Monthly Archives: February 2017

Super Bashah (Black As Sin Hoppy As Hell) of the Stone Berlin Groundbreaking Collaboration Series #3 by Stone & Brew Dog

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Rating: 6/6
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Super Bashah (Black As Sin Hoppy As Hell) of the Stone Berlin Groundbreaking Collaboration Series #3 by Stone & Brew Dog is a 10% ABV Black Belgian Double India Pale Ale.

Label:
Series 3 of 14

Glorious mayhem always ensues when Stone Brewing and BrewDog team up to brew a beer. Mix a lifelong metalhead known for having an occasionally aggressive attitude toward the panel with self-professed punks notorious for brewing hardcore beers and pushing the boundaries at full-throttle pace…and this hopped-up headbanger was a no-brainer. Part imperial stout, part Belgian abbey ale and all IPA, this style-smashing hybrid is a supercharged version of the BrewDog / Stone bashah original from 2009. BASHAH: Black As Sin. Hoppy As Hell. This Berlin mash-up will no doubt suffice in satiating those who crave intensity and a pummeling of flavor. Any ringing in your ears from the cacophony should subside within a few days. Probably.

SPECIAL INGREDIENTS
Chocolate Malt & Belgian Yeast

Tasting Notes: Paradoxical in style, roasted malts dominate until the herculian hops and sweet Belgian yeast takes over.

Aroma: Funky dark fermented fruits muddled with citrus and some sweetness.

BBQ duck tacos, bacon-wrapped figs, shiitake mushroom risotto, baklava

Our dream to be the first American craft brewery to independently build, own and operate a brewery in Europe has become a reality. Located in a historic 1901 building, our state of the art brewhouse and destination restaurant in the Mariendorf neighborhood is a true thing of beauty! As promised, we invited some of our best friends in craft brewing to create an exceptional series of celebratory beers. We hope you enjoy the international camaraderie that went inot making these fourteen truly groundbreaking collaborations!

MIT STOLZ GEBRAUT IN BERLIN

==Introduction==
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In 2014, Stone was raising money to open a brewery in Berlin, Germany. It would be the first time an American craft brewery would open up a business in Europe. For Germany who has Bavarian laws on the beer making process, craft beer would no coincide with their laws. However, Stone being some crazy arrogant bastards were able to make their way into the market and were successful to open up shop. At the time, I had donated money on promised collaborations with different breweries. Mainly some of the ones I like such as Brew Dog, Lost Abbey, The Bruery, Surly and even Devil’s Gate/Will Wheaton. So, with the donations I made in that year, I was wondering if I would ever see a return on my investment. Long behold, Stone contacted me to inform that they were going to release the beers and so today I bring Super Bashah.
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Super Bashah was based on BASHAH which Stone did a collaboration with Brew Dog years ago and it was a memorable beer. That is why when I heard they were doing a collaboration again for the tribute of the new brewery I wanted to bring this one to the site, new and improved, super BASHAH. So thankfully, here it is. Now, these beers will be available at Stone Stores but I do not know if they will see distribution. That is why I suggest possibly visiting Stone or trade for one, as they will be sold to the public. Let’s have a look at Super BASHAH!

