Author: dpatrickryan

Imperial City Brew House Hazy NEIPA – American IPA at 6% ABV | 35 IBU (C$4.45 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Apr-2021, reviewed 26-Apr-2021)

Appearance: slightly murky hazy medium gold with two fingers of loose off-white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone and tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains, earth. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: smooth medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium duration finish. (3/5)

A new brewery to me, and not the most auspicious of beginnings. Brewer notes don’t specify the hops, but do indicate oats and wheat, probably explaining the slightly thicker smooth texture – which I like – but also the sweeter finish – which I don’t. Those cereal grains are also present in the aroma, but not excessively so. However, the aroma just isn’t wowing me, coming across as a muddle of stewed fruit rather than brightly juicy, and that doesn’t improve through the finish. (13/20)

6.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Bent Stick Brewing Co. Swap the Hops Sultana – American Pale Ale at 5% ABV (C$4.45 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Apr-2021, reviewed 25-Apr-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale straw with two fingers of rocky white head, good retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, vegetal, pale malt, stone fruit, citrus, earthy pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry bitter lightly astringent finish. (3/5)

I’ve ranted before about how “Sultana” used to be “Denali,” and how bad a name “Sultana” is, so I won’t revisit the same ground. I’ve also noted that I’m unsure that this hop has the depth of character to pull off single-hopping, and this sure isn’t changing my mind in that regard. (In fact, I don’t like this as well as I did Trailways’ single hop with it.) I don’t know if it’s a different crop, or different treatment, but I’m getting less of the tropical and stone fruit character the hop is known for, and more weedy piney vegetal – and that’s underscored by the slight astringency in the finish. It’s not terrible, but it’s not great either. (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

S.Y.C. Brewing Co. Hopsycle IPA – American IPA at 6.0% ABV (C$4.45 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 14-Apr-2021, acquired 23-Apr-2021, reviewed 24-Apr-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: tropical and stone fruits, citrus, melon, pale malt, light cat piss. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry clean lightly tart finish. (4/5)

When I noticed the date stamp on this one, I had to prioritize getting to it – hopefully at only two weeks old, this is the next best thing to on tap at the brewery. During the initial pour I thought there was quite a bit of cattiness, but that seemed to boil off quickly and leave behind a nice blend of tropical and stone fruits, backed up by citrus and melon/lychee. The malt is completely unobtrusive here, and it’s kind of rare to see spelt in the grain bill, but I’ll take it. The label calls this a dessert beer, but I’m not seeing it: the sweetness is actually quite restrained behind dominant hops, and the finish is off-dry. The brewer notes reference a “new dry-hopping technique” without specifying what it is – whirlpool? secondary? hop rocket? – but regardless, it’s working for me. (I sort of felt that this one was pretty much par for the course for this brewery, whom I thought was generally pretty reliable, and a quick check of my personal stats bear that out – for n=20, μ=7.5 & σ=0.56.) (16/20)

8/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Modern Times Beer Space Ways – American IPA at 6.7% ABV | 40 IBU (C$4.72 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 20-Nov-2020, acquired 23-Apr-2021, reviewed 24-Apr-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: citrus flesh & oily zest, stone fruit, white grape, bready malt, mild earthy pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: smooth medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

I guess I’m just as happy I didn’t look at the packaging date before buying this one, because it would have been a dilemma. Come on, guys, does it really take five months (!) to get to Calgary from San Diego? Now my dilemma is merely in trying to assess how badly this has faded in its time in the can… (On the other hand, the stamp also said “SAY HER NAME” so being the bleeding heart liberal I am I’d’ve felt a bit of an obligation to support them in any case.) Hopped with Nelson Sauvin, Motueka, and Simcoe; malts are 2 row, wheat malt, and oats; yeast is London III. I don’t much believe the brewer claim of only 40 IBU, since it feels more like 60+ to me, but at least it isn’t bland. I want to say the Nelson character has faded a little, since the aroma is dominated by an oily lime/citrus instead of the grape must I normally expect, but then again it’s not single-hopped. And you certainly can’t accuse it of being boring! (16/20)

8/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Nickel Brook Brewing Co. Blessed Double Divine – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.3% ABV (C$5.89 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 21-Jan-2021, acquired 9-Apr-2021, reviewed 23-Apr-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: slight boozy juicy tropical fruit, citrus, bready caramel, resiny pine, stewed fruits. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, lingering and building bitter warming finish. (4/5)

