Author: dpatrickryan

Madtree Brewing Company Legendary Lager – American Pale Lager at 4.2% ABV (2023 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #13, 355 ml, packaged on 11-Aug-2023, acquired 14-Dec-2023, reviewed 21-Dec-2023)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale straw with one finger of fine white head, good retention and moderate stringy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pale malt, corn, crackery yeast, grass, hint of apple. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, short duration crisp finish. (4/5)

Brewer notes indicate this is hopped with Loral and Czech Saaz, and it’s a Pale Lager operating in “training wheels ABV” territory, so expectations were tempered. I’m slightly put off by what smells like a sweet corn or rice adjunct element, which to me really strongly suggests industrial macro lagers. On the other hand, it’s light, crisp, and clean, so it’s not actually bad by any means. (14/20)

This will be my 5,710th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Earth Rider Brewery North Tower – American Stout at 6% ABV | 28 IBU (2023 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #12, 330 ml, best before 5-Jan-2024, acquired 14-Dec-2023, reviewed 19-Dec-2023)

Appearance: clear deep cola red with one finger of fine beige head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, minimal lacing. (4/5) Aroma: roasty malt, cocoa, red berries. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, drying medium duration finish. (4/5)

Nice one. I’ve noted “moderate” carbonation, but it’s probably a bit more than what that might normally mean for the style. However, if anything that seems to help the drinkability, particularly in light of the higher-than-typical ABV. All in all, a tidy, approachable package. (16/20)

This will be my 5,709th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Silver City Brewery Tropic Haze – American IPA at 5.4% ABV | 50 IBU (2023 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #11, 355 ml, packaged on 8-Aug-2023, acquired 14-Dec-2023, reviewed 18-Dec-2023)

Appearance: hazy and particulate-laden pale amber with two fat fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention and spotty chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains, stone fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration finish. (4/5)

Hopped with Strata, Citra, Mosaic, and Idaho 7. Nice one – well-balanced with a pleasant aroma and flavour. I might be just a touch high on scoring here, but at the end of the day this is easy to drink with no real negatives (expect possibly for the chunky-style particulate). (16/20)

This will be my 5,708th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Noon Whistle Brewing Co. Bruski – Czech Pilsner at 4.6% ABV (2023 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #10, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 14-Dec-2023, reviewed 18-Dec-2023)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one fat finger of rocky ivory head, good retention and spotty chunky lacing. (5/5) Aroma: caramel and toasted malt, grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet tending high, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, slightly sticky short duration finish. (3/5)

I was ready to be pretty dismissive of this, figuring it would be right up there with “Beer” beer. But, for what it is, it’s not bad. It’s all about the toasty malt notes, with only a mild grassy hoppiness (Saaz?) but it’s a reasonably well-balanced implementation. A definite lawnmower beer, but sometimes that fits the bill. (14/20)

This will be my 5,707th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

White Pony Microbirrificio Altruism – Golden Ale at 6.5% ABV (2023 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #9, 330 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 14-Dec-2023, reviewed 17-Dec-2023)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with two fat fingers of rocky ivory head, good retention and spotty chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, floral, herbal, coriander. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet tending high, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-low carbonation, slightly sticky medium duration finish. (3/5)

Meh. Barely a Golden, not a lot of Belgian notes. Nothing really wrong here, but certainly not memorable. (13/20)

This will be my 5,706th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Hutton & Smith Brewing Company The Promenade – American IPA at 6.7% ABV (2023 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #8, 355 ml, packaged on 23-Aug-2023, acquired 14-Dec-2023, reviewed 16-Dec-2023)

Appearance: slightly hazy and particulate-laden deep gold with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and spotty chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, grass, stone fruit, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet tending high, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-low carbonation, short slightly flaccid finish. (3/5)

An NEIPA from Chattanooga, TN – that tracks, right? After the first sip, I started to think I had been a bit too quick to judge, but through the finish I quickly realized I had not. It looks carby as hell, but on the tongue it goes flat fairly quickly – thus my comment about a flaccid finish – and that lack of loft makes it seem bit sweeter than I’d like. I don’t know what four hops they’re using, but I’d like to see more emphasis on citrus and less on Noble, grassy notes. I dunno – at the end of the day, this just doesn’t work all that well for me. (14/20)

This will be my 5,705th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Revolution Brewing Freedom of Speach – Sour / Wild Ale at 4.5% ABV | 7 IBU (2023 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #7, 355 ml, packaged on 15-Aug-2023, acquired 14-Dec-2023, reviewed 16-Dec-2023)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of fine white head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, wheat, earthy funk, stone fruit. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (7/10) Palate: light body, moderate-lively carbonation, dry short tart finish. (4/5)

Not as much peach as I was expecting, but I’m not sure if that’s necessarily a bad thing. The stone fruit actually comes through more as a vinous note in the finish, than in the aroma. The bigger problem is that this is a kettle sour, with very little complexity or depth. It’s not unpleasant to drink, but there’s not much going on.(14/20)

This will be my 5,704th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Earth Rider Brewery Tap Shack – American Pale Lager at 5% ABV | 16 IBU (2023 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #6, 355 ml, best before 14-Feb-2024, acquired 14-Dec-2023, reviewed 16-Dec-2023)

Appearance: clear pale straw with one finger of fine white head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: bready caramel, grass, slight diacetyl. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, sweetish short finish. (3/5)

Yep, that’s a lager and lime all right. Crushable and forgettable. (12/20)

This will be my 5,703rd unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Tiny Rebel Brewing Clwb Tropica – American IPA at 5.5% ABV (2023 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #4, 330 ml, best before 14-Jun-2024, acquired 14-Dec-2023, reviewed 15-Dec-2023)

Appearance: hazy straw with massive fizzy white head gradually diminishing to a thin skim, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: zesty citrus, tropical and stone fruit, light Brett funk. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration bitter finish. (3/5)

I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love Brett – but is there supposed to be Brett in this? Because there’s Brett in this – I mean ,look at that head! I don’t actually dislike this, but I’m far from convinced that what it is, is what it’s supposed to be. (13/20)

This will be my 5,701st unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com