Author: dpatrickryan

Blood Brothers Brewing Echo Vine – American IPA at 6.2% ABV (C$7.65 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 9-Dec-2025, acquired 5-Jan-2026, reviewed 16-Jan-2026)

Appearance: hazy straw with one finger of fine pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: sweet tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration slightly sweetish finish. (3/5)

“w/ Superdelic & Citra” Not quite as bright and hoppy as I like to see the style, but pleasant enough on the tongue. Finishes a little sweet. (15/20)

This will be my 6,333rd unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Born Brewing Co. Lift Pass – American IPA at 7.0% ABV (C$5.75 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 5-Jan-2026, reviewed 16-Jan-2026)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, cereal grains, resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, medium duration sweetish mildly warming finish with a slight edge. (3/5)

I don’t dislike it, but the sweetness through the mid falls off sort of suddenly to finish with just a little edginess not entirely offset by the slight ABV warming. It’s almost a case of not being able to make up its mind whether it’s a Hazy or not. Still and all, not bad. (15/20)

This will be my 6,332nd unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Shine A Light – American IPA at 6.8% ABV (C$6.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 15-Dec-2025, acquired 5-Jan-2026, reviewed 14-Jan-2026)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy white head, good retention and minimal stringy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, dank pine resin, berry. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, bitter finish. (4/5)

Simcoe, Nelson Sauvin, Citra, Nelson Hop Kief. Released nearly simultaneously with Kool Thing, but a diametrically opposite approach to the whole “IPA” thing, being clear, dank, and bitter. Still really good stuff. (16/20)

This will be my 6,330th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Kool Thing – American IPA at 6.6% ABV (C$6.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 11-Dec-2025, acquired 5-Jan-2026, reviewed 13-Jan-2026)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, lactose, tropical fruit, hint of white grape. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: creamy medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, medium duration mildly bitter finish. (4/5)

Rakau, Riwaka, Motueka, Nectaron. Ho hum, another world-class hazy from The Est. Much like many of their other offerings, although this one combines a slightly creamy citrus with an ANZ grape character, without getting excessively sweet. Really good stuff. (16/20)

This will be my 6,329th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

No, I don’t know why it’s blurry. Blame it on the booze.

Deschutes Brewery Symphonic Chronic – American Double / Imperial IPA at 9% ABV | 50 IBU (C$7.55 at Collective, 568 ml, packaged on 30-Sep-2025, acquired 5-Jan-2026, reviewed 9-Jan-2026)

Appearance: clear deep gold with two fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: sweet pulpy citrus, tropical fruit, dank pine, herbal. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, building bitter warming finish. (3/5)

Nugget, Chinook, Zeus, Mosaic, Idaho, Simcoe. I suppose I shouldn’t be buying American beer – because, seriously, fuck those guys – but I must confess to a soft spot for some south of the border brewers, and this is one. And, I gotta say, this isn’t bad overall – bright and juicy, if somewhat unbalanced through the mid and into a building bitter finish only slightly moderated by the boozy warming. I see what they’re doing here – mashing up WC dank with Hazy juicy – but I’m not completely convinced that’s a combination that should exist. I like it, but I don’t love it. (14/20)

This will be my 6,327th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Sierra Nevada Big Little Thing – American Double / Imperial IPA at 9.5% ABV | 34 IBU (C$6.75 at Collective, 568 ml, packaged on 10-Oct-2025, acquired 5-Jan-2026, reviewed 5-Jan-2026)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of fine pale ivory head, good retention and moderate chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: sweet juicy citrus, faint melon. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium  body, moderate carbonation, sweetish warming slightly boozy finish. (3/5)

Citra, Comet, El Dorado, Mosaic. Sweet juicy citrus aroma dominates the front end to good effect, but that sweetness carries through on the tongue and through the finish. Overall, just a bit too sweet for me, and the slightly emphatic booziness doesn’t salvage that. (14/20)

This will be my 6,326th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Cabin Brewing Company Max Sat – American IPA at 8% ABV (C$6.25 at Collective, 568 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 5-Jan-2026, reviewed 5-Jan-2026)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of pillowy pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, faint white wine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, slightly edgy warming finish. (4/5)

Motueka, Nelson Sauvin, and Riwaka. A juiced-up Super Saturation, and super-sized – both of which I approve of, and the NZ hop blend works for me. If I have a complaint, it’s maybe a little harshness through the finish. Not the first time they’ve done a beefier Super Saturation, and I think maybe I slightly prefer Super Duper Saturation to this re-imagining. (15/20)

This will be my 6,325th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

For future reference, here’s my summary of the 25 offerings from this year’s Advent Calendar by Collective in Calgary.

