Month: August 2026

The Establishment Brewing Company / Changing Colours Brewing Project Hive Mind – American IPA at 7.0% ABV (C$6.45 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 16-Jul-2026, acquired 24-Jul-2026, reviewed 7-Aug-2026)

Appearance: hazy straw with one fat finger of creamy pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, dank resin, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry slightly chalky mildly warming spicy finish. (4/5)

“@ garstonhops Motueka and Citra, alongside @ freestylehops Nelson Sauvin”. The brewer calls this a “Saturated Hoppy Ale”, which they say is like a hazy (duh) but drier. Yeah, that tracks. It’s a tiny bit neither fish nor fowl, though, and an ungenerous description of the appearance might be “murky”. It’s good, but I don’t think it quite makes it to great. (15/20)

This will be my 6,467th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Polyrhythm Brewing Thunderbird – American IPA at 7% ABV (C$6.15 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 10-Jul-2026, acquired 24-Jul-2026, reviewed 6-Aug-2026)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of creamy pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, diffuse webbed lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, dank resin, melon/berry, citrus, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration mildly warming finish. (4/5)

“dry-hopped with Manilita, Cashmere, Citra, and Citra Cryo” It’s definitely a “Hazy IPA”, but don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s NE-style: it’s far too bitter and emphatic for that appellation. Not a criticism, since it doesn’t claim to be that, just an observation. Nice complexity in the aroma and certainly sufficient body to bring off the higher ABV. (Which, by the way, is getting fairly lofty for this to be characterized as a “single” IPA – not sure why they didn’t just call it a DIPA.) Very nice, but doesn’t quite break through to world-class territory overall in my opinion. (15/20)

This will be my 6,466th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company / Breakside Brewery Tide To The Oceans – American IPA at 6.8% ABV (C$6.45 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 16-Jul-2026, acquired 24-Jul-2026, reviewed 3-Aug-2026)

Appearance: clear pale straw with one finger of fine white head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, field berries, stone fruit, dank resin. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, medium duration mildly warming finish. (4/5)

“with Mosaic, Peacharine, Columbus Cryo, Mosaic Cryo, and Strata Hyperboost” Brightly fruity aroma, not as sweet as the aroma threatens. Pretty pleasant, but I’d like it to be a bit more emphatically dank to be a “real” WCIPA, modern or otherwise. (15/20)

This will be my 6,465th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

High River Brewing Co. Key Lime Gose – Gose at 4.5% ABV (C$4.50 at High River Brewing Co., 473 ml, packaged on 17-Jul-2026, acquired 17-Jul-2026, reviewed 1-Aug-2026)

Appearance: hazy straw with one finger of fine white head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: brine, lime. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, short tart finish. (4/5)

That’s not bad. It is what it is – a tricky style to get right – and it’s definitely a simplified interpretation. A cynical description might be a light lager with salt and lime cordial, or maybe a watered-down margarita, but there are worse summer drinks to have while watching the Stamps whup the Ticats. (14/20)

This will be my 6,464th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com