Author: dpatrickryan

Partake Brewing IPA – Non-Alcoholic Beer at 0.5% ABV (C$2.25 at Save-On-Foods Okotoks, 355 ml, best before 7-Dec-2025, acquired 1-Apr-2025, reviewed 9-Apr-2025)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of fine pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel, grass, citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry finish. (3/5)

I sometimes find it difficult to tease out what aspects of a given Non-Alcoholic brew are attributable to its absence of alcohol, or to the more general issues of the ingredient selection and brewing process. Here, for example, my biggest objection probably stems less from it being an NA, and more to do with its being an old-fashioned heavily English-influenced “American” IPA where the malt leads the way and the hops are grassy. Bottom line, I wouldn’t have it again – but not because it’s got no wowee juice in it. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

S.Y.C. Brewing Co. Phantom Buzz Pale Ale – Non-Alcoholic Beer at 0.5% ABV (C$3.50 at Safeway Liquor D’Arcy Crossing, 473 ml, packaged on 17-Dec-2024, acquired 30-Mar-2025, reviewed 30-Mar-2025)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with one fat finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, grainy malt, hint of dank resin. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry finish. (3/5)

It’s not blowing me away, but it’s fine – which is to say, it’s pretty good for a non-alcoholic, and it would be fine as “just a beer”. I’ve had better NA’s, but I’ve had worse beers, so yeah – it’s fine. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Stanley Park Brewing Trail Hopper NA IPA – Non-Alcoholic Beer at 0.3% ABV | 30 IBU (C$2.25 at Save-On-Foods Okotoks, 355 ml, packaged on 20-Jan-2025, best before 1-May-2025, acquired 18-Mar-2025, reviewed 27-Mar-2025)

Appearance: clear straw with one finger of fine white head, good retention and well-defined soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, earthy pine, grainy malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry finish. (3/5)

I dunno, maybe having had no alcohol for over a month has changed my palate, but I actually kinda like this. It’s pleasant and refreshing, with no negative characteristics to speak of. I wouldn’t hesitate to have this again. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Collective Arts Brewing IPA – Non-Alcoholic Beer at 0.4% ABV (C$3.00 at Safeway Liquor D’Arcy Crossing, 355 ml, best before 13-Jun-2025, acquired 17-Mar-2025, reviewed 19-Mar-2025)

Appearance: hazy pale straw with one finger of fine white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, melon, pine, light cereal grains, faint cattiness. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate-low carbonation, off-dry finish. (3/5)

I often find that there’s little to distinguish between a Pale and an IPA, even when the latter is slightly boozier than the former. Well, when it comes to CA’s near beer offerings, you don’t have that: both are less than half a percent. That’s why I chose to do them both side-by-side – and it’s a good thing I did, because there truly is very little to tell the two apart. This one is hopped with Citra, Simcoe and Mosaic, and I’m  getting just a hint of the Simcoe pine and cattiness on top of citrus, tropical fruits, and melon. It’s a bit hazier than the facsimile Pale, but other than that the only real difference is the slightly different aroma you’d expect from the different hop selection. I just slightly prefer the Pale over this one, but there’s not enough difference between them to show in the scoring – and, really, I’d be quite happy with either under most circumstances. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Collective Arts Brewing Hazy Pale Ale – Non-Alcoholic Beer at 0.4% ABV (C$3.00 at Safeway Liquor D’Arcy Crossing, 355 ml, best before 19-Aug-2025, acquired 17-Mar-2025, reviewed 19-Mar-2025)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale straw with one finger of fine white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, red berries, light cereal grains. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Medium-light body, moderate-low carbonation, off-dry finish. (3/5)

I often find that there’s little to distinguish between a Pale and an IPA, even when the latter is slightly boozier than the former. Well, when it comes to CA’s near beer offerings, you don’t have that: both are less than half a percent. That’s why I chose to do them both side-by-side – and it’s a good thing I did, because there truly is very little to tell the two apart. This one is hopped with Mosaic and Citra, and I’m definitely getting the citrus and berry notes that you’d expect there. It’s not quite as hazy as the facsimile IPA, but other than that the only real difference is the slightly different aroma you’d expect from the different hop selection. I just slightly prefer this one, but there’s not enough difference between them to show in the scoring – and, really, I’d be quite happy with either under most circumstances. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brauerei Fahr Alkoholfrei – Non-Alcoholic Beer at 0.5% ABV (C$2.00 at Okotoks Co-Op, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Mar-2025, reviewed 10-Mar-2025)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with a short loose head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, grainy malt, light citrus, hint of banana. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate-low carbonation, sweetish medium duration finish. (3/5)

My wife says “it tastes like all their other beers”. Well… sort of. Hard to get away from the “kissing your sister” vibe, though. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Big Rock Brewery Pacer – Non-Alcoholic Beer at 0.5% ABV (C$2.33 at Okotoks Co-Op, 355 ml, packaged on 5-Oct-2025, acquired 1-Mar-2025, reviewed 10-Mar-2025)

Appearance: hazy pale straw with one finger of fine white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, citrus, tropical fruit, cereal grains. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry finish. (3/5)

I mean, I’ve had worse real beers. Fine, it doesn’t do a great job as “a beer”, but it does an OK job of “something other than a beer”. And it tastes enough like beer that it can scratch the itch in a pinch. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Banished Brewing Ltd. / Lone Oak Brewing Co. Mustard Pickles – Triple IPA at 10.1% ABV (C$9.30 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-Jan-2025, reviewed 5-Feb-2025)

Appearance: hazy and particulate-laden pale amber with one finger of fine white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel, citrus, mild pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate-soft carbonation, warming bitter finish. (4/5)

No mustard, no pickles. Not sure if I’m relieved or disappointed, if I’m honest – I do love me some mustard pickles. (16/20)

This will be my 6,075th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Alive In the Superunknown – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.3% ABV (C$6.45 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 2-Dec-2024, acquired 15-Jan-2025, reviewed 4-Feb-2025)

Appearance: hazy straw with one fat finger of fine white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, dank resiny pine, tropical fruit, white grape, cereal grains. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate-soft carbonation, warming bitter finish. (4/5)

A new white label from The Establishment, hopped with Riwaka and Nelson Sauvin? Yes, please! High expectations, was not disappointed. Lovely. No notes. (17/20)

This will be my 6,075th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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. (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