RyansBooze

Offshoot Beer Co. Escape West Coast IPA – American IPA at 7.1% ABV | 50 IBU (C$5.53 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 14-Sep-2020, acquired 30-Oct-2020, reviewed 4-Nov-2020)

Appearance: clear medium gold with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: oily grapefruit, resiny pine, tropical fruit, clean pale malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter finish. (4/5)

Hopped with Mosaic, Strata, Simcoe, and Amarillo, this is a pretty straightforward WC/IPA (except for a little tropical fruit that might be argued to be a bit out of spec). Still and all, it’s solid and enjoyable, though truth be told I’d expect no less from this cadet arm of The Bruery. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Offshoot Beer Co. Relax Hazy IPA – American IPA at 6.8% ABV | 50 IBU (C$5.53 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 3-Sep-2020, acquired 30-Oct-2020, reviewed 4-Nov-2020)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of fluffy off-white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy grapefruit and citrus, tropical fruit, resiny pine, pale crackery malt, hint of coconut. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter finish. (4/5)

Brewer notes report Citra, Amarillo, Centennial, and Simcoe, with London 3 yeast. This is my first exposure to this offshoot of The Bruery, and in fact I was unaware of the connection when I bought it. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen them attempt an IPA before, but it’s a solid effort. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

O.T. Brewing Company One Hundred and Eighty – English Pale Ale at 4.6% ABV (C$4.05 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 30-Sep-2020, acquired 30-Oct-2020, reviewed 4-Nov-2020)

Appearance: slightly hazy deep gold with two fingers of fluffy off-white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: toasty malts, grass, herbal & floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, sweetish moderate bitter finish. (4/5)

Not bad, but I think the label art is the best part. English-style, and decently balanced, but not all that exciting. Certainly not as exciting as a few darts in the skull! (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Ska Brewing Company The Modus Mandarina – American IPA at 6.8% ABV | 65 IBU (C$5.35 at Collective, 355 ml, best before 15-Feb-2021, acquired 30-Oct-2020, reviewed 3-Nov-2020)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of fine pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, spotty soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: oily & zesty citrus, caramel, light floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, sweetish moderate bitter finish. (4/5)

Take Modus Hoperandi, add orange peel. That’s neither a compliment nor a complaint, you decide if that works for you. Personally, I’m pretty middle-of-the road on it: there are no real negatives, but I find it a bit malty and old-fashioned. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Burdock Brewing APA – American Pale Ale at 4.9% ABV (C$5.85 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 16-Sep-2020, acquired 30-Oct-2020, reviewed 3-Nov-2020)

Appearance: hazy straw with one finger of fine white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: zesty citrus, tropical & stone fruit, pale crackery malt, light floral & pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry crisp mildly bitter finish. (4/5)

Lovely, crisp, and easy-drinking. Brewer notes say it’s dry-hopped with Vic Secret, Ella, Mosaic, and Citra, and I’m definitely getting the expected citrus and tropical fruits in a nice balance. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Cabin Brewing Company Season Pass – American IPA at 7.5% ABV | 65 IBU (C$4.72 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 13-Oct-2020, acquired 30-Oct-2020, reviewed 1-Nov-2020)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two fingers of loose white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: zesty citrus, resiny pine, stone fruit, pale crackery malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering building bitter mildly spicy finish. (4/5)

A straightforward old-school West Coast IPA that avoids being predictable or boring by the simple expedient of being excellently implemented. Hopped with Chinook, Columbus, Simcoe, and Amarillo, and exhibits pretty much all of the expected flavour profile. Works for me. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Hopworks Urban Brewery Ferocious Citrus Blood Orange – American IPA at 6.2% ABV | 40 IBU (C$4.36 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 6-Oct-2020, acquired 30-Oct-2020, reviewed 31-Oct-2020)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with one fat finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: orange juice, caramel, light pine, oats. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, sweetish building bitter mildly bitter finish. (4/5)

Juice dominated – as in, real orange juice – on the front end, with a building lingering hop bitter in the finish. Not bad, but there’s really not much more to it than the blood orange juice. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Blindman Brewing Oaked Brett Saison – Saison at 6.6% ABV | 30 IBU (C$10.75 at Collective, 500 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 16-Oct-2020, reviewed 27-Oct-2020)

Appearance: hazy straw with one fat finger of rocky white head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, green apple, vinous grape, mild funk, light oak. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light funky tart. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter lightly funky finish. (4/5)

A nicely behaved Saison, if slightly high in ABV for the style. I have to say, though, that neither of the two elements named on the label really feature all that strongly in the flavour profile. Yes, there are both barnyardy funk and toasted oak hints in the aroma, but they’re not much more than that. This is actually dominated by fruit including lemony citrus and vinous grape, but that’s not necessarily a negative. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Dageraad Brewing De Witte – Witbier at 5.2% ABV (C$4.85 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 11-Sep-2020, acquired 16-Oct-2020, reviewed 27-Oct-2020)

Appearance: hazy heavily particulate-laden straw with two fat fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, wheat, light funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter lightly tart finish. (4/5)

The tartness of the passionfruit adjunct works handiness hand with that of the wheat, and both complement the dry hopped Citra notes. Really refreshing. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Godspeed Brewery Nana – Saison at 5.2% ABV (C$6.16 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 14-Aug-2020, acquired 16-Oct-2020, reviewed 26-Oct-2020)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus zest, chili pepper, ginger, black pepper, light funk. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, moderate spice. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry moderate lingering spicy finish. (4/5)

Shichimi (Japanese 7 spice) typically contains red chili pepper, Japanese pepper, roasted orange peel, black & white sesame seed, hemp seed, ginger, nori, and poppy seed. It figures fairly prominently here, but not excessively, and blends well with a lemony zest and light funk. The spice balance is good, sufficiently present to make a contribution to the overall profile, but not so much that it builds to overwhelming levels by the time the pint is done. Interesting, and would make an interesting complement to spicy food, but not one you’d necessarily want to drink several of. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com