So, my immediate question is, is there a “Cursed” version, and if so, how’s it different? (Spice, maybe?) [A quick Google search confirms there is a “Cursed,” but it’s a Stout, so dark, so cursed. Racist much? ?] Anyway, as regards this one: yeah, I like it. It smells a bit better than it tastes, with fairly juicy tropical fruit and citrus leading the way over bready malts and earthy pine. On the tongue, though, it’s not quite as bright (but still good). The finish leaves no doubt as to the ABV, with a distinct warming. I haven’t been buying many dark beers lately, but maybe I’ll see if I can find its Cursed cousin/brother from another mother. (15/20)

7.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Ravens Brewing Co. Jackalope – American IPA at 7% ABV | 24 IBU (C$4.27 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 9-Apr-2021, reviewed 22-Apr-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of dense pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, apples, melon, stewed fruits, barnyard funk. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering mildly astringent lightly funky finish. (3/5)

I vigorously dispute that 24 IBU on the label – it drinks more like three or four times that, if you ask me, especially with the slight astringency in the finish. I suppose there might be some Kveik yeast-derived compounds there that don’t show up in the standard chemistry? Brewer notes indicate they used 15 hops in this – which might actually be too much a good thing, in that it seems to have resulted in somewhat a mish-mash of aroma and flavour lacking clear direction. It’s OK, but not one I’d seek out again. (13/20)

6.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Winterlong Brewing Co. Nightshade – Black IPA at 7% ABV (C$4.81 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 9-Apr-2021, reviewed 21-Apr-2021)

Appearance: clear brown with one fat finger of rocky tan head, good retention and well-defined soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: toasted malts, pine, citrus, earth, light catty. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration moderate bitter finish. (4/5)

I’m not sure about the wisdom of naming your beer after a deadly poison, but, hey, nobody asked me. Solid example of the style, with a fairly harmonious blend of dark malt, earthy pine, and citrus. There’s a hint of cattiness, particularly as it warms, but not to the point of being off-putting. All in all, quite acceptable. (15/20)

7.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Captain Lawrence Brewing Company Orbital Tilt – American IPA at 5.9% ABV (C$4.81 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 4-Dec-2020, acquired 9-Apr-2021, reviewed 20-Apr-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fine pale ivory head, good retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, cereal grains, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration moderate bitter finish. (4/5)

The label indicates Pilsner malt and malted oats, but doesn’t specify the hops, while the brewer web site simply says “rotating hops”. I think it might be the Citra version, but don’t hold me to that, because the fruit character is a bit muddled. Pleasant, I suppose, but not spectacular. (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Revival Brewcade Hypercolour – American IPA at 6% ABV | 70 IBU (C$4.14 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 9-Apr-2021, reviewed 19-Apr-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy medium gold with one fat finger of fine white head, good retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, caramel, citrus, pine, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

The label indicates Citra, Amarillo, and Azacca hops, and I’m sort of getting that, but a bit muddled, rather than bright and clean. Not unlike the slightly murky appearance, in fact, and certainly not to the extent that I’d call it a “Tropical IPA” the way the can does. I suppose it’s possible that it’s just a little old and faded, but I doubt it: it’s a local brewer and it’s rare for me to take more than a couple of weeks between trips to the store to harvest everything new, so I place it at a month or two old, tops. (Unless they’re sending old stock to the retailers, in which case: Bad brewer! No cookie for you!) I suppose, given the somewhat tea-like appearance, it might actually be infected, but I’m not really getting any wet cardboard or the like, so I dunno. Anybody from Revival want to enlighten me? (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Troubled Monk Brewery Adaptation – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8% ABV (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 17-Mar-2021, acquired 9-Apr-2021, reviewed 18-Apr-2021)

Appearance: clear deep gold with one fat finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone & tropical fruit, honey, herbal, pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter warming finish. (4/5)

A bit old-fashioned but relatively easy drinking, with only the warming finish to warn of the high ABV. I don’t know what recipe they adapted here, but it’s clear that they didn’t do very much adaptation – this wouldn’t have been out of place or unexpected ten years ago. (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze