RyansBooze

Brouwerij De Koningshoeven La Trappe Isid’or Belgian Strong Pale Ale at 7.5% ABV ($11.39 from Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650ml, bottle date 19-Jun-2012)

Pours clear pale to medium amber with two fingers of light tan head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, no lacing. (4/5) Nose is caramel and toffee, raisins and other dark boozy fruits, some cloves and other spices. (7/10) Taste is moderate sweet, mild bitter and spiciness. (7/10) Medium body tending a bit to the thin, moderate sustained carbonation, mildly boozy finish. (3/5)

A decent trappist, with a well-integrated ABV. I found the flavour and body to tend a bit to the thin side, though – felt to me like some more weight would have been appropriate. Certainly worth trying, but I’m not sure it’s worth a special effort.(14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Shmaltz Brewing Company / Terrapin Beer Company Reunion Ale ’13 – A Beer For Hope American Brown Ale at 8% ABV ($9.40 from Star Liquor & Wine, 650ml, no bottle date or best before)

Pours clear brown with two fingers of light tan head, excellent retention, good lacing. (5/5) Nose is cocoa nibs, vanilla, coffee, faint cinnamon, slight lactose. (9/10) Taste is moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild spiciness. (8/10) Medium to full body, moderate sustained carbonation, mildly boozy finish. (4/5)

Lots of coffee and chocolate – you can definitely taste the cocoa nibs right from the get-go, and the coffee becomes more pronounced as it warms. Surprisingly boozy for “only” 8% ABV, but not unbalanced or unpleasant. (16/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Unibroue La Résolution Belgian Strong Dark Ale at 10% ABV ($8.96 from Dominion Stavanger, 750ml, bottle date 18-Sep-2014)

Pours clear deep amber-brown with two fingers of light tan head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, spotty lacing. (4/5) Nose is winter spices, caramel/toffee malt, boozy dark fruit. (9/10) Taste is moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild spiciness. (8/10) Medium to full body, prickly to moderate sustained carbonation, boozy, almost whisky-like finish. (5/5)

What’s a New Year without a little Resolution? A very nice winter brew as it stands, but I’m glad I bought two of these, because the second will definitely go for a nice extended cellaring (next New Year’s?) to give those flavours a chance to mature and mellow. (And while we’re on the topic, what the hell is this thing? Ratebeer says it’s a spice/vegetable, beeradvocate says BSDA, and untappd calls it a winter warmer. Personally, I think it feels like a quad.) I waffled a little on my ratings, but after some thought I think this is very nearly up there with some of the big Belgian quads. The high ABV is definitely present, but not overwhelming at all, while the enthusiastic spices and carbonation balance it out nicely. Big, bombastic, and enthusiastic – is it any wonder I like it? (18/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Samuel Smith Old Brewery Organic Cherry Fruit Beer at 5.1% ABV ($7.79 from Sobeys Liquor Silverado, 550ml, no bottle date or best before)

Pours clear red-tinted pale amber with two fingers of loose light purple head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, excellent lacing. (4/5) Nose is sweet and sour cherry, maybe faint grassy hops. (7/10) Taste is moderately strong sweet, moderate bitter, moderate sour. (7/10) Light to medium body, moderate to low carbonation, tart and bitter finish. (4/5)

Not bad! Almost a Belgian kriek in character, and the cherries don’t taste artificial at all. That being said, the cherry is a tad overwhelming, and it makes the beer sort of one-dimensional – but it’s not a bad dimension. I could be convinced to have another. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Shmaltz Brewing Company He’Brew / Cathedral Square St. Lenny’s American Double / Imperial IPA at 10% ABV ($9.40 from Star Liquor & Wine, 650ml, no bottle date or best before)

Pours clear medium amber with two fingers of light tan head diminishing gradually to a thick cap, excellent lacing. (5/5) Nose is caramel malt, light pine and citrus, some bubblegum and mixed boozy fruit. (7/10) Taste is moderately strong sweet, moderately strong bitter, moderate sour. (8/10) Medium body, prickly to moderate sustained carbonation, off-dry smooth and bitter finish. (4/5)

Quite interesting – lots of malt, but not to the point that it overwhelms. The hop bitterness and the rye sharpness come into play very quickly after the initial caramel sweetness, and though it’s not a hop bomb, there’s lots of it. Malt-forward, perhaps, but not malt-dominated.Tastes a little better than it smells, I’d say, with a nice rye note coming through in the finish. The higher carbonation works well here, too, and the high ABV is very well integrated. Sort of reminiscent of Arrogant Bastard, but a rye version. L’Chaim indeed! (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

St. Austell Brewery Admiral’s Ale English Pale Ale at 5% ABV ($5.99 from Sobeys Liquor Silverado, 500ml, no bottle date or best before)

Pours clear amber with a short ivory head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, no lacing. (3/5) Nose is caramel and biscuity malt, leafy/grassy hops, some spicy fruit. (6/10) Taste is moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Solid medium body, moderate to low sustained carbonation, off-dry smooth and bitter finish. (4/5)

A pleasant pint. Malty without being excessively so, decent hopping giving a tea-like flavour, and a little spicy zestiness. Fairly sessionable. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Garrison Brewing Company Nut Brown English Brown Ale at 5% ABV ($2.50 from NLC Howley Estates, 341ml, bottle date 5-Nov-2014)

Pours clear medium to deep amber with a short off-white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, no lacing. (3/5) Nose is caramel and chocolate malt, some roasty tones and faint nuttiness. (6/10) Taste is mild sweet, mild bitter. (7/10) Light to medium body, moderate sustained carbonation, off-dry mildly bitter finish. (3/5)

Decent enough Brown Ale – not all that memorable, and I wouldn’t make a special effort to find it again, but it’s worth having if you happen to find it on tap. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Anderson Valley Brewing Company Boont Amber Ale American Amber / Red Ale at 5.8% ABV ($7.20 from Sherbrooke Liquor, 650ml, no bottle date or best before)

Pours clear medium amber with a fat finger of off-white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, light spotty lacing. (4/5) Nose is caramel malt, spruce needles, floral and herbal hops. (7/10) Taste is mild sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium body, low sustained carbonation, off-dry mildly bitter finish. (3/5)

One of the better amber ales I’ve tried – probably because it smells fairly highly-hopped. Seems like it’s predominantly dry-hopping, though, since it dominates the nose but is pretty mild on the tongue. Not overly challenging, but mild and pleasant without being boring. (14/20)

My 129th from the 2010 Edition of 1001 Beers, 123rd by the 2013 Edition, and 135th combining both editions.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Garrison Brewing Company Raspberry Wheat Fruit / Vegetable Beer at 5% ABV ($2.50 from NLC Howley Estates, 341ml, bottle date 5-Nov-2014)

Pours clear medium gold with a short off-white head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Nose is artificial raspberry syrup, light wheat, faint grassy hops. (4/10) Taste is mild sweet, mild bitter. (3/10) Light body, low sustained carbonation. (3/5)

Maybe an OK thirst quencher on a hot day. …Then again, maybe not, given the fairly fake raspberry aftertaste. This is getting down into mediocre macrobrew territory – don’t bother. (7/20)

4/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Garrison Brewing Company Tall Ship American Amber Ale at 5% ABV ($2.50 from NLC Howley Estates, 341ml, bottle date 5-Nov-2014)

Pours clear pale gold with a short off-white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, spotty lacing. (3/5) Nose is pale biscuity malt, faint leafy hops. (4/10) Taste is mild sweet, mild bitter. (4/10) Light body, low sustained carbonation. (3/5)

Gotta be the palest “amber” I’ve ever had, and I think they filtered out all the flavour along with the colour. Pretty bland stuff. (8/20)

4.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com