Month: May 2017

Heavy Seas Alpha Effect Hazy IPA American IPA at 7% ABV | 75 IBU (US$2.59 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, best before 21-Jul-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 20-May-2017)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with a massive fluffy off-white head diminishing rapidly to a persistent one finger cap that retains well, moderate chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, pine, pale and caramel malt, floral, slightly dank. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Not quite what I was expecting – I was hoping for an NE-style IPA, which this isn’t. But, it’s pretty danged good, with lots of lingering bitterness. The lingering bitterness was also something I was hoping for based upon the name: I presumed the “Alpha” referred to hop alpha acids, which it apparently did given the levels of haze. Recommended if you’re a hophead like me. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Heavy Seas TropiCannon Citrus IPA American IPA at 7.25% ABV | 45 IBU (US$2.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, best before 24-Jun-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 20-May-2017)

Appearance: clear deep gold with one finger of off-white creamy head, excellent retention and patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: sweet juicy oranges, pineapple, pale malt, pine, floral. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter and slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

No exaggeration, you could have this for breakfast. Loads of juicy citrus up front, yet the sweetness doesn’t come across as cloying. There’s an emphasis on citrus up front, but hints of pine and floral in the finish, accompanied by an almost oily citrus peel astringency. Good stuff! (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Crooked Stave Origins Sour / Wild Ale at 6.5% ABV (US$11.99 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 375 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 20-May-2017)

Appearance: hazy/opaque deep amber with a short, short-lived creamy ivory head, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: vinous, oak, leather, dark fruit. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high tart, moderate sweet, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, lively to moderate carbonation, drying tart and warming finish. (4/5)

Something a little special for this, the 2500th unique beer I have a record of rating. Prior to this, the only Crooked Stave offerings I’d been able to locate were collabs with Epic and Evil Twin. This is a good example of a Flanders Brown, if slightly more emphatically tart on the tongue than typical for authentic versions. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Boulevard Brewing Co. Smokestack Series: The Calling American IPA at 8.5% ABV | 75 IBU (US$3.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, best before 22-Jun-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 18-May-2017)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of creamy white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, honey, citrus, resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, lingering building bitter finish. (4/5)

Boulevard isn’t a brewer who I associated with IPAs, though their Single-Wide is a decent effort. This, however, is next level for them, consistent with their better offerings (and, I guess, the Smokestack series in general). It starts off more fruity than anything, with an almost pineapple sweetness. As it warms, some of the deeper notes come to the fore, and a resiny pine bitterness builds. The higher ABV is not apparent at all, except possibly for a slight slickness in the body, and a general warm fuzziness at the end of the pint. Good stuff. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

DuClaw Brewing Company Farmhouse Gypsy Neon Gypsy IPA American IPA at 7.3% ABV (US$2.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, bottle date 31-Jan-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 18-May-2017)

Appearance: clear pale amber with a short, short-lived off-white head, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: grapefruit, apples and pears, doughy yeast, light funk, white pepper. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration lightly funky and slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

As an IPA brewed with Saison yeast, this is an interesting hybrid of IPA and Saison – it might even have been appropriate to classify it as a Belgian IPA, because that’s very much what it’s like. Good complexity on both the nose and the tongue, but the finish is just a little astringent. Wouldn’t say no to another, but probably couldn’t be bothered to look for it again, either. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Prairie Artisan Ales Tulsa Rugby Ale American Pale Ale at 5.4% ABV | 30 IBU (C$4.07 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 17-May-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with a short, short-lived off-white head, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, stone fruit, caramel, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration bitter finish. (3/5)

Slightly disappointing, if I’m honest – I’ve always found Prairie Artisan to be excellent, but this is just all right. A bit plodding and heavy for the style. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

MolsonCoors Old Style Pilsner Pilsener at 5% ABV (Apropos YYZ, can date 16-Feb-2017, reviewed 14-May-2017)

Appearance: clear pale straw with one finger of fluffy white head, good retention and well-defined lacing. (3/5) Aroma: grassy, corn, pale malt. (4/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (4/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, short mild finish. (3/5)

I drank an awful lot of this when I was young(er) and stupid(er). My response to it now is pretty predictable – but it’s nigh-on the only thing at YYZ I haven’t officially ranked before, so what’m I supposed to do? (9/20)

4.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mill Street Brewery Walker’s Blueberry Wheat American Pale Wheat Ale at 5% ABV | 9 IBU (On tap at Mill Street Brewpub YYZ, reviewed 14-May-2017)

Appearance: opaque red-tinged deep amber with one finger of medium off-white head diminishing gradually to a persistent skim, well-defined lacing. (3/5) Aroma: band-aid/rubber, grainy yeasty wheat, faint blueberry. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter, light tart. (5/10) Palate: medium-thin body, moderate carbonation, short moderate bitter finish. (3/5)

Woof… burning rubber train wreck. Hint of blueberry overwhelmed by the band-aid/rubber finish. Don’t bother, seriously. (11/20)

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mill Street Brewery Honest Bucker American Pale Ale at 7% ABV | 41 IBU (On tap at Mill Street Brewpub YYZ, reviewed 14-May-2017)

Appearance: muddy deep gold with one finger of medium ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, minimal patchy lacing. (2/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, resiny pine, biscuity pale malt, tropical fruit, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, short moderate bitter finish. (3/5)

A muddy, sort of NEIPA-looking APA with some decently juicy hops on the front end, but a bit of a muddled finish. Enjoyable, but nothing too special. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com