Category 12 Wild IPA

Brewer: Category 12, Victoria, BC
Style: India Pale Ale
ABV: 6.9%
IBUs: 68

Description: This latest release is part of C12’s Elemental Series, a grouping of experimental, limited release beers. It is so named because of the use of wild yeast strain known as Saccaromyces trois. And as an IPA it also combines a generous dose of pale malt which is then bittered with experimental El Dorado and Azacca hops and then served unfiltered.

Tasting Notes: An interesting brew, one which combines tropical fruit hop flavor with a yeast that imparts tropical fruit aromas. The end result is a beer that has a good West Coast IPA flavor with distinct Belgian undertones, which include a yeasty backbone. a cloudy profile, and some serious yeasty sediment.

Appearance: Deep Orange, cloudy, good foam retention and carbonation
Nose: Strong malt, rich tropical fruit nose, pineapple, passion fruit, yeasty 
Taste: Crisp start, immediate notes of pineapple, pine, yeast, bitter hop finish
Aftertaste: Lingering hop bitterness, tropical fruit flavor
Overall: 8.5/10

Dieu du Ciel Moralite American IPA

Brewer: Dieu du Ciel, St. Jerome, Quebec
Style: India Pale Ale
ABV: 6.2%
IBUs: Unlisted (high)

Description: This IPA is one of the breweries year-round offerings, and is the result of a collaborative effort with John Kimmich – the brewmaster of The Alchemist brewery in Waterbury, Vermont. In the American IPA fashion, it is fashioned using a rich malt base and then bittered using an “immoral” amount of Simcoe, Citra and Centennial hops. 

Tasting Notes: This is definitely a classic IPA. Strong in the alcohol department (though not too much), rich in the malt department, and strong and diverse in the hop flavor department. I’ve been a fan of just about everything Dieu du Ciel creates, and I am glad I found this one too.

Appearance: Golden-orange., cloudy, good foam retention and carbonation
Nose: Rich malt, notes of grass, pine, citrus, floral hops
Taste: Strong malt base, hint of sweetness, citrus, herbs, lemon, pine and resin
Aftertaste: Lingering bitterness, herbal and piney hops
Overall: 8.5/10

Russell Punch Bowl North West IPA

Brewer: Russell Brewing, Surrey, BC
Style: India Pale Ale
ABV: 6.5%
IBUs: 65

Description: This India Pale Ale commemorates two styles of beverages that made the crossing between England and India. Whereas IPAs were brewed for export to British troops and dignitaries in south Asia, Punch was a drink introduced to the British Isles from India. This beer is made using generous dose of pale malt, and then bittered with significant quantities of Citra, Mosaic, and Amarillo hops. It was also the Gold medal winner at the 2015 Canadian Brewing Awards.

Tasting Notes: This IPA was quite inspired. In addition to paying home to a style of beer that was brewed for transport to India, it also acknowledges a cultural exchange that went in the other direction. As IPAs go, it is quite light and refreshing. The hop flavor, while pronounced, is quite fruity and really not too bitterness. And the malt profile was rather subdued. Perhaps a bit for my taste, but a very pleasant beer nonetheless.

Appearance: Amber/orange, clear, good foam retention and carbonation
Nose: Mild malt nose, notes of pineapple, tropical fruit, hint of pine
Taste: Smooth, crisp malt, mineral tang, notes of pineapple, hint of passion fruit, pine
Aftertaste: Lingering minerality, mild hop bitterness
Overall: 7.8/10

Le Trou du Diable Dubaï Pillée

Brewer: Le Trou du Diable, Shawinigan, QC
Style: Double IPA
ABV: 9%
IBUs:

Description: This Double IPA – which has a curious alien-invasion theme going – is one of Le Trou’s seasonal releases, making the rounds for the Winter-Spring season. A double dose of malts and a significant hopping make it a potent and flavorful beer. And its accolades include being declared Canada’s Best Imperial IPA at the 2015 World Beer Awards in the UK.

Tasting Notes: I am still scratching my head as to what inspired this beer – which takes its theme from a fictitious invasion of Dubai (ca. 1954) where aliens stole our beer… and are coming back! Even so, one does need excuses in order to brew a good double IPA. This beer delivers, offering a rich, syrupy malt base, and a varied hop finish that has notes of citrus, passion fruit, mango and peaches.

Appearance: Amber/orange, cloudy, thick lacy foam, good carbonation
Nose: Strong malt, sugars, citrus, tropical fruit, piney hops
Taste: Rich, slightly coarse malts, notes of citrus and pine, mango, passion fruit, peach
Aftertaste: Lingering hop bitterness, tropical fruits, coarse malt flavor
Overall: 9/10

Muskoka Detour Sessional IPA

Brewer: Muskoka Brewery, Bracebridge, Ontario
Style: Sessional IPA
ABV: 4.3%
IBUs: 30

Description: This beer takes it name from the fact that it is a departure from the regular North American style India Pale Ale. In addition to being dry-hopped, it is also sessionable, creating a lighter, more accessible IPA that is easy drinking.

Tasting Notes: This was one of my first sampling from 2015 trip to Ottawa. Muskoka is an old favorite when it comes to craft brewing, and it seems they have been getting better and more experimental in my absence. This was a neat take on a traditional IPA, and not just because its subtler and lighter. It also has some very interesting flavor notes – which include orchard fruits you don’t normal expect in an IPA. And that accompanies the usual citrus and grassy hops. Quite an interesting take.

Appearance: Golden, slightly cloudy, good foam retention and carbonation
Nose: Smooth malts, subtle hops, fruity esters, apricot
Taste: Crisp malt, mineral tang, notes of citrus, grassy hops, orchard fruit 
Aftertaste: Lingering fruit esters, hop bitterness, grassy hops and citrus
Overall: 8.3/10

P49 Corn Hops Imperial IPA

Brewer: Parallel 49, Vancouver, BC
Style: Imperial IPA
ABV: 8.2%
IBUs: 86

Description: P49’s latest summer seasonal is a new take on the Imperial IPA. Combining Pilsner malt with flaked corn, this Imperial IPA is then hopped with a significant dose of Chinook, Ahtanium, and Citra hops to achieve a strong but slightly sweet brew packed with citrus and tropical fruit flavors.

Tasting Notes: This was definitely a consistent P49 offering! As always, the combination was quite interesting and the end result quite flavorful. The infusion of corn added a hint of sweetness and light color to an otherwise malty Imperial IPA. And of course, the heft hopping added plenty of citrus, passion fruit, and pineapple flavors, along with a nice, dry herb essence.

Appearance: Light gold, clear, good foam retention and carbonation
Nose: Rich malts, good notes of citrus, pineapple, herbs and passion fruit
Taste: Strong malt, hint of corn syrup, notes of citrus, pineapple, pine and herbs
Aftertaste: Lingering hop bitterness, herbs and tropical fruit
Overall: 8.5/10

Powell Street Hopdemonium IPA

Brewer: Powell Street Craft Brewery, Vancouver BC
Style: India Pale Ale
ABV: 8%
IBUs: 88

Description: As part of the PSBC’s regular lineup, the Hopdemonium is the brewery’s tribute to India Pale Ales brewed in the Pacific Northwestern Tradition. And in keeping with that tradition, a strong malt base is combined with a generous hopping – which I am sure includes plenty of the three Cs (Cascade, Centellian and Columbus) – to create a very strong, very balanced IPA.

Tasting Notes: Not the first time I’ve tried a Powell Street product, but this is the first time I’ve reviewed one. And it is also the second time I’ve sampled the Hoptemonium, and for good reason – it’s awesome! The nose honestly reminded me of Phillips Hop Drop liqueur, since it had a powerful aroma of West Coast hops in great concentration. And the flavor came through with lots of powerful citrus, piney and tropical fruit hops. Combined with rich malt, it was an all around kick-ass example of a Northwestern IPA.

Appearance: Amber, slightly cloudy, good foam retention and carbonation
Nose: Rich malt, sugars, citrus hops, pineapple, jack fruit, peach
Taste: Strong malt, slightly sweet, hint of jackfruit, citrus rind, passion fruit and herbs
Aftertaste: Lingering hops bitterness, pineapple, malt sweetness, herbs
Overall: 9/10

Double Mountain Pale Death Belgian-Style Imperial IPA

Brewer: Double Mountain, Hood River, OR
Style: Belgian-Style Imperial IPA
ABV: 9.3%
IBUs: 93

Description: This apocalyptic-themed ale features a combination that is growing in popularity of late – the fusion of Pacific Northwestern and Belgian-style ales. In this case, pale malt and a very generous dose of Northwestern hops co-mingle with strains of Ardennes yeast to create a beer that is very powerful, but strangely balanced.

Tasting Notes: I was a little wary of this beer to begin with. An Imperial IPA that embraces elements of an extra strong Belgian ale is sure to be powerful and potentially overwhelming, maybe to its own detriment. But I really like the way that Pacific Northwest hops (Cascade, Centennial and/or Columbus for sure) play well with Belgian flavors. You’ve got the citrusy and tropical fruit flavors of of a Northwestern IPA, which are nicely balanced by the spicy, citrusy flavor of Belgian yeast. And the strength, while considerable, doesn’t intrude on the flavor. Things finish smoothly and warmly!

Appearance: Amber, cloudy, sediment, good foam retention and carbonation
Nose: Rich malt, citrus, passion fruit, pineapple, spicy yeast, coriander
Taste: Strong malt, citrus bite, grassy, piney, yeasty, orange peel, coriander, alcoholic bite
Aftertaste: Lingering spice, yeast, alcoholic and hop bitterness
Overall: 8.5/10

Four Winds IPA

Brewer: Four Winds Brewing, Delta, BC
Style: India Pale Ale
ABV: 7%
IBUs: 70

Description: Part of Four Winds Standards lineup, this IPA is brewed in the tradition of Pacific Northwest American IPAs, combing a strong pale malt base with a generous dose of West Coast hops. This beer was also the silver medalist for the 2014 B.C. Beer Awards in the category of North American IPA.

Tasting Notes: I think we have another contender for Best IPAs. Not surprising, considering that Four Winds has consistently impressed me with their wares. And this one was certainly in keeping with that, being crisp, malty, citrusy, grassy, herbal and piney, and all the while remaining very drinkable and refreshing. It basically does everything an IPA should without being overstated or overwhelming.

Appearance: Amber, clear, good foam retention and carbonation
Nose: Good malt, strong notes of citrus, grass and herbal hops
Taste: Crisp malt, dry herbal notes, citrus, grass and piney hops
Aftertaste: Lingering citrus and herbal bitterness, quite refreshing
Overall: 9.5/10

Phillips Apteryx IPA

Brewer: Phillips Brewing, Victoria, BC
Style: India Pale Ale
ABV: 6.5%
IBUs:

Description: Phillips latest limited release, which is named in honor of the iconic Kiwi bird, is a tribute to New Zealand. As such, this India Pale Ale features a generous dosing of Nelson Sauvin hops, which are then added post-boil for a dry-hopped profile.

Tasting Notes: This Phillips release was definitely one I could get behind. The combination of strong pale malts, Nelson Sauvin hops, and the fact that it’s dry-hopped made for a very tasty, but also subtle and complex character. The malt base is strong but sweet, and the hop flavor comes through with notes of citrus, grass, pine, and grape – but at no point is it overwhelming.

Appearance: Amber, clear, good foam retention and carbonation
Nose: Good malt, strong notes of grape, hints of citrus, grass and pine
Taste: Strong malt, hint of sweetness, hop bitterness, herbal, grapes, citrus
Aftertaste: Lingering hop bitterness, citrus rind and pine
Overall: 8.5/10