Author: dpatrickryan

Phantom Beer Co. White Space – White IPA at 7.5% ABV | 20 IBU (C$4.81 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 25-Mar-2021, acquired 10-Jun-2021, reviewed 10-Jun-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of creamy pale ivory head, good retention and well-defined soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stewed fruit, Belgian esters, wheat, floral, vegetal, pine. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration lightly warming finish. (4/5)

The brewer notes call this “a full-bodied blend of a hazy and a white IPA”, “brewed with the Barbe Rouge hop, full of strawberry, cherry and other red fruit characters.” Well… no. At least, not entirely. I’d like it to be, but it really isn’t. Mind you, I’ve had that hop only one other time that I know of, and didn’t get a lot of that promised character then, either. Whether this is another case of a hop that overpromises and underdelivers (yes, I’m looking at you, Lemondrop and Mandarina) or whether I’m just not sophisticated enough to appreciate it (I got called a “vulgar man” this week, only partly in jest) I leave as an exercise for the reader. As an AIPA, this is a bit of a failure, and it’s only somewhat better as a White IPA. It tastes a bit better than it smells, and doesn’t really have any negatives, so the score reflects that. I haven’t had a great deal of experience with this brewery (n=6), but this is definitely not one of their better offerings (μ=7.4 & σ=0.38). (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Revival Brewcade Orange Morty – American IPA at 7.7% ABV (C$4.45 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 10-Jun-2021, reviewed 10-Jun-2021)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with one finger of loose pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: orange creamsicle (orange juice, lactose, vanilla). (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, low tart. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-low carbonation, medium duration lightly warming finish. (3/5)

Meh. It’s got some of the creamsicle character the label promises, but it needs to go more one way or the other. That is, it’s a little creamy, sure, but only a little. The low carbonation, rather than contributing to a creamy mouthfeel, just makes it feel a bit anaemic and flat, almost watery. Either go heavier and creamier, or lighter and brighter. Definitely not the best example of the style I’ve had. And, I haven’t had a lot by these guys, but despite wanting to like them on general principles (come on, a retro arcade/brewery?) they really aren’t crushing it (for n=5, μ=6.7 & σ=0.9). (13/20)

6.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Mikkeller Spontancherry Frederiksdal 2015 – Sour / Wild Ale at 7.2% ABV (C$11.92 at Collective, 375 ml, best before 21-Jan-2026, acquired 22-May-2020, reviewed 9-Jun-2021)

Appearance: clear red with a short thin purple head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: cherries, jammy field berries, oak, vanilla, nuts. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, dry short duration finish. (5/5)

Except for the thin ring of head, this looks, smells, and drinks like a woody red wine. On the tongue, the cherry character becomes much more pronounced, but remains dry and acidic without being sweet. Very much like sipping on a woody Cabernet. I especially like how the fruitiness comes through strongly but with very little concomitant sweetness, resulting in a dry sipper. Classy and enjoyable. (17/20)

8.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Mikkeller Spontandryhop Citra – Sour / Wild Ale at 5.5% ABV (C$7.06 at Collective, 330 ml, best before 7-Mar-2022, acquired 22-May-2020, reviewed 9-Jun-2021)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone fruit, tart citrus, barnyard funk, pomes, floral, wood, leather. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, short duration crisp tart finish. (4/5)

I meant to drink this one earlier, given the dry-hopping, but it ended up forgotten at the back of my cellar. As a result, I don’t think there’s a whole lot of Citra character left, and it’s dominated by wild notes – which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I suppose.  (16/20)

8/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Strathcona Beer Company Head Banger – Triple IPA at 9.5% ABV (C$5.17 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 25-May-2021, reviewed 8-Jun-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and moderate chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: candied tropical fruit, citrus, resiny pine, cereal grains. (7/10) Taste: high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, lingering building bitter warming finish. (4/5)

My second version of this one, which the label says is double-dry hopped with Motueka, Strata, and Galaxy, on a base of pilsner malt, 2-row, flaked wheat, and oats. I find this one a lot sweeter than the previous, as well as a lot more bitter and a lot hotter – which is to say, a whole lot more just about everything. (Except, unfortunately, aroma.) Still decent, but definitely not an improvement over the previous iteration. (15/20)

7.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Bent Stick Brewing Co. Swap the Hops Huell Melon – American Pale Ale at 5% ABV (C$4.00 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 25-May-2021, reviewed 7-Jun-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: melon flesh and rind, sweet cereal grains, floral. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

I think this might be the first ever single-hopped Huell Melon I’ve ever had. I’m quite grateful for that, because it seems to fairly conclusively establish something I’ve suspected for a while. To wit: I don’t really like Huell Melon. Specifically, while it does certainly have melon character, a large portion of that is a vegetal, rind-like note which really doesn’t do it for me. Glad I had it, wouldn’t again. (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

2 Crows Brewing Tiny Dancer – Grisette / Petit Saison at 3.6% ABV | 40 IBU (C$5.08 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 18-Mar-2021, acquired 25-May-2021, reviewed 7-Jun-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with two fat fingers of fluffy white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: barnyardy funk, stone fruit, pomes, light plastic band-aid. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, mild tart, light spice. (7/10) Palate: light body, lively carbonation, dry crisp funky finish. (4/5)

Impressive amounts of aroma and flavour given the very small ABV. There’s a little phenol band-aid note there that I’m not a fan of, but in general it’s pretty good. The label says “BITTER FRESH FUNKY”, and as usual I’m really also not a fan of the second term. All in all, though, this is pretty decent, and not just “for a lite beer”. (15/20)

7.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

2 Crows Brewing / Bogside Brewing Bubble Breaker – Wood-Aged Beer at 5.1% ABV (C$5.17 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 10-Feb-2021, acquired 25-May-2021, reviewed 6-Jun-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with a massive runaway white head, good retention and well-defined soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: barnyardy funk, stone fruit, citrus, pomes. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: light body, moderate-lively carbonation, dry crisp funky finish. (4/5)

The label calls this a “Foedre-aged Brett Lager”, which I’m pretty sure is a new one on me. I changed my style classification for this one half a dozen times before settling on “Wood-Aged” as the best existing style in my category list. (There was no way in hell I was adding another new style to cover one beer – I don’t need another repeat of “Mumme” or “Sahti”. Hell, even “Braggot”, “Grätzer”, “Grisette”, and “Gruit” have multiple examples in my records!) Though, I suppose if you think about it, it’s probably not all that different, either in technique or in character, from a traditionally-brewed Saison. The label also says “CRISP FUNKY DRY” and that’s definitely a fair assessment. I didn’t much like the foamy mess upon opening and pouring, but the beer itself is not half bad. (15/20)

7.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Mikkeller Brown / Jackie – American Brown Ale at 6% ABV (C$6.07 at Collective, 330 ml, best before 25-Nov-2021, acquired 25-May-2021, reviewed 6-Jun-2021)

Appearance: clear brown with a massive fluffy beige head, good retention, moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: roasty malts, chocolate, tart dark fruit, liquorice, mild lactic sour, oak. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration finish. (4/5)

A pleasant Brown Ale with a fruity tartness mediating roasted malts. There’s not a lot of depth there, especially for a Mikkeller, but it’s mild and easy to drink. (15/20)

7.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Narrow Gauge Brewing Company King Fallen Flag – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.6% ABV (C$9.85 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 15-Feb-2021, acquired 25-May-2021, reviewed 4-Jun-2021)

Appearance: hazy bright medium gold with two fat fingers of loose pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, tropical fruit, boozy sweetness, resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky lingering bitter warming finish. (4/5)

I had really high hopes here: I’ve had NEIPAs in the past that just didn’t live up to their full potential until they were re-done as DIPAs, and I was hoping that’d be the case here. I’ve had both the base and DDH versions, and found them to be very good and pretty good, respectively. The label says it’s hopped with Citra, Mosaic, and Columbus, which I think is similar to the base version, possibly less the Columbus. However, as was the case with the DDH version, I’m not finding this to be a clear improvement over the base version. Heavier, yes, but that additional weight isn’t being put to good use in supporting a more emphatic hop note. It’s just… heavier. I like it, but not better than the base version. (15/20)

7.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze