St. Bernardus Pater 6 by Beligium’s mighty Brouwerij St. Bernardus is another beer that’s kinda difficult to find. Even the awesome abt 12 is much easier to find than this Pater 6. It is another Dubbel beer in the line. I reviewed the prior 8 which is another Dubbel in the line but this one is much lower with an ABV of 6%. Never the less there is a difference from the 6 and the 8 aside from the ABV. For those that do not know about the Dubbel style of beers, it is a step down from the Tripel and 2 steps down from the Quadruppel in terms of fermentation. Most ales have a single fermentation and then they are released. Beers like Dubbels are actually fermented a second time whether in the cask/barre/vat or bottle. Why would just having it age in a bottle not considered a double for most ales? The trick is adding a secondary yeast strain after the initial fermentation process in order to have it ferment a second time in the bottle or where ever it is placed. You start to get all these technical recipes when you start to add other ingredients to ferment with. Nevertheless, it is where the magic potion begins!!!. This bottle, like other St Bernardus ales can be aged up to 15 years. By that time it would be extremely complex and delicious..Like wine…yet inexpensive ;). So about the flavors that differ pater 6 to the prior 8. For starters, the number 12 was Dulce de leche bread, 8 was a lighter dulce de leche and number 6 is dulce de leche buiscuit with honey, fruits and Leche Nestle (Sweetend Condenced milk). There are some nice banana strawberry notes in there as well. The sweetness lingers and stays a very long time. AMAZING!!!…St. Bernardus has NOTHING disappointing. Every beer I have had is screaming with a lot of flavor. No room for complains. In terms of what is sweet and bitter, if Ruinations is at the utmost extreme of bitterness that last for half an hour, this is the polar opposite of the Ruination. Sweetness that last long through out the after taste for a very very, VERY long time. In fact it is best to take it easy with the beer. This time not because of the alcohol, but this time because of the everlasting sweetness. The positive thing though, it is not the type of sugar rush one gets from eating too much candy. Not quite like that. It actually should not make you sick and you will be glad too because the sugar….well it just stays there… LMAO!! Quite possible the most sugary after tasting Belgium beer I have ever had. Belgium beer lovers should get this…

Demon Hunter (aka La Cacciatrice) Birra Artigianale is a Belgian Style ale at 8.5% ABV. Made by Birrificio Montegioco of Italy is actually my first craft brew imported from there. Front and foremost is the fruit bread flavor. It reminds me of the Maredsous 10 tripel I had the other day. Except more fruity and sweet. This beer while not completely hazed, it does show some consistency. It has a very pleasing scent like a wine would with grapes, cranberries, herbs, pepper, and other nice spices. First taste was overwhelming. It has this minor nutty brown ale pilsner malt notes except if it was aged with Belgian yeast to a nice complex perfection. However the fruits of the raisins, strawberry, apples and peaches stay with you from start to finish and even in the after taste. WOW…damn good stuff. There are also flavors of brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, hazel nut sweet bread and barley. Hunt this down if you can find it. I actually stumbled upon this one by accident and believe me, it was a good catch >:P. A highly sweet fruity bread magic potion that many Belgian beer lovers would go nuts over 😀

Stone Belgo Anise Imperial Russian Stout 2011 “ODD YEAR” Edition…(Long Name :P..lol) is an Imperial Russian Stout by Stone Brewing rating at 10.5% ABV. First pour is basically pure dark liquid. Hardly any fizz period!!. Evil looking in a way. So much in fact that some may shy away as they would not want to be doomed at the fiery pits for even thinking of drinking this potion. No worries though, the guys at Stone assure that the Gargoyle has scared away all the evil preservatives and spirits. All the sinning part is left up to your discretion. It is brewed in the old historical Russian Stout tradition but well with added epic ingredients. It is fermented with Belgian yeast, Oak chips and Anise. For many that may not know what this is, it is the herb that is used in alot of dishes, drinks and candies. Some may remember this flavor like licorice and root beer. Much like the regular stone imperial stout that will come later this year that has flavors of black currants, coffee, dark chocolate and some minor anise, this one actually is exploding with Anise flavor.The combination of all the aged ingredients in simple terms is like having one of those Hotel chocolate mints they have on top of the pillows. Minty, chocolate/coffee and licorice bread with dark fruits such as the currants and raisins and spicy vanilla. For those that don’t like licorice, it is not bad at all as the licorice flavors is hardly there because it evolves into the mint chocolate cake flavor. Man this is good but sadly…hard to find :(… Spent a while looking for this but if you are a fan of stouts and dark Belgian ales, find it right now!!!…who knows…this years beer might be more different than the 2011 one 😉

Maredsous 10 Triple is a 10% ABV Tripel fermented ale from Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV. It is tripel made in Belgium in the Benedict tradition of the Maredsous community but instead of Belgium yeast being the dominant, it is actually the Barley malt. Unlike many tripels I have had in the past, this is more of amber and clear ale. Because the emphasis is not on the yeast, we get a whole other set of flavors than the usual banana bread and thick dark fruit potion. It is more varying in fruit flavors like grapes, apples, pears, peaches, citrus, pepper and caramel. It has more like a biscuit bread flavor. I almost want to say fat tire on steroids and without the chocolate amber flavor. Because the intensity of the barley and bitter fruit is very upfront, it hides the alcohol very well. It smells sweet but the sweet taste is minimal for other sweeter beers of this style. Not quite my style but still a nice Belgian brew none the less.

Change the oil lately?? Well how bout a beer that is so thick that it almost looks like you are pouring the engine…. LMAO!!. This is Old Viscosity by Port Brewing company. It is a very thick smokey imperial stout at 10% ABV. Not your dad’s 30 weight oil as stated. Don’t go putting this in the tank..LOL only to be put in your tank XD. Flavors are of some roasted burn chocolate with bitter grass and vanilla. Some oakey and earthy after taste lingers long after the smokey bitterness. Some raisins and caramel are in there as well. I am sure if I put fire to this it may light up. Careful as this beer is not for those that do not like bitter and smokey beers. Quite the awesome beer for those that do though 😛

Crazy people at Lagunitas decided to find an scientific method of extracting the grassy hop without creating a mess or clogging up the brewing pipe. Much to their experimentation, they created…well, this thing. The Hop Stoopid IPA. What if we wanted the IBUs and grassy hop punch of the Stone Ruination but well…tamed…Surely they were crazy as the division of people that like hoppy and bitter beers is quite symmetric in nature. This is more hoppy. Ah well. They did it anyways. This is a beer at 102 International Bitterness Units packing with alot of hop an grassy bitterness but oh wait here comes the sweet caramel barley wine exhibit.. OH SHI-!!!!!!! Who would of thought that this would flow so well ^.^. Don’t, get me wrong, Ruination is complete gold of EPIC IPAs, but this is like taking that gold and shooting it in the opposite direction of the spectrum of taste. Mango, peach, pine, grapefruit, toffee, honey. This is sure to please alot of the hop heads out there and bitterness fans as well :P. This is my second time trying this beer as the first was when I was hanging out at my friend Oscar’s house with Hugo. LOL good times 🙂

Bourbon Barrel Aged Grand Cru at 8% ABV is a Dubbel style Grand Cru made by Black Diamond brewing company.The ale is made with 75% fruit and vanilla and 25% bourbon. This beer was a birthday gift from my brother. LOL Thanks bro. The origins of the Grand Cru as stated in the label:
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The designation of “Grand Cru” originates from the Burgundy region of France. Brewers have taken the term and applied to it more elaborate, aged and reserved versions of their beers. Our Belgian-style Dubbel -a great beer itself with a loyal following- has been taken to the next level by the careful blending and aging techniques

The epitome of dismay, the penance of regret. For those who have committed vast amounts of ill will have to someday pay the price. This is Inferno Ale at 8.5% ABV by the Lost Abbey rating at 8.5% ABV. It is a Belgian strong golden bready ale. Reminds me of Duvel Ale but well…more bready than pale.

The Lost Abbey label States:
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Corruption, Greed and Lust, they’re all represented on the hooks today. Tomorrow they’ll be stringing Gluttony, Desire and Sloth. Go ahead, tell yourself you’re better than all of them. But you can’t. Hell can be funny like that. Down here it’s all just sin. Everyone here is screwed just like you. They don’t care who you sliced, diced or cheated. No one is escaping this heinous place.

Hooray Spring. Time for life full events and good warmer weather. This here as Carnevale Ale by my all time favorite, The Lost Abbey. This brew was made just int time for spring but also in time for lent. So what did you give up for lent? LOL. In celebration, Venetians who came up with the Mardi Gras tradition did so in order to create a celebration of the end of Winter. Alot of stuff was glanced over as a person could truly let loose and no one would judge them. A celebration of the unpredictability of man. This is Saison/Farm house ale standing at 6.5% ABV. Not too heavy and not too light. Just right. This beer is quite the bready monster though. No foolin’. Full of Orange peels, lemons from the the Simcoe and amarillo hops fermented in this beer :P. No malts in this beer. Just some nice hops and bread. Floral, citrus cloves, apples and pears seep through in there. Just the right type of Saison for the Spring season XP

Triple Exultation by Eel River is a 9.7% ABV Certified Organic Old Ale. By Old Ale, I mean it is an aged beer. Unlike the usual barrel aged beers, this one pays tribute to ye olden times when beer used to be referred as “mild ale” or “old ales”. Today we have barrel aged beers and oaked aged beers. However the difference is that this one is aged in Vats. Some beers are aged with certain types of yeast strains to bring about the beers complexity while others are aged with other ingredients. For this beer, it is actually more of a barley wine. Although unlike a barley wine, it has more complex flavors about. The barley wine bread does seem to be in there providing some honey, vanilla, pine and bread a la Old Guardian except the hoppy/grassy bitterness. This beer though actually has more fruitiness such as raisins, figs and other dark fruits.There is this caramel flan sense in this that is hard to tell but it is quite delicious. For those that like aged beers or barley wines, you should definitely try this Organic little Epic of a brew P-/

Midas Touch by Dogfish head is an herbal spiced beer ranking at 9% ABV. It is made with barley, honey, White muscat grapes and Saffron. Story from Dog Fish goes that this sweet yet dry beer is made with ingredients found in 2,700-year-old drinking vessels from the tomb of King Midas. Somewhere between wine and mead, Midas will please the chardonnay and beer drinker alike. For those who may not know the story of Midas, it was the story of a king that wish he could turn everything he touched into Gold. Legend has it that one day he accidentally turned his daughter to gold and it was at that point that he regretted his new found power. Asking the genie to take away his power as having his daughter was worth than any riches he could ever ask for, the genie took away the power. The moral was that it is not whether you have everything that will make you happy. It is more important to have your loved ones as only then will you know what true wealth is :). The beer is such that it is more on the grapey wine pilsner flavor. It is like a lager with sweet grape, apple pie and honey flavors. Refreshing, and very drinkable. Just be careful…as with gold…and this…there is such a thing as too much of a good thing here…;)

Lukcy Basartd or Cuvee de Bastard is what happens when you mix the best of all the bastards into one bottle. It rates at 8.5%ABV. You have to be one lucky bastard to be able to find this as it was extremely hard to find…LOL… The ale is a magic potion consisting of the original arrogant bastard, oak aged bastard, and the double bastard ales all in one. Aged even further you reach a state of ale that is unlike any bastard I have ever had. You have your hops, you have your aged oak and malty earthy flavors of the double bastard. A mix between an IPA and a barley wine. Extremely delicious and strong 🙂 This bastard is definitely one that one may only have and enjoyed is small quantities as it is hard to find. So use that wine plug and save some for another day as this bastard although kicks you in the nuts, it is very forgiving. Free your mind from the oppression of the media, take a sip of this and remember, there is more to beer in life than the usual stuff they have off of every liquor section’s shelf. Dig deeper in that rabbit hole to find the gold!! Happy St. Patrick’s day http://www.arrogantbastard.com/lukcybasartd/

Witch’s Wit by The Lost Abbey is a Belgian Wit Beer at a very low 4.8% ABV. Yes it’s lighter than Budweiser and like 0.06% ABV away from Bud Light. However, Unlike those beers, this one is way more full of flavor, up to the way Belgian Ales go. This beer also has a lot of controversy due to the label of a burning witch :S…The media sure likes to add alot of drama about it but unlike popular belief, about this being against witches and women, the message portrayed in the label is actually quite interesting in a good way. Lost Abbey states: “In the case of Witch’s Wit, the back label is a story of the bad consequences of religious intolerance and oppression. The woman on the front is referred to as a “healer” on the label and accuses the Church of being narrow-minded and violent, threatening the same fate to anyone who would help the woman. The label ends with a note that this beer — a light, sweet and golden ale — is brewed in honor of that woman (and all those who died for their convictions).” It is a picture that represents that, people who are ignorant and don’t really take the time to analyze are doomed to repeat history. As always, don’t fall to the first conclusion….LOL that is why I included this picture of Vegeta vs 18..where vegeta is a very ignorant and arrogant man who believed he was the strongest in the universe only to have his ass kicked by a woman >:)…Yep…Chicks kick ass. Now about the beer XD…Like I said although this beer is light, the tremendous amount of flavor is in here 😛 Bread, Port of Troise Pistoles (minor grape like wine flavor), Honey, wheat, citrus, coriander, Laraha Curacao Citrus, and lemon zest. The honey and grape bread flows more followed by the other citrus and floral flavors. Doesn’t disappoint as a light beer :P…In fact, maybe the most lightest and delicious ale out there B-). Remember…without women, beer would not exist….

Oro de calabaza or the Artisan Golden Ale by Jolly Pumpkin is a real golden treasure at 8.0% ABV. Made with spices, Belgian yeast, and a bit of hops. It is special as it is made in the Franco-Belgian tradition of Gold Ales. A Biere De Garde of sorts. Finding this piece may make a man rich…umm flavor wise of course. An interesting thing happened like Luciernaga. The bottle fizzed up and I had toopen it like champagne. The nice balance of sweet and bitterness is there including the JP sourness but more of a tart extent. Flavors of pepper, flowers, pineapple, citrus, apricots and apples fill the palette well on this ale. I would almost say it’s kinda like a champagne. Very delicious ale and a great piece of tesoro if you can find it 😉 LOL so if your lucky to open the Golden Jolly Pumpkin Ale chest at least save one of these for a friend :). Sharing is caring after all. This is actually my second time I try this beer. The previous one was actually aged more than this one. It actually has more sweeter flavors than the previous time I tried it. Maybe even the sweetest one of the JP beers with the least sourness.

Hellshire II by Oakshire Brewing is an Imperial Stout that is aged in Bourbon Barrels. Rates at 10.5% ABV. Once again, deep within the catacombs of brewery where beer is laid to rest in darkness to one day be born into something extraordinary, so to it comes this beer. This beer is similar to the Dark Lord Imp Stout which has flavors of Khalua (Strong coffee/chocolate alcohol) except there seems to be more of a berry yogurt like flavor after taste. It’s different and delicious. They say some of these bottles had to be recalled due to some extra sour taste that had risen from unwanted residue of bacteria. While it is not harmful it was supposed to make the beer very sour. LMAO, well I ended up getting the one that is not too sweet and not too sour but just right. Trust me, this is not Jolly Pumpkin Ale Sour. I would say it falls between the Dark Lord Imperial Stout and Madrugada Obscura Imperial stout. One is sweet chocolate where the latter is sour chocolate. The flavors of the grand hellshire range of Chocolate, Coffee, sweet cherry, black berries, vanilla, coconut, raisins and some bread dipped in bourbon. If you find this beer..just be weary…this beer can vary from bottle to bottle as some may have more of the sourness than others…but regardless if you are ever able to have it off tap, then it will probably be better :P. Now to wait for the third installment of dark beer >:)…

Nostradamus Belgian Brown Ale at 9.0% ABV by Brasserie Caracole tries to explain a little more about the secrets of Brown Ale as has not been explained in the past. I have tried different brown ales but when you start blending in some good ingredients that really brings a beer to life, (literally, living yeast and all) you wonder what science of brewing is all about.You don’t have to discover planets or look into the future to find that maybe…just maybe…some of that good beer already exist in present time. A brown ale that taste like a caramel raisin bread is what this seems like. Dark fruits like that of raisins, bananas, cherries and Belgian yeast, spices, fruits like apples and pears, almonds, walnuts and peanuts, well…just full of awesome XD…Fans of Belgian trappist and quad beers should try what brown Belgian ale is like. Simply remarkable XP…Highly Recommended..

Lagunitas Brewing Wilco Tango Foxtrot (WTF) Ale is just that. Some crazy hybrid of a beer at 7.85% that tries to be an IPA without the major bitterness but more of a caramel nutty brown ale. It’s smell is like a Black IPA but the taste is quite interesting. The beer is in reference to fighting the good fight. The Lash that is given when people know something is wrong with the world we are living in as well as lash against the conglomerates that tell people what is good or how they should live their lives in terms of everything. Even telling them that good beer is purely in bitter bland yellow water. People will only choose what they like and in the end that’s okay. Just remember the codes when your out there (Bravo Echo Echo Romeo). So I will tell you a little about this beer. As I mentioned, this beer is somewhat like an IPA but not too bitter. It is full of piney, grapefruit and herbal hop flavor. However, there is some caramel, almond, very light non sweet maple, and toasted bread. There is not a lot of sweet but just a good sweet and bitter blend of flavors. If you are into a balance of not too bitter and not too sweet type of beer then pick this one up. Reminds me of something the blond chick from PSG would say….Oi!! WTF

King Goblin special reserve is a strong English made by Wychwood brewing of England. Coming out at 6.6%. The beer is aged and only brewed during a full moon. Made with crystal malts and sovereign hops. The ale itself smells sweet. The taste is sweet like they added caramel, dark fruits and other spices. However the refreshing nut brown pilsner flavor comes through as dominant while the other flavors are complimentary. Clearly an awesome brew by wychwood which I wish they had more of a selection to choose from at the local bevmo.Lol this is something special I found one time at Ramirez liquor and as such, may probably not find again :(…..but it was definitely worth a try….just hopefully I don’t turn into a wolf…or in this case…a goblin >:)…. 

Dark Seas Russian Imperial Stout by Mission is a stout with ABV of 9.8%. Made with an ancient secret recipe taken from the Russian kings. This treasure was sure not to kept in the dark forever but would one day arise to be given to those of the worthy. This special pirate recipe is brewed with not just the usual roasted malty chocolate/coffee flavors but port wine and plums are added for that extra complex worthy of sailing the seven seas. Vanilla, raisins, figs some bitter grapefruit hops, and some faint wine properties is on this. Storms brew up at sea all the time. Nothing can beat mother nature and even sometimes when your ship is sunk in the pitch black of night only for you wake up to the light of the nearest island, you will be lucky if this treasure will be right there waiting right next you as the first time you laid on on this Russian magnificence. But those who dare try and take it from you will be thinking twice because this time you are fully loaded and won’t give this brew up so easily.

Black Metal Farmhouse Imperial Stout by Jester King is the first Jester King beer I have ever tried. For being the first, I am quite impressed. It is a pitch black brew of pure rock. The brew has flavors of chocolate, coffee, bread, bacon or honey roasted ham. The addition of hops makes it aggressive it is not too sweet. Just right. Reminds me of the Old Rasputin Russian Imperial but not as bitter. There is some dark fruit complex to this one as well. Like some cherries or blackberries. It can be felt faintly. Smokey and earth like flavors are abundant. Even though it is strong, it goes down smooth and creamy. A tasted of rock like the one I remember from Rauchstar, however that one was actually more smoked than anything. Just the fact that it also has that Wild Farm house yeast makes it very unique from the other smoked beers. Like someone took chocolate bread, sliced it up and made toast with a grapefruit and cherry jam. Kinda odd to explain I know but so it is hard to explain rock to someone who doesn’t know the epicness of the METAL!!!! \m/… Nothing can stop the metal!!!

Calabaza Blanca Artisan White Ale by Jolly Pumpkin was the first beer I have ever tasted from their line of funky sour ales. It has been an awesome item for me as it lead me to the very artistic labels of their line like Lost Abbey did with theirs. Art aside, JP has always been one of those types of beers that differ from many beers. Some of they styles fuse with existing styles to create a sour sweet blend of a beer. This style is a Belgian witbier at 4.8% ABV. So it has Lingering hidden flavors of sweet honey, banana, orange and lemon zest along with coriander. As an added twist, the beer tapers off into nice sour tangy notes that taste like sour grapes, apples and pears. There is also some wheat and bicuit bread feel that stays with you as you go for every passing sip. The beer is dry so you definitely have to keep sipping as all the greatness comes and goes. This is a year around beer but not all places will carry it.

La Roja Artisan Amber Ale by Jolly Pumpkin is an artisan amber brewed in the Flanders tradition. It a Wild Red Ale at 7.2%ABV. This is the second time I get a chance to try this beer. Also the second JP I have tried since I first started drinking some of the JP beers. Sour but full of fruits that find their way into the taste buds like flavors of vanilla, cherry, peach, grape, plums, pears and apples. It leaves the after taste of lemon and grape fruit. I get this Three Philosophers feeling in the back of my throat. Although Three Philosophers is actually more bread and sweeter cherry.Yes that is puss n boots in the label. Crazy cat. The official beer of the Puss n Boots..Or at least it should be :P..lmao

Dogma Herb/Spiced Ale by BrewDog is an Ale made with heather honey, kola nut, poppy seeds and guarana. Energy of the divine in this bottle or so they say. This brew pays tribute to the unknown and to remind people that when it comes right down to it believe what you want to believe in terms of what you follow. I like the quote from John Locke stated in the label: “If we disbelieve everything because we cannot certainly know all things we will do much, what as wisely as he who would not use his wings but sit still and perish because he had no wings to fly.” What does this say about people in general? Well, for those who seek the truth about life but do nothing about it is as if you never learned about it at all. We know conspiracies are real and people all over the media trying to tell us what to do, what to wear, how to think, or even what to drink!! Alas, people are blind sheeple :-/….If you take anything from reading this, at least take the fact that stuff in this world is way more than it is in the surface. Now my personal take on the beer :P. The ale has a creamy sweet flavor. Honey, caramel, herbal green tea, and lemony with a biscuit after taste. To be honest it also taste like sweet barley reminding me of a Double Bastard but less oak and boozy.

My first beer from Uinta brewing. This is Tilted smile Imperial Pilsner from their Crooked Series. As the label states, this brew breaks away from the crowd, strong in flavor and approachable. Meaning it is good in flavor and easy to drink. Confidently balanced with Saaz hops and 100% Pilsen malt. Crisp and delightfully carbonated. Good with Seafood and grilled meats. Damn, I sure am liking this one. It taste a lot like Rogue Dead Guy ale. For those that do no know what pilsner is, it is one of those malts used in lagers and brewed by the macros. Just because it goes with lagers doesn’t mean a micro brew can take this ingredient and make it pure magic. Kinda like taking a turning a regular human into superman. Makes it that more unique and distinct. How does this taste like? Well think of toast with butter, honey and maple syrup. There are some hints of lemon, pepper and orange. Wish I could find this more often. This would be good for a BBQ :O…Tilted smile huh??? Challenge Accepted B-/…Fu– Yeah!!!

This is Mothership Wit by New Belgium. A Belgian witbier with low ABV at 4.8% yet full of nice flavors. I cannot compare it to the St. Bernardus wit but I will say it is lighter and has other ranges of fruity flavors. Made with Belgian Wit Yeast, wheat and barley malts. Some kind of peach, mango, biscuit bread and apple flavor seem to dominate this beer with residual banana clove and orange lime zest with coriander spice. It also has this honey flavor that reminds me of a lighter Bieken Honey ale. Good and affordable beer to find. I know I can’t always find the Lost Abbey’s Witch’s Wit or the St Bernardus Wit but I would actually get this again if I can find it. The awesome and sad thing about nice beers is that you can’t always find them because the Conglomerates of Bud/Miller/Coors always taking the mass amount of market share. I mean seriously, would you like your beer to be made with “fusel” alcohol or something organic like this?? Yes, this is also my third organic beer I have ever tried where Raven’s Eye and Acai Berry beers were my others. LOL probably alot of people would like to know what goes into making their chemical beers, but this one is straight to the point and delicious. Don’t let anyone tell you what to drink, decide for yourself what the best stuff on earth is >:(…The mothership of beers would want it that way…

Look what rolled into town. Something very brown and hoppy. This cowboy is the Texas Brown Ale. A 7.1% ABV collaboration by the bastards at Stone, Bear Republic, and Fat Head. Quite the different tasting ale for sure. This is no “New Castle” and for that matter it is something that rolled New Castle out of town for sure. A bad ass. SO what exactly is this beer all about. It is a beer brewed with brown sugar, molasses, munich, victory,chocolate, wheat, and Maris Otter malts.Columbus, Bravo, Brewer’s Gold, and Cascade join these to create one bad ass of the west. Distinguishing flavor for sure. It is almost like it wants to go IPA but then stopped by the malts into something that taste like mango and caramel pecan pie. There is still sense of minor coffee sugar with grapefruit after taste. There is also a sense of herbs that remind me of basil or whatever spices or herbs they put on those delicious spaghetti Ragu sauce. Such as damn good ale. Limited time brew and barely out so it is best top grab it now B-/ . Have it fresh as aging this one is not a good idea. Who will win this showdown….you or the beer….muahahahaha!!

If Trois Pistoles crashed with Fransiskaner Heff but made with Belgian yeast instead of Bavarian and because it is a white ale, the this would be the result. The world class beer, St Bernardus Wit is a 5.5% ABV Witbier. It is the Belgian wheat ale. With orange, coriander, lemon grass, minor caramel, apples, banana and bread. There are other flavors reminiscent of a light Trois Pistoles (Wine or Champagne flavor) that is rather fruity to the taste. This one I found by accident and I was kind of glad because St Bernardus abt 12 is right next to Westvleteren 12 and Trois Pistoles which for me are some of the best beers in the world, yet you can always find SB 12 and Troise Pistoles better than Westy 12 for sure. Would I choose this over Franziskaner? It would depend what I am in the mood for really. One of the things I like about Franziskaner is a lot of emphasis on Banana Clove and Bread. Would this beat a blue moon or a shock top? Those are out of this beer’s league. While those beers are easier to get you can’t compare. It is definitely like comparing apples and oranges here. St Bernardus Wit is way above those beers. Although I cannot not say nothing too bad about them if the only selection at a restaurant is between Bud, Miller or coors. In that sense pass me one of those guys lol. But still there you have it. The magnificent Epic of the St Bernardus Witbier, one of the best White Ales in the world.

Cocoa Molé is a very special beer by New Belgium. It is a chile beer made at 9% ABV. It pays tribute to some of those delicious foods and spices me and my heritages loves to eat. It is made with Cocoa, Ancho, Guajillo and Chipotle peppers. Caramel and chocolate malts along with Belgium yeast accompany this epic brew of magnificence. Molé for many that do not know is a special sauce that is made for Mexican dishes. It is made with several types of chiles and bitter cocoa. Hence why the beer is called Cocoa Molé. There are many varieties made with different spices and recipes but the idea is the same. It goes very good with meats such as chicken, beef and port. Haven’t tried a fish Molé but I am sure it is out there. I like a lot of sweet beers but there are not a lot of other Chile beers I have tried aside from Theobroma from Dogfish Head or the Vertical Epic 11 by Stone. This is really more of a dessert beer. Tastes of Abuelita’s Hot chocolate with Pan Dulce or Pork Tamal and ends with a bitter and spicy hot chile flavor. Cinnamon, Vanilla, apples, caramel and raw chile vegetable. The chile is in there but its not strong to make you gag. My mom once said that whenever you eat chile, sugar helps to cool the heat down. That is why the Chocolate Mole keeps it safe from burning your tongue long after. You will have some minor chile after taste but this is the best part. Plan and simple?…Taste like champurrado. Yes that delicious hot drink that taste like bready chocolate made with maza and goes well with tamales but in beer form. Don’t know why New Belgium decided to release this in January. This would go awesome with some tamales. It really is a majorly good ale to go with tamales. I strongly suggest you find this before it goes away for good. I can never say I have had champurrado in beer form until now. Now my top 10 is all screwed up XD….What can I say I will have to be more picky about who will be my top 10…this one sure as hell broke through.

The rare seasonal of the deep, Sea Monster Imperial Stout by Ballast Point, only surfaces in the early parts of the year for those who are lucky to snatch a bite/drink of this. This is the second time I get to try this one. I have only seen it during the early part of the year so if you think about getting this one, go for it. This beer is very good. For fans of stout who swim the murky darkness of flavor will find that this one is quite bready and fruity along with the chocolate and coffee flavors. This beer is made with currants, the seedless grape, but has no sourness to it. It is actually the sweet part of this dark fruit that blends well with the yeast to bring about a complex deep and dark flavor that not other fish in the sea can provide oh no….that is for sure. I’ve caught many fish and beers before but a second try at this one makes me want to push it my top 10. San Diego is known to make delicious beers, and this one is one that deserves alot of attention. The vanilla bean, raisin and piney hops are apparent. It is almost like a milk creamy stout. Very easy to drink leaving sweetness in the after taste. It is damn good so like I said, pick this up before it swims away…Some Dark Aura of Belgium surrounds the monsters, something that only you can experience.

Dogzilla Black India Pale Ale by Laughing Dog Brewing is an twisted 6.9%ABV IPA. I admit I grabbed it because I am a big fan of the King of Monsters, Godzilla but also because it is an IPA. A malty twisted monster. This beer is something very few people will like. Trust me, unless you have developed a taste for sour ales like Jolly Pumpkin, then don’t go near this one. It bites back. I have had different IPAs in the past. Some more fruity, sweet, chocolaty and bitter. Not this one. LOL Oh no!!!…I would assume if someone took an IPA an turned the bitterness into sourness then this is it. I have never tasted anything like it. But honestly, it has it’s own charm that I like about it because it is so different. You start off with citrus and pine flavor and then you go into grape sour chocolate malt central. Fruitiness of caramel and cherry are very minor as the monster of the sourness and funkiness overwhelms the rest of the beer. The bitterness actually acidic in nature. As you go on, your taste buds should be numb enough to taste something good here some sweet chocolate and coffee. They sure let the dog out. Even the label says that this beer is very twisted:

The deepest darkest parts of the ocean abyss is not for those afraid of the brimey deep. Neither is it for anyone that cant withstand several metric tons of pressure. As deep and perplex the deepest part of the ocean can be, it can only be imagined in flavor. Dark Depths Baltic IPA by Sam Adams is a brew that is a hybrid of something sweet and chocolatey like a porter with hoppy IPA bitterness. The flavors of bitter hops meet the chocolate sweetness of from the malts. Even though the hops of the IPA are more dominant in this ale, the bitterness is met with sweetness. Quite the conundrum. Don’t be fooled into believing this is like a Black IPA as it is not. The deep flavor is more sweet than bitter for sure. For those that are fans of Porters and IPAs, this beer may be for you :P. Get it while you still can, otherwise it will return to the abyss from which the dark depths of flavor came from :O

Noche Buena by Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma is a German Style Bock. This beer actually came out around Christmas. I always saw it at the store but would wonder if it was anything like Bohemia. Certainly I was not too disappointed expecting something gritty and without flavor like other Macro beers. This beer was actually very decent :). A light bock at 5.9% ABV. It has some decent holiday sweet flavors like cinnamon, caramel, banana, toffee and some minor citrus. While not exceedingly flavorful as other beer, it is quite the decent little holiday ale at that. I would definitely get this over other water like lagers.

Samuel Adams Blackberry Witbier is one of those beers for me that when I see something that catches my eye I’ll try it. Last time I tried this beer was last year. I got a chance to try it again this year so I’m like what the hell, let’s fire up the dusty keyboard and write what it is all about. This beer is nothing too fancy but at the same time is something of a minor complex. Mixing wheat with b

Have you ever wondered if there was an ale out there that people talk about it in myths in legends? Well maybe not beer. More like actual historical and cultural myths and legends. Folklore Mythic Tradition Ale by Stillwater Artisanal (gypsy/gangster) brewer for me is such a beer. Well mainly because I have been looking for this beer for a while. LOL but seriously, the ale is a respective tribute to the human history and how with the myths and legends that people tell define what people cultures are. Whether it be through traditions of rituals, gatherings or any form of celebration within the cultures, one thing for sure is, it is about being social and sharing stories. This brew has both good and evil written all over. It is what is awesome about the our cultures that we have both elements to bring about awareness as well as a guide as to how lead ones life through decisions. Tribute to this super fine ale. This is a Belgian yeast beer with earth hops, roasted malts and smokey oak flavor. Chocolate, cherry, plum and caramel bread overwhelms the palette with minor pine bitterness that lingers after. This ale drinks like a stout but it is not heavy like a stout. It flows well. There also seems to be some floral notes in here as well. There is also a bit of sourness too it that stays after but then is immediately replace with sweet and bitterness after every sip. Wish they would sell more Stillwater Ales here in California. Beer aside, the art is very detailed and well rich. This bottle, like the Stateside Saison or any of the other Stillwater beers is worth collecting on its own. An awesome find, legendary and mythical at that because if you ever find it, then you know the story of this ale was true >:)

Black Xantus cousin…Second time trying the Raven’s Eye Imperial stout by Eel River brewing. One of the very few breweries who have the USDA Certified Organic Trademark. Also one of the best Organics I have ever tried. How is this the Black Xantus cousin (Aside from being another dark bird)? or in a sense, why does it seem similar at least to me? Well this stout is a Coffee dominant chocolatey stout just like it. However, other than being less strong, there are more other flavors that Black Xantus does not have that are actually worth trying. There are flavors of Hazel nut, mocha, bread, dark fruits, caramel, milk texture, and some minor hoppy taste. Will it be good for you to try?? Well only if your into stouts and sweet bitter coffee ones. I sure enjoyed it myself that I had to do a ROUND2 review as the last time I tried it was sometimes last year. Will you actually find something delicious in this beer or will you say to this …Nevermore!! >:)..You be the judge. It is a California brew found at Bevmo…

How can something with a name like “Terrible”, well taste so good!! Belgian Dark Abbey Ale by Unibroue. The same people that make the best beer in the world (In my opinion) Trois Pistoles make something well… in its class. If Trois Pistoles is the dark horse, then this is it’s heart. Pure darkness and very fruity smelling. Stronger than Trois Pistoles at 10.5% ABV but similar in flavor. Except for the fact where Trois Pistoles has more of a Port wine flavor, this is a Maderia wine flavor. The wine flavor isn’;t the only thing about this beer that overwhelms. The cherry and raisin bread of Belgian yeast popular with Krieks, Trappist and Quads is there. Now when it comes to the best beers in the world for me like Trois Pistoles, St. Bernardus abt 12, Three Philosophers, Franziskaner, Pliny, Ruination Black Xantus and others how does this beer distinguish itself? Well let me see. We also have flavors of vanilla, chocolate, caramel, figs, raisins, brown sugar, grapes, apples and cinnamon. There is some bitterness of the unknown but well its hard to distinct. The other part about this beer is that it flows very well….The alcohol is hard to tell and its easy to keep drinking because it’s very good. It is not the best beer in the world …but it is growing on me….however Terrible!!! it may be (Like Charles Barkley would say “That’s Terrible!!!”. IT sure is buddy..it sure is XP. This is why you don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Especially a beer that has no label. Just a buncha silvery words saying how “Terrible” it must be. It is not and for those of the Trappist/Belgian/Quad arts….Give this a try brothers and sisters!!! :O

Smashed Blueberry at 9% ABV by Shipyard Brewing is well… a blueberry fruit beer. The idea behind this is a porter and scotch ale hybrid…with blueberries. The moment you open the beer there is a lot of blueberry fragrance. I don’t think I have had a beer remind me of that breakfast blueberry yogurt so much as this one. There is this coffee and minor sweet chocolate aftertaste that is immediately replaced with more blueberry and milky yogurt type texture. The scotch is well hidden as it seems like a remnant after taste. This isn’t bad at all. An alternate breakfast beer. LOL well on the weekends ofcourse but nothing can replace more healthier selections. This is more of a nice luxury…hehehe XD…The really hard thing about reviewing a beer like this is the fact that blue berries are one of my favorite fruits and well it is a very sweet beer. However, because it is mainly blueberry and delicious to me, people that do not like sweet beers will definitely not like this. Oh well, their loss :). By the way this is a common beer to find on the craft beer shelves. Downey Liquor near South Gate carries this one. Worth a try? well.. only to those that like sweet and fruity beers 😛

A Belgian strong dark ale like well… none I have tried so far. A very good one and not that common to find ale, Outblack. It is a 10% ABV collaborative masterpeice by the minds of the gypsy/gangster brewer, Stillwater Artisanal and Belgian brewer, De Struise. Not many are like this. It is kinda crazy too. The flavor reminds me of combining double bastard with St Bernardus Abt 12. Really out there and in darkness. Ingredients include Barley, Oats, Wheat, Rye, Hops, Sugar & yeast. Where does this complexity find a home? Not too sure but the bad thing is that it only comes in a small amount. Meaning you only get to try this once and here it goes. The flavors are all over the place. Sweet Chocolate, Vanilla caramel, bananas, figs, brown sugar bread, smokey maple, some very minor citrus and grassy pine. Surely a dessert type of beer. I mean as in it is a dessert on its own. Now if only they sold this in 750ml and common quantities :-/…Wally’s in Westwood has this and I am not sure for how long. Stillwater beers have always been hard to find but they are worth it!! Trappist, Quads, and Dark Belgian people will sure like this. I myself need to add it to the top of my favorite beers in the world. I do not know if Westvleteren 12 A.K.A best beer in the world compares but it sure should be up there.

Bieken Honey Ale is just that. A true Honey Bee-r. It is an 8.5% ale brewed by Huisbrouwerij Boelens in Belgium. This is actually the second time I try this beer. However, I don’t think I did a proper review last time I tried this one, other than saying it is a true hone ale. Yes I did mention that again. Because not only does it have alot, when trying to open the bottle, the cap sticks to the mouth of the bottle. However the beer itself is not so thick like honey syrup. But well… You can sure taste it. It is a Belgian Strong so there is definitely some Belgian bread yeast in this. The flavors, aside from the sweet honey, is like a Belgian white with flavors of orange, lemon, wheat, corriander and honey. The ale also has alot of other spicy, floral and fruity flavors like mango or peach. There is a sense of minor pilsner hops which reminds me of a light lager but well, that surely fades quick and fast as your bombarded like bees to a bee hive. But in this case it is flavors or all sorts. It is sweet and bitter ale. Think of it as having honey on top of a biscuit. Surely this brewery got it right. I am glad I had a chance to pick this up a second time at the Torrance Bevmo. I think it is a seasonal as I did not find it that often but last time this year. Good beer to start up the spring. LOL they had it right the first time with the label. If it has a bee on it, then it better be just like honey or a bee pollinating flowers. DAMN SWEET and DAMN GOOD!!.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. As a tribute to beer geeks who wake up with a nice breakfast comes this Beer Geek Breakfast by Mikkeller. Beer Geek breakfast at 7.5% ABV is exceptionally good. However, it is not for everyone. This beer is made with multiple malts including: pils, oat, smoked, caramunich, brown, pale chocolate and chocolate. Includes roasted barley, flaked oats, both centennial and cascade hops, yeast and well coffee. Part of a balanced breakfast. This reminds me of the Old Rasputin stout. It has hidden sweetness of chocolate covered by bitter coffee, orange zest, smoked bacon, sourdough bread, cherry and very little vanilla. For a lot of people, this may be too much as it is really thick and heavy. However, for me it has the right amount of smoke and bitterness and minor sweetness to compliment. Good stuff for those that enjoy smokey beers without alot of sweetness. Why did I include a pic a of CC from Code Geass eating pizza? Well back in my college years, Pizza was for breakfast. Especially when you had no cash, and cold pizza from last night was the only thing sitting in the back of the fridge. Ah the good ol days B-).

Hellshire I Bourbon Oak Barrel Aged Barley Wine at 10%ABV comes from the dark recesses of Oakshire where beer is laid in secrecy to not see the light of day for a very very long time. Until now, this one was kept hidden. Like the conspiracy that hides deep within the nations surface. Today on President’s day we celebrate the four fathers of this country who were also master brewers.What this nation is has changed from what it used to be back then. Anyways, I won’t get into politics but the presidents sure did enjoy good beer back then. Even Franklin, even though not president, once said “Beer is proof that God loves us!” So about the beer. The barley wine is added to the freshly emptied bourbon barrels and set to ferment and become something else. Like a caterpillar going into a cocoon and becoming a butterfly. After 9 months this baby is born to bloom its new character. Something quite evil but yet delicious. The boozy bourbon and the sweet barley flows through creating flavors of Vanilla, coconut, raisins, pine, caramel. This beer is similar to angel share and deliverance in that it is bourbon driven but unlike those beers, it is as if we combined Stone’s Old Guardian with Angel Share. Strong stuff even for 10% ABV. Funny thing is, even though it is hard to see in the picture, the beer is actually more copper in color and somewhat see through. Would I recommend it? YES!, however, this is almost impossible to find :-/… Good luck

Stone Sublimely Self Righteous (a.k.a Stone’s 11th Anniversary Ale) is 8.70% ABV black ale is one stones more herbal and hoppier of beers. For the hop heads that love more herbal and hop flavors like citrus, grapefruit and pine but without as much of the bitterness as well as those that like porters and chocolate/coffee beers just the same, then this is the beer. Another awesome thing is that it flows well and is quite refreshing. A beer about how awesome Stone is. They are not perfect by no means but sure provide beers that are definitely different, bad ass and mean. There is some sweetness from the malts that taste a little bit like oak and coffee. A yearly find and worth the try. This is like their Escondidian Black IPA (15th Anniversary) if it was toned down a bit in terms of aggressiveness.

Fat Tire Amber Ale by New Belgium brewing is the first New Belgian beers I have ever tried way back when I came back from college. My friend Jorge introduced me to this beer. It is one of his favorite ambers. This beer is has a good amount of flavors at 5.2% ABV. This tastes like biscuits, brown sugar, caramel and chocolate. Yeast and roasted malts in a light crimson body. There are some nice flowery hops for bitterness there. It is now more known than it was back in 2007. You will most likely find this one locally and on tap. Definitely a beer of choice if none others are around to satisfy the craft. Although ambers are not my ultimate favorite styles in beer, New Belgium fat tire is quite good and for the most part it is up there with some of the top 10 good ambers I have tried :).

NONE SHALL PASS!! Including those not worthy of its righteousness!!… Old Guardian Barley Wine 2012 by Stone Brewing release is a 11% ABV beer only seen by those who can harness the awesomeness of beer craft. Or those that happen to go to the local Bevmo or Craft beer store. Your choice. Either way, not many will be ready, few will survive and for those who can get passed the old guardian will find the gold hidden inside. It won’t be easy but it will be one hell of a ride. This beer offers alot and alot of barley, water, awesome hops and yeast. The flavor of this beer is sweet like caramel. Like an IPA but not. Like the Arrogant bastard but more emphasize on the caramel like malt flavor. Although the grassy/grapefruit hops do compliment its awesomeness well. What else is in here? Since it is sweet, that sweetness tastes like honey but there is this minor apple cider property to it. Can’t quite make it out but it is something different and good for sure. I know a lot of people don’t like Arrogant Bastard, but if you had to start from somewhere, why not give this a try?? Oh no wait…maybe it really isn’t what your looking for… I hear bud light is on sale….why not try that?? All the “Sheeple” sure like that…What’s that? you are not part of the Sheeple? okay fair enough….then research for yourself…find your own conclusion of truth, in life, in taste, in art, in school, work, you name it…and when your done reading this go for what you believe is right for you….Maybe then , you will try your chances at the Old Guardian and see if you find the golden truth….Good luck 🙂