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Drekker Brewing Co. / Xül Beer Danger is our Bu$iness – American IPA at 7% ABV

Drekker Brewing Co. / Xül Beer Danger is our Bu$iness – American IPA at 7% ABV (C$8.90 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 29-Nov-2023, acquired 23-Feb-2024, reviewed 26-Feb-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with some particulate, two fingers of rocky white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: berries, melon, tropical & stone fruit, pale malts, hints of lactose. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

New brewery (breweries, I guess, since it’s apparently a collab?) to me – as in, not only have never tried, but never heard of. The label says it’s hopped with HBC 586, Simcoe, and Cashmere. I think Cashmere dominates, with its slightly herbal mix of melon and citrus, but that’s not to say it isn’t a decently balanced blend. But, it doesn’t go much further than decent. (15/20)

This will be my 5,778th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Superflux Beer Company Moo Cow IPA – American IPA at 6.5% ABV

Superflux Beer Company Moo Cow IPA – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$7.00 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 9-Jan-2024, acquired 23-Feb-2024, reviewed 26-Feb-2024)

Appearance: hazy/murky medium gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, lactose, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish ending slightly sharp. (3/5)

Secondary sources say this is hopped with Galaxy, Vic Secret, and Citra, and, no surprise, has a milk sugar adjunct. I was a little disappointed with this one, because it doesn’t really deliver what the labelling strongly indicated to be the intended style. Yes, there’s milk sugar in the aroma, but the taste and finish are sharper than that would imply, to the extent where I consider it a strike against the score. Ultimately, this one is a fair bit below average for my prior experience with this brewer (for n=14, μ=8 & σ=0.52) but one might argue that’s more a function of their record of excellence, than of this being particularly offensive – because it isn’t. It’s just not up to their standards. Sorry, guys, but that’s what you get for being consistently great: people start to expect greatness, and mere competence doesn’t cut the mustard. (14/20)

This will be my 5,777th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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The Establishment Brewing Company Everything is Real – American IPA at 6.5% ABV

The Establishment Brewing Company Everything is Real – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$5.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 12-Feb-2024, acquired 23-Feb-2024, reviewed 25-Feb-2024)

Appearance: hazy straw with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, juicy citrus, melon, cereal grains, mild dank pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

Brewer notes refer to the “addition of loads of oats, experimental hop HBC 1019, and healthy doses of Hop Kief and Incognito”, but doesn’t actually say this is single-hopped with 1019, nor does it specify what hop(s) the Kief and Incognito (both concentrates/extracts) are from. Regardless of the specific hopping, this is pleasant, juicy, and bright. (16/20)

This will be my 5,776th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Anchorage Brewing Company Beast At The Door – American IPA at 6.4% ABV

Anchorage Brewing Company Beast At The Door – American IPA at 6.4% ABV (C$9.65 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 14-Dec-2023, acquired 23-Feb-2024, reviewed 24-Feb-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, tropical & stone fruit, pale cereal grains, mild dank pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration lingering bitter warming finish. (3/5)

Hopped with Superdelic, Nectaron, and Luminosa – the first and third of which are new to me, but based on some quick reading seem completely appropriate to the style, in addition to being very much up my alley. I like this, but it feels like the bittering is slightly unbalanced and disproportionate to the predominantly brightly juicy aroma. Probably not worth the price tag, but I stopped paying attention to such things a long time ago. (15/20)

This will be my 5,775th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Maplewood Brewery & Distillery Charlatan – American Pale Ale at 6.1% ABV

Maplewood Brewery & Distillery Charlatan – American Pale Ale at 6.1% ABV (C$7.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 21-Nov-2023, acquired 23-Feb-2024, reviewed 23-Feb-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy medium gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: earthy pine, caramel, mild citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (3/5)

Hopped with Warrior, Centennial, Simcoe, and Citra. I’m not impressed by this one: the aroma and taste are just as muddled as the slightly muddy appearance. No, it’s not all that fresh, but I still expect the hop character to be bright and clean, whereas this just isn’t. (13/20)

This will be my 5,774th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Brouwerij Haacht Brasserie Rince Cochon – Belgian Blond Ale at 8.5% ABV

Brouwerij Haacht Brasserie Rince Cochon – Belgian Blond Ale at 8.5% ABV (€3.00 at monop’ (CDG Roissy-Pole), 330 ml, best before 26-May-2024, acquired 21-Feb-2024, reviewed 21-Feb-2024)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of fine white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: Belgian esters, banana, candi sugar, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter, mild funk. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (3/5)

A bit sweet and a bit simple for my preference. (14/20)

This will be my 5,773rd unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV Duvel 6.66 – Belgian Blond Ale at 6.66% ABV

Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV Duvel 6.66 – Belgian Blond Ale at 6.66% ABV (€3.35 at monop’ (CDG Roissy-Pole), 330 ml, best before 1-Jan-2025, acquired 21-Feb-2024, reviewed 21-Feb-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with a short fluffy off-white head diminishing gradually to a persistent cap and ring, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: clove, Belgian funk, banana, wheat. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet tending slightly high, moderate-high bitter, mild funk. (8/10) Palate: medium body, lively carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly spicy mildly funky finish. (4/5)

Always enjoy Duvel, even if this is a slightly lower ABV implementation. One of the major benefits of having Belgium as a neighbour is the availability of, well, Belgian beer – in this case, in the train station grocery store. Sweet! (16/20)

This will be my 5,772nd unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Brasserie La Parisienne IPA Bio – American IPA at 5% ABV | 50 IBU

Brasserie La Parisienne IPA Bio – American IPA at 5% ABV | 50 IBU (€3.50 at monop’ (CDG Roissy-Pole), 330 ml, best before 10-Oct-2025, acquired 21-Feb-2024, reviewed 21-Feb-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with a short fluffy off-white head diminishing gradually to a persistent cap and ring, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, pine, caramel, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (3/5)

This is actually pretty good. The aroma is milder than I’d like, but it’s otherwise a pleasant and solid contender. (14/20)

This will be my 5,771st unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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BAPBAP Vertigo – American IPA at 6% ABV | 59 IBU

BAPBAP Vertigo – American IPA at 6% ABV | 59 IBU (€3.75 at monop’ (CDG Roissy-Pole), 330 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 21-Feb-2024, reviewed 21-Feb-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with a short fine off-white head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pine, caramel, hint of coconut. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (3/5)

Hopped with Mango, Summit, and Sorachi Ace. Not without its charms, but certainly nothing memorable. France is certainly ahead of Spain when it comes to beer, but they’ve got a ways to go. (13/20)

This will be my 5,770th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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Heineken España El Aguila Sin Filtrar – Euro Pale Lager at 5.5% ABV

Heineken España El Aguila Sin Filtrar – Euro Pale Lager at 5.5% ABV (€0.99 at Carrefour Express, 330 ml, best before 21-Dec-2024, acquired 19-Feb-2024, reviewed 20-Feb-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with a short short-lived off-white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet malt, mild grassy hops, faint herbal. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration finish. (3/5)

Ugh: yes, I bought a Heineken product. I feel dirty. Straight-up macro lager with just a little haze to justify the “unfiltered’ moniker. (12/20)

This will be my 5,769th unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com