RyansBooze

The Bruery Jardinier Belgian Pale Ale at 4.9% ABV (US$11.49 at Total Wines & More, Henderson NV, 650 ml, bottle date 2-Apr-2015)

Appearance: cloudy pale gold with one finger white head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: grainy pale malt, coriander, floral, earthy, banana. (7/10) Taste: mild sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: light to medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry bitter and lightly spicy finish. (4/5)

Quite a nice BPA / table beer – rather reminds me of Duvel. The aromas and taste could stand to be a little more robust, I’d like it drier in the finish, and I really don’t appreciate a gusher when I haven’t mishandled the beer at all. That said, all in all, it’s good, but I’m not sure it’s worth the premium price. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Granville Island Brewery Brash Knuckles American Brown Ale at 5% ABV (C$7.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: clear deep amber with one finger light tan head, good retention and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: dark fruit, chocolate, stone fruit, mild pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lightly bitter finish. (3/5)

Sessionable brown ale. Nothing near as “in yo face” as the name would suggest, but also more fun than your typical brown. Hoppy and crisp, with a nice finish. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Dandy Brewing Company Bright Young Things English Summer Ale English Pale Ale at 5% ABV (C$7.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: hazy (to chunky) straw with three fingers (and growing) white head, excellent retention and spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: very mild, wheat, citrus, grassy, brett funk. (6/10) Taste: mild sweet, mild bitter, light funky tart. (6/10) Palate: medium to light body, moderate carbonation, short crisp finish. (3/5)

Big-time brett infection leaves a one inch marshmallow at the bottom of the glass, and heavy particulate the bottom of the bottle. I don’t think it’s deliberate, and I’d like to try this the way it was intended to taste. I don’t think it’s an age issue, because these guys are local, and I monitor the shelves pretty closely – but it’d be nice if they’d DATE THE DAMN BOTTLE. These guys are quickly burning through my good will and patience for local micro-brewers. I dunno – for all that, it’s not unpleasant, but it’s not a bright summer pale ale at this point either. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Gigantic Brewing Co. / Cider Riot! / Beau’s All Natural Snakebite Radler at 5.6% ABV (C$7.79 at Sundance Wine Market, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with a short white head, excellent retention and moderate lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, apple, pale malt. (6/10) Taste: mild sweet, mild tart, light bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium to light body, low carbonation, short finish. (3/5)

Quite cidery, with only limited kölsch character, and none of the black currants. Mild and pleasant, but really not all that interesting. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Turning Point Brewery/Stanley Park Brewing/Mark Anthony Group Stanley Park SunSetter Summer Ale Wheat Ale at 4.8% ABV (Gift – thanks, Doug! – 330 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Pours clear pale gold with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and good lacing. (4/5) Nose is peach, wheat, pale malt (4/10) Taste is mild to moderate sweet, mild bitter. (4/10) Light watery body, moderate carbonation, medium duration bitter finish. (3/5)

Well, it’s peach dominant – but somewhat to my surprise, it doesn’t actually smell (or taste) fake. However, for some odd reason, that doesn’t translate through to the taste all that much, and it tastes very much like the same standard unfiltered wheat everyone’s doing. Fine, it’s not terrible.  And it is pretty, and would probably be fine on a hot patio in Stanley Park. But it’s not good. (10/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

BraufactuM Palor Pale Ale American Pale Ale at 5.2% ABV (C$7.79 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, best before 31-May-2015)

Pours clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky off-white head, excellent retention and good lacing. (4/5) Nose is caramel malt, grassy/herbal, citrus, tropical fruit, light mint. (5/10) Taste is mild to moderate sweet, mild bitter. (5/10) Medium body tending to watery, moderate carbonation, medium duration bitter finish. (4/5)

Kind of a blend of English and American Pales: the aromas have lots of noble hops and caramel malt, but there’s also some citrus and tropical fruit, as well as something interesting I’ve not encountered before. It’s almost minty, and I wonder whether it’s the Polaris hops, a variety with which I’m unfamiliar. Any way you slice it, though, it’s pretty cool to see craft beers starting to come out of Germany. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Le Trou du Diable La Pitoune Kellerbier at 5% ABV (C$6.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 600 ml, bottle date 11-Nov-2014)

Pours clear pale straw with two fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and good lacing. (4/5) Nose is pale crackery malt, citrus, grassy, herbal. (7/10) Taste is mild sweet, mild bitter. (7/10) Light body, moderate carbonation, clean dry finish. (4/5)

Nice – a kellerbier variant on pilsener. A little more body, texture, and depth than a straight-up pilsener, but still light, crisp, and clean. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Le Trou du Diable Le Sang D’Encre Dry Stout at 5% ABV (C$6.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 600 ml, bottle date 31-Oct-2014)

Pours clear brown with two fat fingers of medium dense tan head, good retention, moderate lacing. (4/5) Nose is roasty malts, chocolate, coffee, herbal, slight smoke. (8/10) Taste is mild sweet, mild bitter. (8/10) Full creamy body, moderate to low carbonation, clean dry finish. (4/5)

Quite a nice dry Irish stout. Slightly smoky notes add an interesting complexity. I’d really like to try this on tap (or nitro) – I bet it would set up a nicer head and creamier body. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Cölner Hofbräu P. Josef Früh Früh Kölsch Kölsch at 4.8% ABV (C$2.59 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 330 ml, best before 7-Jun-2015)

Pours clear pale straw with a short, short-lived white head, no lacing. (3/5) Nose is pale malt, grassy, slight vinous. (6/10) Taste is mild sweet, mild bitter. (6/10) Light body, moderate carbonation, crisp finish. (3/5)

Light, crisp and pleasant – shares a lot of characteristics with pilseners or hells lagers. Not exactly complex or challenging, but clean and refreshing. (12/20)

My 188th from the 2010 Edition (176th from the 2013 edition), and 198th combining both editions.

6/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Russell Brewing White Rabbit Hoppy Hefeweizen Hefeweizen at 6% ABV (C$5.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, bottle date 15-Apr-2015)

Pours hazy medium gold with two fat fingers of rocky off-white head, good retention, moderate lacing. (4/5) Nose is clove, wheat, grassy, citrus, faint stone fruit. (7/10) Taste is moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Light to medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering finish. (3/5)

An interesting combination of A/IPA and hefeweizen characteristics. It’s not a complete success – the savoury aspects of the clove contrast with the fruity citrus in a way that I’m not completely sold on. Not without its charms, but not a total slam dunk, either. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com