Month: February 2022

Steam Whistle Brewing Lemon Shandy – Radler at 2.5% ABV (C$3.23 at Okotoks Co-Op, 473 ml, packaged on 1-Jul-2021, acquired 12-Feb-2022, reviewed 12-Feb-2022)

Appearance: clear pale straw with two fingers of rocky white head, good retention, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: lemon, light biscuity malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, medium-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: light body, lively carbonation, short mild tart finish. (4/5)

Nice one. Any Pilsner character here is limited to a very light biscuity malt, so it’s all about the lemon. Goes down really quick and easy, neither too sweet nor too tart, refreshing as heck. I don’t care that it’s basically a training wheels beverage intended for children and old ladies at church picnics, it would be a great one for summertime by the pool. (15/20)

This will be my 5,190th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Iron Rock Brewing Co. Happy Valley – Hefeweizen at 5.6% ABV (Gift – thanks Rod H!, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 4-Feb-2022, reviewed 11-Feb-2022)

Appearance: murky straw with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, banana, clove, tart wheat, bubblegum. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, medium-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-low carbonation, off-dry mild finish. (4/5)

Not much to say here: it’s a pretty straightforward rendition of the style. If you like Hefes, you’ll like this one just fine. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Secret Brewing Co. Chin Music – American Pale Ale at 5.2% ABV (Gift – thanks Rod H!, 473 ml, packaged on 11-Nov-2021, acquired 4-Feb-2022, reviewed 11-Feb-2022)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two fat fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, lemon, wheat, metallic. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, medium-high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Not a whole lot going on here: mild aroma and flavour lead the way on a lighter body tending slightly thin and metallic in the finish. (13/20)

This will be my 5,189th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bruery Terreux Tart of Darkness (2017) – Sour Stout at 6.6% ABV (C$19.33 at NLC Stavanger, 750 ml, packaged on 11-Jan-2017, acquired 30-Dec-2017, reviewed 7-Feb-2022)

Appearance: clear deep cola brown with a short fizzy beige head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tart berries, red wine vinegar, oak, light roasty malts. (8/10) Taste: moderate tart, moderate sweet, medium-light bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium tart finish. (4/5)

Even less malt character than the older vintage I had, whether new or cellared. I’m not sure how best to describe what I think is going on here – it’s not so much faded, as a loss of complexity. (Or perhaps it never had much complexity to start with?) It’s pleasant enough, but I’m just not getting the depth of character I get from something like a Duchesse or a Rodenbach. (16/20)

This will be my 5,188th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Bruery Tart of Darkness (2014) – Sour Stout at 7.2% ABV (C$22.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 27-Mar-2015, reviewed 6-Feb-2022)

Appearance: clear ruby brown with a short fizzy beige head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: roasty malt & coffee, tart dark fruit, oak, light barynyardy funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate tart, moderate sweet, medium-light bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium tart finish. (4/5)

When I had this new I didn’t get much in the way of roasted malts, but a few years in the bottle seems to have brought a coffee note to the forefront, especially as it warms. Still a lot of tartness there, though! (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bellwoods Brewery Barn Owl (No. 10) – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$15.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 500 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 9-Jan-2018, reviewed 6-Feb-2022)

Appearance: clear medium gold with two fingers of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: funky leather, apricot, light oak, hint of red wine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, medium-light bitter, mild funky tart. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry mild tart finish. (4/5)

I had this fresh, and found the apricot to be dominant over the Brett. I was hoping cellaring would allow Breet to attain some dominance over the fruit. Well, be careful what you wish for I suppose, because this has done pretty much exactly what I had hoped it would do, but I’m not sure I can rate it any higher. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Bruery Oude Tart (2014) – Flanders Red at 8% ABV (C$22.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, packaged on 29-May-2014, acquired 27-Mar-2015, reviewed 5-Feb-2022)

Appearance: clear ruby brown with one finger of fine light beige head diminishing gradually to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tart cherry, leather, oak, tobacco. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high tart, moderate sweet, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, lively carbonation, tart slightly funky finish. (4/5)

A decent Flanders Red that seems to have survived nearly eight years in the bottle with no particular harm. A red wine / balsamic vinager-like, almost umami note dominates the front end, with barrel notes of oak and leather behind. There’s a light funky note that I don’t recall being present when it was new, but it might well have been. (16/20)

This will be my 5,187th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Unibroue Grande Réserve 17 (2014) – Belgian Strong Ale at 10% ABV (C$12.59 at Quarry Park Co-Op, 750 ml, packaged on 12-Feb-2014, best before 12-Feb-2019, acquired 24-Feb-2015, reviewed 31-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, oak & leather, dark fruits, tobacco. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, lingering spicy warming finish. (4/5)

I did this one fairly soon after doing my other old vintage, a 2013, because the 2013 had definitely taken on negative characteristics as it neared a decade of cellaring. I figured I might as well catch this one before it did the same. But, it doesn’t seem to have any negatives at all: I’m not detecting any of the fading or mustiness I got with the 2013. I guess shouldn’t be surprised, because this one also wasn’t a gusher – maybe a cork failure in the 2013? A very pleasant slow sipper to wind down after a 14-hour workday. (16/20)

This will be my 5,186th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Council Brewing Co. Béatitude Black Currant Tart Saison – Saison at 4.5% ABV (C$19.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, packaged on 25-Mar-2016, acquired 18-Nov-2017, reviewed 31-Jan-2022)

Appearance: clear ruby with a short fizzy pale pink head diminishing rapidly to a thin persistent ring, no lacing. (4/5) Aroma: black currants, vinous grape, light earthy funk. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high tart, moderate sweet, low bitter, light funk. (8/10) Palate: light body, lively carbonation, short tart finish. (4/5)

Unlike pretty much every other Council offering, this one a) is not dominated by bready yeast and b) has clearly identifiable characteristics of the adjunct fruit – in this case black currant, though vinous grape skins are a close second. However, it’s still very much like the rest of their range in that it’s flavourful and has cellared well despite its low ABV. Tartly jammy currants and vinous notes make this very refreshing, if a little emphatically tart. And, I think barring accidental finds, this will mark the end of Council for me, so nice that it went out on a high note. (17/20)

This will be my 5,185th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Council Brewing Co. Béatitude Prickly Pear Tart Saison – Saison at 4.5% ABV (C$19.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, packaged on 26-Aug-2016, acquired 18-Nov-2017, reviewed 30-Jan-2022)

Appearance: clear pale straw with a short fizzy white head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: doughy yeast, tropical fruit, melon, 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 wouldn’t know a prickly pear if it bit me, and as usual this is dominated by homebrew-like baker’s yeast. However, the more important way that this is very much like the rest of their range is that it’s flavourful and has maintained its character during extended cellaring. Tart and tropical fruit dominant, with a lively carbonation, making for an eminently refreshing drink. (16/20)

This will be my 5,184th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com