Author: dpatrickryan

To Øl Nelson Survin American Double / Imperial IPA at 9% ABV (C$8.30 at Sherbrooke Liquor, 330 ml, best before 2-Jun-2018, acquired 17-Dec-2016, reviewed 15-Oct-2017)

Appearance: nearly opaque medium amber with one finger of rocky light beige head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: toffee & caramel, citrus, stone / orchard / tropical fruit, white grape must, earthy funk. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter, moderate tart. (8/10) Palate: medium-full slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter and tart finish. (4/5)

Bit of a strange beer here: on the front end it tastes like a sour, but then rapidly transitions through fruity white wine territory before becoming a malt-heavy DIPA for the finish, albeit with some residual tartness. Smells more like a DIPA than a sour, too – and a fairly old-fashioned malt-heavy one, at that. To be fair, it’s probably at least slightly too elderly (though I have no idea how old it actually is because there’s no bottling date) but I’m still well before the BB date, so I dunno. Not without its charms, but a little muddled and not a clear winner. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Crooked Stave St. Bretta Citrus Wildbier Valencia Orange Sour / Wild Ale at 5.8% ABV (US$7.99 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 375 ml, packaged on 1-Aug-2015, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 15-Oct-2017)

Appearance: clear straw with one finger of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: lactic tart, orange peel, grainy malt, earth. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high tart, light bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, dry lingering tart finish. (4/5)

Lots of tart here, but somewhat surprisingly (and a little disappointingly, if I’m honest) there’s not much Brett funk. I was also surprised there wasn’t more citrus presence from the Valencia oranges. However, both made more of an appearance when I poured in the lees, making me think this would’ve been better had it been fresher. Once I added the lees and things warmed up, the flavours opened up somewhat, and the appearance changed radically, becoming opaque and juice-like. I think I’d recommend swirling this one before pouring, much like one would for a Hefe. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Rogue Ales Dead n Dead Maibock at 8.2% ABV | 40 IBU (C$13.99 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 650 ml, packaged on 10-Aug-2017, acquired 12-Oct-2017, reviewed 14-Oct-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy medium amber with one fat finger of creamy ivory head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: whiskey, oak, caramel & toffee, dark fruit, vanilla. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Medium slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, sweetish warming finish. (4/5)

Big barrel notes on this. Somewhat surprisingly, despite the high(er) sweetness and the slightly slick body, this never gets cloying. Lots of fun, with a nice warming finish. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Old Yale Brewing Co. Stone Fruit Hibiscus Saison Saison at 6% ABV (C$7.22 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 12-Oct-2017, reviewed 14-Oct-2017)

Appearance: near opaque deep gold with two fingers of fluffy off-white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone fruit, floral, biscuity malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter, light funk. (7/10) Medium-light body, lively carbonation, off-dry mildly spicy slightly funky finish. (4/5)

Pretty much what it says on the label: stone fruit and floral. Pleasant and approachable, with an emphatic fruit presence that makes it like drinking peach juice. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Village Brewery Gardener 2017 Beet Session Ale Session IPA at 4.7% ABV (C$6.48 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, packaged on 11-Oct-2017, acquired 12-Oct-2017, reviewed 14-Oct-2017)

Appearance: clear pinkish pale amber with one fat finger of fluffy pale pink head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: beets, earth, grass. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, crisp yet earthy finish. (3/5)

Mmmm… beet-y. Credit for taking stylistic risks, sure, but this is really beet-y – very nearly to the exclusion of all else. I mean, I do like beets, sure, probably more than the next guy – but this is really beet-y. No regrets, but definitely one I won’t have again. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

San Tan Brewing Company _Hop Shock IPA_ American IPA at 7.1% ABV | 85 IBU _(C$2.82 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 355 ml, packaged on 7-Aug-2017, acquired 12-Oct-2017, reviewed 14-Oct-2017)_

Appearance: hazy medium amber with one finger of creamy ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: resiny pine, caramel, citrus rind, floral. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry building bitter slightly spicy finish. (3/5)

Not surprisingly, this is a lot like a beefed-up version of their APA. Although the can claims Nelson Sauvin hops, I can’t say I’m getting a lot of the white wine character I usually associate with that hop. I’d characterize this as a slightly older-style West Coast ale, verging on DIPA strength and bitterness levels. Worth checking out if you’re into big bitter hops, for sure. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

San Tan Brewing Company Devil’s Ale American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV | 45 IBU (C$2.82 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 355 ml, packaged on 9-Aug-2017, acquired 12-Oct-2017, reviewed 14-Oct-2017)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, citrus rind, resiny pine, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderately bitter finish. (3/5)

A bit dark in colour and a bit heavy in body and flavour for the style – I’d prefer lighter and brighter, personally. However, it’s pleasant, and easy to drink, with a nicely emphatic bitter finish. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brauerei Aying Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen Oktoberfest / Märzen at 5.8% ABV | 25 IBU (C$4.21 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 500 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Sep-2017, reviewed 13-Oct-2017)

Appearance: clear deep gold with two fingers of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and well-defined clingy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: caramel, bready malt, honey, apples, grass, tobacco. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short duration slightly spicy finish. (4/5)

This made a break for it earlier this evening, falling out of the back of my truck. I did a slo-mo extended “noooooooo” and interrupted its fall to the pavement, but I’m still kind of slightly shocked it didn’t shatter when it hit. Even more shockingly: a Reinheitsgebot beer that isn’t boring. (Aside: why does anybody still cleave to this very silly, protectionist, exception-riddled rule? Oh, right, money. Carry on.) Good stuff, and a good finish to a good season of festbiers. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company Three Knocks Sticke Alt Altbier at 7% ABV | 55 IBU (C$7.17 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 600 ml, packaged on 1-Sep-2017, acquired 23-Sep-2017, reviewed 13-Oct-2017)

Appearance: clear deep amber with one fat finger of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and chunky lacing. (5/5) Aroma: grainy malt, toffee & molasses, wood, earth. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Medium body, moderate-high carbonation, off-dry warming finish. (4/5)

Sticke Alts don’t tend to figure highly in my lists of favourites, but that might be as much due to their relative rarity, as to their malt dominance and hop scarcity. This, though? Malty, sure, but big bitter, and a fair-to-middling warming in the finish make me more than slightly approving. Top that off with a lively carbonation that retains all the way through to the end, stopping it from becoming cloying. As far as this one goes, I am the one who knocks! (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company Farm Table: Märzen Oktoberfest / Märzen at 5.5% ABV | 30 IBU (C$6.16 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 600 ml, packaged on 7-Sep-2017, acquired 23-Sep-2017, reviewed 13-Oct-2017)

Appearance: clear medium amber with one fat finger of fluffy ivory head, excellent retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: toasted malt, caramel, nuts, grass. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium-full body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry short finish. (3/5)

I honestly thought that 600ml pour would look a little more appropriate to that mug… and yes, I realise it’s getting very late in the season for festbiers – two more tonight will do it for me for the year. This is a decent enough example of the style: malt-dominant, of course, but without being excessively sweet. Toasted malts give a nutty character appropriate to the semi-full slightly chewy body here. Solid, if not very exciting. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com