Category: Reviews

Boulevard Brewing Co. Smokestack Series Saison-Brett (2015) Saison at 8.5% ABV (C$19.23 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, bottle date 4-Feb-2015, best before 1-Feb-2017, reviewed 11-Jan-2016)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky off-white head, excellent retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: complex, earthy funk, citrus zest, straw, stone fruit, vinous. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, mild bitter, mild spice. (9/10) Palate: medium body, lively carbonation, off-dry funky finish. (5/5)

Like saisons? Like brett? You owe it to yourself to find and try this. Really nicely done, with a nigh-on perfect balance of dry nearly vinous saison and funky brett characters. I’d love to try this after a couple of years of cellaring, to really give the brett time to get going, but it’s really, really good with just under a year on it. (18/20)

My 211th from the 2010 Edition (200th from the 2013 edition), and 222nd combining both editions.

9/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brewsters Brewing Company Hawaiian Coconut Porter American Porter at 5% ABV (C$5.79 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, bottle date 1-Aug-2015, reviewed 10-Jan-2016)

Appearance: clear deep brown with ruby highlights, one finger of fluffy beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet caramel, roasty notes, dried fruit, building coconut. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-full body, soft carbonation, lingering sweetish finish. (3/5)

I initially thought there was no coconut at all in this, but as the pint progressed and warmed up, a mild presence became apparent. I think I’d be happier with a bit more emphasis on the coconut, to to distinguish it a little more from a standard light sweet American-style porter. That might also make the sweetness more appropriate – as it stands I find it somewhat too sweet, particularly the lingering sweet finish, which becomes a little mouth-coating and cloying towards the end. (12/20)

6/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

HaandBryggeriet Norwegian Wood Smoked Beer at 6.5% ABV (C$13.49 at Total Wines & More, Henderson NV, 500 ml, bottle date 14-Jan-2013, best before 14-Jan-2015, reviewed 9-Jan-2016)

Appearance: clear medium-deep amber with two fingers of fine light tan head, good retention and patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: smoke, caramel malt, floral, light sharp juniper. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate smoke, mild bitter, mild spice. (7/10) Palate: medium body, lively carbonation, lingering smokey finish. (3/5)

Smoke definitely leads the way here, but it doesn’t overwhelm the sweet caramel and floral aromas – think smokey bacon and you’re not far off. There is a subtle juniper presence coming through as a bright sharpness in the aroma and a mild spiciness on the tongue, but I think I’d prefer a little more emphasis there. The body is surprisingly light, driven by a lively sustained carbonation, which I think prevents the smoke from building and lingering more than it does. Quite pleasant and approachable for a smoked beer, and reminiscent of Aecht Schlenkerla rauchbier, but definitely not everybody’s cup of tea. (14/20)

My 210th from the 2010 Edition (199th from the 2013 edition), and 221st combining both editions.

7/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Cameron’s Brewing Company Obsidian Imperial Porter Rum Barrel Imperial Porter at 9.2% ABV (C$11.75 at Sundance Wine Market, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 8-Jan-2016)

Appearance: solid black with one finger of dense dark beige head, excellent retention and lacing. (5/5) Aroma: cocoa and dark chocolate, rum, liquorice, woody, dark fruit, roasty notes. (8/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate bitter, moderate alcohol. (8/10) Palate: full slick body, soft carbonation, off-dry boozy mildly bitter finish. (4/5)

Quite a nice example of the style – lots of dark malt and fruit notes, but without the associated sweetness. The full body carries off the bigger ABV quite well, and the finish is decently dry, albeit somewhat boozy. On the subject of the booziness, the rum finish is quite even-handed, and the rum flavours do not dominate. This is the way I like this style done, but I think it would be even better after a year or two in the cellar. (17/20)

8.5/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

St. James’s Gate (Diageo) Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale Cream Ale at 4.3% ABV (C$2.91 at NLC Stavanger, 500 ml, packaging date 22-Sep-2015, reviewed 8-Jan-2016)

Appearance: clear pale to medium amber with one finger of dense ivory head, excellent retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: muted, caramel, grassy, light earthy hops. (5/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate-low bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium nitro creamy body, moderate-low carbonation, short duration bitter finish. (4/5)

