Month: May 2021

Narrow Gauge Brewing Company Double Dry Hopped Fallen Flag – American IPA at 7.0% ABV | 55 IBU (C$10.30 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 8-Feb-2021, acquired 7-May-2021, reviewed 14-May-2021)

Appearance: hazy bright medium gold with two fingers of loose pale ivory head, good retention and minimal soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma:  juicy citrus, tropical fruit, biscuity malt, light resiny pine, hint of vanilla. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, clean off-dry medium duration slightly chalky finish. (5/5)

I was hoping this would be better than the “base” version, but you know that episode of the Simpsons with the Duff brewery tour, where they have the same pipe split three ways to fill kegs of Duff, Duff Lite, and Duff dry? Yeah, that. Except it doesn’t retain head as well. And a buck more, to boot? Son, I am disappoint. (16/20)

8/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Narrow Gauge Brewing Company Fallen Flag – American IPA at 7.0% ABV | 55 IBU (C$9.25 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 19-Feb-2021, acquired 7-May-2021, reviewed 14-May-2021)

Appearance: hazy bright medium gold with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma:  juicy citrus, tropical fruit, biscuity malt, light resiny pine, hint of vanilla. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, clean off-dry medium duration slightly chalky finish. (5/5)

Perhaps the ultimate “damned with faint praise” assessment: I was expecting greatness, but it’s merely very good. I can’t find proper brewer’s notes, but secondary sources say this is hopped with Citra & Mosaic, which is of course a perennial favourite blend. It’s possible that it’s getting a little elderly and that’s why the aromas and flavours don’t pop more. Despite that, it’s very easy to drink, finishing clean and more-ish. I hemmed and hawed a little on most of the scores, and could easily have rated aroma and flavour higher, or palate lower, so I’m splitting the difference a little on my final score. I’m also holding out hope that the DDH version, to follow, will rectify these issues. (17/20)

8.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

O.T. Brewing Company Cranial Disharmony – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.3% ABV (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 7-May-2021, reviewed 13-May-2021)

Appearance: clear deep gold with a massive growing rocky pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, citrus zest, resiny pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration mildly warming finish. (3/5)

Malt forward despite the double dry-hopping with Azacca, Amarillo, and Simcoe. They describe it as an homage to old-school hop monsters, and that’s all well and good, but in my opinion it’s more malty than hoppy – as, in fact, were so many of those old-school examples. Pretty drinkable, especially for the high ABV and emphatic bitterness, but more bright aromatics would’ve kicked it into next level territory. (15/20)

7.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Strathcona Beer Company Big Sexy Funk – American IPA at 5.5% ABV | 55 IBU (C$4.59 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 7-May-2021, reviewed 12-May-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of fine white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, cereal grains. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Well, it’s certainly neither big nor funky. As for sexy, well, it didn’t make me tingle in my special place, but if it does it for you, who am I to judge? The label says it’s hopped with Azacca, Citra, and Simcoe, and also specifies pilsner malt and flaked oats. I definitely get the oats, as well as the kind of citrus and tropical fruits I’d expect from the hop blend. Solid enough, I suppose, but nothing really next level here. (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Overhop Brewing Co. Keep on Lovin – Session IPA at 4.5% ABV 38 IBU (C$6.07 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 7-May-2021, reviewed 12-May-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, citrus, tropical fruit, cereal grains, grass, faint pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

I’d call this pretty decent, but only with the “for a Session” qualifier attached. Overall, not bad. No real negatives here, but the aroma is not as bright as I’d like, nor is the flavour particularly enthusiastic. I’m also noting that the aroma, which started off as being mild at best, tends to be more dominated by grassy notes as the pint progresses. The body is light, as would be expected for the type, and doesn’t really drop off watery, but there is a bit of astringency in the finish. I’m also more than a little skeeved out by the Pale Man / crazy girlfriend mashup artwork. (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Cabin Brewing Company Jungle Juice – American IPA at 7.4% ABV (C$4.45 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 5-May-2021, acquired 7-May-2021, reviewed 11-May-2021)

Appearance: hazy opaque straw with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, dank resiny pine, caramel, coconut. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, sweetish medium duration bitter finish. (4/5)

Brewer notes say this is hopped with Sabro, but I’m not sure that it’s a single-hop. Initially there was a lot more resiny pine, but that faded, allowing tropical fruit and sweet caramel to move to the forefront, backed up by coconut. It’s quite good, and there’s some interesting depth and complexity, but ultimately I do find it a bit too sweet for my preference. (16/20)

8/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Best of Kin Brewing Mom Perm – American Pale Ale at 6.0% ABV (C$3.73 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 21-Apr-2021, acquired 7-May-2021, reviewed 10-May-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of rocky white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: gooseberry / field berries, white grape must, pale malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, mild bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body falling off slightly thin, moderate carbonation, lightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Not bad, but truthfully it’s about as interesting as, well, a mom perm. The berry and vinous notes certainly pop on the front end, but the taste is slightly flat by comparison, and the finish falls off a bit watery and astringent. (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Cannery Brewing Company Ceres – White IPA at 5.5% ABV | 55 IBU (C$4.45 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 7-May-2021, reviewed 10-May-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: candied lemon zest, floral, hint of coriander. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter, light tart. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

Not much coriander in this, not that I’m complaining, because I find that can get pretty overwhelming pretty quickly. Instead, this one is dominated by candied lemon zest, reminding me of the preserved lemons I had in Greece. It’s not quite dry enough to be really refreshing, and I might be rating it slightly high because of the positive associations and my desperation to start travelling again, but in any case it’s certainly a pleasant and interesting example of the style. (16/20)

8/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Superflux Beer Company Happyness – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$5.22 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 7-May-2021, reviewed 9-May-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dank resiny pine, juicy tropical fruit, citrus, pale malt, hint of onion. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

They say money can’t buy happiness, but clearly it can buy Happyness, and that might be close enough. Mosaic hops dominate here, with a dankly resiny West Coast pine note leading the way. It’s not quite what I’d consider crushable, but it’s close, especially considering its no fooling around ABV. (16/20)

8/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Bent Stick Brewing Co. Ariana Grande – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.5% ABV (C$5.08 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Apr-2021, reviewed 9-May-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy deep gold with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: berries, stone fruit, citrus, grape must, caramel, floral. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, lingering moderate bitter warming finish. (4/5)

Interestingly complex aroma on this one. I don’t know if it’s a single-hop, but I think it might be – and if that’s the case, it might be one of the most complex hops I’ve ever tried. The more I sipped and thought, the more aspects I could list. Mind you, that might be at least a little informed by the enthusiastic ABV… (16/20)

8/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze