Bent Stick Brewing Co. Swap the Hops Talus – American Pale Ale at 5% ABV (C$4.40 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 28-Feb-2023, reviewed 7-Mar-2023)
Appearance: clear pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy pale ivory head, good retention and well-defined soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, grass, mild coconut, faint tobacco. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly edgy finish. (3/5)
Looks like they’ve dropped the “NEPA” approach on this and returned to an old-school Pale Ale format, this time with Talus. It’s just OK, not all that interesting. (14/20)
Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Company Uncharted Citra Ale – American Pale Ale at 5.4% ABV (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 1-Jan-2023, acquired 28-Feb-2023, reviewed 7-Mar-2023)
Appearance: slightly hazy straw with one finger of fluffy white head, good retention and well-defined soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: lemony citrus, bready malt, grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, dry medium bitter short duration finish. (4/5)
Not bad. Fairly clean and crisp, slightly old-school in structure and appearance. The hopping is certainly citrus (Citra) dominant, but with grassy traditional notes underpinning. All in all, it’s not one that would have been out of place ten years ago, before the haze craze. (14/20)
Great Notion Brewing & Barrel House Ripe – American IPA at 7% ABV (C$8.60 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 28-Feb-2023, reviewed 6-Mar-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: slightly muted stone & tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains, hints of coconut and earthy pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter slightly warming finish. (4/5)
Brewer notes say this is dry hopped with Citra and Citra Cryo. I wonder if this one was slightly old, but I couldn’t find a date code so I’m unsure. Roughly on par with Over Ripe, and not as good as So Wrong It’s Ripe – but I suspect it’s better when fresh. (15/20)
Blood Brothers Brewing Shumei – American IPA at 7% ABV (C$7.35 at Collective, 473 ml, best before 22-Nov-2022, acquired 28-Feb-2023, reviewed 6-Mar-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of pillowy pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: mild, stone & orchard fruits, citrus, slightly doughy caramel, black tea. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky medium bitter slightly astringent finish. (3/5)
This one’s appearance is definitely its strong suit. Other than that, it’s got a largely OK albeit somewhat too-mild aroma, and a moderate sweetness (maybe tending a little high) that turns slightly astringent in the finish. This is what I consider a “life’s too short” kind of beer: there’s nothing really wrong with it, but I can’t think of a single reason to ever have it again – especially when I can get better locally-made beers for less money. (13/20)
The Establishment Brewing Company Beyond The Pines – American IPA at 7.2% ABV (C$4.77 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 14-Feb-2023, acquired 28-Feb-2023, reviewed 5-Mar-2023)
Appearance: clear pale gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: resiny pine, citrus, clean malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)
Brewer notes say this is hopped with Amarillo, Simcoe, Centennial, Citra, and Mosaic – so a combination of old- and new-school, appropriate enough for something that’s supposed to herald the return of clear and piney. Pine and citrus are well-balanced here, as are sweet and bitter. There’s no dank (which is neither here nor there in my opinion) and no cattiness (which is generally all to the good). I had high hopes for this, and if it does fall slightly short of legendary I’m still not disappointed. I’ve had fairly extensive prior experience with these guys (for n=33, μ=8 & σ=0.53), and this one is at or above the bar they’ve set. (17/20)
Zero Issue Brewing Resonance (Issue #82) – American IPA at 7.3% ABV (C$4.45 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 28-Feb-2023, reviewed 4-Mar-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale amber with two fat fingers of pillowy pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: resiny pine, caramel, mild citrus, hint of toasted rye. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky lingering bitter slightly warming finish. (4/5)
I mean, I’ve had worse WCIPAs. My main complaint with this one is that although there’s lots of dominating resiny pine (as there should be) the citrus is much further in the background than I’d like to see it. As well, I don’t know if I’m actually right in calling this a rye note as such, but there’s definitely a little something upon warming – call it “toasted”, “rye”, or both – that puts me in mind of a Black IPA. I wouldn’t call it unwelcome or incorrect, but a bit more citrus would have balanced things out a bit better in my opinion. Still good, though. (15/20)
Old Yale Brewing Co. Hazy Hopped Double IPA – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.5% ABV | 15 IBU (C$4.45 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 28-Feb-2023, reviewed 3-Mar-2023)
Appearance: hazy/murky pale amber with two fat fingers of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel and cereal grains, stewed fruits, earth, light pine. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, low bitter, light tart. (6/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, sticky medium duration slightly warming finish. (4/5)
Brewer notes say this is hopped with El Dorado and Talus, and call it “big, bold and juicy, offering hop-forward notes of tropical Fruit, Pineapple and Stonefruit”. Aside from their egregious lack of Oxford commas, this statement is woefully inaccurate. What it is, is malt-forward, with a flavour profile that’s just as muddy as its appearance. The finish actually isn’t bad: reasonable duration despite being fairly sweet and sticky, with relatively restrained boozy warming. Including a couple of collaborations which actually pull the average up, my previous experience with this brewer was for n=11, μ=6.1 & σ=1.21 – so, yes, their average performance was right around my “well, it’s probably not actually damaged” floor. (Six, in case you’re wondering, or three out of five. Under there be dragons. And the reason it’s not halfway at five is, there’s a lot more ways to fuck it up than to get it right. I don’t go that low often, because, honestly? I don’t waste my time with shit beers. Well, not often, anyway.) This one isn’t forcing me to re-evaluate my opinion of them, and to be honest I’m thinking maybe they’ve used up their chances with me. (12/20)
Campio Brewing Co. Light Rail – American Pale Ale at 4.5% ABV (C$4.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 7-Feb-2023, acquired 28-Feb-2023, reviewed 2-Mar-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale straw with two fingers of fluffy white head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, citrus, stone fruit, wheat, coconut. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short duration finish. (4/5)
I mean, it’s not exactly exciting, but it is innocuous and easy to drink, with an off-dry short finish that invites the next sip. Would make a decent go-to for a sunny patio on a lazy day. (14/20)
Brasserie Dunham / Boréale Sierra Yakima – American Pale Ale at 5.6% ABV (C$7.85 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 5-Dec-2022, acquired 28-Feb-2023, reviewed 2-Mar-2023)
Appearance: hazy medium gold with two fat fingers of loose pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thick cap, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus pith and flesh, stone fruit, cereal grains, resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)
I can’t find any brewer’s notes for this. Secondary sources indicate it’s dry-hopped with Nelson Sauvin, but I can’t say I’m getting any vinous notes. It is, however, brightly juicy and very drinkable. They call it a “tribute from the forerunners of the style that was adapted to today’s taste” – which, language mutilation aside, is a fair description: an APA with modern hops. (16/20)
Brasserie Dunham Double Cyclope – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.5% ABV (C$8.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 16-Dec-2023, acquired 28-Feb-2023, reviewed 1-Mar-2023)
Appearance: hazy medium gold with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and minimal spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dank resiny pine, citrus flesh and pith, tropical fruit, pale malt, light cattiness. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate-soft carbonation, slightly sticky lingering warming finish. (4/5)
I like it. I can’t find any brewer’s notes confirming the hops, but it’s pretty similar to a couple of the previous (non-double) versions I’ve had, so I’m guessing Citra (maybe Cryo?), Simcoe, Mosaic – you know, the usual suspects. Whatever the hopping, this is an example of Double done right: a bit more bombast, a bit more heat, but without sacrificing drinkability. Works for me! (16/20)
