Category: Reviews

Cabin Brewing Company Giga Saturation – American Double / Imperial IPA at 9.1% ABV | 45 IBU (C$6.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 8-Apr-2024, acquired 7-May-2024, reviewed 13-May-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, tropical fruit, cereal grains. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-low bitter. (9/10) Palate: soft medium body, moderate carbonation, mild clean finish. (4/5)

Hopped with Nectaron, American Noble, Mosaic, Citra, and El Dorado hops. Soft, hazy juice bomb. That’s a heck of a nice beer, right up there with the best this brewer does – and that’s saying something, considering my average score for them  is just shy of world-class, and that’s with almost 40 examples. I actually don’t know if any of the breweries that produce benchmark world-class beers can actually claim to do better than that overall. Is it the best beer I’ve ever had? No. Clearly not. But it’s starting to get within reaching distance of that, and it’s local. I call that a major win. (17/20)

This will be my 5,820th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Deschutes Brewery Symphonic Chronic – American Double / Imperial IPA at 9% ABV | 60 IBU (C$6.75 at Collective, 568 ml, packaged on 5-Mar-2024, acquired 7-May-2024, reviewed 11-May-2024)

Appearance: slightly chill hazed deep gold with two growing fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus zest, dank resiny pine, tropical fruit, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, lingering bitter mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Hopped with Citra, Chinook, CTZ, Mosaic, Simcoe, and Idaho 7, straight 2 Row malt. I don’t usually get too interested in price, but I found it interesting that this thing costs four yankee bucks at the brewery, while after a thousand miles of travelling and a currency conversion, my premium is right around a buck thirty. Well that’s cheaper than a trip to Oregon, innit? The brewer says this is a combination of WCIPA and Hazy characteristics, but the fact is there’s not really all that much NEIPA juiciness going on here. It’s probably a bit milder and juicier than a truly old-school WCIPA, but not by a whole heck of a lot. Not a criticism (because it’s actually quite nice as it is); just an observation. (16/20)

This will be my 5,818th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Refined Fool Brewing Co. Florida Stole My Parents OJ IPA – American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 10 IBU (C$5.26 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 4-Apr-2024, acquired 7-May-2024, reviewed 9-May-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus zest and pith, resiny pine, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration mildly bitter finish. (4/5)

“Brewed with Comet and Eclipse hops”. Oh, but they cheated – it’s “citrus infused” with “massive fruit additions”. Tut, tut. Tempted to mark you down for that, but on the other hand, I love a Radler, so… (16/20)

This will be my 5,816th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Refined Fool Brewing Co. Van Full of Weirdos Juicy IPA – American IPA at 6.2% ABV | 30 IBU (C$5.25 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 11-Apr-2024, acquired 7-May-2024, reviewed 9-May-2024)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with two growing fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, resiny pine, citrus, cereal grains. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration bitter finish. (4/5)

The brewer calls this “Simcoe-heavy” but doesn’t specify what other hops were used. It’s not catty, in any case. It’s also not blowing me away or anything, and I would certainly like there to be a bit more “juice” character in something that bills itself as “juicy”, but it’s fine. There’s a decent little bitter through the finish that might not jibe with “juicy”, but that I nonetheless enjoy. (15/20)

This will be my 5,815th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Destihl Brewery Dead Head West Coast-Style – American IPA at 7% ABV | 60 IBU (C$7.30 at Collective, 568 ml, packaged on 2-Feb-2024, acquired 7-May-2024, reviewed 7-May-2024)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two growing fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and heavy chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: zesty citrus, resiny pine, pale crackery malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, building bitter mildly warming finish. (4/5)

“Citra, Simcoe & Chinook hops with a vintage malt backdrop.” Sure, why not? Pretty classic flavour profile for the style, works for me. (15/20)

This will be my 5,814th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Twin Sails Brewing Locals Only – American Pale Ale at 4.8% ABV | 37 IBU (C$5.95 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Apr-2024, reviewed 6-May-2024)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate stringy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: resiny pine, caramel, herbal, citrus. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration bitter finish. (4/5)

Columbus hops in the whirlpool, Talus, Eclipse, and Chinook hops in the dry hop. A well-executed example of a fairly classic style, that on the basis of flavour might well be considered an IPA were it not for the slightly light ABV. This apparently makes it a flavourful Pale instead, with the benefit of being light enough to allow you to drink more of them. I really like this style, so I might be guilty of being slightly enthusiastic in my scoring, but this really is quite a nice little beer. (16/20)

This will be my 5,813th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Fashion is Danger – American Pale Ale at 5.2% ABV (C$5.55 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 15-Apr-2024, acquired 23-Apr-2024, reviewed 6-May-2024)

Appearance: hazy straw with one finger of creamy white head, excellent retention and well-defined soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: zesty citrus, stone and tropical fruit, white grape must, cereal grains. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, medium duration clean finish. (4/5)

While I’d agree that the houndstooth can design is a potentially dangerous fashion choice, the hops choice (Rakau, Motueka, Waimea, Wai-iti Cryo, and Maui Nelson Hop Kief) is definitely not dangerous, and is in fact precisely the kind of thing I can get behind. I’ve had Wai-iti before, but I don’t think as Cryo, and I definitely haven’t had Maui Nelson, as kief or otherwise. I don’t like handing out high scores all willy-nilly like (and in particular I’m starting to feel like I just automatically just give The Establishment top marks) but I’m pretty hard-pressed to find any reason to mark this one down: it’s bright, crushable fun from a brewery that consistently delivers. (17/20)

This will be my 5,812th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Flying Boats Brewing A Galaxy Far Far Away – American IPA at 6.3% ABV | 42 IBU (C$6.15 at Collective, 473 ml, best before 19-Jun-2024, acquired 23-Apr-2024, reviewed 3-May-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of loose white head, excellent retention and spotty soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Brewer notes say this is “centred around Australian Galaxy hops” but doesn’t specify what other hops were used. Pleasant aroma, but the flavour is slightly sharper by comparison, and that carries through to the finish. Pleasant but it falls slightly short. (15/20)

This will be my 5,811th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Field House Brewing Co. / Strange Fellows Brewing Cryptic Pale Ale – American Pale Ale at 5.7% ABV (C$5.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 5-Mar-2024, acquired 23-Apr-2024, reviewed 2-May-2024)

Appearance: hazy straw with one finger of fine white head, good retention and spotty soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone fruit, melon, grass, pithy citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, medium duration slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Hopped with Citra, HBC586, and HBC1019. Meh. Tends a bit thin, with melon that almost goes vegetal as it persists through a slightly astringent finish. OK, but not impressive. (14/20)

This will be my 5,810th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Zero Issue Brewing Enceladus – American Pale Ale at 5.1% ABV (C$5.00 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 18-Apr-2024, acquired 23-Apr-2024, reviewed 1-May-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of loose pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pithy citrus, resiny pine, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, medium duration finish. (4/5)

I guess I’m kind of damning this one with faint praise, but I don’t really have much to say, other than it’s a pleasant example of the style. Nothing really stands out. (16/20)

This will be my 5,809th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com