Month: December 2017

Nickel Brook Brewing Co. Half Bastard Stout American Stout at 4.5% ABV | 35 IBU (2017 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #12, 355 ml, packaged on 24-Aug-2017, acquired 20-Nov-2017, reviewed 12-Dec-2017)

Appearance: slightly muddy brown with a huge fizzy beige head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: red berries, chocolate, coffee, caramel, grass, earth. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high tart, moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-high carbonation, tart bitter finish. (2/5)

I’m pretty sure this is infected, to the point where I was tempted not to review it at all. The huge head was the first indicator that things weren’t exactly typical, but very quickly after that was the sharp red berry tartness on the nose and the tongue. The fact is, it’s not really bad as such, just deeply weird. I’m pretty sure this isn’t what the brewer intended, but that’s what it is right now. (11/20)

5.5/10 #craftbeeradvent2017 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Upright Brewing Company / Dageraad Brewing Rhythm Section Saison at 5.0% ABV | 15 IBU (C$10.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 18-Nov-2017, reviewed 11-Dec-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale straw with two fat fingers of fluffy white head, good retention and moderate chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: cloves/coriander, Belgian yeast, earth. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, dry funky finish. (3/5)

A decent Saison, but not without its flaws: it’s excessively spicy, and although it’s dry and light-bodied, the carbonation is slightly high. As a result, it’s not as clean and refreshing as I like to see for the style, and ends up being a little bloating. Considering the two breweries involved in this collaboration, the overall result is slightly disappointing. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij de Molen Dasher & Dancer American Amber / Red Ale at 5.2% ABV | 25 IBU (2017 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #11, 330 ml, packaged on 11-Jul-2017, best before 11-Jul-2019, acquired 20-Nov-2017, reviewed 11-Dec-2017)

Appearance: red-tinted medium amber with one finger of loose ivory head, moderate retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pine, citrus, caramel, yeast. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (3/5)

A bit of a roller coaster: “Oh, De Molen! Great!”, followed quickly by “Oh, a Red! Great…” and then “Hey, hop forward! Great!” (And no, the infection wasn’t the same in each case.) It’s no secret that Reds (Irish or American) aren’t even close to being my favourite style, but I certainly find hop-forward American styles more palatable than malty Irish ones. And this is certainly more hoppy than malty, so it’s a win for me overall. (14/20)

7/10 #craftbeeradvent2017 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Garrison Brewing Company Dirty Ol’ Town Black IPA at 6.5% ABV | 52 IBU (C$4.39 Gift – Thanks, Rod H!, 473 ml, packaged on 8-Nov-2017, acquired 3-Dec-2017, reviewed 10-Dec-2017)

Appearance: clear cola red with two fingers of pillowy beige head, good retention and moderate clingy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, roasty malts, dark chocolate, coffee. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry bitter finish. (4/5)

Something about this one just isn’t sitting right with me. It’s nothing major, but there’s just a hint of slightly off fruit flavour – along the lines of brown apple – that develops on the tongue, particularly upon warming. Not enough to ruin it, precisely, but enough to move it down in my personal ranking preference. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Microbrasserie Le Grimoire Shamans Witbier at 5% ABV (2017 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #10, 341 ml, best before 31-Aug-2019, acquired 20-Nov-2017, reviewed 10-Dec-2017)

Appearance: hazy/cloudy pale gold with one finger of fizzy white head diminishing rapidly to a thin collar, no lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, apple, cinnamon, wheat, grass. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter, light tart. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry mild tart finish. (3/5)

Well, given the label art, I was frankly expecting terrible, and it’s not, quite. It’s a long way from good, though. It’s sort-of-kind-of seasonally appropriate, I guess, what with the apple and cinnamon, but those’re pretty weak sauce and not really enough to salvage this from the doldrums of mediocrity. (12/20)

6/10 #craftbeeradvent2017 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Lake of Bays Brewing Company The West Wind Black IPA at 7% ABV | 90 IBU (C$3.15 Gift – Thanks, Rod H!, 473 ml, packaged on 18-Sep-2017, acquired 3-Dec-2017, reviewed 9-Dec-2017)

Appearance: clear cola red with two fingers of pillowy beige head, good retention and moderate clingy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, roasty malts, dark chocolate, coffee, resiny pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry bitter finish. (4/5)

Decent example of the style. It’s always tricky balancing the correct amount of dark roasted, almost smokey malts, with citrusy and piney hops, but this one does it passably well. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

8 Wired Brewing Company Palate Trip Sour / Wild Ale at 6.5% ABV (2017 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #9, 330 ml, best before 12-Jul-2018, acquired 20-Nov-2017, reviewed 9-Dec-2017)

Appearance: clear straw with one finger of fluffy white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, floral, tart berries, white wine, light funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, prickly carbonation, off-dry mild tart finish. (3/5)

Smells quite interesting – I suspect Nelson Sauvin hops – but the taste doesn’t quite deliver. It’s not bad, by any means, just slightly less interesting than the aromas suggest. Personally, I think it would have been better balanced slightly more to the bitter side of things, aligning the flavours more with the hoppy aroma. As it stands, it could almost pass for a lively sparkling white wine. Kind of an interesting change, and probably a decent enough hot weather patio beer, but not one I’d necessarily go back to. (15/20)

7.5/10 #craftbeeradvent2017 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Clown Shoes Beer Advent Party Crasher American Double / Imperial Stout at 10% ABV | 80 [?] IBU (2017 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #8, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 20-Nov-2017, reviewed 8-Dec-2017)

Appearance: opaque black with no hint of relief, one finger of fluffy beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin collar, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: orange peel, dark chocolate, caramel & toffee, liquorice. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (9/10) Palate: full slick body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering finish. (4/5)

Gotta give credit where credit is due, Clown Shoes is up to the challenge of creating a smart one-off advent riff on one of their stronger performers. I had their Undead Party Crasher three years ago, and damn if this ain’t better. The orange peel in particular contributes a hugely festive note, alongside chocolate and liquorice. The mother beer claims an 80 IBU, and this one feels like it’s right about that level to me, but well-balanced against a supportive sweet malt and appropriately heavy slick body. Think Terry’s Chocolate Oranges liberally soaked in booze, and you’re not far off the mark. Except for admittedly minor quibbles about the head retention and lacing, this is a nearly perfect contender. I’m actually starting to get a little worried about the performance of the advent calendar at this point, because I’m starting to feel like there’s nowhere to go but down. Here’s hoping I get proven wrong! (17/20)

8.5/10 #craftbeeradvent2017 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Robinsons Brewery _Iron Maiden Trooper Hallowed_ Belgian Ale at 6.0% ABV (C$3.40 at NLC Stavanger, 330 ml, best before 30-Sep-2018, acquired 7-Dec-2017, reviewed 8-Dec-2017)

Appearance: clear medium amber with one finger of fluffy ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: floral, Belgian yeast, caramel, dark fruit, banana, spices. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light spice. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration bitter and spicy finish. (4/5)

That’s… actually quite interesting. I re-reviewed the original Trooper before trying this, but the fact is, they’ve got very little in common. I was expecting a fairly British beer with the vaguest of nods across the channel, but this is actually more Belgian than not. Well, perhaps more continental than not: it’s a little muddled by the banana making it feel slightly Hefe-like, but not to the point of really being a negative. Regardless, some good fun. The fourth of the Iron Maiden themed beers, and the strongest contender by far. (And yeah, I know it’s not really #properglassware but how many more times am I going to get to use that glass?) (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Robinsons Brewery Iron Maiden Trooper Premium Bitter / ESB at 4.7% ABV | 35 IBU (C$9.99* at NLC Howley Estates, 500 ml, packaged on 15-Aug-2017, acquired 7-Dec-2017, reviewed 8-Dec-2017)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of fluffy off-white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bready malt, caramel, apple, herbal, grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate finish. (3/5)

Not my first time reviewing this, but there’s a method to my madness: this is a refresher, and I’ll review the new version next. Plus, I’m a bit of a sucker for #properglassware, so that kind of tipped me over the edge. And yeah, lots of terms like “medium” and “moderate” in my description for this one, but that’s very much what it is: a solid ESB. It’s not going to get you excited, but you’re not going to find many faults in it, either. (14/20)

* Price includes gift tin and glass.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com