Category: Reviews

Crooked Stave Origins Sour / Wild Ale at 6.5% ABV (US$11.99 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 375 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 20-May-2017)

Appearance: hazy/opaque deep amber with a short, short-lived creamy ivory head, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: vinous, oak, leather, dark fruit. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high tart, moderate sweet, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, lively to moderate carbonation, drying tart and warming finish. (4/5)

Something a little special for this, the 2500th unique beer I have a record of rating. Prior to this, the only Crooked Stave offerings I’d been able to locate were collabs with Epic and Evil Twin. This is a good example of a Flanders Brown, if slightly more emphatically tart on the tongue than typical for authentic versions. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Boulevard Brewing Co. Smokestack Series: The Calling American IPA at 8.5% ABV | 75 IBU (US$3.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, best before 22-Jun-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 18-May-2017)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of creamy white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, honey, citrus, resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, lingering building bitter finish. (4/5)

Boulevard isn’t a brewer who I associated with IPAs, though their Single-Wide is a decent effort. This, however, is next level for them, consistent with their better offerings (and, I guess, the Smokestack series in general). It starts off more fruity than anything, with an almost pineapple sweetness. As it warms, some of the deeper notes come to the fore, and a resiny pine bitterness builds. The higher ABV is not apparent at all, except possibly for a slight slickness in the body, and a general warm fuzziness at the end of the pint. Good stuff. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

DuClaw Brewing Company Farmhouse Gypsy Neon Gypsy IPA American IPA at 7.3% ABV (US$2.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, bottle date 31-Jan-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 18-May-2017)

Appearance: clear pale amber with a short, short-lived off-white head, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: grapefruit, apples and pears, doughy yeast, light funk, white pepper. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration lightly funky and slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

As an IPA brewed with Saison yeast, this is an interesting hybrid of IPA and Saison – it might even have been appropriate to classify it as a Belgian IPA, because that’s very much what it’s like. Good complexity on both the nose and the tongue, but the finish is just a little astringent. Wouldn’t say no to another, but probably couldn’t be bothered to look for it again, either. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Prairie Artisan Ales Tulsa Rugby Ale American Pale Ale at 5.4% ABV | 30 IBU (C$4.07 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 17-May-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with a short, short-lived off-white head, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, stone fruit, caramel, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration bitter finish. (3/5)

Slightly disappointing, if I’m honest – I’ve always found Prairie Artisan to be excellent, but this is just all right. A bit plodding and heavy for the style. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

MolsonCoors Old Style Pilsner Pilsener at 5% ABV (Apropos YYZ, can date 16-Feb-2017, reviewed 14-May-2017)

Appearance: clear pale straw with one finger of fluffy white head, good retention and well-defined lacing. (3/5) Aroma: grassy, corn, pale malt. (4/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (4/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, short mild finish. (3/5)

I drank an awful lot of this when I was young(er) and stupid(er). My response to it now is pretty predictable – but it’s nigh-on the only thing at YYZ I haven’t officially ranked before, so what’m I supposed to do? (9/20)

4.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mill Street Brewery Walker’s Blueberry Wheat American Pale Wheat Ale at 5% ABV | 9 IBU (On tap at Mill Street Brewpub YYZ, reviewed 14-May-2017)

Appearance: opaque red-tinged deep amber with one finger of medium off-white head diminishing gradually to a persistent skim, well-defined lacing. (3/5) Aroma: band-aid/rubber, grainy yeasty wheat, faint blueberry. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter, light tart. (5/10) Palate: medium-thin body, moderate carbonation, short moderate bitter finish. (3/5)

Woof… burning rubber train wreck. Hint of blueberry overwhelmed by the band-aid/rubber finish. Don’t bother, seriously. (11/20)

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mill Street Brewery Honest Bucker American Pale Ale at 7% ABV | 41 IBU (On tap at Mill Street Brewpub YYZ, reviewed 14-May-2017)

Appearance: muddy deep gold with one finger of medium ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, minimal patchy lacing. (2/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, resiny pine, biscuity pale malt, tropical fruit, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, short moderate bitter finish. (3/5)

A muddy, sort of NEIPA-looking APA with some decently juicy hops on the front end, but a bit of a muddled finish. Enjoyable, but nothing too special. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Saugatuck Brewing Company Back Yard Session IPA Session IPA at 4.5% ABV | 45 IBU (US$2.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 375 ml, bottle date 29-Jul-2016, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 17-May-2017)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with a short, short-lived off-white head, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: catty/skunk, floral, grainy malt, citrus. (4/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-low carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Meh. Age hasn’t treated this well. (Yes, I know I’ve been doing shelf turds lately – this should be pretty much the last of ‘em.) It seems like the cattiness is to some extent by design here – with Simcoe and Citra, that can certainly happen. I think they were going more for resiny/pungent, and maybe the fact that this isn’t really doing that is due to age – but I don’t think so. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to have a really good beer from these guys. This isn’t actually terrible, but I can’t say I’d want to have another. (10/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Founders Brewing Company Harvest Ale American IPA at 7.6% ABV | 70 IBU (C$5.43 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, bottle date 3-Oct-2016, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 17-May-2017)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of creamy off-white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, biscuity malt, tropical fruit, mild resin, slight vegetal. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body tending slightly thin, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

A bit on the old side, but I’m not convinced that’s the issue here – it’s coming across as a bit thin, and a bit sharp. Not one of my favourite offerings by this brewer, and certainly not as good as e.g. their Centennial. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Founders Brewing Company Mosaic Promise American IPA at 5.5% ABV | 50 IBU (US$2.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, bottle date 22-Apr-2016, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 16-May-2017)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of fluffy white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, floral, pale malt, cardboard. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Another elderly one, and unfortunately the age is showing. I’m getting a little cardboard on the nose, that I’m sure doesn’t belong there. Taste-wise it’s largely unaffected, though I’m sure it’s much better fresher. (14/20)

14/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com