Author: dpatrickryan

Tree Brewing Co. Captivator Doppelbock at 8% ABV (C$6.99 at South Trail Calgary Co-Op, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear amber, short light tan head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: molasses, dark fruit, caramel/toffee, mild nutty, light chocolate. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, mild bitter, mild tart. (7/10) Medium body, lively to moderate carbonation, drying lightly astringent warming finish. (3/5)

A cool enough October day to justify something a little darker – there was, after all, frost on the windshield for hockey practice at six this morning! Not a bad version of the style, although both the head and the body are somewhat less than indicated in the guidelines. Pretty similar to Celebrator, actually, if slightly lighter – so I’m guessing the name similarity isn’t accidental… However, it manages to pull off a higher ABV despite the lighter flavour, so kudos for that. It doesn’t really improve by warming, though, so unless warm watery molasses is your thing, don’t take too much time with this one. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Central City Brewers + Distillers Red Racer Spiced Pumpkin Ale Spice / Herb / Vegetable at 5% ABV (C$6.11 at NLC Stavanger, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear medium amber, short light tan head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pumpkin, spices, maple sweet. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, mild bitter, mild peppery spice. (5/10) Medium body tending a little to the watery, lively to moderate carbonation, off-dry mildly spicy finish. (3/5)

Generally, pumpkin beers are to beer as Pumpkin Spice Latté is to coffee – which is to say, if it’s your particular secret shame, perhaps you enjoy it more than is seemly, but otherwise you quite rightly treat it as the abortion it is. Given that this is in fact my attitude, one might wonder at the fact that this is the first of no fewer than six pumpkin beers currently residing in my cellar. Rest assured, however, that there is a very simple explanation: you see, I’m an idiot. With that bookkeeping out of the way, I can report that this is a fairly “pumpkin-y” example of the style (that is, the flavours include not just spices, but actual pumpkin), not too sweet, and moderately good-looking though lacking any kind of head or lacing – and further to the down side, it could stand to be spicier, with more body. Ultimately pretty boring, though not actually offensive. (11/20)

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

YellowBelly Brewery Deep South American IPA at 6% ABV (C$9.34 at NLC Kelsey Drive, 1 l, best before 27-Nov-2015)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of fluffy ivory head, excellent retention and lacing. (5/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, resiny pine, pale malt, light catty. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Overall a very nice A/IPA: lots of bright fruit and resiny flavour on the nose, and a nice balance of bitter and supporting malt on the tongue. The finish is slightly less clean than I would like, with a bit of cattiness coming out as the bitterness lingers. All things considered, though, this is a relatively minor sin, and not atypical for a Mosaic bittered brew. I’m not familiar with the other (Pacific Gem) hops, but wasn’t surprised in reading up on them that they’re considered similar to the standard starts-with-C culprits. There’s actually almost a vinous quality as well, that made me wonder if there was any Nelson Sauvin, but that seems not to be the case. I would definitely recommend it, except the brewery no longer has it on tap and I rather suspect I now own one of the very few bottles left in existence… and I ain’t sharing. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Epic Brewing Brainless on Raspberries (Release #38) Belgian Strong Pale Ale at 9.8% ABV (C$19.00 at Sherbrooke Liquor, 650 ml, bottle date 7-May-2015)

Appearance: clear ruby red, one finger of fine white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tart raspberries, pale malt, vinous, light floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate tart, mild bitter. (7/10) Light body, lively carbonation, crisp tart finish. (3/5)

Not without its charms, but very much raspberry dominant. There’s a little musty vinous on the nose and towards the end, but for the most part, this is all about raspberry tartness. Which isn’t a criticism, by any means, but it’s definitely a much simpler experience than e.g. a Cantillon Rosé de Gambrinus. On the other hand, it gives precisely zero indications that it’s almost 10%ABV, so you could give it to the kids and claim it’s raspberry soda, if you wanted a night of peace and quiet… (Disclaimer: I’m not advocating drugging your children. I haven’t gotten to that point. Yet.) (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Epic Brewing Brainless on Peaches (Release #64) Belgian Strong Pale Ale at 10.1% ABV (C$19.00 at Sherbrooke Liquor, 650 ml, bottle date 8-Jun-2015)

