RyansBooze

Brasserie Dunham Richilieu Pinball – American Pale Ale at 4.5% ABV (C$5.85 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 17-Mar-2021, reviewed 18-Mar-2021)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, resiny pine, pale malts, herbal. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly resiny finish. (4/5)

I figured there had to be a story behind can art like that, and a little research revealed a story of two Montreal brothers capitalizing on a ban on the importation of arcade machines into Canada (“to conserve a dwindling US dollar supply” – you get the feeling this story could lead down any number of rabbit holes?), and fifty years later, a pinball bar (!) named in their honour: North Star. (Though, being in Montreal, one wonders how the bar can get away with that name, rather than Étoile Polaire or Étoile Du Nord or some such.) “Richelieu” was one of the two pinball machines North Star made during their brief (three year) existence. Fair enough, why not name a beer after that? The beer itself is decent, with nicely emphatic aroma and flavour despite the light ABV. (15/20)

7.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Omnipollo Soluzen – American IPA at 7% ABV (C$8.95 at Collective, 330 ml, best before 14-Jul-2021, acquired 3-Mar-2021, reviewed 17-Mar-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with one finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a persistent cap, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical and mixed fruits, citrus, cereal grains, earthy petrichor. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

The can describes it as Idaho 7, Citra, and Mosiac IPA. So, from me, that’s yes, yes, and hell yes. It smells pretty much like you’d expect with that mix, although there’s also a not unpleasant earthy, slightly funky note in the aroma. But, to be honest, my biggest complaint here is that these little cans are a tease – it drinks very easy given its ABV. (15/20)

7.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Revival Brewcade Pineapple Princess – American IPA at 6.2% ABV (C$4.85 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 3-Mar-2021, reviewed 16-Mar-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with a short, short-lived loose white head, no lacing. (2/5) Aroma: overripe tropical fruit, lactose, citrus. (5/10) Taste: high sweet, moderate-low bitter, light tart. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sticky sweet finish. (3/5)

Disappointing. I dunno whether it’s just age because BLAH BLAH BLAH DATE YOUR DAMN CANS. Bruised – verging on rotting – pineapple over top of excessively sweet lactose and a hint of citrus, cloyingly sweet. Pretty much a textbook example of how not to do a Milkshake IPA. (11/20)

5.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Omnipollo Elvis – American IPA at 7.5% ABV (C$9.10 at Collective, 330 ml, best before 19-Mar-2021, acquired 3-Mar-2021, reviewed 17-Mar-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with a short, short-lived loose white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: smoke, peanut butter, lactose, vanilla, banana, bourbon. (8/10) Taste: high sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sticky sweet finish. (3/5)

So, when I hear “Elvis”, I think peanut butter banana bacon sandwiches, but that would be crazy, right? Nobody’s actually going to put that combination in… oh. “Smoked Bacon Banana Ice Cream Bourbon Peanut Butter Freakshake IPA”. OK, then. I… don’t hate it? Actually, the more I sip it, and the more it warms, the more it grows on me. It’s sweet – really sweet – but other than that, it’s actually not bad at all. Initially, smoke and peanut butter lead the way, with bourbon being a mild and late addition to the party. Eventually the peanut butter really takes over the nose, and the mouthfeel is sticky sweet all the way through, so it’s not one you’d want to drink a lot of – one was plenty. But, it’s interesting, and that counts for a lot in my world. No regrets, certainly. (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Warehouse Brewing Company Anonymous Tip IPA – American IPA at 6.2% ABV | 63 IBU (C$4.45 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 11-Dec-2020, acquired 3-Mar-2021, reviewed 16-Mar-2021)

Appearance: pale amber with two fingers of fine ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, citrus, pine, rye. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, building bitter mildly warming finish. (3/5)

Really old-fashioned, with caramel vying for dominance over citrus and pine, and emphatic bitterness on the tongue. Nothing wrong with it as such, and there’s an interesting little spicy rye note that saves it from being a total snooze-fest, but really not a lot to recommend it either. All told, perhaps a bit better than just OK. (14/20)

