Month: November 2017

Wild Rose Brewery Cherry Porter (2017) American Porter at 6.5% ABV (C$7.99 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 17-Nov-2017, reviewed 17-Nov-2017)

Appearance: clear brown with amber-brown highlights, one finger of light beige head, good retention and heavy lacing. (4/5)  Aroma: roasty malt, coffee, chocolate, cherry. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, mild bitter and light tart finish. (3/5)

It might be a silly thing to focus on, but I’m really surprised at how much lower the price is for this, compared to the last vintage I tried: that one, right about 18 months ago at the same store, in a swing-top one litre bottle, was $14, whereas this one is coming it at just over $12/litre. (Which leads me to wonder: do swing-top bottles really add $2 to the price of a beer?) Anyway, I appear to be somewhat more kindly disposed to this than I was last time I reviewed it. I’m actually getting a bit more cherry than I did last time, and it works to its advantage. Or maybe it’s the fact that there’s snow on the ground and it’s five weeks to Christmas? Either way, a decent little seasonally-appropriate brew that I wouldn’t mind sampling again next year. (14/20)

Technically a 1001 beer, but I’ve had prior vintages so it doesn’t count against my totals.

7/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Fernie Brewing Company OiiiPA Aussie IPA American IPA at 6.7% ABV | 60 IBU (C$7.99 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 650 ml, best before 31-Mar-2018, acquired 17-Nov-2017, reviewed 17-Nov-2017)

Appearance: clear medium gold with two fingers of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and sticky soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, bready caramel, resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

I had high hopes for this, and was not disappointed. Lots of juicy and fruity ANZ hops on the front end, and a sticky, almost oily, emphatic bitter in the finish. I’ve had DIPAs that weren’t this enthusiastic, making this very much my kind of brew. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Ribstone Creek Brewery Prairie Pirate American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.8% ABV | 70 IBU (C$12.00 at The Brewer’s Apprentice, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 22-Oct-2017, reviewed 16-Nov-2017)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with two fingers of rocky ivory head, good retention and well-defined lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus flesh and zest, pale malt, floral. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

This is one way DIPA’s should be done, in my ever-so-humble opinion: malt heavy, sure, but not malt dominant. (I say “one way” because pine and dank resin are missing here, and I always like those notes in a DIPA, but this doesn’t suffer unduly from their absence.) It’s also surprisingly easy-drinking for a pretty emphatic ABV. This is a “sort-of” collaboration, since the hops are locally sourced from Last Best. (Side note: I didn’t know Last Best was distributing hops now – good for them!)  I haven’t had many by Ribstone Creek, but the couple I have have been very well done indeed – I think I just slightly preferred their White IPA, but this is also definitely worth seeking out. Now I need to find their “base” IPA – strictly for comparison purposes, of course. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Theoretically Brewing Co. CFC Buster Habanero IPA American IPA at 5.9% ABV (C$3.00 at The Brewer’s Apprentice, 341 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 22-Oct-2017, reviewed 16-Nov-2017)

Appearance: clear pale amber with a massive rocky ivory head, excellent retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: habanero, citrus, caramel malt, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, moderate-high spice. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry mildly bitter and building spicy finish. (3/5)

No idea what the hell the discoverer of the environmental effects of CFCs has to do with IPAs, but this is pretty decent. Lots of fruit on the front end, and quite a respectable pepper burn on the back end. Critically, the peppers don’t come across as green and vegetal (as they so often do) but more earthy and, well, peppery. All right on its own, but I bet it’d go great with tacos. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Tatamagouche Brewing North Shore Lagered Ale Kölsch at 4.7% ABV | 15 IBU (C$4.13 at Liquid Assets YHZ, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 12-Nov-2017, reviewed 15-Nov-2017)

Appearance: hazy straw with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pale malt, grass, apples, sulphur. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry crisp finish. (3/5)

“Lagered Ale”, huh? On the one hand, I want to say “If you mean it’s a Kölsch, call it a Kölsch.” On the other hand, I guess I have to acknowledge the fact that they’re respecting the protected appellation, even if PGI’s are technically only enforceable within the EU. Anyway. I initially thought the haze was chill haze, but no, it remains even after warming. The aroma is mild but generally within spec for the style. Overall, not bad, but it’s a hard style to get right, and an even harder one to make interesting. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Carlow Brewing Company O’Hara’s Irish Red Irish Red Ale at 4.3% ABV | 25 IBU (C$4.28 at NLC Howley Estates, 500 ml, packaged on 30-Jun-2017, best before 28-Aug-2018, acquired 8-Nov-2017, reviewed 15-Nov-2017)

Appearance: ruby-tinged deep amber with one fat finger of rocky ivory head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel malt, toasted bread, nuts. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, dry bitter finish. (3/5)

I generally find Irish Reds to be too sweet, but this one definitely isn’t. Malty, yes, but with very little associated sweetness. In fact, the finish is distinctly reminiscent of a Dry Irish Stout. Definitely one of the better examples of the style I’ve encountered. (14/20)

My 257th from the 2010 Edition of 1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die, 247th from the 2013 edition, and 271st combining both editions.

7/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

2 Crows Brewing Midnight Mood American Porter at 6.6% ABV | 39 IBU (C$3.91 at Liquid Assets YHZ, 473 ml, packaged on 3-May-2017, best before 31-Oct-2017, acquired 12-Nov-2017, reviewed 14-Nov-2017)

Appearance: nearly opaque black with minimal brown relief at the margins, two fat fingers of fluffy beige head, good retention and heavy soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: dark roasted coffee, pine, dank resin, dark fruit. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, dry bitter slightly tart finish. (4/5)

The label says “Roasty dank smooth bright” and dang if it ain’t all of those! I was particularly surprised to find that it really was brightly hoppy (well… fairly, anyway) on top of the dominant (but not oppressive) dark roasted coffee. Good fun. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

2 Crows Brewing Fantacity Witbier at 5.1% ABV | 13 IBU (C$3.91 at Liquid Assets YHZ, 473 ml, packaged on 3-Aug-2017, best before 31-Jan-2018, acquired 12-Nov-2017, reviewed 14-Nov-2017)

Appearance: hazy straw with a short, short-lived white head and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: floral, citrus, wheat, coriander. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, light tart. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter slightly tart finish. (4/5)

A very interesting wit: the Citra dry-hopping comes through as a pleasant floral and citrus note, but underneath that is an oily orange peel base, along with a light coriander spice. Definite Saison character in there as well, but since I love Saisons, that’s only to the good. If I had to pick something to complain about, it’s the lack of a true “wit” appearance despite my swirling the can, as well as poor head retention and lacing. Still and all, definitely one I’d try again.(15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Marston’s Plc Wainwright English Pale Ale at 4.1% ABV (C$3.44 at NLC Howley Estates, 500 ml, packaged on 23-Jun-2017, best before 30-Jun-2018, acquired 8-Nov-2017, reviewed 14-Nov-2017)

Appearance: clear medium gold with a short, short-lived white head,  patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, grassy, pale malt, light earth, faint citrus. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry mild bitter finish. (3/5)

Pretty basic EPA with a mild aroma verging on lager-like. Moderately refreshing, I guess, but very much what you’d expect from a supermarket beer. Certainly not one worth seeking out. (11/20)

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Jennings (Marstons) Cumberland English Pale Ale at 4% ABV (C$3.44 at NLC Howley Estates, 500 ml, packaged on 4-Jul-2017, best before 31-Jul-2018, acquired 8-Nov-2017, reviewed 14-Nov-2017)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one fat finger of rocky white head, excellent retention and well-defined lacing. (5/5) Aroma: grainy caramel, earth, light citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter finish. (3/5)

Surprisingly not terrible. Now, the fact that I was thirsty probably helped, but I found this to be pleasantly refreshing and thirst-quenching. I guess it didn’t hurt that I went into it with no expectations, but the fact is, for a supermarket beer, this isn’t bad at all. (And it’s pretty as all get-out!) (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com