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Council Brewing Co. Béatitude Guava Tart Saison – Saison at 4.5% ABV

Council Brewing Co. Béatitude Guava Tart Saison – Saison at 4.5% ABV (C$19.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, packaged on 14-Sep-2016, acquired 18-Nov-2017, reviewed 28-Jan-2022)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale straw with a short fine white head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: doughy yeast, zesty lemon, tropical fruit, light earthy funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high tart, moderate sweet, low bitter, light funk. (8/10) Palate: light body, lively carbonation, short tart finish. (4/5)

I’ve always thought that Council brews smelled like my uncles’ homebrew, i.e. baker’s yeast. (Yes, I have cool uncles who gave me homebrew beer when I was underage, jelly much?) I’m actually more than a little impressed that such a low ABV beer is both so flavourful, and able to maintain its character during extended cellaring. I mean, I suspected it would be able to do so, or I wouldn’t have cellared it as long as I did, but still: well done. I’ve always considered this brewery to be better than average, so I’m a bit saddened to hear that they’re out of business – but I’m not completely shocked, because their yeast was always the same, and always front and centre, and I get that not everyone appreciated that. On the other hand, this is a true Brett Sour that adheres to the stye guidelines for Saison (particularly, sufficiently low ABV that you can drink two litres of this per day while working in the fields) so that’s a major thumbs up from the pedantic me. I honestly don’t know if I could identify a guava to save my life, but this is definitely emphatically tropical fruit dominant. Bottom line: I might not always have completely agreed with your brewing choices, Council, but I mourn your passing. (16/20)

This will be my 5,183rd unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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The Bruery Cuivre – Old Ale at 16.2% ABV

The Bruery Cuivre – Old Ale at 16.2% ABV (C$41.09 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, packaged on 5-Mar-2015, acquired 11-Dec-2015, reviewed 25-Jan-2022)

Appearance: slightly hazy cola brown with one finger of fine beige head diminishing gradually to a thin cap and ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: vanilla, brown sugar, bourbon & oak, dark fruit, tobacco & leather, toasted bread. (9/10) Taste: high sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-full slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, sticky warming finish. (4/5)

I’m not sure I’ve ever had a beer so completely and utterly ignore seven years in a bottle. (I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that something stronger than your typical bottle of wine can still draw blood if it wants to.) Still deep and complex, with lots of barrel notes on an emphatic sweet malt bill. Definitely a slow sipper. (17/20)

This will be my 5,182nd unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Bruery Terreux Tonnellerie Rue – Saison at 8.5% ABV

Bruery Terreux Tonnellerie Rue – Saison at 8.5% ABV (C$19.01 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, packaged on 29-Jul-2015, acquired 11-Dec-2015, reviewed 23-Jan-2022)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with a massive foamy off-white head diminishing gradually to a cap and ring, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: horse blankety funk, stone fruit, oak, hint of spicy rye. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high funk, moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: dry medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, lingering funky warming finish. (4/5)

Foamy bastard. They call it “wildly traditional”, but let’s be honest here, it’s not very traditional, is it? Lots of funky Brett notes overwhelm stone fruit and oak. Fun, but definitely not for everyone. (16/20)

This will be my 5,181st unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Bellwoods Brewery Farmhouse Classic Brett Saison (2017) – Saison at 6.2% ABV

Bellwoods Brewery Farmhouse Classic Brett Saison (2017) – Saison at 6.2% ABV (C$6.00 at Bellwoods Brewery, 500 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 11-Sep-2017, reviewed 23-Jan-2022)

Appearance: clear straw with two fat fingers of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: horse blankety funk, lemon zest, stone fruit, leather, black pepper. (9/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate bitter, moderate-high funk. (9/10) Medium-light body, lively carbonation, short mildly funky finish. (4/5)

Much better-behaved than when I had it fresh, more than four years ago: no gusher upon decapping, and in fact pretty nearly crystal clear, in contrast to its cloudiness then. (I guess four years is lots of time for the fines to settle out.) I’m not actually disappointed by the aroma as it stands, but I was very much hoping the Brett was going to become more emphatic. Instead, it’s pretty much exactly as I remember, no more, no less. The take home message there, I think, is don’t bother to cellar these, since they don’t actually improve. (17/20)

This will be my 5,180th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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E9 Brewery / La Brasserie Trois Dames Le Visiteur (Batch 1) – American Wild Ale at 5.7% ABV

E9 Brewery / La Brasserie Trois Dames Le Visiteur (Batch 1) – American Wild Ale at 5.7% ABV (C$11.23 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 375 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Feb-2018, reviewed 23-Jan-2022)

Appearance: clear ruby-tinged amber brown with minimal head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: vinous grapes, field berries, floral, light funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high tart, moderate sweet, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, lingering boozy finish. (4/5)

“American wild ale with blackberry and nectarberry”. No idea what a nectarberry is, but it’s nice to have a true Wild instead of those horrible kettle sours that everyone’s doing these days. This one is very vinous, with red wine character overwhelmingly dominant over jammy berry and light wild funk. (16/20)

This will be my 5,179th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Unibroue La Résolution (2014) – Spice / Herb / Vegetable at 10% ABV

