Month: May 2017

Nine Locks Brewing Company Dirty Blonde Wheat Ale at 5.0% ABV | 12 IBU (C$3.57 at NLC Stavanger, 473 ml, bottle date 27-Mar-2017, acquired 5-May-2017, reviewed 11-May-2017)

Appearance: cloudy medium gold with one finger of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, no lacing. (2/5) Aroma: brown apple, doughy wheat. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, sweetish short duration finish. (3/5)

A bit of a muddled – and, yes, dirty – mess, nowhere near as good as their IPA. Not a particularly interesting (or good) Weizen. (10/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Clown Shoes Beer Whammy Bar #2 American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 40 IBU (C$4.24 at Oak & Vine, 355 ml, bottle date 20-Oct-2016, acquired 26-Apr-2017, reviewed 11-May-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, caramel, pineapple. white wine, herbal. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter and lightly spicy finish. (3/5)

At seven months old, I don’t think there’s much doubt this is at least a little past its best-by, and it seems to have adversely affected the hops. There’s a hint of the white wine vinous character that I usually associate with the ANZ hops (and this is all ANZ hops – Ella, Galaxy, and Vic Secret) but the fruitiness is nowhere near as bright as I like. Pleasant and drinkable, but lacking a bright punch. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Vancouver Island Brewing 19 IPA American IPA at 4.8% ABV | 60 IBU (C$2.55 at Oak & Vine, 355 ml, bottle date 24-Feb-2017, acquired 26-Apr-2017, reviewed 11-May-2017)

Appearance: clear deep gold with three fingers of fluffy ivory head diminishing gradually to a tenacious cap, clingy moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, biscuity pale malt, pineapple, light resin. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering and building bitter finish. (3/5)

A fair bit better than their ISA, but there’s still a hint of something in the nose that isn’t entirely pleasant, which might be charitably described as “resin”. Fairly easy drinking despite the middling-high IBU, which really only manifests in the finish. Drinkable, but not really worth seeking out. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Vancouver Island Brewing Sombrio Citrus Session Session IPA at 4% ABV | 36 IBU (C$2.55 at Oak & Vine, 355 ml, bottle date 25-Feb-2017, acquired 26-Apr-2017, reviewed 11-May-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of creamy white head diminishing gradually to a tenacious cap, soapy moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweat, pine, pale malt, citrus, tropical fruit, light earth. (4/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium-light body tending watery, moderate carbonation, off-dry mild bitter finish. (3/5)

Tastes a bit better than it smells, but that’s not saying a whole lot – there’s a definite off note in the aroma that I can’t completely identify, but it’s as much sweat as anything. Finish is fairly pleasant, though, with a decent lightly spicy bitter. (10/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Nine Locks Brewing Company IPA American IPA at 6.9% ABV | 70 IBU (C$3.66 at NLC Stavanger, 473 ml, bottle date 29-Mar-2017, acquired 5-May-2017, reviewed 10-May-2017)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of creamy off-white head diminishing gradually to a tenacious cap, soapy moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, pine, caramel, tropical fruit, light earth. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering and building bitter finish. (3/5)

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much – but this ain’t half bad. Actually, it’s better than that. The fact that they bother to hop in three stages (wort, burst, and dry) would probably make me kindly disposed towards them even if the final product weren’t respectable – but it is. The aroma isn’t bright, as such, but it’s solidly hop-forward, and backstopped by an emphatic bitterness  well balanced against a decent caramel malt sweetness. As usual, I’d prefer the hops brighter and the malt cleaner, but it’s pretty darned good as it stands. Decent effort from a new brewery, and I’m slightly disappointed I didn’t go see them when I was in Dartmouth on Monday! (I did get to Propeller and Unfiltered, so I’m actually not all that disappointed.) (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Hell’s Basement Brewing All Hops for a Basement American IPA at 6.6% ABV | 65 IBU (C$2.55 at Oak & Vine, 355 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 26-Apr-2017, reviewed 10-May-2017)

Appearance: clear medium amber with one finger of loose ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pine, caramel, tropical fruit, citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering and building bitter finish. (3/5)

I was frankly disappointed by the dark colour on the pour, which made me expect it to play out the way it ultimately did: a more traditional/classic A/IPA, malt-forward if not exactly malt-dominant. I’ll give it this, though: the bitterness is higher than the traditional style would dictate, and not unwelcome. Decent enough, I guess – I’d be happier with less malt emphasis and more dry-hopping, but that’s just me. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Deschutes Brewery Swivelhead Red India Red Ale at 6.5% ABV | 70 IBU (C$3.95 at J. Webb Wine Merchant, 355 ml, best before 2-Aug-2017, acquired 30-Apr-2017, reviewed 10-May-2017)

Appearance: clear red-tinged medium amber with one finger of loose ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, pine, caramel, crusty bread, earth. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter finish. (3/5)

Meh. The maltiness blunts the fairly high bitterness, preventing it from coming though as bright or emphatic. Not very exciting, but fairly easy drinking. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

3 Fonteinen Brouwerij Ambachtelijke Geuzestekerij Beersel Blonde Belgian Strong Pale Ale at 7% ABV (C$6.02 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 330 ml, best before 11-Apr-2018, acquired 1-Apr-2017, reviewed 1-May-2017)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two fat fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and well-defined lacing. (5/5) Aroma: bready malt, honey, floral, banana, hint of white pepper. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter, light peppery spice. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter and mildly spicy finish. (3/5)

I was really puzzled by the naming of this: 3 Fonteinen calls their BSPA “Beersel” Blonde, when it has no association whatsoever with Oud Beersel? But then, I figured it out: Beersel is the name of the town. The two breweries are literally a fifteen minute walk from each other. Still, gotta say, seems like a little bit of a dick move – if it confused a fairly hardcore beer geek like me, then you gotta think the possibility for consumer confusion is pretty high. Anyway. On to the beer. And, well, hrm. It’s not actually bad, y’know? But when you consider they make one of the best Gueuzes in the world, perhaps it might be better sticking with that? Really. It’s a very, very pretty beer. And that’s pretty much the best I can say about it. Stick to Gueuze and don’t bother contract brewing at the De Proefbrouwerij. (12/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Gigantic Brewing Company / Three Floyds Axes of Evil (#3) English Pale Ale at 6% ABV | 70 IBU (C$8.49 at Oak & Vine, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 26-Apr-2017, reviewed 1-May-2017)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one fat finger of creamy ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: complex, citrus, tropical fruit, toasted malt, floral. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Nice to see Gigantic using their fifth anniversary as a justification to re-release some of their seasonals that I never got a chance to try! This, they claim, is an English Pale Ale – to which, I respond, “Yeah, right!” Not in a negative way, y’unnerstand – this is excellent, with a bright, distinctly NON-Noble hop character you’d never find in a true EPA. It settles down a bit, and sorta kinda pretends to be an EPA, with a pleasant toasted/biscuity malt character, but then the massive bitter finish comes through. This is definitely a beer for whom a Lemmy quote on the label is appropriate. Now, just double up the hops in the boil, do a bunch of dry-hopping with Mosaic, and boost the malt bill by about 40%, will you? (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Dageraad Brewing White Witbier at 5% ABV (C$7.64 at Oak & Vine, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 26-Apr-2017, reviewed 1-May-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy dirty pale straw with a massive fluffy white head, excellent retention and chunky soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: wheat, coriander, light banana, hint of citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, light spice. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively to moderate carbonation, off-dry mild bitter and spicy finish. (4/5)

Hmmm… I see why they make the frankly surprising admonition (for a witbier) to leave the sediment in the bottle: it starts off looking slightly unclean with a fairly clean pour after a gentle swirl of the bottle, but when I more aggressively swirled in the lees to get the true “white” character in the remainder, it turned a fairly unappealing dirty opaque ditchwater tone. Decent wit other than the appearance, though. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com