RyansBooze

Warehouse Brewing Company Bay 8 Rye ISA – Session IPA at 4% ABV | 35 IBU (C$4.40 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 24-Jul-2020, acquired 3-Mar-2021, reviewed 10-Mar-2021)

Appearance: lightly hazy deep gold with a two fingers of loose pale amber head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap and ring, spotty soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: spicy rye, citrus, caramel, grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, bitter, and spice. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter and spicy finish. (4/5)

I was really concerned about that packaging date, but I didn’t notice it until after I bought it. And, actually, this seems to have held up surprisingly well despite the low ABV. What’s more, I’m actually not able to find any other examples of a Rye ISA in my notes, so I guess bonus points for originality? I can see this not being to everybody’s preference, given the fairly emphatic rye spice on the nose and tongue, but I actually like rye (especially since becoming a sourdough fiend) so this works pretty well for me. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Growlery Beer Company Peggy – American Pale Ale at 5% ABV (C$4.55 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 3-Mar-2021, reviewed 9-Mar-2021)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of loose pale amber head, good retention and spotty soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, caramel, floral, grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

Inoffensive, but a bit old-fashioned, with citrus barely leading the way over caramel and grass. I can’t find any brewer notes, but secondary sources say it’s hopped with Cascade, which seems right. Clean and straightforward. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Coronado Brewing Company Leisure Lagoon – American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV (C$5.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 28-Dec-2020, acquired 3-Mar-2021, reviewed 8-Mar-2021)

Appearance: hazy straw with a two fingers of loose off-white head, good retention and minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: oily citrus, tropical fruit, floral, bready malt, earthy pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter lightly spicy finish. (4/5)

I was a bit worried about this one given the fact that it’s been more than two months in the can, but it’s actually quite pleasant. (So of course now I’m wondering if it’s actually better than “quite pleasant” when new…) I guess it’s pretty much what they describe, having elements of both East and West Coast styles, though I’d appreciate a little more emphatic resiny dankness. On the other hand, there are no real faults here, other than the somewhat lacklustre appearance, and it’s definitely the kind of thing I could enjoy while floating in a lagoon. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Coronado Brewing Company Bigger Boat – American IPA at 7.0% ABV (C$5.80 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 26-Jan-2021, acquired 3-Mar-2021, reviewed 7-Mar-2021)

Appearance: hazy pinkish-purple with a short, short-lived off-white head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: raspberry & field berries, vanilla, cream, light citrus. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, tart, and bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium bitter mildly tart finish. (4/5)

The appearance is pretty much exactly what I would have expected given the adjuncts, with the berry colour and the short-lived head. On the other hand, the aroma and flavour is also exactly what you’d expect from the adjuncts, with pleasant berries, vanilla, and cream. Although it doesn’t actually call itself a milkshake IPA, it’s probably one of the best examples of the style I’ve had. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Beaver River Brew Co. Ale Series Volume 1 Citrus Haze – American IPA at 6.7% ABV (C$5.10 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 8-Feb-2021, acquired 3-Mar-2021, reviewed 6-Mar-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, stone fruit, bready caramel, citrus, faint resiny pine. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering building bitter finish. (3/5)

I mean, it’s not bad or anything, but it’s pretty basic and at least 10 years out of date. The name might have been almost accurate a decade ago, or to someone who’s never had an NEIPA, but is almost a joke today.  The hop balance is more English than American, and relatively mild on the nose, but builds on the tongue. A bit of an old-fashioned hop bomb. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Coronado Brewing Company Haze on the Horizon – American IPA at 6.7% ABV (C$5.75 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 21-Jan-2021, acquired 3-Mar-2021, reviewed 5-Mar-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of fine off-white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, tropical fruit, bready yeast, grape must, light coconut. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

Hopped with Nelson, Citra, Sabro, & Motueka. Personally I’d like to see a little more Sabro coconut in this one, to give it a little more Piña Colada character along with the citrus and pineapple, but it’s very nice as-is. It’s only about six weeks in the can (which is about as fresh as we’re likely to get Coronado products here) and I don’t think it’s really started to fade yet.  Fruity and flavourful without being too sweet, balanced against bitterness that isn’t edgy or astringent. Works for me. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Outcast Brewing J’Adore les Houblons – American IPA at 6.1% ABV (C$5.45 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 26-Feb-2021, acquired 3-Mar-2021, reviewed 4-Mar-2021)

Appearance: opaque pale gold with one finger of fine off-white head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pithy grapefruit, stone fruit, bready malt, hint of field berries. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

The can fell out of my truck and took a pretty good knock, so perhaps that’s why the carbonation is on the low side. I think this is my first experience with Barbe Rouge hops, a new variety from Alsace, and presumably the reason for the French name. (Side note: I used to have a barbe rouge, but it’s a barbe blanche these days…) I’m not really getting a lot of the berry flavours apparently attributed to that varietal, but I’m also getting none of the coconut I usually find with Sabro, so I’m not too sure what’s happening there. On the other hand, it’s flavourful and easy to drink, so I’m not gonna complain. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Definitive Brewing Company Lens – Triple IPA at 10.3% ABV (C$9.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 15-Jan-2021, acquired 10-Feb-2021, reviewed 3-Mar-2021)

Appearance: nearly opaque deep gold with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and heavy chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy pineapple and other tropical fruits, citrus, vanilla, cream, cereal grains, light resiny pine. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-full slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, lingering and building bitter warming finish. (4/5)

If this is a Lens, it’s one from a pair of beer goggles! I guess I’m going to have to start to accept “TIPA” as a designation – and, more specifically, “TDH TIPA”. This “Triple Dry Hopped Triple IPA” is actually relatively easy drinking given its massive… well… everything. The juice-like appearance and aroma are followed by a nectar-like sweetness and thicker body, appropriately balanced by an emphatic building bitterness that (barely) prevents it from being a boozy creamsicle. It grows on me the more of it I drink (big surprise, given the double-digit ABV!) and is right up there with the best efforts I’ve had from this brewery to date. Heck, it’s almost worth the near-double-digit price tag! (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Annex Ale Project Rinse Cycle – American Pale Ale at 4.5% ABV (C$3.78 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 15-Jan-2021, acquired 10-Feb-2021, reviewed 1-Mar-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with two fat fingers of rocky white head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap and ring, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: yeasty funk, bruised apples, melon, citrus. (3/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (3/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly tart funky finish. (2/5)

Not my deal – and actually, if I’m being brutally honest, a “rinse cycle” is what I need after that. Not the first time this brewery has had an emphatic failure in my experience, but this easily takes the cake as the worst. I’m not completely certain it was infected, but it might well have been, so maybe it was better new, or other batches are better. In any case, I actually couldn’t work up my nerve to try any more than a couple of sips, and sink poured most of it. (8/20)

4/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Snake Lake Brewing Company Drink Easy Lo-Cal SIPA – Session IPA at 3.9% ABV | 10 IBU (C$3.85 at Collective, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 10-Feb-2021, reviewed 1-Mar-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, pale malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly tart finish. (3/5)

This one definitely has a light body, but I wouldn’t necessarily call it watery, and it’s quite refreshing and just as easy to drink as the name promises. On the other hand, it might be pleasant enough on the front end, but there’s a little something in the finish that isn’t really working for me – I hesitate to call it astringency, but it’s definitely got a little edge. Not bad overall, even without making allowances for its super light strength. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com