Beer reviews
Cigar City Brewing Invasion Pale Ale – American Pale Ale at 5% ABV
Can from Whole Foods Orlando. Not bad. Grassy and resiny, with a little tropical fruit. Pale malt and a reasonably robust presence for a relatively low ABV. 7/10
Patrick is drinking a Invasion Pale Ale by Cigar City Brewing on Untappd
Abita Brewing Company Purple Haze – Fruit Beer at 4.2% ABV
Bottle at Universal CityWalk Orlando. Wheat, sweet malt, fruit puree (maybe raspberry). Not terrible, but really too sweet. 5.5/10
Patrick is drinking a Purple Haze by Abita Brewing Company on Untappd
Breckenridge Brewery Agave Wheat – American Pale Wheat Ale at 4.4% ABV
Bottle at at Margaritaville Universal CityWalk Orlando. Wheat, sweet malt, fruit puree. I guess it’s agave, but I’m not really experienced there, so I’m assuming. Pleasant enough. 5/10
Patrick is drinking a Agave Wheat by Breckenridge Brewery on Untappd
Margaritaville Brewing Company Landshark Lager – Pale Lager at 4.7% ABV
On tap at Margaritaville Universal CityWalk Orlando. Decent pale lager. Clean, crisp, and light. Especially good when you’re tired and thirsty! 5/10
Patrick is drinking a Landshark Lager by Margaritaville Brewing Company on Untappd
4 Hands/Bale Breaker/Stone Sorry Not Sorry IPA – American IPA at 9.3% ABV
Aroma: caramel malt, peaches and other stone fruit, citrus, light pine, earth. Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. Oily body. 7/10
4 Hands/Bale Breaker/Stone Sorry Not Sorry IPA
Patrick is drinking a 4 Hands/Bale Breaker/Stone Sorry Not Sorry IPA by Stone Brewing on Untappd
Orlando Brewing Alligator Drool – American Pale Ale at ??% ABV
On tap at Rosen Shingle Creek Orlando. A fairly pedestrian and unremarkable pale. Not a lot to recommend it one way or the other. Better than a macro lager – but only barely. 4.5/10
Patrick is drinking a Alligator Drool by Orlando Brewing on Untappd
New Belgium Brewing Company Lips of Faith Series Eric’s Ale American Wild Ale at 7% ABV (US$17.78 at Specs Main Houston, 650 ml, best before 2-Apr-2017, acquired 23-Jan-2016, reviewed 11-May-2016)
Appearance: hazy medium gold with a short, short-lived fizzy off-white head, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tart vinous, stone fruit, woody. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, light bitter. (7/10) Medium-light body, low carbonation, off-dry mildly tart finish. (3/5)
So, the bottle says it’s a “sour beer for those who don’t like sour beers and a fruit beer for those who don’t like fruit beers.” This comes perilously close to the truth in the contrapositive: it’s not really a sour beer for those who DO like sour beers, or a fruit beer for those who DO like fruit beers. That’s not to say it’s bad, as such, but it’s more like a bottle of supermarket chardonnay, than a beer. A light vinous tart aroma presents upon decapping, and pretty much sets the stage for the white wine character that follows. Stone fruit is present, but not well-defined. There’s even a light, gose-like saltiness toward the end, making this very much a hybrid style, but it’s more a case of “too many cooks” than anything else. A bit muddled, but ultimately not unpleasant. (13/20)
6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Brasserie Thiriez La Blond d’Esquelbecq Saison at 6.5% ABV (C$7.17 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, best before 30-Jun-2016, acquired 31-Jul-2015, reviewed 10-May-2016)
Appearance: clear deep gold with one fat finger of creamy dense ivory head, excellent retention and patchy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: floral, citrus, yeasty, grassy, honey and pale malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart, light peppery spice. (8/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, moderate bitter and slightly spicy finish. (4/5)
Another solid performer from Thiriez, if maybe not quite as good as their Etoile Du Nord. I have to admit a real weakness for this Franco-Belgian style, but even so, this is a good interpretation of that style. (14/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Ballast Point Brewing Company Watermelon Dorado American Double / Imperial IPA at 10.0% ABV (US$2.17 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 7-May-2016, reviewed 8-May-2016)
Appearance: clear pale amber with a short, short-lived off-white head, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pithy grapefruit, watermelon rind, resiny pine, grainy caramel malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, strong bitter. (6/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (3/5)
I knew this was rated on the low side going into it, and was quite surprised for that to be the case with a Ballast Point beer. Having now tried it, I’m not surprised by the low ratings: the watermelon flavour is definitely there, but presents as acrid and astringent watermelon rind, rather than juicy watermelon pulp. I suspect it’s a case of the hop bitterness playing up to that aspect of the flavour, and think that watermelon might be a better combination with a lighter, less intensely bitter base beer. Not terrible, by any means, and it grows on you after a bit, but definitely not one of their stronger performers. (13/20)
6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Victory Brewing Company Sour Monkey Sour / Wild Ale at 9.5% ABV (US$9.99 at Knightly Spirits Williamsburg, 750 ml, bottle date 1-Jul-2015, acquired 1-May-2016, reviewed 8-May-2016)
Appearance: clear pale amber with a short, short-lived off-white head, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tart citrus, apples and pears, wet hay and barnyard funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, moderate tart. (8/10) Light body, moderate carbonation, short mildly warming finish. (4/5)
It’s been quite a while since I had Golden Monkey, but I think this is just a little better. Sour all the things! Like Golden Monkey, the ABV is extremely well-integrated, coming through as only a mild warming in the finish. The tartness of this one works well with the light, clean body. It’s quite bizarre, though, that essentially none of the original Golden Monkey flavours are coming through: I’m getting none of the banana and cloves that were so present there. Maybe the year in the bottle is the explanation there, but in any case: a solid performer. (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
Invasion Pale Ale
Purple Haze
Agave Wheat
Landshark Lager
Alligator Drool