Month: July 2022

Big Rock Brewery Hop Head School of Jam Hazy IPA – American IPA at 5.3% ABV (C$3.88 at Okotoks Co-Op, 473 ml, packaged on 6-Jan-2022, acquired 28-Mar-2022, reviewed 2-Apr-2022)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, pome, caramel. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (3/5)

Odd that this one is so much newer (January of this year) than others from the same pack (October of last year). It puts one idea to rest, though: age doesn’t appear to be the culprit rendering the entire pack pretty meh-tastic. Muddled fruits on a caramel base. (13/20)

This will be my 5,241st unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Moody Ales Orchard Hazy Pale – American Pale Ale at 4.6% ABV (C$4.45 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 9-Feb-2022, acquired 10-Mar-2022, reviewed 2-Apr-2022)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fat fingers of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thick cap, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, stone fruit, citrus, pale malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry tending crisp finish. (4/5)

Not a lot to say here – not a whole lot going on, but no real negatives either. Mild aroma is matched by mild flavour and thin-tending body, but it remains reasonably crisp and refreshing, without becoming astringent. (14/20)

This will be my 5,240th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Hop Butcher For The World Dun Dun Dun Dun – Triple IPA at 10.5% ABV (C$9.85 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 25-Jan-2022, acquired 10-Mar-2022, reviewed 1-Apr-2022)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with two fat fingers of fluffy pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thick cap, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet stone & tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains, light dank resin. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, sweet warming finish. (4/5)

Hopped with Amarillo, Citra, and Galaxy. Big bastard, drinks like a tropical or stone fruit nectar, or maybe a screwdriver made with a big dose of guava in the orange juice. I’m not exactly one to complain about bombast, but this comes perilously close to being too much of a good thing. A bit better than the average TIPA, and kind of fun as a one-off, but not something I’d necessarily want to revisit. (16/20)

This will be my 5,239th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Hop Butcher For The World Unwind Your Mind – American Double / Imperial IPA at 7.5% ABV (C$9.85 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 24-Jan-2022, acquired 10-Mar-2022, reviewed 1-Apr-2022)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with two fat fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention and well-defined soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy sweet tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains, slight resiny dank. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full slightly creamy body, moderate carbonation, sweetish warming finish. (4/5)

Hopped with Mosaic, Motueka, and El Dorado. A bit too sweet and tropical fruit nectar-like for my preference, but I suppose that’s not inappropriate given the higher ABV and Double designation. As is usually the case for this brewer, quite good, but probably not worth the price tag. (16/20)

This will be my 5,238th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Hop Butcher For The World Meet the Motuekas – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$9.85 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 18-Jan-2022, acquired 10-Mar-2022, reviewed 31-Mar-2022)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: zesty citrus, tropical fruit, vanilla, oats & cereal grains, slight black pepper. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: smooth medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration warming finish. (4/5)

Interesting choice for a single-hop, and I don’t think I’ve had Motueka done this way before. The dominant factor seems to be a lime-like zesty citrus, and there’s also an interesting peppery bite at the end. Nice one, but probably not worth the price tag if we’re honest. (16/20)

This will be my 5,237th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Big Rock Brewery Hop Head Tumbleweed Juicy IPA – American IPA at 4.8% ABV | 30 IBU (C$3.88 at Okotoks Co-Op, 473 ml, packaged on 27-Oct-2021, acquired 28-Mar-2022, reviewed 30-Mar-2022)

Appearance: hazy and particulate-laden pale gold with one finger of fine off-white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, spotty soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, tropical & stone fruit, light coconut. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration finish. (3/5)

Hopped with Sabro and El Dorado, but giving them the benefit of the doubt, this has faded in the can, leaving behind an unimpressive mild fruity aroma with a hint of coconut. Pretty boring, without a lot to recommend it. (12/20)

This will be my 5,236th unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Big Rock Brewery Hop Head Tropic Haze Micro IPA – Session IPA at 3.5% ABV | 11 IBU (C$3.88 at Okotoks Co-Op, 473 ml, packaged on 26-Oct-2021, acquired 28-Mar-2022, reviewed 30-Mar-2022)

Appearance: hazy and particulate-laden straw with one fat finger of fine off-white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, citrus, tropical fruit, light vanilla. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

I wouldn’t have bought a pack this old, but She Who Must Be Obeyed picked them up for me, so… I thought this was a new brewery to me, but it appears that it’s actually just a series rolled out by Big Rock, and apparently contract brewed in Vancouver by Fireweed. It’s hopped with Lotus and Sultana, but not a whole heckuva lot, given how mild the aroma is. Despite the light hopping, the even lighter malt bill is giving this a bit of a thin feel, tending slightly astringent through the finish. A bit meh. (13/20)

This will be my 5,235th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

More Brewing Company Morever – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$8.65 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 10-Mar-2022, reviewed 30-Mar-2022)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy tropical & stone fruit, citrus, oats & cereal grains, mint/herbal, grass. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (9/10) Palate: smooth medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

The label says this is hopped with Citra, Motueka, and Simcoe. Very similar to their K.I.S.S., but that’s not a criticism. The biggest difference here seems to be that I might be getting something more herbal or minty, rather than pine. In any case, it’s a nicely juicy and fruity hazy IPA. (17/20)

This will be my 5,234th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

More Brewing Company K.I.S.S. Double Dry Hopped – American IPA at 7% ABV (C$8.65 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 10-Mar-2022, reviewed 29-Mar-2022)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy tropical & stone fruit, citrus, oats & cereal grains, light grass. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (9/10) Palate: smooth medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

The label says this is hopped with Citra and El Dorado, and that’s what it smells like. Bright juicy hops on a clean smooth oaty base – what’s not to like? This is how I like to see a hazy IPA done: all about the hops, with a clean malt supporting. My first by this brewer, and I’m definitely approving. (17/20)

This will be my 5,225th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Container Brewing Wayward Wild – American Pale Ale at 4.8% ABV (C$3.87 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 9-Feb-2022, acquired 10-Mar-2022, reviewed 25-Mar-2022)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone fruit, pithy citrus, light barnyard funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter, light tart. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry slightly tart finish. (4/5)

Well, that’s all right. Brewer notes say it’s dry-hopped with Chinook, Columbus, Citra, and Mosaic, and light wild notes add an interesting twist to an otherwise clean crisp Pale. Plus I listened to Carry On Wayward Son while drinking it. (15/20)

This will be my 5,232nd unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com