Month: February 2021

Outcast Brewing 12 Ounces Is Just Right! – Triple IPA at 9.5% ABV (C$4.05 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 5-Jan-2021, acquired 10-Feb-2021, reviewed 13-Feb-2021)

Appearance: muddy hazy medium gold with one finger of loose pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone & tropical fruit, citrus, caramel, hint of vanilla. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, medium duration bitter warming finish. (4/5)

See, I’d rather have 12 ounces (or more!) of this than 12 Ounces Is Not Enough!, which I just found weirdly off-putting. I still don’t think a Triple IPA is really a thing, but whatever you classify this as, it ain’t half bad. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Outcast Brewing 12 Ounces Is Not Enough! – American IPA at 7% ABV (C$3.69 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 4-Jan-2021, acquired 10-Feb-2021, reviewed 13-Feb-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of loose pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin cap and ring, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: herbal, resiny pine, citrus, caramel, stone fruit. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration bitter warming finish. (3/5)

I had great expectations here, but was deeply disappointed. I’m not sure if it’s oxidized, because I’m not really getting any of the wet cardboard notes I typically associate with that, but this is nothing like his typical IPAs. Sorry, Patrick, but 12 ounces of this actually is enough. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Town Square Brewing Market Series IPA #005 – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 10-Feb-2021, reviewed 11-Feb-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of loose pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical & stone fruit, citrus, pale malt, melon. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry building and lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

I understand this is a spinoff from Megawatt, with a similar hop bill but a bigger dry hop. So they say, anyway. Truth is, I suspect I’d have to try them side-by-side in order to discern any really significant differences. I might be noting a bit more fruit, specifically stone fruit, than I got with Megawatt, but other than that it really does seem like a very similar beer. Which is OK by me, since I liked that one just fine! (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Category 12 Brewing Frequency Imperial Hazy IPA – American Double / Imperial IPA at 7.8% ABV | 40 IBU (C$5.22 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 23-Nov-2020, acquired 10-Feb-2021, reviewed 11-Feb-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, stone fruit, pale malt, resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Hopped with Galaxy, Citra, and Mosaic? Hell yeah. Juicy goodness, restrained sweetness, and a hint of resiny pine. As usual, I wouldn’t mind a little more of the old sticky-icky, but this is pretty good even so. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Captain Lawrence Brewing Company Citra Dreams – American IPA at 7.0% ABV (C$6.88 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 7-Dec-2020, acquired 10-Feb-2021, reviewed 10-Feb-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a medium cap, minimal spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pithy grapefruit, stone fruit, bready malt, weedy grass, resiny pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body tending slightly watery, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter finish. (3/5)

Not bad, but a little light in the aroma and flavour, with an accompanying slightly thin (tending watery) body. It certainly doesn’t have the kind of enthusiastic aroma I’d like to see from a Citra DDH. It certainly drinks easy for the ABV, butI’d still like to see more body and bombast here. OK, but not great. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Peace River Brewing Tastes Pink IPA – American IPA at 6% ABV (C$4.68 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-Jan-2021, reviewed 5-Feb-2021)

Appearance: clear deep gold with two fingers of loose pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: caramel, grass, citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Not too sure what pink would taste like, but this tastes like an old-school AIPA to me… or am I being too literal? Malt-dominant over reasonably balanced bitterness, but ends just a little astringent. Other than that, there’s nothing too wrong with it, and it’s certainly pretty enough, but it’s just not very interesting. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Atlas Brewing Corp. Gardens of Gaia – Premium Bitter / ESB at 6.6% ABV | 34 IBU (C$4.27 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 3-Dec-2020, acquired 15-Jan-2021, reviewed 4-Feb-2021)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: sweet citrus, caramel, grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium duration finish. (4/5)

Don’t ask me why, but I initially had this classified as an American IPA, and after the aroma and first sip was about to come down on it like a ton of bricks for how much of an IPA it wasn’t. Then I looked at the can a little more closely, realizing that a) I’m an idiot and b) it’s actually a pretty nice ESB. (Although they call it an Extra Special Ale, instead of Extra Special Bitter.) I don’t think I’ve ever had an ESB hopped with Citra before, but it certainly provides a sufficiently different aroma profile – more New World hops, less Noble – to justify the different nomenclature. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Revival Brewcade Ruby Soho – American IPA at 6.6% ABV | 56 IBU (C$4.27 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-Jan-2021, reviewed 3-Feb-2021)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with one finger of loose off-white head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet grapefruit, caramel, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-low carbonation, sweetish medium duration slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Only my third from this brewery, but deeply disappointing by comparison to Multiplayer and Mana Beast. The label claims Citra hops, but the aroma is completely dominated by the ruby grapefruit adjunct. I assume that adjunct is also the reason for the near-complete lack of head development for this one. It’s not terrible, but even though I’m a complete sucker for a Radler, this just isn’t working for me. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Outcast Brewing 2020 Can Frig Right Off – American IPA at 6.2% ABV (C$4.90 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 31-Dec-2020, acquired 15-Jan-2021, reviewed 2-Feb-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of rocky white head, good retention and moderate chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, coconut, vanilla, citrus, pale crackery malt, resiny pine. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly spicy finish. (4/5)

It’s fair to say I agree with the inestimable Mr. Schnarr about a great many things, but they’re generally generally brewing-related. However, we are completely in agreement with the sentiment expressed by this one’s label: 2020 can indeed frig right off (and it can lick my sweaty taint on the way). I could do without being reminded that I did in fact cancel a Hawaii trip last April, but if I can’t have Hawaii, at least I can have this. Citra and Strata provide a pleasant fruity note that’s juicy without being too sweet, on a clean pale malt base with a little pine in the background. I could stand a bit more of the resiny pine, if I’m honest, but I quite enjoyed this just as it is. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Nine Locks Brewing Company Champagne IPA – American IPA at 6.3% ABV | 38 IBU (C$4.68 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 3-Dec-2020, acquired 15-Jan-2021, reviewed 1-Feb-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy paler-than-pale straw with two fingers of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap and ring, minimal soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, tart citrus, floral, pale crackery malt. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, dry crisp finish. (3/5)

I guess it’s sort of champagne-like, particularly with the dry finish, but ultimately there’s just not a lot going on there. It’s not terrible, but it’s OK at best. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com