Author: dpatrickryan

The Establishment Brewing Company Beyond The Pines – American IPA at 7.2% ABV (C$4.77 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 14-Feb-2023, acquired 28-Feb-2023, reviewed 5-Mar-2023)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: resiny pine, citrus, clean malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

Brewer notes say this is hopped with Amarillo, Simcoe, Centennial, Citra, and Mosaic – so a combination of old- and new-school, appropriate enough for something that’s supposed to herald the return of clear and piney. Pine and citrus are well-balanced here, as are sweet and bitter. There’s no dank (which is neither here nor there in my opinion) and no cattiness (which is generally all to the good). I had high hopes for this, and if it does fall slightly short of legendary I’m still not disappointed. I’ve had fairly extensive prior experience with these guys (for n=33, μ=8 & σ=0.53), and this one is at or above the bar they’ve set. (17/20)

This will be my 5,502nd unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Zero Issue Brewing Resonance (Issue #82) – American IPA at 7.3% ABV (C$4.45 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 28-Feb-2023, reviewed 4-Mar-2023)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with two fat fingers of pillowy pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: resiny pine, caramel, mild citrus, hint of toasted rye. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky lingering bitter slightly warming finish. (4/5)

I mean, I’ve had worse WCIPAs. My main complaint with this one is that although there’s lots of dominating resiny pine (as there should be) the citrus is much further in the background than I’d like to see it. As well, I don’t know if I’m actually right in calling this a rye note as such, but there’s definitely a little something upon warming – call it “toasted”, “rye”, or both – that puts me in mind of a Black IPA. I wouldn’t call it unwelcome or incorrect, but a bit more citrus would have balanced things out a bit better in my opinion. Still good, though. (15/20)

This will be my 5,501st unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Old Yale Brewing Co. Hazy Hopped Double IPA – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.5% ABV | 15 IBU (C$4.45 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 28-Feb-2023, reviewed 3-Mar-2023)

Appearance: hazy/murky pale amber with two fat fingers of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel and cereal grains, stewed fruits, earth, light pine. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, low bitter, light tart. (6/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, sticky medium duration slightly warming finish. (4/5)

Brewer notes say this is hopped with El Dorado and Talus, and call it “big, bold and juicy, offering hop-forward notes of tropical Fruit, Pineapple and Stonefruit”. Aside from their egregious lack of Oxford commas, this statement is woefully inaccurate. What it is, is malt-forward, with a flavour profile that’s just as muddy as its appearance. The finish actually isn’t bad: reasonable duration despite being fairly sweet and sticky, with relatively restrained boozy warming. Including a couple of collaborations which actually pull the average up, my previous experience with this brewer was for n=11, μ=6.1 & σ=1.21 – so, yes, their average performance was right around my “well, it’s probably not actually damaged” floor. (Six, in case you’re wondering, or three out of five. Under there be dragons. And the reason it’s not halfway at five is, there’s a lot more ways to fuck it up than to get it right. I don’t go that low often, because, honestly? I don’t waste my time with shit beers. Well, not often, anyway.) This one isn’t forcing me to re-evaluate my opinion of them, and to be honest I’m thinking maybe they’ve used up their chances with me. (12/20)

This will be my 5,500th unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Campio Brewing Co. Light Rail – American Pale Ale at 4.5% ABV (C$4.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 7-Feb-2023, acquired 28-Feb-2023, reviewed 2-Mar-2023)

Appearance: hazy pale straw with two fingers of fluffy white head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, citrus, stone fruit, wheat, coconut. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short duration finish. (4/5)

I mean, it’s not exactly exciting, but it is innocuous and easy to drink, with an off-dry short finish that invites the next sip. Would make a decent go-to for a sunny patio on a lazy day. (14/20)

This will be my 5,499th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasserie Dunham / Boréale Sierra Yakima – American Pale Ale at 5.6% ABV (C$7.85 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 5-Dec-2022, acquired 28-Feb-2023, reviewed 2-Mar-2023)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with two fat fingers of loose pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thick cap, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus pith and flesh, stone fruit, cereal grains, resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

I can’t find any brewer’s notes for this. Secondary sources indicate it’s dry-hopped with Nelson Sauvin, but I can’t say I’m getting any vinous notes. It is, however, brightly juicy and very drinkable. They call it a “tribute from the forerunners of the style that was adapted to today’s taste” – which, language mutilation aside, is a fair description: an APA with modern hops. (16/20)

