Month: November 2021

Anchor Brewing Company Merry Christmas & Happy New Year (Our Special Ale) (2016) – Christmas / Winter Specialty Spiced Beer at 6.5% ABV (C$3.37 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 355 ml, best before 31-Oct-2018, acquired 13-Dec-2016, reviewed 29-Nov-2021)

Appearance: clear brown with ruby highlights, one finger of rocky tan head, good retention and moderate clingy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: resiny pine, molasses, banana bread, spices. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering mildly spicy finish. (4/5)

I called the 2018 vintage the best I’d had to date when it was still pretty fresh in early 2019, but this one is up there with it despite being more than three years past its BB. Like that one, there’s a pungent resiny pine at the forefront, but this one is (now?) more molasses than chocolate. Despite that, it’s not excessively sweet, and is quite easy-drinking. (16/20)

This will be my 5,140th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

BeerMKR Redwood IPA – American IPA at 7.3% ABV | 66 IBU (Initial Setup 31-Oct-2021, Pitch & Hop 1-Nov-2021, Dry Hop 6-Nov-2021, Transfer & Carb 16-Nov-2021, Reviewed 29-Nov-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy medium amber with one fat finger of fine ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, red berries, caramel, earthy pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky mildly warming finish. (3/5)

My second batch from the BeerMKR machine. I had issues with the BeerTap during my first batch, so for this effort I modified the tap with a ball lock post, allowing me to use a proper regulator. However, that new setup initially leaked on the CO₂ side, so I had to make some adjustments, and probably ended up stirring up the settled trub more than was good. As far as the beer itself goes, I’d have to call it a solid “OK”. I’m not sure about the hop profile: it’s a bit muddled, and I’m getting something I’d have to call berries. It’s not objectionable in and of itself, so I’m leaning towards a slightly higher aroma grade. On the other hand, since I know what I hopped it with (Cascade and Centennial bittering, Centennial and Simcoe dry hopped) I’m not sure where that berry note is coming from, so I could go a point lower on aroma, to maybe half a point lower on overall score. It’s not bad overall, definitely no worse than a 6.5, and I wouldn’t hesitate to serve it to someone, but it’s certainly middle of the pack. I’m hoping my new kegging setup will give a better result with future batches. (14/20)

This will be my 5,139th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Goose Island Beer Company Bourbon County Stout (2021) – Imperial Stout at 14.4% ABV (C$29.95 at Wine and Beyond, 500 ml, packaged on 22-Jul-2021, best before 22-Jul-2026, acquired 26-Nov-2021, reviewed 27-Nov-2021)

Appearance: clear deep brown with a short fine medium beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bourbon, chocolate, oak, vanilla, red berries. (9/10) Taste: high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-full slick body, moderate carbonation, lingering warming finish. (4/5)

Yes, I know, ABInBev is the devil, and I usually boycott them. But, it’s coming on that time of the year and I felt like a change from the IPAs and Pales I’ve been focussing on lately, OK? This is pretty much the poster child for why Imperial Stouts are stupidly overrated on all the various sites: they’re sweet, sticky, and boozy, and will get you cross-eyed drunk in no time flat. Is this any better than any number of other examples? Nope. Was it worth, not just the ridiculous price tag, but also taking an hour on Friday to go line up and get a couple? Eh… maybe. The bourbon helps, not gonna lie. I’ll leave the other one for a year or five, see what happens. (I’m going to go out on a limb here, and predict: not a whole lot.) (17/20)

This will be my 5,138th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Local Craft Beer Big Haze Energy – Triple IPA at 10% ABV | 10 IBU (C$8.25 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 4-Nov-2021, reviewed 26-Nov-2021)

Appearance: clear pale gold with a short, short-lived white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet boozy citrus, caramel, light pine. (6/10) Taste: high sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium slick body, low carbonation, warming boozy finish. (3/5)

Hopped with Citra, Strata, and El Dorado. I’m not sure what’s supposed to be big here, the haze or the energy, but that’s a bit irrelevant, because neither actually is. What it is, is sweet. And boozy. And, well, disappointing. And I don’t know why you’d want to make your brewery un-Google-able, but they seem to have done just that: you can’t find it unless you add the hometown name. (12/20)

This will be my 5,137th unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Odin Brewing Company Loki Fresh Hop – American IPA at 7% ABV (C$3.00 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 6-Oct-2021, acquired 4-Nov-2021, reviewed 26-Nov-2021)

Appearance: clear pale gold with a massive fine white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: sweet citrus, floral, cereal grains, pine, black tea. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate building bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Despite this being a fresh hop, there’s a lot of sweet malt making itself known here, with an almost honey-like note contributing significantly to the citrus front end. There’s also a big floral, almost vegetal note through the mid, and a bitter, almost astringent black tea note in the finish. Interesting, but not a complete success. (15/20)

This will be my 5,136th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Little Beast Brewing Green Queen – American IPA at 6% ABV (C$5.80 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 27-May-2021, acquired 4-Nov-2021, reviewed 26-Nov-2021)

Appearance: slightly chill-hazed pale gold with one finger of fine pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: oily citrus, resiny pine, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, medium duration lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

I wouldn’t normally have bothered with something this old (at least, for this style) but I didn’t notice the date stamp in the store – and it seems to have held up pretty well. Hopped with Cryo Centennial, Citra, and Lemondrop, and I’m getting lots of the citrus you’d expect, including a zesty, oily lemon peel. The resiny pine is almost as emphatic, and grows as the pint warms. All in all, a pleasantly hoppy and interesting example of the style, but still refreshing, and probably a bit of a hop beast when fresh. (16/20)

This will be my 5,135th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Omnipollo Aniara Lemon Pale – American Pale Ale at 6% ABV (C$6.93 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 16-Jun-2021, acquired 4-Nov-2021, reviewed 25-Nov-2021)

Appearance: opaque creamy magenta with one finger of loose pale pink head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: raspberry & field berries, citrus, lactose, vanilla, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, short slightly tart finish. (4/5)

Well, it’s not terrible… It’s sort of melted creamsicle, sort of milkshake, but with surprisingly restrained sweetness. Pretty drinkable and pleasant, for what it is. (14/20)

This will be my 5,134th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Pipeworks Brewing Co. Lizard King – American Pale Ale at 6% ABV (C$6.55 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 16-Jun-2021, acquired 4-Nov-2021, reviewed 24-Nov-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with one fat finger of fluffy white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, pale crackery malt, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, short clean slightly peppery finish. (4/5)

Very easy drinking and quite pleasant. I’m sure it would have been brighter when newer, but it’s pretty refreshing even now after five months in the can. (15/20)

This will be my 5,131st unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Cabin Brewing Company Total Saturation – Triple IPA at 10% ABV (C$5.40 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 18-Oct-2021, acquired 4-Nov-2021, reviewed 22-Nov-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: sweet stone & tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains, lightly dank pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly syrupy body, moderate-soft carbonation, sweetish mildly warming finish. (3/5)

I found both Super Duper Saturation and Summer Saturation to be quite a bit better than Super Saturation, so I was hoping the trend would continue through to Total Saturation. I think it’s sort of jumped the shark here, though. It’s hopped with Cryo Pop Hop Blend, so I was expecting the big lupulin punch, but I’m a bit disappointed with how much malt sweetness came along for the ride. In all honesty, I think I’ve rather have three Super, than one of this. That’s not to say this is bad – it’s actually pretty good – but it’s so sweet and syrupy that I’d pretty much have to call it quits after one. (14/20)

This will be my 5,130th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Parallel 49 Filthier Dirtier – American Double / Imperial IPA at 9% ABV (C$4.36 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 20-Oct-2021, best before 31-Oct-2022, acquired 4-Nov-2021, reviewed 22-Nov-2021)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: sweet boozy citrus, bready caramel, resiny pine, tropical fruit. (7/10) Taste: high sweet, high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-full slick body, moderate-soft carbonation, sweet building bitter warming finish. (3/5)

I mean, it’s not terrible… but man, is it sweet. Boozy and warming, too, but the malt emphasis is where it loses me. Despite my predilection for bombastic beers, I dunno if I actually prefer this to the single version. (14/20)

This will be my 5,129th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com