7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Belching Beaver Brewery Fall of Troy – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.8% ABV (C$6.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 8-Dec-2020, acquired 3-Mar-2021, reviewed 15-Mar-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one fat finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet orange creamsicle, hint of piney hops. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate carbonation, sweetish warming bitter finish. (4/5)

All I can say is, Troy, feel free to fail like that all day long. It’s not without its flaws – in particular, I was initially going to say that despite the emphatically sweet creamy aroma it wasn’t excessively sweet on the tongue, but actually, by the end of the pint, the sweetness does catch up. That’s offset to some degree by the bitterness, but it’s still a bit too sweet regardless. Still and all, it’s a fun one. (16/20)

8/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Superflux Beer Company Mañana – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$5.90 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 3-Mar-2021, reviewed 13-Mar-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap and ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, dank resiny pine, cereal grains, pomes. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate carbonation, medium duration bitter lightly dank finish. (4/5)

Hopped with Mosaic and Vic Secret, so you might expect it to be fairly similar to Marigold… and in that regard, you might be right. There’s a strong family resemblance here, with probably the biggest variation being the somewhat more aggressive bitterness, and an accompanying warmer finish. I waffled on describing an astringency there as well, but to the extent there’s any, it’s mild and inoffensive. There are some very slight variations in the aroma too, but to be honest I’d probably want them side-by-side in order to really pick them out with any degree of confidence. And of course, it would be terrible to be forced to do that! Oh, no, Brer Fox, don’t throw me into that briar patch! (17/20)

8.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze

Born Colorado Brewing IPA #001 Sabro SMASH – American IPA at 5.5% ABV | 12 IBU (C$4.75 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 12-Feb-2021, acquired 3-Mar-2021, reviewed 13-Mar-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fat fingers of pillowy white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: melon, tropical fruit, citrus, dank resiny pine, pale malt, coconut. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter, hint of tart. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, short duration mildly bitter lightly tart finish. (4/5)

Not the first SMASH I’ve had with Sabro, but perhaps the best, even though there’s very little of the coconut I’ve come to expect (and enjoy) with this hop. A pleasantly fruity aroma with restrained sweetness and very little bitterness make this very easy to drink. Similarly, the low (-ish) ABV mean you can enjoy a few of these if you so desire. I don’t generally get all that excited about malts in general, or Maris Otter in particular, but this is clean. All in all, a very solid effort. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Superflux Beer Company Marigold – American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV (C$5.55 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 3-Mar-2021, reviewed 12-Mar-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap and ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical & stone fruits, citrus, dank resiny pine, white grape, cereal grains, floral. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, short duration medium bitter lightly dank finish. (4/5)

Well, that’s just lovely. Secondary sources say it’s hopped with Mosaic and Nelson [Sauvin?] so, yes please. The aroma is a nice fruit salad blend, with a little extra edge of dank resiny pine. Works for me, big time. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bent Stick Brewing Co. Swap the Hops HPA 016 – American Pale Ale at 5% ABV (C$4.55 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 3-Mar-2021, reviewed 11-Mar-2021)

Appearance: lightly hazy straw with two fingers of fluffy white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, resiny pine, caramel, grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, short duration medium bitter finish. (4/5)

I like the original idea behind this one: keep the same base recipe, and just swap out the hops. (Though, apparently they shook things up as of this one, changing up the base recipe to a supposed NEPA style – but I can’t say mine was more than just a little hazy.) In any case, it’s certainly better than the first version of it I had, more than 4 years ago, which just said “hops will vary”. It’s still guilty of one of my major beefs, though: no packaging date. (A check of their socials suggests it’s got to be newer than January 28, since that’s when they first canned it.) The HPA 016 hops are new to me, but as is usually the case for ANZ hops, I think I might be a fan. All in all, it probably ties for the best of theirs I’ve had to date. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com