RyansBooze

Craft Beer Commonwealth Landlock Ale – American Pale Ale at 5.1% ABV (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 16-Dec-2020)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale straw with two fingers of pillowy pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: zesty citrus, resiny pine, pale crackery malt, hint of coconut. (8/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, dry short duration finish. (4/5)

An interesting idea: it’s brewed using ingredients grown within 10 km of Red Deer, including malt from Red Shed and hops from Hard Hels Hops (Triple Pearl, Idaho 7, Sabro, and Columbus) in collaboration with a whole pile of local breweries. And I’m of course a big fan of Blindman, so it’s hardly surprising that this is quite good: citrusy on the front end, with restrained sweetness and a dry clean finish. I look forward to seeing what else comes out of this collaborative effort, but as far as I’m concerned it’s already a success. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Moody Ales Huge Citrus – American Pale Ale at 6.1% ABV | 35 IBU (C$4.41 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 18-Aug-2020, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 15-Dec-2020)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with a massive rocky ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus juice and zest, pale crackery malt and cereal grains, tropical fruit, light funk. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

Definitely not “Huge” Citrus – heck, it’s barely Large Citrus. Brewer’s notes indicate this is hopped with Cascade and Mosaic late in the brew, and again dry-hopped with the same. It’s also fermented with Sacc Trois yeast, keeping things dry and slightly funky. I’d like to see brighter citrus, but perhaps that’s at least partially due to it being a bit past its BB, at more than 3 months in the can. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Take Five – Belgian Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV (C$4.18 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 8-Dec-2020, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 15-Dec-2020)

Appearance: slightly hazy deep gold with one finger of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: banana, orange peel, Belgian esters, melon, white pepper, light plastic band-aid. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light peppery spice. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration mildly spicy finish. (3/5)

Apparently hopped with Pacific Gem and Huell Melon. I’m definitely getting some melon notes, but not a lot of the ANZ-type notes. There’s a hint of not-entirely-welcome plastic band-aid in addition to the Belgian esters, but all in all it’s not badly balanced. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Omen Brewing Ltd. Snowy Owl – American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV (C$3.82 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 14-Dec-2020)

Appearance: clear deep gold with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone fruit, doughy cereal grains, citrus, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium duration finish. (3/5)

It’s hard to characterize this without sounding dismissive. By which I mean, it’s OK. It’s not great, but it’s definitely not bad. No off flavours, certainly, but it’s also slightly sweet for my preference, and the hop profile is pretty basic. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Collective Arts Brewing IPA No. 15 – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.2% ABV (C$5.89 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 10-Nov-2020, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 13-Dec-2020)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of rocky white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, tropical fruit, cereal grains, mild pine, lactose, faint coconut. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly warming boozy finish. (4/5)

Going into this, I understood it was supposedly a re-brew of No. 5, and I was of two minds about that concept. On the one hand, as a re-brew, it’s ground we’ve already covered. On the other hand, No. 5 tied with No. 4 and No. 9 as the best in the series in my opinion. (On yet another hand, if you’re going to be doing re-brews, how about re-doing the only two I’ve missed so far, No. 2 and No. 7?) For what it’s worth, though, I’m actually noticing some not insignificant variations between this one and the original. The original was at least two SRM darker, and quite particulate-laden, and I have no record of detecting the slight coconut I’m getting in this one. I’m also finding this one to be slightly boozy, which is hardly surprising for the ABV, but a departure from what I noted in the original. Finally, this one clearly has a lactose addition, and from what I can tell, No. 5 didn’t. All in all, this appears less a “re-brew”, and more a “re-imagining”, and I’d have to say not quite as good as the original despite being quite a bit fresher at the time of tasting. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Rainhard Brewing Nosbeeratu – Black IPA at 6.66% ABV | 66 IBU (C$5.22 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 14-Oct-2020, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 12-Dec-2020)

Appearance: clear deep brown with one fat finger of rocky beige head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: roasty and ashy malt, resiny pine, light citrus, hint of coffee & chocolate. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, moderate-high lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Believe it or not, not my first 6.66% ABV (nor, even my second). It might be the first one that doubles down with 66 IBU, though. Black IPAs are a style that I really, really wanted to like ever since I first encountered them, but a quick check of my records shows that after about 50 examples, it’s one that I only rarely actually do like all that much. This one, I actually do like: it’s well-balanced, in that it’s dominated by dry roast ashy malt, but hops come a close second, and the sweetness is very much restrained. In other words, this is pretty much the way you’re supposed to do it. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Rainhard Brewing Fight Song – American IPA at 6.4% ABV (C$5.22 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 7-Oct-2020, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 12-Dec-2020)

Appearance: hazy pinkish amber with two fingers of pillowy pale pink head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: floral, tropical fruit, citrus, caramel. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, moderate lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

They call it a “Pink IPA” but it’s really more coppery until you get to the almost-purple lees. Hopped with Galaxy, Idaho 7, and Mosaic. The aroma is briefly dominated by the hibiscus adjunct, but that fades fairly rapidly to leave behind the tropical fruit and citrus. I like the fact that the floral is decently restrained, but it’s till too sweet for my liking. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Sky Rocket VI – American Double / Imperial IPA at 7.3% ABV (C$4.72 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 1-Dec-2020, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 11-Dec-2020)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with two fingers of loose white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, resiny dank pine, stone fruit, pale malt, green vegetal. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, moderate bitter lingering slightly vegetal finish. (3/5)

I can’t find any proper brewer’s notes for this brand-spankin’-new continuation of the series, but what can I find says it’s hopped with Mosaic and El Dorado in early fermentation dry hopping. That source also compares it to II, and I’m inclined to agree. Like some of the other incarnations, I’m getting a bit of a green vegetal note, but a bit more aggressive than previously. Still good, but with a little harshness. I’d be the first to admit I don’t know what the fuck I’m talking about, but I have to wonder if the early fermentation dry hopping is contributing to that slightly harsh note, which for me always feels a bit like over extraction, like when I forget to press my French Roast at the right time.  On the other hand, the Rocket has now for the first time gained enough altitude to be considered a DIPA, so it’s got that going for it… (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Outcast Brewing Vol. 1 Slay Bells Ring – Session IPA at 5.3% ABV (C$3.60 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 2-Dec-2020, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 11-Dec-2020)

Appearance: opaque straw with two fat fingers of dense white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, grapefruit, cereal grains, green onion. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, moderate-low peppery spice. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry short duration slightly astringent lightly spicy finish. (3/5)

Hopped with HPA-014 (Eclipse) and Galaxy. The brewer release notes claim this is the first beer brewed in Canada with Eclipse, and I certainly can’t find any record of having encountered them before. A little vegetal / onion on the front end, and a bit astringent in the back makes this less well-balanced than I normally expect for Outcast.  (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Nickel Brook Brewing Co. Creeper Reaper – Session IPA at 4.1% ABV | 30 IBU (C$4.63 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 19-Oct-2020, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 10-Dec-2020)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fat fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: grapefruit zest, stone fruit, pale crackery malt, light tropical fruit, hint of resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short duration finish. (4/5)

Hopped with Sabro, Citra, and Mosaic. Nice example of a Session: zesty aroma and bright flavours, light-bodied and short in the finish but not really watery. This isn’t exactly elderly, but I can see it being more impressive back around Halloween when it was brewed. Ephemeral, perhaps, but not necessarily forgettable. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com