Monthly Archives: January 2015

Dragon’s Milk Reserve with Raspberries by New Holland Brewing

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10608395_10102353144276970_1544083581616911366_oRating: 6/5

Dragon’s Milk Reserve with Raspberries by New Holland Brewing is an 11% ABV Imperial Stout brewed with Raspberries and aged in Bourbon Barrels.

Label:
This beer is from our collection of special variations that live in our Dragon’s Milk cellar. Local raspberries were added to the barrels in the final stages of conditioning. Raspberries lend depth, brightness and unique fruit character that harmonizes beautifully with Dragon’s Milk dark, roasty tones of malt, bourbon and oak.

==Introduction==

The original Dragon’s Milk was a beer I enjoyed back in 2011 when I was able to beer trade. This brew is a variant of the original Dragon’s Milk and was pretty hard to get upon released. I was able to get this one from www.mybeercellar.com. Since this beer was an in-store released, you literally had to be from Michigan and get it at the local stores in the Midwest to find this one. I don’t know if they will ever brew this one again but the opportunity to bring this to the site was something I could not pass up. So let’s prepare the swords and take on the dragon to get the milk shall we? Cheers!

Aromas:
Very Rich Raspberries, Very Rich Dark chocolate, oak, bourbon notes, marshmallows, milk sugar, raspberry chocolate milkshake, fudge chocolate cake, dark fruit raisins, plums, currants, dark cherry yogurt, vanilla, caramel, pecan pie, Irish cream, mocha notes, rocky road ice cream, hazelnut nectar and flan.

Flavors:
Very Rich Dark Chocolate, Very Rich Raspberries, tart cherry yogurt, dark fruit raisins, figs, currants, black berries, milk chocolate, fudge chocolate cake, milk sugar, raspberry chocolate milkshake, brown sugar, oak, bourbon notes, marshmallows, pecan pie, cocoa, caramel, toffee, vanilla, toasted rye bread, raspberry preserves, molasses, flan notes, sweetened condensed milk, raspberry cheesecake, mocha, raspberry cordials, rocky road ice cream, pecan truffles, anise, Danish cookies, Irish cream, steamed milk, espresso notes and earthy notes.

Aftertaste:
Ending with very nice tart raspberry notes, oak, bourbon notes, caramel, chocolate, earthy notes, vanilla, marshmallows and mocha. No alcohol in the taste, crimson dark full body, creamy and velvety mouthfeel, ridiculously easy to drink despite the ABV.

Overall:
The original Dragon’s milk was something that was unforgettable. Bringing this one back after several years and with raspberries brings a nostalgic time from 2011 when I first started trying different brews all the time. Now with the raspberries in there, the dynamic of the beer has taken a more sweeter frutier approach with milky chocolate notes of the original and bourbon. After trying this one, while it is not super strong on the bourbon category, the complexity it uses to still carry sweet flavors is what makes this one exceptional and exceeding my expectations. This one is definitely on par with the sweetest raspberry beers out there, yes I am looking at you Big Lushious. I highly recommend this if you love dragons. The original was great magic potion, the Dragon’s Milk beer barrel bourbon was delicious.. nor surprise why the raspberries just take it to another level.

Anime Corner:
Sierra from the Legend of Mana has returned from the original pairing I did on Dragon’s Milk back in the day. Sierra is a dragoon who’s animal origin is unknown but mainly resembles the furry dragons of the Never Ending Story with the canine like appearance. It would not surprise me if she is a dragon in reality which honestly I wouldn’t doubt or a dragon hybrid. The reason I also chose her in return has to do with her raspberry color hair blooming in the wind. This pairs extremely well with the raspberry aspects of the beer. Since Sierra is like a ninja in the wind when it comes to fighting, it may be of no surprise why her appearance as as cute yet extremely deadly ninja goes extremely well with how well the beer drinks despite the ABV. Trust me, she gets you good as you try to take her on further and further. She will always bee the Dragon that gives the Dragon’s milk. Yes the original Dragon’s milk kinda depicts where the milk part comes from 😉 .

Sources:
http://i4.pixiv.net/img06/img/tomoteru/33708327.jpg

Drink It Down Brown by El Borracho Home Brewing

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10429390_10102350616941770_8713034503372874147_nRating: 3.75/5

Drink It Down Brown by El Borracho Home Brewing is a 4.4% ABV American Brown Ale.

==Introduction==

My friend William Carranza’s attempt at another home brew recipe for one of his favorite beer styles, the American Brown Ale. This ale was brewed using a slight modification to the original recipe using other ingredients. As a result, he realized this was not what he had expected as the last beer was way better. The beer, at the same time, was also more drinkable as well and there for the name, Drink it down Brown was given. I got a chance to try this beer before the review and I liked it despite the fact that he did not so much. Let us take a look at this one, cheers!

Aromas:
Chocolate hints, caramel notes, mild earthy notes, brown sugar, hints of mild coffee, mild raisins, and pecan notes.

Flavors:
Caramel notes, dark chocolate hints, earthy grains, rye, mild coffee, toffee, mild raisin notes, biscuit brad, pecan notes, hazelnut and brow sugar.

Aftertaste:
Nice dry finish with mild chocolate, earthy grains, toffee, caramel and mild dark fruit. No alcohol in the taste, easy to drink and medium body.

Overall:
A pretty good Brown Ale. Will described this one as more of a New Castle like brew. For me, it is still leagues above New Castle and more flavorful at that. While it may not have been a total success for my friend, there were others like myself that really enjoyed this one. The best thing about homebrewing is experimenting sometimes and sometimes batches of beer come out exceptional and sometimes not so much. Regardless, it is still helpful to learn greater methods of brewing along the way. For that, I would recommend it.

