Beer review #12: Cannery Brewing I.P.A

This was another one from the Cannery Brewing Sampler pack. After experiencing nothing but good things with their Naramata Nut Brown Ale I'm expecting something special from their offering in the I.P.A department.

I'm still getting used to the Canadian take on I.P.A - a different animal indeed from what I'm used to back in London. Still, the boys at Cannery have been good to me so far so I'm happy to put myself in their capable hands. Don't let me down guys!

Just like before, they've taken their artwork seriously. Even the can looks like it would taste pretty good, all orange and pretty as it is. The Taj Mahal motif makes me wonder if I should have tried this one when I was getting a curry and I've got a lot of time for the nautical crap around the bottom of the can. The blurb tells me to expect 'a rich malt foundation' and a 'lingering hop finish'. Are these claims nothing more than the sadistic lies of a crazed brewmaster?

Probably not, but let's check.

Cannery's IPA looks good on the pour - cloudy, but without any sediment with about 1/4 inch of thick foamy head that dissolves down over to leave a bubbly film and plenty of lacing.

Based on the smell, the back of the can was pretty accurate. I'm definitely getting the hops (not exactly surprising in an I.P.A) and there's plenty of malty fun in there too. The malt fades away pretty swiftly and leaves a lovely hoppy aftertaste that keeps me happy until my next sip.

I'm definitely pleased with this one. It's pretty, it's tasty, and this particular can had been slightly overfilled so when I opened it, it kinda spilled a little but I got extra beer. It packs 6% abv without tasting even a little bit boozy. There's a lot going on here I could see it going nicely on it's own or with a meal with plenty of strong flavours - I've got a nice chicken jalfrezi in mind.

Verdict: 8.5/10

Beer Review #11: Ironhorse Original

I’ve taken the, possibly ill advised, decision to delve back into the world of alarmingly strong lager this week. After a few minutes wandering those aisles of the liquor store that seem to be home to local, colourful, hobo community, I come to a decision: Ironhorse Original.

The sight of a monochrome locomotive rearing towards me from the front of the can certainly grabs my attention but it doesn’t exactly bode well. I’m not expecting a range of delicate flavours from a beer the brewers are comparing to 19th century steam engine.

Still, I’d rather they were up front about what’s inside and you can’t fault them on that front here. There’s an appeal to class around the top of the can with the assurance that it’s brewed with ‘pure spring water’ but then it’s right down to business.; the only other words on the can are the label assuring the easily confused that the can does, indeed, contain beer, and a sub-headline near the bottom saying “BREWED STRONG” in alpha-male capitals.

Overall the whole outside of the can looks less like a marketing strategy and more like an overt threat towards any would-be drinkers. Still I do love a challenge, so here we go.

Locomotive pours like a lager but strangely retains a little film of bone-white head. The beer itself actually looks quite pretty for having come out of such an angry can; it's a dark copper colour without any cloudiness and it doesn't leave any lacing on the glass.

The smell is more like what I was expecting – there are a few grainy tones and maybe a hint of caramel kicking about but aside from that it’s mostly just alcohol.
Given the less-than-enticing smell the taste is surprisingly gentle (as PWB themselves have noted on their website). I’m not getting the dodgy aftertaste you’re apt to find in an extra-strong beer but I'd have to watch myself if I was having an evening on this stuff; it wouldn't be tough to put away a good few cans before you notice how sloshed you've got yourself.

Ironhorse Original is never going to be my go to beer - there's not enough going on in the taste department and the smell leaves plenty to be desired - but for an extra-strong brew it actually isn't too bad. If you're in a hurry to get trollied you could certainly do much worse than a can of locomotive.

Verdict: 5.5/10

Beer Review #8: Labatt Wildcat Strong

Picked this one up as part of a special offer at the BC Liquor Store opposite waterfront. It was cheap, but I still think I might have been robbed.

It may be true that I was drawn to this beer because it had a picture of some mountain lion-y thing on the front and I like cats.

It may also be true that the SKY SPORTS ACTION NEWS style font made me associate this beer with getting drunk while something exciting is going on, rather than watching a re-run of mission impossible on a damp sunday evening.

And it may even be true that I held out a faint hope that it would make the Sex-Panther roar when I opened the can.

But none of these things can make up for what I find inside the can.

I've had reasonable experiences with this company before; Labatt's Blue is a bit of a staple out here in Canada and as an inoffensive lager it certainly gets the job done. While I'm naturally wary of extra-strong beers that aren't Belgian I thought I would give the Labatt's boys a break and see if they can impress me with WildCat.

On the pour it actually looks ok. Nice colour, plenty of carbonation and actually retains some head after the initial fizz dies down.

It doesn't have much of a smell - some sweet malt and corn but nothing especially offensive. Trouble is, there's nothing good going on either.

Taste is worse - there's the same lack of any kind of flavour but it's got a rank metal aftertaste that doesn't hit for about 4 seconds, then hangs around for far too long. The aftertaste would be bearable if there's was some during-taste to make up for it, but there's not much of anything going on here.

The brewers are very keen to boast that WildCat contains 'No Additives'. Frankly, if people are drinking 6.1% beer they probably aren't doing it for the health benefits, and if chucking a shitload of E-Numbers, artificial flavourings or asbestos powder into this stuff would improve the flavour (or at least get rid of that sodding aftertaste, which is still with me as I type this, a good 30 seconds after my last sip) then I say go for it!

This beer has low price and high ABV content going for it if that's your thing. If not, avoid, avoid, avoid!

Verdict: 3/10

Beer Review #5: Red Horse

Ladies and gentlemen, hats off to the good people at Brewery Creek liquor store on Main.

After months of trawling the streets of London in search of the national beer of the Philippines here I find it, lurking in an unassuming Vancouver liquor store. In my twisted and disturbing world this is a bit like turning up an autographed copy of the bible.

Presumably Filipinos are game for getting lashed because it's a big bastard of a can - 500ml. It's scant on artwork but I feel damn manly holding it. It's coated in Testosterone Red. There are proud mustang heads rearing at me. There's not much writing (real beers don't need words!) but what it has is bold and rugged. If it was possible for a font to have a beard, this would probably have a waist length monstrosity with bits of bear meat stuck in it.

Its got its foreign credentials in order as well. There's the obligatory 'export only' sticker, and it's even got that ribbed bit at the top of the can which I've seen on foreign cans of coke you can pick up in dodgy newsagents in Peckham. This stuff might be made by San Miguel but it looks exotic enough to get me excited.

The marketing blurb promises a "full flavoured taste and extra satisfying strength". They are presumably getting at the fact that this stuff is 8% ABV. We're getting dangerously close to hobo-juice territory here. There are a few Belgian craft beers I've come across that can get away with this kind of strength without making a brew that tastes like angry petrol but Red Horse has set itself up for a challenge by brewing up something this strong.

On the pour it looks ok. Pale colour, clear, well carbonated and a clean looking head that leaves some nice lacing on the glass.

Unfortunately, that's where the fun stops. The smell has some grains lurking about in there somewhere but mostly I can smell booze - lots and lots of booze. I'm not opposed to a beer smelling like it has alcohol in it, but it would be nice if it smelt of something else.

I'm not mad keen on tasting it but I soldier on all the same.

Apparently, contrary to popular belief, he who dares does not always win.

It's boozy and harsh which is what I was expecting, but there's something else in there too. Lurking around as an aftertaste is something like soapy vomit. It's not overpowering - I don't feel compelled to retch all over my keyboard - but it's still there hanging around like a fearsome fart on a dancefloor ruining an otherwise tolerable experience.

Red Horse hasn't amazed me. Well chuffed at finding it - I can cross the Philippines off the list for my Beers Around the World Challenge - but I'll not be rushing out to stock up the fridge with it. I guess the 8% ABV content is a plus if you're trying to get ready for a night out sharpish, but if that's your aim there are better beers that will do the same job. Other than that, it's not got much to offer.

Verdict 3/10