Category: Reviews

Burdock Brewing Deluxe Golden Lager – Helles Lager at 4.5% ABV (2024 BeerAdvent Calendar #16, 473 ml, packaged on 5-Jul-2024, acquired 23-Nov-2024, reviewed 16-Dec-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bready caramel, faint orchard fruit & grass. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, off-dry short finish. (4/5)

I think the Advent Calendar is literally half Lagers at this point – because nothing says “Christmas” like a low weight Lager, right? Gah. Anyway, that’s not Burdock’s fault, I guess. So, rating this on its merits, it’s actually a solid example of the style, very Germanic and low-key authentic. I may be going a touch enthusiastic on the scoring, but the fact is there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this, and the flavour profile is actually a bit impressive for such a low ABV. (16/20)

This will be my 6,046th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

New Level Brewing Valkyrie Berry Ale – Fruit / Vegetable Beer at 5.5% ABV (2024 BeerAdvent Calendar #15, 473 ml, packaged on 11-Jun-2024, acquired 23-Nov-2024, reviewed 15-Dec-2024)

Appearance: clear pink-tinged medium amber with a short, short-lived off-white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, field berries, caramel. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, off-dry lightly tart short finish. (4/5)

I don’t hate this, but even though the berry adjunct is relatively mild, it’s still dominant over what little other character is present. Not unpleasant, and more importantly not excessively sweet, but also not all that complex or interesting. (13/20)

This will be my 6,045th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Pile O’ Bones Brewing Co. Vienna Style Lager – Amber Lager/Vienna at 5% ABV (2024 BeerAdvent Calendar #14, 473 ml, packaged on 24-Jul-2024, acquired 23-Nov-2024, reviewed 14-Dec-2024)

Appearance: clear medium amber with one fat finger of fine light beige head, excellent retention and moderate droopy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, toasted bread, faint grassy hops. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, medium duration finish. (3/5)

Oh, look, another goddamned Lager. I mean, it’s fine for what it is, but I’m just sick and tired of all the Lagers in the Advent Calendar this year. Straightforward, boring malty Amber. (12/20)

This will be my 6,044th unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Origin Brewing Ol’ Dog – American Brown Ale at 5% ABV | 20 IBU (2024 BeerAdvent Calendar #13, 473 ml, packaged on 24-Jul-2024, acquired 23-Nov-2024, reviewed 13-Dec-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy medium brown with one finger of fine beige head, excellent retention and spotty soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, toasted bread, cacao and coffee. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, short duration slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Thank CHRIST it’s not another goddamned Lager. And I actually do enjoy a nice Brown Ale every now and again. This is pretty pleasant, with a nice aroma and decent flavour. It’s definitely tending towards the lighter end of the scale for body, and ultimately I think that’s why it ends a little sharp and astringent. That’ll do ol’ dog, that’ll do. (15/20)

This will be my 6,043nd unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

XhAle Brew Co. Ultrasonic Ultra – American Light Lager at 3.5% ABV (2024 BeerAdvent Calendar #12, 473 ml, packaged on 22-Jul-2024, acquired 23-Nov-2024, reviewed 12-Dec-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale straw with one finger of fine white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, malt & corn, grass, faint citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (6/10) Palate: light body, moderate-lively carbonation, short duration finish. (3/5)

Getting really tired of bullshit Lagers in the Advent Calendar. This is fine for what it is, with no real negatives (aside from the pretentious label notes) – but ultimately it’s mildly beer-flavoured fizzy water. (12/20)

This will be my 6,042nd unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Born Brewing Co. / Tool Shed Brewing Company Had Some Help – Session IPA at 4.5% ABV (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 28-Nov-2024, reviewed 12-Dec-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with two fingers of loose white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus zest & pith, stone fruit, hint of pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, short duration slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

“Brewed with Amarillo, Simcoe, Mosaic and a touch of flaked corn.” Not bad, especially for the weight, but it does tend just slightly thin and/or astringent through the finish. The obvious solution, of course, being not to stop drinking it – and it’s light enough that that’s a fairly viable option. (14/20)

This will be my 6,041st unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Born Brewing Co. (Born Colorado Brewing) Get Lucky – American Pale Lager at 5.0% ABV (2024 BeerAdvent Calendar #11, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Nov-2024, reviewed 11-Dec-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale straw with one finger of fluffy white head, good retention, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pale biscuity malt, grass, hint of citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, short crisp finish. (4/5)

I dunno if it’s “premium”, but it’s decent – clean and crisp, easy to drink. (14/20)

This will be my 6,040th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bellwoods Brewery An IPA – American IPA at 7.1% ABV (C$7.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 8-Oct-2024, acquired 28-Nov-2024, reviewed 11-Dec-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, melon, cereal grains. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, slightly sweetish medium duration finish. (4/5)

“Brewed with Simcoe, Citra, Rakau and Loral hops” I’m still pretty tickled at being able to occasionally get Bellwoods locally. Generic name for a serious banger. (17/20)

This will be my 6,039th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Medicine Hat Brewing Co. Clear & Crisp – Kölsch at 5.3% ABV | 24 IBU (2024 BeerAdvent Calendar #10, 473 ml, packaged on 7-Aug-2024, acquired 23-Nov-2024, reviewed 10-Dec-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale straw with one fat finger of fluffy white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: biscuity malt, mild grass and citrus. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: light body, moderate-lively carbonation, clean crisp finish. (3/5)

On their web site, the brewer quite correctly points out that this can’t be a true Kölsch because it’s not brewed in Köln. And, I don’t consider myself sufficiently versed in the style to detect whether they’ve gotten the water chemistry absolutely right. That being said, I know what the style is supposed to be like, and this pretty much nails it. I like this and could drink stange after stange of it even if it does stumble just a tiny bit in the finish. (Yes, a Kölsch glass is a   “stange,” and yes, I have a box full of ‘em from Germany. I always like the opportunity to use #properglassware for less common styles!) (15/20)

This will be my 6,038th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bow River Brewing Riverfest – Amber Lager/Vienna at 5.3% ABV | 11 IBU (2024 BeerAdvent Calendar #9, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Nov-2024, reviewed 9-Dec-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with a short, short-lived off-white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel malt, faint hint of grass. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium duration finish. (3/5)

I’ve actually never had anything by this brewer before, even though they’re local and have been around for five years. And, at the risk of being overly harsh, this isn’t making me think I’ve missed much. The kindest interpretation one could apply to this is that it’s a very traditional and old-fashioned implementation of a very unchallenging style. A slightly less kind interpretation is that it’s dull as ditchwater and about the same appearance. (12/20)

This will be my 6,037th unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com