thehyperduck

To the best of my ability, I try to make all of my beer reviews 'to-style' - that is, I see no sense in comparing pale or light lagers to things like IPAs and barrel-aged what-have-yous. I have long been of the opinion that every beer has its time and place - and for anyone about to say 'malt liquor', well... curbs and park benches are places too, and 'anytime' is still a time.

I have been interested in the craft side of beer for many years - in fact, I have been registered and reviewing at BA since shortly after I was legally allowed to buy the stuff. I love all types of beer, and while I may be long-winded in my reviewing of them, I am not exactly a harsh critic. I also do not consider myself an expert, but I will do what I can to point others toward good beers of all styles.

Beer Temperature
The effect of this variable on the beer-drinking experience cannot be overstated. This is why I provide a (generalized) reference to the serving temperature in all of my reviews:
- "well-chilled" means straight out of the fridge
- "slightly chilled" means it sat out of the fridge for about an hour
- "barely chilled" means it sat out of the fridge for about 2-3 hours
- "cellar temperature" means it was not chilled at all, consumed at somewhere between 6-12 degrees C (depending on how long it sits at room temp outside of the cellar before I get around to opening it)

Beer Dating
This is the other big variable, but unlike temperature, consumers have little control over this one. I will always mention the beer's date stamp/code at the start of a review (or its lack thereof, if applicable), so that readers have some idea of how fresh the serving was. In my reviews, "dated X/Y/Z" is equivalent to "packaged on X/Y/Z"; if the product only has a "best before" date then I will distinguish it as such. Many dates are coded; if I know how to translate it then I will, if not then I will simply give the code as it's printed on the can/bottle.

I try to avoid sitting on beers for too long, but sometimes a bottle or two will slip through the cracks. I urge all BAs to keep better track of their cellar inventory than I do.

If I opt to review a bottle that is past its purported "best before" date, I will mention this fact at the start of the review. If it's a bottle conditioned beer, it'll probably be fine. On the other hand, if an old beer is unquestionably 'spoiled', I don't review it. This only applies to 'old' beer - if it's spoiled because of a QA issue, then it doesn't get a free pass.

Favourite Styles
- Pale Ales (English or American)
- IPAs (ditto)
- Rye Beers
- Most German or Czech-style lagers (Pilseners, Munich Helles, Märzens, Festbiers, Schwarzbiers, etc.)
- Hefeweizens, Dunkelweizens
- Tripels, Belgian Strong Pale/Golden Ales and Saisons
- Belgian Strong Dark Ales & Quads
- Doppelbocks, Weizenbocks & Eisbocks
- English & American Porters & Stouts, Baltic Porters, RIS
- Lambics, Flanders Red, Gueuzes, Goses and Wild Ales
- Smoked Beers, Rauchbiers

Rating
All ratings are subjective, but here's the cliff notes of my scheme:
- 2.5 or lower (D) is something I would actively discourage BAs from wasting their money on.
- 2.5 to 2.99 (C-, C) The beer may have some merits, for some people. I'd drink it if it were handed to me.
- 3.00 to 3.29 (C+) Barely passable for [style], meeting some (but not all) of my expectations. I might give it another shot.
- 3.30 to 3.49 (B-) A serviceable interpretation of [style], meeting many of my expectations, but in underwhelming fashion. I'd give it another try.
- 3.50 to 3.74 (B) A decent to good example of [style], checking nearly all of the boxes, without exceeding any expectations. I'd buy it again.
- 3.75 to 3.99 (B+) A good example of [style]. All expectations met. I'd buy it again on a semi-regular basis if possible.
- 4.00 to 4.29 (A-) An exceptionally good example of [style], better than the bulk of its competition IMO. Will buy regularly if possible.
- 4.3 to 4.55 (A) One of the greatest examples of [style] I have ever had. I'd buy this again without a second thought.
- 4.56 or higher (A+) The absolute cream of the crop of [style]. In the event of a zombie apocalypse, I would deliberately risk both life and limb to obtain a case of this precious elixir (before succumbing to either madness or contagion).

I am a semi-active trader, though I am not doing international trades at the moment. My 'gots' list is more of a 'what is in my cellar' list; there are usually many other things in my fridge, as well. If it's included in my gots list, then I am willing to trade it. I have fairly easy access to Southwestern Ontario/SE Michigan craft beers, as well as the imported stuff available in those markets, but I am not a whale hunter.

CANBIF Participation:
- Spring 2016

Milestone Reviews*:
#1. Black Sheep Ale - English Pale Ale, North Yorkshire, England [4.00, A-]
#50. Mill Street Lemon Tea Ale - Spiced Beer, Toronto, ON Canada [3.43, B-]
#100. Smithwick's - Irish Red Ale, Dublin, Ireland [3.53, B]
#150. Southern Tier Pumking - Pumpkin Ale, Lakewood, NY USA [4.35, A]
#200. Stiegl Pils - German Pilsener, Salzburg, Austria [3.75, B]
#250. Affligem Tripel - Flemish Brabant, Belgium [4.23, A-]
#300. Dominus Vobiscum Lupulus - Belgian IPA, Baie-Saint-Paul, QC Canada [4.63, A+]
#350. Paddock Wood 606 India Pale Ale - English IPA, Saskatoon, SK Canada [3.65, B]
#400. Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel - Dunkelweizen, Bavaria, Germany [4.35, A]
#450. Birra Moretti - Euro Pale Lager, Friuli–Venezia Giulia, Italy [3.43, B-]
#500. Uncommon Brewers - Siamese Twin Ale - Dubbel, Santa Cruz, CA USA [3.6, B]
#550. Sigtuna Midvinterblot - Russian Imperial Stout, Stockholm County, Sweden [4.24, A-]
#600. Cuvée Van De Keizer Blauw - Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Antwerp, Belgium [4.26, A-]
#650. Thornbridge Halcyon - American IPA, Derbyshire, England [4.4, A]
#700. Founders Dirty Bastard - Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy, Grand Rapids, MI USA [4.33, A]
#750. Barn Door Summer Storm - Kellerbier, Uxbridge, ON Canada [4.29, A-]
#800. Huvila Arctic Circle Ale - Sahti, Uusimaa, Finland [4.08, A-]
#850. Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock - Eisbock, Bavaria, Germany [4.76, A+]
#900. Les Trois Mousquetaires Hopfenweisse - Hefeweizen, Brossard, QC Canada [4.43, A]
#950. Flying Monkeys Belle Époque - Belgian IPA, Barrie, ON Canada [4.3, A]
#1000. Modelo Especial - American Adjunct Lager, Mexico City, Mexico [2.82, C]
#1100. Steamworks Kölsch Lagered Ale - Kölsch, Vancouver, BC Canada [3.74, B]
#1200. Les Trois Mousquetaires Doppelbock - Brossard, QC Canada [4.47, A]
#1300. Boulevard's The Calling - American DIPA, Kansas City, MO USA [4.19, A-]
#1400. Smuttynose Finest Kind - American IPA, Hampton, NH USA [4.4, A]
#1500. Kasteel Donker - Quadrupel, West Flanders, Belgium [4.46, A]
#1600. Innis & Gunn Maple & Thistle Rye Ale - Rye Beer, Lothian, Scotland [4.02, A-]
#1700. Great Lakes 30th Ann. BBA RIS (w/Coffee, Vanilla & Cocoa) - American Imperial Stout, Toronto, ON Canada [4.6, A+]
#1800. Ommegang Hennepin - Saison / Farmhouse Ale, Cooperstown, NY USA [4.16, A-]
#1900. Thomas Hardy's Ale (2017) - English Barleywine, Greater London, England [4.22, A-]
#2000. Big Rock Alberta Genuine Draft - American Lager, Calgary, AB Canada [2.88, C]
#2125. DeMoersleutel Dolle Dries 2 - American Imperial Porter, North Holland, Netherlands [4.25, A-]
#2250. Einbecker Ur-Bock Hell - Helles / Maibock, Lower Saxony, Germany [3.8, B+]
#2375. De Dolle Stille Nacht - Belgian Strong Pale Ale, West Flanders, Belgium [4.43, A]
#2500. Lickinghole Creek Coconut Quad - Quadrupel, Goochland, VA USA [3.86, B+]
#2625. Cascade Rose City Sour (2016) - Wild Ale, Portland, OR USA [4.36, A]
#2750. Mount Saint Bernard Abbey Tynt Meadow - English Strong Ale, Leicestershire, England [4.44, A]
#2875. Upstreet Rhuby Social - Fruit & Field Beer, Charlottetown, PEI Canada [3.98, B+]
#3000. Faxe Extra Strong - Euro Strong Lager, Zealand, Denmark [3.11, C+]
#3111. DESTIHL Haze of the Dead - New England IPA, Normal, IL USA [4.19, A-]
*Reviews only. Ticks don't count.