This is the second part of this year’s beer post. The first part can be found here.

Beer #9: Parallel 49 Bodhisattua  7.5% ABV
Rated: 5 out of 10

The Bodhisattua is a dry hopped sour beer. Sour beers are super trendy at the moment, but I’m still yet to find one that I really like. This one is the closest so far though. A lot of sour beers taste more like a warhead than a beer, but this one is a bit more understated. Like most sour beers it has absolutely zero head retention, and is carbonated more like a soft drink than a beer. Not bad, but just not my style of beer.

Beer #10: Red Racer Copper Ale 5% ABV 23 IBU
Rated: 6 out of 10

There is only way to describe this beer: malty. If you’ve ever taken a brewery tour, you’ve probably been given a bit of malt to chew on. If you can remember that smell and that taste, then you have this beer. It’s not exactly a terrible thing, but I think that the maltiness could be offset with a bit more hops. I’ve had this beer before, and seem to remember liking it more than I do at the moment. Not sure if it is a batch thing, or if my palate is still shocked by the hot green curry I had for dinner.

Hockey game #2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=108&v=w6JaDUeH8A8

Once again, I’ve borrowed this game from the Pass it to Bulis blog. This is a highlight clip from a 2003 game where Marcus Naslund put up 6 points. I enjoy watching older highlights of sports, and even though 2003 wasn’t that long ago it is from before I had ever seen a game of ice hockey.

The thing that really stands out to me is the goaltending. This is during a period when goalies were still perfecting the butterfly technique. Now, this goalie was the fourth string goalie on one of the worst teams in the league, so maybe he’s not the best example. But, the side-to-side transition is much weaker than the current crop of NHL goaltenders. A more modern goalie will push across his net while staying down in the butterfly position, while the goalie in this clip partially stands up to move across. The modern setup is much more compact and also much quicker.

 

Beer #11: Parallel 49 “The Toques of Hazzard” White IPA 9.2% ABV 76 IBU
Rated: 7 out of 10

This beer is an interesting contrast to the previous beer. This one is all hop. Because the beer is a white IPA, there isn’t much body to contrast with the bitters that clock in at a rather large 76 IBU. The high alcohol content is, however, reasonably well balanced but does finish a little bit on the heavy side. The one place this beer lets itself down in the aroma department – there really isn’t much to talk about. Overall it is a reasonable but not particularly special drop.

 

Beer #12: Central City Getoff Maibock 5% ABV
Rated: 7 out of 10

This maibock is a heavily flavoured lager. It has a smokey finish, and is rich in hoppy bitterness. While the beer has a rich golden colour, it is light on carbonation and aroma. It is a pleasant enough beer, but doesn’t really have any standout features that might draw you in, and the smokey finish is a little bit overbearing as you approach the end of the beer.

 

Beer #13: Parallel 49 Mr. Needles 5% ABV
Rated: 6 out of 10

This beer is a fir pale ale. Unfortunately, the label is missing and there is not much information about it online. It does, however, taste similar to a couple of spruce tip beers that I have had before. It is certainly a christmas beer, as it tastes vaguely like you might expect eating a christmas tree to taste. It is sweeter than most beers, although the aftertaste is dominated by the fir. It’s an interesting beer, certainly worth trying once, but I’m not sure you would really want to drink it on a regular basis.

 

Beer #14: Red Racer Super Sonic IPA 6.5% ABV
Rated: 8 out of 10

This beer is a classic Pacific North West IPA. Like a bearded kangaroo, it’s both hoppy and hipster as all get out. It has a strong, classic hoppy aroma with nice floral undertones, and an upfront kick in the face of bitterness. The only real fault with this beer is that it doesn’t hold its head very well, but otherwise it is very well put together. Among a very wide variety of craft IPAs this one certainly sits towards the top.

 

Beer #15: Parallel 49 Ugly Sweater Milk Stout 5% ABV 30 IBU
Rated: 7 out of 10

This is an interesting beer. I think it would probably make a great stout without the lactose but, being a milk stout, it has had lactose added. Does the lactose improve or detract from the beer? I’m not sure. I think it helps with the nose and smooths the foretaste, but the lactose comes to dominate the aftertaste. If you are the type of person who thinks they don’t like stout, then this is probably one to try as the lactose adds a sweetness that cuts through the malty stoutness. Almost gave this one an 8, but ended up going with 7.

Beer #16: Red Racer IPA 6.5% ABV
Rated: 8 out of 10

This IPA is out there on the floral end of the IPA spectrum, it’s chock full of flowery hops.  One of the best things about this beer is that it pours with a great head and also does a great job of retaining it – which is a little unusual for a pacific north west craft beer.[1] This is also a very drinkable beer given it is 6.5% ABV, so you might to pace yourself a little. It’s not as sophisticated as the Super Sonic, but it is a nice bold floral IPA.

 

 

[1] One thing that really sucks about drinking beer in Vancouver is that the beer can’t hold a head and all pubs are table service. Which means that by the time the server picks your beer up from the bar and brings it to you, all you have is a headless alcoholic liquid. Every now and then you just want to get a nice old hit of foam in the ‘stache, but it’s not going to happen in Vancouver.