RyansBooze

Driftwood Brewery It’ll Be Fine Southern Hemispehre IPA – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$4.65 at Collective, 473 ml, best before 25-Feb-2022, acquired 19-Oct-2021, reviewed 27-Oct-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with two fingers of fluffy white head, good retention and spotty soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone fruit, citrus, cereal grains, tropical fruit, black pepper, earthy pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

The labels says they used Galaxy and Moutere hops for this one, and the brewer’s notes also indicates Summit. It’s not quite as exciting as I like to see for ANZ hops. On the other hand, it’s actually pretty reminiscent of some of the other core releases by this brewer – which isn’t a criticism, by any means. Good, but not quite the juice bomb I was hoping for. (15/20)

This will be my 5,102nd unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Sea Change Brewing Co. Tiger Bomb – American Double / Imperial IPA at 7.8% ABV (C$5.17 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 19-Oct-2021, reviewed 26-Oct-2021)

Appearance: slightly hazy straw with two fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and well-defined droopy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, tropical fruit, cereal grains, hint of pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

Brewer’s notes say it’s double dry hopped with Citra, Vic Secret, BRU-1, and Azacca hops. Aroma and flavour are fairly typical of the new hazy style, with relatively restrained bitterness in a fairly enthusiastic ABV. That’s not to say it’s typical overall – it’s actually done pretty well, and is a better example of the style than most. (16/20)

This will be my 5,101st unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Common Roots Brewing Company Good Fortune – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$7.35 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 25-Aug-2021, acquired 19-Oct-2021, reviewed 24-Oct-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of fluffy near-white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy tropical fruit, citrus, pale malt, stone fruit, hint of pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry short duration finish. (4/5)

Brewer’s notes call this a “modern IPA”, using Galaxy, Amarillo, and El Dorado hops. And yeah, this is a good example of the modern soft juicy style – lots of aroma and flavour, with very little bitterness. Works for me! (16/20)

This will be my 5,100th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Common Roots Brewing Company Citra Session India Pale Ale – Session IPA at 5% ABV (C$6.60 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 30-Aug-2021, acquired 19-Oct-2021, reviewed 22-Oct-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of pillowy white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: zesty citrus, pale malt, tropical fruit, light pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-soft carbonation, dry short duration finish. (4/5)

Nice. Brightly juicy citrus dominates over clean pale malt, with hints of tropical fruit and pine underneath. This is all about the Citra, which is just how I like it. Flavourful despite the lower ABV, easy drinking, crisp, and refreshing. (16/20)

This will be my 5,099th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Situation Brewing Clean Bite – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.2% ABV | 60 IBU (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 5-Oct-2021, acquired 19-Oct-2021, reviewed 21-Oct-2021)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus zest, caramel, earth, pine resin. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, sweetish building lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

The can says it’s hopped with “mounds of Sabro and Mosaic”, but I’m just getting a typical starts-with-C citrus fighting for dominance with sweet caramel, and earthy pine coming up the rear. I might actually have scored it higher had there been no indication of the hops used, but this is actually a little disappointing. (14/20)

This will be my 5,098th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Annex Ale Project Each + Every – American Pale Ale at 5% ABV (C$4.65 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 12-Oct-2021, acquired 19-Oct-2021, reviewed 21-Oct-2021)

Appearance: hazy/muddy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, citrus, biscuity malt, melon, earth. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short duration finish. (4/5)

The aroma is pleasantly citrusy, with biscuity malt and hints of earthy Noble hops, but I’d like it to be a bit brighter. The taste is perhaps a little better, with a nicely restrained fruity sweetness balanced against a mild bitterness, leading into a clean off-dry finish. All in all, mild and inoffensive, but perhaps a little too much so. (14/20)

This will be my 5,097th unique Untappd check-in.

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Rebellion Brewing Co. Solo Crush – Session IPA at 4.5% ABV (C$4.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 28-Sep-2021, acquired 19-Oct-2021, reviewed 20-Oct-2021)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of pillowy white head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: zesty citrus, dank pine resins, pale malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short duration finish. (4/5)

Nice. This does an excellent job as an exploration of a single hop – in this case, Chinook. The aroma is initially a dry oily citrus zest, but gradually gives way to a dank resiny pine, almost with tobacco / leather undertones. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I find it interesting and refreshing. (16/20)

This will be my 5,096th unique Untappd check-in.

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Longwood Brewery The Big One – American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 65 IBU (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 18-Oct-2021)

Appearance: clear pale gold with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: caramel, black tea, earth, resiny pine. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium-full slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, off-dry building lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Brewer notes say this is hopped with Cascade, Centennial, and Chinook, so I was expecting a more American-style IPA, possibly with West Coast character. Instead, it’s an unbalanced English-style IPA dominated by malt and black tea, with excessive bitterness. (And I say that as an inveterate hop head.) (13/20)

This will be my 5,095th unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

DuClaw Brewing Company Venom – American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 55 IBU (C$5.53 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 18-Aug-2021, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 16-Oct-2021)

Appearance: particulate-laden pale amber with two fingers of fine pale ivory head, good retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, pine, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, off-dry building lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Brewer notes indicated the malts are Pilsner, Biscuit, & Crystal 60, and the hops Chinook, Columbus, Cascade, Simcoe, & Citra. In other words, it’s every bit as traditional as you might expect. Well implemented, but just not all that interesting. (15/20)

This will be my 5,094th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

DC Brau Brewing The Imperial – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8% ABV (C$4.68 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 22-Mar-2021, acquired 1-Oct-2021, reviewed 15-Oct-2021)

Appearance: particulate-laden deep gold with one finger of loose pale ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, spotty soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel, citrus, pine. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, sticky lingering bitter finish. (3/5)

Not very impressive. Might’ve been better fresher, but I can’t imagine it was any less malty. I might be a bit unfair here given the age, but this is where it is now. (13/20)

This will be my 5,093rd unique Untappd check-in.

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com