Month: April 2020

Omnipollo Selassie – Imperial Stout at 11% ABV (C$7.89 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 330 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 11-Apr-2018, reviewed 13-Apr-2020)

Appearance: opaque black with one finger of dense dark beige head diminishing gradually to a thin persistent cap and ring, spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: sweet roasty malts, chocolate, espresso, vanilla. (10/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (9/10) Palate: full slightly slick body, moderate-low carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter warming lightly astringent finish. (4/5)

Pours utterly black with a thick tar-like consistency, topped with a dense dark beige head. Lovely rich aroma of mocha chocolate and espresso, with a light undercurrent of vanilla. No hint of booze, and certainly no suggestion that it’s the double digit beast that it actually is. The sweetness is actually pretty well-balanced against the emphatic bitterness, but as it fades there is a slight astringency in the finish. (18/20)

9/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij de Molen Hamer & Sikkel – Porter at 5.2% ABV | 33 EBU (C$4.46 at Andrew Hilton Wine & Spirits, 330 ml, packaged on 19-Nov-2014, best before 19-Nov-2019, acquired 15-Jan-2016, reviewed 13-Apr-2020)

Appearance: hazy brown with a short loose loose beige head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: roasty malts, chocolate, caramel, nuts, light woody smoke. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-low carbonation, off-dry mild bitter finish. (4/5)

The label calls this “Porter-ish”, and that’s a reasonable description. I might have mistreated this by letting the BB date go by, but I’m not getting any oxidation. The body is a bit lighter than appropriate for the style, but other than that it’s largely a porter. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij de Molen Rasputin – Russian Imperial Stout at 10.4% ABV | 46 EBU (C$6.79 at Okotoks Co-Op, 330 ml, packaged on 15-Mar-2012, best before 15-Mar-2037, acquired 24-Jul-2014, reviewed 12-Apr-2020)

Appearance: slightly hazy ruby brown with a short loose loose beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: roasty malts, chocolate, dark fruits, leather, tobacco. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, low carbonation, slightly sticky mild bitter warming finish. (4/5)

Known in the US as “Cease & Desist” or “Moord & Doodslag” – which means “Murder & Manslaughter”, so perhaps that’s intended less as a direct translation and more as a commentary on lawyers… For what it’s worth, I’ve also had the North Coast basis for the dispute, but it was six years ago, so I have to rely on old notes for comparison. On that basis, they’re pretty similar, except this is much less bitter. This has also aged extremely well, except perhaps for a negative effect on its head development. It’s now extremely smooth and drinkable for such a high ABV, so on that basis it’s actually a bit better than its eponym. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij de Molen Tsarina Esra – Imperial / Strong Porter at 11% ABV | 93 EBU (C$7.43 at Andrew Hilton Wine & Spirits, 330 ml, packaged on 17-Nov-2014, best before 17-Nov-2039, acquired 15-Jan-2016, reviewed 12-Apr-2020)

Appearance: clear ruby brown with a short loose loose beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: smoke, dark chocolate, liquorice, leather, red grape must, vanilla. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full slightly slick body, low carbonation, lingering bitter warming slightly astringent finish. (4/5)

The label calls this “Imperial Porter-ish”, and that’s as good a description as any. Definitely tending sweetish, though as the sweetness fades in the finish there’s a slight astringency. Drinks more easily than the double digit ABV might suggest. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Tahoe Mountain Brewing Co. Viejo Rojo – Flanders Red at 7% ABV (C$10.30 at Collective, 500 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 9-Jan-2020, reviewed 11-Apr-2020)

Appearance: clear reddish-tinged deep amber with one fat finger of loose beige head diminishing gradually to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: lactic tart, field berries, oak, balsamic vinegar, earthy funk, fungi. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-high carbonation, tart lightly funky slightly astringent finish. (4/5)

A middle-of-the-road example of the style. Nothing particularly stands out, either positively or negatively. Slightly more tart than the authentic reference standards, less complex, and with a light astringency in the finish. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij de Molen / Hair of the Dog Fred – Golden Special – American Strong Ale at 10.7% ABV | 65 IBU (C$7.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 330 ml, packaged on 20-Jul-2015, best before 20-Jul-2020, acquired 16-Apr-2016, reviewed 10-Apr-2020)

Appearance: clear pale amber with some particulate, no head or lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel & butterscotch, boozy dark fruit, citrus, oak, apples, rye. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-full slightly slick body, moderate-low carbonation, sticky warming slightly astringent finish. (4/5)

Much like any big barrel-aged ale – lots of boozy malt dominates over a variety of fruit, wood, and grain notes. I was pleased to note not a lot of oxidation present, despite the low residual carbonation and the fast-approaching BB date. Solid, if not particularly earth-shattering. (16/20)

My 267th from the 2010 Edition of 1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die, 256th from the 2013 Edition, 252nd from the 2018 Edition, and 288th combining all three editions.

8/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Modern Times Beer Octagon City – Berliner Weisse at 6.5% ABV | 15 IBU (C$5.04 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 28-Oct-2019, acquired 27-Feb-2020, reviewed 10-Apr-2020)_

Appearance: pinkish pale amber with one finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: field berries, tropical fruit, lactic sour, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, tart lightly warming finish. (4/5)

This is probably the highest-ABV example of the style I’ve had, which combined with the heavy fruit character makes it slightly less refreshing than I’d usually expect for the style. It’s not unpleasant as such, but it’s lightly crisp and refreshing the way the style should be. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Yukon Brewing Company Imperial Red – India Red Ale at 7.2% ABV (C$4.25 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 25-Mar-2020, reviewed 9-Apr-2020)

Appearance: clear red-tinted medium amber with two fingers of dense beige head, excellent retention and moderate droopy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, citrus, pine, earth. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky medium duration finish. (3/5)

Nice example of the style, with a decently well-balanced blend of Amber and IPA characteristics. Finishes a touch too sweet and sticky to really be refreshing, but not bad. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Rural Routes Brewing Company Neon Cowgirl Pina Colada Milkshake IPA – American IPA at 5% ABV | 30 IBU (C$4.72 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 25-Mar-2020, reviewed 8-Apr-2020)

Appearance: slightly hazy medium gold with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and spotty soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pineapple, tropical fruit, mild coconut. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky medium duration finish. (3/5)

Initially I wasn’t very impressed by this, but it grew on me in a big way as the pint progressed. One of the best things about this is the mild lactose, which though it makes for a slightly creamy body, and slightly sticky finish, never really comes across as excessively sweet. It’s more pineapple than Piña Colada, though, with only mild coconut coming through mostly in the finish. A bit more hopping would also be nice. All in all, though, not bad. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

E9 Brewery Realize Real Lies – American IPA at 6.4% ABV (C$5.22 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 27-Feb-2020, reviewed 5-Apr-2020)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy tropical fruit & citrus, caramel, dank pine. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (9/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky medium duration finish. (4/5)

A new best IPA from E9, in addition to being their best overall (for me, anyway). Slightly better than Puppies vs Kittens, and miles better than Black Helmet or Operation Haze Bro. Almost an NEIPA on the front end, but possessed of some West Coast dankness on the back end. My only complaint about this one is that I’d like it a tiny bit less sweet/malty, but it’s still excellent regardless. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com