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Thin Man Brewery Trial By Wombat – American IPA at 7% ABV

Thin Man Brewery Trial By Wombat – American IPA at 7% ABV (C$8.75 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 27-Jun-2022, acquired 6-Oct-2022, reviewed 26-Oct-2022)_

Appearance: hazy straw with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and spotty soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone & tropical fruits, citrus, biscuity malt, light floral and berry. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly sharp finish. (3/5)

Damn, that’s a face only a mother could love… Hopped with Galaxy. I’m detecting a little sharpness around the edges here, possibly a reflection of this being a single hop – I’ve found Galaxy can get away with that at times, but it might be a bit harvest specific. This one isn’t an unqualified success, but it’s solid. Except for the creepy wombat face. (15/20)

This will be my 5,410th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Bellwoods Brewery Cat Lady – American IPA at 7.1% ABV

Bellwoods Brewery Cat Lady – American IPA at 7.1% ABV (C$7.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 20-Sep-2022, acquired 6-Oct-2022, reviewed 25-Oct-2022)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of fine white head, good retention and well-defined soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone & tropical fruits, pine, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry slightly sharp finish. (3/5)

Double dry-hopped, but I’m not clear whether it’s with Citra and Columbus, or Summit and Simcoe. Presumably the latter, especially Simcoe, would be more likely to give a catty note – but I’m not getting much if any of that, so…? Apparently this is supposed to be a complement to Roman Candle, but if that’s the case I prefer the original. (15/20)

This will be my 5,409th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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The Establishment Brewing Company Hello Euphoria – American IPA at 6.6% ABV

The Establishment Brewing Company Hello Euphoria – American IPA at 6.6% ABV (C$4.81 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 27-Sep-2022, acquired 6-Oct-2022, reviewed 25-Oct-2022)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, pine, cereal grains, stone fruit, hint of cannabinoids. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short duration finish. (4/5)

Brewer notes say this is hopped with experimental HBC 630 and Citra. HBC 630 looks to be a new one for me, but Yakima says it’s “complex and fruity, with Sweet Fruits and Berries like Raspberry and Cherry, along with sweet candy-like esters and lactones giving creamy notes of peach and banana.”) Can’t say I’m getting much of any of that, except perhaps what I’m calling a stone fruit note. Not that I’m complaining, far from it. I mean, one might suggest that “euphoria” is a bit of a reach, but it’s certainly a feel-good one. Maybe a little better than Sky Rocket III or VI, say, but not quite as good as II, IV, or V – but come on, that’s splitting hairs over exactly how great this is. (17/20)

This will be my 5,408th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Belching Beaver Brewery Deftones Phantom Bride Hazy IPA – American IPA at 7.1% ABV | 30 IBU

Belching Beaver Brewery Deftones Phantom Bride Hazy IPA – American IPA at 7.1% ABV | 30 IBU (C$4.72 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 28-Jul-2022, acquired 6-Oct-2022, reviewed 24-Oct-2022)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and spotty soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, short duration sweetish finish. (4/5)

They say this is their tenth collaboration with Deftones, so I appear to have missed about three. (Although, at least one of those is a Mexican Lager, so I’m not really too worked up about missing out on that one – I’m sure it’s fine, but, really…) I’m gonna say this one isn’t quite as good as the original non-hazy version, mostly because I’m finding it a touch too sweet. (15/20)

This will be my 5,407th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Annex Ale Project Faint Praise – American Pale Ale at 5.2% ABV

Annex Ale Project Faint Praise – American Pale Ale at 5.2% ABV (C$3.91 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 20-Sep-2022, acquired 6-Oct-2022, reviewed 20-Oct-2022)

Appearance: hazy straw with one fat finger of rocky white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap and ring, spotty soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: vinous, citrus zest, cereal grains, tropical fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Annex takes a crack at Phantasm. The name is a bit on the nose, considering faint praise is about all I can muster for this one. The aroma is pleasant, although it could stand to be a bit brighter and juicier. The taste is not quite as good as the aroma, largely because there’s a slight sharpness that persists and lingers through the finish as a completely out-of-spec astringency. Adequate is about as good as this gets. (14/20)

This will be my 5,402nd unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Bellwoods Brewery Pig – American IPA at 7% ABV

Bellwoods Brewery Pig – American IPA at 7% ABV (C$7.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 16-Sep-2022, acquired 6-Oct-2022, reviewed 19-Oct-2022)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, pine, crackery malt, tropical fruit, floral, earth. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering building bitter finish. (4/5)

Brewer notes indicate Simcoe, Centennial, and Cascade. An old school WCIPA. As usual, I’m just tickled pink (!) that I can get fresh Bellwoods here in AB. That’ll do, pig. (16/20)

This will be my 5,401st unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Field House Brewing Co. Field House IPA – American IPA at 6.7% ABV | 30 IBU

Field House Brewing Co. Field House IPA – American IPA at 6.7% ABV | 30 IBU (C$3.85 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 15-Jun-2022, acquired 6-Oct-2022, reviewed 17-Oct-2022)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of fine white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, cereal grains, light pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

The label says this is double dry-hopped with Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe, very much explaining the bright juicy aromas upon opening the can. The label also says this is “intentionally unbalanced”, but there I beg to differ: the flavour follows the aroma, hoppy without being aggressive, fruity but not too sweet. Nice one. (16/20)

This will be my 5,400th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Origin Brewing / S.Y.C. Brewing Co. The Little Things – India Red Ale at 6.5% ABV

Origin Brewing / S.Y.C. Brewing Co. The Little Things – India Red Ale at 6.5% ABV (C$4.63 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 31-Aug-2022, acquired 6-Oct-2022, reviewed 14-Oct-2022)

Appearance: clear slightly reddish-tinged deep gold with two fingers of rocky off-white head, good retention and spotty soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: rye, biscuity malt, pine, earth. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light spice. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly spicy finish. (4/5)

Not bad. I was initially a little worried, because it’s really not “red” at all – more of a slight brown tinge on the deep gold base – but the aroma is dominated by rye. Ultimately it’s got much the same flavour profile as a Red IPA, so I’m not entirely sure what “Cold” brings to the table. (15/20)

This will be my 5,399th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Black Bridge Brewery Hop Creep – American Pale Ale at 5.3% ABV

Black Bridge Brewery Hop Creep – American Pale Ale at 5.3% ABV (C$5.22 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 20-May-2022, acquired 6-Oct-2022, reviewed 13-Oct-2022)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of loose fluffy pale ivory head, good retention and spotty soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, resiny pine, phenols, citrus, herbal. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, slight astringent. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration astringent finish. (3/5)

Weird one. It started off much like any number of Pales, albeit with a little astringency in the flavour and finish. But, as it warms there’s an herbal note that grows in intensity, becoming an increasingly strong Witbier-like phenolic note. It wouldn’t be out of place in e.g. a Belgian IPA, but it doesn’t feel deliberate or appropriate here. Not really working for me. (12/20)

This will be my 5,398th unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Russell Brewing Company Juicy Dry Hopped Pale – American Pale Ale at 5.3% ABV | 20 IBU

Russell Brewing Company Juicy Dry Hopped Pale – American Pale Ale at 5.3% ABV | 20 IBU (C$4.00 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 23-Mar-2022, acquired 6-Oct-2022, reviewed 11-Oct-2022)

Appearance: hazy particulate-laden medium gold with one finger of fluffy pale ivory head, good retention and spotty soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, cereal grains, stone fruit, hint of coconut. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet tending slightly high, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (3/5)

Brewer notes say this is hopped with Citra, Sabro, and Galaxy. I’m more or less getting the expected characteristics, but more faded and bruised than bright and juicy. Obviously far too old, might be better fresh. (13/20)

This will be my 5,397th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com