Month: February 2024

The Establishment Brewing Company Everything is Real – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$5.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 12-Feb-2024, acquired 23-Feb-2024, reviewed 25-Feb-2024)

Appearance: hazy straw with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, juicy citrus, melon, cereal grains, mild dank pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

Brewer notes refer to the “addition of loads of oats, experimental hop HBC 1019, and healthy doses of Hop Kief and Incognito”, but doesn’t actually say this is single-hopped with 1019, nor does it specify what hop(s) the Kief and Incognito (both concentrates/extracts) are from. Regardless of the specific hopping, this is pleasant, juicy, and bright. (16/20)

This will be my 5,776th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Anchorage Brewing Company Beast At The Door – American IPA at 6.4% ABV (C$9.65 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 14-Dec-2023, acquired 23-Feb-2024, reviewed 24-Feb-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, tropical & stone fruit, pale cereal grains, mild dank pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration lingering bitter warming finish. (3/5)

Hopped with Superdelic, Nectaron, and Luminosa – the first and third of which are new to me, but based on some quick reading seem completely appropriate to the style, in addition to being very much up my alley. I like this, but it feels like the bittering is slightly unbalanced and disproportionate to the predominantly brightly juicy aroma. Probably not worth the price tag, but I stopped paying attention to such things a long time ago. (15/20)

This will be my 5,775th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Maplewood Brewery & Distillery Charlatan – American Pale Ale at 6.1% ABV (C$7.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 21-Nov-2023, acquired 23-Feb-2024, reviewed 23-Feb-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy medium gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: earthy pine, caramel, mild citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (3/5)

Hopped with Warrior, Centennial, Simcoe, and Citra. I’m not impressed by this one: the aroma and taste are just as muddled as the slightly muddy appearance. No, it’s not all that fresh, but I still expect the hop character to be bright and clean, whereas this just isn’t. (13/20)

This will be my 5,774th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij Haacht Brasserie Rince Cochon – Belgian Blond Ale at 8.5% ABV (€3.00 at monop’ (CDG Roissy-Pole), 330 ml, best before 26-May-2024, acquired 21-Feb-2024, reviewed 21-Feb-2024)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of fine white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: Belgian esters, banana, candi sugar, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter, mild funk. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (3/5)

A bit sweet and a bit simple for my preference. (14/20)

This will be my 5,773rd unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV Duvel 6.66 – Belgian Blond Ale at 6.66% ABV (€3.35 at monop’ (CDG Roissy-Pole), 330 ml, best before 1-Jan-2025, acquired 21-Feb-2024, reviewed 21-Feb-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with a short fluffy off-white head diminishing gradually to a persistent cap and ring, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: clove, Belgian funk, banana, wheat. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet tending slightly high, moderate-high bitter, mild funk. (8/10) Palate: medium body, lively carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly spicy mildly funky finish. (4/5)

Always enjoy Duvel, even if this is a slightly lower ABV implementation. One of the major benefits of having Belgium as a neighbour is the availability of, well, Belgian beer – in this case, in the train station grocery store. Sweet! (16/20)

This will be my 5,772nd unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasserie La Parisienne IPA Bio – American IPA at 5% ABV | 50 IBU (€3.50 at monop’ (CDG Roissy-Pole), 330 ml, best before 10-Oct-2025, acquired 21-Feb-2024, reviewed 21-Feb-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with a short fluffy off-white head diminishing gradually to a persistent cap and ring, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, pine, caramel, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (3/5)

This is actually pretty good. The aroma is milder than I’d like, but it’s otherwise a pleasant and solid contender. (14/20)

This will be my 5,771st unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

BAPBAP Vertigo – American IPA at 6% ABV | 59 IBU (€3.75 at monop’ (CDG Roissy-Pole), 330 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 21-Feb-2024, reviewed 21-Feb-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with a short fine off-white head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pine, caramel, hint of coconut. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (3/5)

Hopped with Mango, Summit, and Sorachi Ace. Not without its charms, but certainly nothing memorable. France is certainly ahead of Spain when it comes to beer, but they’ve got a ways to go. (13/20)

This will be my 5,770th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Heineken España El Aguila Sin Filtrar – Euro Pale Lager at 5.5% ABV (€0.99 at Carrefour Express, 330 ml, best before 21-Dec-2024, acquired 19-Feb-2024, reviewed 20-Feb-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with a short short-lived off-white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet malt, mild grassy hops, faint herbal. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration finish. (3/5)

Ugh: yes, I bought a Heineken product. I feel dirty. Straight-up macro lager with just a little haze to justify the “unfiltered’ moniker. (12/20)

This will be my 5,769th unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Cruzcampo Cruzcampo Gran Reserva – Imperial Pils/Strong Pale Lager at 6.4% ABV (€0.99 at Carrefour Express, 330 ml, best before 31-Jan-2025, acquired 19-Feb-2024, reviewed 20-Feb-2024)

Appearance: clear pale amber with a short fine off-white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet pale malt, hints of fruit. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, medium duration mildly warming finish. (3/5)

Better than the basic Cruzcampo, that’s for sure, and only partly because of the higher ABV. On the other hand, Spain is definitely lagging in the craft beer arena, and it’s obviously going to take some time and effort to dislodge macro production when this is considered edgy. (12/20)

This will be my 5,768th unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Hijos de Rivera Estrella Galacia Cerveza Especial – Helles Lager at 5.5% ABV (€0.82 at Carrefour Express, 330 ml, packaged on 25-Jan-2024, acquired 19-Feb-2024, reviewed 20-Feb-2024)

Appearance:  with a short fine off-white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet grains, toasted bread, light grass. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, short grassy finish. (3/5)

Pretty basic, but, hey, it was €0.82. (11/20)

This will be my 5,767th unique Untappd check-in.

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com