RyansBooze

Lighthouse Brewing Co. Numbskull American Double / Imperial IPA at 9.1% ABV | 103 IBU (C$8.90 at Liquor Crossing Red Deer, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 24-Aug-2016, reviewed 20-Sep-2016)

Appearance: clear deep gold with one finger of rocky white head diminishing rapidly to  thin cap, moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, hot fusils, caramel malt, pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Medium-full body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter and warming finish. (3/5)

I respect and appreciate a beer with no restraint whatsoever – and this is, in fact, a beer with no restraint whatsoever. Not only is the ABV nearing double digits, but the IBU rating is approaching “irrelevant” levels. (By which I mean, it’s so high that it maxes out most people’s ability to discern bitterness.) It’s not unlike “having your brains smashed in by a slice of lemon hops wrapped round a large gold brick.” Yet for all that, it drinks easier than it should. I wouldn’t say no to another. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Gigantic Brewing Company Vivid (#43) American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.5% ABV | 80 IBU (C$11.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 18-Sep-2016, reviewed 20-Sep-2016)

Appearance: cloudy and opaque pale amber with one finger of creamy ivory head, excellent retention and well-defined lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel and toffee, pine, buttery, grapefruit, light tropical fruit and floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Medium-full body, moderate carbonation, medium-long duration bitter and mildly warming finish. (3/5)

Dunno if I’ve had Kohatu hops before, but I’m pretty sure I’ve had Wai-Iti. (Now that I think about it, it was a local brewery – Big Rock – who did a Wai-Iti wheat ale, and it was probably one of the best things they’ve ever done. And yes, better than this.) I’m actually a little disappointed by this, since Gigantic generally does a fairly good job of things. This, however, doesn’t exhibit any of the bright melon, tropical fruit, or vinous character I associate with ANZ hops. It’s a somewhat stodgy, heavy, and malt-forward DIPA, all of which I could almost forgive, were it not for the buttery/butterscotch diacetyl notes suggesting all manner of clumsiness. Still and all, it’s a pleasant enough beer, but I can’t shake the feeling it could (should?) have been much more. And sorry, it’s not “vivid.” (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bitburger Brauerei Bitburger Pils Pilsener at 4.8% ABV | 33 IBU (C$3.09 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 500 ml, bottle date 14-Apr-2016, best before 14-Apr-2017, acquired 18-Sep-2016, reviewed 20-Sep-2016)

Appearance: clear straw with one finger of rocky white head diminishing rapidly a thin cap, moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: corn syrup, crackery malt, bready yeast, grass. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-mild bitter, light tart. (5/10) Medium-light body, lively to moderate carbonation, crisp and clean medium duration off-dry mildly bitter finish. (3/5)

Danger, Will Robinson! It says “Premium” on the label, so in accordance with my theory, it must be terrible, right? Well… not really. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s nothing great – but it’s a long drive from terrible. Easily drinkable, with a fairly clean finish. For a mass-produced beer, it’s actually not bad. (Cute little pun on the label, too – “Bitte ein Bit”.) I’d certainly rather have this, than a Coors Light. Doesn’t get any better as it warms, though, so get it gone and move on! (11/20)

My 233rd from the 2010 Edition of 1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die (retired from the 2013 edition), and 245th combining both editions.

5.5/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Alley Kat Brewing Co. High Level IPA American IPA at 6.2% ABV | 52 IBU (C$7.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, best before 22-Feb-2017, acquired 18-Sep-2016, reviewed 19-Sep-2016)

Appearance: clear medium gold with one finger of fluffy off-white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, floral, caramel, bready yeast. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, medium-long duration bitter finish. (3/5)

Well, that’s  little different. Floral and sweet malt figure prominently here, and the initial sweetness, though somewhat on the high side, transitions smoothly to a balanced bitter. I’m not all that familiar with Jarrylo hops, this being perhaps my second exposure, but they seem to tend to the subtle fruit side of flavours. This isn’t a West Coast style IPA, but neither is it an English. Mild and fairly juicy. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Rough Draft Brewing Company Southern Triangle IPA American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 65 IBU (C$9.99 at Liquor Depot McKenzie Town, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 19-Sep-2016, reviewed 19-Sep-2016)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with one fat finger of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel malt, pine, citrus, earth. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

So, is a “southern triangle” anything like a “map of Tasmania”? ANZ rude phrases aside, this isn’t particularly “southern”, as far as I can tell – certainly I’m not getting any of the white wine vinous notes I associate with Nelson Sauvin. It’s a little foamy, which doesn’t bother me overly much, especially since the head retention is so good. But it’s also fairly malt-forward, which does bother me, a little. It’s not even that high an ABV, so there’s no particular reason the hops couldn’t be a bit more dominant over the malt, in my opinion. Solid, I guess, if uninspired. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Driftwood Brewery Cry Me A River Gose at 5% ABV (C$6.79 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 18-Sep-2016, reviewed 19-Sep-2016)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy white head, moderate retention and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: wheat/grass, lemon, yeast, brine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild tart, mild salt, low bitter. (6/10) Light body, moderate carbonation, short duration mildly salty and tart finish. (3/5)

A bit disappointing, actually: not very bright or tart, and the flavours come across as somewhat muddled. It kind of grew on me, but not to the point where I would rave about it. Not one of Driftwood’s better offerings, made doubly disappointing by the fact that I apparently had this one before, when it was named “gose-uh”. Oh, well, guess they can’t all be winners. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Foster’s Brewing Foster’s Lager Pale Lager at 5% ABV | 12 IBU (C$4.99 at Liquor Depot McKenzie Town, 750 ml, bottle date 4-Jun-2015, acquired 19-Sep-2016, reviewed 19-Sep-2016)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: adjunct corn syrup, grass, light vegetal. (4/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, low bitter. (3/10) Light body, lively carbonation, sweet medium duration finish. (2/5)

Very much a SABMiller product. Any character this might once have had has been pretty firmly stamped out – if not by the SABMiller ownership, than by the fact that this is brewed in the US under license. Hey, I knew it was gonna be shit going in, so I’m not disappointed. I was thirsty, now I’m not, so that’s kind of a win, right? And let’s be honest, the big-ass oilcan is fun. Cheap garbage, but at a cheap price. (8/20)

4/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Blindman Brewing Kettle Sour #4 Sour / Wild Ale at 4.5% ABV | 7 IBU (C$3.00 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 355 ml, bottle date 6-Jul-2016, best before 6-Oct-2016, acquired 18-Sep-2016, reviewed 18-Sep-2016)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: grassy, lemon, pale malt. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (7/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, short tart finish. (3/5)

It’s kettle sour, so how exciting can it be, right? (Gotta say, though, I love the “IT WAS DAVE’S FAULT” imprint on the date stamp. God dammit, Dave! Seriously, we’re sick of your shit, OK?) But, y’know, not bad – decent hop character from the Amarillo and Chinook. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Amsterdam Brewery Oranje Weisse Summer White Witbier at 5% ABV | 12 IBU (C$4.00 at Liquor Crossing Red Deer, 473 ml, bottle date 14-May-2015, acquired 24-Aug-2016, reviewed 18-Sep-2016)

Appearance: clear straw with one finger of fluffy white head diminishing rapidly to a thick cap, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: orange peel, coriander, wheat, bready yeast. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (5/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, medium duration finish. (3/5)

Bit of a disappointment from an otherwise solid brewery. Nothing overly wrong with it, but it just doesn’t excite me. Orange peel dominates a wheat and yeast base, but not exciting. Wish I liked it more than I do, actually. (10/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Propeller Brewery Rye IPA American IPA at 6.8% ABV | 72 IBU (C$5.32 at NLC Stavanger, 650 ml, bottle date 22-Aug-2016, acquired 15-Sep-2016, reviewed 16-Sep-2016)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and well-defined lacing. (5/5) Aroma: spicy rye, caramel, citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Medium-full body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Last tried over a year ago, but I didn’t take good notes. Also, this was reasonably fresh, so I just had to do it again. Rye dominates the aromas and helps raise the already high hop-based bitterness to near hop bomb levels, only slightly tempered by the relatively high caramel sweetness. All in all, fairly bombastic on all levels. I suppose technically it’s a bit unbalanced, but I’m a sucker for a rye IPA, so it works for me – your mileage may vary. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com