caramel malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, strong bitter. (6/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (3/5)
I knew this was rated on the low side going into it, and was quite surprised for that to be the case with a Ballast Point beer. Having now tried it, I’m not surprised by the low ratings: the watermelon flavour is definitely there, but presents as acrid and astringent watermelon rind, rather than juicy watermelon pulp. I suspect it’s a case of the hop bitterness playing up to that aspect of the flavour, and think that watermelon might be a better combination with a lighter, less intensely bitter base beer. Not terrible, by any means, and it grows on you after a bit, but definitely not one of their stronger performers. (13/20)
6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Victory Brewing Company Sour Monkey Sour / Wild Ale at 9.5% ABV (US$9.99 at Knightly Spirits Williamsburg, 750 ml, bottle date 1-Jul-2015, acquired 1-May-2016, reviewed 8-May-2016)
Appearance: clear pale amber with a short, short-lived off-white head, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tart citrus, apples and pears, wet hay and barnyard funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, moderate tart. (8/10) Light body, moderate carbonation, short mildly warming finish. (4/5)
It’s been quite a while since I had Golden Monkey, but I think this is just a little better. Sour all the things! Like Golden Monkey, the ABV is extremely well-integrated, coming through as only a mild warming in the finish. The tartness of this one works well with the light, clean body. It’s quite bizarre, though, that essentially none of the original Golden Monkey flavours are coming through: I’m getting none of the banana and cloves that were so present there. Maybe the year in the bottle is the explanation there, but in any case: a solid performer. (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company BeerGarten Tart Berliner Weisse at 4.8% ABV (US$1.50 at Publix Super Market at Lake Cay Commons, 355 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 30-Apr-2016, reviewed 8-May-2016)
Appearance: clear pale straw with a short, short-lived white head, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: apple, burnt rubber, wheat. (3/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild tart. (5/10) Light body, soft carbonation, short finish. (3/5)
A long way short of good. I was uncertain whether the overtones were burning rubber or burning hair, but either way definitely not what I’m looking for in a beer. OK, so it only cost a buck(-ish) but that’s hardly a good enough reason to do something crazy like drink it. (9/20)
4.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Bell’s Brewery Two Hearted Ale American IPA at 7% ABV (US$2.17 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, bottle date 15-Feb-2016, acquired 7-May-2016, reviewed 7-May-2016)
Appearance: clear pale amber, one finger of rocky off-white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pine resin, pithy grapefruit, pale malt, light floral/herbal. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (8/10) Medium-full body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter and slightly sticky finish. (4/5)
My initial reaction was one of slight disappointment – I mean, come on, this beer is fairly legendary! Perhaps not to the extent of, say, Heady Topper, or Pliny, but it’s up there. When I uncapped it, though, the initial aroma was not as penetrating as I was expecting or hoping for. However, once I started drinking it, the flavours started to build and assert themselves. Not as citrusy as a lot of current A/IPAs, the resiny pine really dominates this. Finishes strong, with just enough malt sweetness to balance the moderately high bitterness. (And, to be fair, at three months old it’s entirely possible that the aromas have faded significantly. Might have to try it again if I can find a newer one.) (15/20)
My 225th from the 2010 Edition (214th from the 2013 edition), and 236th combining both editions.
7.5/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Ballast Point Brewing Company Pineapple Sculpin American IPA at 7% ABV (US$2.17 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 7-May-2016, reviewed 7-May-2016)
Appearance: clear pale amber, two fingers of rocky off-white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, pineapple, pale malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (4/5)
Better than I was expecting, but definitely not as good as the grapefruit or original versions. I was afraid the pineapple would be overwhelming or cloying, and it isn’t – but the sweetness definitely dulls the edge of the bright hops that comes through so well with grapefruit. (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales Luciernaga (The Firefly) Belgian Pale Ale at 6.5% ABV (US$12.99 at Knightly Spirits Williamsburg, 750 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 1-May-2016, reviewed 6-May-2016)
Appearance: hazy medium gold with two fat fingers of fluffy ivory head, good retention and decent lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tart citrus, yeast, peppercorn, wood, barnyard funk. (9/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate-low bitter, moderate-high tart, light funk. (9/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, mildly funky finish. (4/5)
Another lovely tart wild from JP. I’m assuming the Grains of Paradise are responsible for the almost peppercorn-like spiciness on both the nose and the tongue. Again, nicely balanced tones of citrus, wood, and barnyard funk. Definitely a nice example of how to do brettanomyces properly. (17/20)
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Alligator Drool