Month: October 2021

Longwood Brewery The Big One – American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 65 IBU (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 18-Oct-2021)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: caramel, black tea, earth, resiny pine. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-full slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, off-dry building lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Brewer notes say this is hopped with Cascade, Centennial, and Chinook, so I was expecting a more American-style IPA, possibly with West Coast character. Instead, it’s an unbalanced English-style IPA dominated by malt and black tea, with excessive bitterness. (And I say that as an inveterate hop head.) (13/20)

This will be my 5,095th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

DuClaw Brewing Company Venom – American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 55 IBU (C$5.53 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 18-Aug-2021, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 16-Oct-2021)

Appearance: particulate-laden pale amber with two fingers of fine pale ivory head, good retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, pine, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, off-dry building lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Brewer notes indicated the malts are Pilsner, Biscuit, & Crystal 60, and the hops Chinook, Columbus, Cascade, Simcoe, & Citra. In other words, it’s every bit as traditional as you might expect. Well implemented, but just not all that interesting. (15/20)

This will be my 5,094th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

DC Brau Brewing The Imperial – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8% ABV (C$4.68 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 22-Mar-2021, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 15-Oct-2021)

Appearance: particulate-laden deep gold with one finger of loose pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, spotty soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel, citrus, pine. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, sticky lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Not very impressive. Might’ve been better fresher, but I can’t imagine it was any less malty. I might be a bit unfair here given the age, but this is where it is now. (13/20)

This will be my 5,093rd unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Snake Lake Brewing Company Marina Bay New England IPA – American IPA at 7% ABV | 40 IBU (C$2.97 at Collective, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 15-Oct-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with one finger of pillowy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: zesty & juicy citrus, resiny pine, cereal grains, tropical fruit, melon. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter, light tart. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

“Aggressively dry-hopped with Citra, Idaho 7, and Azacca” – yes, please.  Juicy fruit and pleasant resiny pine on an oaty, cereal grain base make for an approachable, crushable offering, with no hint of the fairly sturdy ABV. Very nice. (16/20)

This will be my 5,092nd unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Belching Beaver Brewery Deftones Ceremony – American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 30 IBU (C$5.04 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 23-Aug-2021, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 15-Oct-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of rocky off-white head, good retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, resin pine, tropical fruit, pale malt, light leather / tobacco. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

As has now pretty much become a tradition with me, I listened to the track while drinking the beer. Much to my approval, this one is all about the hops, with the malt being very clean and neutral. In fact, the hops are almost all aroma, with very little bitterness. Only a couple of the Deftones collaborations I’ve had so far (I want to say, six?) have disappointed me, and this isn’t one of them. (16/20)

This will be my 5,091st unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Rogue Ales Pineapple Party Punch – American IPA at 8.4% ABV | 40 IBU (C$5.98 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 29-Jul-2021, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 14-Oct-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with two fingers of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, caramel, citrus, coconut, earth. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate-soft carbonation, sweet slightly sticky warming finish. (3/5)

The brewer notes indicate 2-Row, Wheat, Rye Malt, Dex Pils, Lactose, Mosiac hops, and Hot Head yeast. They also draw the inevitable comparison to a Piña Colada, with caramel and tropical fruit front and centre, and coconut on the back end, but for me it’s almost like an Old Ale.  The Mosaic hops really don’t come through with any kind of clarity, and ultimately it’s heavy-handed, and not very impressive. (13/20)

This will be my 5,090th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Familia Brewing Hazy Morning New England Pale Ale – American Pale Ale at 6.3% ABV (C$4.41 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 7-Jul-2021, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 14-Oct-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of fluffy white  head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: zesty citrus, herbal, resiny pine, pale malt, tropical fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly spicy finish. (4/5)

It’s hard to know how to properly rate this one: it’s not really a “hazy” (NEIPA) visually, and the bitterness tends slightly high for that style. On the other hand, the aroma and flavour, though less juicy than I like to see, are pleasant and interesting. On the whole, I quite like this. (15/20)

This will be my 5,089th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Omnipollo Legacy IPA – American IPA at 7% ABV (C$5.95 at Collective, 330 ml, best before 9-Mar-2022, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 13-Oct-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of fluffy white  head, good retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, sweet vanilla, pale malt, melon. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: soft medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

An interesting offering, with a lot of fruit character on a soft, approachable body. It’s maybe a hair sweeter than I’d like it, but that’s a minor quibble and completely personal preference. That said, it’s just not as bright and enthusiastic as some others. Good, but not great. (15/20)

This will be my 5,088th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Fremont Brewing Interurban – American IPA at 6.2% ABV | 80 IBU (C$4.81 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 12-Aug-2021, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 13-Oct-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy medium gold with two fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: sweet citrus, pine, pale malt, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky medium duration lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

The brewer says this uses 2-Row Pale, Munich, and Honey malts, and is hopped with Chinook, Centennial, and Amarillo. There’s no one single thing I can point to here that I would consider a flaw, as such. However, I spent quite a bit of time wondering why something that looks so good on paper just didn’t excite me, and all I can come up with is that it tends a little too sweet across the board, limiting the brightness. Overall, it’s a solid WC-style IPA with old-school bitterness. It’s good, but it doesn’t stand out of a pretty overcrowded field. (15/20)

This will be my 5,087th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Common Roots Brewing Company Something Secret – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$8.80 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 17-Aug-2021, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 12-Oct-2021)

Appearance: hazy near-opaque pale gold with two fat and growing fingers of rocky off-white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, pale malt, earth, herbal. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short duration mild finish. (4/5)

The label and brewer’s notes say that this “features” Vic Secret, but don’t actually say it’s single-hopped – although the name certainly suggests that, doesn’t it? That said, the profile is not quite what I’d normally expect from a single-hopped Vic Secret, in particular with the earthy, herbal notes. I like it, but fell like it could have been better. (16/20)

This will be my 5,086th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com