RyansBooze

Cameron’s Brewing Company Deviator Dopplebock Dopplebock at 8.6% ABV (C$11.75 at Sundance Wine Market, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Pours clear brown with amber-brown highlights, one finger of dense light tan head diminishing gradually to a thick cap, moderate lacing. (4/5) Nose is dark roasty malt, cocoa and chocolate, mildly boozy fruit, bourbon tones. (8/10) Taste is moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Medium bodied, low carbonation, slightly sticky lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

A solid dopple. The bourbon booziness is a little aggressive, but not unpleasant. I’d like a heavier body and thicker texture, though. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Cameron’s Brewing Company RPA Rye Pale Ale American Pale Ale at 6.6% ABV (C$8.75 at Sundance Wine Market, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Pours hazy to cloudy pale amber with two fingers of pillowy light tan head, excellent retention and chunky lacing. (4/5) Nose is sharp rye, pithy citrus, pine resin, caramel malt, mild tropical fruit. (8/10) Taste is mild sweet, moderately strong bitter. (8/10) Medium bodied, moderate carbonation, lingering and building bitter finish. (4/5)

A very tasty rye pale ale. The rye sharpness works well with the hop bitterness, with just enough sweet caramelly malt to stop it from getting out of hand. The moderately high ABV is completely absent. Yep, I like a good rye pale, and this is a good rye pale. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Yukon Brewing Company Secret Service American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.1% ABV (C$7.25 at Sundance Wine Market, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Pours clear straw with a fat finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap and moderate lacing. (3/5) Nose is pine, tropical fruit, caramel malt, mild citrus. (6/10) Taste is moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (6/10) Medium bodied, medium carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Not a remarkable DIPA, but not bad. Ultimately it ends up being a bit on the thin and sharp side for the style, but on the up side it does an excellent job of integrating the ABV. Decent, without being exciting. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Old Yale Brewing Co. Outta Whack Mango Wheat Wheat Ale at 5.0% ABV (C$5.29 at Quarry Park Co-Op, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Pours hazy pale straw with three fingers rocky white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap and sparse lacing. (3/5) Nose is sour mango, wheat, pale malt. (6/10) Taste is mild sweet, mild bitter, moderate sour. (6/10) Light bodied, high carbonation, crisp tart finish. (3/5)

Well, that’s different. Nothing too subtle, but I’m a sucker for a sour, so I’m not gonna slam it. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Samuel Smith Old Brewery  _Imperial Stout_ Russian Imperial Stout at 7.0% ABV (C$6.29 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 550 ml, bottle date 20-May-2014)

Pours nearly opaque deep brown with amber-brown highlights, three fingers of pillowy tan head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Nose is roasty malt coffee and chocolate, red berries, vanilla and citrus. (7/10) Taste is moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild sour. (7/10) Medium bodied, moderate carbonation, sticky texture and lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Surprisingly light in both body and ABV for a RIS. Really quite similar to their Oatmeal. Though, the higher ABV and more syrupy texture does a better job of disguising what I’ve concluded must be a high metal content in the Tadcaster water. Ultimately, though, I’ve had better Russians. (15/20)

My 150th from the 2010 Edition (143rd from the 2013 edition), and 160th combining both editions.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Samuel Smith Old Brewery  Oatmeal Stout Oatmeal Stout at 5% ABV (C$6.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 550 ml, bottle date 23-Nov-2014)

Pours nearly opaque deep brown with amber-brown highlights, two fingers of pillowy tan head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Nose is roasty malt coffee and chocolate, red berries and citrus. (7/10) Taste is moderate sweet, mild bitter. (7/10) Medium bodied, moderate carbonation, creamy texture and lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

This would be a really good oatmeal stout were it not for the distinctly metallic edge to the flavour, which I guess is coming from the dissolved solids in the well water? It’s still pretty good, mind you, but the metal flavour is a distinct, albeit minor, drawback. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Microbrasserie Charlevoix La Vache Folle ESB Premium Bitter / ESB at 6% ABV (C$5.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 500 ml, bottle date 22-Jul-2014)

Pours very slightly hazy pale amber with two fingers of rocky light tan head, excellent retention and lacing. (4/5) Nose is caramel malt, bready yeast, mild floral. (7/10) Taste is mild sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium bodied, moderate carbonation, fairly quick bitter finish. (4/5)

Charlevoix are a solid brewery who produce consistently excellent beers. And as the style goes, this is a pretty good ESB. The problem is, even a pretty good ESB is fairly pedestrian fare. A little variation on the theme would have been welcome – maybe a little dry hopping to produce a more floral nose, for example? Don’t get me wrong, I could easily session this, and I’d like to try it on tap – but it’s not as much fun as the rest of their brews are. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brouwerij Dilewyns Vicaris Tripel Abbey Tripel at 8.5% ABV (C$4.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 330 ml, best before 10-Sep-2016)

Pours hazy pale gold with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and lacing. (4/5) Nose is bready malt, coriander, tropical fruit, red berries, slight citrus. (8/10) Taste is moderate sweet, moderate bitter.
8/10) Medium bodied, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Oh yeah, I like this. Initially, this doesn’t seem all that much like the Generaal. (According to the brewer “The only difference between them is that the Tripel is brewed with one malt variety and Generaal with three.”) But after a couple of sips, the similarities become more apparent – I guess they really are brothers from a different mother. Nice depth of flavour that definitely grows on you, very pleasant Belgian. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Samuel Smith Old Brewery  Nut Brown Ale English Brown Ale at 5.1% ABV (C$6.29 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 550 ml, bottle date 24-Jul-2014)

Pours clear medium to deep amber with one fat finger of light tan head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate lacing. (4/5) Nose is toffee, raisins, nutty. (7/10) Taste is moderate sweet, mild bitter, slight tart. (7/10) Medium bodied, moderate carbonation, dry finish. (3/5)

Pleasant, mildly fruity nut brown. A good example of the style. (14/20)

My 149th from the 2010 Edition (142nd from the 2013 edition), and 159th combining both editions.

7/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Big Rock Brewery Traditional Ale Brown Ale at 5% ABV (C$2.79 at Quarry Park Co-Op, 473 ml, no bottle date or best before)

Pours clear medium amber with one finger of light tan head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, spotty lacing. (4/5) Nose is caramel with hints of toffee, grainy malt, mild fruit and nuttiness. (6/10) Taste is moderate sweet, mild bitter. (6/10) Medium to light bodied, moderate carbonation, dry finish. (3/5)

“Boring” might be a little harsh, but I’m not sure how better to describe it. “Straightforward”? “Unremarkable”? It’s a little light for the style, but there are no other negatives. Very drinkable and – speaking from experience – sessionable. (Just because this is the first time I’ve officially reviewed it, doesn’t mean it’s the first time I’ve drunk it!) (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com