Author: dpatrickryan

Anchorage Brewing Company / Gigantic Brewing Company An Eternity (Batch #2) – Saison at 8% ABV (C$14.25 at Collective, 375 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 26-Mar-2021, reviewed 7-Apr-2021)

Appearance: clear (except for the lees) ruby red with a short-lived pale pink head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tart berries and pome, bready yeast, oak, balsamic, dry hay funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high tart, moderate sweet, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, dry tart finish. (4/5)

Sort of similar to Anchorage’s Love Buzz, in that it’s a lot more like a Wild or Mixed Fermentation than a Saison, and also an enjoyable slow sipper that misses the mark on just about every metric for Saison. No idea what a Marionberry is, but this is dominated by tart field berries and sour green apples. (16/20)

8/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Brasserie Dunham Borvo – White IPA at 5.6% ABV (C$5.17 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 28-Jan-2021, acquired 26-Mar-2021, reviewed 6-Apr-2021)

Appearance: opaque straw with two fingers of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thick persistent cap, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, white pepper, grapefruit, bready yeast. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, moderate-low peppery spice. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, dry slightly peppery finish. (4/5)

Not quite what I was expecting, but interesting regardless. In the more traditional versions, this style typically has an emphasis on spices and Belg-ish phenols, with relatively little fruit character. This turns that relationship on its head, emphasizing the fruit, and having very little spice presence (and essentially no phenols). (Weird name, too – sounds like a kitchen product you’d find in a French supermarket, doesn’t it?) (15/20)

7.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Cabin Brewing Company Star Burst – Triple IPA at 9.5% ABV | 60 IBU (C$5.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 19-Mar-2021, acquired 26-Mar-2021, reviewed 5-Apr-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and heavy chunky lacing. (5/5) Aroma: juicy sweet tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains, oats, light melon. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate carbonation, sweetish lingering bitter warming finish. (4/5)

The label says this is a “Triple IPA with Galaxy hops”, and checking the brewer web site confirms this is in fact the single hop. The aroma is pretty much what I’d expect from that hop, one of my favourites, so it’s small surprise that I’m rating it so highly. On the tongue, though, it’s just a shade too sweet. I understand the challenge of keeping a beast like this on a leash, but I’d prefer it to be a bit more juicy and a bit less sweet. That sweetness carries through into the slightly sticky finish, which also starts to get a little less “orange juice” and a little more “melon rind” (perhaps what the brewer refers to as “lychee”) as it warms. These are all minor quibbles, though, and in all I consider this a top contender (in a three-way tie for first) from a brewery that I tend to rate quite highly (μ=7.7, σ=0.6 for n=18). (17/20)

8.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Bellwoods Brewery Jelly King Raspberry & Blackberry – Sour / Wild Ale at 5.6% ABV (C$14.35 at Collective, 650 ml, packaged on 17-Feb-2021, acquired 26-Mar-2021, reviewed 4-Apr-2021)

Appearance: slightly muddy purplish-red with one fat finger of fluffy pink head, good retention and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: jammy raspberry & field berries. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high tart, moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, tart finish. (4/5)

Similar to the Plum variant, in that the fruit adjunct overwhelms everything else. Actually, I think this one does that even more, to the extent that there’s really nothing else detectable. That’s not a complaint, because the fruit is lovely, bright and juicy, and the sweetness isn’t overwhelming. (16/20)

8/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Evil Twin Brewing IPA Is Not A Problem To Be Solved, But A Reality To Be Experienced – American IPA at 10% ABV (C$11.30 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 26-Mar-2021, reviewed 1-Apr-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with one fat finger of fluffy pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy tropical & stone fruit, cereal grains, citrus, resiny pine. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-full slightly creamy body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter warming finish. (4/5)

Wow, that title is almost unbearably pretentious, innit? (But then, when aren’t Evil Twin’s names unbearably pretentious?) Good beer though. As usual I can’t find any proper brewer’s notes from Jeppe, but secondary sources say it’s DDH’d with Waimea, Citra, and Wakatu. Surprisingly easy drinking for a double digit ABV, with just a mild alcohol spiciness and warming in the finish. Crushable, until you fall over. (17/20)

8.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Fair State Co-Op Pahlay – American Pale Ale at 5% ABV | 45 IBU (C$5.08 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 25-Dec-2020, acquired 26-Mar-2021, reviewed 1-Apr-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale straw with one fat finger of fluffy white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: zesty citrus, cereal grains, tropical fruit, resiny pine. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration bitter finish. (4/5)

Hopped with Citra, Citra Cryo, Denali, and Simcoe Cryo; malts are 2 row, flaked oats and wheat, and malted wheat. And, unsurprisingly, the yeast is London III. Brewer notes say mango, but for me it looks, smells, and tastes like grapefruit juice, albeit with some tropical fruit and just a hint of pine in the background. Very nice, easy drinking and eminently crushable, the would be an excellent go-to. (17/20)

8.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Ale Architect Brewing Ltd. Lil’ Crispy – Helles Lager at 5% ABV (C$4.20 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 23-Nov-2020, acquired 26-Mar-2021, reviewed 1-Apr-2021)

Appearance: clear straw with one finger of short-lived white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, cereal grains, grass, herbs. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short duration crisp finish. (4/5)

Pretty much what it says on the label: light, clean, and crisp. Leaves very little trace of its passing, including on the completely lace-free glass. No challenges here, just a straight-up refreshing Helles. (15/20)

7.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Blindman Brewing Barrel-Aged Brett 24-2 Stock Ale – English Strong Ale at 8.1% ABV | 23 IBU (C$14.76 at Collective, 500 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 26-Mar-2021, reviewed 31-Mar-2021)

Appearance: clear amber-brown with one finger of dense light tan head, excellent retention and minimal soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: complex, red berries, oak, leather, vanilla, dark fruit, bourbon. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, drying slightly tart finish. (4/5)

This one was aged in Four Roses bourbon barrels that previously held their Imperial Stout, giving some great complexity and depth of flavour. There’s a lot going on here, between the name (the farm where the Newdale malt barley was grown), the artwork (the Percheron drafts used during planting and the previously-referred roses), and the local malting (Red Shed), all topped off with some custom Escarpment Brett. Interestingly, the Brett seems to be present not as the typical funky horse blanket notes one often encounters, but more as tart red berries. (Not a criticism of horse blankets by any means, just an observation.) This is a big, complex sipper that encourages settin’ and thinkin’ – or maybe just settin’. (17/20)

8.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

O.T. Brewing Company Crash Pad Pale Ale – American Pale Ale at 5.6% ABV | 52 IBU (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 26-Mar-2021, reviewed 31-Mar-2021)

Appearance: clear pale gold with three fingers of fluffy white head, good retention and minimal soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, melon, pale malt, tropical & stone fruit, herbal/floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration bitter slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Brewer notes say this is dry-hopped with Cascade, Amarillo, and Motueka. I’m getting pretty much the standard profile you’d expect from those hops, but also with a little herbal or floral in the end. Decent, but not very exciting. (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Bruery Terreux Just A Kiss – Saison at 5.3% ABV (C$5.53 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 9-Feb-2021, acquired 26-Mar-2021, reviewed 30-Mar-2021)

Appearance: clear straw with one fat finger of fluffy white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: vinous oak, horseblankety funk, floral, honey. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lightly tart slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Dunno if I’d know an orange blossom to save my life, but it’s certainly floral in addition to the oak and funk. Pleasant, but not particularly memorable. (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze