Author: dpatrickryan

Mountains Walking Brewery Cloud Curtain Galaxy – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.5% ABV | 20 IBU (C$7.75 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 26-Feb-2021, acquired 3-Sep-2021, reviewed 5-Sep-2021)

Appearance: hazy opaque straw with two fingers of rocky off-white head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: muddled tropical fruit, cereal grains, citrus, lactose. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: smooth medium-thick body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry warming finish. (3/5)

I feel a little bad rating this this way because of the age, but it is what it is, so… I dunno, if I see a newer one, I’ll rate it again? The aroma and flavour are muddled, and the  oatiness of the body combined with the low(er) carbonation make it a bit thick and syrupy. It’s OK, but nothing great. (14/20)

This will be my 5,046th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

High River Brewing Co. Lounging Bulldog – Session IPA at 3.5% ABV (C$3.91 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 3-Sep-2021, reviewed 5-Sep-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy deep gold with three fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: grass, pilsner malt, citrus, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, medium duration bitter finish. (4/5)

Grass and Pilsner-ish malt dominate the aroma and flavour here. However, it’s pleasant, and surprisingly flavourful for such a very low ABV. (15/20)

This will be my 5,045th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mountains Walking Brewery Tin Sky DDH – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8% ABV (C$9.85 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 16-Feb-2021, acquired 3-Sep-2021, reviewed 3-Sep-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of creamy dense pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical & stone fruits, oats & bready malt, citrus, hint of resiny pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium bitter warming finish. (4/5)

The slightly muddy appearance is mirrored in the slightly muddy aroma. I’m not getting the bright hoppiness I like to see for Nelson Sauvin, Galaxy, or Mosaic hops (all favourites of mine), but I wonder whether that might be due to it really being too old. (I’ve sort of stopped checking dates when I’m hauling things out of the cooler, because my go-to shop – Collective – is generally pretty good about only stocking fresh, but they dropped the ball little here. It’s also more than a little puzzling that this thing apparently took 7 months to make the 7 hour drive from Bozeman.) (15/20)

This will be my 5,044th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Crooked Stave Silly Cybies – Belgian Strong Dark Ale at 9% ABV (US$13.99 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 375 ml, packaged on 1-Nov-2015, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 21-Aug-2021)

Appearance: clear ruby tinted amber-brown with one finger of creamy pale beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap and ring, spotty soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: complex, raspberry, balsamic vinegar, oak, dark fruit, lemon, cherry. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high tart, moderate sweet, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry tart finish. (4/5)

Blew the dust off this one after more than four years in the cellar. Still has loads of raspberry and balsamic vinegar, with some added underlying complexity of woody notes, dark fruit, and lemony citrus. A bit too much emphasis on the acetic sour at this point, possibly at least partially due to the half decade in the bottle. Still pretty good, though. (17/20)

This will be my 5,005th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

2 Crows Brewing Hoopla – Sour / Wild Ale at 4.3% ABV (C$13.85 at Collective, 375 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 22-May-2020, reviewed 19-Aug-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fizzy white head diminishing gradually and loudly to a thick persistent cap, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: coffee, lactic sour, wood, tequila. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high tart, moderate sweet, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, off-dry tart finish. (4/5)

It’s hard to get coffee to work well at the best of times, and this really isn’t the best backdrop for it: sour and coffee? Meh. The hint of tequila is interesting, coming across as lime-like in the finish, and unlike coffee works well with the sour elements, but overall the combination just isn’t working for me. (14/20)

This will be my 5,004th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

2 Crows Brewing Express – Sour / Wild Ale at 5.4% ABV (C$13.85 at Collective, 375 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 22-May-2020, reviewed 18-Aug-2021)

Appearance: clear reddish-tinted pale amber with one fat finger of fluffy white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone fruit, lactic sour, horseblankety funk, wood, floral. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, moderate-low bitter, light funk. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, off-dry tart finish. (4/5)

The label says there’s pineapple, hibiscus, and ginger in this, but I can’t say I’m getting a whole lot of either – possibly because this has been in the bottle for over a year. And to be clear, that’s not a criticism, because to the extent that those adjuncts are present, they’re working very well with the base Wild character. I’ve only had a couple of Wilds by this brewer, but this is certainly the best, and might actually be the best beer overall I’ve had by them. (16/20)

This will be my 5,003rd unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bellwoods Brewery White Picket Fence Nectarine – Saison at 6% ABV (C$18.55 at Collective, 500 ml, packaged on 25-Sep-2020, acquired 6-Aug-2021, reviewed 17-Aug-2021)

Appearance: hazy slightly murky pale straw with one fat finger of foamy white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone fruit, horseblankety funk, leather, wood. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light funk. (9/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, dry lightly funky finish. (4/5)

I’ve found stone fruit to be a pleasant adjunct to several styles, and in particular have found peaches or nectarines work very well with Saisons and Wilds. That’s very much the case here, where the base beer already had significant stone fruit character. I think the aroma is slightly more stone fruit emphatic than the base version, but truth be told I’d have to have them side-by-side to be certain. The fruit seems to have adversely affected head development and retention, even more so than the 2019 vintage which I already accused of that particular sin. It’s also hazier and murkier than I’d like to see, which I again attribute to the fruit adjunct. Bottom line, though, it’s an interesting alternative interpretation of an excellent blended foeder saison. (16/20)

This will be my 5,002nd unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

DuClaw Brewing Company Getaway Message – American IPA at 7.6% ABV | 45 IBU (C$5.53 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 15-Jun-2021, acquired 6-Aug-2021, reviewed 16-Aug-2021)

Appearance: hazy slightly muddy pale gold with two fat fingers of foamy pale ivory head, good retention and spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: coconut, pineapple & tropical fruit, cereal grains, citrus. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter, moderate-low tart. (7/10) Medium body, moderate-low carbonation, slightly boozy finish. (4/5)

Brewer notes say this is hopped with Sabro & Sultana, and has adjuncts of Monk Fruit, pineapple juice, and toasted coconut. My immediate reaction is that it’s too sweet, but the emphatic Piña Colada character to some extent forgives (or at least explains) that. Not to the extent of me being completely happy with this, mind you. Very much a one and done. (14/20)

This will be my 5,001st unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

The Establishment Brewing Company Blackbird – American Wild Ale at 7.8% ABV (C$21.25 at Collective, 750 ml, packaged on 30-Apr-2021, acquired 6-Aug-2021, reviewed 15-Aug-2021)

Appearance: clear red-tinged amber brown with two fat fingers of rocky pinkish tan head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: complex, balsamic vinegar, black currants, vinous oak, stone fruit. (9/10) Taste: moderate tart, moderate sweet, low bitter. (8/10) Medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, tannic tart finish. (4/5)

Clearly this one was so excited to be my milestone, that it leapt out to meet me. After a minor spill and cleanup, the tasting proceeded. Initially, I thought it was all Oude Bruin, with a balsamic vinegar-like top note leading the way. However, this was soon joined by vinous notes, stone fruit, and in particular an interesting black currant, both flesh and skin, bringing to mind black currant jam from my great-grandmother’s garden forty years ago. A very interesting cross-genre blend. (17/20)

This will be my 5,000th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Bellwoods Brewery Jelly King Dragon Fruit & Pineapple – Sour / Wild Ale at 5.6% ABV (C$13.00 at Collective, 500 ml, packaged on 16-Jun-2021, acquired 6-Aug-2021, reviewed 15-Aug-2021)

Appearance: hazy pink with two fat fingers of rocky pale pink head, good retention and no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: doughy yeast, tropical fruit, lactic tart. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high tart, moderate sweet, low bitter. (7/10) Medium-light body, lively carbonation, off-dry short duration tart finish. (4/5)

A good example of the style of Jelly King where the fruit adjunct overwhelms the base beer, to the point where any hop notes are essentially lost. I don’t dislike it, but it’s definitely not as good as the original, or as a couple of the more even-handed fruited variants. Immediately upon decapping, there’s a doughy bready yeast, but that is almost immediately overtaken by kiwi-like dragonfruit and sweet pineapple. And that’s pretty much it. What there is, is fine, and if I didn’t know this series so well, I mightn’t have had any complaints – but I do, so I do. (14/20)

This will be my 4,999th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze