Month: December 2019

Brouwerij De Plukker Rookop Bruin – Belgian Dubbel at 6.5% ABV | 20 IBU (2019 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #18, 330 ml, best before 30-Jun-2021, acquired 22-Nov-2019, reviewed 18-Dec-2019)

Appearance: hazy ruby brown with one finger of fluffy pale beige head, good retention and moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: roasty malts, coffee & chocolate, tart red berries. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter, mild spice. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-high carbonation, medium duration lightly spicy finish. (4/5)

The label says “bruin” but don’t let that fool you: this isn’t much like an Oud Bruin. The brewer’s notes call it a Dubbel style, and I think that’s much closer to the mark, even though there’s some of the berry tartness you might expect in an Oud Bruin. It’s dominated by roasted malt aromas, with chocolate and coffee over top of red berries (which are, admittedly, not entirely unlike an Oud Bruin). Not bad overall, and fairly seasonal. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwhuys De Vaart Luvanium – Belgian Blond Ale at 7.2% ABV (2019 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #17, 330 ml, best before 27-Jun-2021, acquired 22-Nov-2019, reviewed 17-Dec-2019)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with one fat finger of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: grassy hay, doughy yeast, citrus, banana, floral. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light spice. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-high carbonation, crisp medium bitter lightly spicy finish. (4/5)

I’m not sure why this isn’t rated higher than it is. Yes, it’s sweetish, with some lager-like characteristics, but it’s a nice beer to drink, deceptively soft and mild with no hint of the respectable ABV. It has no off characteristics – except, arguably, that sweetness – but it’s so well integrated that I don’t find that objectionable (and I usually do). Solid one. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Born Colorado Brewing Chapter 11 – American IPA at 6% ABV (C$4.36 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 25-Oct-2019, acquired 29-Nov-2019, reviewed 16-Dec-2019)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and well-defined chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, pine, bready caramel. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter slightly spicy finish. (4/5)

Seems a bit on the nose for a craft brewery to name a beer after a bankruptcy law, but I have to admit it’s a good beer. Slightly bitter for the NEIPA style, but certainly not excessively so for my own preference. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Voodoo Brewing Co. Voodoo Love Child – Tripel at 9.2% ABV | 25 IBU (2019 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #1, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 22-Nov-2019, reviewed 16-Dec-2019)

Appearance: clear deep gold with a short, short-lived fizzy head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: cherry, candi sugar, artificial raspberry, light wood. (5/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-low bitter, light tart. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-low carbonation, sticky mildly warming finish. (3/5)

[Note: I mistakenly did #16 the first day of the calendar, instead of #1 – I blame the poor lighting in my dingy basement room. This is the real #1, in place of #16.] Yeah, comparing this to a Lambic, like the label does, is like comparing chalk and cheese. Even classifying this as a Tripel is a stretch, though I’ll admit I’ve had some sickly sweet examples of that style in Belgium, so I suppose I can’t say it’s inaccurate. And that’s what this is: sickly sweet, with sugary and artificial fruit notes on the nose and very little complexity on the tongue. It kind of reminds me of Magic Hat #9, except with more sugar and less authentic fruit. By far the best thing going for this is the degree to which the ABV is hidden. At best, merely OK.  (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Belgian Brew Factory Boho Organic Blond Beer – Belgian Blond Ale at 4.5% ABV (2019 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #15, 330 ml, best before 11-Jul-2020, acquired 22-Nov-2019, reviewed 16-Dec-2019)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with a huge fluffy white head, excellent retention and chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: grass & cereal grains, bready yeast, floral, citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-high carbonation, off-dry short duration clean finish. (4/5)

Boho-ho, Merry Christmas? It’s not exactly seasonal, but it’s definitely keeping with the Belgian theme of the calendar, and reasonably flavourful despite the low ABV, so, sure, why not? Despite the huge head, the body isn’t excessively carbonated, but certainly tends light. Ultimately, it’s very much a Blond, with not a whole lot going on, but no real negatives either. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij Het Nest Ten of Clubs KlevereTien Zwart & Straf – Belgian Strong Dark Ale at 10% ABV | 45 EBU (2019 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #14, 330 ml, best before 1-Mar-2021, acquired 22-Nov-2019, reviewed 15-Dec-2019)

Appearance: clear dark cola brown with a short, short-lived beige head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: dark chocolate, liquorice, dark fruit, ash. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, boozy warming finish. (4/5)

I’m assuming the “Zwart & Straf” on the label means “black and strong”, because to be honest, if I use some of the other translations for “Straf” it’s a bit off-putting. I’m on the fence on this one – overall it’s not bad, and it certainly drinks well for a high ABV, but it just doesn’t seem to have the depth or fullness I like to see in the style. Let’s go with good, not great. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Boxing Rock Brewing Co. Tripel Belgian Style Ale – Tripel at 9.2% ABV (2019 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #13, 355 ml, packaged on 16-Aug-2019, acquired 22-Nov-2019, reviewed 15-Dec-2019)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with one finger of creamy off-white head, good retention and moderate chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: brown sugar, boozy dark stone fruits, mild Belgian phenols. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light funk. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, boozy warming finish. (4/5)

A bit sweeter than I prefer Tripels, but not bad. … aaaaand that’s all I have to say about that. Well, other than “Hey, Boxing Rock does a Tripel now!” (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Long Hop Brewing Co. Hazy Pale Ale – American Pale Ale at 6% ABV (C$4.32 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 23-Sep-2019, acquired 29-Nov-2019, reviewed 12-Dec-2019)

Appearance: opaque pale gold with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, melon, resiny pine, bready caramel. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, mild bitter slightly spicy finish. (4/5)

I bitched a little bit about their first offering, the plain-Jane Pale Ale, calling it “OK, but not much better”, and referencing a “mild taste, and a slightly watery finish.” I further opined that “this level of product isn’t going to put you ahead of the pack.” Well, clearly they monitor my blog and took my criticisms to heart when brewing this (and if you believe that, I’ve got some swampland in Florida you might like to buy ?), because they’ve fixed pretty much everything. The aroma is punchier, the taste is flavourful without being overly bitter, the body is style-appropriate, and overall it’s more NEIPA than APA. I like it. It might not put them quite at the head of the pack, but at least they’re looking at a higher class of assholes. (Yes, the photo’s out of focus. No, I don’t know how I managed to do that with an iPhone. It’s “hazy,” OK? Deal with it.) (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

White Pony Microbirrificio Dead Sun Rising – Imperial Dark Saison at 8.1% ABV (2019 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #12, 330 ml, best before 30-Jul-2024, acquired 22-Nov-2019, reviewed 12-Dec-2019)

Appearance: opaque black with one finger of dense beige head, excellent retention and heavy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: smoke, dark roasty malts, chocolate nibs, pine, liquorice, earth. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter, light funk. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, mildly boozy warming finish. (4/5)

I have no idea what makes this a Saison. You could just as easily have called this a Rauchbier, or a Smoked Porter, or a Black IPA, or hell, half a dozen other styles. Is it good? Yeah, sure, good…ish… Put it this way: it’s dark, smoky, and slightly boozy, and it’s cold as a witch’s tit outside, so it’ll do. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Harpoon Brewery UFO White – Witbier at 4.8% ABV (2019 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #11, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 22-Nov-2019, reviewed 11-Dec-2019)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of dense white head, good retention and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: coriander, floral, banana, bready yeast, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter, mild peppery spice. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration mildly spicy finish. (4/5)

A decent enough Witbier, if somewhat unbalanced in favour of the coriander in my opinion. I’d like a little less spice and a little more banana and citrus. I can see why the bottle recommends the orange slice, but that’s very much an Americanism and a cop-out in my opinion. Still and all, drinkable, if not all that impressive. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com