RyansBooze

Burdock Brewing BUMO IV – Saison at 8.1% ABV (C$18.99 at Oak & Vine, 375 ml, packaged on 1-Sep-2017, acquired 25-May-2018, reviewed 16-Nov-2019)

Appearance: slightly hazy ruby red with a short fizzy pink head settling rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: baker’s yeast, red grape must, oak, berries, earthy funk, pepper. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate tart, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, lively carbonation, off-dry mildly tart lightly funky finish. (4/5)

Honestly? I’m not sure why people make such a big deal about these guys. In my experience, they range from the lower end of mediocre, all the way up to… the higher end of mediocre. I mean, it’s not like there aren’t some awesome breweries in the Centre of the Universe, so why make a big deal over some overpriced hybrids? Maybe if you’re actually more a wine geek than a beer geek, I suppose, but to be honest, this is reminiscent of nothing more than a cheap homemade red wine kit. Certainly the vinous and barrel notes completely overwhelm any Saison that might once have been present. OK, fine, it’s not terrible – but it’s definitely not worth the price of admission, either. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Great Northern Brewing Company Big Mountain Tea Pale – American Pale Ale at 5.2% ABV | 54 IBU (C$2.61 at Collective, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 31-Oct-2019, reviewed 15-Nov-2019)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with two fingers of pillowy pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, tea, citrus, earth. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter slightly astringent finish. (4/5)

Yup, that’s a Tea Pale Ale, all right. Smells just like sweet tea, though thankfully tastes much less sweet, and has a similar bitterness and astringency. I had no great expectations for this after being less than impressed by their Going to the Sun IPA after a day trip to Montana, but this is actually better by a fair margin. Not to mention, it cost me about the same, but without ten hours’ driving. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Ale Architect Brewing Ltd. / North Brewing Company Caltha Rosehip & Calendula Grisette – Grisette / Petit Saison at 3.8% ABV (C$3.78 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-Oct-2019, reviewed 14-Nov-2019)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale straw with two fingers of fine white head, excellent retention and heavy creamy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: floral, honey, spices. (7/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate-low bitter, light tart. (6/10) Palate: light body, lively carbonation, dry lightly tart mild bitter finish. (4/5)

Doesn’t a Calendula sound like a medical condition? Possibly something you’d need surgically removed? (Yes, I know it’s a flower, I can Google too.) Feels like there’s a little too much emphasis on the floral and spicy notes for me, especially with the very light (verging on thin and watery) body. It would be sickly if it were any sweeter, but the champagne-like carbonation helps keep it palatable. Not a disaster by any means, but not necessarily something I’d want to drink a lot of. OK for a change. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Phillips Brewing Company Bat As Sauvin Spritzer – Session IPA at 3.9% ABV (C$3.78 at Collective, 473 ml, best before 8-Dec-2019, acquired 22-Sep-2019, reviewed 13-Nov-2019)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap and ring, minimal soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: vinous white grape, berries, biscuity malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry mild bitter finish. (4/5)

There’s nothing really wrong with this, other than it being far too light in aroma and flavour – but I don’t feel like I can really mark it down for that, all things considered. On the other hand, the elevated carbonation keeps it from seeming overly watery. I guess it’s a case of, it is what it is: if you want to be able to spend an hour drinking two or three beers with friends and still be able to drive afterwards, well, this might work for you. If you want something that actually has some real flavour, you might want to look elsewhere. (And the name bugs me – what in hell’s it supposed to mean?) (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Sea Change Brewing Co. Session Ale – Session IPA at 4% ABV (C$4.14 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 19-Jun-2019, acquired 22-Sep-2019, reviewed 13-Nov-2019)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap and ring, minimal soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, grainy malt, tropical fruit, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

I shouldn’t have left this in the fridge as long as I did – it’s probably getting a bit elderly, but still not bad. Refreshing and decently clean, and certainly doesn’t feel watered-down the way some Sessions do. Given the age, it might be a little unfair to complain about the lack of brightness and slightly muted hop profile, but there you go. I wouldn’t say no to another, and that’s really the ultimate test, innit? (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Dageraad Brewing Jumo – Saison at 4.8% ABV (C$4.72 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 30-Apr-2019, acquired 15-Oct-2019, reviewed 12-Nov-2019)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap and ring, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, bready yeast, tropical fruit, mild funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry lightly tart mild bitter finish. (4/5)

I was going to make a smartass comment about the “containing no oranges” line on the can, and question how many other things it doesn’t contain, but the fact is I can now see needing to make such a clarification: it wouldn’t take much convincing for me to believe this actually contained oranges. Clean, mildly tart, and refreshing, this ticks all the boxes for Saison. I could drink a lot of these… which is actually at least two more boxes ticked… (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Belching Beaver Brewery Dia de los Deftones – American Pale Lager at 5% ABV | 15 IBU (C$4.05 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 23-Aug-2019, acquired 31-Oct-2019, reviewed 11-Nov-2019)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fizzy white head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (2/5) Aroma: lime, crackery pale malt, grass, light plastic band-aid. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lightly tart mild bitter finish. (3/5)

Pretty unimpressive in general, and by far the least enjoyable out of the more than a dozen BB beers I’ve had so far. It would have been a fairly bland lager-and-lime even without off flavours, but the little phenol edge was particularly unwelcome. Beautiful label art, but that’s about the best you can say about it. (11/20)

5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Ecliptic Brewing Quasar Pale – American Pale Ale at 6% ABV | 65 IBU (C$3.01 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 11-Sep-2019, acquired 31-Oct-2019, reviewed 11-Nov-2019)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, resiny pine, grainy caramel, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

I find Simcoe and Mosaic to be a nice combination, and it’s one that’s implemented pretty well here, with tropical fruit and dank pine ahead of mild citrus. It’s definitely hop dominant, albeit with a solid cereal grain malt backbone. Pleasantly balanced, and pretty easy to drink despite the slightly higher bitterness. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Moody Ales Super Simcco – American IPA at 7.2% ABV (C$4.09 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 31-Oct-2019, reviewed 10-Nov-2019)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of creamy white head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: resiny pine, tropical fruit, caramel, citrus, earth. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium bitter finish. (3/5)

Not bad for being single-hopped with Simcoe, with a bit of a range of pine and fruit character going on. More to the point, there are none of the off-flavours I sometimes associate with Simcoe. It definitely falls short of being “juicy”, though, despite its elevated sweetness, and could definitely stand to be brighter. Merely OK. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bridge Brewing Company 1-604-HOP LIME BLING Lime Milkshake IPA – American IPA at 6% ABV (C$3.78 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 31-Oct-2019, reviewed 9-Nov-2019)

Appearance: hazy and particulate-laden muddy medium amber with two fingers of creamy pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: lime, lactose, caramel, ginger. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate tart, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sticky slightly peppery finish. (3/5)

Bit of a train wreck. I really didn’t expect much from this, so I wasn’t really disappointed – but it’s certainly not changing my opinion of Milkshake IPAs. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com