Aromas:
Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, smokey oak, roasted coffee, espresso roast, leather, tobacco, bananas, clove spice, anise, molasses, Citrus, grapefruit, piney, floral, herbal, dank garlicky hops, vanilla, biscuit bread, stone fruit peach, apricot, Belgian candy sugar, rock candy, burnt sugar, piloncillo sugar cone, funky farmhouse, Dulce de leche caramel and lots of dark fruit.
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Flavors:
Citrus, grapefruit, piney, floral, herbal, dank garlicky hops, vanilla, biscuit bread, Tropical dragon fruit, passion fruit, kiwi, guava, papaya, strawberry, Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, smokey oak, roasted coffee, espresso roast, coffee cake, charred malt, Dark fruit raisins, plums, figs, currants, blackberries, raspberries, prunes, port wine, leather, tobacco, Dulce de leche caramel, bananas, clove spice, anise, molasses, flan, crème brulee, stone fruit peach, apricot, Belgian candy sugar, rock candy, burnt sugar, piloncillo sugar cone, mushrooms, funky farmhouse hay and phenolics.
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Aftertaste:
Finishing with dark chocolate, tropical fruit, dark fruit, stone fruit, caramel, roasted barley, dank fruity and earthy hops. No alcohol in the taste, Pitch black, 5th dimensional dark abysmal body, super smooth, creamy, refreshing, crisp and velvety mouthfeel along with a very easy drinkability despite the ABV.
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Overall:
Ridiculous! Bashah! How is this beer possible? Ridiculous smoothness, ridiculously easy to drink and super well done. I think the complexity and the Belgian Dark helps this one be hoppy but not super bitter. This was a very well made beer and worth my investment in the sponsorship of the Berlin Brewery. Of the new ones that have come from Berlin, I love them all so far but this one I love even more. Reminded me so much of Stillwater’s Folklore to another level. I definitely and highly recommend this one to those who love Black IPAs and Dark Belgians.
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Anime Corner:
Rukia Kuchiki from Bleach as a devil/succubus was originally used on the original beer of BASHAH so naturally, she would make a return for Super BASHAH. The original reason to use this version of Rukia was to go well with the gargoyle of Stone. Since that time, Rukia has gone through many epic changes in the series and has gotten stronger. So displaying many of her different changes including BANKAI and the Chinese Kunfu Martial artists, I felt worked great for this special occasion of a pairing.
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Sources:
http://img13.deviantart.net/5462/i/2009/297/3/9/devil_rukia_by_gray_fullbuster.jpg
https://secure.static.tumblr.com/9f8bc91c0564907fa4475f421e00aaef/ixaiiuk/68ro4hkc6/tumblr_static_tumblr_static_3yucn8jlqa68gk8o8gggs0csc_640.jpg
http://img04.deviantart.net/12dd/i/2011/283/e/9/rukia_kuchiki_by_makiilu-d4cgr5y.png
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/e6/56/83/e65683423c8c79d756a12284884c5efe.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CV7-g3rUkAMD6Os.jpg
http://static4.fjcdn.com/comments/3092012+_ad09936c9f232b886c3cafbd768cc4ed.png
http://img15.deviantart.net/ef21/i/2013/011/9/8/halloween_rukia_by_escarter-d5r5ko4.png
http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/4213/249937769.13f/0_19c10e_768cd38_XL

Stone Give Me IPA or Give Me Death collaboration by Stone Brewing in Virginia

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Rating: 4.95/5
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Stone Give Me IPA or Give Me Death collaboration by Stone Brewing in Virginia is a 8 % ABV Imperial India Pale Ale brewed with Raspberries & Blackberries from the commonwealth of Virginia

Label:
Virginia Commemorative Collaboration

An Imperial Tribute to Richmond & the rise of craft beer independence.

Just as Patrick Henry once stood addressing the city of Richmond in 1775 to spur resistance against the tyrannical British Empire, 20 years ago we were stirred to join the cry for resistance against the tyrannical oppression of industrial beer. And now, the opening of our Richmond brewery is yet another shot in the salvo that has been fired on behalf of American brewing independence. If we wish to brew free, if we mean to retain our identity and preserve the privilege of access to independent craft beer, we must recognize it is a group effort. We do not stand alone. And so, on our new brewing grounds, we gathered with fellow craft breweries and “His Excellency,” Governor McAuliffe, to join together in force. A group cry of freedom & independence! Consider this aggressively hopped imperial IPA, jam-packed with Virginia raspberries and blackberries, a testament to our passion and unwillingness to settle or sell out! We think Patrick Henry would be proud, and hope you will be too.

Our Collaborators
Ardent Craft Ales
Hardywood Park Brewery
His Excellency Terry McAuliffe, Virginia Governor.

==Introduction==
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The second release from Stone’s new brewery in Virginia in collaboration with local facilities and government. The first was the stout made with the same ingredients. This time, its an IPA. Fruited IPAs have varied responses in the communities. I personally love fruit IPAs but with one being made with the tribute of the state and Stone’s location is quite the honor. Even the name is rings history as I uses the quote used in Patrick Henry’s speech, “Give Me Liberty of Give Me Death” during the American Revolution. So with that being said, let us see how this beer is, cheers!

Aromas:
Tropical fruit papaya, kiwi, passion fruit hints, guava, floral, piney, citrus, grassy grapefruit and earthy hops, biscuit bread, vanilla, lemon peel, wild flower honey, biscuit bread, lychee fruit, honey dew melon, tangerine gummies and cherry notes.

Flavors:
Citrus, grapefruit, floral, grassy, piney and earthy dank hops, biscuit bread, lychee fruit, honey dew melon, tangerine gummies, tropical fruit papaya, kiwi, passion fruit hints, guava, starburst candy, wild flower honey, Raspberries, blackberries, cherry, pomegranate strawberries, pineapple, mango, stone fruit hints, kumquats, lemon peel and vanilla notes.

Aftertaste:
Finishing with Raspberries, blackberries, dank dry, citrus, grapefruit, oniony and earthy hops, tropical fruit, honey, stone fruit hints and lemon peel. No alcohol in the taste. Amber clear body, crisp, refreshing and smooth mouthfeel along with an easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A very good IPA although the Raspberries and Blackberries are subtle. They shine more in the after taste it seems as the overall beer is more of a delicious IPA in general. While I feel this could have used more of the raspberry and blackberry flavor, it is subtle enough that it will not offend people that do not like fruited IPAs. In fact, in that aspect, this is a winner for sure. Worth trying for sure!
16836661_10104035762511540_8318951697275513104_oAnime Corner:
Jenny X-J9 Wakeman from MLAATR was chosen in this pairing as I wanted to pair mainly with the colors of the beer but also the aspect that makes the name of the beer, which is bravery. Being brave is what would make someone make a stand for what they believe in. Jenny is a very brave fighter and a hero. So while I did use other art pieces that I like with this one, the one where she is stopping the falling meteorites is very brave representing the name.
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Sources:
http://orig09.deviantart.net/0181/f/2015/137/a/c/jenny_rocks_by_14_bis-d8triub.jpg
https://brewerianimelogs.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/86ff7-robotic_friends_by_ry_spirit-d5slsz0.jpg
http://2static.fjcdn.com/large/pictures/b6/7b/b67ba3_5988473.jpg
http://static1.fjcdn.com/comments/Dat+metal+_07d34f25e915e50a0d8d0e1325a5394e.jpg

The Order by The Bruery

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Rating: 5.85/6
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The Order by The Bruery is a 10.6% ABV Belgian Abbey Strong Dark Ale brewed with Dates, Coriander and Spices.

Label:
A NEW NOCTURNE

Storied tradition meets local inspiration in this Belgian-inspired abbey ale, featuring coriander spicing and our love for dates.

Monastic breweries wrote the book on complex ales with elements of dark fruit, spices and caramelized notes. The Order summons that tradition and adds local inspiration with character from dates, Belgian-style sugars and subtle spicing from coriander.

==Introduction==
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A new “Year Round” release for all societies and the public. This beer is made in the tradition of the Belgian Abbey styles of Dark Ales such as the Quadrupels, which are actually some of my favorite styles of beer. The Bruery has released several Quads and Dark ales before but the many of them would be barrel aged. I think this is the first time they make an Abbey ale just as a basic style. Which is truly unique. While I have a love for the Bruery, I will need to analyze this one closely as I have to compare this Abbey styles to the many true Belgians I have tried before and possibly my own. Let’s see how this one is and see if it can stand on its own, cheers!

Aromas:
Belgian candi sugars, stone fruit peaches, apricot, apples, peppercorn hints, piloncillo sugar cone, waffle cone, rock candy, candied oranges, dark fruit plums, prunes, raisins, cherries, pomegranate, dates, figs, pecan pie, clove spice, coriander, anise, dulce de leche caramel, bananas and flan notes.
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Flavors:
Rich dark fruit plums, prunes, raisins, cherries, pomegranate, dates, figs, pecan pie, clove spice, coriander, anise, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, bananas, sweetened condensed milk, flan hints, dark chocolate notes, Belgian candi sugars, stone fruit peaches, apricot, apples, peppercorn hints, Belgian sweet bread, piloncillo sugar cone, waffle cone, rock candy, candied oranges, toffee, pears, peach and pear cobbler, floral, citrus and earthy hops, dried mango and fruit cake.
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Aftertaste:
Finishing rich with dark fruit, honey, caramel, piloncillo sugar cone, stone fruits, dates and hints of chocolate. No alcohol in the taste, amber hazy orange full body, smooth, velvety and chewy mouthfeel along with a sipping drinkability.

