Month: March 2017

Clown Shoes Beer Space Cake #7 American IPA at 7.77% ABV (US$5.99 at Specs Main Houston, 650 ml, bottle date 28-Nov-2016, acquired 8-Mar-2017, reviewed 10-Mar-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with two fingers of loose off-white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pithy citrus, pine, caramel malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

I last had Space Cake a couplethree years ago, but had to avail myself of the special 7th anniversary edition, even if the 7.77% ABV is a bit of a step down from the prior 9%. (And by the way, I’m such a naïf that I didn’t even know that “space cakes” refer to cannabis edibles until today.) Checking my notes, it doesn’t seem much different than the last version I had, even though this is hopped with no fewer than seven different varieties: Centennial, Citra, Ella, Galaxy, Idaho 7, Mosaic, and Nelson Sauvin. The choices of Galaxy and Idaho 7 seem obvious given the name, of course, and the typical starts-with-C varieties play well with the Mosaic, with no catty or onion notes coming out. Can’t say I’m getting a lot of the white wine character I usually associate with Nelson Sauvin, though. And, just like the namesake, I can’t find the IBU rating, though it must be fair-to-middlin’ high. Another solid performer from Clown Shoes. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Clown Shoes Beer Josh the Guava King American Double / Imperial IPA at 7.4% ABV (US$5.99 at Specs Main Houston, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 8-Mar-2017, reviewed 10-Mar-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with two fingers of rocky off-white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, resin, pale malt, light onion. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter and mildly warming finish. (4/5)

No bottle date or best before, but I think it was first released in January of 2017, so it must be (relatively) young.  I can’t find a proper reference for the bitterness rating, but it’s gotta be on the high side, probably clocking in at 70+ IBU, maybe 80+. It’s an oily, resiny bitter, too – just the way I like it. It’s not completely clean, however: there’s an onion note in the finish that Mosaic can sometimes exhibit. Punches above its weight in the slightly warming finish, though, so there’s that. Good fun. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Lagunitas Brewing Company Aunt Sally Sour / Wild Ale at 5.7% ABV | 33 IBU (US$2.79 at Specs Main Houston, 355 ml, bottle date 9-Nov-2016, acquired 8-Mar-2017, reviewed 10-Mar-2017)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: lemon zest, lacto sour, light funk. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high tart, low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, dry tart finish. (3/5)

A pretty plain lacto sour, without much complexity or depth. Think Jolly Ranchers or Flintstones vitamins, except not quite as sweet. To be honest, I’m getting a bit tired of these bandwagon kettle sours. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Stone Brewing Company Jindia Pale Ale American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.7% ABV | 70 IBU (US$3.59 at Specs Main Houston, 355 ml, bottle date 3-Feb-2017, best before 3-Jun-2017, acquired 8-Mar-2017, reviewed 9-Mar-2017)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of rocky ivory head, good retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: ginger, juniper, pine, caramel malt, citrus zest. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter and spicy finish. (4/5)

Woof… I had some trepidation regarding this one – and it was well-founded. Big ginger and juniper notes impart a heavily botanical, nearly medicinal character that mercilessly dominates over a nearly English-style base IPA. Not unpleasant, but a bit of a hot mess, and not something I’d seek out again. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Stone Brewing Company Tangerine Express IPA American IPA at 6.7% ABV | 75 IBU (US$4.99 at Specs Main Houston, 650 ml, bottle date 7-Feb-2017, acquired 8-Mar-2017, reviewed 9-Mar-2017)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy ivory head, moderate retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: grapefruit, pineapple, caramel malt, slight onion. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

In some ways I find this to be pretty similar to their Ripper APA, especially in the slight onion note at the end. Definitely a lot more citrus, though, and the pineapple also makes its presence known before the emphatic bitter finish establishes itself. Despite being bigger in every way, though, it’s a lot paler. (And just to be clear, when I say it’s a “clear” pale gold, that was the first glass. The second glass is basically extra pulp orange juice.) There’s a heck of a lot of added fruit in this, but that’s far from a criticism. Punchy big fun. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Stone Brewing Company Ripper Pale Ale American Pale Ale at 5.7% ABV | 40 IBU (US$2.49 at Specs Main Houston, 355 ml, bottle date 2-Feb-2017, acquired 8-Mar-2017, reviewed 9-Mar-2017)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of fluffy ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: grapefruit, tropical fruit, resiny pine, pale malt, slight onion. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter finish. (3/5)

Yep, that’s a “rippin’ swell of juicy hops”, all right. Fades a little quickly, though, and finishes with just a hint of onion. The body tends a little thin as well, but reasonably within spec for the style. Easy drinking good fun. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Boston Beer Company Sam Adams Hopscape Wheat Ale at 5.5% ABV | 30 IBU (On tap at Ruby’s Diner IAH, reviewed 9-Mar-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of dense white head, good lacing. (3/5) Aroma: resiny pine, floral, pale malt, hint of wheat. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild-moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter and lightly spicy finish. (4/5)

Decent. Lots of hops on the nose, if not much wheat. Body is slightly thin and slightly grainy, but not bad overall. I might consider it a bit thin for an IPA, but since it’s not claiming to be an IPA, I guess that’s a bit beside the point. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Boston Beer Company Fresh as Helles Helles/Dortmunder at 5.4% ABV | 18 IBU (On tap at Pappadeaux IAH, reviewed 9-Mar-2017)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of medium white head, moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: orange zest, lightly toasted grain, grass. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short finish. (3/5)

A fairly straightforward Helles made slightly more interesting by the addition of orange blossoms. Easy drinking and clean, if not all that exciting. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Franconia Silver Star Bock Bock at 5.06% ABV | 21 IBU (On tap at Saltgrass Houston, reviewed 8-Mar-2017)

Appearance: clear deep amber with a short, short-lived head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, caramel malt, light chocolate and grass. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-low carbonation, off-dry short finish. (3/5)

Meh. Sweet and bland. (11/20)

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Saint Arnold Brewing Company Pub Crawl Pale Ale American Pale Ale at 4.7% ABV | 43 IBU (US$1.16 at Spec’s, 355 ml, bottle date 23-Jan-2017, acquired 6-Mar-2017, reviewed 7-Mar-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale straw with one fat finger of fluffy white head, good retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: lemon zest, crackery malt, melon, grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body tending slightly watery, moderate carbonation, off-dry short finish. (3/5)

Starts off extremely promising, with exactly the “bright and sessionable” character the label promises: citrusy hops lead the way over a well-behaved clean malt backbone. Somewhat unfortunately, though, those bright hops fade as rapidly as the loose white head, leaving behind a mild fruity and grassy character. It remains pleasant throughout, and it’s not my intention to damn it with faint praise, but it’s not quite as stellar as the first sips suggest. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com