Category: Reviews

Superflux / Garage Project Not As We Know It – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$7.15 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 25-Sep-2026, reviewed 30-Sep-2026)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, vegetal/cucumber, dank resin. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, medium duration finish. (4/5)

“Motueka and Cascade from a first-harvest farm at the edge of Nelson Lakes, with Nelson Sauvin and Rakau.” I’m a bit on the fence about the vegetal note, because while I’m not entirely sure it’s intentional, it’s also not all that problematic – if you’ve ever had a gin & tonic with cucumber instead of lime, you’ll understand where I’m coming from. All in all though, I’m really starting to feel like I need to go to New Zealand. (15/20)

This will be my 6,545th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Backcountry Brewing Any More Behaviour Like That And I’ll Have Your Stripes! – American Pale Ale at 5.0% ABV | 30 IBU (C$7.15 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 25-Sep-2026, reviewed 28-Sep-2026)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone fruit, citrus, cereal grains, resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, medium duration finish falling off slightly watery. (3/5)

“Loaded with experimental CIP076 and Pink hops”. I like the aroma and flavour, but for what I think is my first time with this brewery, I’m not entirely convinced by the structure: despite the fairly lofty head, the carbonation is a bit low, and that carries through to a slightly watery, almost flaccid finish. (15/20)

This will be my 6,544th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bellwoods Brewery Jelly King (Passionfruit, Orange & Guava) – Sour / Wild Ale at 5.6% ABV (C$8.65 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 25-Jun-2026, acquired 25-Sep-2026, reviewed 28-Sep-2026)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: guava, tropical fruit, faint orange flesh. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (9/10) Medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, short duration tart finish. (4/5)

It’s been a long time since I had the Pink Guava version of this, so I’m working from notes instead of memory, but: I think this one is more fruit-dominated, and doesn’t work quite as well. One thing I particularly liked about the Pink Guava version was how it retained some hoppy resiny undertones, but this one has pretty much eliminated that. Or, maybe, overwhelmed it with fruit. In any case, it’s not quite as interesting and/or beer-like as some of the other versions. (16/20)

This will be my 6,543rd unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Vancouver Island Brewing Thrashin’ Caddy Double Dank – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8% ABV | 40 IBU (C$6.25 at Collective, 568 ml, packaged on 21-Jul-2026, acquired 25-Sep-2026, reviewed 26-Sep-2026)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fine pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: resiny herbal, juicy tropical & stone fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, moderate bitter warming finish. (3/5)

There’s an interesting herbal/floral top note that isn’t typical to the “big dank DIPA” style, but isn’t unwelcome. Hits a little hard, even for the beefy ABV. I don’t dislike it, but I suspect it’s pretty adjunct-heavy, and would make purists run screaming. (To be fair, I just spent a couple of weeks drinking hyper-traditional German clones of each other, so I’m a little out of practice on bombastic American IPAs.) (14/20)

This will be my 6,542nd unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company / Brasserie du Bas-Canada Peripheral Vision – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.2% ABV (C$7.15 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 15-Jul-2026, acquired 24-Jul-2026, reviewed 8-Sep-2026)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with one finger of fine pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: dank resin, berries, tropical & stone fruit, citrus. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, mildly spicy lingering warming finish. (3/5)

“Freestyle Hops Nelson Sauvin, Rakau, Citra and Citra Cryo”. Pungent aroma leapt out upon opening, but it faded somewhat. Bitterness is a little high for the style, carries through to a slightly sharp finish. (15/20)

This will be my 6,511th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Irrational Brewing Company Opacity 33 – American IPA at 6.0% ABV (C$6.00 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 24-Jul-2026, reviewed 7-Sep-2026)

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

“Triple Dry-Hopped with Nelson, Kohia Nelson, Nelson Amplifire & Nelson Hop Juice”. Nice one. Pleasant dank resin balanced nicely with juicy fruit, restrained sweetness and a solid finish. (16/20)

This will be my 6,509th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Privatbrauerei Ettl Ettl Helles – Helles Lager at 4.8% ABV (C$4.83 at Costco Okotoks, 500 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Sep-2026, reviewed 6-Sep-2026)

Appearance: clear pale straw with one finger of fine white head diminishing gradually to a thick cap, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: biscuity malt, grassy hay, faint citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, clean short finish. (3/5)

My twelfth from a Costco 12-pack of German festbiers. (I couldn’t resist, since I’m flying to Munich in a couple of days, and will be at Oktoberfest in a couple of weeks.) I mean, you don’t go looking for ”interesting” or “challenging” in a Helles, do you? It’s fine – clean and crisp. Drink it and move on. (13/20)

This will be my 6,508th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

KALEA GmbH Beery Greetings from Bavaria – Witbier at 5.2% ABV (C$4.83 at Costco Okotoks, 500 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Sep-2026, reviewed 6-Sep-2026)

Appearance: hazy medium amber with two fat fingers of fine ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: banana, wheat, cloves. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium slightly sticky finish. (3/5)

My eleventh from a Costco 12-pack of German festbiers. (I couldn’t resist, since I’m flying to Munich in a couple of days, and will be at Oktoberfest in a couple of weeks.) A little sweeter than I like, carrying through into a slightly sticky finish. Maybe also a little more Belgian than German? In any case, it’s fine, but not much better than that. (13/20)

This will be my 6,507th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brauerei Rittmayer Hallerndorf  1422 Festbier – Festbier at 5.8% ABV (C$4.83 at Costco Okotoks, 500 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Sep-2026, reviewed 5-Sep-2026)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, moderate clingy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: honey, doughy bread, grass. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration finish. (3/5)

My tenth from a Costco 12-pack of German festbiers. (I couldn’t resist, since I’m flying to Munich in a few days, and will be at Oktoberfest in just over two weeks.) Fairly generic Festbier without a whole lot to distinguish it. (13/20)

This will be my 6,506th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Privatbrauerei Ettl Festbier – Festbier at 5.6% ABV (C$4.83 at Costco Okotoks, 500 ml, best before 1-Dec-2027, acquired 1-Sep-2026, reviewed 5-Sep-2026)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and moderate clingy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: honey, doughy bread, grass. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration finish. (3/5)

My ninth from a Costco 12-pack of German festbiers. (I couldn’t resist, since I’m flying to Munich in a few days, and will be at Oktoberfest in just over two weeks.) Fairly generic Festbier without a whole lot to distinguish it. (13/20)

This will be my 6,505th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com