Rural Routes Brewing Company It’s Pronounced “Chow-Dah” – American IPA at 6.6% ABV (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 27-Feb-2020, acquired 13-Mar-2020, reviewed 15-Mar-2020)
Appearance: slightly dirty hazy pale gold with one fat finger of loose pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, caramel, tropical fruit, citrus, cooked vegetables. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-low carbonation, medium duration finish. (3/5)
Very unimpressive. The label promises a “big juicy tropical beer bursting with flavors [sic – we’re in Canada, eh?] of pineapple and guava” but I’m getting very little of that. Definitely not a good example of the NEIPA style. It’s only my second by these guys, but it’s another example of them feeling very stodgy and old-fashioned (despite being a new brewery). I almost sink-dumped the second half, but figured if the whole COVID-19 quarantine situation gets any worse I might be regretting that in the near future, so I didn’t… (11/20)
Common Crown Brewing Co. The White Out! – White IPA at 6% ABV | 42 IBU (C$4.35 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 13-Mar-2020, reviewed 15-Mar-2020)
Appearance: hazy near-opaque slightly dirty medium gold with one fat finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: coriander, wheat, grapefruit, faint tropical fruit. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light spice. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration slightly spicy finish. (3/5)
I was pleased to see Vic Secret in the hop list on the label, but unfortunately I can’t say I’m getting a lot of that in the aroma or flavour profiles. That being said, I’m not sure how well those kind of fruit flavours would really work with the coriander/clove note one normally expects with a White. It’s not terrible, but it is a bit muddled. (13/20)
Eighty-Eight Brewing Ring Pop IPA – American IPA at 7.2% ABV | 50 IBU (C$4.36 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 3-Mar-2020, acquired 13-Mar-2020, reviewed 14-Mar-2020)
Appearance: opaque pale gold with a short, short-lived pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, red berries, citrus, pale crackery malt, pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter, light tart. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-low carbonation, medium duration finish. (4/5)
This starts off slightly unimpressive but continues to build. Head development and retention is minimal, while the aroma, though pleasant, is a bit mild, to the point of muted. However, the juicy, slightly tart flavour is very nice indeed, as are the palate and finish. A brighter aroma would have pushed this over the top, but as it is, it’s merely good. (15/20)
The Bruery Brite Hibiscus Lime – Sour / Wild Ale at 3% ABV (C$4.18 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 16-Aug-2019, acquired 13-Mar-2020, reviewed 14-Mar-2020)
Appearance: slightly hazy ruby red with one finger of fizzy pale pink head diminishing gradually to a persistent cap, no lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tart lime, floral, oak. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (7/10) Palate: light body, lively carbonation, crisp tart finish. (3/5)
On the up side, this is probably the only Bruery beer I’ve had that didn’t require you mortgage your firstborn to afford it. On the other hand, it’s pretty darned near the bottom of those I’ve tried. It’s not bad or anything, but it’s pretty simple, and not very beer-like. (14/20)
Alley Kat Brewing Co. African Queen Dragon – American Double / Imperial IPA at 7.5% ABV (C$10.65 at Collective, 946 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 13-Mar-2020, reviewed 13-Mar-2020)
Appearance: crystal clear pale amber with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim and ring, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, grass, honey, melon, berry, perfumey floral, earth, hint of mint. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, moderate-soft carbonation, sticky building and lingering bitter finish. (3/5)
So, I just had a CoronadoNorth Island at 7.5% that called itself an NEIPA, while this, also at 7.5%, is styled as a Double – glad to see I’m not the only one who’s confused by this whole “classification” concept! I actually didn’t realize this was a Dragon series beer when I bought it, because I’m pretty sure “African Queen” isn’t a colour. Don’t get me wrong: I’ve been lambasting their colour choices for about four years now, so I’m not exactly surprised (or crushed) that they finally put a bullet in the idea – but I was sort of holding out hope that a “Smaragdine Dragon” would make an appearance at some point, especially since my previous ever-so-silly suggestion of “Periwinkle” came true. (Though, they did do “Mazarine”, so call that close enough, I suppose.) This one is… not all that impressive. By my count this is the third time I’ve had African Queen, although the first single-hop treatment, but I have yet to be impressed by it. I’m glad I did this one, actually, because I’m now growing more sure that African Queen is responsible for the less-than-impressive notes I got in my other experiences, so I’m at least tentatively placing it relatively low on my list of preferred hops. In addition to being less than impressed with the hop flavour profile, this one has much the same caramel and earthy characteristics of many of its brethren, but without many redeeming features. The series has had its successes, but this isn’t really one. (Also: t’internet, including Alley Kat’s web site, seems to be completely unaware of this one. Am I the first person to drink one of these, and if so, is it a practical joke?) (13/20)
