Month: January 2021

Nine Locks Brewing Company Frig Off – American IPA at 6.7% ABV | 30 IBU (C$4.81 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 26-Nov-2020, acquired 31-Dec-2020, reviewed 1-Jan-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fine off-white head, good retention and moderate chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, stone fruit, pale biscuity malt, light grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate carbonation, short duration slightly spicy finish. (3/5)

Interesting choice of names, though I suppose hardly surprising coming from the same province as Unfiltered (whose website is, after all, unfuckingfiltered.com) – but Mom would definitely not approve, since this F-word is almost as bad as the other where I come from. Brewer notes claim a “massive, juicy dry hop aroma”, which I think is gilding the lily just a touch: yeah, it’s sort of juicy, but I almost called it “mild”, and it’s a long way from “massive”. Decent, though, and easy-drinking despite the somewhat salty name. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Village Brewery Local – Non-Alcoholic Beer at 0.3% ABV | 15 IBU (Gift, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 25-Dec-2021, reviewed 1-Jan-2021)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of fine off-white head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap and ring, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: grass, honey and caramel, hint of citrus zest. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, short slightly thin finish. (3/5)

I don’t generally bother with non-alcoholic beers (I always figure they’re kind of like cheating at solitaire – what’s the point?) but this was a gift in a box of locally-made products, so what the heck. And, a quick visit to the brewer web  site indicated it to be hopped with Citra and Ella, so I figured that was pretty promising. And, it wasn’t terrible. But, there’s a lot less hops going on than I had hoped for (in fact, there’s just not much of anything at all). It’s cold and it’s wet, and there are no off flavours, but I can’t see actually choosing to drink this. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com