RyansBooze

Banished Brewing Ltd. Jim Time – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8% ABV (C$7.35 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 18-Jul-2024, reviewed 19-Jul-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with two fat fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, lactose, cereal grains, light pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: smooth medium-full body, moderate-soft carbonation, sweet building bitter warming finish. (4/5)

“This juicy Double IPA will leave you wondering who Jim is” Gwan, b’y, everybody knows Jim from around shore. And apparently Jim brews a mean NEDIPA: lots of juicy flavour on the front end, smooth body with soft carbonation, and a little hop burn and boozy warming in the finish. She’s best kind b’y. (16/20)

This will be my 5,885th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Born Brewing Co. (Born Colorado Brewing) Food Court – American IPA at 7.5% ABV (C$5.17 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 11-Jun-2024, acquired 18-Jul-2024, reviewed 19-Jul-2024)

Appearance: hazy straw with a massive fluffy white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: banana, cloves, orange juice, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet tending slightly high, moderate bitter, light tart. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium bitter lightly tart finish. (4/5)

I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, but this is exactly like a Belgian Witbier. The label says tangerine, banana, and vanilla, but I can’t say I’m getting any vanilla, and I am getting clove. For that matter, I want to say I’m getting wheat, though I can’t find a malt bill to confirm it. Deeply weird, but I don’t dislike it. (15/20)

This will be my 5,884th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Town Square Brewing Easy Tiger Earl Grey IPA – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$4.90 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 18-Jul-2024, reviewed 19-Jul-2024)

Appearance: clear straw with two fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: sweet tea, floral, stone fruit, citrus. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet tending slightly high, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium bitter finish. (3/5)

The brewer notes call this a fusion of WCIPA and Earl Grey, but to be honest I’m not getting a whole lot of WCIPA notes here. There’s essentially no pine, for example, and the citrus comes in behind what I’m interpreting as floral and stone fruit notes. It’s definitely different, though, and that counts for a lot in my book. I quite like Earl Grey too, so this is very much in my wheelhouse. My only real complaint here is that I find it just a touch too sweet, but even that balances out a bit as the pint progresses. I don’t know that you’d want to have a whole lot of these, but it’s an interesting one to try. (14/20)

This will be my 5,883rd unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Banished Brewing Ltd. Little Jim – Session IPA at 4% ABV (C$6.35 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 18-Jul-2024, reviewed 19-Jul-2024)

Appearance: clear deep gold with two fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: mild, melon flesh & rind, tropical fruit, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body tending slightly thin, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

It’s not bad, especially for the light weight, but it’s not a complete success for me either. The aroma is a little on the mild side, which is not uncommon for the style, but there’s also a slightly green vegetal melon note that isn’t completely welcome. Also fairly typical for the style, the body falls off a little thin, leading to a slight astringency in the finish. (14/20)

This will be my 5,882nd unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Alley Kat Brewing Co. Dragon Hazy 3.0 – American Double / Imperial IPA at 7.5% ABV | 50 IBU (C$5.90 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 27-Jun-2024, acquired 10-Jul-2024, reviewed 17-Jul-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of creamy white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, stone & tropical fruit, melon, hint of mint. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: slightly slick medium body, moderate carbonation, building bitter warming finish. (4/5)

I swear, I’ve been trying Alley Kat Dragons for more than a decade now, with well over two dozen iterations – maybe three or four. This one apparently uses three new hops: Elani, Alora, and Zamba – previously known as YQH-1320, HS17701, and HS1214, respectively. I think Elani and Zamba are completely new to me, and I had Alora (to which I’m attributing the melon notes) for the first time yesterday. Solid performer overall. (16/20)

This will be my 5,881st unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Chromesthesia – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.2% ABV (C$6.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 2-Jun-2024, acquired 10-Jul-2024, reviewed 17-Jul-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of fine white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical & stone fruit, dank pine, citrus, pale malt. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (9/10) Palate: smooth medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Brewer notes say “three distinct lots of Nelson Sauvin hops and experimental Mosaic 701 flowable”. I don’t think I’ve encountered Mosaic 701 before, but there’s definitely a strong Mosaic character in this one. Can’t really say the same about the Nelson Sauvin, because the single biggest element I associate with that hop is vinous grape, and that just isn’t how I’d describe this. Which isn’t a criticism, by any means: this is a serious banger, as are so many of The Establishment’s white labels. (17/20)

This will be my 5,880th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Zero Issue Brewing Fury – American IPA at 6% ABV (C$5.15 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 28-May-2024, acquired 10-Jul-2024, reviewed 17-Jul-2024)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with one finger of fluffy white head,  good retention and spotty soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone fruit, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate tart, moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lightly tart & metallic medium duration finish. (3/5)

Bit of a one trick pony, almost completely dominated by the apricot adjunct. I mean, I like apricot, so that’s not really a negative per se, but a little more complexity wouldn’t go astray. There’s also a slightly metallic tinge through the finish that makes one think the apricots were canned… perhaps by Wardaddy in his Sherman tank around 1945 or so… (Yes, I know it’s supposed to be Furiosa-inspired, so that joke doesn’t actually work. Shhh. And did they stop doing issue numbers?) (14/20)

This will be my 5,879th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Camp Beer Co. Piña Colada Campsicle – American IPA at 5.6% ABV (C$6.65 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 17-Jun-2024, acquired 10-Jul-2024, reviewed 17-Jul-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fat growing fingers of fluffy ivory head,  good retention and spotty soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pineapple, coconut, citrus, vanilla, lactose. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly thick body, moderate-soft carbonation, medium duration finish. (4/5)

I always find Milkshake IPAs to be a bit hit or miss, in that they’re usually too sweet. And this one is sweet, make no mistake. But, it’s a sweetness that feels authentic – at least, as authentic as adjuncts can be. The pineapple purée dominates pretty much all the way through to the finish, although some hop character starts to come out as it warms. I can’t find any brewer’s notes, but secondary sources indicate Sabro hops, which makes a lot of sense given the coconut adjunct. Ultimately I do like this, but I don’t think I’d want more than one. (15/20)

This will be my 5,878th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Cabin Brewing Company Daybreak – Black IPA at 7.1% ABV (C$4.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 27-Mar-2024, acquired 10-Jul-2024, reviewed 17-Jul-2024)

Appearance: clear deep cola red with two fat growing fingers of fluffy beige head,  excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: coffee, toasted bread, resiny pine, citrus. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, dry bitter finish. (4/5)

Nice example of the style. It’s not quite light, and not quite bright, but it’s damn close to both, especially given its fairly imposing appearance. Quite drinkable for the style and the high-tending ABV. I like it. (16/20)

This will be my 5,877th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Evil Twin Brewing I Thought Of A Cool Name For This Double IPA – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8% ABV (C$12.50 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 9-May-2024, acquired 10-Jul-2024, reviewed 16-Jul-2024)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with one fat finger of creamy pale ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dank resiny pine, citrus, tropical fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: slightly slick medium-full body, moderate-soft carbonation, lingering building bitter finish. (4/5)

“Double dry-hopped with Citra, Nelson, Riwaka” As is usual for Jeppe, stupid name and stupid price. Good, though: bombastic huge hops on a slightly thick body. (16/20)

This will be my 5,876th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com