Month: December 2023

Revolution Brewing Freedom of Speach – Sour / Wild Ale at 4.5% ABV | 7 IBU (2023 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #7, 355 ml, packaged on 15-Aug-2023, acquired 14-Dec-2023, reviewed 16-Dec-2023)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of fine white head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, wheat, earthy funk, stone fruit. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (7/10) Palate: light body, moderate-lively carbonation, dry short tart finish. (4/5)

Not as much peach as I was expecting, but I’m not sure if that’s necessarily a bad thing. The stone fruit actually comes through more as a vinous note in the finish, than in the aroma. The bigger problem is that this is a kettle sour, with very little complexity or depth. It’s not unpleasant to drink, but there’s not much going on.(14/20)

This will be my 5,704th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Earth Rider Brewery Tap Shack – American Pale Lager at 5% ABV | 16 IBU (2023 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #6, 355 ml, best before 14-Feb-2024, acquired 14-Dec-2023, reviewed 16-Dec-2023)

Appearance: clear pale straw with one finger of fine white head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: bready caramel, grass, slight diacetyl. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, sweetish short finish. (3/5)

Yep, that’s a lager and lime all right. Crushable and forgettable. (12/20)

This will be my 5,703rd unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Tiny Rebel Brewing Clwb Tropica – American IPA at 5.5% ABV (2023 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #4, 330 ml, best before 14-Jun-2024, acquired 14-Dec-2023, reviewed 15-Dec-2023)

Appearance: hazy straw with massive fizzy white head gradually diminishing to a thin skim, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: zesty citrus, tropical and stone fruit, light Brett funk. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration bitter finish. (3/5)

I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love Brett – but is there supposed to be Brett in this? Because there’s Brett in this – I mean ,look at that head! I don’t actually dislike this, but I’m far from convinced that what it is, is what it’s supposed to be. (13/20)

This will be my 5,701st unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Surly Brewing Co. Grapefruit Supreme – Sour / Wild Ale at 4.5% ABV (2023 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #3, 355 ml, best before 6-Aug-2024, acquired 14-Dec-2023, reviewed 14-Dec-2023)

Appearance: hazy straw with a short, short-lived white head, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: zesty grapefruit and lemon. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, short duration tart finish. (4/5)

All citrus, not much else – basically a Radler. Which I’m OK with. (14/20)

This will be my 5,700th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Florida Avenue Brewing Co. Passion of the Heights – American Pale Wheat Ale at 4.7% ABV (2023 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #2, 355 ml, packaged on 1-Aug-2023, acquired 14-Dec-2023, reviewed 14-Dec-2023)

Appearance: hazy pinkish deep gold with one finger of loose off-white head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: floral, citrus zest, spices. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, short duration lightly tart finish. (4/5)

That’s not bad, and more importantly, fairly different from the everyday. The pinkish hue is the first clue that this isn’t normal, followed quickly by the floral (hibiscus?) notes. That floral element, along with the citrus and fruit, plays well with the underlying wheat tartness to give a pretty refreshing final product. Not bad at all. (14/20)

This will be my 5,699th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Revolution Brewing Infinity-Hero – American IPA at 7% ABV | 50 IBU (2023 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #1, 355 ml, packaged on 26-Jul-2023, acquired 14-Dec-2023, reviewed 14-Dec-2023)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with two fingers of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: sweet citrus, caramel, tropical fruit, hint of pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium duration bitter finish. (3/5)

Hopped with Nectaron, Strata, HBC #586, and HBC #1019. A bit too sweet in both aroma and flavour for me. (14/20)

This will be my 5,698th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Collective Arts Brewing Fuzz Face – Triple IPA at 10.2% ABV (C$5.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 25-Sep-2023, acquired 30-Oct-2023, reviewed 9-Dec-2023)

Appearance: slightly hazy deep gold with a short, short-lived white head, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bright citrus, pine, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium bitter warming finish. (4/5)

“Citra four different ways” – um, yes please? A seriously dangerous brightly juicy and easy-drinking TIPA. One doesn’t often encounter crushable double-digit ABV’s but this is definitely that, with the only warning being a gentle warming in the finish. I had to make a concerted effort to slow down my pace on this one. I could drink a lot of these – until I fell over, anyway… (16/20)

This will be my 5,697th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Hoyne Brewing Co. Wolf Vine Wet Hopped Pale Ale – American Pale Ale at 5.3% ABV (C$5.00 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 3-Oct-2023, acquired 30-Oct-2023, reviewed 9-Dec-2023)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky pale amber head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: weedy grass, caramel, faint hints of citrus and pine. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration bitter finish. (3/5)

Hopped with Centennial and Cascade, malts are Maris Otter and Crystal. Well, another fresh-hop that completely fails to impress. There’s not a darned thing wrong with this, other than that it feels like something from twenty years ago and is completely uninteresting. It’s pretty, I’ll give it that. I was also initially amused by the indication on the label that one of the ingredients was “wolf spirit” and predisposed to give them credit for it, but this is about as lupine as the poor little coyotes that get suburbanites all worked up when they eat housecats – it takes a bigger dog to impress me. (14/20)

This will be my 5,696th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Blindman Brewing Fresh Hop – American IPA at 5.0% ABV (C$5.35 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 30-Oct-2023, reviewed 9-Dec-2023)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two fingers of rocky pale amber head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: grass, light tropical fruit, hint of cereal grains. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

I mean, it’s punching above its weight, that’s for sure. That’s to say, it’s certainly hoppy, and it’s got a respectable bitter bite through the finish, making it feel like it’s a lot bigger than it is. The problem (for me at least) is that the hops are super traditional grassy, with just a hint of tropical fruit. And yeah, that’s a personal preference thing, but I’m the person doing the review, so there. And picking another personal nit, it also tastes a bit on the sweet side for my preference. So, while it’s undoubtedly good, it just doesn’t move the needle to great for me. (14/20)

This will be my 5,695th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com