Author: dpatrickryan

Collective Arts Brewing / Bellwoods Brewery Origin of Darkness Wheated Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Dulce de Leche – American Double / Imperial Stout at 11.9% ABV (C$7.00 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 30-Aug-2022, acquired 6-Oct-2022, reviewed 20-Nov-2022)

Appearance: nearly solid black with one finger of fine brown head diminishing gradually to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: milky caramel, bourbon, oak, roast malt & chocolate, vanilla. (9/10) Taste: high sweet, high bitter. (9/10) Palate: full slick body, soft carbonation, sticky warming lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Well, hello! Two of my absolute favourite Canadian breweries collaborating, albeit on a style that I don’t really consider to be the flagship for either. Could be good, could be not so good. …aaand it’s good. Great, actually. I mean, it is what it is: not one you’d want as a refresher after a day working construction, or a post-workout recovery beer, but as a late-night sipper? Boy, howdy. Shamelessly sweet and boozy, but with just the right balance of milky caramel Dulce de Leche and bourbon barrel notes to balance things out. Definitely the best out of the four Origin of Darkness I’ve tried this year, and among the best beers of the year. (17/20)

This will be my 5,429th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Modist Brewing Co. Double False Pattern – American Double / Imperial IPA at 7.5% ABV (C$8.85 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Nov-2022, reviewed 19-Nov-2022)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone & tropical fruits, mild resiny pine, citrus, cereal grains. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: smooth medium-full body, moderate-soft carbonation, sweetish medium duration finish. (4/5)

The label says this is double dry-hopped with Mosaic and Simcoe, while the brewer notes give a little more detail, indicating “double dry hopped with Mosaic, Simcoe, Cryo Mosaic and Cryo Simcoe.” That combined with the oats in the malt bill make for an overall  fruit juice-like finish, or perhaps a tropical fruit nectar. The sweetness tends a little high, but isn’t inappropriate for the overall effect. Lots of fun, and a pretty damn fine example of the style. (17/20)

This will be my 5,428th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Growlery Beer Company Phat & Hazy – American IPA at 7% ABV (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Nov-2022, reviewed 18-Nov-2022)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, pale biscuity malt, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, sweetish short duration finish. (3/5)

The label says this is hopped with “Citra and Cryo”. Cryo what? Dunno. Citra, maybe? A fairly typical interpretation of the “hazy” style, with a less-than-enthusiastic commitment to haze, and less-than-juicy aroma. It’s decent, but not very memorable – fine for e.g. watching the game. (14/20)

This will be my 5,427th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Driftwood Brewery Sartori Harvest – American IPA at 7% ABV (C$5.31 at Collective, 473 ml, best before 22-Mar-2022, acquired 1-Nov-2022, reviewed 18-Nov-2022)

Appearance: clear deep gold with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and well-defined soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: resiny pine, light caramel, herbal, faint citrus. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Single-hopped with wet (freshly-harvested) local (to them) Centennial.  That’s a goddamned good beer. I have no further notes. (18/20)

This will be my 5,426th unique Untappd check-in.

9/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Zero Issue Brewing Primordial (Issue #77) – American IPA at 6.0% ABV (C$4.45 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Nov-2022, reviewed 17-Nov-2022)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of fine white head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone & tropical fruit, catty pine, bready malt, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-low carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

I’ve only had twenty-some-odd of their 77 issues, so technically I can’t compare this to their entire lineup. That being said, it’s closer to the bottom than to the top for me. Nothing really wrong here (obviously, or I wouldn’t have rated it as highly as I have) but it’s just not very exciting and suffers in comparison to some of their other offerings. Solid, but not memorable. (14/20)

This will be my 5,425th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Sloop Brewing Co. Juicier Bomb – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8% ABV (C$8.55 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 2-May-2022, acquired 1-Nov-2022, reviewed 13-Nov-2022)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with one fat finger of fine white head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, pine, bready malt, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, medium duration lightly warming finish. (4/5)

Y’know what they say about being careful what you ask for? Well, I tried Juice Bomb and said I wanted more – and, well, this is more. And I mean, it’s too old, sure – but I’m shocked at how much… I dunno, heavier? Dimmer? Not as bright as the single version is. To be honest, I’d rather have two singles than this. (15/20)

This will be my 5,424th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Sloop Brewing Co. Juice Bomb – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$5.85 at Collective, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Nov-2022, reviewed 13-Nov-2022)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with one fat finger of fine white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, tropical fruit, cereal grains, light pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry short duration finish. (4/5)

Nice example of the NEIPA style: juicy without being overly sweet, hoppy without being bitter, soft carbonation and an off-dry finish. I don’t really have any criticisms here, except to say that I’d like a little more brightness. This is one of those beers that I suspect would be much better fresh on tap – so, next time I’m in Hopewell Junction, NY I’ll re-review it… (16/20)

This will be my 5,423rd unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Dageraad Brewing New Slang 2 – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$4.90 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 15-Aug-2022, acquired 6-Oct-2022, reviewed 10-Nov-2022)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of fine white head, excellent retention and spotty soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: lemon zest, hints of sour rye, light herbal funk. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, drying short duration finish. (4/5)

The can says this is hopped with Cascade and Cashmere, in addition to a lemon peel adjunct. It’s pretty much completely dominated by that lemon peel, so the comparison to furniture polish is almost unavoidable. The light, fairly attenuated body and dry finish make this drink very easily for the higher ABV, making it a little sneaky. (16/20)

This will be my 5,422nd unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Thin Man Brewery Sci-Fi Hamster Wheel – American IPA at 6.6% ABV (C$7.85 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 8-Jul-2022, acquired 6-Oct-2022, reviewed 10-Nov-2022)

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

Nice example of the style: juicy and fruity but with restrained sweetness and mild bitterness, mild dank adding some pleasant complexity, particularly as it warms. (16/20)

This will be my 5,421st unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Indie Alehouse Brewing Co. Double Instigator – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.5% ABV (C$7.35 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Nov-2022, reviewed 9-Nov-2022)

Appearance: slightly hazy particulate laden pale amber with one finger of fine pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, pine, caramel, floral, earth. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, sticky lingering bitter mildly warming finish. (3/5)

The label claims “big pine and grapefruit”, which to my thinking means the pine should dominate, but I can’t say that it does. It’s also not what I would call a “very dry” finish – in fact, it’s downright sticky. And while we’re piling on, what’s with the chunky particulate? It would be nice to know how long this has been in the can, but there’s no date code of any sort. Ultimately, it’s not bad – and don’t get me wrong: I finished the pint – but it doesn’t really distinguish itself in a crowded field. (14/20)

This will be my 5,420th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com