Author: dpatrickryan

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

The Bruery Oude Tart (2014) – Flanders Red at 8% ABV (C$22.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, packaged on 29-May-2014, acquired 27-Mar-2015, reviewed 5-Feb-2022)

Appearance: clear ruby brown with one finger of fine light beige head diminishing gradually to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tart cherry, leather, oak, tobacco. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high tart, moderate sweet, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, lively carbonation, tart slightly funky finish. (4/5)

A decent Flanders Red that seems to have survived nearly eight years in the bottle with no particular harm. A red wine / balsamic vinager-like, almost umami note dominates the front end, with barrel notes of oak and leather behind. There’s a light funky note that I don’t recall being present when it was new, but it might well have been. (16/20)

This will be my 5,187th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Unibroue Grande Réserve 17 (2014) – Belgian Strong Ale at 10% ABV (C$12.59 at Quarry Park Co-Op, 750 ml, packaged on 12-Feb-2014, best before 12-Feb-2019, acquired 24-Feb-2015, reviewed 31-Jan-2022)

Appearance: clear deep amber with two fat fingers of frothy light beige head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: Belgian banana and cloves, caramel & toffee, oak & leather, dark fruits, tobacco. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, lingering spicy warming finish. (4/5)

I did this one fairly soon after doing my other old vintage, a 2013, because the 2013 had definitely taken on negative characteristics as it neared a decade of cellaring. I figured I might as well catch this one before it did the same. But, it doesn’t seem to have any negatives at all: I’m not detecting any of the fading or mustiness I got with the 2013. I guess shouldn’t be surprised, because this one also wasn’t a gusher – maybe a cork failure in the 2013? A very pleasant slow sipper to wind down after a 14-hour workday. (16/20)

This will be my 5,186th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com