Month: August 2019

Mike’s Beverage Co. Mike’s Hard Lemon Lime Soda Malt Liquor at 5% ABV (C$3.36 at NLC Stavanger, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 31-Jul-2019, reviewed 6-Aug-2019)

Appearance: colourless and clear with a fizzy head diminishing rapidly to nothing. (3/5) Aroma: sugary lemon-lime, harsh vodka. (5/10) Taste: excessively sweet, mild tart. (4/10) Palate: light body, fizzy carbonation, sickly sweet sticky finish. (2/5)

A pretty standard alco-pop. Looks like Sprite, smells like Sprite with a hit of cheap vodka, tastes disgustingly sweet… with a hit of cheap vodka… The vodka presence is surprisingly pronounced despite it being relatively low in the ABV department, and despite the sickly sugar sweetness. Bottom line, it’s a garbage alcohol delivery system, presumably aimed at children who don’t know any better. “My expectations were low, but holy fuck!” (9/20)

4.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Quidi Vidi Brewing Company Folk’d Up American Pale Ale at 4.5% ABV (C$3.65 at NLC Stavanger, 473 ml, packaged on 30-Jun-2019, acquired 31-Jul-2019, reviewed 4-Aug-2019)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with one fat finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, stone fruit, crackery malt, white pepper. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body tending slightly thin, moderate carbonation, moderate bitter finish. (3/5)

Pretty unremarkable. Nothing wrong with it at all, but it’s hardly going to excite you. Not much more to say about that… (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Le Trou du Diable Capitaine Simcoe Sour / Wild Ale at 4.8% ABV (C$6.01 at NLC Stavanger, 600 ml, packaged on 14-Dec-2018, acquired 31-Jul-2019, reviewed 3-Aug-2019)

Appearance: slightly hazy deep gold with one fat finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to nothing, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: bright citrus, tropical fruit, herbal, tart lactic, pine, grass. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, mild bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, medium tart and mild bitter finish. (4/5)

Yeah, I know, I’m being a bit of a hypocrite here, having railed against kettle sours for so long as I have, and then turning around and trying this one. But, this one isn’t just your typical kettle sour, but one in which the Simcoe hopping comes through loud and clear, making for an interesting blend of characteristics. Not to mention, I think it might be the first SMaSH sour I’ve had, with Pearl as the only malt. All in all, loads of flavour (all the more impressive given its age!) and balanced tartness on a light ABV make this very easy drinking. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com