Author: dpatrickryan

Eighty-Eight Brewing Pick Me Up Imperial Tiramisu Stout w/ Milk Sugar – Imperial Milk Stout at 9.0% ABV | 30 IBU (C$4.99 at Okotoks Co-Op, 473 ml, packaged on 10-Nov-2021, acquired 12-Feb-2022, reviewed 17-Feb-2022)

Appearance: opaque brown with a hint of ruby around the edges, one fat finger of fine beige head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: coffee, sweet chocolate, lactose, vanilla, light earth. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-low carbonation, sticky moderate duration finish. (3/5)

Eh. I’m not completely thrilled with this. It’s sticky, yet the body tends a little thin for the style. The aroma and taste aren’t bad, but structurally there’s a bit to be desired. Overall, it’s good, but not great. (14/20)

This will be my 5,193rd unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Open Gate (Diageo) Guinness Blonde – American Pale Lager at 5% ABV (C$4.39 at Okotoks Co-Op, 473 ml, packaged on 16-Sep-2021, acquired 12-Feb-2022, reviewed 14-Feb-2022)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of fluffy off-white head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: biscuity malt, citrus, grass, floral. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, sweetish medium duration finish. (3/5)

Better than the first time I tried it, about 7 years ago. In particular, it’s not as sweet as it used to be, which is only to the good. Brewer notes say that it’s hopped with Mosaic, Willamette, and Mount Hood, but the truth is, it’s dominate by malts. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Paulaner Brauerei (Schörghuber) Paulaner Münchner Hell – Helles Lager at 4.9% ABV (C$3.59 at Okotoks Co-Op, 500 ml, packaged on 20-Sep-2021, best before 20-Sep-2022, acquired 12-Feb-2022, reviewed 14-Feb-2022)

Appearance: clear pale straw with two fingers of fluffy white head, good retention, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, citrus, biscuity malt, light grass. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, short crisp finish. (4/5)

Clean and easy drinking, an excellent example of the style. Makes me miss travelling to Germany… ahh, hell, who am I kidding, I miss travelling everywhere… (16/20)

This will be my 5,192nd unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Muskoka Brewery Hazed & Confused Juicy IPA – American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 52 IBU (C$3.99 at Okotoks Co-Op, 473 ml, best before 7-May-2022, acquired 12-Feb-2022, reviewed 12-Feb-2022)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with two fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, good retention, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, pale biscuity malt, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium building bitter finish. (3/5)

Not bad, but not as juicy as I might’ve hoped, and a little bitter for an NEIPA. (14/20)

This will be my 5,191st unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Steam Whistle Brewing Lemon Shandy – Radler at 2.5% ABV (C$3.23 at Okotoks Co-Op, 473 ml, packaged on 1-Jul-2021, acquired 12-Feb-2022, reviewed 12-Feb-2022)

Appearance: clear pale straw with two fingers of rocky white head, good retention, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: lemon, light biscuity malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, medium-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: light body, lively carbonation, short mild tart finish. (4/5)

Nice one. Any Pilsner character here is limited to a very light biscuity malt, so it’s all about the lemon. Goes down really quick and easy, neither too sweet nor too tart, refreshing as heck. I don’t care that it’s basically a training wheels beverage intended for children and old ladies at church picnics, it would be a great one for summertime by the pool. (15/20)

This will be my 5,190th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Iron Rock Brewing Co. Happy Valley – Hefeweizen at 5.6% ABV (Gift – thanks Rod H!, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 4-Feb-2022, reviewed 11-Feb-2022)

Appearance: murky straw with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, banana, clove, tart wheat, bubblegum. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, medium-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-low carbonation, off-dry mild finish. (4/5)

Not much to say here: it’s a pretty straightforward rendition of the style. If you like Hefes, you’ll like this one just fine. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Secret Brewing Co. Chin Music – American Pale Ale at 5.2% ABV (Gift – thanks Rod H!, 473 ml, packaged on 11-Nov-2021, acquired 4-Feb-2022, reviewed 11-Feb-2022)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two fat fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, lemon, wheat, metallic. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, medium-high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Not a whole lot going on here: mild aroma and flavour lead the way on a lighter body tending slightly thin and metallic in the finish. (13/20)

This will be my 5,189th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bruery Terreux Tart of Darkness (2017) – Sour Stout at 6.6% ABV (C$19.33 at NLC Stavanger, 750 ml, packaged on 11-Jan-2017, acquired 30-Dec-2017, reviewed 7-Feb-2022)

Appearance: clear deep cola brown with a short fizzy beige head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tart berries, red wine vinegar, oak, light roasty malts. (8/10) Taste: moderate tart, moderate sweet, medium-light bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium tart finish. (4/5)

Even less malt character than the older vintage I had, whether new or cellared. I’m not sure how best to describe what I think is going on here – it’s not so much faded, as a loss of complexity. (Or perhaps it never had much complexity to start with?) It’s pleasant enough, but I’m just not getting the depth of character I get from something like a Duchesse or a Rodenbach. (16/20)

This will be my 5,188th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Bruery Tart of Darkness (2014) – Sour Stout at 7.2% ABV (C$22.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 27-Mar-2015, reviewed 6-Feb-2022)

Appearance: clear ruby brown with a short fizzy beige head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: roasty malt & coffee, tart dark fruit, oak, light barynyardy funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate tart, moderate sweet, medium-light bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium tart finish. (4/5)

When I had this new I didn’t get much in the way of roasted malts, but a few years in the bottle seems to have brought a coffee note to the forefront, especially as it warms. Still a lot of tartness there, though! (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bellwoods Brewery Barn Owl (No. 10) – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$15.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 500 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 9-Jan-2018, reviewed 6-Feb-2022)

Appearance: clear medium gold with two fingers of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: funky leather, apricot, light oak, hint of red wine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, medium-light bitter, mild funky tart. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry mild tart finish. (4/5)

I had this fresh, and found the apricot to be dominant over the Brett. I was hoping cellaring would allow Breet to attain some dominance over the fruit. Well, be careful what you wish for I suppose, because this has done pretty much exactly what I had hoped it would do, but I’m not sure I can rate it any higher. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com