Author: dpatrickryan

The Bruery Saule – Old Ale at 16.1% ABV (C$25.09 at NLC Stavanger, 750 ml, packaged on 16-Mar-2017, acquired 30-Dec-2017, reviewed 11-Sep-2021)

Appearance: clear amber-brown with a short, short-lived head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: complex, vanilla, dark fruits, oak, bourbon, caramel, red berries. (9/10) Taste: high sweet, moderate bitter, moderate-low tart. (9/10) Palate: medium slick body, moderate carbonation, lingering warming finish. (5/5)

“Contains alcohol” Thank you, Captain Obvious, I hope so. I used to have huge respect for this brewery, along with a couple of others (I’m looking at you, Stone) but given their recent predilection towards whoring themselves out to, well, people like me, I have somewhat less. (Yes, I have a somewhat Dangerfield-ish attitude in life: to wit, I don’t get, nor expect, no respect.) With that in mind, I’ve sort of given up on trying to keep up with the marketing. But, hey, let’s see if they can still brew, shall we?

No idea why I still have this, because when I sold my house last year I gave away almost all of my older cellar contents (Hi Norm!) but this and a few others lingered. Aaaaand, wow. That is some shit, right there. If other breweries did this, I might have done something other than IPA derivatives for the past year or two. Big oaky boozy goodness. Ok, fine, you’re as good as you say you are. I’d claim to be offended, but I’m also as good as I say I am, so we’ll call it a draw, shall we? (17/20)

This will be my 5,056th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery Sparklepuff Galaxy Starfighter, Defender of the Universe – Triple IPA at 10.2% ABV | 34 IBU (C$4.81 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 12-Jul-2021, acquired 3-Sep-2021, reviewed 11-Sep-2021)

Appearance: clear particulate-laden pale gold with three fingers of loose pale yellow head, good retention, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, stone fruit, citrus zest, pale malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slick body, moderate carbonation, lingering warming finish. (3/5)

I’ve had this style enough times that I grudgingly capitulate to it being a style – but I still don’t like it. That’s not to say I don’t like high ABV’s, or for that matter, getting drunk: I like both very much, and reject modern attempts to demonize either. (And, for that matter, I also have to acknowledge this brewery as being one of my first introductions to the entire concept of craft beer, a debt which I can in truth never repay.) Not only that, the brewer web site specifies the hop schedule with sufficient precision that one might actually be able to reproduce it, were one so inclined: Simcoe, Idaho-7, Three Dry Hop Additions (Fermentation Days 4, 8 & 12) Simcoe, Idaho 7, Vic Secret. That being said, this really still is a bit twee – if that can be said about a street urchin who would cheerfully crack you on the head and steal your wallet. Despite its enthusiastic (and wayward urchin encouraging) ABV, the aroma is relatively restrained, which doesn’t particularly impress me. I mean, yeah, I’d have another, if only because I’m half off my ass on the first. (14/20)

This will be my 5,055th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Situation Brewing Mainly Sunny Hazy Pale Ale – American Pale Ale at 4.7% ABV | 16 IBU (C$4.05 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 13-Aug-2021, acquired 3-Sep-2021, reviewed 11-Sep-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fat fingers of loose white head, good retention, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, melon, floral, doughy yeast. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (7/10) Palate: light body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry light bitter finish. (3/5)

Doughy yeast initially led the way, but faded fairly quickly, leaving a pleasant citrus/melon blend. The body is light, tending watery, but finishes clean with no astringency. Decent enough, I suppose, but definitely feels like a Session. (14/20)

This will be my 5,054th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Citizen Brewing Company One Love Hazy ISA – Session IPA at 4.8% ABV | 15 IBU (C$4.36 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 3-Sep-2021, reviewed 11-Sep-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fat fingers of loose white head, good retention, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, mint, pale biscuity malt, light tropical fruit, hint of coconut. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry light bitter finish. (4/5)

Pleasantly hoppy aroma, with elements of some interesting ANZ-style hops, though I can’t find any brewer notes confirming precisely what’s being used here. Bright and easy drinking, with a low enough ABV to make it a true Session. (15/20)

This will be my 5,053rd unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Trolley No. 5 Brewpub Juicy 5.0 – American IPA at 7% ABV | 33 IBU (C$4.00 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 14-Jun-2021, acquired 3-Sep-2021, reviewed 10-Sep-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fat growing fingers of loose off-white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bready caramel, stone fruit, citrus, melon, coconut. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

More malty and yeasty than juicy, if you ask me. The flavour and palate are a little better than the aroma, and in particular it drinks much more easily than might be expected for its ABV. (14/20)

This will be my 5,052nd unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Île Sauvage Brewing Ouest – American IPA at 7% ABV (C$4.95 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 3-Sep-2021, reviewed 9-Sep-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with a massive rocky off-white head, excellent retention and moderate spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: resiny pine, caramel, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

Decent WC-style IPA with resiny pine front and centre, but not overwhelming. I was a bit concerned that the massive head indicated an infection, but I didn’t get any off notes in the aroma or flavour. I’m not getting any of the coconut I usually associate with Sabro, but otherwise there’s a decent balance of citrus and pine. (14/20)

This will be my 5,051st unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Coronado Brewing Company Mango Farm Hazy IPA – American IPA at 6.8% ABV (C$5.08 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 29-Jun-2021, acquired 3-Sep-2021, reviewed 8-Sep-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: sweet tropical & citrus, lactose. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: smooth medium slightly creamy body, moderate carbonation, sweet sticky medium bitter finish. (3/5)

More a “milkshake” style than a “hazy”, in my opinion, with everything that implies. Sweet, with a creamy sticky finish. OK for a change from the typical, but a definite one-and-done. (14/20)

This will be my 5,050th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Last Best Brewing and Distilling Firebird Hazy IPA Encore – American IPA at 7.8% ABV (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 30-Jul-2021, acquired 3-Sep-2021, reviewed 7-Sep-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and spotty soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical & stone fruit, caramel, citrus, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium bitter warming finish. (3/5)

Malty and boozy with tropical fruits dominant on the front end. Muddled and lacking direction. And not exactly “hazy”, either. (13/20)

This will be my 5,049th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Red Church Brewing Co. Session Ale – Session IPA at 4.2% ABV | 33 IBU (C$4.09 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 16-Aug-2021, acquired 3-Sep-2021, reviewed 7-Sep-2021)

Appearance: clear deep gold with two fat fingers of growing rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: citrus, herbal/grass, caramel, light resiny pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry medium bitter slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

I try not to criticize a Session for being a Session, and this one certainly has respectable aroma and flavour, particularly for the style. However, the body, while not inappropriately thin, still has a tendency to fall off a little watery, and that seems to be contributing to a slightly astringent touch in the finish. Moreover, a key characteristic of a Session would presumably be, would you like another? – and I’m not entirely sure I would. (14/20)

This will be my 5,048th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Coronado Brewing Company 25th Anniversary IPA – American IPA at 7.5% ABV (C$5.26 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 28-Jul-2021, acquired 3-Sep-2021, reviewed 5-Sep-2021)

Appearance: clear pale straw with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, berries, herbal, citrus, light dank pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

I dunno – I suppose Coronado would know better than I do, but this doesn’t feel all that San Diego-ish to me. The aroma is mild and not particularly dank or piney, and herbal or berry notes are more emphatic than any citrus. It’s OK, but I’m not particularly thrilled by it, and certainly don’t consider it a worthy 25th anniversary effort. (14/20)

This will be my 5,047th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com