1000th Breweanimelogs Post / 2014 Black Tuesday Release Party

October 31, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged best beers in the world, Black Tuesday, Black Tuesday 2013, Black Tuesday 2014, Black Tuesday Release Party, Bourbon Barrel Aged, bourbon barrels, Brewerianimelogs On The Road, Brothers Provisions, Chocolate Rain, creme brulee, dark fruits, delicious, dessert, Double Barrel, Double Barrel Black Tuesday, Elly Van Houten, Grey Monday, Ignis Fatuus, Imperial Stout, Kos-MOS, kosmos, Mary Magdalene, Mostra Coffee, Orange Is the New Black, Orange Is The New Black Tuesday, Pistachio Vanilla Black Tuesday, rich flavors, Rum Barrel Black Tuesday, Sundae Black Tuesday, The Bruery, Urge Gastropub, White Chocolate, Wineification, world class beers, Xenogears, Xenosaga | Leave a comment

Happy Black Tuesday!!

To honor the 1000th post on Brewerianimelogs as well as the Bruery’s 2014 annual release of the Black Tuesday, I decided to go in depth about my experience at the Bruery on that day. This was my first time at one of the Bruery’s Black Tuesday special release parties. According to the information that was provided, this event was to have 7 2oz. Tasters (18~20% ABV a piece) with catered food made with a variety of Black Tuesday variants.

So basically food made with the Black Tuesday beer. Unfortunately, I could not invite any of my good friends to this event as it was for members only but the reason I am doing this special post is because I want to talk about the special variants that they had there and hopefully they are some that may be released in bottles someday for you to try. That or if you want to join the Bruery Reserve or Hoarders Society, maybe this may give you an incite on what it is all about besides getting special coveted beers.

By the way, while I may be a reserve society member, the Hoarders Society got to choose from 11 different beers vs. our 8 beers. Unfortunately I did not get any details on those nor tastings so I can only elaborate on what beers and food and experience I had there.

So let’s start with the first review of that night and the list of food they had. Also, I did not get a chance to take a lot of pictures and my tasting reviews are mainly best of my knowledge and what my tasting notes could provide in terms of what new flavors are provided to the base Black Tuesday. That and the fact that 2 ounces is difficult to make a good review especially since I cannot taste the beer at different temperatures. I am not a food expert but the ingredients used to make the food are provided as well as they all revolve around Black Tuesday. Also, Black Tuesday on Nitro was replaced by “Orange Is The New Black Tuesday” as the kegs were not ready.

For more information on the Base beer I recommend you read my upcoming 2014 Black Tuesday review (which I will post a link here) for further information on the base beer itself aside from what the variants had to offer. I do not post information on the other beers here such as the Rum Barrel Aged Black Tuesday, Grey Monday or Chocolate rain as I already did some great reviews you can find on my site by clicking on the tags above. Cheers and Thank you for reading this far.

===Sundae Black Tuesday===

Sundae Black Tuesday by The Bruery is a 19.7% ABV Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels with Bananas, Cherries and Vanilla beans.

Aromas:
Chocolate Sponge cake, vanilla ice cream, toffee, banana cream pie, banana split with dark cherries, dark cherry yogurt, cookies and cream, chocolate brownies hazelnut and Danish cream +Black Tuesday notes.

Flavors:
Rich Banana split notes, dark cherries, bourbon vanilla, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, flan, coconut cream, oak, dark cherry yogurt, cookies and cream, chocolate brownies, hazelnut nectar Danish cream, and pecan pie +Black Tuesday flavors.

Aftertaste:
Same as Black Tuesday but leaving some more residual sweetness.

Overall:
I think this is way better than the base beer bringing a lot richer flavors from the dessert of the cherries, bananas, cream pie, hazelnut and chocolate. This beer was the Winner of the Blending competition and definitely the winner of the variants I think so far that night. They really need to bottle this one.

Anime Corner:
Kos-mos and Mary II were used in this pairing to pair with the flavors of the original Black Tuesday (Kos-Mos) as well as the cherries and bananas (Mary II) which are represented by the colors shown.

===Pistachio Vanilla Black Tuesday===

Pistachio Vanilla Black Tuesday by The Bruery is an 18% ABV Imperial Stout Aged In Bourbon Barrels with Pistachio Nuts and Vanilla beans.

Aromas:
Pistachio notes, rich bananas, vanilla, oak, chocolate, capirotada raisin bread pudding, Pistachio ice cream, cookies and cream, whiskey and rye +Black Tuesday Aromas.

Flavors:
Pistachio ice cream hints, vanilla cream, capirotada raisin bread pudding, cookies and cream, pistachio hints, hazelnut, pecan pie, almond milk,whiskey, rye, milk chocolate and dark chocolate +Black Tuesday Flavors

Aftertaste:
Same as Black Tuesday but leaving some slightly dry but nutty sweet flavors.

Overall:
Reminding me of some of the nutty pistachio and vanilla Seme De La Vita flavors but since we are talking about Black Tuesday, its own already awesome flavors dominate and the pistachio isn’t as pronounced as Seme De La Vita but subtle. Still a great beer and would love to some day have a bottle to break it down better.

Anime Corner:
Kos-Mos and Elhaym Van Houten were used to represent Pistachio and Vanilla. While Kos-mos is already the Black Tuesday, her green colors on the head piece and blue represent the Pistachio and Elly with the cream colors and amber hair represent the vanilla and the vanilla beans.

===Double Barrel Black Tuesday===

Double Barrel Black Tuesday by The Bruery is a 19.7% ABV Imperial Stout Aged in old Bourbon Barrels and reaged in Young Whiskey Barrels.
Aromas:
Dulce de leche caramel, rich oak, bourbon, whiskey, mild pumpkin hints, plantain, dark chocolate, smokey notes, cinnamon, pumpkin hints, rye bread, almonds, coconut and rocky road ice cream +Black Tuesday Aromas.

Flavors:
Capirotada, Rich Dulce De leche caramel, whiskey, bourbon, oak, mild smokey notes, rich coconut, rocky road ice cream, burnt caramel, leather, tobacco, milk chocolate, almond milk plantain, rye bread, cinnamon and pumpkin spice hints +Black Tuesday Flavors

Aftertaste:
Same as Black Tuesday but leaving some more oak and caramel to the aftertaste

Overall:
This was definitely screaming more flavors of complex caramel and molasses than the previous versions I tried really accentuating a more barrel character giving those richer coconut, toffee and caramel flavors. Probably the second best of that night.

Anime Corner:
Kos-mos was used in this pairing and her dual Gatling guns of awesomeness represent the “Double Barrel” aspect of the Double Barrel Black Tuesday.

===Orange Is The New Black Tuesday===

Orange Is The New Black Tuesday by The Bruery is a 19.7% ABV Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels through a Randall with Oranges.
Aromas:
Mild notes of Oranges, chocolate, orange creamsicle, earthy bitterness, maple, tangerines, rye bread, malt balls and brown sugar +Black Tuesday Aromas.

Flavors:
Dark Chocolate, oranges, vanilla, orange creamsicle, earthy bittermess, maple, orange candy, tangerines, brown sugar and rye bread +Black Tuesday Flavors

Aftertaste:
Same as Black Tuesday but leaving some more citrus and earthy bitterness that I have not seen before.

Overall:
Probably the most different but still delicious of the pairings to the point that the introduction of orange changed the dynamic to a chocolate orange beers. Richly sweeet but bitter and mild sour oranges. Truly unique twist to the Black Tuesday already super sweet category.

Anime Corner:
Kos-mos staring into space reminded me of how in Orange Is The New Black show, prisoners look out their cells in hope of a release. That is what was represented here. The bitter oranges added to the Black Tuesday bring it to a new twist that must be contained. Very delicious for sure!

===Conclusion===

This was my very first Black Tuesday Release Party attendance and I really hope to go again next year. It was also a good opportunity to post the 1000th entry into brewerianimelogs and hope to someday make that 2000th post. Looking back at all the beers I received and tried from the Bruery and the way they treat their member, it was sure worth the pennies I scraped to get into this which at the same time has helped my site but also has helped my friend Aaron Mendiola at www.beermetaldude.com.We are just a humble bunch of dudes trying to bring creative work to the already awesome phenomena of the craft beer world. Thank you once again for reading this and thank you for following me. It means a lot to me that many people can enjoy the work that I do and appreciate the beer side, the anime side or both! Cheers to you!

Rating: 6.45/5 *Sundae Black Tuesday
Rating: 6.15/5* Pistachio Vanilla Black Tuesday
Rating: 6.25/5* Double Barrel Black Tuesday
Rating: 6/5* Orange Is The New Black Tuesday

Sources:
http://www.deviantart.com/art/KOS-MOS-and-Mary-II-181601755
http://imagis.jp/pic/photo/raw/img_3204.jpg?h=198d505ab4244a5696252ff129386b58
http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs37/i/2008/265/d/7/KOS_MOS_ver_4_by_NetDead.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/e735KR9.jpg

7 Swans A Swimming by The Bruery

October 29, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged 7 Swans A Swimming, Abbey Ale Quadrupel, Belgian Abbey Quadrupel, Belgian Quad, Belgian Quadruple, brown sugar, christmas beer, dark chocolate, Dulce de leche, Hatsune Miku, pecan pie, Raspberries, Swans A Swimming, The Bruery, Twelve Beers of Christmas, Twelve days of Christmas, Twelve Days of Christmas series, vocaloid, WÆS HÆIL | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.35/5

7 Swans A Swimming by The Bruery is an 11% ABV Belgian Quadruple.

Label:
WÆS HÆIL!

The Seventh Verse of Out Twelve Days of Christmas series of beers showcases the rich, malty character of a Belgian-style quadrupel. Happy Holidays.

7 Swans-A-Swimming is suitable for aging up to 5 years (soon after the release of 12 Drummers Drumming) when cellared properly.
___

The Bruery has recently released their latest Christmas beer to the public and should be hitting many locations publicly where they sell The Bruery beers. I was unable to see if there was any special ingredients used in this beer to make it unique from the last aside from being a Belgian Quad. I love Belgian Quads so typically, these beers fit the Christmas or Holiday times. Overall, this set of Twelve days of Christmas beers have been very good overall but I would definitely like to see what this one is about. So let us take a look, cheers!

Aromas:
Pure dark fruit ll over the place with raisins, plums, figs, currants, raspberries, dark cherries, blueberries, prunes, dulce de leche caramel, anise, molasses, licorice, oats, blueberry muffins, port wine hints, pecan pie, dark candi sugars, rock candy, dark chocolate, flan, spicy nutmeg, toffee, banana and clove spice.

Flavors:
Rich dark fruit like raisins, plums, figs, currants, blueberries raspberries, dark cherry yogurt, grapes, dulce de leche caramel, dark candi sugars, rock candy, licorice, anise, molasses, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, cherry cordial, spicy nutmeg, toffee, butterscotch, brown sugar, clove spice, bananas, flan, cinnamon, all spice, vanilla, oatmeal, blueberry muffins, maple, bananas, clove spice, rye, port wine, pecan pie and Rhubarb ice cream.

Aftertaste:
Deep dark fruits like cherries, raspberries, grapes, nutmeg, cinnamon, dulce de leche, and pecan pie hints left over. No alcohol in the taste, medium to full body, smooth to silky mouthfeel yet a sipping drinkability.

Overall:
A perfect Quad with deep complexity and rich flavors. This one definitely reminded me of the Apophatic or at least one like the one Monkish brewing had a while back. Rich with a bigger dose of dark fruit that the previous beers have not shown. More of a dark fruit complexity forward character for sure while still reminding you that his is a quadrupel after all. Some of the Christmas spices are there as a means of support to remind you of what great Holiday ales are all about. It is not the biggest beer in the series but it definitely is up there with the best. Definitely get 2 to savor one now and another for the 12th release!

Anime Corner:
Hatsune Miku and the Vocaloid Team was used in this pairing as I wanted to do 7 characters but also in the sense of swimming, they definitely are swimming in a sea of chaos as they seem to be on the hunt for something important but also trying to survive and keep their heads afloat. Some dangers present themselves near by. May not be Christmas like but the purpose of this beer for Christmas is to bring people together and it seems like 7 characters together is just the trick to do it. Together they will survive another day. The flavor complexities of the beer, the colors of the labels and the aspect of staying together like a flock of swans are surely displayed in this pairing.

Sources:
http://images2.alphacoders.com/112/112140.jpg

2014 Roble Blanco by The Bruery

October 29, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged agave syrup, Annet Futatabi, Annet Myer, El Viento, lime, Lime juice, Lime Zest, Margarita, Mexican Agave, mexican cuisine, Mexico, Roble Blanco, Salt, sour ale, Tequila, Tequila Barrel Aged, Tequila Barrels, The Bruery, wheat wine, White Oak | Leave a comment

Rating: 6/5

2014 Roble Blanco by The Bruery is a 15% ABV Wheat Wine/Sour Ale Aged in Tequila Barrels with Lime Juice, Lime Zest and Salt.

Label:
¡Que Delicioso!

This tangy, Mexican inspired ale has an agave-like sweetness, balanced with zesty limes and just a hint of salt.

Living in Southern California, we’re huge fans of both Mexican cuisine and, of course, Mexican cocktails. This is a tribute to our favorite blended fiesta beverage
___

Obtained as part of the Reserve Society membership, this beer was released as one of the mystery beers that was on the list for October. This beer is essentially a sour wheat ale that was aged in tequila to try and mimic the flavors of a margarita. I don’t know what to expect from this one. My only hope is that it is not too sweet or too sour but just right. I tend to gear more toward a balance when it comes to sours.

Aromas:
Lime candy, Bananas, plantains, Honey comb, sangria, mezal, tequila, oak, dulce de leche caramel, agave syrup, white raisins, honey dew melon, margarita, salt, grapefruit, coriander, orange, cinnamon hints, white wine, musty notes, leather and pecans.

Flavors:
Plantain, tequila, salt, agave syrup, white raisins, plums, apricot, margarita, lime candy, lime peel, rye, orange, grapefruit, blonde roasted barley, wheat grains, biscuit bread, sangria, mezcal, tejuino, bananas, oak, vanilla, dulde de leche caramel, honey, white wine, musty notes, raspberry skins, currants skints, dragon fruit peels, honey dew melon, cucumbers, mild coconut hints, leather notes, Danish pastry hints, capirotada raisin bread pudding, pecans, almonds, leche nestle condensed sweetened milk hints and apples.

Aftertaste:
Caramel, Lemon, Salt, Margarita, oak, honey comb, agave, tejuino and tequila finish. No alcohol in the taste, medium gold body, syrupy mouthfeel yet smooth and very drinkable for some damn reason making this one very dangerous drinking in one sitting.

Overall:
Such a damn resemblance to the salty lime tequila margarita it ain’t even funny. You really have to like that drink in order to understand how this one works. However, the only thing is that it is not overly sweet and the salt and lime clash for the balance to salty, sweet and sour. This cause the beer to be more balanced than a true sour. I had to stop drinking this for a while because it was way to damn drinkable for my own good and it was so delicious. Also that part of me that loves lemon and salt kicked into high gear so I may sound bias in my review but this one one hit certain sectors of flavors that were really awesome. I highly recommend it if you can find this one and you really like tequila, lime, salt and a ton of complexity.

Anime Corner:
Annet Myer/Futatabi from El Viento series was used in this pairing to go with the colors of the label but also the name as the work Roble means strong but also the act of aging which coincide with oak and tequila barrels. The rustling of lime trees to the wind or El Viento also link to the beer but also Annet herself since she has the colors of a margarita, she is the Roble Blanco or strong White and she is from Peru meaning Latina. She may not be Mexican, but she is bad ass and her magic abilities (Complex flavors) and strength (ABV) as well as the fact that she is fast as El Viento/TheWind (Smoothness) is enough to mess you up if you dare take her on!

Sources:
http://nidavellirstudios.deviantart.com/art/El-Viento-Annet-Myer-376359191

2014 Contemplating Waterloo by Adelbert’s Brewery

October 28, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged 2014 Contemplating Waterloo, Gin Barrels, Juniper Berries, Plopinou, Saison, Texas, Tia Won, Treaty Oak Distilling Co, Waterloo Antique Gin | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.65/5

2014 Contemplating Waterloo by Adelbert’s Brewery is 9.1% ABV Belgian Saison aged in Gin Barrels

Label:
While enjoying a beer with our good friends at Treaty Oak Distilling Co., we contemplated the possibilities of aging our beers in their barrels. Soon we were filling their Waterloo Antique Gin barrels with Philosophizer, our spicy and citrusy saison.

A complex array of lavender, juniper and oak from the barrel balanced with the Philosophizer to create a smooth, warming ale.

Pair this ale with dishes like chicken alfredo, veal scallopini and strawberry cheesecake.
___

Aldebert’s brewery is mostly exclusive to Texas but distribution is starting to come through in many places. This unique beer was provided to me by my good friend Aaron at www.beermetaldude.com. Gin is sometimes not really barrel-aged and this is probably the reason why we don’t see a lot of Gin-Barrel Aged beers as the composition of Gin includes a lot of botanicals and Juniper Berries. However, after looking at the Waterloo Antique Gin, these are put in a barrel so the extra complexity just rolls right off and the fact that the special saison which is already a flowery botanical like beer added, well, if there is a flowery Nirvana out there, let’s just hope this beer takes us there.

Aromas:
Lots of Lavender, Gin, Vanilla, grapes, flowers, peppercorn, hibiscus, citrus, honey dew melon, basil, orange citrus, sage spice, banana, rich plantains, rich oak, sugar cane, flan hints, brown sugar, stone fruit apricot, apples, juniper berries, green tea, chamomile, biscuit bread, clove spice, white wine, chardonay, coriander spice and rye.

Flavors:
Apples, raspberries, white wine grapes, citrus, stone fruit apricots, peaches, plum notes, Gin, vanilla, oak, dulce de leche caramel, honey dew melons, lavender, hibiscus, chamomile hints, green tea, plantains, banana, biscuit bread, sugar cane, flan, brown sugar, peppercorn, orange blossom honey, coriander, clove spice, rye bread, blue basil, ginger spice, chardonay, fancy wine and cheese party, juniper berries, blue berry muffins, cherries and blackberries.

Aftertaste:
Finishing up dry with only some gin, sugar cane sweetness, farmhouse hay, vanilla, oak and white wine grapes. Slight booziness but that is mainly from the Gin but it really doesn’t take way from the awesome flavor but inspires the beer. A sipping drinkability with a almost syrupy mouthfeel and clear to medium golden body.

Overall:
Exceeding a lot of expectations here. This is the first Gin Barrel-Aged Beer I have ever had and it sure flew past that perfect radar for me. There was a lot going on here and as I remember back in the day when I tried Gin I remember it had a unique taste which that and the flowery saison creates a complex berry and flowery type of beer. I highly recommend this one was it is rare to see Gin Barrel-aged beers but also the fact that this one works so damn well with a saison.

Anime Corner:
Original Character Tia Won by Plopinou was used in this pairing for different reasons. The label has shotguns being the first but overall it has to do with the color red and the red coats that the British wear in reference to the Battle of Waterloo which was the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1815. Sure, the character does not have a British army vest but red was a primary color. Anyways, that is what I thought of when I heard the name Waterloo although we already know it has to do with the Waterloo Antique Gin. Either way, I thought it was an interesting connection and I figure I would elaborate my choice in pairing.

Sources:
http://yytru.deviantart.com/art/Commission-Tia-461682273

Cherry Funk by Prairie Artisan Ales

October 28, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged American Wild Ale, cherries, Cherry Funk, cherry mazapan, gagraphic, Prairie Artisan Ales, sour beer | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Cherry Funk by Prairie Artisan Ales is a 7.5% ABV American Wild Ale aged with cherries.

Label:
Made By People Who Truly Care From Oklahoma With Love.
___

Another awesome one from Prairie Artisan Ales which I hardly get a chance to see around here in California. Thanks to Aaron at www.beermetaldude.com who lives closer to this brewery than I do to be able to get me this one. Some very special beers coming from Texas and the surrounding Southern States for sure. This one being a Cherry Sour Ale. I have tried other Cherry sours and many are more sour or tart than sweet. Let us see what this one is about.

Aromas:
Lots of Tart Cherry skins, Concorde grapes, dark cherry yogurt, stone fruit apricot, farmhouse hay, wine frapes, funky oak, vanilla, phenolic notes, biscuit bread, lemon peel, sour apple, grapefruit, earthy notes and brown sugar hints.

Flavors:
Dark Cherry Yogurt, vanilla, oak, cherry marzipan, phenolic notes, clove spice hints, wine grapes, funky notes, almonds, caramel, strawberry cheesecake, lemons, citrus, peaches, pecans, sour apples, biscuit bread, grapefruit hints, farmhouse hay, earthy notes, rhubarb pie, pineapple and brown sugar hints.

Aftertaste:
Phenolic and dark cherry yogurt linger along with some funk farmhouse hay and almond notes. No alcohol in the taste, Amber to pink full hazy body, moderate drinkability, medium mouth feel.

Overall:
A perfect sour. Not to overwhelmingly tart nor sour but yet at a farmhouse ale level with some lingering tartness but also cherry sweetness. It smells more sour than the taste leads to believe. I really enjoyed this one and it was quite the unique experience. If you can find this one, definitely try it, I highly recommended. Thanks to Aaron once again for hooking this one up.

Anime Corner:
Original artwork from gagraphic was used in this pairing to go with the color of cherry and the label where it shows the cherry stretching ad exercising. Since this beer is all about reds and cherries, I figure it would work perfectly.

Sources:
http://anime-pictures.net/pictures/get_image/59307-1024×768-gagraphic-hiyohiyo-light+erotic-red+eyes-red+hair-animal+ears.jpg

No. 19 Barrel Aged Series Rufus Corvus by Avery brewing

October 27, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged American Wild Ale, Avery, Battleship-Symbiotic Hime, Brettanomyces, cabernet savignon barrels, Chardonnay Barrels, Kancolle/Kantai Collection, Lactobasillicus, No. 19 Barrel Aged Series, oak barrels, Pediococcus, Rufus Corvus, Senkanseiki, Wo-Class, World Class American Wild Ale, world class beers, Zinfandel Barrels | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.45/5

No. 19 Barrel Aged Series Rufus Corvus by Avery brewing is a 6.83% ABV World Class American Wild Ale with 65% aged in Cabernet Savignon barrels, 9% Ale aged in chardonnay barrels and 6% Zinfandel barrels.

Label:
The Sour Trinity
Pediococcus
Brettanomyces
Lactobasillicus

No. 19 An artful and massively acidic blend of two major projects and further enhanced with several orphan barrels from the corners of our barrel aging cellar. All Ale involved was barrel aged for a minimum of 8 months and a maximum of 24 months.

Pucker up, buttercup!

Bottled: April 7 2014
Production: 858 Cases
___

Avery Barrel Aged series definitely sells out quick here in California to the point that sometimes I miss out on such great beers. Aaron from www.beermetaldude.com introduced me to this beer. A sour using the vast variety of souring bacteria used in sour beers but then taken to another level using a variety of oak wine barrels. This was truly an honor just like that of the 5 monks. I cannot wait to try this monster and see how it goes…. wish me luck!

Aromas:
Wine grapes, port wine, funky oak, earthy notes, vinegar notes, wine and cheese party, dark fruits like plum, raisins, currants, berry skins, caramel, vanilla, lemon peel, lime, salt, dark cherry, plum sauce, port wine, chardonay, raspberries, rye bread, brown sugar hints, pecan hints and hazelnut.

Flavors:
Dark fruit raisins, plum, wine grapes, salt, lemon, lime peel, dark cherries, plum sauce, Concorde grapes, vanilla, port wine, chardonay, wine grapes, caramel, rye bread, stone fruit peach, pear, apples, funky, earthy notes, good cheese and wine, raspberry vinaigrette, hazelnut, smoked wood, leather, tobacco, berry yogurt, raw berry seeds, mild cheesecake notes in the back, brown sugar, pecan pie dryness, and very mild flan.

Aftertaste:
Ridiculously dry leaving only some sour notes, caramel, dark fruit skins and earthy funk. No alcohol in the taste, a puckeringly mouth feel, sipping beer, pitch brown bordering the black and purple abyss of a body.

Overall:
Very Rich and complex sour. Possibly the ultimate complex and balanced sour. Only the truest sours can be appreciated by palates with an achieved open level of taste. This is sour but it is rich beyond comprehension. Sours are only a handful of my favorites but this takes it a certain level I have not experienced before. It is like the Cardinal Poles of tasting. You have your extreme Smokey, Extreme Sweet, Extreme Bitter and Extreme sour but at the same times, the poles blend and while one pole is the most dominant, in this case the Sour pole, the other sides are so balanced that that they make the sourness be very complex. I would highly recommend this one if you love sours, especially puckering and sweet complex ones.

Anime Corner:
Battleship-Symbiotic Hime and Wo-class from Kantai Collection were used in this pairing to represent the dark void of the sours and the creatures you typically don’t see. The 2 characters and the monster in the background represent the 3 bacteria: Lactobasiliccus,Pediococcus and Brettanomyces. The colors also represent some aspects of the dark fruit and complex flavors as well. While Doing this review, I could only think of Caius Ballad’s theme (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8vXYBEvSow) from Final Fantasy XIII-2 and Lightning Returns. As the characters stumble deeper and deeper into the chaos and mainly this character being the embodiment of Chaos, it is synonymous with exploring deeper and deeper into the sour world of super complex sour beers like this one presents.

Sources:
http://www.wallpaperup.com/uploads/wallpapers/2013/12/02/182227/d837c3da88727616dae561894aed45ee.jpg

Small Batch Series No. 9 Blackberry Sour by Ranger Creek

October 27, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged American Wild Ale, blackberries, Blackberry, Blackberry Sour, Konpaku Youmu, qr code, Ranger Creek, Small Batch, Small batch series No. 9, Touhou Project | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.9/5

Small Batch Series No. 9 Blackberry Sour by Ranger Creek is a 6.7% ABV American Wild Ale brewed with Blackberries.

Label:
Our Small Batch Series is a line of seasonal single batch brews designed to be unique, interesting, and often experimental. Each one is made in small quantities and with a completely different recipe. The unique color, number, and QR code on each label identifies each batch, the details of which can be referenced on our website or by scanning the QR code with a smart phone. Small Batch Series releases are meant to age well over time, so drink a bottle now and save others to enjoy later. They will cellar best in a dark place around 50 degrees. Each batch is brewed and bottled by hand and undergoes a secondary fermentation in the bottle. Pour carefully so as not to rouse the yeast.

Description:
The 9th edition of our rare, experimental small batch releases is a Blackberry Sour. It’s a light bodied ale with juicy blackberry characteristics throughout and a distinct but pleasant tartness attributed to the lactobacillus yeast. Small Batch Series No. 9 matured in oak barrels for a year before the addition of fresh blackberries from our friends at Oak Hill Farms in Poteet, Texas. Enjoy one now and save a few to cellar for years to come as this beer will continue to mature in the bottle. Pour with care, as this beer contains live yeast from refermentation in the bottle. Cheers!
___

Special Thanks to Aaron at www.beermetaldude.com for providing me this beer. Ranger Creek beers have been pretty good so far and this one is definitely tempting. The last reserve one I had was a sweet potato stout. Now this one being a Blackberry Sour ale, I hope it will be just as good as the stout or better. I like sours so I am definitely open to searching what beers like this one are all about. The best part is that it is all Texas ingredients so having a beer from another state that uses local ingredients is always a bonus.

Aromas:
Funky earthy must, dark fruits like blueberries, currants, blackberries, plums, dark cherries, caramel, vanilla, oak, tart wine grapes, berry yogurt hints, rye bread, strawberry cheesecake, hints, earthy notes,, flowers, lavender, Concorde grapes and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Lots of oak, lavender, flowers, dark cherries, caramel, tart wine grapes, lemon peels, dark fruit currants, plums, black berries, blueberry skins, Concorde grapes, blackberry yogurt, caramel, rye bread, vanilla cream, strawberry cheesecake hints, port wine hints, earthy and musty sour notes, brown sugar, blueberry muffins, underlying flan hints and pecan pie.

Aftertaste:
Caramel, Flan like hints, oak, earthy notes, tart lemon peel, multiple type of berry skins, banana bread. No alcohol in the taste, Very smooth mouthfeel and easy to drink despite being a sour. Hazy Hazel full body.

Overall:
Very good sour that is very smooth. You can really take your time with this without feeling the overpuckeringly sourness of other wild ales. There is great balance of sweet and sour as well which made me realize how kick ass this was. I really enjoy the sweet aspects of it but the sourness here is definitely keeping everything in line. I have had many sours which some were too sour and others just right. This falls into the just right category for me and should definitely be tried.

Anime Corner:
Konpaku Youmu from Touhou Series was used to represent the colors of the label and colors of the flavors such as the dark fruits, the lavender, the spices and sweetness. Her running represents how smooth the beer is and how well is drinks. Such a great pairing for this one.

Sources:
http://www.zerochan.net/full/1599665

Fifty Niner by Odell Brewing

October 27, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged belgian golden ale, Brett or Bust!, Brettanomyces, Colorado Gold Rush, Fifty Niner, nami, Odell Brewing, one piece, Saison | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.85/5

Fifty Niner by Odell Brewing is a 10% ABV Belgian Golden Ale brewed with Brettanomyces.

Label:
Brett or Bust! 1859 was the peak of the Colorado Gold Rush. Prospectors and dreamers, later dubbed 59ers, journeyed across the land with the hopes of striking it rich. In that spirit of adventure, Fifty Niner is a Golden Ale aged on oak staves and bottle conditioned with Brettanomyces, a yeast as wild as the new frontier. The lustrous golden brew shines with hints of lemon zest and pear accentuated by a rich vanilla and almond oak character and a subtle earthy spiced pineapple Brett finish.
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Odell brewing is something we hardly get to see here in California, especially this beer. Thanks to Aaron at www.beermetaldude.com I was able to bring this to the website for a review. So far, all the beers I have had from Odell have been really good and guessing by the way this is made, I can only assume an awesome experience. So let us dig into this review and see what flavors we can unearth.

Aromas:
Honey, caramel, vanilla, pecans, almonds, oak, funky notes, tropical mango, pineapple, stone fruit apricots, peach cobbler, vanilla, floral notes, peppercorns, sage spice, wine grapes, brettanomyces funk, guava notes and sugar cane.

Flavors:
Peach cobbler, caramel, dark fruit dates, stone fruit apricot, plums, pineapple, mild funk, farmhouse hay, peppercorns, oak honey, vanilla, almonds, pecan pie, citrus, flowers, sugar cane, sage spice, tropical fruit like papaya, kiwi, earthy and musty notes, biscuit bread, rye bread, wine grapes, brettanomyces funk, and guava.

Aftertaste:
Leaving rich citrus, honey, peppercorn, funky notes and tropical sweetness. A small amount of booziness in the taste but not detracting from the flavors. Light to medium body, sipping drinkability as well as mildly syrupy mouthfeel.

Overall:
A very good and sweet brettanomyces ale and the fact that it is a Golden ale too clashes with the rich tropical goodness of what both have to offer. It is almost like a funky tropical old and exotic fruit dessert. Alot going on here that makes this one very delicious. I would definitely recommend this one if you like Belgian styles like Golden Ales and to some degree, Saisons or just both styles.

Anime Corner:
Nami from One Piece was used in this pairing to pair with the colors of the label but also the aspect of being in a cave digging up gold or at least finding gold. The main difference between the treasure seeking pirates and a Gold miner is the fact that you may or may not keep your findings. In this case, you can make this Golden liquid yours!

Sources:
http://cs.sankakucomplex.com/data/47/c4/47c448853afbbd261a1715fd43ee7b80.jpg?3771852

Big Experimental Brew Batch No. 1 by Texas Big Beer Brewing

October 27, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Beer Hybrid, Belgian Golden Strong Ale, Belgian Quadrupel, Belgian Style, Belgian Tripel, Big Experimental Brew Batch No. 1, Candi Sugar, Experimental Brew Batch, Texas, Texas Big Beer Brewing | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.75/5

Big Experimental Brew Batch No. 1 by Texas Big Beer Brewing is an 11.4% ABV Belgian Quad/Belgian Golden Strong Tripel hybrid.

Commercial Description/Lab Notes:
This is our first big experiment to make it on the shelves. This beer is a Big Belgian style beer with all the traditional flavors you expect from fermenting a beer with Belgian style yeast. It is basically a cross between a “Belgian Triple” and a “Belgian Golden Strong.” If you had to force it into a single style it would most resemble a “Belgian Quad” or even bigger! This beer pours a rich golden color and has a rich, sweet malt flavor and a full body mouthfeel. This beer is brewed with a crazy amount of amber Belgian candi syrup which gives it the golden color and really influences the flavor.

With an ABV North of 11% this beer should be respected!

Statictics:
ABV – 11.2%
IBU – 44
SRM – 7.4
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At an even more special time, this special experimental beer came from my friend Aaron at www.beermetaldude.com who advised this was very great beer. I was not sure what to expect and felt pretty honored to try an ‘experimental beer’ especially one that was made in Texas. This is my first beer from Texas Big Beer Brewing company and already I can see that they like to brew some Big Beers as this Big Experiment has a Big ABV at 11%. The fact that this one is a Quad!? Say no more and let us get on with the review.

Aromas:
Dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, bananas, clove spice, rock candy, dark candi sugar, piloncillo sugar cone, brown sugar, pecan pie, dark fruits like raisins, plums, figs, dates, dark cherries, pecan pie, hazelnut, maple, peppercorn, leather, peach cobbler, toasted rye bread with butterscotch, apples and stone fruit like apricots and mango.

Flavors:
Rich piloncillo sugar cone, dark fruits like raisins, plums, figs, dark cherries, stone fruits like mango, peaches, apricots, apples, dragon fruit, raisin bread pudding, vanilla, pecan pie, honey dew melon, peppercorn, bananas, clove spice, biscuit bread, brown sugar, peach cobbler, rock candy, dark candi sugar, toasted rye bread with butterscotch spread, Danish cream, honey, dulce de leche caramel, maple, leathery hints and chocolate hints.

Aftertaste:
Banana notes, dark fruit, stone fruit, caramel, vanilla, maple, piloncillo sugar and peppercorn. No alcohol in the taste, a sipping beer with an almost silky mouthfeel and an amber gold clear to medium body.

Overall:
Damn!! For being my first Texas Big Beer brew, and an experimental recipe at that, this one was mind blowing. Quads and Belgians are some of my favorite beers and this one knocked out my critique out of the park. It is freaking delicious as the blend of the Tripel and the Golden Ale style somehow drinks like if it was a quadrupel. It is insane how the alchemy turns this into a special magic potion.

Anime Corner:
Original art work by imp (sksalfl132) was used to present the hybrid monster that was unleashed by the experimentation of a Tripel and a Golden Ale. While the scientist was not prepared to show how delicious this monster was gonna be, she could only cry at the awesomeness of it. This is one powerful beer.

Sources:
http://pic46.nipic.com/20140821/15189307_120309280834_2.jpg

Les Fleurs Du Mal by New Braunfels brewing

October 26, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged American Wild Ale, Hefeweizen, lemon grass, Les Fleurs Du Mal, New Braunfel Texas, New Braunfels Brewing, Remilia Scarlet, Sour Hefeweizen, Texas Wildflower Honey, The Flowers of Evil, Touhou Project, Wild flower honey | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.8/5

Les Fleurs Du Mal by New Braunfels brewing of Texas is a 5.7% ABV Sour Hefeweizen aged on lemon grass and bottle conditioned with Texas Wildflower Honey.

Label:
The Flowers of Evil
Sans Cesse a mes cotes s’agite le demon

Good cannot exist without a little evil to define it. Right lives astride wrong destruction. Destruction creates rebirth. This beer started life as a sweet, refreshing hefeweizen last winter. After a hot open fermentation and cold winter’s breath of evil, this beautiful saur creature has bloomed to life.
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A special gem comes our way straight out of Texas from the special dark chapters of beer lore as provided by Aaron of www.beermetaldude.com. A sweet donation especially since there was only 11 cases of this beer released out to the public. New Braunfels brewing focuses on a variety of German inspired styles from what I have seen so far and the Shiva’s Tears I tried was very awesome. Now with this one, I really wanna see what this is about especially since it is a Heffeweizen that is aged as a sour, something that I have not experienced before. So let us try out and see what we can find.

Aromas:
Funky notes, lemon grass, sage spice, wine grapes, old mango, peppercorns, farmhouse hay, biscuit bread, vanilla, oak, honey, earthy notes, phenolic notes and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Lemon grass, flowers, lemon peel, biscuit bread, wine grapes, vanilla, citrus, oranges, peppercorns, funky farmhouse hay, earthy notes, old mango, pineapple, honey, oak, stone fruit tart apricots, hibiscus, toasted wheat bread, lavender, phenolic notes, mild bubble gum hints and clove spice.

Aftertaste:
Funky lemon grass, tart pineapple, earthy notes, wet hay, wheat and stone fruit apricots. No alcohol in the taste, a sipping beer despite the low ABV, medium to full honey colored body and medium mouthfeel.

Overall:
This beer is very good if you enjoy sours and farmhouse ales as it borderlines that tart and biscuity area that hovers over the likes of the nice French Saisons. This beer reminds me of the Carnivale Ale from The Lost Abbey as it has some notes of that but this one takes it a different direction of flavor as it is technically still a hefeweizen. I have never tried anything like it but just the ability to move a heffeweizen into other territories of style is just and amazing feat. Highly recommending this one and thanks to New Braunfels Brewing Company for making this one.

Anime Corner:
Remilia Scarlet from the Touhou Project series was used in this pairing to pair with the skulls and the flowers and how the representation of evil flowers can be seen in the form that they look pretty but when you taste them like this beer can be really deadly. Dare to take a sip?

Sources:
http://www.imgbase.info/images/safe-wallpapers/anime/touhou/7468_touhou.jpg

The Good, The Bad & The Unidragon by Clown Shoes

October 26, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Blaecorn Unidragon, Bleach, Clown Shoes Brewing, dark chocolate, milk Chocolate, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, Russian Imperial Stout, Texas, Texas Dark Malts, The Good The Bad & The Unidragon, Tia Harribel, unidragon, Yoruichi, Yoruichi Shihouin | 1 Comment

Rating: 5.45/5

The Good, The Bad & The Unidragon by Clown Shoes is a 14% ABV Russian Imperial Stout brewed with Texas Dark Malts.

Label:
We brewed this special version of Blaecorn Unidragon using dark malts sourced from Texas, attitude sourced from the burning pit of a bad tempered spirit, and righteous fury from the hand cannons of The Good. As you sit down to a glass, remember, there are two types of people: those who drink unidragons and those whose ashes drift in the breeze.
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Clown Shoes has been on the move brewing beers specifically for certain states to have taking advantage of the awesome Russian Imperial Stout known as the Blaecorn Unidragon and creating super variants. This is the Texas Only version and there would have been no way I could of obtain this beer if it wasn’t for my friend Aaron and his wife from www.beermetaldude.com. California will get their version soon, but since I am a fan of the Unidragons, I was very exited to bring this one over to the site for a review. Cheers!

Aromas:
Rich dark roasted coffee, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, bakers chocolate, burnt caramel, rocky road ice cream, vanilla, mild smokey notes, smokey notes, tobacco, marshmallow smore hints, pecan pie flan, brown sugar, fudge cake and milk sugar.

Flavors:
Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, rich roasted coffee grounds, bakers chocolate, dark fruit raisins, currants, dark cherries, mocha, Khalua, milk sugar, java, flan, rocky road icecream, mocha, brown sugar, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, pecan pie, Irish cream, fudge cake, sweet toffee, earthy notes, oak hints, molasses, anise, marshmallow smores, coconut hints, smokey notes and tobacco.

Aftertaste:
Dark chocolate, roasted coffee, earthy notes, tobacco, caramel, vanilla and caramel hints. No alcohol in the taste despite the ABV. It is hidden so damn well. Creamy, silky and smooth mouthfeel, for some reason this has an easy to medium drinkability which really does not make sense despite the ABV. What can be said about the body other than pitch black as the darkest soul of the night and yet an extremely dangerous beer due to the ABV and the drinkability.

Overall:
This beer is insane and way too drinkable for its own ‘good’, which makes it ‘bad’ since it will get you drunk but its a ‘unidragon’ so drink drink drink! The other thing about this beer is that it is very balanced. I was very surprised about how well I could drink this one to the point where I had to stop myself from drinking the whole bottle in one sitting. Yeah it was that good. If you live in any other state, find a way to trade for this but if you live in Texas, you have to get this one for sure!!

Anime Corner:
Yoruichi Shihouin, Tia Harribel & Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck from Bleach represent the good, the bad and the unidragon. Yoruichi is made to look like the bad guy in the label or the wolf man, although she can turn into a cat at will but it fits. She is good and kind hearted though. Harribel is the Bad in the sense that she was bad in the beginning of the series but now is good and she was the vampire slayer beer so for the purposes of the cowboy in the middle, she is good but in the name of the label is the bad. Neliele was always good and neutral and the unidragon of the original pairings so yeah she is awesome. I made this custom screen to fit the need of the scenery and story telling yet you can find the sources below. Can you find any other way of how this beer pairs?

Sources:
http://kriscynical.deviantart.com/art/BLEACH-Yoruichi-by-Washu-M-107334912
http://bleach.ucoz.net/_ph/2/255749857.jpg
http://tremblax.deviantart.com/art/Neliel-Tu-Oderschvank-327882456

Sprung by Five Stones brewing

October 26, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Cibolo Texas, elder flowers, Elderflowers, Five Stones, Five Stones of Cibolo Texas, heather flowers, heather tips, hibiscus flowers, india pale ale, IPA, Spring, Sprung, Texas, Wild flower honey, Wildflower honey | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.45/5

Sprung by Five Stones brewing of Cibolo Texas is a 6.2% ABV India Pale Ale Hancrafted with heather tips, dried Elderflowers and Wild Flower honey.

Label:
Spring has “Sprung” in South Central Texas many years before the official change on the calendar. Often times it is a very short season but welcomed nonetheless. Some of the most beautiful landscape in our great nation is during Spring in Texas when all the wild flowers are in bloom. In honor if this time of year, we brewed Sprung with heather tips, dried elderflowers and wildflower honey keeping a balance of natural floral flavors in mind. We hope you enjoy it while the season is here…Cheers!
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Another Five Stones has made it to the site thanks to the donation of Aaron at www.beermetaldude.com. This beer is an IPA brewed with Elderflowers and Wildflower honey so I really think it is a best representative for the season. Well, while we are no longer in Spring and IPAs usually tend to give more of a malty flavor with age, I think the bitterness of the flowers may help here. We will have to see for sure, but so far, everything I have tried from Five Stones of Cibolo Texas has been, Amazing!

Aromas:
Very floral, citrus, grapefruit, piney and grassy hops, pineapple, stone fruit apricot hints, caramel, biscuit bread, toffee hints, hibiscus, flowery spices, herbs, cantaloupe, honey dew melon, rye, hazelnut hints and dragon fruit.

Flavors:
Citrus, floral, piney and grassy hops, caramel, toffee, biscuit bread, coriander, pineapple, peppercorns, sage, basil, honey, hazelnut hints, mild rye, honeydew melon, mild guava, kiwi, dragon fruit hints, herbs, hibiscus flowers, lavender and cantaloupe.

Aftertaste:
Citrus, honey, flowers, biscuit bread and piney hops linger. No alcohol in the taste, medium honey body, easy to medium drinkability, creamy mouthfeel, crisp and refreshing.

Overall:
Very good IPA focusing more on the floral and mild stone fruit component than the super hoppy aspects of the beer. While the taste is more malty, it was just as I thought, some of the flowers, spices and tropical hints were more pronounced than hops of other beers. While I cannot say how this beer would have been while it was fresh, at this point in time, it still taste very good and has maintained itself. So if you had tried this one when it was fresh, you won’t be disappointed now. Unless you are a true hop only hop head then I cannot speak for you as I have not tried this fresher. Either way, awesome beer from Five Stones.

Anime Corner:
This original artwork of a bunny girl rocking out was something that seemed to stand out and pair with the label. While I had tried this beer later in the year, the night time rock is what comes to mind when trying a beer that is in the fall vs. the spring. I really think this is the darker side of the bunny and when Spring passes and is Sprung loose it Falls into the night.

Sources:
http://37.media.tumblr.com/38f9e7852c129fb1c9679486958b85df/tumblr_n7desrkGU81qlodbjo1_500.jpg

Funky Gold Mosaic by Prairie Artisan Ales

October 25, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged American Wild Ale, dry hopped, Funky Gold Mosaic, lemon candy, mosaic hops, Prairie Artisan Ales, Touhou Project | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Funky Gold Mosaic by Prairie Artisan Ales is a 6.5% ABV American Wild Ale dry hopped in Mosaic hops.

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
A dry hopped sour ale. Funky Gold Mosaic is a dry-hopped sour ale. We took Prairie Gold and dry-hopped it with a huge amount of Mosaic hops. The end results are tropical, sour, and an all around new beer drinking experience! This beer is great fresh, but will continue to develop as the wild yeast continues to work in the beer.
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Prairie Artisan Ales are far and few from what we get a chance to see here in California. Lucky for me, it pays to have good friends closer to the source of some of the best craft beers in the country. Aaron from www.beermetaldude.com sent me this my way and now we have this nice beer to present to the site. The closest thing I can think of a hopped sour or hopped farmhouse ale is a beer I had before from The Bruery and Smog City called Kangarue. I would wish I had that one to compare to this but let us see what I can gather from this one.

Aromas:
Rich Lemon, Grapefruit, lemon candy, floral and piney hops, farmhouse hay, musty oak, vanilla, white grapes, peppercorn, leather notes, tangerines, oranges, brettanomyces, hibiscus flowers, tropical notes like pineapple, dragon fruit, hibiscus flowers, lavender and honey.

Flavors:
Grapefruit, fresh garden lemons, lemon peel, lemon candy, white grapes, lemonade hints, piney, grassy and floral hops, vanilla, biscuit bread, Farmhouse hay, musty oak, orange, tangerines, tart apricot, sour apple, flowers, pineapple, dragon fruit peel, sage spice and peppercorns.

Aftertaste:
Lingering farmhouse hay, flowers, rich citrus grapefruit, lemon and sage spice. No alcohol in the taste, moderate drinkability, medium mouthfeel, hazy yellow body, crisp and refreshing.

Overall:
This is damn perfect beer. It is a sour that is more of a tart fruit beer with very rich citrus hitting different spectrums of lemon to grapefruit to orange and more. Definitely similar to the Kangarue but plays off more on that lemon peel candy than the citrus orange sweetness. For that reason, it does differentiate to the palate. This was just as great and just as perfect as the Kangarue and I would highly recommend it if you can find this one. Prarie Artisan keeps making some awesome beers.

Anime Corner:
Several characters from the Touhou Project series were used in this pairing to pair similarly to the label where they are pretty much rummaging and browsing through items much like the people in the label are browsing through the internet. The point I think they were trying to make with the is even though sour beers maybe ignored by some people but hop heads enjoy their IPAs, this beer will make both sides, definitely want to explore and explore more the curiosity of how the flavors give to your taste experience especially since you get the best of both worlds here, the sour and the hoppy and how they are in perfect harmony.

Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/Hcld67b.jpg

Shiva’s Tears Weizenbock of the Destroyer by New Braunfels Brewing

October 25, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Final Fantasy X, Hindu, New Braunfels Brewing, Shiva, Shiva's Tears, Weizenbock, Weizenbock of the Destroyer | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.5/5

Shiva’s Tears Weizenbock of the Destroyer by New Braunfels Brewing is a 9% ABV Weizenbock.

Label:
According to Hindu faith, Shiva, the god of destruction and rebirth, was called upon to rid the world of an evil demon named Tripura. After meditating for 1,000 years on how to kill Tripura and contemplating the evil he wrought on Earth, Shiva winked his eyes and tears fell. From those tears grew a tree who’s fruit satisfies thirst. It’s seeds are used for meditation and prayer.

Our Weizenbock is a study in power and grace. Surprising smooth for a high abv powerhouse, Shiva’s Tears is our pathway to beer truth. Meditate on a few of them and you may just cry of few tears of your own.

Here’s to life.
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The great beers of Texas have hit brewerianimelogs once again and it is thanks to the one and only, Aaron, the founder of www.beermetaldude.com. I will be reviewing some more great beers in the coming weeks but I decided to start with the first Texas brew in line he donated to the site for this shipment. I have never tried anything from New Braunfels and this is my opportunity to see what they are about. I have seen that they make a variety of wheat based beers. Wheat ales are some of my favorite styles of beers especially the ones from Germany and Europe. The Weizenbock being a favorite of mine next to the Dunkelweisse makes me wonder how good this be. Let us check it out shall we?

Aromas:
Smokey notes, dark fruit raisins, dark chocolate, caramel, vanilla, rye bread, maple, licorice, mild soy sauce, oatmeal cookies, wheat bread, anise, brown sugar, tart dark cherry hints and rye bread.

Flavors:
Dark fruit like raisins, plum, grape, clove spice, tart dark cherry notes, lots of smokey oak, banana bread, dark chocolate hints, licorice, pilloncillo sugar cone, graham crackers, waffle cone, oatmeal coookies, anise, soy sauce, rye bread and vanilla.

Aftertaste:
Piloncillo, dark fruit, dark chocolate, earthy notes, tart cherry and nice smokey notes. No alcohol in the taste, really pitch black and brown body, moderate to sipping drinkability and medium yet smooth mouthfeel.

Overall:
A very good smokey weizenbock. I don’t think I have ever had anything quite like this. Maybe a Berliner Weisse may come close but take that to the dark level and make it heavy and rich. Quite the unique one as many Weizenbocks tend to be on the sweeter side. This one is smokey and tart but still sweet. So there is some balance here. Definitely worth a try especially if you like smokey yet mild and sweet German styles. Gotta give special thanks to Aaron for hooking me up with this beer and New Braunfels for making it, cheers!

Anime Corner:
Shiva from Square’s Final Fantasy X was the easiest pairing I could think of. Shiva being the god of destruction and rebirth can be a bit cold some times. Especially this Shiva as she is ice based. The darker and smokey aspects of this beer as well as the dark fruit flavors are representative of the colors and Ice cold that Shiva brings in this pairing.

Sources:
http://cloudiroth.bloxode.com/images/114657973384.jpg

Happy 2nd Anniversary Brewerianimelogs! + No. 22 Barrel Aged Series 5 Monks by Avery brewing Review

October 17, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged 2nd anniversary, 5 Monks, aged in Bourbon Barrels, Avery Brewing, Aya Brea, Belgian Quintuple, Belgian Sextupel, Belgian Sextuple, Bourbon Barrel Quad, brewerianimelogs, Claire Farron, Cloud Strife, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy XV, Kingdom Hearts, Lightning, No. 22 Barrel Aged Series, Noctis Lucis Caelum, Parasite Eve, Quint, Quintuple, Sora, World class | 1 Comment

Rating: 7/5

No. 22 Barrel Aged Series 5 Monks by Avery brewing is a 19.39% ABV World Class Belgian Quintuple/Sextuple Aged in Bourbon Barrels.

Label:
So yeah, it’s MUCH bigger and bolder than a quad. But the term “sextupel” seems inappropriate alongside a congregation of monks, so quintupel it is.

Bottled July 17 2014
Production 874 Cases
___

Today marks the 2nd Anniversary of Brewerianimelogs and I am very happy for all my readers and fans. Thank you all for the liking the site and reading my reviews. I did a special on my 1st Anniversary long ago that is definitely worth the read if you want to know about my story and the site: https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2013/10/17/happy-1st-brewerinanimelogs-anniversary/

As for being the the 2nd Anniversary of my website, I had to go with a special beer. Now this beer was given to me by my friend Aaron Mediola at www.beermetaldude.com in Texas and it was something that he was able to get for me at the last minute as I was unable to get it since it ran out in my local places here in California. So definitely a special thanks to Aaron, Cheers Brother!

Right next to Chocolate Rain but not including beers past 20% ABV, this is the strongest Belgian Strong Dark Ale I have ever come across or even the strongest beer for that matter. I expected nothing less from Avery. The Quintuple and Sextuple is an extremely rare style to come by. The only thing that I have tried that comes close to this style is possible Barrel Aged Quadruples (Straffe Hendrix 2011 Bourbon Barrel Aged Quad II) or even the Judgment Day Quad Aged in Oak with Cherries (Cuvee De Tomme). So for one to come out and say, this beer is a brand new style, I’ll be damned if we don’t see it here on Brewerianimelogs, the lost treasures of taste and experience. So for the special occasion, I really had to dig hard for the art work and what I really like and well, I really had to see if this beer was going to be up to expectations. I will be skeptical at first but at the same time it doesn’t help that the Belgian Quadruple is my favorite beer style ever or the fact that the Quintuple is like a 4th dimension to my 3rd dimension perspective on taste. I don’t know what to expect but wish me luck. Thought this tiny bottle of potion you may be, another existence and possibility will my senses thus see… Cheers!!

Aromas:
High dose of Rock Candy, Dark Candi Sugars, Brown Sugars, Oak, Agave like nectar, dark fruits like raisins, plums, figs, cherries, Belgian chocolate dark chocolate, milk chocolate, bakers chocolate notes, banana cream pie, cherry pie, pecan pie, hazelnut, almond joys, honey, highly spirited liquor notes like brandy, rum, bubble gum, plantain, tres leches flan, leather, ginger bread, all spice, molasses, rocky road ice cream, flan, crème brulee, all spice, clove spice, rich banana splits, cookie dough, fruity preserves, toasted coconut, mocha, currants, port wine, grapes, agave nectar, graham cracker smores, marshmallows, chocolate truffles and boozy sugars enough to give one a sugar coma with just a whiff.

Flavors:
Extreme dose of dark fruits like raisins, plums, figs, dates, dark cherries, raspberries, bourbon, dulce de leche rich caramel, vanilla, oak, tres leches, banana cream pie, plantain, clove spice, grilled bananas, rock candy, candi sugars, pecan pie, flan, crème brulee, toffee, leather, tobacco, toasted coconut, bubble gum, brown sugar, agave nectar, molasses, ginger bread, all spice, nutmeg, hazelnut nectar, almond joy chocolate, Belgian chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, rocky road ice cream, cookie dough, mocha, Kahlua hints, Chocolate truffles, marshmallow chocolate graham cracker smores, honey, fudge cake, cheese cake, velvet mousse, French vanilla ice cream, rye bread, biscuit bread, kiwi preserves, concord grapes, cherry pie, currants, port wine, chocolate chips, hints of brandy, hints of rum, hints of bubble gum, yum yum yum!!

Aftertaste:
Pecan pie, caramel, vanilla, bananas, dark fruits, leather notes, oak, port wine, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and rich sugary syrup lingers. Despite level of ABV, there is nothing about the alcohol that detracts from any of the flavors. This is a syrupy thick beer. Sipping drinkability, Full mouthfeel, pitch black body, hardly any head retention.

Overall:
Quite possibly, the Best Belgian Quad/Quint/Sext in existence I have ever tried. Westvleteren and St. Bernardus 12 ABT, this is certainly taking the lead guys. The saddest part about this beer is the fact that it is going to be so rare, limited and at only 12oz. It really makes me wish I had way more of this to the point where I did not want to let the last drops leave. They are a part of my soul now. I spent an entire 2 hours trying to figure out this beer as best I could and I am sure I missed some notes. I think that is how complex this beer was as the temperature kept changing. Even for 12 ozs, this was definitely a Vatican lost scroll of a relic or the holy grail of beers. This comes so far into the Bruery’s territory it ain’t even funny. If this was a 750ml, I would be dangerously in trouble. Extremely Highly recommend you get a bottle of this saintly beer. Not for those who cannot drink a highly potent beer! And Finally, to my friend Aaron, Thank you brother, this really hit on many levels. Cheers!

Anime Corner:
Sora, Cloud Strife, Aya Brea, Lightning Claire Farron and Noctis Lucis Caelum from Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy VII, Parasite Eve, Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XV respectively were the 5 chosen monks in this beer pairing. These characters have been some of the highest most popular characters in JRPG history and thus an anime pi cure with all 5 of them was something I could not deny was the perfect pairing. If you remember correctly, I have used some of these characters in some of the best beers, like Claire in Dark Lord and Aya in Hellfighter from Texas. They relate to the beer in bad assery but also in the strength and complexity that even I cannot fathom. I guess being a big fanboy, it was just the right road to take with this one. The colors, and location pair with the flavors, the label, and more. So much to describe here, you figure it out, that is your homework!!

This beer also reminds me of the hardest battle in Final Fantasy history, the 5 Judges in Final Fantasy XII. This battle was just as hard as me trying to figure out everything this magic potion/elixir had to offer…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6jPS7cFr5o

Sources:
http://img-cache.cdn.gaiaonline.com/de697965d76e0231109b6fadac1048e7/http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/ad32/dekimbae/sora-vs-cloud-strife-vs-lightning-vs-aya-brea-vs-noctis-lucis-caelum-5612-1.jpg

Valar Morghulis by Game of Thrones and Ommegang

October 16, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged All Men Must Die, Belgian Dubbel, Fate Night Stay, Fate Stay Night, Fate Zero, Game of Thrones, Game of Thrones and Ommegang, HBO, Ommegang, Saber, Valar Morghulis | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.65/5

Valar Morghulis by Game of Thrones and Ommegang is an 8% ABV Belgian Dubbel.

Label:
WHEN CONFRONTED WITH THE MOST FEARED SAYING IN HIGH VALYRIAN, TAKE A SIP AND CHOOSE YOUR WORDS WISELY. FOR ALL MEN MUST DIE, AND ALL MEN MUST SERVE. ENJOY RICH AROMAS OF CARAMEL AND RIPE FRUIT WITH DEEP FLAVORS OF MALTY SWETTNESS AND FRUITY ESTERS. POUR SLOWLY, TO NOT DISTURB YEAST SEDIMENT, BUT WITH VIGOR TO MAKE A LUXURIOUS HEAD AND FREE BOUQUET.
___

The 4th installment of the Game of Thrones beer is here, Valar Morghulis or “All Men Must Die”. You can buy it at many craft beer markets where they sell Ommegang beer. I have yet to see the show but I love Ommegang beers. The previous entries have been very good. Since they brewed a Belgian Dubbel (Double Fermented Ale), I had to try it and bring it here to the site. If you have not tried a Dubbel before, you know it is going to be a heavy one and not your typical light beer. If you enjoy Belgians, well, let’s see what this one as in store.

Aromas:
Dark fruits like raisins, plums, dark cherries, light stone fruit like peaches and apricots, pears, apples, pineapple hints, brown sugar, bubble gum, clove spice, banana hints, dulce de leche caramel, toffee, vanilla, peppercorns, earthy notes, biscuit bread and chocolate hints.

Flavors:
Dark fruits like raisins, plums, dark cherries, clove spice, banana hints, peppercorns, dulce de leche caramel hints, brown sugar, biscuit bread, chocolate hints, bubble gum hints, vanilla, apricots, peaches, candi sugar, cinnamon, pears, coriander hints, pineapple hints, earthy hop hints and toffee.

Aftertaste:
Biscuit bread, phenolic notes, clove spice, caramel, dark fruit, peppery spices and earthy notes linger. No alcohol in the taste, medium to full crimson body, moderate drinkability and smooth and almost watery mouthfeel.

Overall:
A very good Dubbel and possibly the best one so far in the series. Belgian Dubbels are incredible beers just like the Singles, Tripels and Quadruples. Although Quads are my favorites. Dubbels do generally fall into that category of dark fruit and malty but not overwhelmingly intense. So for fans of the show who typically don’t drink craft beer, this may definitely be a sipping beer but it won’t be like super overwhelming, just moderate. Still, Ommegang kicking ass again with another awesome beer.

Anime Corner:
Saber from Fate Stay Night/Zero was chosen once again to represent the world of fantasy in Game of Thrones. I was typically looking for something that would pair well with the name of the beer, the show, the color and to some extent the flavors of the beer as well. As you can see, All Men Must Die is in reference to bloody war as show cased in the sword battle. The devastation of medieval war is nothing but rot and chaos as the bloody color of the beer and its medium to full body is the consistency of that blood. Conquering others is what it is all about but like the phrase says, “No Victory without suffering, No freedom without Sacrifice” goes hand in hand with the saying of “All Men must Serve, All Men must Die” and how a war between the conflicting quotes arises due to those who do not see eye to eye. Even like the coin in the label, the good and the bad.

Sources:
http://anime-pictures.net/pictures/get_image/208475-1500×1777-fate+%28series%29-fatestay+night-fatezero-studio+deen-saber-misako12003.jpg
http://www.zerochan.net/1393132#full

Four Seasons of Mother Earth Series – Zingaro Autumn Ale by Mother Earth Brewing

October 15, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged aged in Bourbon Barrels, American Imperial Stout, Autumn Ale, Bleach, Bourbon Barrel Aged, Four Seasons of Mother Earth, Heaven Hill, Imperial Stout, Inoue Orihime, mother earth Brew company, Orihime, Zingaro | Leave a comment

Rating: 6/5

Four Seasons of Mother Earth Series – Zingaro Autumn Ale by Mother Earth Brewing is an 11.7% ABV Imperial Stout aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels.

Label:
We have many names. Nomad, roamer, stray, deviant. Ostracized for free thinking. Asked to conform to conventions. Well, defiance breeds change. That’s why we stuck this imperial stout in oak barrels… Not because it should happen…because it shouldn’t.

Intense flavors of roasted coffee, dark chocolate, and brown sugar meld beautifully with toffee and vanilla notes from wet oak bourbon barrels.

We have been told beer shouldn’t taste this… rEvolutionary. But we embrace a change in the seasons of life. They call us Bohemians. Then this must be the rhapsody, because not all who wander are lost. We are Zingaro.
___

Obtained this sucker from Craftshack.com as I was intrigued by the fact that Mother Earth brewing has a Bourbon Barrel aged Imperial Stout. I have only have had some of their beers which have been good to amazing but this time, I take on their version of the bourbon barrel imperial stout.

Aromas:
Rich toasted coconut, marshmallow smores, graham crackers, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, rocky road ice cream, almond joy, banana notes, dark fruit raisins, figs, licorice, coffee hints, Irish cream earthy notes oak, vanilla, bourbon, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, maple and pumpkin spice hints.

Flavors:
Rich milk chocolate, dark chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, oak, flan, rich toasted coconut, hazelnut nectar, rocky road ice cream, pecan pie, anise, molasses, pumpkin spice hints, maple, cinnamon, brown sugar, nutmeg, dulce de leche caramel, licorice, molasses, dark fruit raisins, figs, currants, earthy notes, Irish cream, coffee notes, almond joy, Kahlua coffee, marshmallow smores, graham crackers, dark cherry chocolate cake and crème brulee.

Aftertaste:
Leaving with a complex of goods of toasted coconut, oak, bourbon, caramel, vanilla, milk and dark chocolate, pecan pie and earthy notes. No alcohol in the taste, velvety and creamy mouthfeel, sipping yet smooth and somewhat easy to drink and a full pitch black body.

Overall:
Surprisingly, I was ridiculously impressed by this one. The rich complex coconut, chocolate, bourbon and dark fruit take the lead here adding some subtle hints of spicy notes like that of the pumpkin but very subtle. I highly recommend this one if you can find it for sure, you won’t be let down especially if you love bourbon barrel aged Imperial stouts.

Anime Corner:
Inoue Orihime from Bleach was used in this pairing mainly when I saw the label as the character of autumn, is pretty much Orihime right down to the pendant on her hair and the colors. Orihime herself has been added to some damn epic beers like Uinta Oaked Jacked which pairs with the fall colors and she has many abilities bringing me back to some of those epic beers. In fact, her mainly ability of healing is to bring back a living organism back to a state of time when they were not hurt before. Just like the seasons, dying trees come back to life in spring time bloom synonymous with that Orihime power. So the pairing just seem way to perfect in my mind and mother earth had the right idea. Orihime is mother earthy nurturing the world back to a state where it was healed. Inoue Orihime is rather, heavenly as much to say as mother earth or heaven hills bourbon have to say.

Sources:
http://orichie.deviantart.com/art/Orihime-470623586
http://static.zerochan.net/Inoue.Orihime.full.40536.jpg

2013 Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer by Brouwerij Het Anker

October 15, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged 2013 Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Brouwerij Het Anker, Carolus, Charles Quint, Cuvee Van De Keizer, Fantasy Earth Zero, Gouden, Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer, Queen Wadritte Belkstein Hordaine, World class, world class beers, World Class Belgian Strong Dark Ale | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.6/5

2013 Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer by Brouwerij Het Anker is an 11% ABV World Class Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Label:
Every year on the 24th of February, we celebrate the birth of Charles Quint. Therefore we brew a special beer in limited edition called ‘Grand Cru of the Emperor’. This exceptional beer is a special version of the Golden Carolus Classic, with an enriched taste palate and mysterious aromas added. The caramelized malts and its 11% Alc. Vol. give the Cuvée of the Emperor the warm roundness of wine together with the refreshing taste of beer. It is imperially crowned with a special cork so it can be preserved for a long period of time with a constant cellar temperature of 12° C. An imperial beer to cherish and enjoy in moderation.
Was 8% abv in 2000-2002, 10% in 2003 and 11% in 2004.
___

Aging for a year now, this beer seems just right for the review. I had over looked this one for a long time and I do remember my friend Richard telling me about how great this beer was. I finally decided to give it a try as I have passed this one up for a long time so I did not want to pass it up again. According to what I saw about this beer, it seem ridiculous and just like the great quads and Belgian Dark Ales, this was one of the many awesome ones. I definitely had to bring this one forward for a review.

Aromas:
Rich Dark fruit aromas like raisins, figs, plums, dark cherries, currants, blueberries, boysenberries, pecan pie, dark candi sugars, rock candy, brown sugar, dulce de leche caramel, grapes, peaches, apples, hazelnut, licorice, anise, cinnamon, bananas, clove spice, molasses, chocolate and flan hints.

Flavors:
Dark fruit raisins, figs, currants, boysenberries, blueberries, plums, rich dark cherries, dulce de leche caramel, banana cream pie, clove spice, pecan pie, hazelnut, vanilla, flan hints, apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, almonds, rock candy, dark candi sugars, licorice, anise, molasses, chocolate, brown sugar, peach, grapes and strawberry jam on buttered toast.

Aftertaste:
Leaving traces of dark fruit, caramel, pecan pie, banana notes, buttery toast and chocolate hints. No alcohol in the taste despite the ABV, a sipping beer, smooth velvety mouthfeel, medium to full deep crimson body.

Overall:
Why did I not get this one sooner? This beers is ridiculously flavorful. It really is complex and somewhat of a Christmasy beer as it does have some notes of a Belgian Holiday Ale. Like St. Bernardus Christmas, this one screams warmth for the coming holidays. Yes it is still fall, but might as well let the cold start to come in. Regardless, this is damn great and it is one I would definitely pick up again. I highly recommend this one for sure.

Anime Corner:
Queen Wadritte Belkstein Hordaine from Fantasy Earth Zero was used in this pairing as it was the most perfect one I could find to pair with the label as well as some of the might and flavors this beer has to offer. For this one, you can tell it obviously pairs with Emperor Charles Quint and his horse but as you look at the different shades and colors you can already tell that this goes well with all the different flavors offered in the beer.

Sources:
http://www.zerochan.net/208071#full

Orval Trappist Ale by Brasserie d’Orval S.A.

October 15, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Belgian Pale Ale, Belgian Trappist Monastery, Belgian Trappists, BPA, Brasserie d'Orval, Orval Trappist, Orval Trappist Ale, Orval Trappist brewery, Rozen Maiden, Suigintou, Trappist, trappist ales, trappist beers, trappist breweries, Trappist Monastery, world class beers | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.75/5

Orval Trappist Ale by Brasserie d’Orval S.A. is a (6.2% ABV EU & 6.9% ABV USA) World Class Belgian Pale Ale.

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
In contrast to all the others, the Orval Trappist brewery makes only one beer for the general public. It has an intensely aromatic and dry character. Between the first and second fermentations there is also an additional dry-hopping process. Through this the beer acquires its pronounced hoppy aroma and extra dry taste.
Bottled at 5.2% abv – can go up as high as 7.2%
___

Of the many Trappist beers that I have tried, this one I have overlooked may times until I just decided one day, screw it, I’m reviewing it! This along with the other 9 Trappist breweries are some of the best Belgium and other countries have to offer. Centuries of brewing and perfecting the arts have brought these beers out and they still stand strong and delicious among the growing list of craft beers. So here it is, the Orval Trappist review.

Aromas:
Tart dark cherry, dark fruit raisin hints, wine grapes, earthy hop notes, floral hop hints, peppercorns, smokey oak, leather notes, citrus, biscuit bread, brown sugar, farmhouse hay, mushroom hints and brettanomyces.

Flavors:
Dark fruit raisin hints, dark cherry, grapes, mushroom hints, floral and earthy hops, Musty Oak, peppercorn hints, brettanomyces funk, citrus, vanilla, lemon hints, apples, hints of peach, leather notes, smokey notes, biscuit bread and brown sugar.

Aftertaste:
Definitely ending dry with dark fruit, caramel and oaky funk dissipating. No alcohol in the taste, medium to sipping drinkability, medium mouthfeel with a cloudy full golden brown body.

Overall:
A very good beer if you are into the funky wild yeast type of Belgian Pale Ales. Definitely a representative of the evil tart and funky beers of Belgian. While this is not sour it leans more toward a farmhouse ale. This is very reminiscent of the Fantome series but unique in the sense that it seems like they use open air fermentation but still get a beer that is a Belgian Pale but treading into oaky and dark fruit territory. Hard to explain how this is but it works and is most likely why this one is very unique. Definitely recommend it once if you love farmhouse or saisons that lean toward a nice tart and funky zone.

Anime Corner:
Suigintou from Rozen Maiden was used in this pairing to represent the colors, flavors and the evil tart aspect that this beer brings but yet under control of the Holy. Basically, as you can see the Trappist Monastery is here and everything looks sweet but once you taste the beer, you see there is a much stronger and darker side to this (as seen by the dragon). Almost like the beer has been tainted but the fact that it is not sour and balanced, it seems to work fine. It represents light and dark twilight which is well controlled.

Sources:
http://konachan.com/post/show/154755

Citrus Blossom Honey Blonde by Avila Ales

October 14, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Avila Ales, blonde ale, Citrus Blossom Honey, Citrus Blossom Honey Blonde, Honey Blonde, Lawndale, Mr & Mrs. Richard Avila, Ozon | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.8/5

Citrus Blossom Honey Blonde by Avila Ales is a 5% ABV Blonde Ale brewed with Citrus Blossom Honey and Fresh Garden Lemons.

Another awesome creation from my friends, Mr. Richard and Mrs. Megan Avila of Lawndale California. This is the 3rd home brew and so far one of the most enjoyable. I had the opportunity to try it and was given a growler fill to be able to bring back home for the review. This beer really hit home for the summer especially since it still hot out even though it is the fall. California, go figure right? Anyway, I was really take a step back as to how drinkable this was very flavorful that I had to take some time to analyze this one and share it with the world. So here it is, the Citrus Blossom Honey Blonde Ale, Cheers!

Aromas:
Oranges, Rich honey, vanilla, floral and pine hops, caramel, grape hints, lemon candy, lemon peel, biscuit bread, hints of caramel and chamomile.

Flavors:
Citrus, honey, flowers, lemon peel, floral and piney hops, lemon candy, honey drops, vanilla hints, caramel, grapes, dulce de leche caramel hints, chamomile hints, biscuit bread, guava hints and hints of butterscotch.

Aftertaste:
Some floral hops, citrus, lemon peel, biscuit bread and honey lingers. No alcohol in the taste, very easy to drink, smooth and velvety mouthfeel, full hazy body, crisp and refreshing.

Overall:
Very damn good. Like a rich honey dessert made with oranges. The best part of this flavorful beer is that it is very smooth. Way smooth like drinking honey and lemonade on a very hot summer day. I think it is my friends’ best beer yet and I hope they definitely brew it again.

Anime Corner:
Original artwork by Ozon was chosen in this pairing since I wanted to pair the color and the flavors of the beer showcasing the flowers as orange blossoms and honey. The look of summer and the refreshing aspect of the beer can be seen in the bright colors of this one.

Sources:
http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/wakusoku/imgs/e/9/e927d5a8.jpg

Chronic Ale by Pizza Port

October 14, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Amber Ale, Chronic Ale, Hatsune Miku, Pizza Port brewing, San Diego beers, vocaloid | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.35/5

Chronic Ale by Pizza Port is a 4.9% ABV Amber Ale.

Label:
The ChronicAle
Canned Beer is Now here!
___

During my trip to San Diego with my friends, I decided to pick up a 6 pack directly from Pizza Port (Not in Direct relation to Port Brewing/The Lost Abbey). Considered to be San Diego’s number one brewery for many reasons. Their Pizza was very delicious and it felt like being in an adult Chuck E’ Cheese’s with the arcades and games. A small joint with some awesome beers like the Coco What? Porter, the E.S.Beetlejuice and the also the Pulp Fiction’s Jules Winnfield Stout. Some pretty creative beers for sure. So since I have never really had a chance to review some of their beers, I said might as well. So this is my first review for Pizza Port.

Aromas:
Biscuit bread, grains, caramel, toffee, apples, toffee, butterscotch, lemon, citrus, grassy, floral and mild piney hops.

Flavors:
Grainy malt caramel, biscuit bread, caramel, butterscotch hints, grassy, piney, citrus and mild floral hops, apples, apples, toffee and hazelnut hints.

Aftertaste:
Leaves dry with mild hop bitterness and caramel malt sweetness. No alcohol in the taste, light watery mouthfeel, easy to drink, light amber body, crisp and freshing.

Overall:
An averagely good beer. Nothing too complex or overwhelming and generally light. Made to have several of these. I can only recommend it on tap or if you would like to bring some at a party where the generic consensus is lagers. Great gateway beer for sure and for those that generally enjoy lighter beers for sure.

Anime Corner:
Vocaloid Hatsune Miku was used in this pairing to pair with the whole aspect the name, the beach, the label and summer. The dude on the label is riding his bike wearing sunglasses like a pot smoking hippy and Chronic was a slang name of some high quality weed. Weed is green and this beer is a summer beer. Like the kind you drink when your at the beach. So Miku with her green hair at the beach and shades looking all cool and bad ass definitely fit the bill in this pairing. What do you guys think?

Sources:
http://konachan.com/post/show?md5=e3bc65059cf76d5a69aeed9d0ba75c98

The Hobbit Bolg Belgian Style Tripel by Fish Tale brewing

October 7, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Belgian Tripel, Bolg, Bolg Belgian Style Tripel, dark elf, Desolation of Smaug, fish brewing, fish brewing company, Lord of The Rings, orc, sylvannas windrunner, The Hobbit, The Hobbit Series, World of Warcraft | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

The Hobbit Bolg Belgian Style Tripel by Fish Tale brewing is a 9.5% ABV Belgian Tripel.

Label:
The Orc Bolg
The spawn of Azog the Defiler, Bolg, like his sire, is a giant, pale Orc. Keeper of the dungeons of Dol Guldor, Bolg takes pleasure in torture – his armor is embellished with the bones and blood of his victims. Powerfully built, this Orc is afraid of nothing and no one – that is, until he comes up against a surprising foe.
___

The last beer in the Lord of the Rings The Hobbit beer series. So far, the other 2 have been very good and I wanted to save this one for last as it is a Belgian Tripel. Belgian and Belgian styles are typically some of my favorite beers in the world. Some tripels are better than others, so the fact that the last one is a Belgian, this I had to try. Let us see how awesome this one is, cheers!!

Aromas:
Bananas, floral notes, stone fruit peaches, plums, apricots, cherries, peppercorns, tropical fruit pineapple, papaya, clove spice, brown sugar, caramel, flan hints, vanilla, sweetened condensed milk, rock candy and oranges.

Flavors:
Bananas, Stone fruit peaches, apricots, plum, cherries, honey, vanilla, caramel, biscuit bread, peppercorn spices, clove spices, coriander hints, tropical fruits like pineapple, papaya, sweetened condensed milk hints, flan hints, oranges, tangerine preserves, floral notes, candi sugars and rock candy.

Aftertaste:
Citrus, banana, biscuit bread, clove spice, banana, mild earthy hop bitterness and stone fruit. No alcohol in the taste, slightly syrupy mouthfeel, sipping drinkability and hazy medium to full body.

Overall:
Damn, I think this one was the best of the 3. This beer is freaking awesome and super delicious. It is very fruity and the Belgian candi sugars with the clove spice is brilliant and delicious. I would definitely get this one but also get the other ones especially if you wanna try the whole collection. Nevertheless, of the 3, this one is my favorite.

Anime Corner:
Sylvanas windrunner and dark elf from World of Warcraft were used in this pairing to pair with the Fantasy aspect of the Hobbit Series which pairs with the World of Warcraft. Also, the grey windrunner’s evil stare is like the evil star of Bolg and just to add everything to even make more of a better pairing, the armies behind are like the dark armies in the Lord of the Rings. Win-Win!

Sources:
http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131012180347/fairytailfanon/images/9/9a/World_of_warcraft_wow_sylvanas_windrunner_wallpaper_background_blizzard_online_mmo.jpg
http://i1.minus.com/ibdbXUGp5gbJ1X.jpg

The Hobbit Smaug Stout by Fish Tale Brewing

October 7, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Chiles, chili pepper, Desolation of Smaug, fish brewing, fish brewing company, Imperial Stout, Lord of The Rings, Smaug, Smaug Stout, tachikawa mushimaro, The Hobbit, The Hobbit Series | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.5/5

The Hobbit Smaug Stout by Fish Tale Brewing is a 9.5% ABV Imperial Stout brewed with Chili peppers.

Label:
The Dragon Smaug
After escaping capture by the dangerous Woodland Elves, the Dwarves journey to Lake Town, and finally to the Lonely Mountain itself, where they must face the greatest danger of all- a creature more terrifying than any before, which will test not only the limits of their friendship and the wisdom of the journey itself – the Dragon Smaug
___

The second beer in the Hobbit series, comes Smaug, the mighty dragon. The dragon and the dark beer style with the chili peppers does certainly seem to meet what many would suggest as being a true epic compliment. Now, let us see how this beer fares. Whether you think this is a hype or not for the Lord of the Ring movies, either way, I will show you what this beer is all about. For me, I think this is great! Love the Lord of the Rings. So let’s dive into the deep dark liquid recesses of Smaug the Dragon Stout.

Aromas:
Dark chocolate, roasted coffee, Roasted mild chili spices, earthy hop notes, smokey notes, dark fruits like raisins, currants, blackberries, molasses anise, caramel, vanilla and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, dark fruit raisins, currants, blackberry notes, earthy notes, minor hints of chili, roasted coffee, smokey notes, caramel, molasses, anise, vanilla, brown sugar, milk sugar and butterscotch.

Aftertaste:
Dark chocolate, mild spiciness, earthy notes and mild dark fruit linger. No alcohol in the taste, creamy and smooth mouthfeel, sipping drinkability and pitch black body.

Overall:
For a stout, it is very good. You won’t get much chilies, more in the aromas. There is just a slight hint of them to give it like a hint of nice spice. Still, very delicious as a stout though. I would recommend it if you can find it and try it once or collect it. I think this type will age but if you have tried a delicious imperial stout, you probably have tried this one or better. Great job though with this one.

Anime Corner:
Original artwork by tachikawa mushimaro as well as the other original artwork were used in pairing with Smaug which had to do primarily with the label, Smaug and the dark appearance and spicy chile flavors. Although not so spicy as I thought but it still warms ya up very good. That and overall, the artwork is just bad ass with the beer pairing.

Sources:
http://wallpoper.com/images/00/24/15/16/dragons-anime_00241516.jpg
http://shares.worldanimeclub.com/king-include/uploads/658242-1550866249.jpg

The Hobbit Gollum Precious Pils by Fish Tale Brewing

October 7, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Desolation of Smaug, fish brewing company, Gollum, Gollum Precious Pils, Imperial Pilsner, Legend of Zelda, Lord of The Rings, Midna, My Precious, Northwest hops, Smeagol, The Hobbit, The Hobbit Series, Twili Midna, Twilight Princess | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.25/5

The Hobbit Gollum Precious Pils by Fish Tale Brewing is a 9.5% ABV Imperial Pilsner brewed with North West Hops.

Label:
The Tale of Gollum
Once a hobbit-like creature named Smeagol, Gollum’s body and soul have been poisoned by the power of a small, plain, gold ring that he has kept hidden deep in a dark cavern within the Misty Mountain Unaware of the true nature of this Ring, Gollum knows only that it is more “precious” to him that life itself.
___

Do I even have to ask about this series? Hype? possibly Nerdgasm? Maybe, regardless, it does not matter. The Lord of The Rings has been an awesome series of books and movies created from the written work of JR Tolkien. The fact that they release a set of beers in honor of the series is pretty damn awesome. The Game of Thrones series has its own beers brewed by Ommegang and while those are very good, I really wanted to see what these are all about. In this first one, we see Gollum with the precious pils. When I think of pilsner I think a borderline to a lager, but when I saw the ABV, I really thought twice. The last couple of Imperial Pilsners I had were nothing more than AMAZING… I hope this precious beer is just as awesome, so let’s go through this one and see what Gollum has been hiding…

Aromas:
Honey, tangerine, citrus and piney hopes, caramel, pilsner malt, caramel, tropical fruits, brown sugar, floral notes, coriander spice, stone fruit peaches and apricots, vanilla, rock candy and tropical hints.

Flavors:
Citrus, piney hopes, pilsner malt, honey, caramel, biscuit bread, butterscotch, apples, rock candy, floral notes, stone fruit peach hints, apricot, coriander spice, brown sugar hints, vanilla, tangerine candy, peppercorns, Danish sugar cookies, tropical fruits like pineapple, dragon fruit and bits of papaya.

Aftertaste:
Leaving traces of tangerine, hops, honey, floral notes and peppercorns. No alcohol intervening in the taste but slightly boozy, a sipping beer with a slightly syrupy mouth feel, light body, crisp and refreshing.

Overall:
Drinks like a champ! A really good pilsner boderlining the tripel and golden ale styles but still taking you back to what a pilser is all about. A precious, pilsner as gold as the ring Gollum adored so much which really fits the name. This is worth a try as there may not be many imperial pilsners out there and this one goes to show just what pilsners are capable of and that is just awesome!

Anime Corner:
Minda from The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princes was used in this pairing because I wanted to pair Gollum as a small creature that became small from a Hobbit form. Midna can turn into a Human so it kind of works. Also in the pictures, Midna tries to reach out to the audience with that “My precious” look on her face. The fact that her expressions and somewhat evil like appearance compliments that of Gollum, the tropical and stone fruit flavors of the beer and some colors of the label as well as the fact that they both come from a Medieval Fantasy story, she fits right in complimenting Gollum all the way!

Sources:
http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs43/f/2009/076/1/c/Midna_pinup_by_oh8.jpg
http://38.media.tumblr.com/5e30f63296ddaad0c9e329a96843ae98/tumblr_mq7cdmHqEN1r7ngm2o6_500.jpg

Festina Pêche by Dogfish Head

October 7, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Berliner Weisse, Dogfish Head, Festina Pêche, Hinanawi Tenshi, Peach, Touhou | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.75/5

Festina Pêche by Dogfish Head is a 4.5% ABV Berliner Weissbier brewed with peach juice.

Label:
Festina Pêche is a neo-Berliner style Weisse. Unique, tart and refreshing, this brew is so down with the dog days of summer.
___

Loving the new label for the Dogfish Head beers, I decided to pick this up at Total Wine in Redondo Beach as they sell singles of beer. I have never tried this beer from Dogfish head, so the moment felt right and I said, screw it, why not. This is a seasonal only so it won’t be around for long but luckily it does come out every year. I have mixed feelings about Berliner Weisse beers as some strike very good to average for me. So, bias aside, let us see how this one goes.

Aromas:
Honey, peppercorn, lemon, stone fruit peach, apricot, apples, banana hints, wine funk, sour grape notes, tart notes, citrus oranges, guava notes, pears, coriander spice, wheat bread, vanilla and mild oak.

Flavors:
Stone fruit Peach, tart apricot, sour green apples, wheat bread, guava notes, coriander spice, wheat bread, banana hints, honey, vanilla hints, oak hints, wine grape hints, sour grapes, caramel hints, biscuit bread, tangerines, citrus, lemon peel, pears and guava hints.

Aftertaste:
Leaving with tart peach notes and honey but they quickly ends up very dry. No alcohol in the taste, easy to drink, light to medium mouthfeel, light to medium body as well as crisp and refreshing.

Overall:
This one is pretty good especially if you like tart and mildly sour beers. The tart apricot and peach is prominent along side the wheat and coriander like spices. It is worth a try, but while it is pretty good, I still enjoy Dogfish Heads other great offerings. If you are able to snag a bottle from somewhere, give it a shot, you may actually like it more than me.

Anime Corner:
Hinanawi Tenshi from Touhou series was used in this pairing to go with the colors of the label as well as the peaches as you can see she has a peach in her hair. The Evil glaring of the racoon match with her eyes and the sour like and tart flavors of the beers come from the sword and well, pretty much them saying, hands off that peach! Can you see anything else in this pairing that seems to work?

Sources:
http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=big&illust_id=46132430

(Double Review: Battle of The IPAs) 2014 Heady Topper by Alchemist Brewing VS. 2014 Power Plant Triple IPA by El Segundo Brewing

October 6, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Battle Vixens, best beers in the world, Double India Pale Ale, Double IPA, El Segundo Brewing, El Segundo California, Heady Topper, ikki Tousen, india pale ale, IPA, Kill-LA-Kill, passion fruit, Pliny the Younger, Power Plant, Ryuko Matoi, Ryuoko Matoi, shiryuu Chou-un, The Alchemist, Tripel India Pale Ale, Triple IPA, tropical fruits, world class beers | 2 Comments

The battle of the best India Pale Ales in the world can only be foreseen by the biggest hop heads and many will always come to disagreements. Others will just drink as fresh as possible while others won’t drink nothing else BUT IPAs and those with an open palate to be a little more considerate will take a step back and try to figure out, which is the best as objective as possible. While not many will come to an agreement, we all have to remember, hops aren’t everything. They are vital to a beers bitterness but as the origination of the IPA would say, it was mainly used as a natural preservative for long voyages in the old days. Today’s hop variety has made it possible to make them super complex and this is why I think a lot of people really love hops. I can’t really hate as a part of me really likes IPAs but I refuse to pour any “unfresh” ones (Barleywine anyone?) nor do I accept that the best beer in the world happens to be an IPA. I agree with my friend Richard on this one since as he put it, “how can an IPA beat centuries of brewing especially from monks in Belgium who have perfected these brewing arts”. That and the fact stands I lean toward heavier beers but enjoy all beer styles. Either way, I bring you forth a challenge review today. The up and coming champion or “Pliny Younger Killer”, El Segundo’s Power Plant Triple IPA and “East Coast’s Response to Pliny a.k.a beer advocates Best Beer in the World”, Alchemy’s Heady Topper. Why did I decide to do it like this? Well, for those that wonder, both beers are very fresh, one bottle released 9/27/2014 and the can 9/22/2014. I really wanted to see what the hype was all about. Don’t get me wrong, both are freaking epic beers and I have reviewed both in the past but a chance like this, you don’t ever really get. That and the fact that I really believe Power Plant can destroy the Younger. That and I would like to see, if this new up and coming favorite can really stand up to the monster that is Heady Topper. So here we go, cheers and hope you enjoy my double review…

Alchemist Heady Topper Review*
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2014 Heady Topper by Alchemist brewing is a an 8% ABV World Class Double India Pale Ale. Now considered the Best Beer In the World By Beer Advocate.

Label:
From the CAN: “DRINK FROM THE CAN! [x3 for added emphasis]“; “Heady Topper is an Ameri[CAN] Double India Pale Ale. This beer is not intended to be the biggest or most bitter. It is meant to give you wave after wave of hoppy goodness on your palate. Tremendous amounts of Ameri[CAN] hops will creep up on you and leave you with a dense hoppy finish in your mouth. So drinkable, it’s scary. Sometimes I wish I could crawl right into the [CAN]. Freshness and control have always been my main concern[s] when it comes to our beer. We are committed to providing you with an unfiltered and unpasteurized hop experience. Why do I recommend that you drink it from the [CAN]? Quite simply, to ensure a delightful, [sic] hop experience. The act of pouring it in a glass smells nice, but it releases the essential hop aromas that we have worked so hard to retain. If you MUST pour it into a glass, you may find that some of the hop resins have settled to the bottom – leave them in the CAN when pouring. This beer is perishable, and at its best when it is young, fresh and hazy. Keep it cold, but not ice cold. Drink this beer immediately, we are always making more. [Undersigned] John Kimmich, The Alchemist, Waterbury, Vermont”; “Don’t be a D-Bag, recycle this [CAN]!”.
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Aromas:
Honey dew melon, biscuit bread, oranges, grassy, piney, citrus, flowers, guava, citrus, oranges, tangerine candy, mango, prickly pear, hazelnut hints, sweet grapes, stone fruit peaches, apricot, guava, dragon fruit, passion fruit, dank hints, vanilla and caramel.

Flavors:
Honey Dew Melon, Cantaloupe, Grassy, piney, citrus, biscuit bread, vanilla, mango, oranges, prickly pear, hazelnut hints, sweet grape, stone fruit peach, apricot, guava, dragon fruit, passion fruit hints, flowers, kiwi, pine apple, sugar cane, biscuit bread, Mandarin candy, apples, herbs, dank garlicky onion hints but subdued by more oranges and honey.

Aftertaste:
Lots of orange, biscuit bread, tangerine, caramel, vanilla, grapefruit hops, piney, grassy and herbal hops. No alcohol in the taste, easy to drink despite the ABV, medium mouthfeel, hazy body, crisp and refreshing.

Overall:
Supremely Perfect IPA. You pretty much get everything in terms of every range of IPA but mainly on the orangey side. A perfect balanced blend of all the IPA ranges in one. Complex range of tropical, hoppy notes and rich oranges go all over the place. The difference in the can and the glass is mainly with the balance. It is way better in the can as the less air does not allow the flavors to dissipate but when poured into a glass, the orangey side tends to be more pronounced for sure. Either way you have it is fine. The best IPA in the world, why wouldn’t I recommend this? Find it and Find it fresh or just find it either way, you can’t go wrong.

Anime Corner:
Shiryuu Chou-un from Ikkitousen/Battle Vixens makes a return from the last time I reviewed Heady Topper. The original premise of using her for heady topper had to do with the silver label, the color and flavors of the beer pairing with Shiryuu’s hair, outfit as well as the bad assery with a sword. For being considered the World Class beer that Heady is, I really had to choose a true bad ass samurai girl from the series I watched long ago. Shiryuy usually keeps her eyes closed but in the sight of an epic bottle, her true beauty is shown and that is what represents the the rarity and awesomeness of the beer.

El Segundo Power Plant Review*
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2014 Power Plant by El Segundo Brewing is an 11.3% ABV Triple India Pale Ale.

Label:
This behemoth of a “Triple” India Pale Ale gets a dose of Mosaic, Citra, Simcoe, and Amarillo in the kettle and in the dry hop. Up front on the nose is straight fruit cocktail with such a complexity it is impossible to distinguish just one note. Monstrous, yet deceptive in the same breath. Don’t let this one sneak up on you, lest you’ll be #PowerPlanted.
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Aromas:
Tropical fruits off the charts, grapefruit, honey dew melon, kiwi, guava, oranges, dragon fruit, passion fruit, papaya, mango, raspberries, cherries, pineapple, pears, lychee, biscuit bread, lemons, tangerine, apples, stone fruit peaches, apricots, piney, citrus, grapefruit, herbal and floral hops, sweetened condensed milk and flan hints.

Flavors:
Rich tropical fruits, grapefruit, pineapple, kiwi, oranges, mango, guava, honey dew melon, passion fruit, strawberry, papaya, apples, pears peaches, lychee fruit, sweetened condensed milk hints, biscuit bread, vanilla, caramel, lemon, orange gummy bears, tangerines, raspberries, cherries, honey, herbal notes and minor honey oniony dankness.

Aftertaste:
Rich Tropical fruits aftertaste with very nice grapefruit hop resin, biscuit and caramel. No alcohol in the taste. Very smooth, easy to drink, crisp and refreshing despite the high ABV.

Overall:
Just as extraordinary as the first one I brought home with me. The bottle bottle make version seems more awesome. This beer is really out there and really ridiculous. Balance is insane but tropics are supremely pronounced and super complex. This beer was released for a limited time during the LA craft beer week and they had plenty of bottles. I am unsure if they will have enough for distribution but for a beer that truly took everything I believed about IPAs and took me to another dimension of sweet tropical proportions, there is not damn reason why I would not recommend this to my highest of standards.

Anime Corner:
Ryuoko Matoi from Kill La Kill was the right pairing for this beer because I wanted to show that the height of power plant smokestacks (in this case a tower) represents the height of evil corporations (hype in the craft beer community) as well as how power plants pollute the earth and cause acid rain to fall (Beer Snobery). Ryuoko is there to represent this Triple IPA and to show that even at the height of all the IPA hype out there (Pliny the Younger, I am looking at you), one will stand up to it to bring it down. Like in Final Fantasy VII where Cloud Strife helped to take down the Mako power plants, Ryuoko would do the same and bring the level of “IPA Hype” away from the overly hyped brews and back into the roots of the local community microbreweries. YES! And this is why I chose this one.

Final Judgment:
It would basically be a tie if it wasn’t for the fact that it is almost like comparing apples and oranges. Speaking of apples and oranges, it really is easy to determine why one would prefer one over the other. I once described IPAs falling into 3 categories. Those that are tropical, those that are herbal and grassy and those that are caramel or more orangey like those that can harness all 3 into a perfect balance. Heady topper is a hybrid of all 3 when drinking from the can but more orangey and citrus from the glass while Power Plant is at the extreme end of awesome tropic Nirvana and yet still maintaining the balance of the 3. In this sense, It would only be fair to say that the winner of this battle is Power Plant!!!

This because of my personal preference and opinion on tropical IPAs, I love tropical IPAs. Nevertheless, to those that truly like IPAs to take them for a crazy ride, Heady Topper is no joke and reigns supreme. I can respect and love both beers. While Power Plant caresses the ultimate IPA sweet tooth, Heady Topper is there to remind you of an ultimate form of IPA. I have never tried Pliny the Younger, some day I will. Only then can I truly say if that can really topple these 2 beers. Until then, Both of these beers take the cake easily. Pliny the Younger, you met your match!! HELL YEAH!!

Sources:
http://en.tsundora.com/image/2014/09/ikkitousen_109.jpg
http://digwall.com/wallpaper/2014/09/629402-ryuko-matoi-kill-la-kill.jpg
http://konachan.com/post/show?md5=07600bde13b34835846d710088019553
http://waaaghork.deviantart.com/art/Ryuko-Matoi-408238193

Rating: 5.25/5* El Segundo Power Plant
Rating: 5/5* Alchemist Heady Topper

Peanut Butter Cup Porter by Karl Strauss brewing

October 6, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged cocoa nibs, English Porter, Karl Strauss, Muv-Luv Alternative, peanut butter, Peanut Butter Cup Porter, San Diego beers, total eclipse, vanilla beans, Yui Takamura | 1 Comment

Rating: 5.25/5

Peanut Butter Cup Porter by Karl Strauss brewing is a 5.6% ABV English Porter brewed with Peanut butter, cocoa nibs and vanilla beans.

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Brewed for San Diego Beer Week 2012 An English-style Brown Porter brewed with organic peanut powder, cocoa nibs, and vanilla beans. The resulting brew is a beer’s answer to the peanut butter cup – a medium-bodied porter with smooth layers of peanut butter and milk chocolate. Stats: 5.6% ABV – 56 SRM – 30 IBU
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On my trip to San Diego last weekend, my friends and I also stopped by Karl Strauss and tried several of their beers. While I liked a good majority of them and have tried many before, including this one, I was greatly pleased that they allowed this one to be growler filled. Since the first time I tried it long ago, I never really got a chance to do a review and at the time I did not think of doing reviews on the go like I am doing now. So with the opportunity to bring this one home and take my time to review it, here it is! Now, I had a couple of peanut butter cup beers before like the Belching Beaver Peanut Butter Milk Stout, the Terrapin Liquid Bless and even Mother Earth Sin Tax. This one on the other hand, though English and light, takes advantage of the cocoa nibs and vanilla beans. A combo that fares greatly with many beers. So without further a do, here is the Peanut Butter Cup Porter, Cheers!

Aromas:
Rich Peanut butter, Nutter Butter Cookies, oatmeal, banana hints, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, hint of dark fruit raisins, cocoa crispies, milk sugars, mild cherries, vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, dark cherries, cinnamon, mocha, vanilla, toffee, coconut and butterscotch.

Flavors:
Cocoa Crispies cereal, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, bakers chocolate, hazelnut, pecan pie hints, peanut butter chocolate Reece’s pieces, milk sugar, vanilla, caramel, oatmeal, Nutter Butter cookies, cinnamon hints, brown sugar, dark fruit raisins and mild cherries, roasted coffee notes, peanut shell bitterness, rye bread,mocha, toffee, toasted coconut, earthy notes and butterscotch hints.

Aftertaste:
chocolate peanut butter, dark chocolate, mocha hints, roasted coffee, vanilla, caramel, toasted coconut, ending with earthy notes dryness. No alcohol in the taste, easy to drink, creamy and buttery mouthfeel and medium to light body.

Overall:
Definitely exceeding my expectations a bit. Is this the better Peanut Butter Cup beer? Well, the addition of the cocoa nibs and vanilla beans can be sensed in the flavors and definitely does take the beer to the next level. I really can say I enjoyed this one a lot for what it is. There aren’t many peanut butter beers out there and this is a damn well represented one. All I hope is that one day they put this in bottle. Otherwise, if you are lucky, you can get this at the brewery.

Anime Corner:
Yui Takamura from Muv Luv Alternative/Total Eclipse was used for this pairing since her colors pair with the flavors of chocolate and peanut butter I have paired her with Liquid Bliss once so I wanted to bring her back to show a more chocolate perspective. While the strength is not on the beer per se, it surely is in the flavor. Surely that is explosive!

Sources:
http://gallery.minitokyo.net/view/590148

Brewerianimelogs (Anime and Beer Lore)

Monthly Archives: October 2014

1000th Breweanimelogs Post / 2014 Black Tuesday Release Party

7 Swans A Swimming by The Bruery

2014 Roble Blanco by The Bruery

2014 Contemplating Waterloo by Adelbert’s Brewery

Cherry Funk by Prairie Artisan Ales

No. 19 Barrel Aged Series Rufus Corvus by Avery brewing

Small Batch Series No. 9 Blackberry Sour by Ranger Creek

Fifty Niner by Odell Brewing

Big Experimental Brew Batch No. 1 by Texas Big Beer Brewing

Les Fleurs Du Mal by New Braunfels brewing

The Good, The Bad & The Unidragon by Clown Shoes

Sprung by Five Stones brewing

Funky Gold Mosaic by Prairie Artisan Ales

Shiva’s Tears Weizenbock of the Destroyer by New Braunfels Brewing

Valar Morghulis by Game of Thrones and Ommegang

Four Seasons of Mother Earth Series – Zingaro Autumn Ale by Mother Earth Brewing

2013 Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer by Brouwerij Het Anker

Orval Trappist Ale by Brasserie d’Orval S.A.

Citrus Blossom Honey Blonde by Avila Ales

Chronic Ale by Pizza Port

The Hobbit Bolg Belgian Style Tripel by Fish Tale brewing

The Hobbit Smaug Stout by Fish Tale Brewing

The Hobbit Gollum Precious Pils by Fish Tale Brewing

Festina Pêche by Dogfish Head

(Double Review: Battle of The IPAs) 2014 Heady Topper by Alchemist Brewing VS. 2014 Power Plant Triple IPA by El Segundo Brewing

Peanut Butter Cup Porter by Karl Strauss brewing