Category: Reviews

The Establishment Brewing Company High Visceral – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.2% ABV (C$6.14 at Okotoks Co-Op, 473 ml, packaged on 21-Apr-2025, acquired 9-Jun-2025, reviewed 9-Jun-2025)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fine off-white head diminishing gradually to a thick persistent cap, moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains, dank resin, hint of coconut. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-low carbonation, medium duration mildly warming finish. (4/5)

A new offering from these guys is generally a “yes please” from me. A new white label DIPA, on the other hand, is “not just yes, but HELLS yes!”. Hopped with Citra, Motueka, Citra HyperBoost. A definite win in my book – smooth and balanced, pretty easy drinking for the weight, with just a mild warming about halfway through the pint that warns you to check yourself ‘fore you wreck yourself. (17/20)

This will be my 6,120th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Four Winds Brewing Co. Blue Dream – American IPA at 6% ABV | 50 IBU (C$6.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 2-Feb-2025, acquired 5-Jun-2025, reviewed 7-Jun-2025)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of fine off-white head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, dank resin. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-low carbonation, medium duration slightly edgy finish. (4/5)

Supposedly reminiscent of the cannabis strain of the same name, not that I’d know. A pleasant mix of tropical fruit, citrus, and earthy dank resin, drinks a lot easier than the 50 IBU might suggest. Very similar to the also-cannabis-named Purple Haze, but not quite as good and slightly sharper through the finish. Possibly because it’s been in the can for too long – not sure I’d’a bought this if I had been able to decipher the date in the store. (15/20)

This will be my 6,119th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Four Winds Brewing Co. Purple Haze – American IPA at 6% ABV | 50 IBU (C$6.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 16-Apr-2025, acquired 5-Jun-2025, reviewed 7-Jun-2025)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fine off-white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, dank resin, melon. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-low carbonation, medium duration slightly tart finish. (4/5)

Supposedly reminiscent of the cannabis strain of the same name, not that I’d know. A pleasant mix of tropical fruit, citrus, and earthy dank resin, drinks a lot easier than the 50 IBU might suggest. (16/20)

This will be my 6,118th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Driftwood Brewery Juicy IPA – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$5.15 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 30-Apr-2025, acquired 5-Jun-2025, reviewed 5-Jun-2025)

Appearance: clear pale gold with a short, short-lived head, moderate spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, berries, tropical fruit, pale malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-low carbonation, medium duration mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Juicy? Yeah, I suppose, if only somewhat. Definitely reminds me of Raised By Wolves, which is absolutely not a bad thing considering that’s one of my go-to four-packs for a hockey game. Not particularly memorable, but maybe a little better than the sum of its parts, which I guess counts for something. (14/20)

This will be my 6,117th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Analog Brewing High Score Haze – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$5.75 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 5-Jun-2025, reviewed 5-Jun-2025)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with a short, short-lived head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: melon, citrus, catty. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, medium duration finish. (3/5)

Hopped with Mackinac, Mosaic, Callista, and Tonatiuh. Two new-to-me hops. Not even a little impressed. (12/20)

This will be my 6,116th unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Vaycay Brew Co. Pocket Rocket – American Double / Imperial IPA at 7.5% ABV (C$5.80 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 5-Jun-2025, reviewed 5-Jun-2025)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with two fingers of pillowy fine white head, excellent retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tart citrus and muddled fruit, sugary malt. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, sweet tart short duration finish. (3/5)

This tastes nothing like an IPA – if anything, it’s more like a crappy-ass kettle sour, which I guess is due to the addition of Rockets candy? Funny thing, though, is that IPAs are my favourite beers, and Rockets pretty much my favourite candies, this really isn’t working for me. (12/20)

This will be my 6,115th unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Moosehead Brewery Grapefruit Radler – Radler at 4% ABV (C$4.00 at Ace Liquor Okotoks, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-May-2025, reviewed 18-May-2025)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of fine white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sugary citrus, grainy malt. (7/10) Taste: high sweet, low bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, sticky mild finish. (3/5)

Less like a true Radler and more like a sugary alcopop. I don’t actually hate it (because I’m pretty much a sucker for a Radler no matter what) but it basically follows the standard mass-market approach of piling a whole bunch of sugars into shit to hide the fact that it’s, well, shit. When done properly, a Radler combines a balance of natural juice and a pleasant beer that could stand on its own to create a refreshing alternative experience. This does neither of those. (12/20)

This will be my 6,094th unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Perfect Day – American IPA at 6.4% ABV (473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 13-May-2025, reviewed 13-May-2025)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, cereal grains, light pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

Not particularly distinguishable from any number of other offerings by The Establishment, not that that’s a bad thing – “ho hum, another world-class hazy IPA” is, as problems go, a good one to have. (16/20)

This will be my 6,091st unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Cabin Brewing Company Hydrosphere – American Pale Ale at 5.4% ABV (C$4.75 at Safeway Liquor D’Arcy Crossing, 473 ml, packaged on 21-Apr-2025, acquired 9-May-2025, reviewed 9-May-2025)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of fine pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: resiny pine, citrus, biscuity malt, caramel, faint floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry short duration finish. (4/5)

Traditional WCAPA of the type you might have seen a decade ago, with starts-with-C hops dominant on biscuity sweet malt. Pleasant enough, but not particularly memorable. (15/20)

This will be my 6,090th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Eighty-Eight Brewing Skyride – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.0% ABV (C$5.75 at Safeway Liquor D’Arcy Crossing, 473 ml, packaged on 31-Jan-2025, acquired 9-May-2025, reviewed 9-May-2025)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of pillowy fine white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, stone & tropical fruit, dank pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry medium duration mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Nice one. Pleasant balanced aromas and flavours, smooth oaty and creamy body, super drinkable mildy warming finish. Totally sneaks up on you with the fairly emphatic DIPA ABV. (16/20)

This will be my 6,089th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com