Month: February 2025

S.Y.C. Brewing Co. Fancy Brawl – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8% ABV (C$5.65 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-Jan-2025, reviewed 1-Feb-2025)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with one fat finger of rocky pile ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, dank resiny pine, cereal grains, hint of resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate-soft carbonation, warming bitter finish. (4/5)

A solid performer. Although it doesn’t particularly excite me, it’s well executed with absolutely no negatives, so I don’t see ranking it any lower as fair. It’s just… not exciting, y’know? (16/20)

This will be my 6,074th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Polyrhythm Brewing Stratocaster – American IPA at 6.9% ABV (C$6.15 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-Jan-2025, reviewed 31-Jan-2025)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with one finger of fine pile ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: short-lived coconut, tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains, hint of resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, mildly warming bitter finish. (4/5)

Hot side hopped with Citra, dry-hopped with Galaxy and Rakau. I would have guessed Sabro or something along those lines too, given the short-lived coconut notes I caught upon first opening, but apparently not. It’s good – very good, in fact – but that’s basically what I’ve come to expect from this brewer, and it’s quite not at the top of their game. The aroma is not quite as bright as some of their other efforts, and the bitterness is just very slightly out of sync with the aroma. No complaints as such, but all in all I’d rather have a Tricky Sticks or a Slapahone. (16/20)

This will be my 6,073rd unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Town Square Brewing Cheetos & Chill – American IPA at 6.0% ABV (C$5.90 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-Jan-2025, reviewed 31-Jan-2025)

Appearance: clear medium gold with one fat finger of fluffy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: resiny pine, caramel, corn chips, hint of cheese. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

I initially couldn’t convince myself there was any cheese there, even retronasally. I started to get just a hint upon warming, and when burping. I got the base corn chips much sooner though – funny that that would survive the yeast but the cheese wouldn’t. I mean, good on them for trying something fun and different, and it’s certainly not terrible – but ultimately it isn’t a clear success. (13/20)

This will be my 6,072nd unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Irrational Brewing Company Lucidity #2 – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$6.00 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-Jan-2025, reviewed 29-Jan-2025)

Appearance: clear straw with two fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: grape must, resiny pine, tropical fruit, citrus. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

“w/ krush, simcoe, nelson cryo, & nelson amplifire”. Smells great at the outset – punchy and bright, with lots of vinous and tropical notes. That fades a little as the pint progresses and warms, though, and throughout, the taste seems a bit out of sync with the aroma. I’m not one to complain about bitter and resiny, but this comes across as slightly unbalanced. Good, sure, but that’s as far as I’d go with it. (14/20)

This will be my 6,071st unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Beere Brewing Co. Go Easy – American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV (C$5.95 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-Jan-2025, reviewed 25-Jan-2025)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fine white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, mild citrus, cereal grains. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, clean medium duration finish. (4/5)

Yep, that goes easy. Pleasant and easy to drink, but not particularly memorable – that is, I can’t really criticize it, but it also doesn’t excite me. Good, if slightly short of great. (15/20)

This will be my 6,070th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Snake Lake Brewing Company / Buffalo 9 Brewing Liberator – American IPA at 6.6% ABV (C$5.95 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-Jan-2025, reviewed 25-Jan-2025)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with one finger of fine pale ivory head, good retention and moderate spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: resiny pine, citrus, caramel. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Meh. A very typical (for ten years ago) malty bitter WC IPA. It’s OK, I guess, but doesn’t excite any nostalgia for me. (13/20)

This will be my 6,069th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Eighty-Eight Brewing Careless Whisper – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.0% ABV (C$6.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 26-Nov-2024, acquired 15-Jan-2025, reviewed 22-Jan-2025)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with one finger of fine white head, excellent retention and well-defined lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, white grape, citrus, resiny pine, cereal grains. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, medium duration mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Very nice. I generally quite enjoy Eighty-Eight’s offerings, but this one is definitely at the top end of the spectrum for them. It definitely makes the most of the underlying malt to support the emphatic hopping to the fullest, without coming across as either excessively sweet or boozy. (17/20)

This will be my 6,068th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com