Month: July 2021

2 Crows Brewing Modern Interpretation – American IPA at 6.1% ABV | 44 IBU (C$5.26 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 6-Apr-2021, acquired 15-Jul-2021, reviewed 19-Jul-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of creamy off-white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus & tropical fruit, cereal grains, melon, light resiny pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Smooth medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

The label says “VELVETY LUSH JUICY”, and that’s reasonable. Hopped with Galaxy and Enigma, and it’s got the tropical and melon notes I’d expect, though not a lot of the vinous character. I would have liked it to be brighter, but that might be largely due to age. All in all, an easy-drinking, reasonably refreshing example of the style. (15/20)

7.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Familia Brewing Long Walk Kveik Pale Ale – American Pale Ale at 5.0% ABV | 21 IBU (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 23-Jun-2021, acquired 15-Jul-2021, reviewed 17-Jul-2021)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of pillowy pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: citrus zest, stone fruit, caramel, earthy pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

Not quite a traditional Pale – at least, not a traditional American Pale, though I suppose the use of kveik-style yeasts is arguably a much older tradition. I don’t have a whole lot of experience with kveik, but the stone fruit and citrus zest notes seem to be in-line with what experience I do have. The flavours are fruity without being sweet or tart, as well as slightly earthy. An interesting offering from a new sort-of local brewery. (15/20)

7.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Grain Bin Brewing Company Alright Already – American IPA at 5.5% ABV (C$4.72 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-Jul-2021, reviewed 17-Jul-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, stone & tropical fruit, oats, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium soft body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium duration finish. (3/5)

I like the beer. I fucking hate the name. I mean, I get that my response to that particular misspelling is utterly unreasonable, but I have it anyway. As far as the beer goes, the label gets it right: there’s a lot of them out there, and this is another one. It ain’t the best and it ain’t the worst. Except for that misspelling, which is on par with genocide. (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Great Lakes Brewery Miami Weiss – American Pale Wheat Ale at 4.5% ABV | 30 IBU (C$4.15 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 9-Jun-2021, acquired 15-Jul-2021, reviewed 16-Jul-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of dense pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, stone fruit, cereal grains, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium smooth body, moderate-lively carbonation, medium duration slightly sticky finish. (3/5)

I smelled and tasted this before reading the label, so I was all ready to deliver a blistering condemnation before I saw that they freely admitted it’s not a Weiss at all. Well… fine… but it’s still confusing! (And, calling it “just something the guys in marketing came up with” is not much of a defence. This is the craft beer world! You’re supposed to be above such mundane considerations as marketing and filthy lucre!) Despite it being “packed with Pacific Northwest hops” (and relatively young) I don’t find the aroma to be bright or juicy. Rather, it’s got a lot of cereal grains (oats and wheat) vying for dominance over a muddled stone fruit, with what little citrus there is bringing up the rear. Except, the rear isn’t that great, either, as the finish ends up a bit sticky and not very more-ish at all. It’s not terrible, especially for the low ABV, but it’s a long way from great – and more to the point, a long way from some of their other efforts. (I’d much rather have a Burst!, at the same ABV, or two-thirds of an Octopus Wants to Fight.) (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Ale Architect Brewing Ltd. Colour Burst 4 – American IPA at 6.3% ABV (C$4.63 at Collective, 473 ml, best before 14-Dec-2021, acquired 2-Jul-2021, reviewed 14-Jul-2021)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with one finger of loose pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: dank resiny pine, citrus, tropical fruit, oats & cereal grains. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Medium smooth body, moderate-low carbonation, short duration slightly spicy finish. (4/5)

Brewer notes say this is double dry-hopped with a blend of Vic Secret, Citra Cryo, and Cashmere. Far better than 2, and quite comparable to the original, though perhaps a little heavier in the body, particularly with the lower carbonation. (I think I missed 3?) (16/20)

8/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Superflux / Gigantic Pretty Much Yeah – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$5.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 18-Jun-2021, acquired 2-Jul-2021, reviewed 14-Jul-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of loose pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus pith & zest, tropical fruit, oats & cereal grains, dank cannabinoids. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Medium soft body, moderate carbonation, short duration slightly sticky finish. (4/5)

Secondary sources indicate oats in the malt bill and Galaxy hopping. Not too sweet and totally crushable. Is this the right way to brew beer? Pretty much, yeah. (17/20)

8.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Eighty-Eight Brewing Leisure Centre – American IPA at 6.3% ABV | 35 IBU (C$4.81 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 25-Jun-2021, acquired 2-Jul-2021, reviewed 13-Jul-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with one finger of fluffy white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, field berries, stone fruit, pale malt, pine, vegetal. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium soft body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium duration slightly sticky finish. (3/5)

The brewer notes describe this as super dank, but I have to disagree. In fact, despite their description of using incognito and cryo hop versions, in addition to Dip hopping, I’m getting suggestions of green vegetation that I usually associate with overextraction. It’s also just a bit too sweet for my preference. Not really one of their better offerings, in my opinion. (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Whitetooth Brewing Company Sickbird Northwest Pale Ale – American Pale Ale at 5.2% ABV | 36 IBU (C$4.23 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 15-Apr-2021, acquired 2-Jul-2021, reviewed 12-Jul-2021)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pine, citrus, pale crackery malt, floral, stone fruit. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, short duration moderate bitter slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Not quite as brightly citrus or dankly pine as their full-on IPA Blower Pow, which is pretty much the profile I was hoping for (albeit with lower intensity, on a lighter malt base). But, instead of merely being lighter, it’s duller. As well, the bitterness is initially mid-range, but starts to turn into a slight astringency in the finish, becoming more emphatic towards the end of the pint. It’s OK, but unmemorable. (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

The Establishment Brewing Company / Annex Ale Project Separate Together – Gose at 4.8% ABV (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 2-Jul-2021, reviewed 12-Jul-2021)

Appearance: clear deep gold with one finger of fluffy off-white head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus peel, band-aid esters, stone fruit, coriander. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (8/10) Medium-light body, lively carbonation, tart faintly briny finish. (4/5)

My first collaboration with these two brewers, though I’ve had perhaps two dozen from each separately. This one is not really up to standard for The Establishment (for n=18, μ=8 & σ=0.5) but right about average for Annex (for n=27, μ=7.1 & σ=1.03), so draw your own conclusions about who’s moving towards whose standards with this one… My biggest complaint here is the plastic-y band-aid ester note, which though not exactly dominant, is certainly present. On the tongue and through the finish, though, it’s pretty solid, and doesn’t go over the top with brine the way some examples of this style do. A decently refreshing sunny patio beer. (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Corsaire Microbrasserie Pirate USS Vermont – American IPA at 6.3% ABV | 47 IBU (C$4.45 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 27-Apr-2021, acquired 2-Jul-2021, reviewed 11-Jul-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: melon, stone fruit, citrus, pale malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Maybe a little long in the can, so I acknowledge I might be slightly unfair on the scoring. Not bad overall, but there’s a little more rindy melon and stone fruit than I prefer to see in this style, and not enough citrus. Yes, that’s largely personal preference, but I’m the person rating it, so… As well, the finish is a little bit astringent, particularly towards the end of the pint. Not offensively so, certainly, but enough to matter. All in all, a fairly middle of the road interpretation of the style, without a whole lot to differentiate it from a lot of others. (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze