Author: dpatrickryan

Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn Georg Schneider’s Wiesen Edel-Weisse Hefeweizen at 6.2% ABV (C$3.83 at Andrew Hilton Wine & Spirits, 500 ml, bottle date 25-May-2012, reviewed 16-Jan-2016)

Appearance: cloudy medium gold with heavy lees, a short, short-lived ivory head, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: yeasty wheat, apricot, clove. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter, light tart. (5/10) Palate: medium body, soft carbonation, lingering bitter finish, mild tart finish. (3/5)

OK, this one is probably way too old. My defence is, it took some research to puzzle out the date code. (Two lines:“12.145 3”, and “0227 2724”. I’m guessing it’s a Julian code for the 145th day of 2012.) So, I’m guessing it’s more than three years old – way too old for the style. I considered not reviewing it, but screw it: if you’re not gonna put a human readable date code on your bottle, that’s your decision, live with the consequences. Not terrible as it stands, and I suspect it’s a lot better fresh, but there it is. (11/20)

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Tree Brewing Co. Hophead IPA American IPA at 5.6% ABV (C$2.66 at Andrew Hilton Wine & Spirits, 355 ml, best before 27-Apr-2016, reviewed 16-Jan-2016)

Appearance: hazy pale to medium amber with some fine lees, a short, short-lived ivory head, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pine, caramel malt, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-strong bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Turns out this is a re-review – forgot I tried it about a year ago (which maybe says something about it?) possibly due to the new bottle design. Oh, well – pretty similar to the last time I had it, although I wasn’t quite so generous this time. It’s a decent enough A/IPA, with an OK balance between hoppiness and maltiness. The malt is a little more pronounced than I’d prefer, but still arguably in a supporting role, and the flavour remains more or less hop-forward. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mikkeller Vesterbro Pilsner Pilsener at 5.6% ABV (C$5.36 at Andrew Hilton Wine & Spirits, 330 ml, best before 12-May-2017, reviewed 16-Jan-2016)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one fat finger of rocky white head, excellent retention and good lacing. (4/5) Aroma: sweet citrus, stone fruit, grass, pale malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, off-dry bitter finish. (3/5)

Nice solid pilsener, with a hop-forward nose incorporating citrus, stone fruit, and grassy notes, with an almost vinous character. Unlike so many pilseners, the grassiness doesn’t come across as limp or weedy – probably because it’s almost secondary to the CTZ-style tangerine and peach notes. The flavours are more traditional than e.g. To Øl Raid Beer, which for my money remains the best pils ever, but still solid and enjoyable. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Tofino Brewing Co. Kelp Stout American Stout at 6% ABV (C$8.50 at Sundance Wine Market, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 15-Jan-2016)

Appearance: nearly black with clear brown margins, one fat finger of dense beige head, excellent retention and good lacing. (4/5) Aroma: cocoa, coffee, dark roasty malt, light brine. (6/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate bitter, light umami, light salt. (6/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, short duration finish. (3/5)

There’s actually a short-lived briny note of, yes, kelp upon decapping. Overall, though, it’s a quite mild stout with only a hint of umami and brine. A bit of a one-trick pony, nothing exciting. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Two Sergeants Brewing Inc. Passion d’Ale Witbier at 5.2% ABV (C$4.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 15-Jan-2016)

Appearance: cloudy pale gold with two fingers of rocky off-white head, excellent retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: heavy coriander, white pepper, wet cardboard, smoke. (3/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate bitter. (3/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, spicy finish. (3/5)

OK, on the one hand, that’s a seriously impressive, really authentic Belgian-style head. Seriously, you can cut that thing off with a knife, just like they do in Belgium. On the other hand, that’s pretty much the high point for this beer. To be fair, it’s a brand-new, small-scale local brewer – but it’s still not good. At all. Undrinkable, sink pour. (6/20)

3/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Lagunitas Brewing Company Born Yesterday American Pale Ale at 6.5% ABV (C$8.96 at Andrew Hilton Wine & Spirits, 946 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 15-Jan-2016)

Appearance: clear deep gold with two fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and lacing. (5/5) Aroma: bright citrus, tropical fruit, pine resin, onion, pale malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, strong bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Well, it wasn’t born yesterday, but they told me it was born in December when they filled the growler, so that’s close enough. I was initially really excited by this, but the onion note just keeps growing… and growing… and growing… The video on Lagunitas’ web site admits to Equinox, Mosaic, Amarillo, Simcoe, and Citra, but I’m not sure which one is the onion/garlic culprit – usually it’s Summit, but that doesn’t appear to be present in this one. Regardless, there’s a definite onion/garlic character. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a world-class beer, but it’s not quite the paragon I initially thought it might be. (And can anyone explain to be how a 6.5%, 65-ish IBU pale qualifies as an “APA” and not an “IPA”? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?) (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Driftwood Brewery Black Stone Porter English Porter at 6% ABV (C$6.75 at Sundance Wine Market, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 14-Jan-2016)

Appearance: nearly sold black with clear brown margins, one finger of dense beige head, excellent retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: coffee, chocolate, dark roasty malt, tart red berries, light lactic. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, very light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, off-dry finish. (4/5)

Nice. Smooth and chocolatey, dark and rich. Nice dark roast flavours, while staying pleasantly mild – a solid implementation from a solid brewer. In the background, I’m getting a near-lactic smoothness along with an almost raspberry-like tart – which, considering they’re pretty much opposites, is no mean feat. Can’t go (too badly) wrong with Driftwood in my experience, and this is another solid performer, if not quite world-class like Fat Tug, Pilsner Doehnel, or Naughty Hildegard. (Even if it doesn’t make me want to spank a nun. Aw, hell, who’m I kidding? I still want to spank a nun.) (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Category 12 Brewing Unsanctioned Saison Saison at 6.9% ABV (C$8.25 at Sundance Wine Market, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 14-Jan-2016)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with one fat finger of pure white fluffy head, excellent retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: yeast, pale malt, orange peel, cloves, earthy. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry finish. (3/5)

Pretty simple, and frankly boring, saison. Sweetish, with no funk to speak of. Can’t say I’m liking this one a whole heckuva lot. I mean, sure, it’s better than a macro lager, but what isn’t? (11/20)

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Alley Kat Brewing Co. Unity Brew Premium Bitter / ESB at 5.4% ABV (C$6.79 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 14-Jan-2016)

Appearance: clear pale amber with a short ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel malt, grassy, metallic, bready. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-low carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Fairly typical ESB, without much to recommend it. A bit metallic on the nose and in the finish. OK, but don’t knock yourself out trying to find one. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com