Well, nobody ever accused Diageo of being unable to make a pretty beer, that’s for sure – with a bit better definition in the lacing, I’d have given it full marks for appearance, especially with the characteristic nitrogen cascade. The body is similarly well done, with a pleasantly creamy texture and decent bitter finish. Unfortunately, though, structure is far and away the highlight of this story. The aromas are muted, presumably at least somewhat by the dense head, and are limited to slightly weedy grassy and earthy hops on a plain caramel base, and the taste is similarly uninspiring. Neither are bad, but they’re certainly a bit of a letdown by comparison to the appearance. (12/20)

6/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Greene King Abbot Ale Premium Bitter / ESB at 5% ABV (C$3.18 at NLC Stavanger, 500 ml, bottle date 1-Sep-2015, best before 30-Sep-2016, reviewed 7-Jan-2016)

Appearance: clear medium amber with a short, short-lived off-white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel, grainy malt, apple, light earthy hops. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, low carbonation, short duration bitter finish. (3/5)

A pretty unenthusiastic English bitter. I mean, I know “boring” is pretty much in-spec for the style, but this takes it to a whole new level. Sweet and malty, with very little discernible hop character except for a generalized moderately bitter finish. Really not much to recommend it. (11/20)

5.5/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Unibroue Éphémère Cranberry Fruit / Vegetable Beer at 5.5% ABV (C$8.29 at South Trail Calgary Co-Op, 750 ml, bottle date 6-Mar-2014, best before 6-Mar-2016, reviewed 7-Jan-2016)

Appearance: very slightly hazy orange-tinted medium gold with two fingers of fluffy white head, short retention and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: slightly muted, apple and cranberry, candi sugar, light yeast. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, low bitter, moderate tart. (6/10) Palate: light body, lively to moderate carbonation, off-dry tart finish. (3/5)

Not terrible, by any means, but just not very interesting. Sweet and, if not actually artificial, at least unimpressive fruit flavour. The cranberry character is present, but very mild, and I get the impression that it’s just not a flavour that expresses well in this context. (Unlike, for example, peach or raspberry.) Definitely nothing resembling a real fruit lambic. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Unibroue La Fin du Monde (2014) Tripel at 9% ABV (C$2.79 at NLC Howley Estates, 341 ml, bottle date 19-Nov-2014, reviewed 6-Jan-2016)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy off-white head, short retention and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: slight citrus, banana, malt, candi sugar, stone fruit, and yeast. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, mild bitter, moderate spiciness. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively to moderate carbonation, medium duration slightly boozy finish. (5/5)

Pretty consistent with the prior vintages I’ve tried. Solid Belgian character, light mouth feel for a high ABV. I still find it just slightly too sweet, but it’s an otherwise solid performer. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij Boon Geuze Mariage Parfait (2011) Gueuze at 8% ABV (€6.10 at Belgian Beer Tradition Rue au Buerre Bruxelles, 375 ml, best before 24-Apr-2034, reviewed 6-Jan-2016)

Appearance: clear pale amber with a fluffy two fingers of ivory head, good retention and patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: complex, barnyard funk, vinous, woody. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, moderate-strong tart. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, crisp tart finish. (4/5)

Whew… glad I got to drink that one before it went off… Though now I wish I had another one to cellar for another couple of decades! An excellent example of the Flemish Gueuze style, with lots of horseblankety funk and vinous champagne character. (17/20)

My 209th from the 2010 Edition (198th from the 2013 edition), and 220th combining both editions.

8.5/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Unibroue La Résolution (2015) Spice / Herb / Vegetable at 10% ABV (C$12.99 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 750 ml, bottle date 25-Aug-2015, reviewed 5-Jan-2016)

Appearance: clear deep brown with one fat finger of dense light tan head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: winter spices, caramel/toffee malt, boozy dark fruit. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, mild bitter, moderate spiciness. (8/10) Palate: medium-full, lively to moderate carbonation, lingering boozy finish. (5/5)

Very similar to last year’s vintage, and my impressions remain pretty much the same: very nearly up there with some of the big Belgian quads, with an ABV that is definitely present, but not overwhelming, while the enthusiastic spices and carbonation balance it out nicely. Big, bombastic, and enthusiastic. I remain convinced this will cellar very well indeed, and I now have a 2014 and a 2015 in storage – I’m thinking a three-year vertical might have to happen next year. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com