Author: dpatrickryan

S.Y.C. Brewing Co. Triangulum – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$4.95 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Dec-2022, reviewed 19-Dec-2022)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, stone fruit, pine, cereal grains, coconut. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

The label says this is hopped with Citra, Talus, and Galaxy. I was initially a little surprised because I had an impression of a Sabro-like coconut – but of course Talus is a Sabro derivative, so there you go. Turns out I might have some idea what I’m talking about after all…  I like this one: it’s not all that challenging, but it’s well-balanced and easy-drinking, making for a very pleasant overall experience. Another solid contender from a brewery who, in my experience (for n=29, μ=7.6 & σ=0.52) makes a habit of that, particularly for IPAs. (16/20)

This will be my 5,450th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Sloop Brewing Co. Interstellar Burst – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$7.90 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Dec-2022, reviewed 17-Dec-2022)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, resiny pine, cereal grains, vinous grape, tropical fruit. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: slightly creamy medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter lightly tart finish. (4/5)

The label says this is made with malted wheat, flaked oats, and flaked wheat, hopped with Mosaic Cryo, Nelson Sauvignon, and Motueka. I approve of all of those choices. Surprisingly bitter, at least as compared to most interpretations of the style, making it slightly atypical, but not in a bad way. The combination of juicy hops on the front end, and the lingering bitter finish with a little wheaty tartness, really works for me. (17/20)

This will be my 5,449th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Dageraad Brewing Grouch – Belgian Pale Ale at 5% ABV (C$5.25 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 30-Sep-2022, acquired 1-Dec-2022, reviewed 15-Dec-2022)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and moderate spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: apple, caramel, stone fruit, pepper, Belgian esters, light farmhouse funk. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

The label says this is brewed with Belgian yeast and English crystal malt, and hopped with Amarillo, Cascade, and Czech Saaz. Call me a grouch, but I’m just not feeling this one: it’s like an old-fashioned English Bitter, with a hint of Belgian character. Nothing to really criticize, especially if you’re a fan of the old boring styles, but I’m not really, so… (15/20)

This will be my 5,448th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Almanac Beer Co. Crypta Citra Hazy DIPA – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.0% ABV (C$7.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 18-Apr-2022, acquired 1-Dec-2022, reviewed 13-Dec-2022)

Appearance: particulate-laden hazy pale amber with one fat finger of fine pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet citrus & stone fruit, caramel. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-low carbonation, sweetish medium duration mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Pretty sure this is somewhat the worse for wear after eight months in the can. I really need to start checking date codes in the store, but then again I’m usually in a rush, so… No oxidation (can, duh) but the hops are definitely no longer juicy (assuming they once were). A bit on the sweet side, but that’s sort of balanced by the mild warming. (14/20)

This will be my 5,447th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Great Notion Brewing & Barrel House Over Ripe – American IPA at 7% ABV (C$8.95 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Dec-2022, reviewed 13-Dec-2022)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with two fingers of loose pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, coconut, cereal grains, citrus. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-low carbonation, sweetish medium-short duration finish. (3/5)

The label says “with mangosteen flavor” – so of course I had to look up what the jeezly hell a mangosteen is. (It’s a tropical fruit. Look it up yourself, what am I, Wikipedia?) I wasn’t sure if it was responsible for the coconut note, or whether that was a function of the hopping. Brewer’s notes say this is hopped with Citra, Motueka, and Azacca, so presumably no coconut from there, and we’re back to the mangosteen. Interesting, though slightly oversweet for my preference. (15/20)

This will be my 5,446th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Situation Brewing Gateway Handshake – American Pale Ale at 4.8% ABV | 16 IBU (C$4.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 10-Oct-2022, acquired 1-Dec-2022, reviewed 13-Dec-2022)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, cereal grains, stone fruit. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium-short duration lightly tart finish. (4/5)

The label says this is hopped with Citra and Mosaic, with oats and wheat in the malt bill. I’m not getting a lot of oat smoothness in the fairly light body, but there is a hint of wheat tartness in the finish. Not a lot going on here, pleasant without being all that memorable – which is pretty much the standard when it comes to my limited experience (four or so) with this brewer. (14/20)

This will be my 5,445th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Field House Brewing Co. / Twin Sails Brewing Big Triple Cryo Tropical Double IPA – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.3% ABV | 20 IBU (C$5.67 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 3-Nov-2022, acquired 1-Dec-2022, reviewed 12-Dec-2022)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with one fat finger of fine white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains, coconut, berries. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: slightly creamy medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly phenolic finish. (4/5)

The label says this is hopped with three Cryo-concentrated experimentals: 472, 630, and 586. I’ve had single-hopped 472 before, and got big barrel and pine notes that are pretty much completely missing here. I’ve not seen a single-hopped 630, and the occasions when I’ve encountered it haven’t caused me to make any particular observations about its character. And as for 586, I can only find one instance where I’ve had it, and found it to be similar to Mosaic, so that’s all to the good. It’s also brewed with Voss kveik yeast, which I think emphasizes the fruit character, but also gives the usual almost phenolic edge that I associate with kveik yeasts. I’ve had more than twice as many Twin Sails offerings (19) as I have Field house (7), but my scoring has given the two brewers a nearly identical average of 7.8, so both are strong contenders. This one doesn’t disappoint, and I could maybe have gone just slightly higher in the scoring, and probably would have but for that weird little note in the finish. (16/20)

This will be my 5,444th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Goose Island Beer Company Bourbon County Brand Stout (2022) – Imperial Stout at 14.3% ABV (C$29.95 at Wine and Beyond, 500 ml, packaged on 7-Jul-2022, best before 7-Jul-2027, acquired 11-Dec-2022, reviewed 11-Dec-2022)

Appearance: clear deep brown with a short fine medium beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bourbon, chocolate, oak, vanilla, red berries. (9/10) Taste: high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-full slick body, moderate carbonation, lingering warming finish. (4/5)

I thought I was going to miss out on this year’s version, since I was out of town yesterday, when Wine and Beyond (my sole local distributor) was supposed to drop it. But, they changed their rollout to today, and still had some left after I got back in town. I figured it was a sign, and worth the twenty minute drive to their new location an hour closer to my house. And, well, I guess it was. I mean, gun to my head I’m not sure I could tell the difference between this one and last year’s, but that’s not really a complaint. (17/20)

This will be my 5,443rd unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Microbrasserie Charlevoix Brut Ale de Charlevoix – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.5% ABV | 46 IBU (C$6.16 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 23-Sep-2022, acquired 1-Dec-2022, reviewed 6-Dec-2022)

Appearance: crystal clear straw with a short loose white head diminishing rapidly to nothing, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: funky Belgian esters, pomes. (7/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, dry short duration finish. (4/5)

I’ve mentioned before how much I love this brewer’s labels, but, damn: I love this brewer’s labels. No, not the goatee-wearing minotaur, the back, where they specify serving temperature, IBUs, OG, FG, LOV, and AA. And! The base of the can has the date in clearly-readable YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM format (aka “God’s date format”) as well as lot number. I mean, these guys are clearly so geeky that it just warms my heart.

Too bad the beer sucks.

I kid! I kid!

Sort of.

I mean, come on: this isn’t an American DIPA. It might well be a “Belgian living in Quebec’s interpretation of an American DIPA”, but it’s not an American DIPA. You want to make a Belgian IPA? Great! Call it that. Don’t hop on the Brut bandwagon with a re-tread. This is, by no reasonable interpretation, a “nod to the wave of West Coast IPAs” (yes, some of us dirty Anglos can decipher French), unless you’re going to Belgium the long way ‘round.

Nice beer. Ridiculously badly characterized. (14/20)

This will be my 5,441st unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

New Level Brewing Krampus Christmas Ale Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Eggnog Stout – American Double / Imperial Stout at 11.9% ABV (C$5.49 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Dec-2022, reviewed 6-Dec-2022)

Appearance: clear deep brown with one finger of fluffy beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, moderate droopy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bourbon, roasty malts, nutmeg, cinnamon, oak, vanilla. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Take Krampus Christmas Ale Imperial Eggnog Stout, add bourbon. I mean, it’s not exactly rocket science – but neither is it a recipe for failure, especially since it’s a fair bit heftier in the ABV department… Don’t get me wrong, it’s still got the weight and carbonation issues of the base version, but it’s also a fairly distinct improvement. (I can’t rule out the possibility that this opinion is because of the ABV. I really needed a fucking drink tonight.) (15/20)

This will be my 5,440th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com