Loki - Paddock Wood Brewing Co.

Shadman

Alberta (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark in colour than most I've sampled. More of a orange brown. Very hazy, with no real head and only spots of lacing. Looking a the picture of it, pretty much par for this course.

Sweet toasted pale malts, hint of pine floralness and loads of cirtic grapfruit peel.

Malts dominate the front end with just a hint of pine. Flavour moves quickley to a battle between citrus hop and malts, hint of sourness, and then a dry citric hop finish. High ABV is noticeable, but is masked well by the other flavours.

Slick, slightly oily mouthfeel.

Certainly different than say Lagunitas' Hop Stoopid which I had the oppurunity to taste side by side. Nice Canuck example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2010 04:10:20 | More by Shadman

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - a dark brown amber, short tan head dissipated to a decent lacing
S - hops galore! spicy, citrus, leafy, and floral, some roasty malt notes, also getting a bubble gum smell
T - Hop Bomb! floral and grassy up front, leading to a more bitter citrus and spiciness, malt is light, and there is a sweet finish that to me is a bubble gum flavour
M - medium bodied, nice bitter and spicy mix, and a light dry finish
D - so good, multiple hop flavours in a nice balance, bitter and dry feels just right, a double in terms of hops but you would never guess 8.7% ABV

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2010 05:50:54 | More by joemcgrath27

eat

Quebec (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This bottle courtesy of wordemupg from CanBIF6. Thanks Chris!

355ml, strange sized bottle. I like the fish; I can't think of another beer with a fish on the label. Poured into an over-sized wine glass, Loki is opaque and copper coloured. An oddly lumpy blanket of misty off-white foam rests on top and leaves some alright lacing. This looks fairly DIPA-like.

The smell is an odd blend of lightly-tropical hops, canned mandarin oranges, dust, subtle pine, caramel and gorgonzola. I wouldn't say it smells bad but it's definitely strange.

Up front there's a pretty strong hit of ethanol along with some fairly characterless bitterness; just kind of bitter and alcoholic. Once that calms down, you can notice some earthy hops, a touch of pine and grapefruit rind, light minerals and some sweet malt. The malt could be stronger for my liking, as is its left a little thin. To me, the alcohol comes on too strong and the malt could be increased in relation to the bitterness. There's no date on the bottle but I'm thinking this bottle is probably not at its freshest. There seems to be some decent IBUs (maybe 60 or 65?) but not much character to the hops. Fairly short finish, subtly drying.

The body is a little thin for a DIPA. Not bad, but it could use some more viscosity. Lightly carbonated.

It's always great to see another Canadian brewery brewing up a DIPA but this one is a little off. For me, the main flaw is the over-present solventy alcohol, but the hops could also use some more character and the malt could be stepped up. All that said...I'd probably drink this if I lived in Saskatoon. Especially since I'd imagine it's at least a little better when fresh.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2010 04:03:08 | More by eat

ritzkiss

Ontario (Canada)

3.35/5  rDev -15%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle just received from wordemupg as an extra, thanks man!

Pour a deep burnished orange that has some sediment haze that drift in from the bottom of the bottle. A finger of head doesn't stick around long except for the odd spot of lacing.

Nose has a light pineapple and floral hop profile, just a hint of herbal grassiness in there. Biscuity malt with some caramel sweetness. Not trying to blow you away.

Kind of an odd duck this beer is. Nice smooth biscuity, caramel malt sweetness, light pineapple and citrus hopping with a touch of Golding thrown in as well. Touch of buttery diacytyl hiding in there, not uber noticable. I've had American Pale Ales with as much hopping as this one. Yet, the malt base doesn't drown it, it's smooth in it's own way, not the bold stickiness most would be accustomed to in a DIPA. Like no DIPA I've ever had, not sure it really is one. Maybe more like an English Strong Ale if such a thing existed.

Not a terrible beer but not one I would go to. Too high an ABV to be sessionable, not enough hopping to meet that craving, sort of an in-the-middle-spaces brew. Thanks again Chris!

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2010 18:15:58 | More by ritzkiss

bobsy

Ontario (Canada)

3.18/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The Loki of Norse myth is a shapeshifter, and likewise this Loki moves between one personality and the next, but never really decides what it wants to be.

Pours a clear orange with a finger of white foam, that left a few spots of lace. While the appearance is fairly standard, its reassuring because I've heard of possibly spoiled bottles full of particulate matter. Weird nose is in an instant full of noble, west coast and herbal English hops, with a compliment of diacetyl. Sage, grapefruit and cream spring to mind. Already I see the whole shapeshifter thing going on, and I'm not sure I like it... some flavours just shouldn't be paired together, and this is no PB and chocolate.

