Month: January 2023

Superflux Beer Company Wonderlove – American IPA at 6% ABV (C$5.71 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 5-Dec-2022, acquired 29-Dec-2022, reviewed 30-Dec-2022)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and moderate spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy tropical & stone fruits, pithy citrus, cereal grains, dank resin. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Palate: smooth medium body, moderate-low carbonation, medium duration mild bitter slightly astringent finish. (4/5)

Brewer notes say this is hopped with Galaxy, Citra, and Idaho 7 Cryo, with Phantasm adjunct. I usually expect a clear vinous character when Phantasm is used, but I’m not getting that here. I wonder, however, if it might be responsible for the hint of what I’m calling stone fruit? I also note that the brewer describes a “candy sweetness” but I actually find it to be restrained, and tempted by the slightly astringent bitter finish. There’s also an interesting dank cannabinoid component that reveals as it warms and through the finish, adding some complexity. In my somewhat limited experience (n=8, 10 if you count collabs) Superflux consistently crushes the APA/IPA style (μ=8.3 & σ=0.27), and this is no exception. (17/20)

This will be my 5,458th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Blindman Brewing Brett Pilsner – Pilsner at 5.1% ABV | 32 IBU (C$9.99 at Wine and Beyond, 500 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 11-Dec-2022, reviewed 29-Dec-2022)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale straw with a massive rocky white head, excellent retention and well-defined droopy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: barnyard funk, pepper, grass. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, dry medium duration slightly astringent finish. (4/5)

It’s been a while since I had a straight Brett beer, and I find myself wondering why. This is good example, with an emphatic Brett presence dominating over a peppery, grassy Pilsner base. Glad I happened to notice this Wine & Beyond exclusive while I was in the shop. If you like Brett, you’ll really enjoy this one. If you don’t like Brett, well, I dunno – learn to? (16/20)

This will be my 5,457th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Siding 14 Brewing Co. Brakeman – American Brown Ale at 5.6% ABV | 40 IBU (473 ml, packaged on 23-Jun-2022, acquired 23-Dec-2022, reviewed 28

-Dec-2022)

Appearance: clear brown with one fat finger of fine beige head, excellent retention and well-defined droopy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: roasted malts, nuts, cocoa. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

A style I’m not all that excited by, from a brewery I’m not all that excited by – what could possibly go wrong? Well, not much, as it turns out. Pleasant roasty malt character dominates, with a lingering bitter finish, but both are style-appropriate. All in all, possibly the best one I’ve had by this brewery, and one of the better examples of the style. (15/20)

This will be my 5,456th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Microbrasserie Charlevoix C’Est Toujours L’Été Quelque Part… – Belgian IPA at 5.4% ABV | 50 IBU (C$6.16 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 28-Oct-2022, acquired 1-Dec-2022, reviewed 27-Dec-2022)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with one fat finger of fluffy white head, good retention and spotty soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pithy citrus, vinous grape, cereal grains, Belgian esters, pepper & clove, light barnyard funk. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, drying medium duration finish. (4/5)

The label calls this a “Saison/NZ IPA” but I think the Untappd classification of Belgian IPA is close enough that I don’t need to create a one-off style for my records. Pleasant and interesting, with a bitter bite that completely ignores the hazy bandwagon. (15/20)

This will be my 5,455th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Matchless Brewing Hop Phantasy Phantasmic Hazy IPA – American IPA at 6.8% ABV (C$5.31 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 28-Feb-2022, acquired 1-Dec-2022, reviewed 26-Dec-2022)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and spotty soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, vinous grape, cereal grains, earthy pine & grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, mild tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly tart finish. (4/5)

I have got to start looking more carefully at packaging dates when I’m in the store – there’s no way ten months in the can has been particularly kind to this. In any case, it’s hopped with Nelson Sauvin, Azacca, Rakau, and Idaho 7, with Pilsner, Carafoam, and Flaked Wheat in the malt bill, and Phantasm adjunct. The aroma is indicative of that Phantasm, probably working with the Nelson Sauvin. I’m probably being unfair to this rating it at such an age, so I’ll do it again if I can find it fresher. As it stands, though, it’s merely good. (14/20)

This will be my 5,454th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

New Level Brewing Cookies & Corpse Paint – American Double / Imperial IPA at 7% ABV | 50 IBU (C$5.62 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Dec-2022, reviewed 24-Dec-2022)

Appearance: nearly opaque black with one finger of fine beige head, good retention and moderate droopy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: chocolate, mint, grass. (8/10) Taste: high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter warming slightly astringent finish. (4/5)

Totally smells like girl guide thin mints, and they appear in the original ingredients list, but not in the label covering that list. I guess somebody’s legal counsel completely lost their shit? Also, the cookie in the artwork appears to be chocolate chip or similar, and definitely not a thin mint. Regardless, it’s heavily dominated by artificial chocolate mint flavour, and when the emphatic sweetness fades a lingering astringency remains. Slightly unbalanced and not a complete win, but not terrible either. (15/20)

This will be my 5,453rd unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mikkeller Tumble Dry Low – American IPA at 7.5% ABV (C$4.81 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 10-Mar-2022, acquired 1-Dec-2022, reviewed 23-Dec-2022)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy near-white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, resiny pine, caramel, earth. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Hopped with Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe Cryo. Almost certainly would have been better fresher, but I guess that’s on me. Pleasant, but just middle of the road for the style, and not up to the standard of some Mikkeller offerings I’ve tried. (15/20)

This will be my 5,452nd unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Snake Lake Brewing Company / Troubled Monk Brewery Liquid Brunch Blood Orange Mimosa IPA – American IPA at 6.6% ABV | 15 IBU (C$4.95 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Dec-2022, reviewed 21-Dec-2022)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of fine white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, spotty soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pithy & zesty citrus, vinous grape, metallic, light funk. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, low bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration lightly tart gently warming finish. (4/5)

I sort of get where they’re going with this, but it’s not a slam-dunk. Vinous grape does eventually come forward as it warms, but that’s also accompanied by a not-entirely-welcome metallic note. On the other hand, the gentle warming boozy note is pretty much spot-on for a Mimosa. A surprisingly lackadaisical effort from two breweries I generally quite like, and not one I’d seek out. (14/20)

This will be my 5,451st unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

S.Y.C. Brewing Co. Triangulum – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$4.95 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Dec-2022, reviewed 19-Dec-2022)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, stone fruit, pine, cereal grains, coconut. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

The label says this is hopped with Citra, Talus, and Galaxy. I was initially a little surprised because I had an impression of a Sabro-like coconut – but of course Talus is a Sabro derivative, so there you go. Turns out I might have some idea what I’m talking about after all…  I like this one: it’s not all that challenging, but it’s well-balanced and easy-drinking, making for a very pleasant overall experience. Another solid contender from a brewery who, in my experience (for n=29, μ=7.6 & σ=0.52) makes a habit of that, particularly for IPAs. (16/20)

This will be my 5,450th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Sloop Brewing Co. Interstellar Burst – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$7.90 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Dec-2022, reviewed 17-Dec-2022)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, resiny pine, cereal grains, vinous grape, tropical fruit. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: slightly creamy medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter lightly tart finish. (4/5)

The label says this is made with malted wheat, flaked oats, and flaked wheat, hopped with Mosaic Cryo, Nelson Sauvignon, and Motueka. I approve of all of those choices. Surprisingly bitter, at least as compared to most interpretations of the style, making it slightly atypical, but not in a bad way. The combination of juicy hops on the front end, and the lingering bitter finish with a little wheaty tartness, really works for me. (17/20)

This will be my 5,449th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com