Anime Corner:
Asuka Langley Shikinami/Sohryu from Neon Genesis Evangelion was chosen in this pairing once again as it was the best one that suited the pairing based on my friend Will’s pick from the list. Honestly, I agree as this fits well with the whole drink because you are thirsty. The colors represent the brown and the potential the beer has to grow into something more.

Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/KHZ7F0j.jpg

The Peace That Money Can’t Buy Anniversary Ale by Clown Shoes

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10888742_10102350615569520_8266619846067905427_n 10947315_10102350614092480_3462243984367112997_nRating: 5.45/5

The Peace That Money Can’t Buy Anniversary Ale by Clown Shoes is an 11.5% ABV Belgian Quadrupel aged in Bourbon Barrels.

Label:
We’ve been making beer for five years. There have been a few challenges, but here we are. This bourbon barrel aged Belgian Style Quadrupel Ale commemorates our anniversary, even as we look to the future and know that we cannot rest. Please join us as we work for and search for the kind of peace in life that money can’t buy.

==Introduction==

Clown Shoes has been one of those breweries that have been slowly taking over the world of craft beer, but for the good! They celebrate their 5th anniversary with the release of a bourbon barrel aged quad. The Belgian Quadrupels are one of my favorite styles of beer. Each time clown shoes releases a beer, it comes paired with some of the best artwork out there. Many breweries stand on the great beers they make but when making great beers and great artwork with it, it makes such a win-win combination that it boggles the mind. With this released, I am happy to have found, I bring you the review in hopes you may want to give this one a shot. Cheers!

Aromas:
Dark fruits like cherries, plums, raisins, prunes, dates, currants, vanilla, slight oak, bourbon hints, chocolate hints, dulce de leche caramel, flan hints, brown sugar, dark candi sugar, banana notes, clove spice, cinnamon, ginger spice, stone fruits like apricot, flan, sweetened condensed sugar,anise, port wine hints, rock candy, leather notes, rye bread, tobacco and earthy grains.

Flavors:
Rich dark fruits like prunes, plums, dates, raisins, tart raspberries, cherries, currants, oak, bourbon, pecan pie, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, toffee, marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate notes, candi sugar, rock candy, leather, tobacco, earthy grain notes, clove spice, ginger spice, banana notes, flan, sweetened condensed milk, rye bread, molasses, anise, whiskey notes, butterscotch, port wine notes, concorde grapes, apples, peaches and slight tart apricots.

Aftertaste:
Dark fruit, vanilla, dulce de leche, oak, boarbon notes, stone fruits, flan notes, port wine, leather and dark candi sugar lingers for a bit. No alcohol in the taste, creamy mouthfeel, dark gold and crimson medium body and a sipping drinkability.

Overall:
Exceeding my expectations for a Belgian Quadrupel by a good amount. The Belgian Quad is one of my favorite styles of beer out there and rarely is it barrel aged. For the ones I have tried barrel aged, there are many of the best. This one falls in somewhere definitely as it is more than a regular quad for sure. So even while it is not the best Barrel Aged Quad it is a high rating one with the Barrel aging processes exceeding the regular quad flavors. This is the first I have had a quad from Clown shows and needless to say, it is very awesome! As the beer warms up, more of the hints of tart and dark fruit evolve into a more sugary dessert. I would highly recommend this one and hope Clown Shows the best as the future holds more great and exciting beers!

Anime Corner:
While looking for a good anime pairing that had something in relation to the American Flag or American tradition in general, I could only find these 2 original characters. The name is the peace that money cannot buy. It took a very long time before people started to agree with one another in history and while there may still be conflicts amongst nations, one thing is for certain, people try to get along for the most part here in the USA. The Cowgirl and the Native girl represent 2 sides that had conflict in the nation’s early history but today for many people, these differences are now absolved. While the world could be a better place if everyone got along, it is not the case yet. One day, that true peace where people get along like these 2 in the pairing will come true and we are slowly getting there. That, will be the true peace that money cannot buy. For now, let us rejoice in the love for beer and for others, the love for anime! As for the samurai sword, well, it just looks awesome!

Sources:
http://konachan.com/image/baf459ce72eb1324085ab6238edefd19/Konachan.com%20-%2041079%20animal%20blue_eyes%20gemini_sunrise%20gloves%20hat%20horse%20red_hair%20sakura_taisen_5%20sword%20weapon.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/37/11/e3/3711e34ef7ed6742884fe52973b5f7ca.jpg

Big Lushious by Founders Brewing

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10406402_10102350611597480_5283677084754503916_n 995608_10102350612281110_7474703038067947494_n 1966835_10102350613309050_3309409244486416948_nRating: 6/5* If you love sugar sweet dessert beers, you will love this one.

Big Lushious by Founders Brewing is a 7.8% ABV Imperial Stout brewed with Dark Chocolate and Raspberries.

Description:
Big Lushious is a deep, rich stout that’s packed with flavor: roasted malts, all-natural dark chocolate, a subtle suggestion of burnt coffee grounds and a kiss of tart raspberries. At 7.8% ABV, it’s big, sumptuous and extravagant, but also balanced.

==Introduction==

Founders released this in small quantities to select places. While looking for other beers, I stumbled upon this little diamond in the rough. Founders is typically something we don’t often see around California. While looking for another beer, I included this one just to see how it was. Based on information I gather, this one is supposed to be a guilty pleasure type of beer hence the name and the label may allude to. So let us see if this is the case with the Big Luscious, Cheers!

Aromas:
Extremely Rich Raspberries, Extremely Rich Dark Chocolate, milk chocolate, brown sugar, milk sugar, mild coffee espresso, flan hints, vanilla, fudge chocolate cake, dark fruit raisins, plums, chocolate cherry cordials, dark cherries, roasted malts, Irish cream, Danish cookie notes, caramel chocolate pecan pie and raspberry truffles.

Flavors:
Extremely Rich dark chocolate, milk chocolate, bakers chocolate, chocolate cake, fudge chocolate, chocolate cherry cordials, chocolate covered raspberries, chocolate raspberry,extremely rich dark fruit raspberries, dark cherries, currants, raisins, plums, blackberries, mild tart raspberry skins, vanilla caramel, caramel and pecan turtle truffles, anise hints, molasses, flan, cinnamon, brown sugar, earthy notes, cocoa powder, roasted malts, espresso notes, Irish cream, Danish cookie notes and toffee.

Aftertaste:
Rich Dark chocolate, Very rich raspberries, milk sugar, mocha hints, earthy hints, vanilla and caramel linger for a bit. No alcohol in the taste, Ridiculously easy to drink, Creamy and velvety mouthfeel, pitch black full body with like a crimson and brown head signifying more colors.

Overall:
This beer is exceedingly delicious. Like an actual raspberry chocolate cake. No joke, this beer is a legitimate chocolate and raspberry sugar coma. It is so ridiculously easy to drink that I was tempted to just drink the whole thing. It is very addicting. I give this one a super high rating due to how damn close it taste to liquid raspberries and chocolate syrup. A mild complexity. This beer could be stronger but it is not without its merits. I think however, because of it’s strong and lingering sweetness, it will definitely may not be enjoyed by those that do not have a sweet tooth for a beer like this. It is pretty damn sweet and fruity. So if you love very sweet and easy to drink dessert beers, then go for it. Just be careful not to finish the bottle right away. One of the best Raspberry Chocolate beers ever!

Anime Corner:
Kallen Stadtfeldt from Code Geass was used in this pairing since I wanted to use a character who’s colors correlate with the colors and the flavors of raspberries. While I have used Sakura Haruno from Naruto to do raspberry beers or mainly other girls with pink hair, Kallen seem to fit the bill here. The name of Big Luscious goes with how seductive this beer is to the palate. This beer is pure raspberry bliss so having Kallen be seductive in this instance was pretty much the way to go.

Sources:
http://wallpoper.com/images/00/28/24/36/code-geass_00282436.jpg
http://i.neoseeker.com/mgv/407272/272/32/konachancom_32646_code_geass_gun_kallen_stadtfeld.jpg

Marionberry Braggot by Rogue brewing

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

994441_10102341253356470_2325014001311510069_nRating: 5/5* As far as Braggots go.

Marionberry Braggot by Rogue brewing is an 11.42% ABV Braggot brewed with marionberries and honey.

Label:
We made this braggot with our own marionberries, hops, barley, and honey. Situated across from 40 acres of Rogue hops, 119 Colonies of bees were carefully kept, fed, and smoked and the honey was uncapped, extracted, filtered and finally infused into a refreshing Marionberry Braggot.

17 INGREDIENTS: Rogue Farms Honey & Wildflower Honey; Rogue Farms Dare™, Risk™, Dare™ R-1, Dare™ R-3, Risk™ R-1, Risk™ R-3, Risk™ R-7, Maier Munich & C120 Malts; Rogue Farms Flaked Rye; Rogue Farms Rebel Hops; Rogue Farms Marionberries & Marionberry Juice; Free Range Coastal Water & Pacman Yeast.

==Introduction==

A Braggot is a style of fermented drink brewed in the 12th century. Blending spices, herbs, mead (honey wine) and beer. This is the first time I try a Braggot and frankly I don’t know what to expect. It is much closer to a mead and a beer so I will take it as I can. I have never had marionberry either but they do look a lot like dark raspberries or a blackberry. I can only apply so much of my beer expertise to this one and since it is a hybrid of a mead and beer, I can only do as best I can. Lets dig into this one shall we? Cheers!

Aromas:
Marrionberries?, Dark fruits like raisins, plums, cherries, raspberries, blackberries, earthy notes, rye bread, vanilla, caramel, honey, ginger spice, herbal notes, flowers, lavender, pomegranates, brown sugar and pecan pie, and milk chocolate.

Flavors:
Rich dark fruits like raisins, figs, marionberries?, dark cherry, raspberries, blackberries, currants, pomegranate, spices, rye bread, earthy notes, green tea, honey, herbs, toffee, biscuit bread, vanilla caramel, slight hint of flan, ginger spice, cinnamon hints, flowers, lavender, wild flower nectar, pecan pie and almond joy chocolate.

Aftertaste:
Leaving with some herbal yet sweet honey and rich berry sweetness behind with caramel, vanilla and earthy notes. No alcohol in the taste regardless of the ABV, dark brown body, easy to moderate drinkability despite the ABV and creamy, smooth and mildly syrupy mouthfeel.

Overall:
Since I can’t judge a Braggot since since this type of drink is so rare, I can only say for being my first kind I really like it and I think it is perfect. The rich flavors are sweet but there are is a sense of herbs and some hidden spices that balances everything out so it is not like an ale in that sense. This reminds me of Dogfish Head Forte in a way. Also, the alcohol is not even present which is concerning since it is easy to drink. Not that I would have a problem with it but trying to drink the whole thing would be like a night capper. For being the first Braggot I try, I definitely recommend it if you like fruit like ales or meads. I would gladly get this again.

Anime Corner:
Asuka Langley Shikinami/Sohryu and Mari Illustrious from Evangelion were used in this pairing to pair with the colors of the bottle, the color of the ingredients of the beer such as the variety of berries and the honey ofcourse. With the mix of Mari’s Brown hair (Body color), pink plug suit(Marionberries) and Asuka’s caramel colored hair(caramel and honey), Red plugsuit (Cherries and other dark fruits), Green plugs, (hops) and the birds (like the beers around the honey) this was the greatest pairing I could find for this beer. I really enjoyed the colors overall and the 12% ABV is mainly due to the fact that these 2 ladies are very very deadly and complete badasses. They are smooth as they are sexy but once they get you, your are done for!

Sources:
http://konachan.com/post/show?md5=9b816627b61bd4f0be82ec6d148452d5

Japanese Green Tea IPA collaboration by Baird, Stone and Ishii brewing

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10931552_10102341252593000_8740547401777090240_n 10419954_10102341253032120_2060022365432984757_nRating: 5.2/5

Japanese Green Tea IPA collaboration by Baird, Stone and Ishii brewing is a 10.1% Double India Pale Ale brewed with Green Tea.

Label:
Our style of brewing has always been about taking chances. It’s an extension of our “what-if” mentality, wherein we ask ourselves what would happen if we did things di¬fferently in the brewhouse, such as fermenting with a di¬fferent strain of yeast or, in the case of this beer, incorporating whole-leaf green tea imported from Japan. The answer, embodied in this IPA when we first released it in 2011, was something truly magnificent, delicious and as proven by the reissued edition you hold in your hand in 2015, well worth brewing again. But what if we changed it up a bit? Yes, it’s riskier to change something most people thought to be liquid perfection, including out two-time collaborators Bryan Baird of Japan’s Baird Brewing Company and Toshi Ishiii, a former Stone brewer and the founder of Guam’s Ishii Brewing Co., but we’ve found that, when approached with cautious curiosity and logic-driven creativity, reward often follows such risk. So, in bringing this IPA back to life, we followed the same recipe developed four years ago, but exchanged Pacifica hops from New Zealand,a hop-growing region that was becoming quite popular in 2011, for Helga hops from Australia, an area with burgeoning botanical scene right now. The result is an IPA that’s as bright, herbaceous and bitingly hoppy as the one that’s had our fans requesting its return ever since its depletion from store shelves, but with a modern, hop-driven twist that makes this second draft unique and tasty in its own right.

==Introduction==

Oh My God It’s Back!! The Green Tea IPA is back! The one beer that actually managed to nail the green tea flavors. The original brew was made in support of the Japanese Tsunami from March 2011. I had received my first sample from my friend Julio who got me a bottle of this and had traded for a St. Bernardus back in 2011. This beer was very special and as I remember it was very delicious. It’s return and especially in a bigger quantity is baffling. I am hoping and praying and a return of the Chocolate Cherry Stout collab. That beer was damn out of this world and even aged well too. Well, let us take a look at the re-release, Cheers!

Aromas:
Green Tea, caramel, vanilla, grassy, piney, herbal, floral and mild grapefruit hops, stone fruit like lychee, apricot, pears, apple, guava, dragon fruit, green tea ice cream, mango, purple sweet potato ice cream, sweetened condenced milk, vanilla, oranges, tangerines, prickly pears, lemon grass and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Rich Green Tea Ice cream, vanilla, biscuit bread, grassy, piney, herbal, floral and mild grapefruit hops, garlic and oniony notes, citrus, pineapple, rich Green tea leaves, spearmint/yerba buena, sweetened condensed milk, strawberry notes, flan, dragon fruit, lychee, pears, apples, stone fruit hints, purple sweet potato ice cream, guava, tangerines, oranges, coriander spice, lemon peel, lemon grass, mango, pineapple hints and prickly pear.

Aftertaste:
Green tea, rich vanilla, caramel, sweetened condensed milk hints, rich hoppy, grassy notes, citrus and honey. No alcohol in the taste, clear golden body, creamy, crisp, refreshing and smooth mouthfeel, easy to drink. 10% really ain’t nothing for this beer.

Overall:
Damn perfect IPA. Just as good as what I can remember from when I first had it in 2011 but maybe better. It is like a fusion between an IPA and a Green Tea Ice cream. So far, it is showing me it is the best Double IPA in 2015 and very damn unique. The variety and change slightly in the recipe is showing me some stuff I have not seen before. I would highly recommend this one as it has become one of my favorite IPAs.

Anime Corner:
Fuu Kasami from Samurai Champloo was used in the original review way back in 2011. I chose her for the review in this pairing since I wanted to pair with the aspect of Japanese Culture and Green Tea. Fuu has a back up of Samurais by the names of Mugen and Jin so if she is in trouble they are there to protect. The overall aspect of Japanese influence in this beer is insane so the perfect pairing back then was just the one for this one too. Definitely even at 10%, it has Samurai Champloo all over it.

Sources:
http://genzoman.deviantart.com/art/Fuu-Samurai-Champloo-165865071
http://denoro.deviantart.com/art/Fuu-78135233

The Czar from the Dictator Series by Avery Brewing

by tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10924152_10102335621637480_6964918347188166528_oRating: 4.75/5

The Czar from the Dictator Series by Avery Brewing is an 8.5% ABV Russian Imperial Stout.

Label:
Inhale the noble Hallertau hops, spicy and floral. Savor the flavors redolent of English toffee, rich mocha, sweet molasses, candied currants and a hint of anise. We highly recommend cellaring additional bottles, as the Czar will continue to mature and become denser and more complex with age.

==Introduction==

Available during the winter time, this is the first time I try this beer. I believe this is the last of the dictator series as I have tried the Kaiser, the Maharaja and now the Czar. I heard many great things about this beer so I am glad I was able to bring it here to the site. Come share with me the experience of this one as we explore another Russian Imperial Stout with the Czar himself. Cheers!

Aromas:
Dark chocolate, dark fruits raisins, currants, raspberry, blackberry, raisin bread pudding, molasses, smokey notes, anise, licorice, Belgian yeast bread notes, marzipan, brown sugar, pecan pie and candi sugar hints.

Flavors:
Dark Chocolate, milk chocolate, bakers chocolate, Roasted coffee, vanilla, caramel, earthy hop notes, smokey notes, dark fruit raisins, currants, blackberries, raspberry, plums, raisin bread pudding, molasses, brown sugar, marzipan, pecan notes, toffee, marzipan, licorice, anise, Belgian candi sugar and grapes.

Aftertaste:
Mild roastiness, dark fruit still peeking through, caramel, molasses, earthy notes and dark chocolate. No alcohol in the taste, creamy mouthfeel, moderate to sipping drinkability and pitch black body.

Overall:
A very good stout with some prominent and complex amount of flavors. Since it is complex, the roasty and slightly smokey flavors do not dominate the the palate and are instead given way to some dark fruits. This reminds me a little bit like the Stillwater Artisanal Folklore in a sense as it somewhat drinks like a Belgian Stout but still has some roasty bitterness to balance everything out. I highly recommend this one.

Anime Corner:
Original Character from Madou Koukaku was used in this pairing since I wanted something to fit the whole aspect of the Soviet colors of Red. The Czar wore some very fancy military and country leader attire so I figure a character that would best fit the description would best fit the bill. Even if it seems a bit old, it is similar in the attire.

Sources:
http://armarium.org/u/2014/02/21/Ts5pG.jpg

2014 Big Hugs by Half Acre brewing

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10914885_10102331749327620_1838702685752348415_o 10919053_10102331750170930_1811900761799292639_n 10924151_10102331744612070_1425635638745076138_o 10928177_10102331745949390_8699194606630806242_nRating: 5.5/5

2014 Big Hugs by Half Acre brewing is a 10% ABV Imperial Stout brewed with Dark Matter Coffee

Description:
This beer is a thug. Big and chock full of tender embrace.

A specialty brew. Grab it when you see it. 10% ABV.

==Introduction==

This is the second time I try this beer and this time it is at its freshest. Thanks to www.mybeercollectibles.com for helping me obtain this one as this one is nowhere to be found here in California. Although, from what I remember in the last time I reviewed this beer, it was awesome aged. This beer is still hard to find unless you live near Chicago or can trade for it. Either way, let us see how well the fresher one does here.

Label: https://brewerianimelogs.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/c74e2-bighugs2014_over-final.jpg

Aromas:
Fancy roasted coffee, espresso, Mocha, Java Kahlua, vinous grapes, dark fruits like raisins, prunes, plum hints, dark cherry, blackberry, currants, deep dark chocolate, hazelnut nectar, rock candy, Danish Cookies, oatmeal cookies, spices like ginger, herbal notes, brownies, peppercorns and tobacco.

Flavors:
Mocha, Fancy roasted coffee, espresso, vinous grape notes, java, Kahlua, caramel, vanilla, dark fruit raisins, plums, prunes, hazelnut nectar, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, bakers chocolate, molasses, walnuts, pecan pie, toffee, brownies, rock candy, peanut butter, Danish cookies, oatmeal cookies, peppercorn, tobacco, leather, smokey hints, brownies, spicy notes, herbal hints, complex coffee notes, earthy notes, dark cherry, black berries, and prailines.

Aftertaste:
Fancy Coffee roast, spicy coffee complexity earthy notes, caramel, dark chocolate and vanilla. No alcohol in the taste, Smooth and creamy mouthfeel, almost easy to drink despite the ABV, Dark like the abyss of nothingness dark body.

Overall:
Damn, every time I try a different roasty variant from different companies such as Dark Matter or Portola Labs, they always have some really complex stuff. Like the fact that the coffee world is on its own level, just mixing it with some of these beers makes them that much more complex. Also the fact that this makes this one is just that much of an exceeding expectations kind of beer is just phenomenal. I really think the fresher the beer is better as you get more of the coffee complexity than what I did with the 2 year aged one. It is rather strange but I really feel like this was the case with this one.

Anime Corner:

Ark Angel MR or Evil Mythra from Final Fantasy XI was used in this pairing as I used her in the last pairing. The original idea had to do with the whole Big Hugs. Since she is a gray cat lady with crimson eyes, it would have fit with the Mecha Hugs Label. The fact that she is an Ark Angel, she fits even more perfect with the Cat Angel of Death and the whole Big Hugs as she squeezes the orange Mythra representing the colors of the original Big Hugs cat. This beer is evil, Feline Evil.

****Update****:
Just like the surprise toy in the cereal boxes or the special prizes they have on those McDonalds cups, Peel the original label to get so much Win in this awesome label behind the Original. Yeah I really didn’t catch this until later. YAY BigHugs!! See, Ark Angel MR and regular Mithra are great friends!
IMAG7504

Sources:
https://brewerianimelogs.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/564b9-chp6jf56bks039cj.jpg
http://oi62.tinypic.com/29zu35v.jpg

Voodoo Doughnut Lemon Chiffon Crueller Ale by Rogue Brewing

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10900237_10102331779372410_8644087668709201982_oRating: 4.75/5

Voodoo Doughnut Lemon Chiffon Crueller Ale by Rogue Brewing is a 6.9% ABV Fruit Ale brewed with lemon juice, vanilla beans and marshmallows.

Description:
Dedicated to Tres & Cat Daddy, The Rogues of Voodoo Doughnut

A Collision of Crazies.

Rogue Ales has again collided with Voodoo Doughnut to create Lemon Chiffon Crueller Ale! This unique artisan creation contains a baker’s dozen ingredients including lemon juice, vanilla bean, and marshmallows to match Voodoo’s Lemon Chiffon Crueller doughnut.

Food Pairing: Doughnuts, Desert

13 Ingredients:

Malts: 2-Row, Munich, & Rogue Farms Dare™ and Risk™

Hops: Perle, Sterling

Specialty: Lemon Juice, Lemon Extract, Vanilla Beans, Vanilla Extract, Marshmallows

Yeast & Water: Pacman Yeast & Free Range Coastal Water

Specs:

16 deg PLATO

20 IBU

78 AA

7 deg Lovibond

==Introduction==

The next installment of variants for Rogues Voodoo Doughnut beers. This time made in the form of a lemon chiffon crueller. I have no idea what a chiffon is but a quick google search talks about a pastry like a lemon cake. So I would assume this is supposed to be like a lemon merengue pie or lemon cake in a bottle. Of the other 3 variants, so far I really like the Chocolate raspberry pretzel and the Peanut buter banana ones. Lets see how this one plays out. Cheers!

Aromas:
Lemon cake, lemon merengue pie, marshmallow cream, vanilla, caramel, biwscuit bread, butterscotch, oranges, citrus, waffle cone, whipped cream, flan hints, doughnuts, banana notes, cookie dough, mint, lemon ice cream, orange creamcicle, piney hop notes and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Lemon candy, lemon drops, marshmallows, caramel, vanilla, lemon grass, biscuit bread, lemon merengue pie, orange preserves, orange peel, lemon and banana pound cake, pecan pie hints, piney hops, flan hints, marshmallow cream, whipped cream, banana hints, doughnut sugar, cookie dough, white grapes, peach, pears, mint, lemon peel and tangerines.

Aftertaste:
Sweet and tart lemon candy, marshmallow, vanilla, citrus and piney hops. No alcohol in the taste, clear gold body, creamy, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel and easy to drink.

Overall:
Very good ale to me but maybe off putting for some beer experts. They really nailed the whole lemon drop candy jelly doughnut aspect but maybe some of the sweetness may not be good for some and the lemon tartness may or may not be much. All in all I think this is worth the try and I personally like lemon and lemon candies but generally speaking, I like the raspberry pretzel chocolate and peanut butter banana ones better. Give it a try if you are willing.

Anime Corner:
Ashikaga Yoshiteru from Sengoku Hime was used in this pairing since I wanted to pair her with the colors of the beer mainly but also to show a small aspect of voodoo in relation to magic which can be seen by the mask she has. In Japanese lore, the flame next to the mask can be seen as one of the single flames from the pair of Will O’ Wisp which are known to follow the Yūrei which are like the equivalent of ghosts or spirits in Japan. In relation to the word Voodoo, that is almost in relation to the dead or bringing the dead back to life. It sort of fits although, Voodoo Doughnuts are merely magical since they are delicious.

Sources:
http://anime-pictures.net/pictures/get_image/234222-1280×720-sengoku+hime+4-long+hair-wide+image-blonde+hair-red+eyes-game+cg.png

Tricerahops by Ninkasi brewing

by tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10917347_10102323491047280_5234351785276997226_n 10928999_10102323491646080_306066297248819862_nRating: 5/5

Tricerahops by Ninkasi brewing is an 8% ABV Double Indial Pale Ale.

Label:
Tricerahops is double everything you already love in an IPA. More hops, more malt body and a higher gravity define this Double India Pale Ale. Fiercely flavorful, guaranteed to satisfy.

==Introduction==

A beer I have seen for a number of times but didn’t pick up until one day I said, meh, what the hell. Ninkasi brewing makes some awesome beers and so far I have been fortunate to try their Maiden the Shade and Vanilla Oatis. Today I bring their Double IPA to the site. Ninkasi has been a recent find here in California and was not the case in the past. People have asked me about this beer advising that it was really awesome. So I figured I put it to the test. Let’s take a peek, cheers!

Aromas:
Oranges, caramel, honey, floral, grapefruit, grassy, piney and herbal hops, toffee, butterscotch, stone fruits like peach and apricot, brown sugar, pineapple, dragon fruit, honey dew melon, lots of citrus, lemon peel, dank oniony and garlic notes and flowers.

Flavors:
Caramel, honey, Grapefruit, grassy, piney, floral and herbal hops, peach, apricot, tangerine, dragon fruit, mango, rye bread, lychee, pineapple, butterscotch, biscuit bread, garlic and oniony notes, sweet flan hints, orange marmalade, toffee, herbal notes, flowers, lemon peel, guava hints, vanilla hints, oregano, yerba buena/spearmint and good amount of brown sugar.

Aftertaste:
Caramel, citrus, rye bread, mango, piney herbal and grapefruit hops linger. No alcohol in the taste, crisp, refreshing and almost creamy mouthfeel, clear golden amber body and easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A very delicious and perfect DIPA in the category of more malty and caramel like with enough hops to balance everything out. It is almost like the east coast style but not as citrusy. Unlike the tropical IPAs I really enjoy, this one I enjoyed since it was pretty balanced. This is almost at the realm of Hop Stoopid as it is super balanced with hops and malty sweetness. Despite those that are to the more extreme hop side and me who enjoys more tropical IPAs, I really liked what this one had to offer and therefore highly recommended.

Anime Corner:
Queen Chrysalis from MLP was used in this pairing mainly to pair with the colors of the label but also the invigorating power of the hops. You can see how the teals and greens kind of meld together in this beer making for one super strong Double IPA. I do not know much about the character but I figured she worked well with this pairing as I am sure being the antagonist comes with supreme power (Hops and ABV) even if she looks damn innocent (Sweet malt yet hoppy balance). Also She looks like a damn dragon and dragons are cool so there! She also has that whole Maleficent thing going on.

Sources:
http://bakki.deviantart.com/art/Chrysalis-404431680

Lupulus Classique Noir D’Ardennes by Brasserie Les 3 Fourquets

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10897056_10102323458048410_5916944723079893208_nRating: 4.55/5

Lupulus Classique Noir D’Ardennes by Brasserie Les 3 Fourquets is an 8.5% ABV Belgian Strong Dark Ale.

Label:
Top-fermented beer, crafted with inspiration.

==Introduction==

“Humulus Lupulus” or as translated better, the “Humble Wolf” is the main mascot for the hidden Farm of a brewery in Ardennes Belgium. This is the first time I try a beer from Les 3 Fourquets or The 3 Boiling Kettles and I really wanted to find it when my friend Richard showed this one to me. Now that I finally got it, I will give it a shot and let you know what I find. Cheers!

Aromas:
Oak, herbal and floral hop hints, dulce de leche caramel, dark fruit raisins, plums, tart cherries, raspberries, vanilla, oak, chardonay, funky wine grapes, peppercorn, brown sugar, rye, citrus, dark candi sugar, orange preserves, butterscotch, lavender, licorice and waffle cone.

Flavors:
Dulce de leche Caramel, Dark fruit raisins, plums, figs, funky wine grapes, caramel, oak, mild tart lemon, peppercorn, molasses, Belgian candi sugar, white grape, lavender, herbal notes, vanilla, butterscotch, old orange preserves, rye bread, anise, licorice, tart raspberry, blackberries, waffle cone, floral notes, grapefruit hints, pecan pie and trail mix.

Aftertaste:
Funky grape, dark fruits, oak, vanilla, caramel, anise, licorice, wine grapes and earthy notes but mainly finishes dry. No alcohol in the taste, medium to full body, sipping drinkability and creamy mouthfeel.

Overall:
A very good Dark and mildly Tart Belgian. This beer was surprising. I was expecting a Sweet Abbey style Dark Belgian but what I got fits exactly with the whole wolf in the woods in the land where the Brewery is in Ardennes Belgium. You see, this beer is almost like a Dark Strong ale and Belgian Pale Ale Cuvee. The flavors of what makes each of those individual characteristics great using the hops and the dark candi sugars is what compliments this fine beer. I was dumb founded at first but the more I tried it the more I liked it. I would recommend a try if you really wanna get this as it is quite unique.

Anime Corner:
Vocaloid Hatsune Miku as Little Red Riding Hood was fitted perfectly in this little pairing for many reasons. Being the first beer from Les 3 Fourquets, the whole aspect of the forest, the wolf from the brewery trying to find little red riding hood and the color of her hair fits with the whole lupulus. If you look closely, you can see the wolf in the background but then again, Miku looks pretty evil herself. What if she is the true wolf in the woods disguising herself like the sweet innocent wolf looks like in the label. That is the mystery and hence why this beer is a mystery in flavors of nature as well.

Sources:
http://www.zerochan.net/full/1641460

Chocolate Hazelnut Porter (CHP) by Heretic brewing

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

11415_10102323355124670_8793380615176811571_n 10917112_10102323354775370_3507348971530490476_nRating: 4.65/5

Chocolate Hazelnut Porter (CHP) by Heretic brewing is a 7% ABV American Porter brewed with natural flavors.

Label:
Chocolate hazelnut Porter was the very first beer I entered in competition. It took 3rd place and gave me feedback on what I could do to improve. This sparked my passion for using competition to improve my brewing. The next time it took 1st place and eventually a Best of Show award. This is just something wonderful about the combination of rich chocolate and toasty hazelnut. When I started Heretic, people asked when we would release Chocolate Hazelnut Porter, but we had to be patient. Like that first award winning beer, I had to make sure the one in this bottle was perfect before we could release it. Many brews and tastings later, I am proud to offer you this rich, chocolaty, nutty, dessert in a glass. -Jamil Zainasheff

==Introduction==

I’ve seen some of the Heretic beers around but this one really caught my attention. I rally like sweet beers so chocolate hazelnut really sounded like an awesome mix. This would probably remind me of the Rogue Hazelnut Nectar, I thought. So I picked it up and brought it for a review here on the site. If you have tried this one let me know what you think, but here is what I think, let us take a look shall we? Cheers!

Aromas:
Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, bakers chocolate, hazelnut, brown sugar, mocha hints, smokey notes, roasted coffee, graham cracker, peanut butter hints, caramel, molasses and dark fruit hints.

Flavors:
Dark chocolate, bakers chocolate, milk chocolate, peanut butter hints, hazelnut, roasty coffee notes, pecan pie, marshmallows, smokey notes, graham cracker, oatmeal cookies, chocolate chip cookies, caramel, vanilla, mocha hints, notes of dark fruit raisins, dark cherry hints, brown sugar, molasses and anise.

