Author: dpatrickryan

Alley Kat Brewing Co. Onyx Dragon American Double / Imperial IPA at 7.5% ABV | 75+ IBU (C$8.39 at Okotoks Co-Op, 650 ml, packaged on 1-Aug-2018, acquired 1-Sep-2018, reviewed 3-Sep-2018)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one fat finger of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: bready caramel, pepper, herbal, Perth & grass, faint pine & citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet & spice, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, off dry mildly spicy warming and lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Given the name, someone unfamiliar with the series might be forgiven for expecting a Black IPA. Of course, this being the fourteenth in the series I’ve tried, I had no such erroneous expectation. I was rather hoping this would continue the upward trend established by the past few examples, but that would become exponentially more difficult to do, so I’m not overly surprised it doesn’t. I really am starting to think they really are hitting the bottom of the barrel with regards to hop selection, given they’re up to more than 20 of these things now, maybe 30. In any case, Bravo hops, at 14-17% alpha acid, are really more of a bittering hop than an aroma one, and it shows here: although it’s cleanly implemented, it tends more earthy than citrus, pine, or floral. This would be a great DIPA if it were, say, ten years ago, or even five, but the state of the art has moved on. That said, it’s solid, well-done, and fairly accessible for such an aggressive beast, so I have no real complaints here – but it’s not really all that interesting. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij Liefmans Yell’Oh on the Rocks Fruit / Vegetable Beer at 3.8% ABV (C$2.89 at Okotoks Co-Op, 250 ml, best before 1-Feb-2019, acquired 1-Sep-2018, reviewed 2-Sep-2018)

Appearance: hazy straw with one fat finger of creamy white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pineapple, lemon, stone fruit. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, sweetish mild tart finish. (3/5)

Pretty unremarkable in general, which I guess makes it pretty terrible by Liefmans’ standards. (Mind you, their Fruitesse was actually worse, so perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised.) The excessive sweetness prevents it from being refreshing, and the pineapple threatens to overwhelm everything. It’s not actually bad, but I think it would get pretty cloying if I tried to drink more than the tiny 250ml bottle. Clearly there’s a reason they tell you to pour it over lots of ice. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Grizzly Paw Brewing Company Sou’Wester IPA American IPA at 6.2% ABV | 25 IBU (C$3.89 at Okotoks Co-Op, 473 ml, packaged on 2-May-2018, acquired 1-Sep-2018, reviewed 1-Sep-2018)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: orange zest and other citrus, grainy pale malt, dank pine, caramel, floral. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry mild bitter finish. (4/5)

I’m not entirely convinced this is a “true” New England-style IPA, since there’s a definite slightly dank pine note in the aroma, and the bitterness is just slightly high on the tongue (for the style, certainly not in absolute terms). It’s also not all that juicy, nor is it opaquely cloudy as is so typical with the style. However, what it is, is a very good beer. Overall, it’s flavourful, mild, and approachable. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Koninklijke Grolsch Grolsch Radler Radler at 2% ABV (C$2.69 at Okotoks Co-Op, 500 ml, best before 27-Mar-2019, acquired 1-Sep-2018, reviewed 1-Sep-2018)

Appearance: hazy pale straw with one finger of fluffy white head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sugary lemon, grainy pale malt, hint of grassy weeds. (5/10) Taste: high sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (5/10) Palate: light body, prickly carbonation, sweet sticky finish. (3/5)

The Missus thought it was fine, but I found it way too sweet. No surprise when I checked the label and confirmed, yep, fructose added. I’m an utter sucker for Radlers, but even so this is pretty marginal – I mean, the base beer is already pretty light, and hitting it with sugary lemonade like this just washes it out completely. Think Bud Light and Lemon Pledge, and you’re not far off the mark… (11/20)

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij Lindemans Oude Gueuze Cuvée René (2017) Gueuze at 6% ABV (C$5.79 at NLC Stavanger, 375 ml, best before 19-Nov-2023, acquired 27-Aug-2018, reviewed 28-Aug-2018)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with a short white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap and ring, spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: barnyard funk, tart apple, wheat, white grape must. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, prickly carbonation, dry tart finish. (4/5)

I don’t usually bring price into these things, but much as with their Kriek, Lindemans has crafted a true Belgian example of the style at an extremely competitive price. Except for buying Cantillon at the brewery, there are precious few Gueuze – or, indeed, Wilds of any sort – that even come close to the bang-for-buck performance of this. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Western Newfoundland Brewing Co. Wild Cove Old World Pub Ale English Brown Ale at 5.7% ABV | 35 IBU (Gift – thanks, Blanche!, 946 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 27-Aug-2018, reviewed 27-Aug-2018)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with a short off-white head diminishing gradually to a thing cap and ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel & toffee, smoke, toasted malt, butterscotch. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: moderate body, moderate carbonation, medium duration slightly smoky finish. (3/5)

Not entirely convinced. I had this a couple of months ago, out at the cabin, and was a little more generous scoring-wise than I feel tonight. (That’s not entirely unexpected, given the typical behaviour out at the cabin.) However, I’m puzzled by the prominent smoky note I’m getting here now, that was apparently completely absent the last time I had this. Or, at least, that I completely failed to discern. (Again, entirely possible, out at the cabin.) It isn’t terrible, and it sort of grew on me, but it had a big hole to dig out of after the initial “what the serious hell is THAT” moment I had upon first smelling it. One thing it very much isn’t is what it says on the label: the only “old world” pubs that would have an ale like this would be ones that served Rauchbiers, so classifying this as an English Brown is misleading at best. It’s not terrible, but that’s hardly the ringing endorsement you look for in a tipple, is it? (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Port Rexton Brewing Company Baycation Blonde Blond Ale at 4.7% ABV (C$7.83 at Port Rexton Brewing Company, 950 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 25-Aug-2018, reviewed 25-Aug-2018)

Appearance: hazy straw with a short, short-lived white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, citrus, grainy malt, Belg-ish dusty esters, light DMS. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (6/10) Palate: moderate-light body, low carbonation, off-dry short finish. (3/5)

I don’t usually give grief for low carbonation on a growler fill, but this one was filled at their retail outlet less than two hours ago. I’m sure it would be better with higher carbonation but as it stands it drops off a bit flat and watery. The hint of sulphur on the nose isn’t helping much, either. All in all, a pretty unremarkable Blond. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Kronenbourg (Carlsberg) 1664 Blanc Fruits Rouge Witbier at 4.5% ABV (C$2.25 at NLC Stavanger, 330 ml, best before 1-Nov-2018, acquired 23-Aug-2018, reviewed 23-Aug-2018)

Appearance: hazy pinkish peach with one finger of creamy white head , good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: raspberry, red berries, wheat, citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter, light tart. (6/10) Palate: moderate-light slightly creamy body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short finish. (3/5)

I only bought it for the Missus, because she likes the standard Blanc, and had very little in the way of expectations – but it could be worse. I mean, yeah, it’s Carlsberg, and the fruit character definitely seems more like purée than anything else, but on the up side, it’s not overly sweet, and it is refreshing. Good one for a hot day. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Quidi Vidi Brewing Company Iceberg American Pale Lager at 4.5% ABV | 3 IBU (C$2.83 at NLC Stavanger, 341 ml, packaged on 14-Aug-2018, acquired 23-Aug-2018, reviewed 23-Aug-2018)

Appearance: clear pale straw with one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, minimal lacing. (2/5) Aroma: mild, grainy malt, grass, slight DMS. (4/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (5/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short finish. (3/5)

Very firmly in the “cold and wet” classification. The “20,000 year old iceberg water” is an obvious marketing gimmick, as is the clear blue glass bottle. (Not that it doesn’t work, mind you: they routinely have to appeal to customers to return their empties because they don’t have enough bottles on hand to do a run.) Other than the marketing, there’s little to distinguish this from any number of other Pale Lagers. I bought this as fresh as possible, in a six-pack in a cooler, so as to minimize the chance of it getting light-struck through the clear glass, so this is pretty much as good as it gets. That is, marginally better than a mass-market macro adjunct Lager. (9/20)

4.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company Lemon Shandy Radler at 4.2% ABV (C$3.49 at NLC Stavanger, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Aug-2018, reviewed 23-Aug-2018)

Appearance: hazy near-opaque pale gold with one fat finger of creamy white head, excellent retention and moderate stringy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: lemon, sweet wheat malt, faint grass. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low tart, mild bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short finish. (4/5)

Well… it’s certainly not great, but I was surprised by how decent it actually was. This might be the same as their “Summer Shandy”, but I don’t think so – I found the Summer Shandy to be a little too sweet, while this one is actually fairly restrained. That, or I was just way more thirsty when I drank this one, with the combination of a surprisingly hot late summer day and cleaning the house for sale/move. Either way, a solid, not-too-sweet, not-too-alcoholic midday thirst quencher, whose only downside is very little beer character. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com