RyansBooze

Moody Ales West Coast IPA – American IPA at 6% ABV | 50 IBU (C$6.00 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 8-Mar-2023, acquired 4-Jul-2023, reviewed 9-Jul-2023)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two fingers of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone fruit, dank pine, caramel, citrus. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky finish with lingering piney dank. (3/5)

The pine grows in this one (which is welcome, given the ostensible style) and eventually takes its rightful place as the dominant flavour element, particularly in the finish. The caramel, which first seemed a little unbalanced, turns out to be about the right weight to support the piney fruity hops. I liked this a lot more at the end of the pint than I did at the beginning. (15/20)

This will be my 5,603rd unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Moody Ales Sundew Double IPA – American Double / Imperial IPA at 7.5% ABV (C$6.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 19-Apr-2023, acquired 4-Jul-2023, reviewed 9-Jul-2023)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and well-defined lacing. (5/5) Aroma: melon, tropical fruit, caramel, citrus, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, mildly warming slightly sticky finish with a mild lingering astringency. (3/5)

Brewer notes indicate Galaxy, Strata, and Rakau hops, as well as Huell Melon, maybe as a dry hop? I’m certainly getting the melon out in front, so that tracks. In terms of flavour, it’s not bad, but I’m getting a little lingering astringency in the finish that I’m not enjoying. This is pretty as hell, no question, but speaking as an ugly sumbitch I’ll prioritize personality over looks any day of the week… (14/20)

This will be my 5,602nd unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Moody Ales Beach Haze – American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 40 IBU (C$6.00 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 4-Jul-2023, reviewed 8-Jul-2023)

Appearance: opaque pale amber with two fingers of fluffy pale ivory head, good retention and heavy well-defined lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, oats, citrus, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet tending high, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: smooth medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, medium duration off-dry finish. (4/5)

I guess they accomplished the “tropical nectar” they’re describing on the label. Certainly this looks and pours like some sort of tropical fruit nectar – guava juice, maybe. And yeah, I get what they’re going of there, but it’s a bit too heavy and sweet for even a hazy style IPA. (14/20)

This will be my 5,601st unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Vancouver Island Brewing Broken Islands – American IPA at 6% ABV | 50 IBU (C$5.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 2-May-2023, acquired 4-Jul-2023, reviewed 8-Jul-2023)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of short-lived white head, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, bready malt, citrus, hint of mint. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet tending high, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body tending slightly light, moderate-soft carbonation, short duration off-dry finish. (4/5)

“This hazy IPA is anything but expected.” You mean, as in how I expected it to be hazy, but it wasn’t? Nothing wrong with this, other than it being a forgettable entry in a crowded field. (14/20)

This will be my 5,600th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Parallel 49 Heliphant – Session IPA at 4.5% ABV (C$3.25 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 23-May-2023, acquired 4-Jul-2023, reviewed 8-Jul-2023)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with a short, short-lived white head, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone fruit, citrus, tropical fruit, cereal grains. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body tending slightly light, moderate-soft carbonation, short duration off-dry finish. (4/5)

Decent enough, I guess. Crushable and reasonably juicy without being excessively sweet. Not exactly crisp and clean enough to be what I consider “refreshing”, but not far off, and slightly above average for my experience (for n=61, μ=6.7 & σ=0.92) with this near-macro brewery. (14/20)

This will be my 5,599th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Common Roots Brewing Company Time – American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV (C$7.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 17-Apr-2023, acquired 4-Jul-2023, reviewed 7-Jul-2023)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone fruit, citrus, cereal grains. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: smooth medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, short duration off-dry slightly astringent finish. (3/5)

Brewer notes call this an “exploration of the Galaxy hop”, so I assume it’s a single-hop – but they don’t actually specify whether that is in fact the case. Not a lot of depth or complexity here. I mean, it’s fine, but it’s not very exciting, and there’s actually a tiny bit of astringency in the finish that isn’t exactly on-spec. (14/20)

This will be my 5,598th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Born Brewing Co. (Born Colorado Brewing) Scenic Route – American Double / Imperial IPA at 7.5% ABV (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 4-Jul-2023, reviewed 7-Jul-2023)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dank pine, caramel, pithy citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter off-dry finish. (4/5)

Damaged date code, but I think this thing wasn’t brewed prior to May, so it can’t be very old. This is very much a “Haze craze? What haze craze?” kind of an old-school WCDIPA (or, I suppose, WCIPA, depending on where you draw that particular line) with dank pine leading the way over pithy citrus on a caramel backbone. Not a whole lot of it, though, which is a bit surprising for the weight. (15/20)

This will be my 5,597th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Four Winds Brewing Co. Tiny Trumpet – American IPA at 5.0% ABV | 60 IBU (C$5.08 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 24-May-2023, acquired 4-Jul-2023, reviewed 7-Jul-2023)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale straw with one fat finger of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: zesty citrus, stone fruit, citrus, pale cereal grains, hint of pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: smooth medium-light body, moderate carbonation, medium duration off-dry finish. (4/5)

I don’t know if the naming and calling this a “petite IPA” is the brewer trying to manage expectations, or whether it’s more a reflection of the inflation of what’s considered a “normal”ABV within the craft beer world these days – but either way I’m not sure I consider 5.0% to be either “tiny” or “petite”. What’s more, I don’t think it needs any excuses or defences: it’s quite pleasant, with a zesty hoppy aroma on a clean malt body. What’s not to like? (16/20)

This will be my 5,596th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Collective Arts Brewing Galaxy 2 Ways – American IPA at 6.6% ABV (C$5.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 9-Jun-2023, acquired 4-Jul-2023, reviewed 6-Jul-2023)

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

Hopped with Galaxy and Galaxy Spectrum, this really showcases what an effective and versatile hop this is. The body is an effective balance of smoothness and medium texture tending light, lofted by nearly lively carbonation. The character is nearly completely a hop showcase, with just enough malt to remind you that this is indeed beer, and the finish similarly has just enough bitter bite to do the same. Quite good. (16/20)

This will be my 5,595th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Superflux Beer Company Yes Indeed – American Pale Ale at 5% ABV (C$6.65 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 6-Jun-2023, acquired 4-Jul-2023, reviewed 5-Jul-2023)

Appearance: clear straw with one fat finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, minimal spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus zest, dank pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body tending light, moderate-lively carbonation, medium duration off-dry finish. (3/5)

Brewer notes indicate that this is hopped with Simcoe and Citra, which comes through in the character. No off notes at all, but this is definitely a Pale that feels like it’s a cut-down IPA. Good, but pretty forgettable. (14/20)

This will be my 5,594th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com