Author: dpatrickryan

Burdock Brewing Double Ducks – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8% ABV (C$6.55 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 24-Oct-2024, acquired 28-Nov-2024, reviewed 9-Dec-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of fluffy off-white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, resiny pine, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Quite nice – an NE-style DIPA that is as mild and easy-drinking as a single. Nicely balanced fruit, citrus, and pine on a clean malt base. (16/20)

This will be my 6,036th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Dandy Brewing Company The Dandy – Sour / Wild Ale at 7% ABV (2024 BeerAdvent Calendar #8, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Nov-2024, reviewed 8-Dec-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with a short, short-lived loose white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, apple, lactic. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (6/10) Palate: light body, moderate-lively carbonation, sweetish moderate tart finish. (3/5)

And another repeat in the Advent Calendar, this time from eight years ago. I don’t like kettle sours any more now than I did then, and even rating this as a kettle sour, it’s no great shakes. Fact is, I might have guessed it was a cider. (12/20)

This is not a unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Blindman Brewing Triphammer Robust Porter – American Porter at 6.5% ABV | 25 IBU (BeerAdvent Calendar #7, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Nov-2024, reviewed 7-Dec-2024)

Appearance: clear deep cola red with one finger of fine beige head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: roasty malts, coffee and chocolate, toffee, hints of liquorice & smoke. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short finish. (3/5)

Another repeat, this time from near-on seven years ago. A decent example of the style, but slightly thinner than I like for the style. It’s also a little shy of the “robust” promised by the label. Overall, it’s not badly done, but it’s just a little short of great. (15/20)

This is not a unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Belching Beaver Brewery / Westbound & Down Brewing Company / Craft Coast Beer & Tacos West Bestern – American IPA at 7.0% ABV | 91 IBU (C$6.15 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 17-Sep-2024, acquired 28-Nov-2024, reviewed 7-Dec-2024)

Appearance: clear straw with two fingers of foamy pale ivory head, excellent retention and minimal patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: resiny pine, citrus, bready malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, lively carbonation, sweet lingering bitter mildly warming finish. (3/5)

I like it, but it seems a bit structurally unbalanced. In particular, the carbonation is so high that it foamed upon opening, and continued to do so well after pouring. Other than that, it’s a fairly traditional WCDIPA, with big resiny notes dominating. (15/20)

This will be my 6,035th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

District Brewing Co. German Pilsner Lager – Pilsner at 5.0% ABV (2024 BeerAdvent Calendar #6, 473 ml, packaged on 18-Jun-2024, acquired 23-Nov-2024, reviewed 6-Dec-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with one finger of pillowy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bready malt, grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish short finish. (3/5)

Hey, I’ve had this one! Close to the source, six years ago. Wasn’t any better then, either. I’ll say what I said then: basic German Pils, sweetish and lager-y. The Advent Calendar continues to underwhelm. (12/20)

This is not a unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Sawback Brewing Co. Hazy (Double) IPA – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.5% ABV (C$5.31 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 15-Oct-2024, acquired 28-Nov-2024, reviewed 6-Dec-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with two fingers of pillowy pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone fruit, cereal grains, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium duration mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Hopping could have been bit brighter – there’s certainly enough malt to support it. Somewhat less than impressive. (14/20)

This will be my 6,034th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Boxing Rock Brewing Co. Shuck Off! – Blond Ale at 5% ABV (2024 BeerAdvent Calendar #5, 473 ml, packaged on 23-Jul-2024, acquired 23-Nov-2024, reviewed 5-Dec-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of fine white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: cereal grains, corn, faint citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, sweetish medium duration finish. (3/5)

The Advent Calendar continues to fail to impress. Basic Blond with absolutely nothing memorable going on. (12/20)

This will be my 6,033rd unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company / Ale Architect Brewing Ltd. One Night – American IPA at 6.2% ABV (C$6.25 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 30-Oct-2024, acquired 28-Nov-2024, reviewed 5-Dec-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: zesty citrus, cereal grains, stone fruit, hint of resin. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: smooth medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, sweetish medium duration finish. (4/5)

Hopped with Strata, Motueka, Citra. Balanced bright juicy hoppiness without excessive sweetness. (16/20)

This will be my 6,032nd unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Nokomis Craft Ales Long Lake Lager – American Pale Lager at 4.5% ABV (BeerAdvent Calendar #4, 473 ml, packaged on 30-Jul-2024, acquired 23-Nov-2024, reviewed 4-Dec-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with one finger of fine white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: biscuity malt, grass, faint citrus, light diacetyl. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry short duration finish. (4/5)

My first from this brewery, and it’s a bit unfortunate that it’s a Lager, given the presence of “Ales” in their name would presumably suggest their specialty lies elsewhere… And, well, it’s a Lager. It’s a pretty clean one, but super traditional. As in, super boring. Yes, I know, I want everything to be a hop bomb – it’s a character failing. (14/20)

This will be my 6,031st unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Growlery Beer Company Kvega – American IPA at 6.0% ABV (C$4.72 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 28-Nov-2024, reviewed 4-Dec-2024)

Appearance: clear deep gold with one finger of fine off-white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: earth, pine, floral, light barnyard funk. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Sometimes earthy and funky is interesting, and sometimes it’s just… earthy and funky. I know it’s Kveik, so it’s by design, but it almost feels accidental. This isn’t bad, but it’s not overly interesting either. (14/20)

This will be my 6,030th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com