Month: March 2017

Hoyne Brewing Co. Devil’s Dream IPA American IPA at 6% ABV (C$7.49 at Oak & Vine, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 11-Mar-2017, reviewed 12-Mar-2017)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and soapy moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: resiny pine, caramel/toffee, mango, citrus, black tea. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium oily body, moderate carbonation, sticky and spicy lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Despite the big oily and spicy bitter dominating the finish, the malt gives it a run for its money on the front end. It’s not malt dominant, but it is malt heavy. Kind of surprising the ABV is as low as it is, actually, given the way it punches above its weight. I’d like it better if it were brighter and dryer, or maybe just boozier. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Hoyne Brewing Co. Dark Matter American Brown Ale at 5.3% ABV | 30 IBU (C$7.46 at Crowfoot Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 23-Feb-2017, reviewed 12-Mar-2017)

Appearance: clear brown with one fat finger of creamy light beige head, excellent retention and soapy moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, sweet roasty malt, nutty, grassy. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body tending thin, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry mild bitter finish. (3/5)

A fairly mild combination of Brown and Stout characters, tending slightly thin despite its dark and forbidding appearance. Pleasant enough, though. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Dogfish Head Brewery Namaste Witbier at 4.8% ABV | 20 IBU (US$2.59 at Specs Main Houston, 355 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 8-Mar-2017, reviewed 12-Mar-2017)

Appearance: cloudy pale gold with one finger of pillowy dense white head, excellent retention and soapy moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: coriander, orange peel, banana, doughy yeast, peppercorn. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, sweet slightly spicy finish. (3/5)

A decent easy-drinking Belgian Witbier. It’s a little aggressive on the spices, and a little heavy and sweet for my preference, making it fall a little flat in the finish – but only a little. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bench Creek Brewing Apex Predator American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.2% ABV | 100 IBU (C$10.99 at Oak & Vine, 1 l growler, acquired 11-Mar-2017, reviewed 11-Mar-2017)

Appearance: opaque medium gold with two fingers of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, dank resiny pine, tropical fruit, pale malt. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (5/5)

Damn. Bench Creek just served literal notice to the other 45 brewers in the province that they intend to be top dog – and I think they might accomplish it. This is some serious world-class shit, just beautiful: huge hoppy nose, layered complexity, lovely balanced body, a clean bitter finish that never becomes overwhelming, and SO easy drinking. Work on the structural side a little – I have no problem at all with an orange juice-like opacity, but like to see good retention and well-defined lacing – and this could well make its way into legendary territory for New England-style DIPAs. I mean, this is already challenging Tree House or Trillium, but a few tweaks could put this in contention with Alchemist. Really worth tracking down – but be careful, apex predators don’t respond well to being cornered. (18/20)

9/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Collective Arts Brewing Collective Project: IPA No. 1 American IPA at 7.1% ABV | 80 IBU (C$3.99 at Oak & Vine, 473 ml, bottle date 9-Feb-2017, acquired 11-Mar-2017, reviewed 11-Mar-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of fluffy ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, pine, dank resin, white wine must, hint of onion. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Another solid performer from Collective Arts. I’d be happier with it if the Nelson Sauvin were more pronounced, and the Citra a tiny bit less oniony, but it’s pretty solid as-is. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Collective Arts Brewing Collective Project: Black IPA Black IPA at 6.8% ABV | 75 IBU (C$3.99 at Oak & Vine, 473 ml, bottle date 4-Jan-2017, acquired 11-Mar-2017, reviewed 11-Mar-2017)

Appearance: clear brown with two fingers of dense mocha head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: roasty malt, citrus, dark chocolate, coffee, resin. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter and burnt finish. (3/5)

I went through a brief period of flirting with Black IPA as my new favourite style, before becoming bored with them. This came close to rekindling the old flame, but ultimately comes across as a little too edgy. It verges on burnt, rather than toasted or roasted, making it sharp. Enjoyable, but nothing earth-shattering. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Collective Arts Brewing State of Mind Session IPA at 4.4% ABV | 38 IBU (C$3.00 at Oak & Vine, 355 ml, bottle date 9-Sep-2016, acquired 11-Mar-2017, reviewed 11-Mar-2017)

Appearance: clear pale straw with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, pine, pale malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, short mildly bitter finish. (4/5)

Quite a pleasant Session IPA. There’s lots of hop character, but it doesn’t come across as sharp despite the thin body and low ABV. And, even though it’s six months old, it’s still bright and crisp. A guy could drink a whole lot of these. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Microbrasserie Le Bilboquet L’Archange Hefeweizen at 5% ABV (C$6.65 at Crowfoot Wine & Spirits, 500 ml, bottle date 21-Jun-2017, acquired 23-Feb-2017, reviewed 11-Mar-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale straw with one fat finger of rocky white head diminishing gradually to a thick cap, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: banana, cloves, wheat. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter, light tart. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, short mildly bitter and lightly spicy finish. (3/5)

Not a bad Hefe at the outset, but the sweetness tends to get a little cloying after a bit, and the flavours a little medicinal. Neither is a dealbreaker, but taken as a whole the beer is just a little less than impressive. I wouldn’t suggest you avoid it, but I’d stop short of recommending you make a special effort to find it. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Clown Shoes Beer Pecan Pie Porter (2016) Imperial Porter at 8.5% ABV (C$14.03 at Crowfoot Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 23-Feb-2017, reviewed 10-Mar-2017)

Appearance: near opaque ruby/deep brown with one finger of dense beige head diminishing gradually to a thick cap, spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild/muted, chocolate, biscuit malt, honey, vanilla, nuts, hint of coffee. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate-lively carbonation, slightly sticky warming finish. (3/5)

My third and final Clown Shoes of the night, promise. (Considering I don’t have any more on hand at present, that’s an easy promise to keep!) I last tried this a couple of years ago, when I didn’t get much pecan. I think I’m getting a little more this time ‘round, but still not all that much. Guess that fat bastard Genghis is eating it all – no wonder he can’t fit into his armour. According to their web site, they tweaked the recipe this year to add more honey malt. (Because apparently this wasn’t sweet enough to start with?) And maybe I just can’t appreciate the distinction between Porters and Stouts, but this really feels too thin in the body for the sweet booziness. I think I’d like this more if it were thicker and less carbonated. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com