RyansBooze

Persephone Brewing Company Born in a Barn Brett IPA – American IPA at 5.7% ABV (C$6.03 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 3-Sep-2020, reviewed 8-Sep-2020)

Appearance: slightly hazy brown-tinged pale gold with two fingers of rocky white head, good retention and spotty soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: wet hay funk, white grape must, brown apple. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light funky tart. (5/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry medium duration funky finish. (3/5)

It’s a bit tricky to be certain here, since Brettanomyces is in itself a common infection for beer and in that context can easily give rise to undesirable characteristics, but I think this batch is damaged – if for no other reason than its brownish tea coloration. I’m all in favour of funk, and there are some suggestively intriguing vinous notes here, but ultimately this is unbalanced. Accuse me of being unsophisticated if you like, but I’ve tried some of the greatest wild beers around, and I think this one got away from them. I sink poured most of it. (11/20)

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Nickel Brook Brewing Co. Lost in Orbit – Session IPA at 4.5% ABV | 36 IBU (C$4.32 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 29-Jul-2020, acquired 3-Sep-2020, reviewed 7-Sep-2020)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fat fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention, heavy chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, citrus, tropical fruit, pale malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

Not precisely the same flavour profile as their Wicked Awesome, but not far off a lighter, more crushable version (albeit one missing the resiny pine aspect). Light, yes, but still flavourful, and not watery. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Nickel Brook Brewing Co. Wicked Awesome – American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 64 IBU (C$4.72 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 11-Aug-2020, acquired 3-Sep-2020, reviewed 7-Sep-2020)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fat fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention, heavy chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, resiny pine, pale malt, melon, floral. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

The can says this is hopped with Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe – and that’s pretty much bang-on the flavour profile I’m getting. With or without the Bahstahn accent (or Newfoundland one, for that matter – the area where I grew up uses almost exactly the same slang) I’m not sure it’s wicked or awesome, but it is a solid brew. I’m tempted to argue that it’s not “really” an NEIPA because of its emphatic bitterness, but that particular aspect of the style seems to be pretty much optional these days, so perhaps that’s best just left alone. It’s also a bit too dank to be “juicy”, but I like dank, so… Bottom line, I’d be happy to have another one. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

High River Brewing Co. From Another Galaxy – American IPA at 6% ABV (C$3.91 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 21-Aug-2020, acquired 3-Sep-2020, reviewed 6-Sep-2020)

Appearance: hazy straw with two fat fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention, heavy chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, stone fruit, bready malt, melon. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration lightly astringent finish. (3/5)

I’m not sure if this is single-hopped with Galaxy, but it seems to me to have a slightly thin flavour profile, in addition to a slightly thin and astringent body. Not bad, but somehow a little lacking. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Collective Arts Brewing IPA No. 14 – American IPA at 7.1% ABV (C$5.67 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 10-Aug-2020, acquired 3-Sep-2020, reviewed 5-Sep-2020)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of fluffy white head, good retention, spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy tropical fruit, citrus, bready malt, pine, melon. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

Looks like they dropped the “Collective Project/” from the name – wonder why? Anyway, the can calls this a DDH DIPA, hopped with Citra, Motueka, and Idaho 7. Just by way of background, I just went back and checked my notes, and the only one in the entire series I’ve missed is number 2. Prior to this one, the lowest one I’d rated was number 1, with a “mere” 7.5, and there was a three-way tie, of 9, 5, and 4, at 8.5 – and I think this one comes right down the middle. I waffled a little on score, and might actually have scored it a little too high on appearance, and a little too low on aroma, but ultimately it’s neither radically different, nor clearly better or worse, than any previous attempts – the curse of competence, I suppose. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Good Mood Brewery Every Day IPA – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$2.00 at Crowfoot Liquor Heritage Pointe, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 2-Sep-2020, reviewed 4-Sep-2020)

Appearance: slightly hazy medium gold with a massive rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, pine, grassy weeds. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering building bitter hop burn finish. (3/5)

I guess if you take it in the sense of “typical” or “unremarkable”, you could argue this really is an everyday IPA – as opposed to an IPA you’d want to have every day, if you see the distinction – although, that being said, the bitterness level is pretty emphatic so not really all that typical. It’s a weird combination of almost brutal bitter, yet not really all that interesting overall, probably mostly because the aroma is relatively mild and malt-forward. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Odin Brewing Company Sonic Sea Dragon – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$2.42 at Crowfoot Liquor Heritage Pointe, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 2-Sep-2020, reviewed 3-Sep-2020)

Appearance: clear pale gold with a massive rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, floral, caramel, citrus, resiny pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration building bitter finish. (3/5)

Hey, Odin, sorry to point this out but Alley Kat beat you to it on the whole “dragon series” idea. This one’s OK, but not quite as good as Galactic Space Dragon, and definitely not as good as Super Galactic Space Dragon. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

3 Fonteinen Brouwerij Ambachtelijke Geuzestekerij Oude Kriek (17|18) – Kriek at 6.6% ABV (C$18.63 at Collective, 375 ml, packaged on 2-Aug-2018, best before 26-Oct-2038, acquired 22-Sep-2019, reviewed 2-Sep-2020)

Appearance: clear ruby red with a short, short-lived light purple head, no lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tart cherry, mild oak. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, minimal bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, dry tart finish. (5/5)

My review of a previous vintage included two relevant comments: “it’s not a Cantillon” and “almost actually worth the price tag”. Well, this one was ten bucks less than the previous, so that pretty much puts to rest the latter comment, and considering I was able to buy it 15 minutes from my house for about the price I’d pay for a Cantillon at Cantillon, the former comment probably carries a lot less weight. (Though, dammit, I’d love to go back to Cantillon. I miss travel. Fuck you, 2020, fuck you right in your stupid fucking face.) I particularly like how it’s tart without being aggressive or sour, fruity without being sweet. A world-class beer at a pretty reasonable price. (18/20)

9/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Township 24 Brewery Left of the Lake Kveik – American IPA at 5.5% ABV | 20 IBU (C$3.99 at Okotoks Co-Op, 473 ml, packaged on 27-Jun-2020, acquired 29-Aug-2020, reviewed 31-Aug-2020)

Appearance: hazy  straw with three fingers of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: coriander, barnyardy funk, citrus, bready malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-low bitter, mild funky spice. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish spicy mildly funky finish. (3/5)

More like a Saison than an IPA (or a Pale, for that matter), with spice and funk notes as well as a slightly higher than normal sweetness profile. OK, but not one I’d make an effort to find. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Marda Loop Brewing Co. Jenkins Grapefruit Ale – Fruit / Vegetable Beer at 5.0% ABV (C$3.25 at Okotoks Co-Op, 473 ml, packaged on 17-Jun-2020, acquired 29-Aug-2020, reviewed 30-Aug-2020)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale straw with one fat finger of fluffy white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, grapefruit, grassy weeds. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry clean finish. (4/5)

It’s a little bit one-dimensional, almost completely dominated by grapefruit. I’d like a little more ale character beyond the faint grassy weeds, but actually, it’s pretty clean and refreshing as-is. Not to mention, I’m always a sucker for a Radler, and this is pretty darned close to that. I don’t regret having made the on-the-fly decision to support local and go with the four pack. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com