RyansBooze

Brouwerij Strubbe Ichtegem’s Oud Bruin Sour Red/Brown at 5.5% ABV (€2.00 at de Biertempel Brussels, 250 ml, best before 10-Dec-2016)

Appearance: slightly hazy deep amber with a short tan head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: muted, red berries, wood (oak), brown sugar. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild tart. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly tart finish. (3/5)

Extremely mild oud bruin, almost no sour at all. Pleasant and mild, but a bit of a letdown, if I’m honest – I was looking forward to face-puckering tartness, and that just isn’t here. (12/20)

My 193rd from the 2010 Edition (181st from the 2013 edition), and 203rd combining both editions.

6/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bavik De Brabandere Petrus Oud Bruin Sour Red/Brown at 5.5% ABV (€2.25 at de Biertempel Brussels, 330 ml, best before 4-Dec-2016)

Appearance: clear deep amber with a short tan head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sour cherries, candi sugar, red berries, woody, vinegar. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, moderate tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, lively to moderate carbonation, dry tart finish. (4/5)

Quite a mellow sour, but balanced and even-handed. The aroma has a distinct but not overwhelming vinegar, which follows through on the tongue as a mild and pleasant tang. I would definitely enjoy this more if it were more aggressive, but I can see the attraction of a mellow sour, too. (14/20)

My 194th from the 2010 Edition (182nd from the 2013 edition), and 204th combining both editions.

7/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Epic Brewing Exponential Series Sour Apple Saison Saison at 8.1% ABV (US$8.99 at Total Wines & More, Henderson NV, 650 ml, Release #26 Brew date 6/20/13 Pack Date 7/12/13)

Appearance: clear pale straw with one fat finger of loose fluffy white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: sweet apples, citrus, mild barnyard funk, spices. (7/10) Taste: moderately strong sweet, mild bitter, moderate tart. (7/10) Palate: light body, lively carbonation, off-dry slightly sweet cinnamon finish. (4/5)

Even more sweet and boozy for a saison than their Straight Up, but still quite drinkable. The apple presence is strong and sweet without being cloying, making this taste very much like a cider. Not as sour as I was hoping, but sufficient to temper the sweetness and still quite pleasant. The spice presence grows as the bottle progresses, with cinnamon eventually coming through loud and clear (though it doesn’t at the outset).The ABV is almost completely hidden, making this a bit of a dangerous brew. Slightly disappointing and inferior to their Straight Up – but only slightly. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Epic Brewing Exponential Series Straight Up Saison Saison at 6.8% ABV (US$7.99 at Total Wines & More, Henderson NV, 650 ml, Release #11 Brew date 3/13/13 Pack Date 3/27/13)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of loose fluffy white head, good retention and chunky lacing. (4/5) Aroma: barnyard funk, citrus, crackery malt, herbal, peppery spice. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, mild tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, dry and slightly warming finish. (4/5)

A bit sweet and boozy for a saison, but still quite good. I don’t generally appreciate gushers, but this one was quite low-speed, so I could manage it with zero spillage. I suspect that’s largely due to this thing being two years old, but the extra time in the cellar doesn’t appear to have done it any harm – there’s no runaway lactic or brett, for example, and the funkiness, though definite, is even-handed. Pretty much what it says on the label: a straight-up saison. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Laughing Dog Brewing Dogfather American Double / Imperial Stout at 10.85% ABV (C$11.50 at Zyn, 650 ml, bottle date 1-Dec-2014)

Appearance: clear deep brown with a fat finger of dense tan head, decent retention and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: slightly harsh whiskey, dark fruit, dark chocolate, brown sugar. (7/10) Taste: moderately strong sweet, moderately strong bitter. (7/10) Palate: full body, low carbonation, lingering hot and bitter finish. (4/5)

Big and boozy, even for an imperial stout, and not perfectly done – yeah, I’m definitely getting the bourbon barrel, but it could be smoother. There’s an edge to the aroma that initially comes across as solvent… which, I guess, alcohol is. Not a complete washout, mind you – and it improves as it warms up… and as you warm up… (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Anchor Brewing Company Anchor Porter American Porter at 5.6% ABV (Trade – thanks, Chris McDonald!, 355 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear deep brown with a high rocky tan head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: roasty malts, liquorice, coffee, herbal. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, mild tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body tending to watery, soft carbonation, off-dry and slightly tart finish. (3/5)

A fairly unique brew – it smells and tastes hotter than the 5.6% ABV, but not offensively so. Despite that and the forbidding colour, it’s quite sweet at the outset, and the body tends to the light side. It finishes with a sharpness that’s almost cola-like and tart. I like it. (14/20)

My 192nd from the 2010 Edition (180th from the 2013 edition), and 202nd combining both editions.

7/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Le Trou du Diable Albert 3 Belgian Pale Ale at 5.49% ABV (C$7.00 at NLC Stavanger, 600 ml, bottle date 31-Mar-2015)

Appearance: clear to hazy pale straw with a huge fluffy white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: Belgian yeast, coriander, wheat, apples and peaches, light funk. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light sour. (8/10) Palate: light body, lively carbonation, dry crisp peppery and slightly funky finish. (3/5)

I was going to ask what the hell a “Universal Beer” was, but now I realize it’s a beer whose head expands to fill the universe. A minor quibble for yet another quite good Belgian out of Quebec: reminds me of La Rulles, De Ranke, or Duvel. First glass pours crystal clear, but the second glass introduces a haze courtesy of the heavy lees on the bottom of the bottle. (Not a criticism by any means, just an observation – it’s not like I’m gonna throw out an inch of this because it’s a bit cloudy!) And it certainly ticks all the boxes of the description on the back – dry and hoppy, with a hint of sour in the aftertaste (courtesy of the rye, I’m guessing). Lots of fun, but I wouldn’t object to a more robust flavour. (And what’s up with the precision on that ABV – 5.49%? Seriously?) (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Klosterbrauerei Ettal Benediktiner Weissbier Hefeweizen at 5.4% ABV (C$3.99 at NLC Stavanger, 500 ml, best before 16-Apr-2016)

Appearance: hazy to cloudy deep gold with one finger creamy ivory head, poor retention and lacing. (3/5) Aroma: banana, cloves, wheat, doughy yeast, very light lemony citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, very mild tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body lifted by lively carbonation, crisp and clean finish. (4/5)

A passable hefe, but not worth seeking out. Good thirst quencher late in the day, though! (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasserie à Vapeur Vapeur en Folie Saison at 8% ABV (€2.50 at de Biertempel Brussels, 330 ml, best before 31-Aug-2016)

Appearance: cloudy medium gold with lots of particulate, a short, short-lived off-white head, nearly non-existent lacing. (2/5) Aroma: earthy barnyard funk, apples, wood, rubber? (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, very mild tart. (5/10) Palate: medium body, soft carbonation, off-dry and slightly hot finish. (3/5)

A bit disappointing – aromas are a bit more “brown apple” than “funky” and the flavours are muted, and the ABV comes across as a bit hot, especially for the style. Suffers quite a bit by comparison to the other couple of quite good saisons I’ve had today! (10/20)

My 191st from the 2010 Edition (179th from the 2013 edition), and 201st combining both editions.

5/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasserie des Légendes Saison Voisin Saison at 5% ABV (€2.95 at de Biertempel Brussels, 330 ml, best before 31-Mar-2018)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with one finger of fluffy light tan head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: earthy barnyard funk, apples, citrus, stone fruit, grassy. (8/10) Taste: mild sweet, moderate bitter, mild tart. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lightly funky and lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Bitter and fruity, with a distinct earthy funk. Decently complex, without sacrificing drinkability. Hard to argue authenticity and pedigree here – a Franco-Belgian style, brewed in Belgium near the French border, using a recipe from the 19th century. A nice beer to savour and very much representative of the style. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com