Author: dpatrickryan

Trolley No. 5 Brewpub Lil’ Haze – Session IPA at 3.9% ABV (C$3.95 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 10-Jun-2021, reviewed 19-Jun-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of loose off-white head diminishing gradually to a thick cap, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: oily lemon zest, gritty cereal grains, resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: light body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry short duration lightly astringent finish. (4/5)

Similar in a lot of ways to their very excellent Uptown Haze, which at the time felt like an anomaly to me based upon my prior (limited) experience with this brewer. This isn’t quite as good, but has a lot of the same aromatics going on, albeit on a much lighter, almost watery body. In my scoring, I try not to penalize a SIPA for being light, but ultimately although this is quite good in both aroma and taste, it just doesn’t have the same oomph as its heavier brother. It’s close, and it’s pretty good for what it is, but at the end of the day it’s just a little bit too much what it is, for me to score it higher. On the other hand, to be at roughly 90% of the performance at less than half (!) the ABV is no mean feat at all, and this is definitely one you could literally drink all day long. (15/20)

7.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Bent Stick Brewing Co. Thank You, Next. – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.5% ABV (C$5.08 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 10-Jun-2021, reviewed 17-Jun-2021)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thick persistent cap, well-defined soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, caramel, grass, mild dank pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry building bitter warming slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

The label says this is hopped with Galaxy and Nelson Sauvin. Well, maybe, but I’m not getting a lot of what I consider to be typical ANZ hop character. What I do get, is a fairly typical strong DIPA, with a somewhat edgy bitter mouth feel whose astringency is only slightly tempered by the boozy heat. Maybe not quite the way they meant it, but: yes, thank you, next. (13/20)

6.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery Fireworks & Karate – American IPA at 4.5% ABV (C$4.36 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 18-May-2021, acquired 10-Jun-2021, reviewed 17-Jun-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of rocky off-white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: lime, light brine, faint coconut. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter, light tart, light salt. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, crisp tart finish. (4/5)

Brewer notes say this is hopped with African Queen, Southern Passion, Cashmere, and Sabro. There are further adulterations adjuncts of lime juice, orange juice concentrate, agave syrup, and kosher salt, presumably in pursuit of that “margarita IPA” profile. Well, let’s just see if it delivers on that OH MY GOD IT’S A MARGARITA IPA. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s an abomination, but given its low ABV, lively carbonation, and tart briny finish, you could drink these on a sunny patio all day long.  I’m not getting much (if any) hop character, and the aroma could stand to be brighter and/or not just briny lime – though, I think I started to get just a hint of coconut towards the end. It’s not going to change your life or anything, but for what it is, it’s good fun. (15/20)

7.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Zero Issue Brewing Muspelheim IPA (Issue #46) – India Red Ale at 5.9% ABV (C$4.41 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 10-Jun-2021, reviewed 16-Jun-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy red-tinged medium amber with two fingers of rocky light tan head, excellent retention and moderate chunky soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: sweet caramel, grass, light pine, faint citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry bitter mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Muspelheim is, of course, one of the Nine Realms, the home of the Fire Giants, guarded by Surtr (“Surt”). The brewer calls this “a Red IPA with a hop profile that pays homage to the west coast varietals. A delicious offering we can imagine even Surt might enjoy.” Well, I can’t speak to what a giant fire being might or might not enjoy, but I personally don’t see a whole lot of West Coast influence here. It’s malt-dominant, with some slightly muddled hops playing second fiddle to grassy slightly piney hops. (Yes, I know it’s Muspelheim, not The Devil Went Down to Georgia!) Checking my records, I see that this is a style I neither frequently have, nor enjoy all that much: for n=10, μ=7 & σ=0.62. Zero Issue , on the other hand, I’ve had more frequently, and generally enjoy: for n=22, μ=7.4 & σ=0.51. So, I dunno – better than average for the style, but worse than average for the brewer? Yeah, that sounds about right. (And, by the way, with Midgard, this is the second of the Nine Realms now represented. I assume we’ll be seeing Asgard, Jotunheim, Svartalfheim, Vanaheim, Nidavellir, Niflheim, and Alfheim in due course?) (15/20)

7.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

The Establishment Brewing Company Food For Clouds – American IPA at 7% ABV (C$4.90 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 26-May-2021, acquired 10-Jun-2021, reviewed 16-Jun-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of rocky white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains, hint of pine. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry mild bitter lightly spicy finish. (4/5)

I’m getting a bit tired of saying this about The Establishment’s products, but this is a nice beer. (No I’m not – keep ‘em coming!) Interestingly, the brewer notes specifies the malts (2Row, Golden Promise, Flaked Oats, Flaked Wheat, Malted Wheat, Cara-Pils) and yeast (Escarpment Labs Foggy London), and also specify a double drop of dry-hopping, yet say the actual hops are “secret”. (I don’t suppose they mean “Vic Secret”?) It might not be quite as good as some of the Sky Rocket series, but dammit, it’s close, and at or above the middle of the pack for a reliably good brewer (for n=17, μ=8 & σ=0.51). In fact, I’ve detected a little green vegetal note in a few of the Sky Rocket series, but that’s completely absent here, whether from variations in hop selection or the brewing process, so that’s all to the good. (17/20)

8.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Cascade Brewing Kriek (2020) – Kriek at 7.9% ABV (C$19.95 at Collective, 500 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 10-Jun-2021, reviewed 15-Jun-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy ruby red with two fingers of loudly fizzy pink head, excellent retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: cherries, oak, malt vinegar. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high tart, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry tart tannic finish. (4/5)

I think this is more a re-imagining, than a new version, of their Kriek Ale I had about five years ago. I’m not getting the same intensity of Flanders Red umami / malt vinegar note in this one, and the colour is much lighter. They say this one is a blend of sour red and blonde ales, and while I don’t recall whether the previous had the blonde, this one definitely doesn’t have the same brown undertone of a Flanders Red. Cherries definitely carry the day here, without bringing excessive sweetness. The finish is off-dry and tart, with a tannic woody edge. Really nice slow sipper. (17/20)

8.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Long Hop Brewing Co. Galaxy NEIPA – American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 43 IBU (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 20-May-2021, acquired 10-Jun-2021, reviewed 15-Jun-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical & stone fruit, cereal grains, citrus, dank resin. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration slightly spicy finish. (4/5)

I’m not sure that it’s single-hopped, but it might be – certainly, I’m not getting anything that can’t be Galaxy. I like this one: there’s pleasant tropical and stone fruits on the front end, followed by citrus and a mild dank skunky resin, all on a clean malt background. It’s a bit sweeter than I’d prefer, but not excessively so, and it ends up being easy to drink. Pretty similar to their “Hazy Pale Ale”, but more Galaxy-ish, which is all to the good as far as I’m concerned. All in all, very good. (16/20)

8/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Microbrasserie Les Trois Mousquetaires Pale Ale Américaine – American Pale Ale at 5% ABV | 42 IBU (C$4.27 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 15-Apr-2021, acquired 10-Jun-2021, reviewed 14-Jun-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: biscuity malt, grass, floral, citrus, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly spicy finish. (3/5)

I’m of two minds about this one: although it’s quite well-done as an old-school (verging on old-fashioned) example of the style, the label description would seem to be more appropriate to a completely different beer: “Bière ambrée caractérisée par l’apport aromatique des houblons du terroir de l’ouest américain.” Well… first and foremost, it’s not amber, but straw. And secondly, the hopping aroma is not particularly representative of what I would consider West Coast: despite the fact that it’s hopped with Columbus, Centennial, Cascade, and Amarillo, for me the dominant hop character is grassy and floral, followed by some citrus and very faint pine. On the tongue, I appreciate the no-nonsense sharp bitterness and the slightly spicy hop burn finish, but again the absence of an emphatic resiny pine puts it at odds with its stated style profile. Bottom line, it’s good, but no better than that. (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Village Brewery Father (2021) – American IPA at 7% ABV | 22 IBU (C$3.91 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 21-May-2021, acquired 10-Jun-2021, reviewed 14-Jun-2021)

Appearance: hazy near-opaque opaque pale gold with two fingers of fine pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains, light tart wheat funk. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium duration finish. (3/5)

The label calls this a “Juicy Ebbegarden NEIPA”, referring to the use of Ebbegarden Kveik yeast, and brewer notes indicate it’s hopped with Ella, Cashmere, and Ekuanot. I’m definitely getting a mild smoothness and sweetness from the use of oats in the malt bill, but that combined with the at-most moderate carbonation is making it feel a touch too sweet for my preference. OK, but I wouldn’t want more than the one. (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Anchorage Brewing Company Double Pie Assassin – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.4% ABV (C$7.78 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 10-Jun-2021, reviewed 12-Jun-2021)

Appearance: opaque pale gold with two fingers of fluffy off-white head, excellent retention and heavy chunky lacing. (5/5) Aroma: mild, tropical fruit, vanilla, lactose, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration lightly warming finish. (4/5)

First and foremost: this is good. Let’s be clear on that. That being said, I’m not entirely sure AIPAs are really in Anchorage’s wheelhouse. This is the first example I’ve seen by them of any AIPA, be it double, NE or otherwise, and although it’s solid, it’s not as good an example of that style as some of their other offerings are of their respective styles. In particular, I’d very much like to have seen brighter, more pungent aromas, but they’re actually surprisingly mild for such a big beer. On the other hand, the high ABV doesn’t intrude and it’s pretty easy to drink. (16/20)

8/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze