Month: November 2025

Ale Architect Brewing Ltd. Glow Pop 4 – American Pale Ale at 4% ABV (C$5.65 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 13-Nov-2025, reviewed 15-Nov-2025)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of pillowy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, white wine, citrus, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, short moderate bitter finish. (3/5)

“Double dry hopped with Luminosa and Nelson Sauvin”. That’s pretty nice, and definitely punches above its weight in the flavour profile. However, it’s slightly more bitter than I’d prefer for a light NE-style hazy. Nothing intrusive, but enough to take it slightly out of the easy breezy crushable zone. (15/20)

This will be my 6,260th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company In The Meantime – American IPA at 6.4% ABV (C$6.25 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 30-Oct-2025, acquired 13-Nov-2025, reviewed 14-Nov-2025)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, spotty soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus zest, tropical fruit, dank resin, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, medium duration finish. (4/5)

“Tropical Fusion, Riwaka, Motueka, Krush, Rakau Hop Kief”. As usual, an excellent offering that bears a strong family resemblance to any number of other offerings by this brewery. So, a total yawn-fest, except for being a world-class IPA. Shucks. (16/20)

This will be my 6,259th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Boombox Brewing Company Galactic Haze – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$7.65 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 2-Sep-2025, acquired 13-Nov-2025, reviewed 14-Nov-2025)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dank resiny pine, citrus, tropical fruit, cereal grains. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter tending slightly high. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, slightly edgy lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

This thing smells great, with the terpenes coming through strongly on the front end. So, I had high hopes for the first sip. Which were cruelly dashed by the unexpectedly bitter taste, and even more so by the oddly edgy bitter finish. It’s not terrible, by any means, but it’s out of keeping with the hazy style and really doesn’t follow through on the promise of the aroma. (15/20)

This will be my 6,258th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasserie d’Achouffe Chouffe Cherry – Fruit / Vegetable Beer at 8% ABV (C$7.35 at Collective, 330 ml, best before 30-Sep-2026, acquired 13-Nov-2025, reviewed 13-Nov-2025)

Appearance: clear deep cola red with one finger of fine ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: sweet cherry, hint almond. (7/10) Taste: high sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, sweet slightly sticky finish. (3/5)

This is a full-frontal assault of sweet cherry, and not much else. I bought it mostly because it’s been ages since I had a Houblon Chouffe, or for that matter any true Belgian, but it’s a bit of a disappointment compared to their real beers because it’s so very sweet. I dunno, others apparently like this, but for me it’s just too one-dimensional. (14/20)

This will be my 6,257th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company / Burdock Brewing Duckworth – Vienna Lager at 5.5% ABV (C$4.50 at Safeway Liquor D’Arcy Crossing, 473 ml, packaged on 17-Oct-2025, acquired 4-Nov-2025, reviewed 6-Nov-2025)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of fine ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: toasted bread, herbal/floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, moderately bitter slightly spicy finish. (4/5)

Not bad – pleasant toasty malts, with a little noble hop character coming through, typical for the style. (It’s not like this style is ever going to be particularly exciting, so “pleasant” is probably as good as you’re likely to find.) I do think the bitterness and spiciness through the finish are a bit more than the style guide suggests to be appropriate, though. (15/20)

This will be my 6,256th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Trippin’ The Life Fantastic – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.2% ABV (C$5.62 at Safeway Liquor D’Arcy Crossing, 473 ml, packaged on 24-Oct-2025, acquired 4-Nov-2025, reviewed 4-Nov-2025)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with two fat fingers of pillowy pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: orange creamsicle, stone fruit, hint of pine resin. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter mildly warming finish. (4/5)

“Rakau, Peacharine, Motueka” Ho-hum, another great Imperial Hazy from a local brewery. I assume this is what people who live near Treehouse or Trillium feel like. As far as I know, this is my first encounter with Peacharine hops, a dual-purpose from NZ, but I rather suspect it won’t be my last. (17/20)

This will be my 6,255th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

948 Brewing Company No Joke – American IPA at 6.2% ABV (C$4.62 at Millarville General Store, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Nov-2025, reviewed 1-Nov-2025)

Appearance: brown-tinged pale amber with one fat finger of pillowy pale beige head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet caramel malt, light grass, hint of cardboard. (5/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium bitter finish. (3/5)

The label claims a “massive hop nose from juicy tropical hops”. Uh, no. Looks and smells oxidized, but I can’t find a date code to excuse anything. (And how exactly does a can oxidize? I thought that was one of the big improvements over glass?) At best, this is very old-fashioned, but more like a bland malty mess. No joke? Maybe, but no great shakes either. A pretty inauspicious introduction to a new-to-me local brewery. (11/20)

This will be my 6,252nd unique Untappd check-in.

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com