RyansBooze

Backcountry Brewing DDH Widowmaker – American IPA at 6.7% ABV | 30 IBU (C$7.55 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 7-Mar-2026, reviewed 28-Mar-2026)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with one fat finger of fluffy pale ivory head, good retention and soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical & stone fruit, floral, resiny pine, oats. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, medium bitter finish. (4/5)

This is apparently their flagship Widowmaker but with double the hop bill (Citra and Mosaic). Well, I haven’t yet had Widowmaker, but now I don’t much see the point – I very much doubt I’ll prefer it over this more full-throated interpretation. Nice one, a pleasant implementation of two of my favourite hops. It’s a bit too… well, everything, to be considered crushable, but it’s definitely not overwhelming, sippable and enjoyable. (16/20)

This will be my 6,371st unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Polyrhythm Brewing Double Slide – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8% ABV (C$6.40 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 7-Mar-2026, reviewed 27-Mar-2026)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with one fat finger of fine creamy white head, excellent retention and soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, resiny pine, oats. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, medium bitter mildly warming finish. (5/5)

“Dry Hops: Freestyle Motueka & Southern Cross, Mosaic”. Wow. Not so much “wow” for the flavour profile, which, don’t get me wrong, is excellent, but doesn’t quite blow my hair back in legendary fashion, but “wow” because it’s so very smooth and well-behaved for its no-nonsense gravity. A seriously dangerous pillowy smooth wrecking ball with only the mildest warming to warn you that you might find yourself in trouble fairly quickly. (17/20)

This will be my 6,370th unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Cabin Brewing Company Geosphere – American Pale Ale at 5.4% ABV (C$5.85 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 7-Mar-2026, reviewed 25-Mar-2026)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fine white head diminishing gradually to a thick persistent cap, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, dank resiny pine, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, short duration building bitter finish. (4/5)

Bold aroma and flavour, punching above its weight and definitely not clean or crushable, but enjoyable regardless – at least for an inveterate hop head like me. (16/20)

This will be my 6,369th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Field of Vision – American IPA at 6.8% ABV (C$6.55 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 12-Feb-2026, acquired 7-Mar-2026, reviewed 25-Mar-2026)

Appearance: pale gold with one fat finger of fine white head, excellent retention and well-defined lacing. (5/5) Aroma: pithy citrus, dank resiny pine, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, building bitter mildly warming finish. (4/5)

“Mosaic, Strata, Nelson Sauvin”. Straight-up traditional WCIPA done with modern hops – what’s not to like? (16/20)

This will be my 6,368th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Superflux / Sea Change Death, From Edmonton – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$7.15 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 17-Feb-2026, acquired 7-Mar-2026, reviewed 23-Mar-2026)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of loose off-white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, cereal grains, white grape, hint of coconut. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, mild but building bitter finish. (4/5)

“dip-hopped with Citra Incognito, dry-hopped with Citra, Citra Cryo, Citra Spectrum, and Nelson Sauvin, then finished with Citra Prysma and Maui Nelson right before packaging”. That’s a kitchen sink of hops, not that I’m complaining. But, I guess the reason it doesn’t really come across as muddled is that most of them are Citra variants.  Good, even excellent, but not necessarily memorable. (15/20)

This will be my 6,367th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Superflux Beer Company Coconuts – American IPA at 7% ABV (C$7.75 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 19-Jan-2026, acquired 7-Mar-2026, reviewed 18-Mar-2026)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with two fingers of fine white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: coconut, citrus, white grape, cereal grains. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly sharp vegetal green coconut finish. (3/5)

“heavily dry-hopped with Vic Secret and Citra then conditioned on a voluptuous bed of coconuts” Not quite as much coconut on the nose as one might expect, but it builds retronasally and definitely dominates. I was expecting Piña Colada, but it’s not, really – probably because it’s not that sweet, and completely lacks any kind of lactose character. I don’t dislike it, but it’s definitely adjunct-dominant and verging on simplistic. (15/20)

This will be my 6,365th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Backcountry Brewing Okay, Campers, Rise and Shine, and Don’t Forget Your Booties Cuz It’s Cooooold Outside!⁠ – American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 50 IBU (C$7.45 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 7-Mar-2026, reviewed 16-Mar-2026)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of fine white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, spotty soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bright citrus, tropical & stone fruit, crackery malt, mild dank resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry clean finish. (4/5)

“this West Coast IPA showcases a punchy blend of Nectaron and Citra hops.” Nice one. Brightly juicy fruit on the front end but restrained sweetness through the mid, to a clean finish. Not quite crushable, nor overly attenuated, but still pretty snappy. My only complaint, and it’s a minor one, is that it’s pretty juicy and fruity, and not very piney or dank, for the WC style. (16/20)

This will be my 6,364th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Changing Colours Brewing Project Orchestra of Wolves (Project 025.2026) – American Double / Imperial IPA at 7.5% ABV (C$6.75 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 10-Feb-2026, acquired 7-Mar-2026, reviewed 14-Mar-2026)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy off-white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, dank resiny pine, berries. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, building bitter warming finish. (4/5)

“Citra Incognito, Strata Cryo, Nelson Sauvin” Decently balanced: not quite easy-drinking, but flavourful appropriate to the weight. (16/20)

This will be my 6,363rd unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Eighty-Eight Brewing Pleasure Principle – American IPA at 6.7% ABV (C$6.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 3-Feb-2026, acquired 7-Mar-2026, reviewed 12-Mar-2026)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy off-white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone & tropical fruit, oats, light berries, faint resiny pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration mildly bitter finish. (4/5)

Nice one – pleasant fruit on the front end, restrained sweet and balanced bitter through the finish. Works for me. (16/20)

This will be my 6,362nd unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Real’s Not Real – American IPA at 6.4% ABV (C$6.55 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 10-Feb-2026, acquired 7-Mar-2026, reviewed 11-Mar-2026)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bright vinous grape, berries, cereal grains. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration slightly tart finish. (4/5)

“Rakau, Motueka, Nelson Sauvin”. Bright vinous notes dominate but the sweetness is restrained, and there’s a nice balanced bitter through the nearly tart finish. Really nicely done. This is very much the way I like to see the hazy style implemented. (17/20)

This will be my 6,361st unique Untappd check-in.

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com