This will be my 5,498th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasserie Dunham Double Cyclope – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.5% ABV (C$8.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 16-Dec-2023, acquired 28-Feb-2023, reviewed 1-Mar-2023)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and minimal spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dank resiny pine, citrus flesh and pith, tropical fruit, pale malt, light cattiness. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate-soft carbonation, slightly sticky lingering warming finish. (4/5)

I like it. I can’t find any brewer’s notes confirming the hops, but it’s pretty similar to a couple of the previous (non-double) versions I’ve had, so I’m guessing Citra (maybe Cryo?), Simcoe, Mosaic – you know, the usual suspects. Whatever the hopping, this is an example of Double done right: a bit more bombast, a bit more heat, but without sacrificing drinkability. Works for me! (16/20)

This will be my 5,497th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Cannery Brewing Company Bonsai Hazy IPA – American IPA at 7.5% ABV | 45 IBU (C$4.85 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 2-Feb-2023, acquired 28-Feb-2023, reviewed 1-Mar-2023)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: mild, melon, citrus, bready caramel, toasted rice. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration astringent finish. (3/5)

The label says this is made with toasted rice, and hopped with Sabro, Strata, and Simcoe. The aroma tends to the mild side, with melon and citrus slightly beating out a bready, yeasty note. I might be getting mild toasted rice notes, but I’m not getting any coconut at all from the Sabro. It’s a little edgy, and that carries through into the somewhat astringent finish. At best it’s middle of the road, which is about typical for my previous experience with this brewery (for n=14, μ=7.1 & σ=0.9). (14/20)

This will be my 5,496th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Hypha Project Inceptional – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$5.40 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 6-Oct-2022, acquired 28-Feb-2023, reviewed 28-Feb-2023)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of loose pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, loose stringy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone & tropical fruit, citrus, resiny pine, oats. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry medium duration astringent finish. (3/5)

The label says “Featured hops: Vic Secret + Mosaic”. Those hops do come through in the aroma, which is probably this one’s highlight. On the tongue, there’s a bit more aggressive bitterness than is typical for the style, and that carries through into a fairly pronounced astringent bite in the finish. So, yeah… a bit unbalanced, and not very exciting. This is only my fourth by this brewer, making it two 7’s and two 8’s by my reckoning – so I’m not ready to give up on them by any means, but this one just isn’t a great example. (14/20)

This will be my 5,495th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Meta Brewery Wavelength – American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 70 IBU (C$5.00 at Econo Liquor Okotoks, 473 ml, packaged on 25-Nov-2022, acquired 25-Feb-2023, reviewed 25-Feb-2023)

Appearance: clear medium amber with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: pine, caramel, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Hate the brewery name. Beer’s OK – good enough to watch the Flames shit the bed, anyway. A very traditional brew from a brand new brewery, so draw your own conclusions there. Their web site is pretty slick, but I’m not sure they’ve put as much effort into their brewing as their marketing. Cynically, one might argue that that comes through in the beer, since its very best aspect its pretty much perfect appearance, while every other feature is middle-of-the road at best. The label says it gets its 70 IBU from hops “like” Falconer’s Flight, Centennial, and Cascade – so your guess is as good as mine as to whether that’s actually what it’s hopped with, or whether there’s any distinction between what’s used in the boil, or for dry-hopping, whirlpool, etc. To be fair, the aroma is pine (or maybe cedar) dominated, with caramel (toffee) and a hint of citrus in the back end, but at least it’s not that blah stewed fruit that so many bog-standard “craft westies” exhibit. Ultimately, there’s nothing wrong with it as such, but it doesn’t excite. (14/20)

This will be my 5,494th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Anchorage Brewing Company Year of the Tiger – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.4% ABV (C$7.74 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 7-Feb-2023, reviewed 23-Feb-2023)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone & tropical fruit, grape must, pithy citrus, light earthy funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: smooth medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, dry medium duration mildly warming astringent finish. (3/5)

I can’t find any official brewer’s notes, but secondary sources indicate this is brewed with Vic Secret & Mosaic, fermented with Chico, and double dry-hopped with Riwaka & Strata. Not a huge success for me. In particular, there’s a fairly sharp astringency in the finish that seems out of character for any DIPA, but even more so for a Hazy/NE-style one. I won’t say this is a disappointment from Anchorage, because my experience with them has run the gamut from extremely good, to merely acceptable. And that’s fine: good for them for pushing the envelope and not just producing the same thing again and again. It is what it is, and it might work for some, but for me it’s middle of the pack. (14/20)

This will be my 5,493rd unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com