Category: Reviews

Le Bilboquet MacKroken Flower Scotch Ale at 10.8% ABV (C$7.10 at Epicerie J.A. Moisan, 500 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear deep amber with one finger of loose tan head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: honey, floral, toffee and butterscotch, molasses, boozy dark fruit. (6/10) Taste: moderately strong sweet, very mild bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium to full body, moderate carbonation, sweet warming finish. (3/5)

I continue to be unimpressed by the style in general, but this isn’t a bad one, as it goes. It’s a big boozy beast, which of course warms me up to it (no pun intended). Worth trying if you happen across one. (13/20)

My 196th from the 2010 Edition (184rd from the 2013 edition), and 206th combining both editions.

6.5/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasseurs du Nord Boréale Blanche Witbier at 4.2% ABV (C$2.50 at Epicerie J.A. Moisan, 473 ml, best before 22-Oct-2015)

Appearance: hazy straw with a short frothy white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus zest, ginger, coriander, wheat, bready yeast. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, moderate peppery spice. (6/10) Palate: light body, lively to moderate carbonation, zesty peppery finish. (3/5)

I don’t think I’ve ever had a witbier quite like this before – it’s distinctly gingery in addition to the normal coriander, giving it a not-unwelcome peppery bite. Decently light and crisp, but the spices don’t feel integrated all that well. Good, but not great. (12/20)

My 195th from the 2010 Edition (183rd from the 2013 edition), and 205th combining both editions.

6/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Breakside Brewery Lunch Break India Session Ale Session IPA at 4.7% ABV (C$8.75 at Hume Hotel Liquor Boutique, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear straw with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and good lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pine, pithy citrus, pale malt, light herbal. (8/10) Taste: mild to moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: light to medium body, moderate carbonation, short duration mildly bitter finish. (4/5)

Quite nice. Just slightly lighter in flavours and body than a full-on IPA, with a clean and crisp more-ish finish. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Torchlight Brewing Co. Broadside IPA American IPA at 7% ABV (C$7.85 at Hume Hotel Liquor Boutique, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear medium amber with one finger of rocky ivory head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: grassy/herbal, caramel malt, coffee, bready yeast. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (4/10) Palate: medium to full body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Not great. And really not an IPA. Kind of a highly hopped amber ale, more than anything. I like supporting micro/nano breweries, but this is a bit of a disappointment. (10/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Breakside Brewery Wanderlust India Pale Ale American IPA at 6.7% ABV (C$8.75 at Hume Hotel Liquor Boutique, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with a fat finger of rocky ivory head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pine, pithy citrus, pale malt, mild catty, light herbal. (8/10) Taste: mild to moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Interesting doing this one side by side with their Session IPA. There’s a strong family relationship, but I think I slightly prefer this one. Not that it’s necessarily better, as such, just different. A little heavier in the body, with more pronounced flavours, and what might be Citra coming through with just a hint of cattiness that’s not present in the ISA – but not in a negative way. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Tofino Brewing Co. Hoppin’ Cretin American IPA at 7.5% ABV (C$7.15 at Hume Hotel Liquor Boutique, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and well-defined lacing. (5/5) Aroma: woody pine, floral, citrus, caramel. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium to full body, moderate carbonation, lingering and building bitter finish. (4/5)

“Nunc est bibendum” indeed. The hops are all the usual starts-with-C varietals that I know and love so well. And it’s such a pretty beer, with pretty much perfect colour, retention and lacing. While we’re talking appearance: the label, I’m more than halfway convinced, is a backhanded compliment to our lovely neighbours south of the border, or at least their passports – so there’s that. Bottom line? I’ll bibendum this all day long. (Hold on – ain’t “Bibendum” the Michelin Man’s name? Another tick in the “pro” column!) (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

pFriem Family Brewers pFriem IPA American IPA at 7.2% ABV (C$7.35 at Hume Hotel Liquor Boutique, 500 ml, bottle date 19-May-2015)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two fingers of loose ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dank, pine, floral, citrus, pale biscuity malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium to full body, moderate carbonation, lingering and building bitter finish. (4/5)

That’s a nice IPA – West Coast dank (yes, I mean pot – it smells like pot) and slightly funky, with a well-balanced pale malt supporting on the back end. Dunno what else there is to to say here. Fun. Get it. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Persephone Brewing Company India Summer Ale Session IPA at 5.5% ABV (C$7.85 at Hume Hotel Liquor Boutique, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear pale straw with a fat finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pithy citrus, crackery malt, light floral, slight catty. (7/10) Taste: mild sweet, moderately strong bitter. (7/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, lingering and building dry and bitter finish. (4/5)

I generally quite like ISA’s, and it’s not that I don’t like this one – but somewhat to my surprise, I think I actually prefer their APA. The low sweetness makes this more-ish and clean, sure, but this verges on the astringent. I don’t say this often, but it might actually benefit from a little more sweetness. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Steamworks Brewing Company Jasmine IPA American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$6.70 at Fernie Mountain Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear straw with a short white head, good retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: floral jasmine, citrus, grassy and herbal. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, lively carbonation, decent bitter finish. (4/5)

Not bad at all. Lots of jasmine flower perfume character, but it’s not off-putting. Not as smoothly done as Elysian’s version, perhaps, but still pleasantly entertaining and bitter. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com