1: Annex Ale Project Ego Death American Double / Imperial Stout at 8.9% ABV: 7.5/10
2: Superflux Beer Company YCH Krush CryoFresh American IPA at 6.5% ABV: 8/10
3: Smithers Brewing Co. Di Moda Pilsner at 5.3% ABV: 7.5/10
4: Born Brewing Co. (Born Colorado Brewing) Warming Hut Winter Warmer at 7.7% ABV: 7/10
5: Two Pillars Brewing Grandma’s Secret Recipe Sugar Cookie Tripel Tripel at 7.2% ABV: 6.5/10
6: Bent Stick Brewing Co. Eleven Fifty-Nine PM American Double / Imperial Stout at 11.9% ABV: 8/10
7: Fierce Beer Ltd. Maple Pancake American Pale Ale at 6.5% ABV: 8/10
8: Small Gods Brewing Co. Uncommon Grounds Bock at 6.2% ABV: 6/10
9: 2 Crows Brewing Return to Innocence Blended Saison at 6.3% ABV: 7/10
10: Irrational Brewing Company Ethereal 24 Pilsner at 4.8% ABV: 7/10
11: Refined Fool Brewing Co. Bobhouse Banger Peanut Butter Porter American Porter at 6% ABV: 7/10
12: Burdock Brewing Cabo (2023) American Wild Ale at 7.9% ABV: 8/10
13: Ale Architect Brewing Ltd. Joy Wave 3 American IPA at 7.8% ABV: 7.5/10
14: Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Company Un Petit Peu American Wild Ale at 7.9% ABV: 8.5/10
15: Dageraad Brewing Rainshine Blond Ale at 6% ABV: 7.5/10
16: Village Brewery Monk American Porter at 6.2% ABV: 6/10
17: The Red Hart Brewing Co. Modern Day Warrior American Brown Ale at 6% ABV: 7/10
18: Blood Brothers Brewing Everything Goes Away “You Should Open A Brewery” Triple IPA at 10% ABV: 8/10
19: Town Square Brewing Barrel Aged Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey Variant 4 Rye Beer at 5.8% ABV: 8/10
20: Whitetooth Brewing Company Equinox Strawberry Rhubarb Sour Sour / Wild Ale at 4.3% ABV: 6.5/10
21: Bellwoods Brewery A Stout With Coffee (Sam James Coffee Bar) American Stout at 5% ABV: 7.5/10
22: Camp Beer Co. Bounty Chocolate Coconut Dark Lager Dark Lager at 4.2% ABV: 6.5/10
23: Changing Colours Brewing Project The Beautiful People American IPA at 7.5% ABV: 8/10
24: Sheepdog Brewing Island Time Pilsner at 5.2% ABV: 7.5/10
25: The Bruery Bakery: Rocky Road Brownie (2025) American Double / Imperial Stout at 9.5% ABV: 8/10

Overall, the average score was 7.36/10, which I think might be the strongest showing for any Advent calendar I’ve ever had. Whether it was worth the price is entirely another question…

The Bruery Bakery: Rocky Road Brownie (2025) – American Double / Imperial Stout at 9.5% ABV (C$11.38 at Collective, 375 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Dec-2025, reviewed 23-Dec-2025)

Appearance: nearly opaque clear brown with one finger of fine dark tan head, good retention and moderate chunky lacing. (5/5) Aroma: chocolate, marshmallow, walnuts, vanilla. (8/10) Taste: high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: full slightly slick body, moderate-soft carbonation, lingering sticky warming finish. (4/5)

Collective Advent #25. I’ve complained about some of the choices for this calendar, especially after yet another Pilsner, but all is forgiven. I’m not quite as excited by The Bruery as I once was – they kind of jumped the shark a little in my opinion – but they still hold a special spot for me. And this is very much a seasonally-appropriate offering, even if it is an over-the-top sticky beast that, especially after a big dinner, takes a long time to sip. (16/20)

This will be my 6,313th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Sheepdog Brewing Island Time – Pilsner at 5.2% ABV (C$11.38 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Dec-2025, reviewed 23-Dec-2025)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and heavy chunky lacing. (5/5) Aroma: sweet apple, mineral, floral, grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, short crisp finish. (4/5)

Collective Advent #24. It’s another Pilsner. (15/20)

This will be my 6,312th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com