Author: dpatrickryan

Flathead Lake Brewing Co. Citrus SMaSH IPA American IPA at 6.3% ABV | 68 IBU (US$1.99 at Brix Bottleshop, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 22-Oct-2018, reviewed 28-Oct-2018)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of rocky white head, excellent retention and heavy clingy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: mild, pithy grapefruit, grass/herbal, dank pine resin. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body tending slightly light, moderate carbonation, off-dry building and lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

High expectations here based on my single prior experience, with their Sour Brown. This is also a case of no packaging or BB dates, but local to where I bought it, so I hoped it was reasonably fresh. (The single malt is Montana 2-row barley, and the single hop is “Equanot” [Ekuanot/Equinox].) And, well, I dunno. The aroma seems slightly mild, at least at the outset, but gradually pithy grapefruit starts to dominate – but is that hops, or the grapefruit adjunct? (And, I guess, does it really matter?) A little after that, some dankness starts to take hold. It seems like a lot of the experience is retronasal, with layers revealing as the pint progresses. Unfortunately, at the same time the bitterness seems to start to feel slightly unbalanced for the body, ending up just a little thin or astringent overall. All in all, it finishes quite a bit better than it starts, but never quite claws its way back up to the kind of territory I was hoping for. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Odell Brewing Co. Cloud Catcher American IPA at 6.8% ABV | 47 IBU (US$2.99 at Brix Bottleshop, 355 ml, best before 21-Dec-2018, acquired 22-Oct-2018, reviewed 27-Oct-2018)

Appearance: cloudy pale gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap and ring, moderate spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: cream, stone fruit, citrus, tropical fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration bitter finish. (4/5)

I often find Milkshake IPA’s to be excessively sweet, and the bitterness too blunted by the lactose. This one, however, is fairly restrained in its lactose sweetness, which is all to the good as far as I’m concerned. This is especially the case in the finish, which is neither sticky nor excessively smooth, but exhibits a moderate lingering bitterness. Not necessarily one I’d personally have as a go-to – hey, I’m lactose intolerant – but I could see how some might. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Great Northern Brewing Company _Going to the Sun IPA_ American IPA at 5.7% ABV | 51 IBU (US$1.99 at Brix Bottleshop, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 22-Oct-2018, reviewed 27-Oct-2018)

Appearance: slightly chill-hazed pale amber with one finger of loose pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap and ring, moderate spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: bready malt, light citrus & mixed fruit. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration bitter finish. (3/5)

No packaging or BB dates, but considering it was brewed in Whitefish and I bought it in Kalispell, I was hoping it would be reasonably fresh. (I was actually thinking about taking the GttS on my route down, but it had just closed for the season.) Other than the fact that the hops are relatively muted, and the malt relatively high, I’m detecting no indications of age (and a quick check of online reviews suggests other reviewers are seeing the same characteristics) so I’m going to assume it’s supposed to be like this – which isn’t terrible, but isn’t great, either. As A/IPAs go, it’s distinctly old-fashioned and malt-dominant: despite containing Cascade, Columbus and Centennial hops, there’s not a whole lot of hop character. The malt dominance continues through into the finish, which, though pleasingly bitter, is slightly stickier than I prefer. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Founders Brewing Company / Grupo Mahou-San Miguel Trigo Hoppy Wheat Lager India Pale Lager at 6.3% ABV | 35 IBU (US$1.99 at Brix Bottleshop, 355 ml, packaged on 29-Aug-2018, acquired 22-Oct-2018, reviewed 27-Oct-2018)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of loose white head, good retention and moderate clingy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: melon, citrus, wheat, tropical fruit, floral. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, crisp almost tart finish. (4/5)

A nice balance of fruity and citrusy hops, with grainy wheat and cereal notes. Definitely a Lager that makes you use “for a lager” frequently. A clean, almost tart tingly finish rounds out a very pleasant and refreshing beer. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Kalispell Brewing Co. Cloudcroft IPA American IPA at 7.3% ABV | 76 IBU (US$1.99 at Brix Bottleshop, 355 ml, packaged on 2-Aug-2018, acquired 22-Oct-2018, reviewed 26-Oct-2018)

Appearance: hazily muddy pale amber with two fat fingers of rocky ivory head, good retention and moderate droopy lacing. Marred slightly by heavy chunks of particulate. (3/5) Aroma: dank pine, caramel, citrus, light floral. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering and building bitter finish. (4/5)

A pleasantly dank West Coast-ish IPA, with a serious hop punch in the finish leaving no doubt as to the presence of massive doses of the usual suspects starts-with-C hops. (Turns out it’s CTZ, Chinook, Cascade, and Summit.) My biggest complaint about this one is the appearance, which is muddy and marred by large flakes of particulate. Other than that admittedly minor quibble, it’s an enjoyable brew for a hop head. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Big Sky Brewing Company Big Sky I.P.A. American IPA at 6.2% ABV | 65 IBU (US$0.99 at Brix Bottleshop, 355 ml, packaged on 31-Jul-2018, acquired 22-Oct-2018, reviewed 26-Oct-2018)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with one finger of loose ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, pine, caramel, herbal. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Slightly old-fashioned, but still a reasonably solid West Coast-leaning offering. It’s a bit more fun on the tongue than the aroma would indicate, tending a little light and bright, with an almost tart bitter edge. I liked this more than I expected to, actually, though my prior experience with the brewery suggests they tend to come in right around this point. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Draught Works Scepter American IPA at 6.1% ABV | 68 IBU (US$1.99 at Brix Bottleshop, 355 ml, packaged on 23-Jul-2018, acquired 22-Oct-2018, reviewed 25-Oct-2018)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, caramel, citrus, mild pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering and building bitter finish. (4/5)

Now, this one *is* over the 90-day mark (by 4 days) yet is less malty than the (slightly) younger My Ruca APA I just had. A pleasant enough hop beast, but it suffers from the same issues that so many “mega-hop” ales do: a loss of focus. In this case, the addition of seven hops gives a result that, instead of a clean tropical fruit, or bright citrus, is more of a blended fruit purée. Not unpleasant, but somewhat lacking in distinctive character. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Draught Works My Ruca American Pale Ale at 5.8% ABV | 35 IBU (US$1.99 at Brix Bottleshop, 355 ml, packaged on 27-Jul-2018, acquired 22-Oct-2018, reviewed 25-Oct-2018)

Appearance: slightly hazy deep gold with two fingers of rocky white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, stewed fruit, light citrus, faint pine. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration bitter finish. (3/5)

Quite a bit maltier than I prefer the style, but it’s also entirely possible that it’s been in the can a little too long. On the other hand, it’s right at that magic 90-day mark – if only barely. Marginal, and definitely not as good as their Pineapple Express I had on draft a few days ago. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Outcast Brewing Oi’ Mate! Aussie Pilsner Pilsener at 4.8% ABV | 30 IBU (C$4.05 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 26-Jul-2018, acquired 19-Oct-2018, reviewed 25-Oct-2018)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, vinous grape must, crackery malt, dank pine. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry crisp finish. (4/5)

Crikey! That’s a coldie that’ll fair dinkum make a Bruce want to punch a roo, I reckon!

… Yeah, that’s enough of that. Seriously, though, that’s how you do a Lager! Lots of hops, and of the ANZ style – Vic Secret and Enigma, gimme more of that! This is a Lager that’s good enough to make you ignore the fact that it’s a Lager. (I’m a little surprised Fahr would actually brew this for Schnarr, actually. I’m sure it must have hurt him a little, deep down in his German soul, to do this to a Pils.) I would actually keep this in the fridge. And punch any kangaroos who tried to steal it. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Steamworks Brewing Company _Killer Cucumber Ale_ Fruit / Vegetable Beer at 4.7% ABV | 25 IBU _(C$2.83 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 4-Jun-2018, acquired 19-Oct-2018, reviewed 24-Oct-2018)_

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with two fat fingers of rocky white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: cucumber, grainy malt, light citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short finish. (3/5)

Very light, but clean and refreshing, and missing the bitter/astringent vegetal note this style sometimes has. Not my first cuke ale, so it’s not as bizarre or surprising for me as it might be for others unfamiliar with the style. I dunno about “Killer”, but it’s certainly “Perfectly Adequate Cucumber Ale”. (Obviously Steamworks should hire me for marketing.) (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com