Category: Reviews

Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel! Rosée d’Hibiscus Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer at 3.9% ABV (C$3.50 at Zyn, 341 ml, bottle date 1-May-2014)

Pours clear reddish pale amber with one finger of short-lived off-white head, no lacing. (3/5) Nose is berries, light wheat, floral, light yeast. (6/10) Taste is moderate sweet, low bitter, slight tart. (6/10) Medium body, moderate to low carbonation, quick finish. (3/5)

Not all that great: reminds me of some of Innis & Gunn’s better products – e.g. the Cherrywood. It’s sweet and fruity, but without a lot of depth to back it up. The hibiscus is less pronounced than I was hoping it would be, but I’m not sure more emphatic floral notes would help all that much. Not one of DDC’s best offerings. (12/20)

My 157th from the 2010 Edition (148th from the 2013 edition), and 167th combining both editions.

6/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Ninkasi Brewing Company Dawn of the Red American IPA (India Red Ale) at 7.0% ABV (C$8.25 at Zyn,  650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Pours clear pale amber with one fat finger of loose ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderately heavy lacing. (4/5) Nose is pithy grapefruit, pine resin, caramel malt, pineapple, slight buttery diacetyl. (7/10) Taste is moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate to low carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Better than I was expecting, actually. I’ve gotten pretty jaded about reds in general, so my expectation for this was similar to what I’d expect for an IPL: sure, you can do it, but why bother? But, y’know, not bad at all. The initial taste is decently well-balanced hoppy bitter and malty sweetness, with a pleasant lingering bitterness once the sweetness fades. Decent overall, and pretty darned good for a red. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Evil Twin Brewing Falco American IPA at 7% ABV (C$4.75 at Zyn,  330 ml, bottle date 3-Oct-2015)

Pours hazy straw with one finger of pillowy white head, good retention and moderately heavy lacing. (4/5) Nose is dominated by pine resin and sweet citrus, with pale malt and tropical fruit in the background. (8/10) Taste is mild sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Light to medium body, moderate carbonation, crisply bitter finish. (4/5)

IPA done the way I like it: just enough light malt sweetness to temper the initial hop bite, but as the sweetness quickly fades, the sharp hoppy bitterness remains. Perhaps a touch simplistic, with not a lot of depth of flavour or complexity, but certainly worth trying. I’d really, really like to try this fresh. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Evil Twin Brewing Disco Beer American Double / Imperial IPA at 10.5% ABV (C$8.00 at Zyn,  330 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Pours clear medium amber with four fingers of uncontrollable tan head, heavy chunky lacing. (4/5) Nose is red berries, lemon peel, vinous grapes, woody oak, earthy. (8/10) Taste is moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Medium and slightly oily body, high carbonation, boozy and surprisingly crisp finish. (4/5)

Now that’s an interesting D/IPA – really pleasant vinous notes dominate, and the mouth feel is light and crisp. I was sort of starting to get a little tired of over-the-top DIPA’s that only ended up being malt-forward (Stone Enjoy By 02.14.15 excepted, OMG what a beer), but this? This I like. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij de Molen Twenty One Grams American Double / Imperial IPA at 10.2% ABV (C$9.00 at Zyn,  330 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Pours cloudy pale gold with one finger of short-lived light tan head, spotty lacing. (3/5) Nose is toffee, pine, tropical fruit, pithy grapefruit, slight buttery diacetyl. (7/10) Taste is moderate sweet, strong bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, building bitter and boozy finish. (4/5)

Intensely bitter hop bomb, but it seems to be blunted by the strong toffee malt flavours – though some of that might be the pine resin from the hops. I think I’d like this better if the balance were more to the bright citrus instead. Good, not great. (Unless your criterion is getting ‘faced, in which case, carry on.) (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Omnipollo Mazarin American Pale Ale at 5.6% ABV (C$8.75 at Zyn,  330 ml, best before 8-May-2015)

Pours hazy pale gold with two fingers of loose off white head diminishing gradually to a thick cap, moderate chunky lacing. (3/5) Nose is mango, caramel malt, tangerine, wet grass, mild oatmeal. (6/10) Taste is moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (6/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, building bitter finish. (3/5)

Not bad, not great. Decent bitter, but there’s a bit of an odd note that doesn’t really seem to work with the citrus. The oatmeal also seems to dull the citrus hops. Can’t say I’d try it again. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Heretic Brewing Company Gramarye Rye Beer at 4.4% ABV (C$7.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits,  650 ml, bottle date 9-Feb-2015)

Pours clear pale amber with two fingers of loose light tan head, good retention and spotty lacing. (3/5) Nose is spicy rye, caramel malt, pine resin, citrus, pumpernickel. (7/10) Taste is moderate sweet, moderate bitter, mild spice. (7/10) Medium body tending to watery, moderate carbonation, building bitter finish. (3/5)

That’s some pretty impressive chops for a session-ABV ale. Lots of aroma and flavour from the spicy rye makes this feel like a much bigger beer than its puny 4.4% ABV. It falls apart a little on the watery body, but all things considered, really quite pleasant. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Deschutes Brewery Inversion American IPA at 6.8% ABV (C$3.75 at Zyn, 355 ml, best before 7-Jun-2015)

Pours clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky ivory head, good retention and excellent lacing. (4/5) Nose is pine resin, citrus, catty, caramel malt, mild onion. (6/10) Taste is mild sweet, moderately strong bitter. (6/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, building bitter finish. (3/5)

Not my favourite implementation of starts-with-C hops. Too little bright citrus, too much mangy cat. Deschutes has done many better beers. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Deschutes Brewery Obsidian American Stout at 6.4% ABV (C$3.75 at Zyn, 355 ml, best before 7-Jun-2015)

Pours opaque deep brown with barely present brown highlights, two fingers of fluffy tan head, good retention and excellent lacing. (4/5) Nose is dark roasty malt, dark chocolate, coffee, toasted grain, mild liquorice and vanilla. (8/10) Taste is moderate sweet, mild bitter. (8/10) Medium to full body, mild carbonation, dry and slightly warming finish. (4/5)

A very good stout, and only slightly “American” – the ABV is somewhat higher than most traditional English stouts and there’s a tiny hint of citrusy tartness in the finish, but that’s the extent of its variation from type. I’d like to try it on a nitro tap, though, for some extra smoothness. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Deschutes Brewery Black Butte American Porter at 5.2% ABV (C$3.75 at Zyn, 355 ml, best before 29-Mar-2015)

Pours clear brown with amber-brown highlights, one finger of rocky tan head diminishing gradually to a thick cap and spotty lacing. (3/5) Nose is dark roasty malt, coffee and dark chocolate, mild liquorice and vanilla, slight earthy and citrus hops, very faint smoke. (7/10) Taste is moderate sweet, mild bitter. (7/10) Medium body, soft carbonation, crisp mildly bitter finish. (4/5)

An interesting porter with a hint of earthy hops and a crisp, very slightly citrusy tart finish. A definite American twist on a style that tends to be a bit, well.. boring. It’s not an unreserved success, but it’s also not your grandpa’s porter, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. (14/20)

My 156th from the 2010 Edition (147th from the 2013 edition), and 166th combining both editions.

7/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com