Category: Reviews

Brauerei Heller-Trum / Schlenkerla Helles Schlenkerla Lagerbier Dortmunder / Export Lager at 4.3% ABV (C$4.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 500 ml, best before 31-Dec-2015)

Appearance: clear straw, one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: smoke, grainy malt. (6/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Medium-light body, moderate-low carbonation, lingering smoky bitter finish. (3/5)

The smoke is initially somewhat overwhelming, but as the bottle progresses, it becomes less so. Overall, it’s relatively light and easy drinking. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij der Abdij van St.Sixtus Westvleteren 8° Dubbel at 8% ABV (€3.95 at de Biertempel Brussels, 330 ml, best before 3-Dec-2017)

Appearance: mostly clear deep brown with some particulate, one finger of loose light tan head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dried dark fruits, toffee, vanilla, nutty, light chocolate, mild yeast. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, drying mildly tart and and warming finish. (5/5)

Surprisingly light and lively body, with rich and complex aroma and flavours. Unsurprisingly, there’s a strong family resemblance to the XII,except that this is a lighter, more drinkable version in almost every way. Definitely a class above. (18/20)

9/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mikkeller Beer Geek Dessert Imperial Stout at 11% ABV (C$9.09 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 330 ml, best before 7-May-2025)

Appearance: opaque brown-black with one finger of rocky mocha head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: milk chocolate, coffee, vanilla, dark roasty malt. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, building bitter and warming finish. (5/5)

Surprisingly well-balanced on the sweetness, given the intense dessert-like aromas. Better than Breakfast, almost as good as Brunch Weasel. Smells a bit sweeter than Brunch Weasel, yet doesn’t really taste much sweeter, but Brunch Weasel has a surreal smoothness that this one doesn’t quite attain. Still, really, really good, and as I’ve come to expect from the Beer Geek series, extremely well-behaved for such an immense ABV. (18/20)

9/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Big Rock Brewery McNally’s Extra Irish Red Ale at 7% ABV (C$5.79 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear medium amber with one finger of rocky light tan head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel malt, dark fruit, grassy and earthy, diacetyl. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light sour. (5/10) Medium body, medium carbonation, medium duration bitter and lightly sour finish. (3/5)

Nope, sorry. I’ve tried this beer so many times over the years, but I’m just not getting any closer to liking it. It’s malt-heavy, which would be fine, but for that sour something I can’t quite identify. And it’s not a good sour, either – more like the back of the throat “hurk” when you’re trying not to puke. (10/20)

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Stone Brewing Company Stochasticity Your Father Smelt of Elderberries American Strong Ale at 10.3% ABV (C$13.49 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 650 ml, bottle date 3-Sep-2015)

Appearance: ruby-brown with one finger of dense pinkish head, excellent retention and good lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dark fruit, red berries, caramel, smoke, leather, herbal and earthy. (6/10) Taste: low-moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (4/10) Medium body, medium-low carbonation, herbal boozy and spicy finish. (3/5)

Stone, I hate to say this, because I love you, but: these Stochasticity beers are starting to seem like so much pretentious twaddle. This is like sucking on a leather tobacco pouch. And no, that’s not an exaggeration: that’s exactly what it tastes like, maybe with a bit of raspberry jam on top. The only reason this ranks above a Coors Light is the fact that, flaws aside, it’s different, and pretty good-looking. But I wouldn’t have this again if you paid me. On the up side, much like the gruits I’ve tried, this makes me intensely glad I didn’t live in medieval times. And it near killed me to do it, but I sink poured half a thirteen dollar ten percent beer. Happy now, Stone? (8/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Steamworks Brewing Company Frambözen Fruit / Vegetable Beer at 7% ABV (C$5.79 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear ruby red with one finger of light purple head, excellent retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tart raspberry, white grape, wheat. (6/10) Taste: moderately strong sweet, moderate tart, mild bitter. (6/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, crisp and tart short duration finish. (3/5)

Emphatic raspberry and not much else. On the up side, it’s sweet without being cloying, and the raspberry doesn’t come across as artificial. Not unpleasant, even if it is a bit of a one-trick pony. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Village Brewery Village Gardener (2015) American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV (C$6.79 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with a short, short-lived white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, grainy pale malt, honey, rhubarb, cherry. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (6/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, crisp short duration finish. (4/5)

I like the concept behind this beer: locally brewed, not just with locally-grown ingredients, but community-grown ones. And not to suggest I dislike the flavour, but I don’t like it quite as well as the concept. I’m getting the added fruit flavours, including rhubarb and cherry, but overall it’s a little sharp and unbalanced. Can’t be much more specific than that about how this falls short, but it doesn’t really rev me up. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Le Trou du Diable Shawi Beach American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$7.79 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 600 ml, bottle date 27-Aug-2015)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of fluffy off-white head, good retention and patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pine resin, citrus, caramel malt, tropical fruit, slight catty and woody. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, decently crisp medium duration finish. (4/5)

Maybe I’ve been overdoing it on the IPA’s lately, but this doesn’t seem all that memorable. It’s nice and all, but it just seems to lack a certain brightness or punch. Good, and this is the second time I’ve had it, but I don’t think I’ll bother again. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Central City Brewers + Distillers Red Racer Pale Ale American Pale Ale at 5% ABV (Gift – thanks, Kath!, 355 ml, packing date 25-Jun-2015)

Appearance: clear medium gold with two fingers of loose ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pine, citrus, caramel malt, light tropical fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, short duration medium bitter finish. (3/5)

I was a bit surprised by the way it foamed up on opening, lost a mouthful or two. Other than that, not bad. Smells a bit better than it tastes: it tends to the watery, so it doesn’t quite have the body to pull off the hop character. The flavours end up dropping off a little rapidly, leaving a little bit of an unbalanced lingering bitter. Quite sessionable, though. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Grizzly Paw Brewing Company Evolution IPA American IPA at 6.4% ABV (C$6.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, bottle date 15-Sep-2015)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of fluffy ivory head, good retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pine, citrus, caramel malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering and building bitter finish. (4/5)

Definitely an improvement over other Grizzly Paw offerings I’ve tried, with the possible exception of their Sour IPA and their Kettle Valley Sour Brown (which I was probably slightly too generous in rating at 7/10 and 8/10, respectively). This one verges on that malt-forward D/IPA character, but doesn’t quite get there, which means it’s pretty well balanced, I guess? A solid but not all that memorable A/IPA – try it if you see it, but don’t lose any sleep over it. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com