Category: Reviews

Hoyne Brewing Co. Entre Nous Belgian Cherry Witbier Witbier at 5.1% ABV (C$7.90 at Hume Hotel Liquor Boutique, 650 ml, bottle date 25-Oct-2012)

Appearance: clear to cloudy/particulate-laden reddish-tinged pale amber with one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to nothing, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: wheat, light fruit, grainy pale malt, giving way to burned rubber. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild tart. (5/10) Palate: light body, lively to moderate carbonation, short duration finish. (3/5)

Starts off not bad, albeit pretty low in any cherry character. But as it warms, it gets… I dunno… “burned rubber” is the closest I can get. Really doesn’t finish pleasantly at all. Can’t recommend this one. (10/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Red Truck Beer Company VCBW Campfire Kolsch Kölsch at 5.5% ABV (C$6.80 at Hume Hotel Liquor Boutique, 650 ml, bottle date 25-Oct-2012)

Appearance: clear pale straw with one finger of loose white head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild citrus, mild lemony apple and pear, pale malt, light smoke. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild smoke. (5/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, slightly smokey off-dry finish. (3/5)

A bit on the bland lager-y side, but the rauchbier touch of smoke makes it a little more interesting. (Is smoke allowed under the Reinheitsgebot?) Structurally a nice beer – a nice head with good retention and lacing, and the body and carbonation is decently balanced. Overall, fairly pleasant and restrained – and it grows on you… (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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