RyansBooze

Twin Sails Brewing Locals Only – American Pale Ale at 4.8% ABV | 37 IBU (C$5.95 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Apr-2024, reviewed 6-May-2024)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate stringy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: resiny pine, caramel, herbal, citrus. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration bitter finish. (4/5)

Columbus hops in the whirlpool, Talus, Eclipse, and Chinook hops in the dry hop. A well-executed example of a fairly classic style, that on the basis of flavour might well be considered an IPA were it not for the slightly light ABV. This apparently makes it a flavourful Pale instead, with the benefit of being light enough to allow you to drink more of them. I really like this style, so I might be guilty of being slightly enthusiastic in my scoring, but this really is quite a nice little beer. (16/20)

This will be my 5,813th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Fashion is Danger – American Pale Ale at 5.2% ABV (C$5.55 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 15-Apr-2024, acquired 23-Apr-2024, reviewed 6-May-2024)

Appearance: hazy straw with one finger of creamy white head, excellent retention and well-defined soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: zesty citrus, stone and tropical fruit, white grape must, cereal grains. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, medium duration clean finish. (4/5)

While I’d agree that the houndstooth can design is a potentially dangerous fashion choice, the hops choice (Rakau, Motueka, Waimea, Wai-iti Cryo, and Maui Nelson Hop Kief) is definitely not dangerous, and is in fact precisely the kind of thing I can get behind. I’ve had Wai-iti before, but I don’t think as Cryo, and I definitely haven’t had Maui Nelson, as kief or otherwise. I don’t like handing out high scores all willy-nilly like (and in particular I’m starting to feel like I just automatically just give The Establishment top marks) but I’m pretty hard-pressed to find any reason to mark this one down: it’s bright, crushable fun from a brewery that consistently delivers. (17/20)

This will be my 5,812th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Flying Boats Brewing A Galaxy Far Far Away – American IPA at 6.3% ABV | 42 IBU (C$6.15 at Collective, 473 ml, best before 19-Jun-2024, acquired 23-Apr-2024, reviewed 3-May-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of loose white head, excellent retention and spotty soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Brewer notes say this is “centred around Australian Galaxy hops” but doesn’t specify what other hops were used. Pleasant aroma, but the flavour is slightly sharper by comparison, and that carries through to the finish. Pleasant but it falls slightly short. (15/20)

This will be my 5,811th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Field House Brewing Co. / Strange Fellows Brewing Cryptic Pale Ale – American Pale Ale at 5.7% ABV (C$5.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 5-Mar-2024, acquired 23-Apr-2024, reviewed 2-May-2024)

Appearance: hazy straw with one finger of fine white head, good retention and spotty soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone fruit, melon, grass, pithy citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, medium duration slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Hopped with Citra, HBC586, and HBC1019. Meh. Tends a bit thin, with melon that almost goes vegetal as it persists through a slightly astringent finish. OK, but not impressive. (14/20)

This will be my 5,810th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Zero Issue Brewing Enceladus – American Pale Ale at 5.1% ABV (C$5.00 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 18-Apr-2024, acquired 23-Apr-2024, reviewed 1-May-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of loose pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pithy citrus, resiny pine, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, medium duration finish. (4/5)

I guess I’m kind of damning this one with faint praise, but I don’t really have much to say, other than it’s a pleasant example of the style. Nothing really stands out. (16/20)

This will be my 5,809th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Trillium Brewing Company DDH Public Garden – American Pale Ale at 7% ABV (C$15.70 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 7-Feb-2024, acquired 23-Apr-2024, reviewed 30-Apr-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of loose pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical and stone fruit, citrus, earthy and resiny pine. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, medium duration finish. (4/5)

Hopped with Mosaic and Strata, malts are American 2-Row Barley, Flaked Spelt, and C-15. Nice one: the flavour profile is exactly what you’d expect for Mosaic and Strata, with lots of juicy fruit and just enough resiny, earthy pine underneath, and the body is just big enough to support the bombastic hopping. (17/20)

This will be my 5,808th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Trillium Brewing Company Double Dry Hopped Fort Point – American Pale Ale at 6.6% ABV (C$15.75 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 5-Mar-2024, acquired 23-Apr-2024, reviewed 28-Apr-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fine pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical and stone fruit, citrus, resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, medium duration finish. (4/5)

The brewer says this contains the same ingredients as the base (Citra and Columbus hops, malted with American 2 Row Barley, White Wheat, C-15, and Dextrin[e]) but with an additional Citra dry hop. That said, the malt bill for the base actually doesn’t include Dextrin, and I suspect they’ve added that to try and bring up the body. I mean, I’m not complaining, but the effect of the additional dry hop (and for that matter, it being month younger than the base I just had) is barely perceptible. Yes, there might be a bit more tropical fruit in there, but it’s not a night and day situation, and I noticed very little increase in body. I’d go so far as to say that would probably have to have them side by side, as opposed to in sequence, in order to really discern any significant differences. Again, I could have gone slightly higher, but probably no more than half a point overall. (And yes, I suspect I’m getting harder to impress in my old age / increased experience. Deal with it.) (16/20)

This will be my 5,806th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Trillium Brewing Company Fort Point – American Pale Ale at 6.6% ABV (C$14.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 2-Feb-2024, acquired 23-Apr-2024, reviewed 28-Apr-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fine pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical and stone fruit, citrus, resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, medium duration finish. (4/5)

Hopped with Citra and Columbus, malts are American 2 Row Barley, White Wheat, and C-15. I could potentially have gone a point higher on both aroma and flavour, but ultimately felt that although this is world-class, it’s very slightly utilitarian – as in, yes, a great daily drinker – but not next level. (16/20)

This will be my 5,805th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Trillium Brewing Company Scaled Up – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8% ABV (C$15.75 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 15-Feb-2024, acquired 23-Apr-2024, reviewed 25-Apr-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fine pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone fruit, dank pine resin, citrus, white grape. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, lingering mildly warming finish. (4/5)

I am indecently happy at the fact that my local beer shop was able to bring in half a dozen different Trillium offerings, four of which were new to me. (I also had a bit of a mini stroke when that four pack fell out of the back door of my truck into my driveway. Remember the baby carriage scene in The Untouchables? Think that, but with more swearing. Luckily none ruptured.) Expensive? Yes, but cheaper than a trip to New England, so on that basis  definitely worth it. Hopped with Galaxy, Mosaic, Nelson Sauvin, and Columbus, and the flavours pretty much follow that. I went back and forth on the aroma and taste scores several times before settling on what I think is a pretty reasonable assessment. (17/20)

This will be my 5,804th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Irrational Brewing Company Exp. Cairn – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$5.90 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Apr-2024, reviewed 25-Apr-2024)

Appearance: clear straw with one finger of loose white head, good retention and spotty soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: melon, field berries, dank pine resin. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, medium duration building bitter finish. (4/5)

“DDH Modern West Coast IPA”. I think maybe the name is supposed to be “Cairn” and the “Exp.” refers to “Experimental”? Brewer description says this is hopped with Idaho 7, Simcoe, and Simcoe Cryo, brewed with American Ale Yeast and Pilsner malt. With that profile, you’d expect it to be all hops with little or no yeast or malt character, and it pretty much is. I mean, it’s pretty decent and all, but I like a bit more dank pine in a WCIPA, even a “Modern” one. (15/20)

This will be my 5,803rd unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com