Paddockwood's Bock -- Three Beers

Another Paddockwood tonight. I can't say too much about this beer, because I haven't had too many bocks--though, after this one, I'll keep an eye out. As the text on the label says, it's definitely very malty, but what I liked about it was that it didn't get thick in texture, like a stout or a porter does, nor did it get sort of, sickly sweet like I think some do. The maltiness was thoroughly toasty and not at all syrupy, and the beer remained a liquid instead of a meal in a glass. But, maybe, that's just something I like about all bocks over stouts/porters. (Don't get me wrong, I like stouts and porters, but there's only so much black froth I can drink in a night.) Oh, and, the 7% alc/vol is a nice bonus. Like the Rye IPA, though, when I bought it, it was a bit pricey per bottle ($3-something). I'm pretty sure, though, from buying at the microbrewery itself, that it would probably be cheaper by the sixpack, straight form the source. One star off for price, one star off 'cause I don't know how else a bock's supposed to be.

Paddockwood's Rye IPA -- Four Beers

I think it's fitting that my first beerpost is of an IPA. If you keep reading this beerblog, and I keep writing it, you'll soon learn that I'm not just a cerevisaphile, but a hophead.

This beer, and a few others, are quickly convincing me that Paddockwood is a fantastic microbrewery. And Canadian! Other than... that one that makes Maudite etc., the only Canadian microbrewery I know, and I'm proud to say it's in Saskatoon. Paddockwood's beers are consistently full-flavoured; I'd feel comfortable picking any beer of theirs at random to try, because I know I'd enjoy it.

The Rye IPA is a great beer, though I wouldn't really say the rye entirely adds anything distinctively rye--that is, if you didn't tell me it was a Rye IPA, I wouldn't've thought it weren't a regular IPA. But, for an IPA, it really does a good job. It's a whole mouthful of hops, but without getting soapy like some super-IPAs do, and without losing a light aleness. The only reason I won't give it five stars is the price: here in little old Moose Jaw, at least, it was sold by the bottle, at almost $5. And I hate paying that kind of price, even when they're pouring it for me.