Month: December 2020

Rainhard Brewing Nosbeeratu – Black IPA at 6.66% ABV | 66 IBU (C$5.22 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 14-Oct-2020, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 12-Dec-2020)

Appearance: clear deep brown with one fat finger of rocky beige head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: roasty and ashy malt, resiny pine, light citrus, hint of coffee & chocolate. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, moderate-high lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Believe it or not, not my first 6.66% ABV (nor, even my second). It might be the first one that doubles down with 66 IBU, though. Black IPAs are a style that I really, really wanted to like ever since I first encountered them, but a quick check of my records shows that after about 50 examples, it’s one that I only rarely actually do like all that much. This one, I actually do like: it’s well-balanced, in that it’s dominated by dry roast ashy malt, but hops come a close second, and the sweetness is very much restrained. In other words, this is pretty much the way you’re supposed to do it. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Rainhard Brewing Fight Song – American IPA at 6.4% ABV (C$5.22 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 7-Oct-2020, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 12-Dec-2020)

Appearance: hazy pinkish amber with two fingers of pillowy pale pink head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: floral, tropical fruit, citrus, caramel. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, moderate lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

They call it a “Pink IPA” but it’s really more coppery until you get to the almost-purple lees. Hopped with Galaxy, Idaho 7, and Mosaic. The aroma is briefly dominated by the hibiscus adjunct, but that fades fairly rapidly to leave behind the tropical fruit and citrus. I like the fact that the floral is decently restrained, but it’s till too sweet for my liking. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Sky Rocket VI – American Double / Imperial IPA at 7.3% ABV (C$4.72 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 1-Dec-2020, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 11-Dec-2020)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with two fingers of loose white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, resiny dank pine, stone fruit, pale malt, green vegetal. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, moderate bitter lingering slightly vegetal finish. (3/5)

I can’t find any proper brewer’s notes for this brand-spankin’-new continuation of the series, but what can I find says it’s hopped with Mosaic and El Dorado in early fermentation dry hopping. That source also compares it to II, and I’m inclined to agree. Like some of the other incarnations, I’m getting a bit of a green vegetal note, but a bit more aggressive than previously. Still good, but with a little harshness. I’d be the first to admit I don’t know what the fuck I’m talking about, but I have to wonder if the early fermentation dry hopping is contributing to that slightly harsh note, which for me always feels a bit like over extraction, like when I forget to press my French Roast at the right time.  On the other hand, the Rocket has now for the first time gained enough altitude to be considered a DIPA, so it’s got that going for it… (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Outcast Brewing Vol. 1 Slay Bells Ring – Session IPA at 5.3% ABV (C$3.60 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 2-Dec-2020, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 11-Dec-2020)

Appearance: opaque straw with two fat fingers of dense white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, grapefruit, cereal grains, green onion. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, moderate-low peppery spice. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry short duration slightly astringent lightly spicy finish. (3/5)

Hopped with HPA-014 (Eclipse) and Galaxy. The brewer release notes claim this is the first beer brewed in Canada with Eclipse, and I certainly can’t find any record of having encountered them before. A little vegetal / onion on the front end, and a bit astringent in the back makes this less well-balanced than I normally expect for Outcast.  (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Nickel Brook Brewing Co. Creeper Reaper – Session IPA at 4.1% ABV | 30 IBU (C$4.63 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 19-Oct-2020, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 10-Dec-2020)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fat fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: grapefruit zest, stone fruit, pale crackery malt, light tropical fruit, hint of resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short duration finish. (4/5)

Hopped with Sabro, Citra, and Mosaic. Nice example of a Session: zesty aroma and bright flavours, light-bodied and short in the finish but not really watery. This isn’t exactly elderly, but I can see it being more impressive back around Halloween when it was brewed. Ephemeral, perhaps, but not necessarily forgettable. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

S.Y.C. Brewing Co. Lunar Eclipse – Belgian Pale Ale at 6% ABV (C$4.32 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 13-Nov-2020, acquired 26-Nov-2020, reviewed 6-Dec-2020)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two fat fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: lemon, black pepper, orange peel, tropical fruit, grassy herbs, light Belgian esters. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light peppery spice. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, dry moderate bitter peppery finish. (3/5)

Decent example of the style. Could stand to be brighter, but not bad overall – restrained spicy pepper and Belgian esters on citrus and tropical fruits. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Boréale (Les Brasseurs du Nord) ISA Des Chutes – Session IPA at 3.7% ABV (C$5.40 at Collective, 473 ml, best before 8-Feb-2021, acquired 26-Nov-2020, reviewed 6-Dec-2020)

Appearance: clear deep gold with two fat fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, grass, stewed fruit. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter lightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Typical too-light ISA that comes across as astringent instead of refreshing. Despite the light malt bill, the aroma is malt dominated and there’s no clear bright hop character. Definitely a “don’t bother”. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Railyard Brewing White IPA – American IPA at 6% ABV | 40 IBU (C$3.82 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 26-Nov-2020, reviewed 3-Dec-2020)

Appearance: very slightly hazy straw with two fat fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: cloves, Belgian esters, white pepper. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, moderate peppery spice. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry medium bitter building spicy finish. (3/5)

Am I being unbearably pedantic for wanting a White IPA to be, ohh, I dunno, white? This is almost clear. Not terrible, but a bit of a mishmash, with a white pepper spiciness that grows to overwhelming. This is a tricky style to get right, and this really doesn’t. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Snake Lake Brewing Company Shift Change – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.3% ABV | 70 IBU (C$3.95 at Collective, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 26-Nov-2020, reviewed 1-Dec-2020)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two fingers of loose ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone fruit and apples, light sweat & green onion, hint of earthy pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

A bit disappointing, to be honest – slightly harsh boozy sweaty fruit places this near the bottom of the list for this brewer for me. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Boréale (Les Brasseurs du Nord) IPA du Nord-Est – American IPA at 6% ABV | 75 IBU (C$7.55 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 22-Oct-2020, acquired 26-Nov-2020, reviewed 1-Dec-2020)

Appearance: opaque pale gold with two fingers of loose ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, tropical fruit, cereal grains, pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry bitter finish. (4/5)

Nice one – way better than their old-school straight-up IPA. Nice juicy citrus dominates on a clean malt, and the bitterness is nowhere near as emphatic as the 75 IBU would suggest. Good fun. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com