RyansBooze

Cabin Brewing Company Table Ghost – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$4.68 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 26-Nov-2020, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 24-Dec-2020)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and heavy chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, pale malt, mild dank resiny pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly sticky body, moderate carbonation, medium duration slightly sticky finish. (3/5)

I’m not sure about the intent behind the name, since it’s probably a touch high in ABV to be characterized as a Table Beer. (Turns out the brewer web site has the explanation: they decided the brewery was haunted and exorcised the ghost, which was then trapped in the wood grain of a table. Obvious, really, dunno why I didn’t think of that.) The label says hopped with Strata (I assume single) which I’ve previously noted has marketing notes of “passion fruit + strawberry + grapefruit + wafting cannabis”. This has a bit less of the old sticky-icky than other implementations I’ve had in the past. It’s also a bit on the sweet side for my preference. Not one of their best, if I’m honest, but that’s less a complaint about this particular beer, and more a reflection of the consistently high standard I’ve come to expect from this brewer. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Winterlong Brewing Co. Weekend Warrior – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$5.04 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 23-Dec-2020)

Appearance: clear straw with two fingers of loose white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, floral, pine, pale malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, building bitter lightly warming slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Nice one. I initially characterized the pine as light, but it definitely gains in strength as the pint progresses, making it almost West Coast in flavour and balance. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Burley Oak Brewing Company Distorted Treelines – Triple IPA at 9.5% ABV (C$11.85 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 24-Oct-2020, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 22-Dec-2020)

Appearance: opaque deep gold with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim and ring, spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, melon, sweaty funk, light resiny pine. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium creamy body, moderate-low carbonation, moderate bitter lightly warming finish. (3/5)

My first from this brewer. It’s OK, and maybe it’s just personal preference, but there’s a sweaty funk that I don’t entirely appreciate. On the other hand, the very high ABV barely plays at all. (And yes, I know “Triple IPA” isn’t really a style, but enough folks are making these that I broke down and added the style a while ago.) (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Nickel Brook Brewing Co. Metalhead Double IPA – American Double / Imperial IPA at 9% ABV | 85 IBU (C$4.63 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 27-Oct-2020, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 22-Dec-2020)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two fat fingers of rocky white head, good retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, berries, bready malt, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, building bitter mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Brewer notes say this is hopped with Citra, Simcoe and Ekuanot. It’s got a decent balance of hoppy notes reminiscent of the old school of bombastic DIPAs, except with a bit less pine and paler malt. Solid, and drinks less aggressive than the ABV would suggest. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bearded Iris Brewing Co. Homestyle – American IPA at 6% ABV (C$8.75 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 11-Nov-2020, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 22-Dec-2020)

Appearance: lightly hazy pale gold with two fingers of loose pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thick persistent cap, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, stone fruit, tropical fruit, oats and cereal grains, light pine, hint of vanilla. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration moderate bitter finish. (4/5)

Brewer notes only specify Mosaic hops, so I’m not sure whether or not this is single-hopped. Certainly, the hop profile is such that it might well be. Very nice, juicy and hoppy, with a clean oaty cereal malt and a hint of pine and vanilla. Bit expensive for what it is, though. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Strange Fellows Brewing Nocturnum Dark I.P.A. – Black IPA at 6.5% ABV | 65 IBU (C$4.54 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 22-Oct-2020, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 21-Dec-2020)

Appearance: clear deep amber with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, bready yeast, light chocolate, earth, faint pine. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration moderate bitter finish. (3/5)

This isn’t anything like any Black IPA / CDA I’ve ever had before: it’s as light in aroma and flavour as it is in colour, with very little hop character. In fact, it’s dominated by bready yeast and roast chocolate malt, without a whole lot going on. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Zero Issue Brewing IO Habañero Pineapple IPA (Issue #32) – American IPA at 6.3% ABV (C$4.36 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 20-Dec-2020)

Appearance: clear deep gold with two fingers of creamy pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy creamy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: green vegetal, citrus, caramel, tropical fruit. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate spice, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, building bitter spicy lightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Not a lot of pineapple coming through here, but there’s a definite vegetal hot pepper note in both the aroma and on the tongue. On the up side, despite its definite presence, the peppery heat never actually becomes excessive. I’d like more fruit presence, but on the whole it’s decently well balanced. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasserie Dunham Black IPA – Black IPA at 5.7% ABV (C$5.94 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 11-Oct-2020, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 18-Dec-2020)

Appearance: slightly hazy deep brown with two fingers of fluffy beige head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dark roasted coffee, dark chocolate, pine, stone fruit, light citrus. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter ashy moderately astringent finish. (3/5)

A lot going on here, with big roasted malt notes bolstered by resiny pine, stone fruit and citrus. My only real complaint here is that the resiny pine is fine on the front end, but ends up being a bit astringent in the finish, especially in combination with the charred ashy notes. It might benefit by being a bit heavier in the body, but as it is it feels just a little thin and sharp. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bearded Iris Brewing Co. Another Suggestion – American Double / Imperial IPA at 7.8% ABV (C$8.75 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 30-Oct-2020, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 17-Dec-2020)

Appearance: opaque pale gold with two fingers of loose pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a persistent cap, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, stone fruit, grape, pale malt, resiny pine, mild green onion. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, medium duration warming slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

The label says “nelson, citra, motueka” – so for me that’s a, yes, yes, aaaaand oh my goodness yes. The emphatically juicy aroma is initially dominated by citrus and stone fruit, but as the pint progresses additional layers develop – for example, I initially described a “hint” of pine, but that really grows and develops its dankitude. My only significant objection here is that there is a bit of astringency in the finish. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Winterlong Brewing Co. Pingo Pale Ale – American Pale Ale at 5% ABV (C$5.08 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 17-Dec-2020)

Appearance: clear deep gold with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, caramel, hint of resiny pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration slightly peppery finish. (3/5)

Wasn’t there an arcade game by this name in therapy 80’s? No, wait, that was Pengo. I used to really like that game… Turns out Wikipedia says Pinga is the Inuit goddess of the hunt, fertility and medicine, which would seem to be a more naming likely source than a Sega arcade game. Anyway, right, beer. It’s OK. It might be a bit old (I can’t tell because there’s no packaging date) but maybe that’s why the citrus isn’t all that pronounced. There are no off flavours, but it’s just not very interesting. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com