RyansBooze

Left Coast Brewing Co. Asylum Tripel at 11.8% ABV | 27 IBU (US$7.99 at Safeway, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 24-Apr-2019, reviewed 25-Apr-2019)

Appearance: murky deep gold with a short fine white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, bready caramel, floral, hot fusels. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full slightly slick body, moderate-soft carbonation, lingering bitter warming finish. (3/5)

So, I checked a few reviews for this one, and found a fair number opining that this wasn’t a true Belgian Tripel. Well, I’ve had Belgian Tripels in Belgium that were a lot like this, so I beg to differ. However, it’s not the type of Belgian Tripel I prefer: they seem to fall into two camps, sweet and dry, and this is very much the sweet style (or as I have been known to call them, gas station soccer hooligan beers). Personally, I really prefer the dry, pale, highly attenuated ones. On the other hand, it’s boozy as fuck, so it’s got that going for it, which is nice. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Kona Brewing Company Longboard Island Lager American Pale Lager at 4.6% ABV | 20 IBU (US$2.83 at Walmart, 355 ml, packaged on 13-Feb-2019, acquired 24-Apr-2019, reviewed 25-Apr-2019)

Appearance: clear straw with a short white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: cereal grains, light lemon & grass. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, crisp short finish. (3/5)

It’s a fairly standard macro-style lager, but it’s made in Hawaii, so that makes it gooder-er… somehow… (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mehana Brewing Company Tsunami IPA American IPA at 7.2% ABV | 75 IBU (US$10.00 at Da Poke Shack, 568 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 25-Apr-2019, reviewed 25-Apr-2019)

Appearance: clear medium amber with a short off-white head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: bready caramel, pine, pithy grapefruit. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, lingering and building bitter finish with mild spicy pepper heat. (3/5)

Old-school somewhat heavy IPA with big bitterness mostly offsetting the big malt character. Made slightly more interesting than it otherwise might be by the addition of black pepper, giving a pepper heat in the finish complementing the big lingering bitter. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Kona Brewing Company Big Wave Golden Ale Golden Ale at 4.4% ABV | 21 IBU (US$2.83 at Walmart, 355 ml, packaged on 8-Feb-2019, acquired 24-Apr-2019, reviewed 24-Apr-2019)

Appearance: clear pale gold with a short white head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: honey, pineapple, grass, hint of pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration mild finish. (3/5)

A pretty pleasant and inoffensive entry-level craft beer – a definite step up from macro lagers, yet approachable. On the other hand, it’s not quite bland, but certainly doesn’t grab the attention in any way. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Big Island Brewhaus Overboard IPA American IPA at 6.9% ABV | 50 IBU (US$9.99 at Safeway, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 20-Apr-2019, reviewed 21-Apr-2019)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with a short pearlescent head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: resiny pine, floral, citrus, grass. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium bitter finish. (3/5)

Not bad at all. Slightly old-fashioned/West Coast-ish, with a dank resiny pine leading the way, but pretty well done. In particular, the sweetness remains restrained but sufficient to support the moderately high bitter. That moderately high bitter never becomes overwhelming or astringent, and finishes long but clean. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Firestone Walker Brewing Company 805 Blond Ale at 4.7% ABV (C$4.01 at Safeway, 710 ml, packaged on 10-Dec-2018, acquired 20-Apr-2019, reviewed 20-Apr-2019)

Appearance: clear medium gold with one fat finger of fluffy white head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: honey, grass. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, light bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium finish. (3/5)

Forgot I had had this one before, TBH – and that’s pretty much the best I can call it: forgettable. Even being in the 808 while drinking the 805 doesn’t really salvage it. I actually couldn’t be bothered to finish it. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Lagunitas Brewing Company 12th of Never American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV | 45 IBU (US$2.29 at KTA Super Stores, 568 ml, packaged on 23-Dec-2018, acquired 20-Apr-2019, reviewed 20-Apr-2019)

Appearance: chill hazed straw with one fat finger of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to a thin persistent cap, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus zest, resiny pine, clean cereal grains, light tropical fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, short duration medium bitter finish. (4/5)

Nice light APA. I might be letting the whole “enjoying a warm afternoon in Hawaii” experience bleed over slightly into the tasting experience, but all in all this is a solid little APA that approaches Session territory, while retaining lots of clean flavour. Good stuff. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Golden Road Brewing Wolf Pup Session IPA at 4.5% ABV | 45 IBU (US$3.17 at KTA Super Stores, 740 ml, best before 26-Jun-2019, acquired 20-Apr-2019, reviewed 20-Apr-2019)

Appearance: opaque straw with one fat finger of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to a thin persistent cap, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, resiny pine, clean cereal grains, citrus. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration bitter finish. (4/5)

Nice flavourful Session that needs no qualifiers or excuses – lots of hoppy aroma and mild but pleasant flavour on the tongue make this a nicely crushable refresher on a beautiful Hawaiian afternoon. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brewery Ommegang Bigger and Bretter Bière de Garde at 7.6% ABV (C$12.25 at Andrew Hilton Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, best before 1-Jan-2020, acquired 25-Mar-2019, reviewed 18-Apr-2019)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one fat finger of loose ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin persistent cap, spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone & orchard fruit, dry hay funk, citrus zest, bready caramel. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, mild funk. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Very restrained Brett funk melds well with stone and orchard fruits, backstopped by citrus zest and a pastry-like caramel. This might be worth getting another for cellaring, to give the Brett an opportunity to dig in and amp up the funk, but it’s pretty danged good as it stands. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Muskoka Brewery Pair of Wise Guys (Moonlight Kettle Series) Weizenbock at 7.5% ABV (C$4.05 at Collective, 473 ml, best before 24-Mar-2019, acquired 13-Feb-2019, reviewed 17-Apr-2019)

Appearance: clear deep amber with one fat finger of rocky ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: big banana, doughy yeast, brown sugar, cloves, light bubblegum. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, mild bitter spicy warming finish. (4/5)

A nice little Weizenbock tending slightly to the lighter end of the ABV scale in my experience, but with loads of pleasant flavour regardless. I’m constantly surprised by this style, which despite being completely about the malt and yeast, with essentially no hop character, consistently ranks among my favourites. This one is no exception, with an almost banana bread character and a mild spicy warming finish. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com