Author: dpatrickryan

Phillips Brewing Company Phantoma Pomegranate Dark Saison Saison at 6.2% ABV (C$6.60 at Hume Hotel Liquor Boutique, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 30-Jan-2018, reviewed 3-Feb-2018)

Appearance: clear ruby brown with two fingers of creamy beige head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: molasses, Swedish berries, wheat, black pepper, light tart, weedy grass, hint of smoke. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, mild bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration lightly tart finish. (4/5)

One thing you might notice to be completely absent from my description: pomegranate. Not that that’s particularly surprising, given that it’s a pretty mild flavour, so I’m chalking up the red berry flavour to the missing pomegranate. Both it and the molasses are mild and even-handed, but the base beer just doesn’t taste very Saison-ish. Pleasant enough, I suppose, but a bit of a kitchen sink of flavours. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Omnipollo Bianca Mango Lassi Gose at 6% ABV (C$8.79 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 330 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 18-Nov-2017, reviewed 3-Feb-2018)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold, short short lived white head, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mango, citrus, wheat, light brine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, light bitter, light salt. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, tart lightly salt finish. (4/5)

A pleasant, refreshing gose. The mango is emphatic without being overwhelming, as is the tartness, while the light brine tempers the tart and invites the next sip. It’s a bit high in ABV for the style, perhaps, but it’s not intrusive. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mikkeller / Anchorage Brewing Company AK Alive! American Wild Ale at 8% ABV (C$12.02 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, packaged on 1-Jul-2016, acquired 13-Dec-2017, reviewed 2-Feb-2018)

Appearance: cloudy pale amber with one fat finger of loose off-white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: bready yeast, white wine, stone fruit, horseblankety funk. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, mild funk. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate lightly funky finish. (4/5)

This might well the the beer that took the shine off the apple for two breweries simultaneously for me. I’ve had some really good beers from both (including at least one really good collab – Invasion IPA) but they’re also both quite capable of stumbling. (Mikkeller in particular, since he does, what, a zillion unique beers a year? So even a small failure ratio blows up pretty quickly.) And this is, if not actually off-putting, at least well under the high water mark for either brewer. I mean, sure, the heavy doughy yeast is similar to e.g. Council Brewing, but it still smells reminiscent of cheap homebrew to me. So, perhaps I’m viewing this through the filter of a misspent youth, but it’s just not working for me. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Fernie Brewing Company Nighthawk Farmhouse IPA Belgian Ale at 6.4% ABV | 50 IBU (C$7.45 at Fernie Mountain Spirits, 650 ml, best before 31-Jul-2018, acquired 31-Jan-2018, reviewed 2-Feb-2018)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with two fingers of fluffy ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus zest, floral, coriander, dill, dry funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light dry funk. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, dry moderate bitter finish. (4/5)

This would appear to be brand spankin’ new, since the official release party was only a week ago, and the web site calls it a February release. (Gee, it’s almost like I bought this really close to where it was brewed…) Gotta say, I like this. I haven’t been a big fan of Sorachi Ace hops in the few other examples I’ve tried, but in this context, they really seem to work. Their dill aspect in particular, which I found somewhat objectionable in other beers, works well with the Belgian yeast notes and coriander. Interesting and well-balanced. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mt. Begbie Brewing Co. White Knuckle WIPA White IPA at 5.6% ABV | 42 IBU (C$7.20 at Fernie Mountain Spirits, 650 ml, packaged on 23-Jun-2017, acquired 31-Jan-2018, reviewed 2-Feb-2018)

Appearance: hazy particulate-laden pale gold with two fat fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: floral, wheat, citrus peel, coriander, chamomile. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, dry moderate bitter finish. (4/5)

Probably wouldn’t have bought this had I noticed and figured out the tiny cryptic date stamp while I was in the store, since it at least visually appears slightly elderly, what with the extra-chunky particulate. However, it still smells and tastes pretty good, although with a hop character that I’d call muted at best. I understand this is hopped with Mosaic, but I’m not getting much of that. The chamomile and coriander are both light, and work well with the dry finish. Might not be everybody’s cup of tea (hah!) but decent enough. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Lighthouse Brewing Co. Numbskull Rotator #2 Ahtanum Hops Edition American Double / Imperial IPA at 9.1% ABV | 70 IBU (C$8.60 at Hume Hotel Liquor Boutique, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 30-Jan-2018, reviewed 1-Feb-2018)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: caramel, grapefruit, earth, floral, pine, weeds. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering building bitter warming finish. (4/5)

Definitely an older style DIPA, with caramel malt leading the way over a blend of citrus, floral, and pine. Not really all that interesting, but not bad, and boozy good fun when you get right down to it. And yes, it does get your skull fairly numb, so there’s that. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Red Arrow Brewing Company Piggy Pale Ale American Pale Ale at 5% ABV | 37 IBU (C$7.05 at Fernie Mountain Spirits, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 31-Jan-2018, reviewed 1-Feb-2018)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: doughy caramel, mild citrus, weedy grass. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, moderate bitter finish. (3/5)

The best thing about this beer is that the name makes me hum NiN’s March of the Pigs. Actually, that’s the best thing by far. Other than that, it’s a pretty boring, malty Pale, tending more English than American. Oh, and it’s pretty. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Persephone Brewing Company New Wave IPA American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 25 IBU (C$7.80 at Hume Hotel Liquor Boutique, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 30-Jan-2018, reviewed 31-Jan-2018)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, pale malt, dank resin. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, moderate bitter finish. (4/5)

So, the label claims they were over-contracted for “all the best hops” so they whacked a bunch of Simcoe, Citra, and Eureka into this. Works for me: big juiciness and mild dank. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij Corsendonk Corsendonk Christmas Ale (2013) Belgian Strong Dark Ale at 8.1% ABV (C$1.79 at Grand Liquor Store Nelson, 250 ml, best before 26-Jun-2016, acquired 27-Jan-2018, reviewed 28-Jan-2018)

Appearance: hazy brown with two fingers of fluffy beige head, excellent retention and heavy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: brown sugar, dried dark fruit, liquorice, spices. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium, soft carbonation, building bitter and warming finish. (4/5)

Interesting… I bought this thinking I had scored an unbelievable deal (under $11 for six, with a glass) and I’m still happy with that deal – but it’s perhaps not quite so unbelievable. The box says this is 8.5% ABV, but the bottle says 8.1%. And, the BB date on the bottle is 2016. So, a little research suggests this is in fact a 2013 vintage, since that seems to be the only recent vintage that had an 8.1% ABV. (Unless it’s a 2004-2010 vintage, that is. But, it seems likely that there’d be a 3 year BB date, so I’m going with 2013 for my vintage here.) And, as far as I can tell, five years (or more) in the bottle has harmed this not at all. It’s an excellent example of the BSDA style, with flavours dominated by dark sugar and dried fruits, in addition to mild “seasonal” spices. Yeah, christmas may be long over, but given the amount of snow I’ve had to deal with in the past couple of days, I can use a little christmas – and this provides that. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Four Winds Brewing Co. Vexillum American Double / Imperial IPA at 9% ABV | 100 IBU (C$9.25 at Grand Liquor Store Nelson, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 27-Jan-2018, reviewed 28-Jan-2018)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of loose white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: grapefruit, melon peel, tropical fruit, caramel, pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, building bitter and warming finish. (4/5)

I waffled a little in scoring this one: I could’ve gone perhaps a point lower in both aroma and taste. The bitterness is perhaps just a tad excessive, and the ABV is unmistakeable, making this a bit of a beast. The thing is, though, I kind of like beasts. My uncertainty with the scoring isn’t that I didn’t like it, but that it might be considered a little unbalanced, but regardless it’s a decent enough beer. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com