So it's a weird mix. They've made a beer that's an American style, used mostly American hops in the boil, but then dry-hopped it with East Kent Goldings. The dominant character comes from the goldings, which provide an earthy, herbal overlay and the perfect compliment for the biscuity malt. The American hops aren't as noticeable as they could have been, but their presence still makes for a bizarre marriage... I feel like someone's put grapefruit into a traditional English bitter. Added to this we have some diacetyl and we've got one disappointed Bobsy. Actually, perhaps I'm being a little harsh - this is certainly drinkable, and it doesn't taste bad, just wrong.Medium mouthfeel and carbonation are neith add nor detract.

If I had to nail this beer down I'd say its an imperial IPA in the English style. Regardless, its not really what I look for from an imperial IPA.

Thanks to Eric for sharing a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2010 14:02:13 | More by bobsy

demcorhip

Ontario (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to mom for bringing this treat from the prairies east. Its relatively dark, a deep murky amber. Despite sitting in the fridge for days there is quite a bit of suspended yeast and sediment. A thin head formed on a relatively vigorous pour, and quickly subsided. The thinnest collar persists, but im not going to be holding out for much lacing here. Im pleasantly surprised though, the thinnest and most intricate webs of lace are forming.

A very nice nose. Somewhat tame for an IIPA, but also has more depth and complexity than most. The grapefruit character from the Cascades is quite apparent, and predominates. The Goldings are also quite evident, and play well with the malt to help produce an intriguing woodsy character, the hint of toffee and pale malts is quite inviting.

This is a damn tasty brew. It is certainly quite hoppy, although not an all out hop assault. The taste doesnt have any surprises which werent hinted at in the nose. What im really enjoying here though is the interplay between the Goldings and hint of rich malt with the nuances of toffee. This is an interesting strong ale that shapeshifts, displaying the character of american and english IPAs and american and english barleywines. I suppose thats about what one could expect from Loki.

A hop forward ale that is just bitter and hoppy enough to qualify as an american IIPA. Certainly bitter, a nice touch of resinous resinous hops and a nice tongue stripping feel. The touch of rich malt and english hops are an interesting touch, and has me hoping that PW brews us a barleywine one of these days. If the malt body was a touch richer and more substantial this would be one fine barleywine. Im almost tempted to try cellaring this, while considered a beer crime for most IIPAs, i suspect Loki could be more forgiving and just take on a new form with tasty results.

A very interesting brew that i certainly recommend to anyone who likes exploring the twilight zone at the border of IIPA/barleywine. Quite drinkable, im thoroughly enjoying this multidimensional, complex shapeshifter in the guise of the IIPA. When mom goes home ill send her back to PW for another 6 pack. I want to see what a little time will do to Loki, although if readily available id certainly go back for more fresh samples.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2010 01:30:01 | More by demcorhip

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I go away for 3 weeks to Toronto, and while I'm gone, 2 new DIPAs, made right on the Prairies (hey, that's 'local', out here) show up in Edmonton? Stellar!

This beer pours a hazy orangish amber colour, with plentiful sediment suspended throughout, and two fingers of creamy, foamy ecru head, which leaves some frilly lace around the glass as it recedes. It smells of toffee malt, vanilla, butter, and some mild citrus hops. The taste is caramel/biscuit malt, some bitter citrus hops, butterscotch, and an earthy, grassy essence. The carbonation is on the low side, the body full, slick and smooth, and it finishes quite hoppy, pine and citrus rising over the heretofore dominant malt.

Paddock Wood has up to this point, to me, at least, leaned toward the British way of things, and this is no exception, but in a whole new way. Who has every heard of an Imperial English IPA? Well, folks, exhibit A, and a bit of a shape shifter, but not exactly the end of the world...

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2010 00:48:30 | More by biboergosum

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

355ml bottle poured into Unibroue glass feb8 2010

A amber with lots of suspended particles being slowly moved around by a few bubbles popping up at random, a thumbs width of off white head falls fairly quickly and leaves a few patches of lace

S mild grapefruit with a butterscotch/toffee smell that's unexpected but rather pleasant

T again mild citrus and a little earthy spice with just a tad of booze and a sweet toffee flavor that at first confused me but it grew on me as the glass emptied

M fairly thick with decent carbonation that comes from nowhere

D a well rounded brew and unique if you ask me, and I wouldn't have guessed it's 8.7%alc either good thing I read the label

a little different from what I was expecting but not a bad thing just not what I thought a DIPA would be like. to me it tasted like a West Coast/English hybrid IPA, try it for yourself it deserves your opinion

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2010 06:34:58 | More by wordemupg

canucklehead

British Columbia (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up at Brewery Creek on recommendation from the staff. Really nice to see limited release beers from other provinces show up in BC. This beer looks a little like a barley wine with a slightly reddish tint and a cloudy tinge. The head is small and the nose is hopy but takes awhile to develop. Not as in your face as Half Pints version but still complex and very hoppy this is a nuanced beer. There is almost a sourness to the finish that makes this very different to most DIPAs( good sourness not bad sourness)

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2010 03:40:23 | More by canucklehead

elricorico

Alberta (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks Jim from Sherbrooke for providing me this sample. Ruddy bronze in colour with a whole bunch of floaties, despite this being a pretty fresh bottle. Not something I expected, and a little bit of a turn off for this style. A finger of creamy beige head that seems to have great staying power. Good amounts of lacing as I drink.

Great hoppy citrus punch to the nose. Very distinct grapefruit aroma. A bit of honey sweetness buried underneath all that hoppiness, but it struggles to stick out.

Big brash hops to the taste as well. To the tongue, the citrus gives way a little to a bit of herbal hops as well. There is a base of malt to ground the hops, but it certainly doesn't make up a big part of the taste.

Body is on the light side, but has an oily quality. The carbonation is a little coarse, but overall it isn't a bad mouthfeel.

I'm a little torn on this one, it has some great qualities and some just okay qualities. I really like the hop profile, but long for just a bit more balance. Definitely worth trying, but I'm not sure I'll be getting any more for myself.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2010 02:50:31 | More by elricorico

pnkHoody

British Columbia (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A guy at the Brewery Creek beer store in Vancouver pointed this one out to me, and I was immediately drawn to its exceptional label -- featuring a simple monochrome fish profile with "Loki" written in medieval, blood-red calligraphy.

I served it at about 10c into a wine glass. The beer is russett-tinged bronze, just this side of clear. What head the double IPA possesses clings sweetly to the glass in a sparse lacing that looks to be there for the night.

The smell is a restrained dose of fruity hops, leaning toward the grapefruit side of the spectrum, but also a deep briney aroma emerges if you get your nose right in the glass. Marmalade too.

First taste is a bit muted, the blend of hops has been carefully selected for balance rather than impact. By my second pour Loki is proving to be a very well rounded DIPA. It has sweet notes, a tart acidity and very complex bitterness than shifts from sip to sip. Main flavour notes are dates, grapefruit, clotted cream and delicate hints of pepper -- alcohol is largely absent. A mildly oily mouthfeel contributes to the evolving flavours.

This is an exquisitely balanced DIPA. It has a somewhat undecidable character -- I couldn't write my flavour notes until I'd slurped and circulated pretty much the whole bottle. An unkind reviewer might say "nondescript", given Loki's reluctance to put its eggs in any particular basket, but I'm inclined to call it enigmatic.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2010 07:39:59 | More by pnkHoody

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Jim at Sherbrooke and Steve from Paddock Wood for the sample!

This beer was brewed to show support for Saskatoon's The Ultimate Power Duo getting invited to perform at the Olympics in Vancouver Feb. 17-19. You know you've made it as a band when you get to play such a high profile event AND get a beer brewed for you as well in the same year, let alone a few month's time.

Comes in a 341 ml brown bottle. Pours out a cloudy orange/light amber, like a marmalade. Tall loose creamy off-white head that slowly settles to a thin frothy cap.

Sweet creamy smooth aroma, biscuity malt, faint toasted notes, orange citrus, floral and grassy hops. Faint butterscotch diacetyl, but it doesn't detract.

Impressive balance in the flavour, the hops almost immediately kick in, but the malt backbone is strong enough to keep it in balance. Rich bready malt up front is immediately joined by citrus and floral hops, pine resin picks up in the middle, herbal and earthy on the finish, although in the aftertaste it sweetens up again with bready, biscuity malt and floral, orange notes. Low-lying character of grapefruit rind pith.

Medium-bodied mouthfeel, low carbonation, smooth and creamy for the most part, some thin spots.

Probably the smoothest and most approachable of the Canadian DIPA's I've yet to sample, ringing in at 80 IBU's it is balanced, with an equal presence of malt and a fairly refined hop bill. Definitely not a runaway train of hop madness, this DIPA is civilized.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2010 05:08:42 | More by IronDjinn