Month: July 2025

The Establishment Brewing Company Floating Vibes – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.2% ABV (C$6.55 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 16-Jun-2025, acquired 26-Jun-2025, reviewed 6-Jul-2025)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of pillowy white head, excellent retention and moderate well-defined soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains, light resiny pine, hint of melon & berries. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, medium duration lightly tart finish. (4/5)

Been looking forward to this one. Very pleasant, with juicy tropical fruit and citrus leading the way on a clean cereal grain base, with some added complexity behind. Smooth and easy-drinking, with very little warning of the happy juice quotient. So… pretty much like just about every other Est white label offering. Not complaining! Despite not being particularly memorable in that context, it’s pretty great in the broader context. (16/20)

This will be my 6,146th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company / Annex Ale Project Pocketful of Sunshine – Fruit / Vegetable Beer at 5% ABV (C$5.25 at Safeway Liquor D’Arcy Crossing, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 6-Jul-2025, reviewed 6-Jul-2025)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: oranges, wheat, faint grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, mild tart. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, medium duration lightly tart finish. (4/5)

Not bad. And it’s good some good things going on – in particular, the orange adjunct works pretty harmoniously with the underlying wheat tartness. In a lot of ways, it’s almost like a Radler, and of course I do love me a Radler. It’s a fine thirst quencher on a hot day, but ultimately it’s just a little less than impressive. (14/20)

This will be my 6,145th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

À La Dérive Brasserie Artisanale Froufrou Villain – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$8.00 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 20-May-2025, acquired 26-Jun-2025, reviewed 2-Jul-2025)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of pillowy pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pineapple, citrus, faint resiny pine, hint of coconut. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish ending very slightly sharp. (3/5)

Hopped with Simcoe Cryo, Strata, and HBC586 (Krush). Don’t get me wrong: I completely appreciate the way that Québécois lean into weird – especially Québécois brewers – but your wall of text on the can could at least tell me a little about the beer, especially when it requires a conscious effort for me to translate the nonsense from French before concluding it is, in fact, nonsense. A new brewer to me, and not a bad first exposure, although there’s a very slight sharpness through the finish that I find the teensiest bit unwelcome. Bottom line, it’s good, but not great. (15/20)

This will be my 6,144th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Born Brewing Co. (Born Colorado Brewing) Park Pass 005 – White IPA at 5.9% ABV (C$4.50 at Safeway Liquor D’Arcy Crossing, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Jul-2025, reviewed 1-Jul-2025)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus flesh & zest, cloves, white pepper. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry mildly spicy finish. (4/5)

Remember when White (not “Hazy”) IPA’s used to be exotic Belgian-derived oddball beers, far removed from the mainstream? Yeah, so do I – and so does Born. Few beers give you the excuse to use the adjective “phenolic” – much less in a positive sense – but this one does! (16/20)

This will be my 6,143rd unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Wills Eloïse – American IPA at 6% ABV (C$8.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 27-May-2025, acquired 26-Jun-2025, reviewed 1-Jul-2025)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with one fat finger of fluffy pale ivory head, good retention and heavy chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical & stone fruit, cereal grains, citrus, hint of dank pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly sharp finish. (3/5)

Hopped with Mosaic and Motueka. There’s just a little bit of sharpness through the finish that I’m not sold on – it would be fine in a WCIPA, perhaps, but not a hazy. Other than that, there’s not a whole lot negative to say about this – but also not a whole lot to distinguish it in a very crowded field. (15/20)

This will be my 6,142nd unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com