RyansBooze

Grain Bin Brewing Company Bring Back Summer American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV (C$8.05 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 28-May-2019, reviewed 3-Jun-2019)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fat fingers of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: citrus, resiny pine, bready malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

Very nice. Nothing particularly outstanding (other than the pretty much perfect appearance) but everything is just done right. In fact, it’s so much by the numbers that it’s in danger of becoming boring – but the nicely balanced citrus and resiny pine aroma definitely keeps that from actually happening. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Category 12 Brewing Compressed Data American Pale Ale at 4.5% ABV | 20 IBU (C$5.22 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 4-Apr-2019, acquired 28-May-2019, reviewed 3-Jun-2019)

Appearance: opaque  medium gold with two fat fingers of rocky ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, tropical fruit, floral, bready malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter, mild tart. (9/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry mild finish. (4/5)

Nice one. Juicy in aroma and appearance, but the flavour is where it really shines, with a bright slightly tart fruitiness supported by a slightly higher-than-normal carbonation. What’s more, they’ve accomplished it in a sub-5 ABV, meaning you can enjoy this all day long – a definite patio beer. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Dandy Brewing / Brasserie Dieu du Ciel! The Richard Riot American IPA at 6% ABV (C$8.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 27-May-2019, reviewed 2-Jun-2019)

Appearance: clear straw with two fat fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: citrus, resiny pine, tropical fruit, crackery malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

A solid IPA, with clean malt supporting a pleasant hop character including notes of citrus, pine, and tropical fruit. It’s not exactly the best DDC product (well, collab) I’ve had, but it’ll do. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

O.T. Brewing Company Sooooo Pitted American Double / Imperial IPA at 8% ABV (C$4.89 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 355 ml, packaged on 2-May-2019, acquired 27-May-2019, reviewed 1-Jun-2019)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of rocky pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: doughy yeast, honey, mild citrus & tropical fruit. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium bitter finish. (4/5)

Not unpleasant, and I actually like the honey notes, but overall it’s dominated by that honey and doughy yeast, instead of the hop dominance – or, at least, emphatic presence – I like to see in IPAs and DIPAs. The Azacca is there, but not to the extent I was hoping given the reported double dry hopping. On the up side, the high ABV doesn’t make itself known at all. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Blindman Brewing Hudson Heart Project New England Dark Ale Black IPA at 5.4% ABV (C$8.95 at Collective, 946 ml, acquired 28-May-2019, reviewed 1-Jun-2019)

Appearance: clear deep brown with one finger of rocky beige head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, roasty malt, citrus, and pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-low carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

One of the better examples of the Black IPA style I’ve encountered, with a nice balance of dark roasted malt and piney hop characters. I probably shouldn’t have let the crowler sit for four days – I’m blaming the low carbonation on that – but still pretty good regardless. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

4 Mile Brewing Co. Hazy Citra Ale American Pale Ale at 5% ABV (C$7.47 at Collective, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 28-May-2019, reviewed 30-May-2019)

Appearance: muddy and opaque deep gold with two fingers of rocky white head, good retention and moderate spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, citrus, doughy cereal grains, light stone fruit. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

A fairly ugly muddy appearance and unimpressive aroma sets the stage for a less than impressive overall experience. The flavour isn’t bad, and the finish is fine, but neither are good enough to overcome those initial impressions. Ultimately a pretty meh-tastic offering. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Annex Ale Project Deuce Malt Liquor at 7% ABV (C$11.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 1.18 l, no packaging date or best before, acquired 27-May-2019, reviewed 29-May-2019)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one fat finger of loose white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, grass, caramel, light citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky medium bitter finish. (3/5)

I declined to pick this up the first couple of times I saw it – I mean, come on, it’s a 40 of malt liquor! – but was finally kicked over the edge. And no, of course it’s not “really” a malt liquor, though malt does feature strongly in the flavour profile – it’s more like a malty Pils, or maybe an IPL. As a malt liquor, it’s stellar, but as a real style, it’s merely good. (And no, there’ll be no paper bag shots or gang banger slang here. I’m too old and cranky for that.) (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Dandy Brewing Company Ultra Pale Ale Session IPA at 2.5% ABV (C$4.00 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 28-May-2019, reviewed 29-May-2019)

Appearance: clear deep gold with two fingers of loose pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, citrus, caramel. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (4/5)

That’s more than a little impressive: despite the nearly non-existent 2.5% ABV, there’s a decent aroma and flavour going on here. I was expecting it to be pale and watery, and though it’s not exactly robust, it’s a long way from bland. If you wanted an actual breakfast beer (hey, I ain’t judging…) this could easily fit the bill. (But, a silver can with “ULTRA” vertically on the side? I suspect you can expect a fairly unpleasant letter from ABInBev’s lawyers in the near future.) (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Paddy’s Barbecue & Brewery Summer Session Ale Session IPA at 4.5% ABV | 20 IBU (C$2.79 at Collective, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 28-May-2019, reviewed 28-May-2019)

Appearance: hazy straw with one finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a think cap, moderate spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, citrus, stone fruit, biscuity pale malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, short clean finish. (4/5)

Decent enough little Session Ale, and certainly fits the bill of a light summer beer. I’d like the aroma and flavour to be a bit brighter and punchier, but overall it’s a good one for a sunny afternoon on the patio. It’s not going to blow you away, but who drinks a Session expecting to be blown away? (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Collective Arts Brewing Collective Project/ IPA No. 9 American IPA at 7.1% ABV (C$4.69 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 473 ml, packaged on 2-Apr-2019, acquired 27-May-2019, reviewed 27-May-2019)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: mild, citrus, tropical fruit, melon, biscuity pale malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-high carbonation, dry crisp short finish. (4/5)

I had high hopes here – Collective is one of my all-time favourite breweries, and I remain convinced that the Brut sub-style has real potential – but it didn’t quite pan out. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a disaster or anything, but it just didn’t shine quite to the extent I was hoping it would: the aroma, though pleasant, is a touch mild; the carbonation, though adequate, is a touch low for the style; and the finish, though dry, isn’t quite champagne-crisp. These are all minor issues, but taken en masse result in an ever-so-slightly disappointing end product. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com