RyansBooze

Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel La Divine Comédie Pilsener at 5.4% ABV (C$2.47 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 341 ml, bottle date 20-Jun-2015)

Appearance: very slightly hazy straw with one finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: muted, bready malt, grassy hops, mild citrus.  (7/10) Taste: mild sweet, moderately strong bitter. (8/10) Palate: light to medium body, moderate carbonation, crisp lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Not quite as good as the Trou du Diable version – at least, I found the Trou du Diable version to be slightly fruitier and hoppier. This is just as bitter, but the hops are coming through more as grassiness or earthiness, instead of tropical fruit. Really not getting the passionfruit or mango the label claims. On the plus side, this finishes strong as a really crisp and clean pilsener, with a nice lingering bitter finish. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Laughing Dog Brewing Rocketdog Rye IPA American IPA at 6.9% ABV (C$6.56 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, bottle date 23-Apr-2015)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky ivory head, good retention and spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pine resin, rye, citrus, doughy yeast. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter, light sour. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

A decent rye IPA. I tend to like this style, particularly how the sharpness of the rye complements the IPA bitterness. And yeah, this one does that, but in a slightly blunt fashion. It’d be nice to still get some bright citrus going on, and I’m not really getting that here. Good, not great. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Black Market Brewing Co. 1945 Berliner Weisse Berliner Weisse at 3.8% ABV (C$7.28 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of rocky white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: muted, wheat, citrus, slightly funky. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, moderate sour. (8/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, dry and emphatic sour finish. (4/5)

A pretty authentic example of the style – low ABV, lightly wheat and fruity flavours on a moderately sour base. Tart and refreshing. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij Oud Beersel Bersalis Tripel Oak Aged Tripel at 10.5% ABV (C$21.21 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, bottle date 7-Nov-2014 best before 7-Nov-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: vinous, tart citrus, funky brett and lactic, floral, woody. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, moderate sour. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry and moderate sour finish. (4/5)

Definitely more of a sour/wild than a tripel – which isn’t a criticism by any means, because if there’s anything I like more than tripels, it’s sours. Lots of lacto and brett character, without being over the top. The quite high ABV is also integrated surprisingly well, and doesn’t really make an appearance. Reminds me of Cantillon Gueuze – and that’s not a compliment I throw around lightly! (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Phillips Brewing Company Analogue 78 B Side Kolsch Kölsch at 5% ABV (C$2.00 at South Trail Calgary Co-Op, 341 ml, best before 22-Aug-2015)

Appearance: clear pale straw with two fingers of rocky ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: biscuity malt, grassy, light citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild pepper. (6/10) Palate: light body, soft carbonation, short duration mildly bitter finish. (3/5)

A pleasant enough example of the style – light, crisp, and easy-drinking. Hardly challenging, but that’s hardly expected for a kölsch. Definitely a summer beer. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mill Street Brew Pub Stargazer Summer Ale English Bitter at 4% ABV (On tap at Mill Street Brew Pub YYZ)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of dense light tan head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: muted, crackery malt, grassy, mild fruit. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter. (6/10) Palate: light to medium body, moderate carbonation, short duration mildly bitter finish. (3/5)

Basic bitter, light and sessionable, but tending to the bland – if not outright boring. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Molson Coors Canada Mad Jack Apple Lager Fruit / Vegetable Beer at 5.0% ABV (C$3.99 at NLC Stavanger, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before)

Yeah, I’m not even doing this. Utter sink pour shit. Life’s too short to drink cheap, fizzy, sickly sweet, fake-apple-tasting garbage.

3/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Dageraad Brewing Blonde Belgian Strong Pale Ale at 7.5% ABV (C$8.29 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear pale straw with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, grassy, crackery malt, floral, spices. (7/10) Taste: moderately strong sweet, mild bitter, mild peppery spice. (7/10) Palate: light to medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry peppery and mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Decent brew from a BC brewery I’ve encountered only once before, in the Parallel 49 Brews Brothers collaboration saison – which I went into with no expectations but quite enjoyed. Because of that, I wasn’t quite as expectation-free this time around, but I still quite like this. An authentic Belgian-style strong pale, with elements of witbier and Belgian IPA at play. And yeah, it pretty much delivers what the label promises – complex, medium-dry belgian, with spice. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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