Month: September 2022

Anchorage Brewing Company Unwanted Dead – Triple IPA at 10% ABV (C$8.90 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 7-Apr-2022, reviewed 11-Apr-2022)

Appearance: opaque medium gold with one finger of fine white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: zesty lemon, stone fruit, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate-soft carbonation, sweetish warming finish. (4/5)

That is some seriously creepy-ass, Garth Ennis Crossed level artwork – and I respect that. Brewed with Citra Incognito, DDH with Galaxy, Sabro, and Motueka. Ignoring for the moment Belgian IPAs (which aren’t really “IPAs”, right?) this is maybe the second IPA(-ish) offering I’ve ever had by this brewer (and the previous was a DIPA). In fact, that one was pretty similar, because the best comparison I can come up with here is a boozy lemon meringue pie – and the other I had was Double Pie Assassin. In my experience (for n=17, μ=7.7 & σ=0.77) Anchorage really shines with Saisons, and when they step outside their wheelhouse, you get something that might well be interesting – but probably isn’t masterful. (16/20)

This will be my 5,278th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Cabin Brewing Company Private Universe – American IPA at 7% ABV | 40 IBU (C$4.90 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 24-Mar-2022, acquired 7-Apr-2022, reviewed 11-Apr-2022)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of fine white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pithy citrus, dank resin, crackery Pilsner malt. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

Definitely a different aroma going on here: pithy citrus and loads of dank sticky icky, but on a Czech Pilsner-like malt note. It’s weird, but in a good way. Brewer notes indicate Galaxy, Citra and Cryo Pop hops, with pilsner malt (called it!), wheat and oats, “that simply smells like endless summer.” Yeah, well, that might be – but if that’s the case, your summer involves a lot more pot than mine. Oh, and I’m currently reading Philip José Farmer’s World of Tiers, which is set in – wouldn’t you know it? – a private pocket universe. (16/20)

This will be my 5,277th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Great Notion Brewing & Barrel House Skywatchers – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.2% ABV (C$8.95 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 7-Apr-2022, reviewed 11-Apr-2022)

Appearance: opaque medium gold with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone & tropical fruits, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: smooth medium-full body, moderate-low carbonation, sweetish medium duration warming finish. (4/5)

Secondary sources say this was brewed with Citra, Galaxy, and Strata. Yeah, OK, sure, I’ll buy that. Fruity aroma, higher sweetness, and a thicker body all combine to make this very nectar-like, except for the distinct (but not aggressive) warming. I like it – a lot – but at the end of the day it’s just a bit too sweet, and I’d probably prefer two pints of something with a lower ABV but a little more attenuated. (16/20)

This will be my 5,276th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bellwoods Brewery Ghost Orchid – American IPA at 6.3% ABV (C$7.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 16-Mar-2022, acquired 7-Apr-2022, reviewed 10-Apr-2022)

Appearance: hazy opaque pale gold with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, vinous grape, resiny pine, oats & cereal grains. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-low bitter. (9/10) Palate: smooth medium body, moderate carbonation, mildly sweet medium duration warming finish. (4/5)

I’m sure there are things in my life right now more exciting than a three week old IPA from Bellwoods. I’m… just… not entirely sure what they might be, right at the moment. They say they used the lion’s share of their Nelson Sauvin allotment for this one, but don’t specify that it’s actually a single-hop. Regardless, it’s lovely bright hops on a clean malt base, easy to drink, and definitely works for me. (17/20)

This will be my 5,275th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Eighty-Eight Brewing / The Establishment Brewing Company Just What I Needed – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.5% ABV | 21 IBU (C$5.26 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 1-Apr-2022, acquired 7-Apr-2022, reviewed 8-Apr-2022)

Appearance: hazy opaque pale gold with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, tropical fruit, resiny pine, cereal grains. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-low bitter. (9/10) Palate: smooth medium-full body, moderate carbonation, slightly sweet medium duration warming finish. (4/5)

Two solid brewers are at the top of their game on this one. For me, Establishment (for n=25, μ=7.9 & σ=0.53) is just a little consistently better than Eighty-Eight (for n=20, μ=7.5 & σ=0.68), but regardless this is very much how you do it – reminiscent of Treehouse, or maybe Trillium (17/20)

This will be my 5,274th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Muskoka Brewery Harvest Ale (2014) – American Pale Ale at 7.0% ABV (C$12.34 at NLC Stavanger, 750 ml, best before 30-Jan-2015, acquired 24-Sep-2014, reviewed 5-Apr-2022)

Appearance: clear deep amber with one fat finger of fine pale beige head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: toffee, hint of mustiness as it warms. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration warming finish. (4/5)

Hah – interesting experiment! I put this down for long-term ageing in 2014, thinking that the ABV might just be big enough to preserve it while it did something interesting, and it’s now 7 years after its best before. There are no hops at all left, and the aroma is almost all toffee. I say “almost” because as it warms, there’s a distinct but not entirely unpleasant cellar mustiness. It’s also darkened at least 3 shades compared to the 2013 vintage I had when fresh, and probably completely violates the brewer’s intent of making something reminiscent of a fresh-cut harvest – but for all that it’s actually still drinkable. No regrets! (15/20)

This will be my 5,273rd unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Big Rock Brewery Hop Head Double Pedal – American Double / Imperial IPA at 7.5% ABV (C$3.88 at Okotoks Co-Op, 473 ml, packaged on 17-Sep-2021, acquired 28-Mar-2022, reviewed 3-Apr-2022)

Appearance: slightly hazy medium gold with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, caramel, mild earthy pine. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration warming finish. (4/5)

Muddled stewed fruits on a malty caramel base. And this one is the oldest of the pack, so they have an age range of four months in a mixed pack of IPAs. Bad brewer! No cookie for you! (14/20)

This will be my 5,272nd unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com