RyansBooze

Dog Island Brewing Saints & Sinners American IPA at 6.8% ABV | 74 IBU (C$4.23 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 22-Feb-2019, reviewed 25-Feb-2019)

Appearance: slightly muddy hazy pale amber with one fat finger of creamy ivory head, good retention and spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: zesty citrus, tropical fruit, caramel, resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Decent enough, but there’s a bit of astringency on the tongue, both up front and in the finish, that makes me less than completely thrilled with this. As well, the body tends just a bit full, and is not lifted at all by the fairly low carbonation. Some folks might like their IPAs thick and chewy, and I’m not opposed in general, but this one just leaves me slightly underimpressed. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Twin Sails Brewing / Collective Arts Brewing Thunder Buddies American Double / Imperial IPA at 7.8% ABV (C$6.21 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 1-Feb-2019, acquired 22-Feb-2019, reviewed 25-Feb-2019)

Appearance: near opaque pale gold with one fat finger of creamy white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy tropical fruit, citrus, oats, resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate carbonation tending soft, off-dry moderate bitter finish. (4/5)

I understand this is the second half of a collaborative effort, brewed at Twin Sails’ BC location, while the other was done at Collective Arts in Ontario. (I still haven’t seen the first one, though.) Vic Secret is one of my favourite hops, so no surprises how much I enjoy this. The flaked oats definitely contribute to a creaminess in the body, but I wonder if that’s why overall I find this just a touch too sweet for my preference. Fact is, it’s lots of fun, but the slightly sticky mouthfeel makes me think I wouldn’t want to drink more than one at a go. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Moody Ales Boss Juice American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.3% ABV | 80 IBU (C$4.27 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 22-Feb-2019, reviewed 24-Feb-2019)

Appearance: opaque pale gold with one fat finger of loose ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin cap and ring, spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: big juicy tropical fruit & citrus, bready caramel, mild pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Big time juice here, in appearance, aroma, and taste. Sort of a NEDIPA (DNEIPA?) except for the fairly big bitterness that comes to play and hangs around for a while. On the other hand, the big(gish) booze doesn’t factor at all. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Twin Sails Brewing Juice Plus Citra IPA American IPA at 7.5% ABV | 40 IBU (C$5.13 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 1-Feb-2019, acquired 22-Feb-2019, reviewed 24-Feb-2019)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of creamy white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap and ring, spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: big juicy citrus, tropical fruit, caramel, slight diacetyl. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

Yeah, at this point with Twin Sails, it’s not am I going to like it, it’s how much am I going to like it? This one might not be at the very top of their game, but it’s close. More to the point, it’s truly impressive how very juicy they were able to make this with (despite the name) no adjuncts at all, and also without any hint of the cattiness that sometimes accompanies Citra hops. This is apparently an amped-up version of Dat Juice, and I have to give them props for addressing precisely the issue I had with that one: a lack of oomph. This one has oomph in spades, and it definitely kicks it up a notch. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Town Square Brewing Air Tractor Alberta Ale Blond Ale at 5.3% ABV (C$3.82 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 13-Feb-2019, acquired 22-Feb-2019, reviewed 24-Feb-2019)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: melon, floral, grainy malt, berries. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

The label says this “Alberta Ale” is “not quite a Blonde Ale, and not quite a Pale Ale”, though personally I’d say it’s a lot more a Blonde than a Pale. It smells much fruitier than it tastes, and in fact on the tongue there’s a not-unwelcome near vegetal note. For lack of a better description, I find it quite botanical, though fairly refreshing after a working weekend drive. (I’d also say this may be the first and only one of these to make it to The Ass End of Nowhere, Newfoundland! I’m staying at a B&B in Mose Ambrose tonight – good thing I came prepared.) (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Annex Ale Project / Blindman Brewing Terrestrial Magnetism American IPA at 6.7% ABV (C$4.90 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 22-Feb-2019, acquired 22-Feb-2019, reviewed 22-Feb-2019)

Appearance: opaque pale gold with two fingers of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a persistent ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: zesty citrus, tropical fruit, resiny pine, pale crackery malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly astringent finish. (4/5)

No, that’s not a typo: canned today, and I might’ve been the first person to buy it (in a can anyway), so there wasn’t much chance I wasn’t going to try it on the same day! And yes, I know what conical hopping is, but my brain insists on seeing this as “comically hopped”, so I have images of fright wigs and clown noses. The label also says it’s a “wild NEIPA” but I suspect that’s down to the use of Sacc Trois as opposed to any actual wild yeast inoculation. The aroma is juicy, resiny, and slightly funky, but the sweetness is restrained and the finish a very slightly astringent funky tart. It might not be much to look at, but it certainly doesn’t disappoint anywhere else. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Town Square Brewing Cornerstone IPA American IPA at 6.4% ABV (C$4.00 at Sobeys Liquor Okotoks, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 18-Feb-2019, reviewed 21-Feb-2019)

Appearance: hazy straw with three fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate chunky lacing. (5/5) Aroma: zesty citrus, pale crackery malt, tropical fruit, light pine, green weeds. (8/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation tending slightly soft, off-dry lingering bitter slightly astringent oily finish. (4/5)

Only my second one from this brewery, but they continue to impress. Not quite an NEIPA, but very definitely a modern IPA, with bright hops immediately upon opening and a pleasantly lean and dry body. I particularly like the oily citrus zest in the finish. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Dageraad Brewing The Bright Side Saison at 4.2% ABV (C$4.36 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 25-Jul-2018, acquired 13-Feb-2019, reviewed 21-Feb-2019)

Appearance: clear bright straw with two fingers of fluffy white head, good retention and minimal spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: zesty citrus, Belgian yeast, crackery pale malt, dry hay funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: light body, effervescent carbonation, off-dry tart and lightly funky finish. (4/5)

So I spent the entire pint whistling the eponymous Monty Python song – which is not necessarily a bad thing. Purists might argue that the addition of lemon juice and zest makes this less of a Saison, but I think it’s completely in keeping with the philosophy of the style. It’s a thirst-quenching beer that finishes clean and crisp, with a low ABV that means you can drink pretty much arbitrary amounts of it – what’s not to like? (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Eighty-Eight Brewing Hologram Witbier at 4.8% ABV (C$2.38 at Collective, 330 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 13-Feb-2019, reviewed 20-Feb-2019)

Appearance: hazy pale straw with one finger of creamy head , excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: coriander, citrus, wheat, bubblegum, white pepper, band-aid/plastic. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration bitter lightly funky finish. (3/5)

Started off pretty promising, but a slight band-aid/plastic note started to become apparent upon warming. Not a deal killer by any means, but a slight defect in an otherwise pleasant Belgian-style Witbier. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Hawk Tail Brewery India Pale Ale American IPA at 6% ABV (C$2.65 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 21-Jan-2019, acquired 13-Feb-2019, reviewed 19-Feb-2019)

Appearance: clear pale amber with a thin pearlescent head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: doughy caramel, citrus, grassy weeds. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium duration bitter finish. (3/5)

I waffled a bit as to how to classify this: it’s malt-heavy in an almost English style, but the bitterness tends more American. Call it an old-fashioned AIPA, I guess, but it’s actually almost an Amber.  The label claims it’s “high in alcohol content” and “wildly bitter”, but those statements would only be true if you were comparing it to mass-market macro Lagers. All in all, a bit disappointing. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com