RyansBooze

Medicine Hat Brewing Co. Clear & Crisp – Kölsch at 5.3% ABV | 24 IBU (2024 BeerAdvent Calendar #10, 473 ml, packaged on 7-Aug-2024, acquired 23-Nov-2024, reviewed 10-Dec-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale straw with one fat finger of fluffy white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: biscuity malt, mild grass and citrus. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: light body, moderate-lively carbonation, clean crisp finish. (3/5)

On their web site, the brewer quite correctly points out that this can’t be a true Kölsch because it’s not brewed in Köln. And, I don’t consider myself sufficiently versed in the style to detect whether they’ve gotten the water chemistry absolutely right. That being said, I know what the style is supposed to be like, and this pretty much nails it. I like this and could drink stange after stange of it even if it does stumble just a tiny bit in the finish. (Yes, a Kölsch glass is a   “stange,” and yes, I have a box full of ‘em from Germany. I always like the opportunity to use #properglassware for less common styles!) (15/20)

This will be my 6,038th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bow River Brewing Riverfest – Amber Lager/Vienna at 5.3% ABV | 11 IBU (2024 BeerAdvent Calendar #9, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Nov-2024, reviewed 9-Dec-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with a short, short-lived off-white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel malt, faint hint of grass. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium duration finish. (3/5)

I’ve actually never had anything by this brewer before, even though they’re local and have been around for five years. And, at the risk of being overly harsh, this isn’t making me think I’ve missed much. The kindest interpretation one could apply to this is that it’s a very traditional and old-fashioned implementation of a very unchallenging style. A slightly less kind interpretation is that it’s dull as ditchwater and about the same appearance. (12/20)

This will be my 6,037th unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Burdock Brewing Double Ducks – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8% ABV (C$6.55 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 24-Oct-2024, acquired 28-Nov-2024, reviewed 9-Dec-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of fluffy off-white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, resiny pine, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Quite nice – an NE-style DIPA that is as mild and easy-drinking as a single. Nicely balanced fruit, citrus, and pine on a clean malt base. (16/20)

This will be my 6,036th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Dandy Brewing Company The Dandy – Sour / Wild Ale at 7% ABV (2024 BeerAdvent Calendar #8, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Nov-2024, reviewed 8-Dec-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with a short, short-lived loose white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, apple, lactic. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (6/10) Palate: light body, moderate-lively carbonation, sweetish moderate tart finish. (3/5)

And another repeat in the Advent Calendar, this time from eight years ago. I don’t like kettle sours any more now than I did then, and even rating this as a kettle sour, it’s no great shakes. Fact is, I might have guessed it was a cider. (12/20)

This is not a unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Blindman Brewing Triphammer Robust Porter – American Porter at 6.5% ABV | 25 IBU (BeerAdvent Calendar #7, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Nov-2024, reviewed 7-Dec-2024)

Appearance: clear deep cola red with one finger of fine beige head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: roasty malts, coffee and chocolate, toffee, hints of liquorice & smoke. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short finish. (3/5)

Another repeat, this time from near-on seven years ago. A decent example of the style, but slightly thinner than I like for the style. It’s also a little shy of the “robust” promised by the label. Overall, it’s not badly done, but it’s just a little short of great. (15/20)

This is not a unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Belching Beaver Brewery / Westbound & Down Brewing Company / Craft Coast Beer & Tacos West Bestern – American IPA at 7.0% ABV | 91 IBU (C$6.15 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 17-Sep-2024, acquired 28-Nov-2024, reviewed 7-Dec-2024)

Appearance: clear straw with two fingers of foamy pale ivory head, excellent retention and minimal patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: resiny pine, citrus, bready malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, lively carbonation, sweet lingering bitter mildly warming finish. (3/5)

I like it, but it seems a bit structurally unbalanced. In particular, the carbonation is so high that it foamed upon opening, and continued to do so well after pouring. Other than that, it’s a fairly traditional WCDIPA, with big resiny notes dominating. (15/20)

This will be my 6,035th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

District Brewing Co. German Pilsner Lager – Pilsner at 5.0% ABV (2024 BeerAdvent Calendar #6, 473 ml, packaged on 18-Jun-2024, acquired 23-Nov-2024, reviewed 6-Dec-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with one finger of pillowy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bready malt, grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish short finish. (3/5)

Hey, I’ve had this one! Close to the source, six years ago. Wasn’t any better then, either. I’ll say what I said then: basic German Pils, sweetish and lager-y. The Advent Calendar continues to underwhelm. (12/20)

This is not a unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Sawback Brewing Co. Hazy (Double) IPA – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.5% ABV (C$5.31 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 15-Oct-2024, acquired 28-Nov-2024, reviewed 6-Dec-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with two fingers of pillowy pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone fruit, cereal grains, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium duration mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Hopping could have been bit brighter – there’s certainly enough malt to support it. Somewhat less than impressive. (14/20)

This will be my 6,034th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Boxing Rock Brewing Co. Shuck Off! – Blond Ale at 5% ABV (2024 BeerAdvent Calendar #5, 473 ml, packaged on 23-Jul-2024, acquired 23-Nov-2024, reviewed 5-Dec-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of fine white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: cereal grains, corn, faint citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, sweetish medium duration finish. (3/5)

The Advent Calendar continues to fail to impress. Basic Blond with absolutely nothing memorable going on. (12/20)

This will be my 6,033rd unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company / Ale Architect Brewing Ltd. One Night – American IPA at 6.2% ABV (C$6.25 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 30-Oct-2024, acquired 28-Nov-2024, reviewed 5-Dec-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: zesty citrus, cereal grains, stone fruit, hint of resin. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: smooth medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, sweetish medium duration finish. (4/5)

Hopped with Strata, Motueka, Citra. Balanced bright juicy hoppiness without excessive sweetness. (16/20)

This will be my 6,032nd unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com