Month: May 2020

Born Colorado Brewing Black Chai Affair – American IPA at 7% ABV | 60 IBU (C$4.25 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 21-Apr-2020, acquired 7-May-2020, reviewed 16-May-2020)

Appearance: clear deep amber with two fingers of rocky beige head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: chai tea, roasty malts, coffee, smoke, light metallic. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high bitter, moderate sweet, moderate spice. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, dry lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

I really didn’t have a lot of choice when it came to buying this one, seeing how it came from a solid local brewery (whose logo is a “C” in a circle) as a collaboration with my go-to bottle shop (whose logo is three “C’s” in a circle, and moreover shares a name with one of the best brewers in Canada). I’m not generally a fan of chai, but this one avoids the biggest problem there by keeping the sweetness very restrained. I think I would’ve hated this if it were sweet, but as it is, I like it. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Cigar City Brewing Florida Cracker – Witbier at 5.5% ABV | 15 IBU (C$4.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 20-Apr-2020, acquired 7-May-2020, reviewed 16-May-2020)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap & ring, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: orange & lime zest, banana, wheat, coriander. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate spice, low bitter, light tart. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry medium duration mildly astringent finish. (4/5)

More coriander in the finish than on the front end, which in my opinion is exactly how it should be: in my experience, if you get the coriander right away, by the time the pint is done there’s literally nothing else going on. This is nicely balanced, with reasonable spice and bitterness in the finish. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Annex Ale Project Well, Actually – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$4.45 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 2-May-2020, acquired 7-May-2020, reviewed 16-May-2020)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: melon, citrus, caramel, pine, grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration mildly astringent finish. (3/5)

I’m not normally one to complain about bitter, but this is pretty bitter for something calling itself an NEIPA. This is particularly the case in the finish, which is somewhat astringent. It’s not bad, but it’s not great. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Snake Lake Brewing Company Brighter Horizons – American Pale Ale at 5.4% ABV | 40 IBU (C$4.18 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 7-May-2020, reviewed 15-May-2020)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two fingers of loose white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical & stone fruit, citrus, caramel, light coconut. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, off-dry medium duration lightly tart finish. (4/5)

This one is conditioned on guava, pineapple, and peach, and hopped with Sabro, Citra, and Amarillo. I’m getting most of that, predominantly tropical and stone fruit, as well as citrus. I usually think of Sabro as imparting a coconut note, but I’m getting just the merest hint of that, mostly in the finish. Pleasant and easy-drinking. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company PilsGNAR – Pilsner at 5.2% ABV (C$3.96 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 24-Apr-2020, acquired 7-May-2020, reviewed 15-May-2020)

Appearance: bright clear straw with two fingers of loose white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bready malt, floral/grass, herbal, sulphur. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter, light spice. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry medium duration lightly spicy slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

A more straightforward Pils than their Part-Time Model, with a more traditional German-style hop selection. I actually prefer the ANZ-style hopping of the former, but find this one to be almost as crushable, particularly since the traditional sulphur aroma is very restrained. I do find it just a little astringent in the finish, and so not quite at the same level, but solid regardless. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Part-Time Model – Pilsener at 5.2% ABV (C$4.27 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 7-May-2020, reviewed 11-May-2020)

Appearance: bright clear straw with one fat finger of loose white head, good retention and moderate chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: berry & melon, bready malt, citrus, grass. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter, light spice. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry medium duration lightly spicy finish. (4/5)

Really solid Pils – ANZ-style hops lead the way, with a clean malt supporting and a little grass and citrus in the back end. I’m told it’s got Nelson Sauvin and Citra, and that’s pretty much what I’m getting, with gooseberry/melon and mild citrus. Clean, bright, easy-drinking and refreshing – if all Pilsners were like this, I’d probably drink a lot more of them! (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Mellow Gold – Helles Lager at 4.8% ABV (C$3.96 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 22-Apr-2020, acquired 7-May-2020, reviewed 11-May-2020)

Appearance: bright clear straw with one fat finger of fluffy white head, good retention and spotty soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bready malt, grass, floral, herbs, light diacetyl upon warming. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, off-dry medium duration mild bitter finish. (4/5)

This one started off very nice indeed, with clean and balanced grainy malt and grassy hops. However, a slight buttery diacetyl developed towards the end of the pint and lingered slightly on the palate. Decent overall, but falls a little short of great. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

New Level Brewing Haze Lord Quarantine Edition – American IPA at 5% ABV (C$4.95 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 7-May-2020, reviewed 9-May-2020)

Appearance: slightly dirty opaque pale gold with one fat finger of loose pale ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, tropical fruit, caramel, light pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry short duration moderate bitter finish. (4/5)

A distinct improvement over the original Haze Lord, with brighter and juicier hops, and a slightly heavier body more appropriate to the style. The triple dry hopping and pineapple puree definitely work well with the style. I said the original one could be much better with a few tweaks, and lo and behold, these are pretty much exactly the tweaks I had in mind. Very nice. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Common Crown Brewing Co. Brighter Days Citra Pale Ale – American Pale Ale at 5.0% ABV | 40 IBU (C$4.35 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 7-May-2020, reviewed 9-May-2020)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, bready malt, grass, earth. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter mildly spicy finish. (3/5)

Fairly straightforward Pale, with moderate Citra character and an almost Pilsener-ish grassy/earthy note on the back end. Personally I’d like a brighter, juicer citrus character, especially for a “Citra Pale Ale”, and think it falls short of the “bold grapefruit aroma” the label promise, but it’s not bad. I’m interpreting the label art as grimly funny, with the “brighter days” ahead attributable to thermonuclear warfare – that is, the light at the end of the tunnel is the oncoming train – but of course I’m hoping that’s not the case, since then it’s just grim and not really all that funny…(14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Alley Kat Brewing Co. Fish Bone – American IPA at 6.1% ABV | 60 IBU (C$3.25 at Collective, 355 ml, best before 14-Aug-2020, acquired 7-May-2020, reviewed 8-May-2020)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin cap and ring, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pine, caramel, citrus, light tropical fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

I don’t mind the bitterness, but think it’s a bit much for something claiming to be an NEIPA. I think I found it to be juicier and more citrusy when I had it on tap a year or two ago. Good one, even if it’s not very much in spec for its alleged style. (Come on – it’s 60 IBU!) (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com