Category: Reviews

Backcountry Brewing You’re More Like Sarah Connor & In the First Movie Too Before She Could Do Chinups – American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 30 IBU (C$7.55 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Jun-2026, reviewed 4-Jul-2026)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with two fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone & tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains, mild dank resin. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

Nelson, Motueka, and Citra. Pleasant fruit character without being too sweet, easy-drinking despite the slightly high ABV. Not much else to say here – it works. (16/20)

This will be my 6444th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Rare Hearts (2025) – American Wild Ale at 5.6% ABV (C$24.00 at Collective, 750 ml, packaged on 1-Nov-2025, acquired 23-Jun-2026, reviewed 30-Jun-2026)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with a short fizzy head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: oak, strawberries, funk. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish warming finish. (5/5)

Release 062. This is a pretty faithful adaptation of the Wild or Lambic style, though aesthetically raspberries might be the more traditional fruit choice. But, overall this balances well the barrel, fruit, and funk aspects, with neither really overwhelming the others. So, it would appear that, not satisfied to merely dominate one style (the American IPA and its derivatives), The Establishment is now bound and determined to crush the far more challenging one of the barrel-aged wild. Oh no, don’t threaten me with a good time! (17/20)

This will be my 6441st unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Backcountry Brewing Little Old Basket Case on Wheels or Ten Foot High Roadblock – American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 30 IBU (C$7.45 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Jun-2026, reviewed 29-Jun-2026)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical & stone fruit, citrus, cereal grains, dank resin. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish warming finish. (4/5)

“Hit hard with Nectaron and Riwaka” Sure. Works for me. (16/20)

This will be my 6440th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Evil Twin Brewing / Mortalis Brewing Company Even More OldManBearMa – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.16% ABV (C$12.45 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Jun-2026, reviewed 28-Jun-2026)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, overripe tropical fruit, hint of dank resin and earth. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, sweetish warming finish. (4/5)

Double dry hopped with Citra, Simcoe, Riwaka Amplifier, and Nelson Amplifier. Note to self: stop buying goddamned Yank beers unless you know they’re really fresh, and even then you ought to be boycotting the fuckers and supporting local. I think at this point, Jeppe is just phoning it in, and there’s nothing coming out of Evil Twin that’s any different than what he was doing ten years ago. It’s fine, but nowhere near worth the ridiculous price tag, especially when there are locals doing as good a job or better. (15/20)

This will be my 6439th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Evil Twin Brewing / Monkish Brewing Co. Even More Foggier Window – American Double / Imperial IPA at 9.16% ABV (C$12.85 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 23-Apr-2024, acquired 23-Jun-2026, reviewed 28-Jun-2026)

Appearance: hazy and particulate-laden medium amber with two fingers of fluffy tan head diminishing gradually to a persistent cap, heavy soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone fruit, melon, citrus, sweet malt, hint of dank resin. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, sweetish warming finish. (4/5)

I knew I shouldn’t have bought this, and no, I don’t know why I didn’t see the date code beforehand. (Edit: now I remember – I picked up the other Evil Twin collab at the same time and its date code was smeared, so I didn’t even bother to look at this one’s.) Yes, it’s a TIPA, so the high ABV should protect it to some degree, but I’m assuming (hoping?) that this doesn’t look, smell, or taste anything like it was intended to fresh. It’s not terrible, but it seems a bit malt forward. I’m pretty sure I would have liked it more when it was fresh. (15/20)

This will be my 6438th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Any Way You Want It – American Pale Ale at 5.4% ABV (C$5.85 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 30-Apr-2026, acquired 23-Jun-2026, reviewed 28-Jun-2026)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to a thick persistent cap, heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains, hint of dank resin. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, medium duration off-dry finish. (4/5)

Simcoe, Nelson Sauvin, Riwaka, and Mosaic HyperBoost. Lots of fruit aroma and flavour, and a slightly creamy body, but not too sweet or sticky. Pretty emphatic for a fairly light ABV. Ho hum, yet another great beer from The Est. (16/20)

This will be my 6437th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Das Model – Dortmunder / Export Lager at 5.5% ABV (C$5.75 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 23-Apr-2026, acquired 23-Jun-2026, reviewed 26-Jun-2026)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of fine white head, excellent retention and well-defined lacing. (5/5) Aroma: crackery malt, mineral petrichor, honey, grass, floral. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, medium duration off-dry finish. (4/5)

Well, I keep saying I don’t really understand most lager variants well enough to distinguish a really good one – but it would appear I just haven’t had enough really good ones. This is a really good one. (16/20)

This will be my 6436th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Superflux Beer Company Toroa – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$6.90 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Jun-2026, reviewed 25-Jun-2026)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with one fat finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: cucumber, banana, melon, citrus, tropical fruit, earth. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, medium duration off-dry finish. (3/5)

Citra, Citra Cryo, Motueka, Rakau, and Nectaron. Nope. Not even. But, let’s be clear here: there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this, structurally. It’s just an utterly wrong flavour profile for the style. It’s almost savoury or umami instead of fruit, and in that sense almost reminds me of a gin and tonic with cucumber instead of lime. (Which, by the way, is a great drink – try it some time!) Congrats, Superflux, this is officially my least favourite beer you’ve ever made. (13/20)

This will be my 6435th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Superflux Beer Company Raingod – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$6.95 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Jun-2026, reviewed 25-Jun-2026)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with one fat finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, medium duration off-dry finish. (3/5)

Simcoe, Citra Cryo, and Tangier hops. As far as I’m concerned, the Rain God can fuck all the way off this spring. My weather complaints aside, I’m not completely sold on this one – in particular, I find it tends slightly too light for the style, verging on thin. And, the aroma and flavour follow suit, both being just a touch less emphatic than I’d like for the style. It’s fine, but it’s not up to their “normal standard” (which I put in quotes because it’s frankly among the highest of any brewery I know: for n=25, μ=7.9 & σ=0.51). (15/20)

This will be my 6434th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Beavertown Brewery Heavy Gravity – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (£4.75 at Sainsbury’s Local, 440 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 18-Jun-2026, reviewed 18-Jun-2026)

Appearance: hazy straw with one finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: big sweet tropical fruit, citrus, light coconut. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, medium duration off-dry finish. (4/5)

I’m assuming the coconut is Sabro – and expect it confuses the hell out of many locals – but I enjoy it and have had it many times, so it’s not even close to being a penalty in my book. Overall, it’s a perfectly respectable effort, but there’s little to distinguish it in a very crowded field. Good, but not next level. (14/20)

This will be my 6432nd unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com