Appearance: clear medium gold, one finger of rocky white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: peaches, white grape, oak, Belgian yeast, earth. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter, moderate tart. (7/10) Medium-light body, lively carbonation, drying tart finish. (3/5)

The peaches are not as emphatic as one might expect. In fact, I’m finding just as much vinous grape and oak character as peach, presumably due to the chardonnay barrel aging. That’s not to say the peach is completely absent, and it seems to grow somewhat as it warms, but it’s certainly more on the subtle side, than overt. That said, it seems like pretty much everything in here gets a bit more complex and interesting as it warms, so be sure not to drink this too cold. The combination of peach fruit flavour and the vinous oak almost makes this taste like a saison, as opposed to a standard BSPA. And it’s much, much better than their cherry. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brauerei Heller-Trum / Schlenkerla Helles Schlenkerla Lagerbier Dortmunder / Export Lager at 4.3% ABV (C$4.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 500 ml, best before 31-Dec-2015)

Appearance: clear straw, one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: smoke, grainy malt. (6/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Medium-light body, moderate-low carbonation, lingering smoky bitter finish. (3/5)

The smoke is initially somewhat overwhelming, but as the bottle progresses, it becomes less so. Overall, it’s relatively light and easy drinking. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij der Abdij van St.Sixtus Westvleteren 8° Dubbel at 8% ABV (€3.95 at de Biertempel Brussels, 330 ml, best before 3-Dec-2017)

Appearance: mostly clear deep brown with some particulate, one finger of loose light tan head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dried dark fruits, toffee, vanilla, nutty, light chocolate, mild yeast. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, drying mildly tart and and warming finish. (5/5)

Surprisingly light and lively body, with rich and complex aroma and flavours. Unsurprisingly, there’s a strong family resemblance to the XII,except that this is a lighter, more drinkable version in almost every way. Definitely a class above. (18/20)

9/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mikkeller Beer Geek Dessert Imperial Stout at 11% ABV (C$9.09 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 330 ml, best before 7-May-2025)

Appearance: opaque brown-black with one finger of rocky mocha head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: milk chocolate, coffee, vanilla, dark roasty malt. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, building bitter and warming finish. (5/5)

Surprisingly well-balanced on the sweetness, given the intense dessert-like aromas. Better than Breakfast, almost as good as Brunch Weasel. Smells a bit sweeter than Brunch Weasel, yet doesn’t really taste much sweeter, but Brunch Weasel has a surreal smoothness that this one doesn’t quite attain. Still, really, really good, and as I’ve come to expect from the Beer Geek series, extremely well-behaved for such an immense ABV. (18/20)

9/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Big Rock Brewery McNally’s Extra Irish Red Ale at 7% ABV (C$5.79 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear medium amber with one finger of rocky light tan head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel malt, dark fruit, grassy and earthy, diacetyl. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light sour. (5/10) Medium body, medium carbonation, medium duration bitter and lightly sour finish. (3/5)

Nope, sorry. I’ve tried this beer so many times over the years, but I’m just not getting any closer to liking it. It’s malt-heavy, which would be fine, but for that sour something I can’t quite identify. And it’s not a good sour, either – more like the back of the throat “hurk” when you’re trying not to puke. (10/20)

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Stone Brewing Company Stochasticity Your Father Smelt of Elderberries American Strong Ale at 10.3% ABV (C$13.49 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 650 ml, bottle date 3-Sep-2015)

Appearance: ruby-brown with one finger of dense pinkish head, excellent retention and good lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dark fruit, red berries, caramel, smoke, leather, herbal and earthy. (6/10) Taste: low-moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (4/10) Medium body, medium-low carbonation, herbal boozy and spicy finish. (3/5)

Stone, I hate to say this, because I love you, but: these Stochasticity beers are starting to seem like so much pretentious twaddle. This is like sucking on a leather tobacco pouch. And no, that’s not an exaggeration: that’s exactly what it tastes like, maybe with a bit of raspberry jam on top. The only reason this ranks above a Coors Light is the fact that, flaws aside, it’s different, and pretty good-looking. But I wouldn’t have this again if you paid me. On the up side, much like the gruits I’ve tried, this makes me intensely glad I didn’t live in medieval times. And it near killed me to do it, but I sink poured half a thirteen dollar ten percent beer. Happy now, Stone? (8/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com