RyansBooze

Evil Twin Brewing Nasty Trunks (Batch #002) Sour / Wild Ale at 5.5% ABV (C$6.07 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 13-Feb-2019, reviewed 10-Apr-2019)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one fat finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: short-lived pine, lactic tart, citrus zest, grassy weeds. (7/10) Taste: moderate tart, moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration moderate tart finish. (3/5)

This commits a sin that’s fairly rare in my experience with Evil Twin: it’s, well, a bit boring. The brewer notes claim this is a fuller-bodied version of Sour Bikini, which I tried nearly four years ago, but I think I preferred that one even though it was only 3% ABV. I’m speculating that the lactose used in this one is cutting the tartness without really adding any sweetness, making the overall experience a bit less extreme (read: interesting) than its predecessor. There was an initial whiff of piney hops that made me think this was going to have a lot more IPA character than it ended up having, but that dissipated rapidly. Ultimately, it’s OK, but not really all that exciting. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

To Øl Sur Citra Sour / Wild Ale at 5.5% ABV (C$5.35 at Collective, 500 ml, best before 5-Mar-2019, acquired 13-Feb-2019, reviewed 7-Apr-2019)

Appearance: cloudy deep gold with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: lactic tart, citrus, grainy malt, hint of pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high tart, moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate tart finish. (3/5)

I kind of see where they were going with this, but in my opinion the tartness is excessive, particularly since it’s a plain lactic sour adding no complexity or depth. On the other hand, it’s fairly crisp and easy to drink, and not completely unlike a Radler, so it’s something you could easily demolish a lot of on a summer patio. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Quidi Vidi Brewing Company QVxNF Perfect Storm Dunkelweizen at 6% ABV (C$3.57 at NLC Stavanger, 473 ml, packaged on 26-Jan-2019, acquired 18-Mar-2019, reviewed 7-Apr-2019)

Appearance: murky brown with a large rocky beige head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: banana, wheat, molasses, dark fruit, bubble gum. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body tending slightly thin, moderate carbonation, off-dry mild finish. (3/5)

Not a bad example of the style. The aroma is particularly well done, with a nice balance of banana, wheat malt, and dark fruit. On the down side, the taste isn’t quite as good, though serviceable, and the body tends just slightly thin. Pleasant enough, overall. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Quidi Vidi Brewing Company QVxNF Iron Cherry Sour Sour / Wild Ale at 5.5% ABV (C$3.57 at NLC Stavanger, 473 ml, packaged on 12-Feb-2019, acquired 18-Mar-2019, reviewed 7-Apr-2019)

Appearance: clear ruby with one fat finger of rocky off-white head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tart cherry, lactic, slight medicinal edge. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate tart finish. (3/5)

I’m more than a little sick of kettle sours, so I didn’t have any great expectations here. I’ll stop short of saying I found anything about it dislikable, but the cherry aroma wasn’t particularly authentic, and had a slight cough syrup-like medicinal edge. (That’s in addition to lacking any depth or complexity, but since that’s par for the course for kettle sours, I didn’t really penalize it for that.) All in all, a fairly inoffensive if somewhat forgettable example of the style. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Quidi Vidi Brewing Company QVxNF Uncle Fred’s Kolsch Kölsch at 4.5% ABV (C$3.57 at NLC Stavanger, 473 ml, packaged on 30-Jan-2019, acquired 18-Mar-2019, reviewed 6-Apr-2019)

Appearance: clear straw with two fat fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and chunky soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: clean malt/honey, grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter finish. (3/5)

I like the idea of Quidi Vidi using a competition with the Newfermenters home-brew club to come up with some new beers. This is of course not a particularly challenging or interesting style, but decently well done regardless, with a clean aroma and flavour. I waffled on the palate score, but ultimately decided that the bitterness of the finish, while not personally objectionable, was far enough out of spec that there had to be a slight score reduction. (Though it didn’t really affect the final score.) Solid, but just slightly less than great. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Eighty-Eight Brewing Tiffany Rosé Saison Saison at 8.0% ABV | 24 IBU (C$6.52 at Collective, 500 ml, packaged on 1-Dec-2018, acquired 13-Feb-2019, reviewed 4-Apr-2019)

Appearance: clear pale golden-pink with two fat fingers of fluffy pale pink head, excellent retention and chunky soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: Belgian esters, dry hay funk, vinous grape, light floral. (8/10) Taste: moderate bitter, moderate-low sweet, moderate-low tart. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, drying mildly tart finish. (4/5)

This is the second hybrid I’ve had in the past few days, and this one definitely tends more to the beer-like end of the spectrum – which is probably why I like it more. Mind you, the elevated ABV probably plays a role there, too. (And yes, I still consider that to be slightly out of spec for the style, but all in all it’s very well done, manifesting only as a mild warming towards the end of the pint.) Basically, a solid Saison with a touch of vinous grape. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Avery Brewing Co. Maharaja (2019) American Double / Imperial IPA at 10% ABV | 102[?] IBU (US$4.29 at Specs Main Houston, 355 ml, packaged on 2-Jan-2019, acquired 3-Mar-2019, reviewed 2-Apr-2019)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with three fingers of loose ivory head diminishing gradually to a persistent cap, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, caramel, pine, stone fruit, earth. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, lingering and building bitter and warming finish. (4/5)

I think I prefer this vintage just slightly over the last time I had it, a couple of years ago. Despite the age at the time of tasting being nearly identical, it seems to be in better condition, both a bit fresher and with better head retention and lacing. A boozy big malt beast, to be sure, but enjoyable. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Firestone Walker Brewing Company Rosalie Fruit / Vegetable Beer at 5% ABV | 10 IBU (US$2.62 at Specs Main Houston, 355 ml, packaged on 11-Jan-2019, acquired 3-Mar-2019, reviewed 1-Apr-2019)

Appearance: clear pale golden-pink with one finger of fizzy off-white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, no lacing. (4/5) Aroma: vinous grape, grain apple, pale malt, grass, light floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate-low  tart, low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, drying mildly tart finish. (4/5)

Looks like a Rosé, smells and tastes like a hybrid – so I’d say they accomplished pretty much exactly what they intended. Whether or not that works for you is probably more a matter of personal preference than anything else. Personally, and I don’t say this often, I felt it might actually benefit from being a little sweeter. There’s definite grape flavour coming through, but it ends up feeling a bit thin overall, presumably as a result of the degree of attenuation. Some non-fermentable sugars might help bring up the flavour somewhat. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a dry, almost champagne-like finish, this might work for you. Definite possibilities as a gateway beer for wine drinkers. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Avery Brewing Co. Hazyish IPA American IPA at 7% ABV (US$3.09 at Specs Main Houston, 355 ml, packaged on 27-Dec-2018, acquired 3-Mar-2019, reviewed 31-Mar-2019)

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

An enjoyable example of the style, pleasantly juicy with mild bitterness. There’s a nice blend of hops here, with Mosaic in particular providing a tropical fruit note in addition to the slightly more dominant citrus. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Stone Brewing Company Grapefruit Slam IPA American Double / Imperial IPA at 8% ABV (US$3.88 at Specs Main Houston, 355 ml, packaged on 16-Jan-2019, best before 16-May-2019, acquired 3-Mar-2019, reviewed 31-Mar-2019)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with one fat finger of loose pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pithy and zesty grapefruit, resiny pine, grainy malt, grass. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration bitter finish. (4/5)

Slightly one-dimensional in its utter domination by grapefruit pith, peel, and flesh, almost to the point of being a Radler – but I’m a sucker for both grapefruit and Radlers, so it works for me. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com