Author: dpatrickryan

Widmer Brothers Brewing Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout ’12 Russian Imperial Stout at 9.3% ABV | 70 IBU (C$17.25 at Sundance Wine Market, 650 ml, packaged on 4-Apr-2012, acquired 25-Aug-2015, reviewed 12-Jun-2018)

Appearance: nearly solid black with a hint of relief at the margins, one finger of fluffy mocha head diminishing gradually to a thin cap and ring, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: raspberry, chocolate, coffee, molasses. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering and building bitter warming slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

I’m not sure whether this thing is past its peak or not, to be honest. I’m getting no indications of oxidation at all, and the fruit is emphatically present, especially on the nose. However, the body is surprisingly light for the style, and the carbonation surprisingly high. Neither light nor high in absolute terms, you understand, just by comparison to what I’d expect. There’s also a mild astringency in the finish that I’m attributing to that slightly thin body. On the plus side, it’s nowhere near as sweet as you might expect given the aroma, and the elevated ABV is very well-behaved. Not bad, but I’m not sure it’s worth the premium price – though I admit I may have damaged it by excessively long cellaring. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Boulevard Brewing Co. Imperial Stout X Coffee Ale 2015 American Double / Imperial Stout at 11% ABV | 63 IBU (C$17.00 at Sherbrooke Liquor, 750 ml, best before 1-Dec-2016, acquired 2-Oct-2015, reviewed 12-Jun-2018)

Appearance: clear deep brown with the merest hint of relief at the margins, one finger of creamy mocha head, excellent retention and minimal lacing. (4/5) Aroma: smooth coffee, chocolate, liquorice, roasty malts. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (9/10) Palate: full slick body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry lingering and building bitter warming finish. (5/5)

Lovely. Smooth coffee and creamy chocolate, with nary a hint of the double-digit-and-then-some ABV. Just as importantly, the coffee smells and tastes like coffee, not over-extracted grounds in the trash. Big, boozy, and beautiful – just like I like my women! (18/20)

9/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij De Brabandere 1894 Oak & Hops Belgian Strong Pale Ale at 8% ABV (C$15.34 at NLC Stavanger, 750 ml, best before 23-Nov-2018, acquired 11-May-2018, reviewed 12-Jun-2018)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with two fingers of loose white head diminishing gradually to thick cap, minimal stringy  lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, oak, stone fruit, apples & pears, floral, leather, caramel, earth. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, high carbonation, medium duration off-dry mildly warming finish. (4/5)

The usual suspects don’t seem to be able to agree regarding this thing’s classification, but in my opinion it’s more a BSPA than anything else.  Complex aroma with lots of fruit, wood, and mild hops, while the flavour is composed of a restrained sweetness and moderate bitter balanced out by a pleasant wild tartness. Interesting that despite its high, nearly champagne-like carbonation and easy head development, it didn’t threaten to foam up and out of the bottle upon uncorking. Quite well-behaved overall. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Gigantic Brewing Company The End of Reason (#6) Belgian Strong Dark Ale at 8.3% ABV (C$9.29 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, best before 8-Feb-2019, acquired 11-Apr-2018, reviewed 5-Jun-2018)

Appearance: clear brown with one finger of fluffy beige head diminishing gradually to thick persistent cap, minimal stringy  lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, brown sugar, Belgian yeast, dark stone fruit, leather. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium smooth body falling off slightly thin, moderate carbonation, medium duration bitter mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Call it a BSDA, call it a Petite Quadrupel, whatever, it’s Belg-ish. (Which I clearly forgot when I poured it in a stout glass.) It’s not as deep and complex as a true Quad, obviously, so I’m trying not to be overly harsh on it for failing to meet that standard. Even for a BSDA, though, it seems a bit, well, “mundane”. And though it’s not thin as such, it seems to drop off very slightly watery. Even given the beefy ABV, it ultimately comes across as just slightly anemic. Good, but not one that’ll amaze you. (Still happy with Gigantic’s decision to re-release older beers though.) (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Burdock Brewing Saison Du Must II Saison at 7.6% ABV (C$14.99 at Oak & Vine, 375 ml, packaged on 1-Oct-2017, acquired 25-May-2018, reviewed 3-Jun-2018)

Appearance: hazy straw with a short, short-lived white white head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: dry hay funk, white grape, oak, pear. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate vinous tart, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, funky light tart finish. (3/5)

Pleasant enough, and better than the Brett Apricot, but it’s just not rocking my world. Verges on being a beer/wine hybrid, and I’ve had too many of those done right (e.g. Dogfish Head’s Noble Rot) to be very impressed by this. It’s not bad, just not very impressive. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Burdock Brewing Brett Apricot Saison at 7.5% ABV (C$14.99 at Oak & Vine, 375 ml, packaged on 1-Nov-2017, acquired 25-May-2018, reviewed 3-Jun-2018)

Appearance: nearly opaque pale gold with a short, short-lived white white head diminishing rapidly to a thin persistent ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: dry hay funk, apricot purée, oak. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate funky tart, low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, funky light tart finish. (3/5)

Pretty much what it says on the label – Brett and apricot. This thing and its brethren essentially sold out upon arrival at the shop before it even made it onto the shelves, but I’m not sure what all the fuss is about if I’m honest. It’s got a bit too much baby food going on, and a bit too little Brett. It’s entirely possible that a year or two in the cellar will even this thing out, but I’ve decided to throttle back on the cellaring, so I’m not going down that road. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij de Molen Heaven & Hell Russian Imperial Stout at 12% ABV | 95 EBU (C$10.50 at Zyn, 330 ml, packaged on 10-Sep-2014, best before 10-Sep-2039, acquired 27-Mar-2015, reviewed 2-Jun-2018)

Appearance: black with one fat finger of rocky beige head, excellent retention and well-defined soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: liquorice, chocolate, leather, dark berries, smoke, nuts. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (9/10) Palate: full slick body, soft carbonation, off-dry lingering and building bitter warming finish. (4/5)

Black. No, not “black”, black. Utterly, mercilessly, without the merest hint of relief. You know how you need a special license to buy VantaBlack? Buy this instead. (Oh, and how about that BB date, huh? “Enjoy within 25 years.” So, if I had this on the ninth of September, 2039, and it sucked, should I expect a refund? Not that it matters, mind you, because I only had the one and now it’s done.) Full kitchen sink of aromas, with pretty much the whole gamut of rich dark malts and fruits. A big boozy bastard, done right. (18/20)

9/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Wild Beer Co. Ninkasi Saison at 9% ABV (C$14.99 at Oak & Vine, 750 ml, best before 7-Dec-2020, acquired 25-May-2018, reviewed 2-Jun-2018)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky white head gradually diminishing to a thick persistent creamy cap, heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: apple, dry hay, lemon zest, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate funky tart, low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, funky light tart mild warming finish. (4/5)

Well, the labels says “Bubbles + Apples + Wild Yeast” and that’s as good a description as any. Can’t say I’m getting a lot of the “copious amounts of New Zealand hops” the label claims, though, and they’ve cheated a bit on the apple: it apparently derives at least in part from actual apple juice, instead of yeast. Continuing my litany of criticisms, the ABV is way heavy for a Saison, which is a perennial complaint of mine. It’s not that I don’t like high ABV’s (obviously) but there’s a time and a place – and that’s not in a Saison. Yes, I know, sounds like death by a thousand cuts, but it’s actually a decent beer overall, especially if you just think of it as a Wild (the style, not the brewery). (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Crooked Stave Hop Savant Brettanomyces Galaxy American IPA at 7% ABV (US$7.99 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 375 ml, packaged on 1-Oct-2015, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 2-Jun-2018)

Appearance: brilliantly clear straw with a massive and growing fluffy white head, excellent retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dry barnyardy funk, citrus, stone and tropical fruits. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate funky tart, low bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, funky mildly tart finish. (4/5)

Brett makes itself emphatically known across the board here, in appearance, aroma, and flavour. The Galaxy hops aren’t completely lacking – there’s certainly some citrus, stone and tropical fruits – but from the huge rocky head, to the lingering funky finish, this is all about the Brett. Still and all, it’s pleasantly refreshing. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Wild Beer Co. Sleeping Lemons Export Gose at 6% ABV (C$5.49 at Oak & Vine, 330 ml, best before 28-Dec-2020, acquired 25-May-2018, reviewed 2-Jun-2018)

Appearance: hazy/muddy pale gold with a short, shot-lived white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: intense zesty lemon, brine, wheat. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high tart, low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, tart wildly warming finish. (3/5)

I don’t know if I’d call this “refreshing”, but those lemons aren’t exactly sleeping, and they sure as hell wake you up! I love lemon in general, and salted preserved lemons in particular, but this is so aggressively tart, it becomes a bit hard to drink. Instead of being a refreshing quaff, it’s a slightly challenging sipper. Good stuff, yes, but not one I’m in a hurry to try again. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com