Category: Reviews

Central City Brewers + Distillers Mayor Kolsch Kölsch at 5.0% ABV (C$6.75 at Sundance Wine Market, 650 ml, bottle date 25-Oct-2012)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale straw with one finger of loose white head, good retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: light citrus, white pepper, wheat, light floral. (4/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild pepper. (4/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry tart finish. (3/5)

Meh. Not much of a kölsch – more of a straight-up pale lager. Really the only nod to the style is a slight peppery note in the finish. Not a lot of character. (10/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Grizzly Paw Brewing Company Sour Beer Coffee Stout Sour Stout at 7.25% ABV (C$4.31 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 341 ml, bottle date 25-Oct-2012)

Appearance: clear brown with one finger of loose light tan head, good retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sour cherries, vinous and woody, dark fruit. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, moderate tart. (6/10) Palate: medium body, lively to moderate carbonation, dry tart finish. (3/5)

Well, it’s different, I’ll give it that. Pretty sure I’ve never had a sour stout before. And it really hides/integrates the moderately high ABV as well – there’s really no hint of it at any point. I’m a little disappointed at the complete absence of anything resembling coffee, though. Not without its charms, but not an unqualified success by any means. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Postmark Brewing Postmark IPA American IPA at 6.2% ABV (C$6.95 at Sundance Wine Market, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: hazy and particulate-laden pale amber with two fingers of rocky ivory head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, bright citrus, caramel malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Hooo yeah, that’s what I’m talking about! The big brother to their APA, in every way: colour, body, aroma, taste – and ABV. Not that it’s just a higher IG version of the APA – the hop and malt balance is sufficiently different that this clearly isn’t the case – but there’s a strong family resemblance. And sure, it might not be as sessionable as the APA, but it’s every bit as much fun, and then some. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Postmark Brewing Postmark West Coast Pale Ale American Pale Ale at 4.6% ABV (C$6.95 at Sundance Wine Market, 650 ml, bottle date 25-Jun-2014)

Appearance: hazy and particulate-laden deep gold with one fat finger of loose white head, good retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pithy citrus, herbal/floral, pine resin, pale malt. (7/10) Taste: mild sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, crisp short duration finish. (4/5)

Mild and pleasant APA, albeit a little lacking in depth of flavour. Finishes just a little thin for the style, but with a clean bitter that makes it quite sessionable. I’m quite pleased to see another new BC brewery making it into AB, and I hope this offering is an indication of things to come. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasserie Dupont Moinette Blonde Belgian Strong Pale Ale at 8.5% ABV (€8.70 at Belgian Beer Tradition Rue au Buerre Bruxelles, 750 ml, best before 11/2017)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two fingers of fluffy pure white head, good retention and patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: Dupont yeast with saison notes, apple and pear, light citrus, faint herbal. (9/10) Taste: mild sweet, moderate bitter, very mild tart and funk. (8/10) Palate: light body, moderate to lively carbonation, dry crisp finish. (4/5)

Seems to bridge the gap between BSPA and saison, to good effect. A very well-behaved classically Belgian ale that is going down a treat after a hard day’s physical labour in the heat and humidity. It’s also worth pointing out what’s not present: the ABV is very restrained, making this near-double-digit ale quite sessionable. (17/20)

My 199th from the 2010 Edition (187th from the 2013 edition), and 209th combining both editions.

8.5/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Goose Island Beer Company Sofie Saison at 6.5% ABV (C$8.49 at South Trail Calgary Co-Op, 765 ml, bottle date 25-Jun-2014)

Appearance: hazy pale straw with one finger of loose white head, good retention and patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: apple and stone fruit, lemon zest, white pepper and clove, light tropical fruit. (8/10) Taste: mild sweet, moderate bitter, mild peppery spice, mild tart. (8/10) Palate: light body, lively to moderate carbonation, off-dry short duration finish. (5/5)

A solid saison marred only slightly by a hint of brown apple in the flavour. The head and lacing could stand to be a little prettier, too. Still a very good example of the style, though! (18/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasserie de Jandrain-Jandrenouille IV Saison Saison at 6.5% ABV (€8.95 at de Biertempel Brussels, 750 ml, best before 31-Dec-2018)

Appearance: clear to hazy pale gold with one finger of pillowy white head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: earthy, citrus, Brett funk, some stone fruit. (8/10) Taste: very mild sweet, moderate bitter, mild tart and funk. (9/10) Palate: light body, moderate to lively carbonation, bone dry crisp finish. (5/5)

Very nicely done Saison – not sweet at all, but pleasantly fruity, with a crisp dry finish. Very much to style, and a pleasant thirst quencher while working in the yard. I like this a whole bunch. (18/20)

My 198th from the 2010 Edition (186th from the 2013 edition), and 208th combining both editions.

9/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Garrison Brewing Company / Phillips Brewing / Flying Monkeys / Trou du Diable Coast to Coastless Imperial ESB Premium Bitter / ESB at 7.6% ABV (C$6.98 at NLC Stavanger, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear pale to medium amber with two fingers of rocky ivory head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: biscuity malt, indeterminate fruit, toffee, mild citrus, faint wood. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter, very light peppery spice. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, lively to moderate carbonation, bitter short duration finish. (4/5)

Well, damn. I’m not generally a fan of ESB’s, since I usually find them malty and boring. Well, at 50IBU and 7.6% ABV, this is neither. A nice change of pace from “normal” ESB’s. (Garrison capped edition) (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Stone Brewing Company Stochasticity Project Hifi+Lofi Mixtape American Strong Ale at 8.8% ABV (US$7.99 at Total Wines & More, Henderson NV, 650 ml, bottle date 3-May-2015)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky ivory head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: muted, floral, wood, leather, caramel/toffee. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter, mild tart. (5/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, bitter and moderate duration finish. (3/5)

A strange beer, and not in an entirely good way. The aroma is curiously weak and the flavour unremarkable. The intense bitter finish is interesting, but it seems unbalanced, or at least unsupported by anything else going on. Gets a little more interesting as it warms, but it’s a little bit of “too little, too late”. Definitely not one of Stone’s stronger offerings. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Dageraad Brewing Amber Belgian Strong Dark Ale at 6.0% ABV (C$7.79 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits  650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky ivory head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: grassy, stone fruit, caramel. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, short duration finish. (4/5)

Nicely hoppy amber, with a pleasant supporting caramel malt. Not getting a whole lot of Belgian influence (other than the hop-forward aspect, of course). Solid performer, from a brewery that I’m growing steadily more impressed with. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com