Month: September 2024

Outer Range Brewing Co. Lawn Games – American IPA at 6.7% ABV (C$7.95 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Aug-2024, reviewed 3-Sep-2024)

Appearance: slightly chill hazed pale gold with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dank pine resin, citrus, bready caramel, grass, hint of vinous grape. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Hops: Centennial, Nelson. So, this “West Coast” is what yesterday’s “West Coast” from the very same brewery was most emphatically NOT: to wit, a West Coast. Dank resiny pine and citrus on a bready caramel foundation, with just a vinous hint from the Nelson hops. That being said, I’m not sure the Nelson adds much one way or the other, so I’m not sure I would have chosen it, but ultimately I have no complaints here. (16/20)

This will be my 5,928th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Outer Range Brewing Co. Cosmic Sauce – American IPA at 6.4% ABV (C$7.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 24-Jun-2024, acquired 23-Aug-2024, reviewed 3-Sep-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, floral, stone fruit, hint of dank, earth. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, medium duration finish. (4/5)

Hops: Citra, Mosaic, Cascade. Come on, folks, words have meaning. Don’t they? Or have we just given up and nothing means anything any more? Because this is not in any sense a WCIPA. First and foremost, it’s hazy, not clear – which isn’t the kiss of death, but it’s sure a precursor to what’s to come. Because, aside from an arguably in-spec caramel note, the flavour profile is dominated by floral and stone (/mixed) fruit, with very little dank cannabis and even less pine. Is it a bad beer? Not at all. Is it an in-spec example of the style? Not at all. (14/20)

This will be my 5,927th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Catching Smoke – Grätzer / Grodziskie at 3.2% ABV (C$4.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 14-Aug-2024, acquired 23-Aug-2024, reviewed 3-Sep-2024)

Appearance: hazy straw with a short, short-lived white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: smoke, floral, pale grains, grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, lingering bitter smoky slightly sharp finish. (4/5)

Smoke dominates here, although that’s not to say it’s strong – it’s just the strongest characteristic in a palette of fairly mild flavours. Decently refreshing, though there is a slightly sharp edge in the finish that retroactively makes the smoke seem a little like an inadvertent cigarette butt in one’s mug. Ultimately it’s not unpleasant, but it’s certainly not one of their best. (14/20)

This will be my 5,926th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Small Gods Brewing Co. De La Rose – American Pale Ale at 5% ABV (C$6.25 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Aug-2024, reviewed 31-Aug-2024)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one fat finger of fine pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical & stone fruit, caramel, red berries. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration bitter finish. (4/5)

Made with Barbe Rouge hops, though I’m not sure if it’s a single-hop. Another new hop to me, this one is from France, of Strisselspalt parentage. Don’t go thinking it’s Noble-like, though, because it certainly has more New World characteristics than Old: citrus and other fruits/berries pretty clearly lead the way here. Combine that with a caramel malt backbone and its clear appearance and you’ve got a beer that’s pretty much ignored the past ten years of market trends. (15/20)

This will be my 5,925th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Polyrhythm Brewing Pink Kazoo – Session IPA at 4.5% ABV (C$5.25 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 31-Jul-2024, acquired 23-Aug-2024, reviewed 31-Aug-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale straw with two fat fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: mild, stone and orchard fruit, citrus, honey, cereal grains. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-soft carbonation, short duration finish. (4/5)

Hot side hop Idaho 7, dry hopped with PINK and Idaho 7. PINK (a.k.a. ID-158) is a new hop for me, from the makers of Idaho 7. I’m not sure how much of the flavour profile I’m getting here is attributable to the new hop, possibly because it’s fairly mild. (It is a Session, after all.) There does seem to be some honey/vanilla that I don’t normally associated with Idaho 7, as well as a field berry (or maybe melon) note. The final product is pleasant and easy to drink, if tending very slightly towards the sweet. (15/20)

This will be my 5,924th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Blood Brothers Brewing Keg Deals & Kickbacks – American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV (C$7.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 3-Jul-2024, acquired 23-Aug-2024, reviewed 30-Aug-2024)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fat fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and moderate stringy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, melon, tropical fruit, vinous, cereal grains. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, short duration finish with a hint of tartness. (4/5)

Nelson Sauvin, Pacifica, and Idaho 7. I know, it’s “only” a Pale, and so I wasn’t expecting it to be as full-on as an IPA, but it still felt just the tiniest bit lacking. It’s good, but I would have appreciated a bit more oomph in both the aroma and flavour. Just a little too light overall. (15/20)

This will be my 5,923rd unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Outer Range Brewing Co. Colorado Cou Cou – American IPA at 7.2% ABV (C$7.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 31-May-2024, acquired 23-Aug-2024, reviewed 29-Aug-2024)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with a short, short-lived thin pale ivory head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, field berries, dank resin, grass. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: soft medium body, moderate-low carbonation, medium duration mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Hops: Nelson, Mosaic Cryo, Kohatu. A pleasant balance between fruit and cannabis notes on a easy-drinking smooth body. (16/20)

This will be my 5,922nd unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Analog Brewing Digital Dopamine – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$5.17 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Aug-2024, reviewed 29-Aug-2024)

Appearance: clear deep gold with one fat finger of fluffy pale ivory head, good retention and spotty soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: resiny pine, tropical fruit, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Feature hops Elani, Multi-Head, Salvo, El Dorado, Vic Secret. Yet another “hazy” that, well, isn’t. In fact, nothing here is what the labelling might make you expect: not only is it not hazy, it’s pretty bitter, and redolent of pine resin. That aside, it’s not a bad West Coast-ish offering. (14/20)

This will be my 5,921st unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Polyrhythm Brewing Dream Pop – American IPA at 7% ABV (C$5.26 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 13-Aug-2024, acquired 23-Aug-2024, reviewed 28-Aug-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of creamy pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: oats, melon, butyric, tropical fruit. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: creamy medium body, soft carbonation, medium duration finish. (4/5)

“Oat Cream IPA”. A swing and a miss from a brewer that I previously had an exceedingly high opinion of, based upon their first few I tried. This one had a butyric note at the outset which only grew as the pint warmed. It never got strong, but it was unmistakeable, and it really ruined the pint. I’m hoping this was just damaged, and will give it another go if I happen to see it on tap, but as it is it’s not great. (13/20)

This will be my 5,920th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Ocean View – Pilsner at 5.8% ABV (C$4.86 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 3-Jul-2024, acquired 23-Aug-2024, reviewed 28-Aug-2024)

Appearance: slightly chill-hazed pale straw with one fat finger of fine white head, excellent retention and spotty soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: grass, floral/pine, hints of citrus and tropical fruits. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: light body, lively carbonation, off-dry short duration crisp finish. (4/5)

Unofficial sources indicate this is hopped with Saaz, Strata, Motueka, Citra, and Idaho 7. Definitely getting both traditional Czech notes and New World hop aromas, but it’s not quite as bright as I’d like. On the other hand, it’s completely crushable. Decent, but definitely not the top end for this brewer. (15/20)

This will be my 5,919th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com