Aftertaste:
Earthy notes, roasted coffee, hazelnut, dark chocolate, caramel, vanilla and pecan pie hints. No alcohol in the taste, smooth and creamy mouthfeel, dark full body and moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A very good beer which showcases a lot of sweet complexities but also emphasizes a roasty and smokey like character that balances it out over all. As it warms up, more of the sweeter chocolate and hazelnut flavors do tend to come out more frequently. While the beer is not as super complex and rich as other beers it still has enough to get things going and mainly still be considered a very nice dessert beer that would pair with other desserts. A must try.

Anime Corner:
Tayuya from Naruto was chosen in this pairing to pair with the motto of the beer. Release your Inner Heretic. There is a hidden evil yet deliciousness about the beer, but Tayuya has been used in several pairings to express something evil hidden. Some of the beers I have used to pair with Tayuya have been bitter or smokey in a sense as she brims with the hidden fires of her cursed form which you can see what it looks like. Sweet on the outside but dark and roasty on the inside. The beer kind of fits as the flavors of Chocolate and Hazelnut are presented in the beer and then shift into the roasty and smokiness to balance everything out.

Sources:
http://www.zerochan.net/1331583#full
http://static.zerochan.net/Tayuya.full.626165.jpg

Smashing Pumpkin Ale by Avila Ales

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10926265_10102323269386490_4691924029885868015_oRating: 4.65/5

Smashing Pumpkin Ale by Avila Ales is a 5.5% ABV Pumpkin Ale brewed with Pumpkin Flesh and Cinnamon Sticks.

==Introduction==

It is way past fall and well, were are still technically in winter but even then, when it comes to home brew, any style is great on any time of the year. My friends Richard and Megan Avila allowed me the opportunity not only to get to bring this beer to the site but also get involved in what was their first All Grain Brew process. I was glad I was able to have a very small part in the creation of this nice all grain pumpkin beer. This has inspired me to finally step up to the plate and start brewing my own beers. I will soon have a first batch to present but for the meantime, let us check this amazing fall beer. By the way home brewers, while my friend did get the original recipe from Northern Brewing, his addition of ingredients slightly tweaks the recipe so this review may help as to what to expect if you brew it similarly. Cheers!
(http://www.northernbrewer.com/…/smashing-pumpkin-ale-all-gr…)

Aromas:
Cinnamon, pumpkin, vanilla, honey, biscuit bread, sugar, citrus, ginger hints, pecans, caramel, maple and clove spice.

Flavors:
Pumpkin Flesh, Piloncillo, cinnamon, milk sugar, vanilla, honey, citrus hints, toffee, maple hints, clove spice, banana hints, peanut butter hints, sweet potato, caramel, biscuit bread, hazelnut, pecan pie, earthy hop notes, ginger bread and nutmeg.

Aftertaste:
Pumpkin flesh, cinnamon,earthy hop notes, ginger bread and honey. No alcohol in the taste, honey brown light to medium body, light creamy and crisp mouthfeel and easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A very good pumpkin beer. When I first tried it at a colder temperature, you can definitely a small amount of bitterness while still tasting the pumpkin flesh and cinnamon complexity. However, once it got warmer, that is when the magic happened. The more complex flavors really started to shine and was way more enjoyable that way. Definitely a great beer to homebrew.

Anime Corner:
Lucy Heartfilia from Fairy Tale was used in this pairing mainly to pair with the pumpkin, fall and Halloween aspects that are brought from these pumpkin beers which is the obvious. While I didn’t show the smashing of pumpkins, the word smashing in English context can also be seen similar to the work awesome or excellent. If the name of the beer was smashing pumpkins, well, we can say that the smashing pumpkin is the one next to Lucy and Lucy has some smashing pumpkins. I leave you to figure that out.

Sources: http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/…/i…/4/45/LucyYummyFanart.png

(Brewerianimelogs Food Pairing) Chocolate Rain (2014 Release) by the Bruery with Chocolate Marble Cheese Cake.

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

IMAG7457

As a small addition to my usual reviews of beer tastings, I will now and again try to incorporate some food parings for some beers. Seeing as this is the start of the new year, I figured I write something small about a beer and dessert pairing. Not many people do this and some have way more experience than I do. However, with my knowledge of beer tasting I will try to figure out how the dynamics of adding foods to beers change the experience. Brewerianimelogs food pairings will only be a short segment though. Cheers!

 

Food Pairing:
Bringing in the new year, I had some cheese cake left over in the fridge and I thought to myself, how awesome would chocolate rain fit with a cheese cake. The results were  very nice and surprising. The Chocolate Rain (2014 Release) by the Bruery is an 18.5% ABV Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels with TCHO Cacao Nibs and Vanilla Beans and was aged for about a year. Upon trying the Chocolate Marble Cheesecake, the strong bourbon characters become subtle allowing the rest of the complex flavors of the chocolate and vanilla to meld with the Chocolate and Cheesecake. The experience is much better than the beer alone and in some cases, it seems the age has made beer much stronger and cutting away some of the excess sweetness. So trying it with the cheese cake balances out the alcohol but provides some depth to the cheese cake and the beer that otherwise would not have been taken by themselves. It is pretty damn amazing and almost milk shake, flan, dulce de leche and tres leches rich but not super sweet. This beer definitely fits the category of dessert enhancer and would pair great with just about any dessert. January 1st also marks a special day for Yoruichi Shihouin, which is my mascot for this beer as shown in the original review below. Hope you enjoyed this small review, cheers!


Anime and Beer Review:
https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2014/01/20/chocolate-rain-2014-release-by-the-bruery/