Category: Reviews

Steamworks Brewing Company Experimental Hazy IPA – American IPA at 7% ABV | 40 IBU (C$5.31 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 9-May-2024, acquired 10-Jul-2024, reviewed 14-Jul-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fine white head, excellent retention and spotty soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone fruit, coconut, citrus, tropical fruit, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

The labels says this one is “focused on” HBC1019, and “backed up by” HBC586, Simcoe, and Nectaron. A check of my record indicates I’ve seen that combination of 586 and 1019 multiple times so far this year, so although it’s new, it’s not really ground-breaking. It’s also not the first time I’ve picked up on coconut being present with 1019 (and no e.g. Sabro to explain it) so I think that for me at least that’s how this one seems to occasionally present. Dunno if this is actually deserving of the score, or whether I just really REALLY needed a beer (nobody can fight with you quite like someone who’s been fighting with you for 35 years), but either way I quite enjoyed it. (16/20)

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8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Blindman Brewing West Coast Double IPA – American IPA at 8.1% ABV | 65 IBU (C$6.30 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 3-Jun-2024, acquired 10-Jul-2024, reviewed 12-Jul-2024)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one fat finger of fine pale ivory head, excellent retention and well-defined soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: resiny pine, citrus, caramel. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, building bitter mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Old-school verging on old-fashioned – it wouldn’t have felt out of place during the early oughts – but masterfully executed. To the extent I have any criticisms at all here, they’re very nit-picky: primarily I think it could have been a bit bombastic, but as it is it’s very much a crushable DIPA, oxymoronic as that may seem. Very much an example of why I love WCDIPAs. (16/20)

This will be my 5,867th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Cabin Brewing Company / Born Brewing Co. Super Cutie – American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV (C$5.13 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 5-Jun-2024, acquired 10-Jul-2024, reviewed 12-Jul-2024)

Appearance: hazy particulate-laden light pink with one fat finger of loose pale pink head, good retention and spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: raspberry, tropical fruit, wheat / cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, lightly tart short duration finish. (4/5)

I mean, what with all the particulate it’s not what I’d call cute, let alone super cute. That aside, the raspberry is actually fairly restrained and doesn’t completely dominate the flavour profile. Appearances aside, I like this. (15/20)

This will be my 5,866th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Mass Appeal – American Pale Ale at 4.8% ABV (C$4.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 26-Jun-2024, acquired 10-Jul-2024, reviewed 11-Jul-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale straw with one finger of fine white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: coconut, tropical fruit, citrus, white grape must, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short duration finish. (4/5)

The aroma is maybe just slightly mild, but for the weight I’ll give it a pass, especially given the nicely layered complexity it exhibits. Overall it’s easy-drinking, with an off-dry finish verging on short, and an almost tart edge. As usual, The Establishment does not fail to deliver. (16/20)

This will be my 5,865th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Anchorage Brewing Company The Trickster – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.4% ABV (C$11.65 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 28-May-2024, reviewed 14-Jun-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of pillowy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone & tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains. (7/10) Taste: high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, building bitter warming finish. (3/5)

I’m starting to sound like a broken record on the last few I’ve reviewed, but: this really didn’t impress me. I don’t know if it’s just age, but there really wasn’t much depth of flavour going on here. Not up to their usual standards. (13/20)

This will be my 5,862nd unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Iron Hat Brewing Company Cloudy Sunset – American Pale Ale at 6% ABV (C$4.75 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 28-May-2024, reviewed 14-Jun-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with a massive loose pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, grassy & herbal, stone & tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly sharp lingering herbal finish. (3/5)

New local (-ish) brewery, and a slightly less than auspicious start. In particular, the aroma isn’t bright and fruity, but instead largely dominated by a grassy herbal note that carries through into a slightly sharp finish. Not doing it for me. (13/20)

This will be my 5,861st unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bellwoods Brewery Greenbelly – Triple IPA at 10% ABV (C$9.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 18-Mar-2024, acquired 28-May-2024, reviewed 13-Jun-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with a short, short-lived loose pale ivory head, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: berry, grass, herbal, oats. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: creamy medium-full body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter warming finish. (4/5)

I’m always happy to see Bellwoods available locally! That being said, this isn’t great. In fact, it’s pretty darned near the bottom of my experience with this brewer – which, to be fair, makes it more “least good”, than “bad”. Specifically, the hopping is unimpressive, with limited fruit presence and a Noble-hop-like grassy herbal note. Not impressive. (14/20)

This will be my 5,860th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Equilibrium Brewery MC² – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8% ABV (C$8.75 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 2-Apr-2024, acquired 28-May-2024, reviewed 13-Jun-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical & stone fruit, citrus, resiny pine, cereal grains. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (9/10) Palate: creamy medium-full body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter warming finish. (4/5)

Very nice, if a little aggressive on the hop burn (at least initially). There’s a whole lot going on here, but I don’t mean that as a criticism: there’s a huge hop presence that I really appreciate, and a very clean malt that doesn’t intrude. In fact, I thought it would end up being too sweet, but that didn’t happen. All in all, a very nice offering that ends up being just slightly sneaky in how easy-drinking it is for the weight. (17/20)

This will be my 5,859th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Anchorage Brewing Company Lycanthropy – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.4% ABV (C$10.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 20-Feb-2024, acquired 28-May-2024, reviewed 12-Jun-2024)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with a short loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, minimal soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: field berries, tropical fruit, citrus. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, medium duration mildly warming finish. (4/5)

See? Another Anchorage label with a werewolf and skeleton – and this one is even named appropriately. They say this is brewed and double dry-hopped with Motueka, but doesn’t specifically say it’s single-hopped. It’s also apparently brewed with spelt, but I can’t say I’m getting any of that grain presence. The passionfruit adjunct, on the other hand, comes through loud and clear. I originally thought it was strawberry, but it gained ground throughout the pint, to the point where I, who previously thought I couldn’t identify passionfruit to save my life, clearly identified passionfruit. And it’s actually quite pleasant. It’s also dangerously drinkable given its high ABV, with only a very mild warming in the finish. (15/20)

This will be my 5,858th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Village Brewery Alter Ego – American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV | 30 IBU (C$4.72 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 29-Feb-2024, acquired 28-May-2024, reviewed 12-Jun-2024)

Appearance: hazy straw with one fat finger of loose white head, good retention and spotty soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, slightly sharp slightly vegetal finish. (3/5)

Hopped with CTZ, Galaxy, Riwaka, and Mosaic, malted with Two-Row Alberta malted barley, flaked wheat, and flaked oats, passionfruit adjunct. It’s not bad, but the passionfruit adjunct is somewhat dominant, especially through the finish, where it seems to manifest as a slightly edgy melon rind or vegetal note. (14/20)

This will be my 5,857th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com