RyansBooze

Birra Peroni Industriale (SABMiller) Peroni Forte Strong Pale Lager at 8% ABV (la Piazzetta de Trastevere, 330 ml, best before 12/15)

Pours clear pale amber with a short, short-lived head, no lacing. (3/5) Nose is grainy caramel malt, faint weedy hops. (4/10) Taste is moderate sweet, mild bitter. (4/10) Medium bodied, slightly syrupy and sweetly boozy finish. (3/5)

About the only thing this has going for it is the 8% ABV. Which is actually not all that well integrated in the finish – I hesitate to call it “harsh,” but it’s not “smooth”. Gets the job done, though. (10/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

La Brasserie de St.-Sylvestre 3 Monts Bière de Garde at 6.4% ABV (€3.32 at Casino Shop Issy Les Moulineaux, 750 ml, best before 11-Mar-2016)

Pours clear pale straw with three fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and moderate patchy lacing. (4/5) Nose is sweet pale malt, green apple, doughy yeast, grassy hops, slightly dusty. (7/10) Taste is moderate sweet, moderate bitter, slight tart and funk. (7/10) Medium bodied, slightly oily, moderate carbonation, dry vinous bitter and boozy finish. (4/5)

Not as sweet as some other Bières de Garde, with a dry vinous character. There’s also a little funk and tart to keep things interesting, and the hops are relatively pronounced – lots of Belgian character from both the yeast and the hops, actually. A French style made with Belgian (Flanders) hops, and it shows characteristics of both lineages. The ABV is definitely present, but largely in the finish, and is actually fairly subdued for the weight. I prefer this type of interpretation of the style over the sweeter, maltier ones. (15/20)

My 163rd from the 2010 Edition (154th from the 2013 edition), and 173rd combining both editions.

7.5/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasserie Castelain Ch’ti Blonde Bière de Garde at 6.4% ABV (€2.97 at Casino Shop Issy Les Moulineaux, 750 ml, best before 17-Mar-2016)

Pours clear pale gold with a fat finger of fluffy white head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Nose is caramel malt, light flowery and grassy hops. (6/10) Taste is moderately strong sweet, mild bitter, slight tart. (5/10) Medium bodied, lively to moderate carbonation, mild bitter and slightly boozy finish. (3/5)

Another pretty sweet Bière de Garde. Really not a lot of character beyond the caramel malt – the hops are very far in the background, and don’t play a lot of a role here. On the up side, the higher ABV also doesn’t play much of a role. Ultimately, not very interesting. (10/20)

My 162nd from the 2010 Edition (153rd from the 2013 edition), and 172nd combining both editions.

5.5/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

InBev Belgium Leffe Ruby Fruit Beer / Radler at 6.0% ABV (€2.47 from Franprix Issy Val de Seine, 500 ml, best before 17-Aug-2016)

Pours clear red amber with two fingers of fluffy white head, good retention and moderately heavy lacing. (4/5) Nose is sweet artificial red berries. (3/10) Taste is strong sweet, very mild bitter, very slight tart. (3/10) Light body, lively to moderate carbonation, cloying sweet finish. (2/5)

“Leffe Ruby is a red, refreshing beer born of the unique combination of the typical flavours of the abbey beer and the delicate notes of red forest fruits.” Yeah… no. Try, “Leffe Ruby is a red, cloying beer born of the questionable combination of the marginal flavours of the abbey beer and the artificial notes of red forest fruits.” This really is not a good beer. If you must try it out of a sense of morbid curiosity, don’t say I didn’t warn you. This might’ve cured me of my weakness for radlers. (8/20)

4/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brasserie Duyck Jenlain Ambrée Bière de Garde at 7.5% ABV (C$14.46 at Zyn, 750 ml, best before 24-Aug-2015)

Pours clear slightly copper-tined pale amber with two fingers of rocky light tan head, good retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Nose is caramel, mild dark fruit, light grassy hops. (6/10) Taste is moderately strong sweet, mild bitter. (6/10) Medium bodied, lively to moderate carbonation, building bitter and mildly boozy finish. (4/5)

Not bad and certainly quite enjoyable with some cheese and sausage from the same convenience/grocery store. (12/20)

My 161st from the 2010 Edition (152nd from the 2013 edition), and 171st combining both editions.

6/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Central City Brewers + Distillers Detective Saison Saison at 6.0% ABV (C$6.53 from NLC Howley Estates, 650 ml, bottle date 13-Feb-2015)

Pours clear to hazy pale straw with two fingers of fluffy white head, good retention and moderately heavy lacing. (4/5) Nose is wheat, citrus, mild bubble gum, banana and coriander, peppercorn. (7/10) Taste is mild to moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild spicy, very slight tart. (7/10) Light body, lively carbonation, dry mildly bitter and spicy finish. (4/5)

Y’know, not bad. Pretty similar to their other attempts at Belgian styles e.g. the Bolg Tripel, or maybe a hefeweizen, but really quite drinkable. A bit too sweet for the style, not challenging, and ultimately not a lot of saison character, but not unpleasant by any means. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Boxing Rock Brewing Co. The Next Chapter Rye India Pale Ale American IPA at 6.3% ABV (Via trade – thanks, Chris! – 650 ml, bottle date 24-Feb-2015)

Pours clear red-tinged pale to medium amber with one finger of fluffy light tan head, good retention and moderately heavy lacing. (4/5) Nose is spicy and sour rye, caramel malt, pine and citrus hops. (7/10) Taste is mild to moderate sweet, moderate bitter, mild spicy, slight sour. (8/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, mildly bitter and spicy finish. (4/5)

Mmm… I do like a nice RyePA – and this is pretty nice. The rye provides a nice supplement to the bittering hops, adding a little spicy and slightly sour kick. I’m very pleased to have been able to sample this limited distribution (New Brunswick only) brew! (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Boxing Rock Brewing Co. La Rive du Sud Bière de Garde at 7.5% ABV (Via trade – thanks, Chris! – 650 ml, bottle date 25-Mar-2015)

Pours hazy medium amber with one finger of loose light tan head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, no lacing. (3/5) Nose is wheat, caramel malt, dark dried fruit, earth and pepper. (7/10) Taste is moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild spice. (8/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, mildly bitter and spicy finish. (4/5)

Not quite like other Bières de Garde I’ve had – much maltier and heavier in the body, but certainly exhibiting unmistakeable Belgian characteristics and quite pleasant overall. A strong contender from a strong brewery. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

No-Li Brewhouse Winter Warmer American Strong Ale at 7.5% ABV (C$7.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Pours clear medium amber with one finger of loose tan head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, moderate patchy lacing. (3/5) Nose is caramel malt, light spices, faint fruit. (5/10) Taste is mild to moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (5/10) Medium to light body, moderate carbonation, mildly bitter and warming finish. (3/5)

Yes, I know it’s a winter warmer – I still have snow in my back yard. That said, not much “winter warmer” character here – light body, not much spice, little warmth. Maybe a bit elderly, but I’d expect the style to hold up better, and I’m even getting a little faint butyric acid. Not one of No-Li’s better efforts. (10/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Garrison Brewing Company Imperial I.P.A. American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.0% ABV (C$5.99 at NLC Howley Estates, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Pours clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky white head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Nose is bright citrus and pine resin, tropical fruit, mild caramel malt. (8/10) Taste is mild to moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (8/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky and lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

No bottle date, but definitely fresh – hop-forward all the way, bright and sharp, with just enough malt in support. Probably the strongest performer I’ve had from Garrison’s lineup. The ABV isn’t absent, but it’s also not intrusive. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com