Author: dpatrickryan

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

Polyrhythm Brewing Stratocaster – American IPA at 6.9% ABV (C$6.15 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-Jan-2025, reviewed 31-Jan-2025)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with one finger of fine pile ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: short-lived coconut, tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains, hint of resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, mildly warming bitter finish. (4/5)

Hot side hopped with Citra, dry-hopped with Galaxy and Rakau. I would have guessed Sabro or something along those lines too, given the short-lived coconut notes I caught upon first opening, but apparently not. It’s good – very good, in fact – but that’s basically what I’ve come to expect from this brewer, and it’s quite not at the top of their game. The aroma is not quite as bright as some of their other efforts, and the bitterness is just very slightly out of sync with the aroma. No complaints as such, but all in all I’d rather have a Tricky Sticks or a Slapahone. (16/20)

This will be my 6,073rd unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Town Square Brewing Cheetos & Chill – American IPA at 6.0% ABV (C$5.90 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-Jan-2025, reviewed 31-Jan-2025)

Appearance: clear medium gold with one fat finger of fluffy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: resiny pine, caramel, corn chips, hint of cheese. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

I initially couldn’t convince myself there was any cheese there, even retronasally. I started to get just a hint upon warming, and when burping. I got the base corn chips much sooner though – funny that that would survive the yeast but the cheese wouldn’t. I mean, good on them for trying something fun and different, and it’s certainly not terrible – but ultimately it isn’t a clear success. (13/20)

This will be my 6,072nd unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Irrational Brewing Company Lucidity #2 – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$6.00 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-Jan-2025, reviewed 29-Jan-2025)

Appearance: clear straw with two fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: grape must, resiny pine, tropical fruit, citrus. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

“w/ krush, simcoe, nelson cryo, & nelson amplifire”. Smells great at the outset – punchy and bright, with lots of vinous and tropical notes. That fades a little as the pint progresses and warms, though, and throughout, the taste seems a bit out of sync with the aroma. I’m not one to complain about bitter and resiny, but this comes across as slightly unbalanced. Good, sure, but that’s as far as I’d go with it. (14/20)

This will be my 6,071st unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com