Unibroue La Résolution (2014) – Spice / Herb / Vegetable at 10% ABV (C$8.96 at NLC Stavanger, 750 ml, packaged on 18-Sep-2014, acquired 23-Oct-2014, reviewed 18-Jan-2022)

Appearance: slightly hazy deep brown with a short loose light tan head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: winter spices, caramel/toffee malt, boozy dark fruit. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, mild bitter, moderate spice. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly syrupy body, moderate carbonation, lingering boozy finish. (4/5)

It’s been so long since I had an actual gusher, this one caught me a bit by surprise – but gush this one did, leaping out to meet me like a long-lost friend. Which, I guess, it sort of was? I mean, after serving a two-year house arrest sentence (so far), I can understand how this was so desperately happy to be out of the bottle after more than seven years. It’s actually pretty similar to the 2015 vintage I reviewed almost two years ago, when we thought this bullshit was going to be short-lived, and I blithely joked about the collapse of civilization. That didn’t age well, did it? All things considered, though, I think I deserve credit for waiting so long to drink this one. Oh, right, the beer: ummm… I dunno – continuing to lose a little structure with age, but still smells and tastes pretty great? Sure, let’s go with that, says the old guy… ladies… (16/20)

This will be my 5,178th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Unibroue 25e Anniversaire – Belgian Strong Dark Ale at 10.5% ABV | 20 IBU

Unibroue 25e Anniversaire – Belgian Strong Dark Ale at 10.5% ABV | 20 IBU (C$9.59 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 750 ml, packaged on 19-Oct-2017, acquired 12-Dec-2017, reviewed 7-Jan-2022)

Appearance: slightly hazy brown with two fat fingers of fluffy beige head, excellent retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: cherries, dark berries, candi sugar, chocolate, faint earthy funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry warming & lightly spicy finish. (4/5)

I called this “Black Forest cake in a glass” when first trying it four years ago. In particular, I noted intense flavours of chocolate and cherry, which are still present, but in different proportion: I’m now noting the cherry to be dominant, with the chocolate having faded somewhat. I’m also detecting just the faintest note of earthy cellar funk that makes me think this is, if not “corked”, precisely, to some extent showing its age. It was a well-balanced and easy drinking beast, and I don’t think that’s changed, but it certainly hasn’t actually been improved by its extended cellaring. In fact, I’m going to say it’s now just very slightly past its best-by, although still quite respectable. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Valley Brewing, Inc. Rustler Imperial Hazy IPA – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.8% ABV | 50 IBU

Valley Brewing, Inc. Rustler Imperial Hazy IPA – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.8% ABV | 50 IBU (C$5.35 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Dec-2021, reviewed 7-Jan-2022)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: sweet tropical & stone fruit, citrus, vanilla, coconut, cereal grains, hint of dank. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: soft medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish short duration finish. (3/5)

Pleasantly juicy notes of tropical & stone fruits and citrus combine with a sweet, almost creamy vanilla and a hint of coconut to make for a somewhat Creamsicle-ish overall character. It’s slightly too sweet for my preference, but other than that it’s pretty good. Fact is, because of that excess sweetness I’d probably prefer their lower-ABV Namesake IPA or Virtue APA – and going for the lower ABV is a definitely bit uncommon for me, so… (15/20)

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7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Unibroue Grande Réserve 17 (2013) – Belgian Strong Ale at 10% ABV

Unibroue Grande Réserve 17 (2013) – Belgian Strong Ale at 10% ABV (C$10.69 at NLC Stavanger, 750 ml, packaged on 13-May-2013, best before 13-May-2021, acquired 18-Sep-2014, reviewed 5-Jan-2022)

Appearance: clear deep amber with two fat fingers of frothy light beige head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: Belgian banana and cloves, caramel & toffee, musty cellar funk, oak & leather, dark fruits,  tobacco. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, lively carbonation, lingering spicy warming finish. (4/5)

When I last did this at two years old, it was complex, and had clearly benefited from a year in my cellar, mellowing the ABV and tempering the woody and vinous notes, while remaining relatively light in body. Well, at more than eight years old, and more than half a year past the BB date, that’s no longer quite the case. In addition to things fading overall, there’s an added note of musty cellar funk that is both decidedly unwelcome and almost certainly a death knell: this thing has well and truly jumped the shark. Still good, and still worthy of respect, but no longer what it once was. Ah, well, memento mori. (16/20)

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Tofino Brewing Co. Cosmic Wave Double IPA – American Double / Imperial IPA at 9.0% ABV

Tofino Brewing Co. Cosmic Wave Double IPA – American Double / Imperial IPA at 9.0% ABV (C$4.95 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Dec-2021, reviewed 5-Jan-2022)

Appearance: clear medium gold with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: resiny dank pine, citrus, caramel, tropical fruit, earthy leafy greens. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering building bitter finish. (4/5)

A strong WC-tending DIPA of the old school. A lot of my descriptions and scores here are on the cusp, and could easily have gone a bit either way. Indeed, when I last tried this one, about three years ago, I scored it a little higher. Ultimately, though, it’s a solid contender that is regardless not particularly memorable. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com