Author: dpatrickryan

Sweetwater Brewing Company Cool Breeze Cucumber Saison Saison at 4.9% ABV (US $3.17 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, best before 1-Aug-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 24-May-2017)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: cucumber, doughy wheat, lime, peppercorn, coriander and clove. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, light peppery spice. (7/10) Palate: light body, lively carbonation, dry crisp moderately bitter and slightly spicy finish. (3/5)

Very different, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Cucumber leads the way in the aromas, which might seem odd for anybody who hasn’t had gin & tonic with cucumber instead of lime. (I recommend trying it some time if you haven’t!) Through the middle, this is a decent enough Saison, with an appropriately light body and lively carbonation, if a little too emphatic on the spice notes (as so many American Saisons are). Overall, it’s cool and refreshing, and would pair well with a spicy meal. Ultimately, though, it’s a bit too vegetal, both on the nose and in the finish, resulting in a slightly unbalanced bitterness verging on astringent. An interesting change from the everyday, and worth trying for that reason alone, but not one I’m likely to go back to. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Uinta Brewing Hop Nosh American IPA at 7.3% ABV | 82 IBU (US$2.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, best before 5-May-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 23-May-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with two fingers of fluffy ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, pine, citrus, grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, off-dry building bitter finish. (4/5)

Definitely an old-sk00l IPA, with a pronounced malt backbone vying with the hops for dominance. Definitely not bright or juicy, but very well done regardless. (And come on: 7+% ABV and 80+ IBU? How is this not a D/IPA?) (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Sixpoint Craft Ales Puff American Double / Imperial IPA at 9.8% ABV | 108 IBU (US$3.99 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, bottle date 20-Apr-2017, best before 19-Aug-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 23-May-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with one fat finger of fluffy ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: resiny pine, citrus, melon, caramel, tropical and stone fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, massive bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium oily body, moderate carbonation, off-dry building bitter finish. (4/5)

Oh yeah, that’s what I’m talkin’ about. I was really looking forward to this, and it did not disappoint. Dank, deep, and complex, with a massive spicy hop bite.  Big caramel sweetness, but appropriately balanced and barely sufficient to stop the huge hops from becoming overwhelming. Puff, puff – but I ain’t passin’. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Dogfish Head Brewery Flesh & Blood IPA American IPA at 7.5% ABV | 45 IBU (US$2.99 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, bottle date 8-Mar-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 23-May-2017)

Appearance: clear medium amber with two fat fingers of fluffy ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: orange juice, resiny pine, caramel malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short bitter finish. (3/5)

Slightly better than e.g. Funky Buddha’s More Moro, but still not quite what I was hoping for in an orange juice-infused IPA. There’s juicy citrus there, sure, and resiny pine, but it’s just not bright and refreshing. I guess it should come as no surprise that underneath the orange juice, it’s pretty reminiscent of their 60 Minute IPA – which isn’t a criticism by any means, just an observation. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Dogfish Head Brewery Sea Quench Ale Gose at 4.9% ABV | 10 IBU (US$2.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, bottle date 2-Mar-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 23-May-2017)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fat fingers of fluffy white head, good retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: lime, wheat, brine, hint of coriander and peppercorns. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, mild bitter, light salt. (8/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, crisp short lightly briny finish. (4/5)

Nice – a crisp and refreshing mildly alcoholic limeade. Heavily dominated by lime (not a criticism!), with only hints of spice, and a lightly salty finish that simultaneously refreshes and invites the next sip. Definitely the kind of summertime beer that goes well with a sunny patio and a lazy afternoon. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Sixpoint Craft Ales Sweet Action Cream Ale at 5.2% ABV | 34 IBU (US$2.29 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, best before 7-Dec-2016, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 23-May-2017)

Appearance: clear medium amber with one finger of fluffy ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: floral, caramel, resin. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

Definitely one of the best Cream Ales I’ve ever had. Scratch, that, I checked: it’s the best example of the style I’ve ever had. Mostly because of the larger-than-normal hop presence, of course. Unlike most Cream Ales, this one has a significant hop presence, pretty evenly balanced against the sweet malt in intensity. Not a whole lot happening, but very easy drinking. Definitely would not say no to another. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Funky Buddha Brewery Hop Stimulator American Double / Imperial IPA at 9.5% ABV | 75 IBU (US$3.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, bottle date 22-Feb-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 22-May-2017)

Appearance: hazy medium amber with two fingers of fluffy ivory head, excellent retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: resiny pine, caramel, citrus, tropical fruit, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, sweetish lingering and building bitter warming finish. (4/5)

Well, I have to say, I was skeptical: when you do multiple A/IPAs that are 7% ABV and 80 IBU, that doesn’t seem to leave a lot of room at the top: “Really,” one wonders, “how much bigger can their DIPA be?” And the funny thing is, the IBU rating for this is actually lower than the past two of their A/IPAs I tried, so, ummm…? Well, be that as it may, this feels bigger. Perhaps due to the higher ABV, or maybe just due to the hop selection, the hop presence here is emphatic right at decapping, and doesn’t let up. Big caramel hops try to challenge the hop dominance, but fail, albeit providing the right amount of support. The ABV is also fairly emphatic, coming through as a slickness in the body, a warming in the finish, and a tendency for the room to get a little fuzzy around the edges. Good stuff. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Funky Buddha Brewery Hop Gun American IPA at 7% ABV | 80 IBU (US$2.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, bottle date early 2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 22-May-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with one fat finger of rocky ivory head diminishing gradually to a thick creamy cap, soapy patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: grapefruit, melon, caramel, white grape must, hint of pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Couldn’t make out the entire bottling date, but it’s definitely early 2017, so it’s not very old. Aromas and taste are pleasant and inoffensive, with just a hint of the vinous white grape I associate with Nelson Sauvin, and a tempered bitterness that integrates the higher ABV well. Really reminds me of their More Moro, but without the citrus juice – and, more importantly, without that vegetal edge. Subtle? Hell, no, but it’s a solid hop bomb, emphatic without being too brutal. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Funky Buddha Brewery More Moro American IPA at 7% ABV | 80 IBU (US$3.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, bottle date 20-Feb-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 22-May-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with one fat finger of rocky ivory head diminishing gradually to a thick creamy cap, soapy patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pithy grapefruit, vegetal (celery? melon rind?), caramel, orange peel. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter and slightly astringent oily finish. (4/5)

Not as good as I was expecting, if I’m honest. I mean, FB is one of the better FL breweries, and who better than FL natives to understand oranges? And yeah, there’s citrus there – grapefruit flesh on the front end, and bitter oily orange peel on the back, which makes for an interesting finish that somewhat paradoxically feels less bitter than the IBU alone might suggest. But in-between, there’s something I struggle to identify: the best I can come up with is celery or melon peel, but it’s green and vegetal in any case. Dunno – it’s fine otherwise, and maybe it’s an acquired taste, but I sure haven’t yet acquired it. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Highland Brewing Company Mandarina IPA American IPA at 5% ABV | 35 IBU (US$2.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, bottle date 21-Dec-2016, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 22-May-2017)_

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of fluffy white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, minimal patchy lacing. (2/5) Aroma: mild, sweet malt, grassy/woody, cardboard, oranges, wheat. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light metallic. (5/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short duration finish. (3/5)

You know how great it is when you go into something with absolutely no expectations, not having researched it, and find a hidden gem? Yeah, this isn’t one of those times… I mean, OK, it’s older than 90 days, fair enough – but not by a whole lot, and I’ve had a lot of shelf turds that were far better than this. Maybe this is a whole bunch better fresh, but this one right here is definitely nothing special. (10/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com