RyansBooze

Tofino Brewing Co. Dimension Ascension – American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV | 50 IBU (C$4.41 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-May-2020, reviewed 4-May-2020)

Appearance: clear pale amber with some particulate, two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone fruit, citrus, caramel, pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Nice one. I waffled a little on scoring, because it might ultimately be an issue of personal preference here. However, ultimately it comes down to the difference between old-school, and old-fashioned, and this is just a bit too malty to prefer the former description over the latter. (And if there were any doubt about that, check out the old-school pixelated Chancery-style video game font!) A bit more resiny pine, or a bit less caramel malt, and you’d really have something, but as it is it’s merely quite good. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Cabin Brewing Company Rainbow Nation – American IPA at 7.3% ABV (C$5.04 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 26-Apr-2020, acquired 1-May-2020, reviewed 3-May-2020)

Appearance: opaque pale amber with two fingers of fluffy pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: gourd/melon, tropical fruit, caramel, nuts, berries, earth. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky medium bitter finish. (3/5)

I’m starting to think I don’t like South African hops all that much. I initially called what I got on the front end “melon”, but having thought of pumpkin, I can’t shake the comparison – and I don’t much like pumpkin beers. Cabin doesn’t go wrong much in my opinion, but this is pretty much my least favourite of theirs ever. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Eighty-Eight Brewing Happier Hour – American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV | 38 IBU (C$4.27 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 1-May-2020, acquired 1-May-2020, reviewed 3-May-2020)

Appearance: clear deep gold with two fingers of fluffy white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: floral, pale malt, tropical & stone fruit, citrus, melon, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry mild bitter finish. (4/5)

Decent Pale, though a bit more emphasis on the hops (Cascade and Mosaic) would have been nice. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Troubled Monk Brewery Juicy Gossip – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-May-2020, reviewed 2-May-2020)

Appearance: bright clear straw with one fat finger of loose off-white head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, pale malt, melon, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry mild bitter finish. (4/5)

Ummm… This is not just clear, but brightly clear. I mean, brilliantly clear. And the flavour profile is more crackery and lager-y, than juicy fruit. This is a rare swing and a miss for Troubled Monk, at least in the sense of hitting the numbers on the style. It’s pleasant enough, but it’s really not an NEIPA. Like, emphatically not an NEIPA. Surprising and a little disappointing. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Ale Architect Brewing Ltd. Colour Burst – American IPA at 6.3% ABV (C$4.81 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-May-2020, reviewed 2-May-2020)

Appearance: opaque pale gold with one fat finger of loose pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: bright tropical fruit, citrus, pale crackery malt, pine, light cattiness. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-soft body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry mild bitter finish. (4/5)

Lovely bright hops dominate from the outset. Label says this is hopped with Galaxy, Citra, and Simcoe. Definitely getting just a very mild hint of that catty Simcoe note in the finish, but in a restrained way that doesn’t detract from the overall experience. Interestingly there’s a soft body despite the relatively lively carbonation. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Hell’s Basement Brewing Double DIPA – American Double / Imperial IPA at 9% ABV (C$4.00 at Collective, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-May-2020, reviewed 2-May-2020)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with one finger of fine ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, caramel, citrus, grass, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky lingering building bitter finish. (4/5)

I kind of assumed that at least one of the Doubles on the label referred to dry hopping, but this is pretty malt-dominant if that’s the case. It’s malt-dominant regardless, actually. In my opinion, this should be more hop-heavy, especially to balance against the big boozy malts. Not bad, but not quite as good as their One Shot Left – which is a pretty rare outcome for me when the loser is fifty percent higher in ABV than the winner! (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Baffin Brewing Company Mango Unchained – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$5.55 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 16-Jan-2020, acquired 1-May-2020, reviewed 1-May-2020)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of dense pillowy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mango, citrus, caramel, grass, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

“Dry-hopped with Mosaic” is generally a safe bet that I’ll approve, and I’m usually OK with mango as an adjunct, though it’s not a slam-dunk by any means. This… well, let’s just say it’s not exactly unchained. Heck, it’s barely sniffing butts at the off-leash park. That’s not necessarily a negative, since the restrained mango means you can actually detect the hops, and it doesn’t come across as sickly sweet – but a little more enthusiasm wouldn’t have gone astray. It’s OK, but certainly not great. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Rogue Ales Newport Daze – American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV | 35 IBU (C$4.18 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 2-Mar-2020, acquired 24-Apr-2020, reviewed 30-Apr-2020)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of fine white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical & stone fruit, citrus, pale crackery malt, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

Almost juicy, but not quite – but still pretty refreshing. I might appreciate it more if I were within a few hundred miles of a proper beach, but I guess ya gotta make do. Pretty decently full aroma and flavour for an APA. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bridge Brewing Company Prime Time IPA – American IPA at 5.0% ABV (C$3.25 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 8-Apr-2020, acquired 24-Apr-2020, reviewed 30-Apr-2020)

Appearance: hazy slightly murky medium amber with one finger of loose pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, caramel, grass, hint of pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Not bad for a low-cal beer, but does have a slightly watered-down IPA thing going on, especially in the finish, which is a little thin and sharp. Slightly better than their Prime Time APA, and not unpleasant, but not quite as easy-drinking or clean as I’d like to see from a low ABV ale. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Medicine Hat Brewing Co. Rebel Daughter Hazy Pale Ale – American Pale Ale at 5.4% ABV | 32 IBU (C$4.09 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 16-Apr-2020, acquired 24-Apr-2020, reviewed 30-Apr-2020)

Appearance: slightly chill hazed pale gold with two fat fingers of fluffy white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, pale crackery malt, hint of pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (3/5)

No lie, I was starting to wonder if it was actually a requirement that Pink Boots beers be pink in colour. Glad this one cleared that up! The label says it’s hopped with Azacca, El Dorado, Idaho Gem, and Loral, and I’m getting the expected combination of tropical fruit and citrus with a hint of pine, but overall the intensity of the hopping seems a bit too mild. Similarly, the body tends a bit thin, especially in the finish. All in all, it’s not bad, but one of those APAs that sort of comes across as a slightly watered-down IPA. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com