Month: July 2021

Apex Predator Brewing (Bench Creek Brewing) Stephanie – Rye IPA at 5.5% ABV | 45 IBU (C$4.68 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 31-May-2021, acquired 2-Jul-2021, reviewed 11-Jul-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with two fat fingers (and growing) of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: spicy rye, bready caramel, citrus, hint of stone fruit. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration bitter spicy finish. (4/5)

The label calls this a Citra Rye Pale Ale, but I’d call it a RYE RYE RYE Citra Pale Ale – though that’s usually the case any time rye comes out to play. And actually, there’s ultimately a bit less rye than you might expect for a full-on Rye IPA, and the citrus notes eventually do claw their way back to some kind of balance. I was a bit uncertain when I saw that combination of rye and Citra hops, but it’s actually not bad. (And the name and artwork is Ally Sheedy’s role in Short Circuit, in case you were wondering and/or not an 80’s kid.) (15/20)

7.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Pile O’ Bones Brewing Co. Cosmic Celebration – American IPA at 6% ABV (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 3-Jun-2021, acquired 2-Jul-2021, reviewed 10-Jul-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one  finger of fine pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: resiny pine, citrus, tropical fruit, oats & cereal grains. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration bitter slightly spicy finish. (4/5)

Pleasant aroma of pine, citrus, and tropical fruits on a cereal grain base, medium-bodied tending somewhat smooth, with a little hop burn in the finish. A decent enough example of the style, I suppose, but nothing really stands out to kick it up to the next level. (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Field House Brewing Co. Hazy Citra Pale – American IPA at 5.6% ABV | 20 IBU (C$5.35 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 2-Jul-2021, reviewed 10-Jul-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with one fat finger of fine white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: resiny pine, orange & grapefruit juice, pale biscuity malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration bitter lightly tart finish. (4/5)

Brewed with “extra powerful lupulin enriched Citra”. So… the same lupulin powder everybody and their dog’s been using for years? Not that I’m complaining, mind you – I suspect going with straight lupulin helps avoid any of the overextracted cattiness I sometimes associate with Citra (and which is completely absent here). The orange and grapefruit juice adjunct definitely comes through, especially in the finish, but is a good match to the Citra hopping and ends up being a bit suggestive of a Radler overall. A new brewery to me, but a very impressive first exposure. (16/20)

8/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Category 12 Brewing Chromatic IPA – American IPA at 7% ABV | 79 IBU (C$5.26 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 1-Jun-2021, acquired 2-Jul-2021, reviewed 9-Jul-2021)

Appearance: clear deep gold with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: resiny pine, citrus, pale biscuity malt, tropical fruit. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (9/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter slightly spicy finish. (4/5)

Brewer notes say this is hopped with “Mosaic & Big C’s” and that’s pretty much what smacks you in the face when you crack the can. Not much more to say here: this is pretty much a reference standard for how to brew an old school West Coast IPA. After having a ton of low bitter East Coast haze, it’s refreshing to get a crystal clear, in your face, unapologetic hop beast. (18/20)

9/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Cannery Brewing Company HDHC Citra – American IPA at 7.0% ABV | 55 IBU (C$4.36 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 4-Jun-2021, acquired 2-Jul-2021, reviewed 8-Jul-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with one fat finger of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, pale biscuity malt, resiny pine. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter slightly spicy finish. (4/5)

My third HDHC (High-Density Hop Charge, for those not in the know) offering from Cannery, and not gonna lie, I had high hopes for Citra as the single hop. Cutting right to the chase, it’s not quite as great as I hoped, and I’m gonna place it somewhere in between the Mosaic and Ekuanot versions. I was a bit surprised that it didn’t develop or retain its head as well as the other two, because I sort of assumed that they used pretty much the same malt bill and brewing process across all three, but maybe the hops themselves are contributing different levels of oils? Regardless, we’re getting into nit-picking detail here, and I have to say: Cannery has immensely raised the bar on their product with these three. Plus, when I went to their web site to look for details, there were details of a music collaboration (which I always love) for another brew, recommending Unleash the Archers’ cover of Stan Rogers’ Northwest Passage, both of which are holy fuck awesome Canadiana. OK, Cannery, you’ve got my attention: I now expect great things. (16/20)

8/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Upstreet Craft Brewing White Noize – White IPA at 7.0% ABV | 60 IBU (C$4.55 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 28-May-2021, acquired 2-Jul-2021, reviewed 8-Jul-2021)

Appearance: hazy particulate-laden pale gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet citrus, cereal grains, floral, banana. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky moderate bitter finish. (3/5)

Not much like a “true” Belgian-style White, but it’s pretty obviously not supposed to be one, so I’ll make allowances. Not making any allowances for those fugly chunks or the short-lived head, though – it’s not a pretty beer at all, and it hasn’t been in the can long enough to blame age. Sweet and fruity, with a hint of banana from the half wheat in the malt bill. A bit too sweet, really, making it a definite one and done for me. (13/20)

6.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Cannery Brewing Company HDHC Ekuanot – American IPA at 7% ABV (C$4.36 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 23-Apr-2021, acquired 2-Jul-2021, reviewed 8-Jul-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, herbal, pale biscuity malt, pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter slightly spicy finish. (4/5)

My second HDHC (High-Density Hop Charge, for those not in the know) offering from Cannery, this one using Ekuanot as the single hop. I’m a little torn here: on the one hand, it’s probably just as well done as the Mosaic version, but on the other, Ekuanot, though interesting, is not quite as fun a hop in my opinion. In particular, the herbal component I could take or leave. Don’t get me wrong, this is good – but my personal preference would be for the Mosaic, so I’ve gotta score it that way. (16/20)

8/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Snake Lake Brewing Company Day Tripper New Zealand Spritzer IPA – American IPA at 6.2% ABV | 20 IBU (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 2-Jul-2021, reviewed 8-Jul-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of loose pale ivory head, good retention and spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: white grape must, tropical fruit, citrus, pale malt, pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, short duration lightly tart finish. (4/5)

Loads of fruit adjunct in this, both Sauvignon Blanc grape must and passionfruit – but, it works. I’m not sure if it’s single-hopped with Nelson Sauvin, but using that as a dry hop definitely works with exactly those fruit flavours. Fruity without being sweet, bright and refreshing – I like it. (16/20)

8/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Bent Stick Brewing Co. Salinity Now! – American Pale Ale at 4.5% ABV (C$4.55 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 17-Jun-2021, acquired 2-Jul-2021, reviewed 7-Jul-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with two fat fingers of fluffy white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, brine, pale malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, short duration lightly briny finish. (4/5)

Weird name. Weird beer. I approve. Pink Himalayan salt, sweet orange peel, and Citra hops – sure, why not? Though, it feels a bit more like lime to me, almost like licking salt and biting a lime when doing tequila shots.  Crisp and refreshing. (15/20)

7.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

High River Brewing Co. Belvedere Punk Rock – Golden Ale at 5.0% ABV (C$4.35 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 2-Jul-2021, reviewed 7-Jul-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fine white head, good retention and spotty soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical & stone fruit, caramel, grass, herbal. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium bitter slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

I always like the idea of collaborations between brewers and bands. Personally, though, I’d’ve expected a punk rock band to go with something a little more challenging than a Golden. It’s not bad, though I find it a bit sweet, with muddled fruit notes barely beating out a caramel malt backbone. Despite the sweetness, the finish is just slightly astringent. All in all, pretty forgettable. The album’s not bad, though – shades of Green Day, perhaps, so that gives you some idea of how “punk” it really is. (13/20)

6.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze