Another bolus of 49 reviews where I didn’t have the time or inclination to edit the photos…
Blood Brothers Brewing Moment of Clarity – American IPA at 6% ABV (C$8.15 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 3-Nov-2022, acquired 21-Mar-2023, reviewed 29-Mar-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, pine, cereal grains, melon, tropical fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: smooth medium body, moderate-low carbonation, off-dry building bitter finish. (4/5)
I dunno about y’all, but clarity is pretty much what the booze allows me to avoid… The label says Columbus, Triple Pearl, Citra Incognito, Citra, and Simcoe. Far as I can tell, I’ve only had Triple Pearl once before, but it’s a dual-purpose hop that seems appropriate to the WC style, since it’s supposed to have a spicy pine note in addition to citrus – and that comes through in this one’s flavour profile. In fact, I think the best thing about this is how the front end is all soft citrus and fruit, almost NE-style, but then smoothly transitions to a piney WC-like respectably bitter finish. Very enjoyable, and one that I’d gladly have again. (16/20)
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8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Leduc Brewing Company Lonely Hops Club Band Hazy Double IPA – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.5% ABV (C$5.22 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 21-Mar-2023, reviewed 30-Mar-2023)
Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone fruit, caramel, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky mildly warming finish. (4/5)
I’m always perplexed by brewers who seem to find it difficult to actually produce a hazy beer – and certainly by ones who label a non-hazy beer that way. I mean, if you want to jump on the bandwagon, at least make an effort to fit the style, amiright? And that kind of sets the tone overall: there’s nothing really wrong here, aside from some particulate chunks, but it’s certainly not memorable. (14/20)
This will be my 5,528th unique Untappd check-in.
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Beere Brewing Co. ChatIPA – American IPA at 6.9% ABV (C$5.85 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 27-Jan-2023, acquired 21-Mar-2023, reviewed 6-Apr-2023)
Appearance: slightly hazy straw with two fat fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (3/5)
I guess I have to give them the “West Coast-ish” bit of the description, but I’m not even gonna ask what the significance of “AI” is. Not bad overall, I guess, but it’s not all that aromatic or flavourful given its fairly decent weight. On the other hand, it drinks a fair bit lighter than you might expect for that weight. Serviceable. (14/20)
This will be my 5,539th unique Untappd check-in.
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Tailgunner Brewing Company / Eighty-Eight Brewing Stripes – Triple IPA at 10% ABV (C$5.22 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 16-Feb-2023, acquired 21-Mar-2023, reviewed 9-Apr-2023)
Appearance: slightly hazy deep gold with two fat fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone fruit, floral, citrus, pine, bready caramel, light dank weedy resin. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, slick slightly sticky somewhat boozy finish. (4/5)
They call this a “double decocted double dry-hopped triple IPA”, or a “double double triple”, hopped with Columbus, Centennial, and Simcoe. The aroma pretty much follows the expected hop character, and succeeds in avoiding any sort of cattiness. I was hoping for more emphatic aromas given its bombastic ABV, but it fell a little short of expectations there. On the other hand, it’s pretty well balanced, with the ABV barely noticeable except as a mild warming in the finish. (15/20)
This will be my 5,540th unique Untappd check-in.
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Belching Beaver Brewery Tropical Terps – American IPA at 6.6% ABV (C$5.00 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 16-Feb-2023, acquired 9-May-2023, reviewed 9-May-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, coconut, citrus, bready caramel, mild dank pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, short duration slightly tart finish. (4/5)
More tropical than terpenes, this is dominated by pleasant tropical fruit and a fair bit of coconut and citrus. I don’t think there’s actually any lactose in there, but that combination makes it tempting to compare it to a piña colada or a creamsicle. The dank pine terpenes do eventually follow, but are much less apparent. Easy to drink and finishes nearly crisp due in part to the moderate-lively carbonation. Nice one, but a bit too creamsicle-ish to be a go-to for me. (15/20)
This will be my 5,551st unique Untappd check-in.
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Trolley No. 5 Brewpub Alright Alright Alright – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.5% ABV | 65 IBU (C$5.00 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 9-May-2023, reviewed 10-May-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, bready caramel, mild dank pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter mildly warming slightly edgy finish. (3/5)
The aroma is this one’s highlight: a balanced blend of citrus and tropical leads the way over a clean caramel/honey mid note and mild pine. Flavour is appropriate to the style, with a reasonable level of sweetness supporting a fairly emphatic bitterness. It does tend a little edgy through the mildly warming finish, but is otherwise a decent pint. (14/20)
This will be my 5,552nd unique Untappd check-in.
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
2 Crows Brewing Space Words – Triple IPA at 10.1% ABV | 70 IBU (C$5.89 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 5-Mar-2023, acquired 9-May-2023, reviewed 10-May-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains, dank pine. (8/10) Taste: high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: smooth medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter warming finish. (4/5)
The name of course refers to the hops: Galaxy, Eclipse, and Comet. Though I suppose it could also refer to the sky-high ABV? Which, by the way, is very much present, but doesn’t render this unapproachable. Dangerous, sure, because it’s not at all difficult to drink. I’m of two minds about the sweetness, since although I generally am not a fan of added sucrose, in this case it does seem to smooth things out and give it a more balanced overall feel. All in all, I’d say this is almost as good as e.g. they’re Pollyanna, with the added bonus of nearly twice as much booze. On that topic, they might have one of the widest range of ABVs for very good beers: I’ve rated nine or ten of theirs as an eight, with ABVs ranging from three to ten percent. I’m not sure that actually means anything, but it’s an interesting factoid. (16/20)
This will be my 5,553rd unique Untappd check-in.
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Deschutes Brewery Tropical Fresh IPA – American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 50 IBU (C$3.75 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 17-Mar-2023, acquired 9-May-2023, reviewed 11-May-2023)
Appearance: slightly hazy straw with one fat finger of loose white head, good retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration slightly tart finish. (4/5)
Hopped with Mosaic, Simcoe, Strata, and Experimental 586. I mean, it’s all right? A fairly workaday, not quite NE-style tropical IPA, just like the label says. I certainly don’t mind a bit of a return to the non-NE bitter tradition, and sort of like the fact that this isn’t filtered to within an inch of its life. (Matter of fact, I think I’d go so far as to say most beer shouldn’t be filtered much, if at all, and racking to secondary should generally be sufficient.) A slight wheaty tartness comes through in the finish to add a little welcome complexity, but overall this is very much a “drink it and forget it it” type of beer. (14/20)
This will be my 5,554th unique Untappd check-in.
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Bellwoods Brewery Jelly King Tangerine – Sour / Wild Ale at 5.6% ABV (C$12.65 at Collective, 500 ml, packaged on 21-Dec-2022, acquired 9-May-2023, reviewed 12-May-2023)
Appearance: opaque pale gold with one finger of fizzy white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: oranges, tart stone fruit, hints of resiny pine and cedar. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, short duration tart finish. (4/5)
Not a criticism by any means, but there’s very little difference between this and the base Jelly King. This is actually one of maybe two or three variants (say, Guava and to a lesser extent Strawberry Rhubarb) where the adjunct actually works well with the base beer, neither overwhelming nor detracting from it. And in this case, I’d say the adjunct integration is pretty seamless. For all that, it’s not really better than the base, just different – and the difference is pretty slight, just a bigger emphasis on citrus. (17/20)
This will be my 5,555th unique Untappd check-in.
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Bellwoods Brewery Jelly King Pineapple Raspberry – Sour / Wild Ale at 5.6% ABV (C$11.38 at Collective, 500 ml, packaged on 1-Apr-2022, acquired 9-May-2023, reviewed 12-May-2023)
Appearance: opaque reddish-tinged pale amber with one finger of fizzy white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tart stone fruit, field berries, citrus, hints of resiny pine and cedar. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, short duration tart finish. (4/5)
I was a bit concerned about the choice of pineapple as an adjunct here, but I have to say, I’m getting very little of it at all – certainly not in the up-front aroma, and not as any additional sweetness. There might be just the faintest hint coming through retronasally in the finish, but that’s about it. And, not that I don’t like raspberry – far from it – I was concerned that it might overwhelm everything else. But, fact is, this is now the third raspberry-related variant I’ve tried and they seem to be getting better. The first, Raspberry, was all raspberry and very little else. The second, Raspberry & Meyer Lemon, was, well, all raspberry and lemon – but at least that was added complexity, right? This one, though, is much more even-handed, to the point where it’s not even obviously raspberry – more a generalized field berry note – and it leaves room for other things to happen. (17/20)
This will be my 5,556th unique Untappd check-in.
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Microbrasserie Pit Caribou L’Arlequin – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8% ABV (C$5.98 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 23-Jan-2023, acquired 9-May-2023, reviewed 12-May-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains, faint pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration mildly warming finish. (4/5)
First one from a new-to-me Québec brewery. Coming from about as close as you can get to Newfoundland on the Gaspé Peninsula, and brewed in a repurposed seal processing plant, I’ll admit to a certain predisposition to liking them. The name confused me though: not L’Arelquin (I know of Harlequin ducks) but Pit Caribou. Surely, I thought, they didn’t have caribou working the mines, like the Pit Ponies of Newfoundland? Then I started second-guessing myself. I mean, after all, the only difference between reindeer bred as livestock, and caribou, is geography. But, no, it turns out it’s the name of the village alcoholic in a Québécois soap opera. Who knew? Anyway, beer. (Hey! That’d be a good name for an autobiographical beer book!) Smells OK, though nothing particularly pops. Flavour is decent on the front end, but finishes a little… I dunno, I want to say “sharpish” but that’s not quite it. It was a toss-up whether that warranted a reduction on taste or palate, but ultimately I decided it shows up early enough to be considered the former and not the latter. All in all, a decent example, but one that doesn’t really avail of the bigger malt bill to deliver a concomitant bigger hop punch. (15/20)
This will be my 5,557th unique Untappd check-in.
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
S.Y.C. Brewing Co. Pacific Forest – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$4.81 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 24-Apr-2023, acquired 9-May-2023, reviewed 13-May-2023)
Appearance: clear deep gold with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and well-defined soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, resiny pine, faint herbal. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, medium duration lingering bitter finish. (4/5)
As I’ve noted before, I’m getting behind the small but growing return to pre-haze craze beers movement. This one is pretty as hell, and I was more than a little excited to dive in. And it wasn’t my intent to damn it with faint praise, but, well, I guess I’m gonna do just that. It doesn’t disappoint, as such, but it doesn’t really wow me either. Yeah, it’s piney and bitter, but it’s lacking a certain depth in both aroma and taste. Well executed, but ultimately a little short of great. (15/20)
This will be my 5,558th unique Untappd check-in.
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Zero Issue Brewing Uncanny: Harrgon (Issue #85) – American IPA at 7.2% ABV (C$4.95 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 9-May-2023, reviewed 14-May-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale amber with one finger of creamy pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, spotty stringy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: resiny pine, citrus, bready caramel. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration lingering bitter finish. (4/5)
The first beer in their “Uncanny” series – no idea what, if anything, that means. No packaging date but presumably can’t be any older than the April 20 release date. Another sorta kinda return to the pre-haze craze days, but an interpretation that’s just OK. The muddy, uninspired appearance kind of sets the tone here: it sort of checks all the boxes, but in a slightly lacklustre fashion. Maybe if it were another brewer I’d be inclined to rate it just very slightly higher, but this just isn’t up to their normal standards. I’ve tried slightly fewer than half the beers this brewer has ever done, and this one comes in just a little under average for me (for n=31, μ=7.3 & σ=0.48). I guess they can’t all be winners? (14/20)
This will be my 5,559th unique Untappd check-in.
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Bellwoods Brewery / Dominion City Brewing Co. West of the Moon – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$7.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 15-Mar-2023, acquired 9-May-2023, reviewed 15-May-2023)
Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of loose off-white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: resiny pine, pithy citrus, clean pale malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration building lingering bitter finish. (4/5)
Talking about the collaboration, Bellwoods says “we each brew an IPA with the same ingredients but different hops and process”. As is the case every time I see this collaborative approach, I definitely want to try their collaborator’s take on it – East of the Sun, an East Coast style IPA – but it doesn’t seem to have made it to AB. (Yet?) This is yet another one that I’ll damn with faint praise: it’s good, certainly, but nothing really jumps out to bring it to the next level. Certainly it’s not the kind of effort I’ve grown to expect in my fairly extensive experience with Bellwoods (for n=48, μ=8.1 & σ=0.57), whom I consider one of the best brewers in Canada. Sorry guys, but this one’s “merely” good, not great. (15/20)
This will be my 5,560th unique Untappd check-in.
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Asymmetrical Brewing Co. Cold Day – Cold IPA at 6.6% ABV (C$4.77 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 18-Apr-2023, acquired 9-May-2023, reviewed 16-May-2023)
Appearance: clear straw with two fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and well-defined soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: cereal grains, citrus, tropical fruits. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, medium duration slightly sticky finish. (3/5)
The front label says it’s an IPA, but the back label clearly indicates it’s a Cold IPA, so we’ll go with that. Another new-to-me Edmonton-based brewery, always happy to see more local production. This one’s not bad, and certainly is as pretty as it’s possible to be. The aroma could stand to be a little more hop-dominant and a little less sweet malt. Taste is also a little too sweet, presumably in an attempt to offset the not-inconsiderable bitterness, which is actually towards the high side of moderate, particularly in the finish. A little bit “drink it and forget it” but I’ll be more then happy to try their next offering that I see. (14/20)
This will be my 5,561st unique Untappd check-in.
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Asymmetrical Brewing Co. Cold Day – Cold IPA at 6.6% ABV (C$4.77 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 18-Apr-2023, acquired 9-May-2023, reviewed 16-May-2023)
Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and well-defined soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, grape must, citrus, oats / cereal grains, citrus, light pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: smooth medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, short clean finish. (4/5)
Hopped with Nelson Sauvin, Citra, and Mosaic. I’m generally quite a fan of the ANZ hops, and this is no exception, but I’m not entirely sure that the Nelson Sauvin takes centre stage here. I mean, yeah, it’s present, but it’s largely overshadowed (or at least, challenged) by the Citra and Mosaic notes. On the other hand, it’s not like they’re claiming it to be a single-hop or anything, so maybe don’t read too much into the title? Nice one, easy drinking, bright, and pleasant. (17/20)
This will be my 5,562nd unique Untappd check-in.
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Eighty-Eight Brewing / Blindman Brewing Footloose – American IPA at 6.9% ABV (C$4.81 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 28-Mar-2023, acquired 9-May-2023, reviewed 17-May-2023)
Appearance: clear pale gold with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate sheet lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone fruit, pine, citrus, caramel, tropical fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: smooth medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, medium duration bitter finish. (4/5)
Thanks for the earworm, assholes… Anyway, yeah, first collaboration I’ve seen between two brewers I quite like. Brewer notes say “Key ingredients: Caramel Steam, Munich Malt, Citra, El Dorado, Mosaic”, and that’s pretty much what the flavour profile delivers. Fact is, I initially rated this lower, but as the pint progressed I really started to appreciate the complexity of what’s going on here. I first thought it was tropical-dominated and not really a WC-style IPA, but then the stone fruit came to the forefront, followed by the pine, and then I completely lost track of what was driving the bus. This might not suit everyone, but in my opinion it performed just slightly better than average for both breweries (Eighty-Eight n=27, μ=7.6 & σ=0.62; Blindman n=34, μ=7.6 & σ=0.65 – surprisingly similar huh?), and I quite enjoyed it. (16/20)
This will be my 5,563rd unique Untappd check-in.
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Moody Ales & Co. / Twin Sails Brewing / Parkside Brewery / Yellow Dog Brewing Co. / Brave Brewing / Rewind Beer Co. Friend Zone – American IPA at 6% ABV (C$5.35 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 9-May-2023, reviewed 24-May-2023)
Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, stone fruit, citrus, caramel, tropical fruit. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration bitter finish. (3/5)
I had fairly high hopes for this when I saw that Twin Sails was in the (lengthy!) collaborator’s list. Unfortunately, though, the aroma was surprisingly mild. What there is, is decent enough, and there are certainly no negative characteristics, but I just wanted to see more enthusiasm. (14/20)
This will be my 5,564th unique Untappd check-in.
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Microbrasserie Pit Caribou Paradise Point – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$5.98 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 14-Dec-2022, acquired 9-May-2023, reviewed 26-May-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: orange zest, grassy weeds. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration bitter slightly astringent finish. (3/5)
This is probably a fair bit older than is fair, so I might be doing it a disservice. In particular, I find the aroma to be relatively mild and dominated by the orange peel adjunct. The flavour is a fair bit more bitter than typical for the style, accompanied by an astringent pithy citrus in the finish, that I’m attributing to the orange peel. A bit unbalanced overall. (14/20)
This will be my 5,565th unique Untappd check-in.
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Boombox Brewing Company Danger Danger – American IPA at 6% ABV (C$5.35 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 9-May-2023, reviewed 26-May-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale amber with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thick persistent cap, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: melon, floral/weedy, caramel, tropical fruit. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration bitter finish. (3/5)
Various sources report this is hopped with Simcoe, Centennial, and Mosaic, and dry hopped with Citra Cryo. That being the case, I have no explanation why the aroma is dominated by melon. Can’t decipher the smeary date code on the bottom, so maybe it’s just old? Anyway, not overly impressive. (13/20)
This will be my 5,566th unique Untappd check-in.
6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Dandy Brewing Company New Face – American IPA at 6.6% ABV (C$5.08 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 9-May-2023, reviewed 26-May-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale amber with one fat finger of loose pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: dank resiny pine, citrus, cereal grains, tropical fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration bitter finish. (4/5)
“New Face”, huh? Well, if there was one brewery in desperate need of a rebranding, it was this one. I guess their original intent was to lean into the whole hipster brewer vibe, but I always found that to be far too on the nose to be anything but uncomfortable. This is nicely done, with an emphatically cannabinoid pine resin leading the way over citrus and tropical fruits, clean malt and balanced sweetness. I could drink a few of these. (15/20)
This will be my 5,567th unique Untappd check-in.
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Ol’ Beautiful Brewing Co. Fingers Crossed – American IPA at 6.0% ABV (C$4.63 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 24-Apr-2023, acquired 9-May-2023, reviewed 28-May-2023)
Appearance: hazy deep gold with two fat fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy droopy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, pine, pale malt, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration mild finish. (3/5)
This tends slightly more “murky” than “hazy” in appearance, and the fairly enthusiastic head takes a while to settle down. The label calls out Citra and Azacca hops, but doesn’t specify if there’s anything else. If those are the only hops, then it feels like there’s more Azacca than Citra, since the tropical notes really dominate here. And that’s about all I have to say here – it’s perfectly serviceable, just not all that interesting. (14/20)
This will be my 5,568th unique Untappd check-in.
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
New Belgium Brewing Company / Oud Beersel Lips of Faith Series Transatlantique Kriek (2016) – Kriek at 7% ABV (C$16.32 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 16-Mar-2016, reviewed 28-May-2023)
Appearance: crystal clear ruby red with one fat finger of loose pink head diminishing gradually to a thin persistent cap, well-defined lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tart cherries, hints of citrus and very mild funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, medium duration mildly tart finish. (4/5)
I’m a bit perplexed by this one, because I was really expecting the funk to have the opportunity to grow during the extended cellaring. Instead, it seems to be less funky than the 2013 vintage I had about nine years ago, and is instead dominated by sour cherries. I was a bit surprised by the finish, which instead of being dry and tart like I was expecting, was just a tiny bit flaccid. All in all, though, it’s a very Belgian (old, not new) Kriek, so it’s got that going on. (16/20)
This will be my 5,569th unique Untappd check-in.
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
New Belgium Brewing Company Lips of Faith Series Le Terroir (2014) – Sour / Wild Ale at 7.5% ABV | 12 IBU (C$19.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 6-Nov-2014, reviewed 29-May-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale amber with a short pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin persistent cap, moderate sheet lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone fruit, wood, mild funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high tart, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, short duration dry tart finish. (4/5)
I’m not sure two data points in the last two days make a trend, but to the extent they do, I’m starting to see one: the funky notes in my long-term cellared LoF offerings don’t seem to dig in and grow the way I’d expect for e.g. Brett-based offerings. The hops have certainly faded (transformed?) over time, but I’m not getting the kind of big barnyard notes I was expecting. Surprisingly little changed over an extended cellaring, and still good. (16/20)
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Jester King Brewery Snörkel – Saison at 4.3% ABV (C$6.07 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 6-Apr-2023, acquired 30-May-2023, reviewed 30-May-2023)
Appearance: slightly hazy pale straw with one finger of fluffy white head, good retention and minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, smoke, mushroom, brine, light earthy funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, short duration dry tart finish. (4/5)
The label says this is “farmhouse ale brewed with alderwood smoked sea salt and oyster mushrooms”, which one might think sounds pretty random, but it’s actually pretty interesting. The smokiness, salt, and mycological components are all pretty restrained, with none really outweighing the citrusy hop notes, and all working quite well with the expected Jester King farmhouse funkiness. I don’t know that I’d want more than one, but I certainly don’t regret the one. (16/20)
This will be my 5,570th unique Untappd check-in.
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Evil Twin Brewing Grape – Sour / Wild Ale at 5% ABV (C$4.50 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 30-Nov-2021, acquired 30-May-2023, reviewed 1-Jun-2023)
Appearance: hazy greenish blue with one finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: artificial grape soda. (6/10) Taste: high sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, short sticky finish. (3/5)
This is pretty much what I suspected it might be: it smells and tastes just like no-name grape soda. It also looks disturbingly artificial, with a colour best described as “one week healed bruise”. I oscillated between wanting to like this (mostly for ironic, hipster-ish reasons) and wanting to throw it out (because it’s just like no-name grape soda, which I normally wouldn’t drink on a dare). However, while debating with myself, I drank the whole damn thing, so I guess I can’t claim it’s actually nasty – but dammit, it’s trying to be. I’ll give Jeppe credit: he always swings for the fences, but sometimes that means he misses big time – and even though this is probably exactly what he was going for, it’s a lot more of a miss than a hit for me. (12/20)
This will be my 5,571st unique Untappd check-in.
6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Born Brewing Co. (Born Colorado Brewing) Strong Roots – American Double / Imperial IPA at 9% ABV (C$4.81 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 26-Apr-2023, acquired 30-May-2023, reviewed 2-Jun-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical and stone fruits, citrus, pine, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: smooth medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, medium duration mildly warming finish. (4/5)
. (16/20)
This will be my 5,573rd unique Untappd check-in.
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Anchorage Brewing Company Wasteland – Triple IPA at 10% ABV (C$9.15 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 2-Feb-2023, acquired 30-May-2023, reviewed 5-Jun-2023)
Appearance: hazy deep gold with two fat fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate sheet lacing. (4/5) Aroma: slightly boozy citrus, tropical fruit, pine, white grape, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Palate: smooth medium-full body, moderate-soft carbonation, slightly sticky warming finish. (4/5)
Label notes say this is brewed with Strata, fermented with Hazy Chico, DDH with Strata, Nelson Sauvin, Simcoe, and Mosaic. To which I say, hell yes. You’ll note that there’s no mention of the malts, and that’s not accidental: malt does not play a role here, except to create that double-digit ABV. Speaking of which, there is a mild hint of booziness on the front end to warn the drinker, but other than that this is surprisingly approachable, and certainly takes the edge off a stress-filled day. I could do with another three or four of these, to be honest, except that would pretty firmly place me in wasted land… (17/20)
This will be my 5,574th unique Untappd check-in.
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Jester King Brewery Mr. Mingo – Saison at 4.8% ABV (C$7.00 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 30-May-2023, reviewed 8-Jun-2023)
Appearance: clear coppery pink with one finger of fine white head diminishing rapidly to a think ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild floral, cranberry, crackery malt, lemon, hay. (7/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet and tart, low bitter. (7/10) Palate: light body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry lightly tart finish. (4/5)
This isn’t my first hibiscus beer, or for that matter even my first hibiscus Saison… or my second… or my third… yeah, I’m starting to get to the “nothing new under the sun” point here. And maybe that’s why I’m so not impressed by this. The brewer notes say “TexMalt Llano pilsner and Denton County wheat, flaked oats, Columbus hops, and Roselle hibiscus” but in fact there’s not a whole lot of anything happening here. It’s crisp and refreshing, but that’s about it. (14/20)
This will be my 5,575th unique Untappd check-in.
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
New Level Brewing Space Wolf – American Double / Imperial IPA at 7.6% ABV (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 16-May-2023, acquired 30-May-2023, reviewed 9-Jun-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with some particulate, two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains, stone fruit. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, mildly warming lingering bitter finish. (4/5)
The brewer says that this is “96% Galaxy hops and a little bit of Citra and Mosaic” (15/20)
This will be my 5,576th unique Untappd check-in.
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Winterlong Brewing Co. / Container Brewing Pacific Spirit – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.5% ABV (C$5.98 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 30-May-2023, reviewed 12-Jun-2023)
Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of pillowy pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a persistent cap, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, dank resiny pine, caramel. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, mildly warming lingering bitter finish. (4/5)
Brewer notes say this is hopped with Columbus, Centennial, Chinook, and Simcoe. The aroma and flavour definitely track this very traditional “starts-with-C” lineup (yes, Simcoe is pretty much a starts-with-C hop) making this a well-made old-school big bitter WC-style DIPA. I could have gone a little higher in scoring if I were feeling particularly nostalgic, I suppose, but thinking back to the time when these were popular I don’t think I would have scored it any higher than I have: good, but just a little shy of great. (15/20)
This will be my 5,577th unique Untappd check-in.
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Hoyne Brewing Co. Among Giants – American IPA at 6.7% ABV (C$5.08 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 30-May-2023, reviewed 14-Jun-2023)
Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of fine pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a persistent cap, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dank resiny pine, pithy citrus, caramel. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (4/5)
I couldn’t make out the entire date code, but it appears to be some time in 2023. And no, I didn’t go out with the intent of sourcing a whole bunch of dramatically-named throwback WCIPAs, but regardless I seem to have ended up with such. The label notes say “choice hops including Amarillo and Idaho 7” which to be honest sounds a bit evasive, but the brewer web site is a bit more informative, specifying “Chinook, Callista, Amarillo, El Dorado, Idaho 7”. One might be forgiven for expecting something a bit more imposing given the name, but this is actually, if not actually light, at least approachable, and relatively easy-drinking. (15/20)
This will be my 5,578th unique Untappd check-in.
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Alley Kat Brewing Co. Yabba Dabba Brew – American IPA at 4.5% ABV 10 IBU (C$4.90 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 28-Apr-2023, acquired 30-May-2023, reviewed 14-Jun-2023)
Appearance: hazy straw with one fat finger of pillowy pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains, mild resiny pine, hints of grape. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, short clean finish. (4/5)
The label notes say this is hopped with Eclipse and Phantasm, and infused with Sour Pebbles terpene extract. Nice one. Mild and very well-behaved, but the pleasant aroma and flavour don’t feel watered-down in the least. I was expecting a lot more cannabinoid character, but to the extent there’s any, it’s pretty mild. Easy to drink and refreshing, this is right up there as one of my favourites by this brewery. (16/20)
This will be my 5,579th unique Untappd check-in.
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Modern Times Beer / Culmination Brewing Laser Rain – Gose at 5.6% ABV | 15 IBU (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 25-Aug-2021, acquired 30-May-2023, reviewed 17-Jun-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: cucumber, tropical fruit, lime, brine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter, light salt. (8/10) Palate: light body, lively carbonation, short crisp finish. (4/5)
I never would have bought this if I had noticed the date stamp, but somewhat shockingly, this is still completely bright and clean. This is bright, crisp, and refreshing, and totally reminds me of having gin & tonic with cucumber. (And by the way, if you haven’t tried that, you totally should: it’s completely different than the traditional one with lime.) I like it a lot, especially considering it’s basically a kettle sour. (16/20)
This will be my 5,581st unique Untappd check-in.
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Folding Mountain Brewing / Blindman Brewing Dry Hopped Lager – India Pale Lager at 5.2% ABV (C$4.70 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 28-Apr-2023, acquired 30-May-2023, reviewed 17-Jun-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of rocky off-white head, good retention and well-defined lacing. (4/5) Aroma: cigarette smoke, metallic/solvent, grass, crackery malt. (4/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (4/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish marred by metallic, funky, smoky notes. (2/5)
Woof. That’s a train wreck. What little hopping I can detect (after a very limited analysis) is completely overwhelmed by a metallic ketone note and an overarching top note of stale cigarette smoke. This is clearly a damaged batch, and it makes me think less of both brewers, both of whom are capable of far better. Sink pour. (8/20)
This will be my 5,582nd unique Untappd check-in.
4.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Common Roots Brewing Company Pillow Gossip – American IPA at 6.4% ABV (C$8.25 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 13-Apr-2023, acquired 30-May-2023, reviewed 18-Jun-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and well-defined lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, stone fruit, cereal grains, tropical fruit. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry short duration finish. (4/5)
Brewer notes specify that this is hopped with Citra and El Dorado, but it doesn’t really provide the bright punchiness I hope for from those hops. As it warms, there’s a pleasant creamsicle character, but it remains relatively mild. There’s absolutely nothing wrong here, but at the end of the day it just falls short of greatness. (15/20)
This will be my 5,583rd unique Untappd check-in.
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Hypha Project Raveness – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$5.40 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 22-Mar-2023, acquired 30-May-2023, reviewed 18-Jun-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: floral, citrus, herbal, stone fruit, coconut. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)
The label says the “featured hops” are Loral and Citra, which made me wonder if there could be others as well, but the brewer notes on their web site seem to imply not. There are herbal and coconut notes here that I usually associate with big barrel aged stuff, but they doesn’t necessarily feel out of place. I flip-flopped a little on both aroma and taste, but ultimately decided to go a little higher on both, because different is good. (15/20)
This will be my 5,584th unique Untappd check-in.
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
New Belgium Brewing Company Lips of Faith Series La Folie (2016) – Sour Brown Ale (Flanders Oud Bruin) at 7% ABV (C$14.99 at Zyn, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 16-Feb-2017, reviewed 21-Jun-2023)
Appearance: clear medium brown with a short fizzy light beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sour cherries, balsamic vinegar, leather, oak. (9/10) Taste: moderate sour, moderate-low sweet, moderate-low bitter. (9/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, dry building sour mildly warming finish. (5/5)
I had quite forgotten how much I enjoy this Oud Bruin. The previous time I tried this vintage, back in 2016, I noted that it wasn’t quite as good as some of the prior ones. Well, that’s as may be, but it’s certainly still worth your time, and hasn’t been harmed at all by the subsequent seven years in the cellar. I’m not doing any sort of rigorous vertical this evening, but it’ll be interesting to see if its two years older sibling will be able to say the same, shortly. (17/20)
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
New Belgium Brewing Company Lips of Faith Series La Folie (2014) – Sour Brown Ale (Flanders Oud Bruin) at 7% ABV (C$19.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 16-Oct-2015, reviewed 21-Jun-2023)
Appearance: clear medium brown with a short fizzy light beige head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sour cherries, balsamic vinegar, leather, raisins, oak. (9/10) Taste: moderate sour, moderate-low sweet, moderate-low bitter. (9/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, dry building sour mildly warming finish. (5/5)
Time, it would appear, is indeed the great leveller. At least, when it comes to two year’s difference in vintage of this beer. I could barely differentiate this from the 2016 even though I basically tried them side-by-side. This one has perhaps just a hair more complexity (and sweetness) associated with the raisin character I’m getting. I still have single examples of three consecutive vintages (2014, 2015, and 2016) so maybe I’ll do a slightly more complete vertical next year, on the occasion of the oldest’s tenth birthday, but for now there’s no much more to report. (17/20)
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Zero Issue Brewing Uncanny Series: Smack (Issue #88) – American IPA at 5.8% ABV (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 30-May-2023, reviewed 19-Jun-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dank pine, citrus, tropical fruit, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)
I don’t usually get all moralistic about beer names, but I have to wonder who really thought it was a good idea to name this after a horrifically devastating street drug. Deeply distressing naming conventions aside, this is quite nice, and I have no real complaints. (16/20)
This will be my 5,585th unique Untappd check-in.
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Evil Twin Brewing / Two Roads Brewing Co. Geyser Gose NYC Version – Gose at 5.5% ABV (C$8.75 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 23-Feb-2023, acquired 30-May-2023, reviewed 26-Jun-2023)
Appearance: slightly hazy straw with one finger of fine white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tart lemony citrus, herbal, light brine, faint smoke. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter, very light salt. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, short duration tart finish. (4/5)
This one has a slightly high ABV for a Gose, which really should top out at under 5%. I wouldn’t be unhappy with a lighter body and higher carbonation, either. But, these are nitpicky details because overall it fits the overall style intent of light, tart, and refreshing. The salt and smoke are both quite mild, working well with the lemony tartness to produce an even-handed final result. (16/20)
This will be my 5,586th unique Untappd check-in.
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Common Roots Brewing Company Shreddie – American IPA at 5% ABV (C$7.00 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 31-Mar-2023, acquired 30-May-2023, reviewed 28-Jun-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of creamy off-white head, excellent retention and heavy well-defined lacing. (4/5) Aroma: sweet citrus, tropical fruit, cereal grains, light resin. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly astringent finish. (3/5)
The label notes call this “a hop-forward and refreshing IPA with notes of clementine and passion fruit, accompanied by accents of resin.” I mean, I’ll give you a little artistic licence on the sweet citrus and tropical notes and call them clementine and passion fruit, sure. I was going to say I get no resin at all, but I guess I have to acknowledge that, as the pint warms, a slight note does become apparent. For me, though, it’s a little oversold and underdelivered, and the very slight astringency in the finish mars the “refreshing” aspect just a little. It’s OK, but it doesn’t get me excited. (14/20)
This will be my 5,587th unique Untappd check-in.
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Propeller Brewery Lykos – India Pale Lager at 5.2% ABV (C$4.68 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 30-May-2023, reviewed 29-Jun-2023)
Appearance: clear straw with two fingers of loose off-white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, stone fruit, grass, crackery malt, black tea. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry short duration finish. (4/5)
That’s very nice indeed. The hopping works as a pleasant counterpoint to an underlying pilsner-ish malt, neither overwhelming it nor taking a back seat. The body tends light without being watery, while the lively carbonation is bright without being fizzy. It’s clean, crisp, and refreshing. (16/20)
This will be my 5,588th unique Untappd check-in.
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Evil Twin Brewing Orange – Sour / Wild Ale at 5% ABV (C$4.50 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 29-Nov-2021, acquired 30-May-2023, reviewed 30-Jun-2023)
Appearance: slightly hazy orange with one finger of pale orange head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: artificial orange soda, lactose. (6/10) Taste: high sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, short sticky finish. (3/5)
Well, after having its compatriot Grape, the only thing surprising about this one is that I was expecting more “no-name orange soda”, than “creamsicle”. Much like Grape, it looks disturbingly artificial and tastes obnoxiously sweet. Also like Grape, I can’t claim it’s actually nasty – but it’s still a swing and a miss for me. (12/20)
This will be my 5,589th unique Untappd check-in.
6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Microbrasserie Pit Caribou Lac De La Ferme – Helles Lager at 5% ABV (C$5.98 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 15-Feb-2023, acquired 30-May-2023, reviewed 30-Jun-2023)
Appearance: clear pale gold with one fat finger of fine white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: honey / pale malt, herbal / grass, hint of DMS / sulphur. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, short off-dry slightly sticky finish. (4/5)
Nice one. Certainly all about the malt – which is a departure for my emphatic hop preferences – and not overly exciting, perhaps, but fairly clean and pleasant. (15/20)
This will be my 5,590th unique Untappd check-in.
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Eighty-Eight Brewing Cruise Control – American IPA at 7% ABV | 45 IBU (C$4.77 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 16-May-2023, acquired 30-May-2023, reviewed 30-Jun-2023)
Appearance: clear straw with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, dank resiny pine, cereal grains, herbal. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-high carbonation, medium duration off-dry slightly sticky finish. (4/5)
The label says “w/ Mosaic, Idaho 7 and Strata”, but the brewer web site is a bit more detailed, specifying “Chinook T90 hop pellets, Strata T90 hop pellets, Mosaic LupoMAX hop pellets, Idaho 7 Cryo hop pellets, Mosaic Incognito hop extract, Mosaic Spectrum hop extract”. Oh, I like that. It’s an interesting combination of traditional WCIPA with modern fruity hopping, though without the pretty-typical-these-days haze. Just enough dank and bitter to keep things interesting and provide a decent balance to the sweetness and mild grainy malt character. (16/20)
This will be my 5,591st unique Untappd check-in.
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery Island of Imaginary Friends – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.2% ABV (C$5.26 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 18-May-2023, acquired 4-Jul-2023, reviewed 4-Jul-2023)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mango, orange peel and pith, hint of coconut. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-low carbonation, mildly warming slightly astringent sticky finish. (3/5)
“If our minds can imagine magical talking sock puppets, conjuring a luscious double IPA that tastes like mango sticky rice shouldn’t be too hard.” Well, it tastes like mango, anyway, but that’s pretty damned easy to do by the simple expedient of, ohhhh, I dunno… adding mango? It ain’t rocket surgery. What’s more difficult is getting some hop character in there too, which this pretty much utterly fails to do. And, to be fair, it doesn’t taste fake, but there’s a little astringency on the back end reminiscent of slightly underripe fruit peel. I still love this brewery, but this is just OK. (13/20)
This will be my 5,592nd unique Untappd check-in.
6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Born Brewing Co. (Born Colorado Brewing) Alpenglow – American IPA at 6.3% ABV (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 4-Jul-2023, reviewed 4-Jul-2023)
Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: melon/cantaloupe, ?. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-low carbonation, medium duration astringent finish. (3/5)
A rare swing and a miss from this brewer. I mean, yeah, I get cantaloupe, and… nothing. Not a damn thing. How is this a WCIPA, when there’s no hopping or pine to speak of? (12/20)
This will be my 5,593rd unique Untappd check-in.
6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Field House Brewing Co. Galaxy Mosaic Cryo Pale – American Pale Ale at 5% ABV (C$6.15 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 5-Jun-2023, acquired 4-Jul-2023, reviewed 4-Jul-2023)
Appearance: slightly hazy medium gold with one fat finger of loose pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel, mild citrus & stone fruit, faint pine & grass. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration off-dry finish. (3/5)
For something called “Galaxy Mosaic”, there’s not all that much of either. Malt rules here – which isn’t necessarily terrible, I suppose, but it’s not what was promised. Not all that impressed. (12/20)
This will be my 5,594th unique Untappd check-in.
6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com