Coronado Brewing Company North Island NEIPA – American IPA at 7.5% ABV (C$13.35 at Collective, 946 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 13-Mar-2020, reviewed 13-Mar-2020)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical & stone fruit, citrus, caramel & pale malt, light pine & vanilla. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, slightly sticky mild bitter finish. (4/5)
A little sweeter than I’d like it to be, but at least that’s balanced with the big notes of tropical fruit and citrus. Not quite a typical NEIPA – there are West Coast pine notes and slightly elevated bitterness, as well as Milkshake vanilla and creaminess – but certainly enjoyable. I’d have rated it higher if it were just a bit less sweet, with a dryer, less sticky finish. (16/20)
Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu Optimator – Doppelbock at 7.6% ABV (US$1.83 at Specs #4 North Houston, 355 ml, best before 1-Jun-2020, acquired 7-Mar-2020, reviewed 11-Mar-2020)
Appearance: clear brown with a short beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: toasted bread, dark fruit, brown sugar, light tobacco & leather, hint of booziness. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate-low carbonation, sticky medium duration finish. (4/5)
It’s a little distressing that the Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu web site makes no acknowledgement of this beer at all – what, you’re ashamed of it? And actually, it’s not bad. Despite the malt-forward character and high-tending ABV, it’s reasonably pleasant and easy to drink. (14/20)
My 266th from the 2010 Edition of 1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die (retired from the 2013 and 2015 Editions) and 287th combining all three editions.
Goose Island Beer Company Bourbon County Brand Stout (2019) – American Double / Imperial Stout at 15.2% ABV | 60 IBU (C$17.90 at Specs #4 North Houston, 330 ml, best before 27-Jul-2024, acquired 7-Mar-2020, reviewed 11-Mar-2020)
Appearance: clear deep brown / black with a short beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: chocolate, coffee, oak, bourbon, vanilla. (9/10) Taste: high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (9/10) Palate: full body, moderate-low carbonation, sticky lingering bitter warming finish. (4/5)
Pretty much what I was expecting: big, bombastic, sticky and hot. The carbonation, though relatively low, is still a little higher than I thought it would be, but other than that, it’s got pretty much the character you’d expect from the label. A slow sipper than opens up a bit as it warms, but never really gets very complex: sweet roasty malts and oaky bourbon dominate this, without much room left for anything else. (17/20)
My 265th from the 2010 Edition of 1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die, 255th from the 2013 Edition, 251st from the 2018 Edition, and 286th combining all three editions.
St. James’s Gate (Diageo) Guinness Extra Stout – Irish Dry Stout at 5.6% ABV (US$1.69 at Specs #4 North Houston, 330 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 7-Mar-2020, reviewed 11-Mar-2020)
Appearance: clear brown with a short beige head, moderate retention and minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet caramel and molasses, cocoa, coffee, light ash. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, slightly sticky medium bitter finish. (4/5)
Definitely a far better beer than the standard Dry Stout (Draught), even without a nitro kicker. A bit sweeter than it really needs to be, especially for the fairly restrained ABV, giving it a slightly sticky finish and almost justifying classifying it as a Foreign / Export. Slàinte! (14/20)
Parish Brewing Co. Ghost in the Machine – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.5% ABV (US$2.17 at Specs #4 North Houston, 355 ml, packaged on 8-Oct-2019, acquired 7-Mar-2020, reviewed 10-Mar-2020)
Appearance: opaque medium gold with a short, short-lived off-white head, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, pithy grapefruit, crackery pale malt, resiny pine, citrus, hint of vanilla. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, sticky lingering bitter finish. (4/5)
Decent NEDIPA, pretty easy-drinking for the emphatic ABV. (15/20)