Overall:
A well exceptional Belgian dark ale. For a Belgian Abbey Dark strong, it shines tremendously. In fact, I cannot recall the last time the Bruery made a basic Abbey Belgian. For this one, it really is truly amazing. Being a fan of quads and dark ales, this one definitely went above my expectations and would highly recommend it if you love Belgians.
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Anime Corner:
High Seraph Altima from Final Fantasy Tactics as the perfect character to use in this pairing as the name of the beer indicates that there is a secret organization in the abbeys. In the game, she is actually the deity that the monks sects try to keep secret. She is actually an angel kept a secret. So since her origin is from monasteries keeping secrets and the name of the beer calls for an organization, this was the perfect name.
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Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/LPSLcEq.jpg
http://www.crymore.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Ultima-chan.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/shishisenkou/594b674dc8de0824f3cd83d4953a1e57.jpg~original
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/shishisenkou/b123a2b412e3b0572d6f943f0e9fceac.png~original
http://i.imgur.com/5H29oHp.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/5jDQGLU.png

2017 Mélange 5 by The Bruery

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Rating: 6/6
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2017 Mélange 5 by The Bruery is a 15% ABV Hybrid of 90% Old Ale and Wheatwine aged in bourbon barrels with 10% Rauchbier.

Label:
DAMN THAT DBJW

This trip down memory lane is rauch-y blend of our bourbon barrel-aged wheatwine-style ale anniversary ale and smoked beer.

It’s dirty business, rubbing shoulders with friends in the BBQ business. But we’re rolling up our sleeves and revisiting a favorite from an anniversary weekend years ago. Using malt smoked on our friend’s house smoker, we brewed a smoked beer and blended it with our bourbon barrel-aged wheatwine-style ale and anniversary ale. The result is a woody, smoky, blend you’ll want to sink your teeth into.

==Introduction==
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Released to Reserve and Hoarders Society, this is the newest entry in the awesome Mélange series of beer. Each one unique using different ingredients mainly including White Oak Wheatwine, their Anniversary Old Ale and/or Black Tuesday Imperial Stout. This time around, they blended a smoked beer adding some different kind of complexity to the beer. So far, I haven able to bring a good amount of these beers to the website and hope to continue the trend. I think there is no doubt in my mind that this series of beers have been nothing but pure exceptional gold. Let’s see what the smoke adds to the already awesome beer, cheers!

Aromas:
Dark fruit raisins, plums, raspberries, smokey oak, whiskey, bourbon, BBQ, honey, marshmallow, pecan pie, waffle cone, flan, sweetened condensed milk, Cadbury cream eggs, capirotada raisin bread pudding, smoked rye bread, nutmeg, oranges, tobacco, vanilla and bacon.
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Flavors:
Maple syrup, BBQ, smokey oak, bourbon, whisky, dulce de leche caramel, caramelized bacon, honey ham, vanilla, toasted coconut, oranges, leather, molasses, tobacco, chocolate, Cadbury cream eggs, capirotada raisin bread pudding, toasted coconut, piloncillo sugar cone,burnt sugars, butterscotch, plantains, Belgian Candi sugar, dark fruit raisins, plums, clove spice, anise, coriander spice hints, smoked rye bread, nutmeg, flan, sweetened condensed milk, marshmallows, pecan pie, Raspberry chambord and waffle cone.
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Aftertaste:
Finishes with BBQ, pulled pork hints, smokey notes, Cadbury chocolate caramel cream eggs, vanilla, honey, chocolate, and caramel. No alcohol in the taste, hazy orange full body, smooth, chewy, creamy and velvety mouthfeel with a sipping drinkability.
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Overall:
An exceptional brew. As, always, very complex like the other Mélanges and the Rauchbier does add some new complexity to the blend that makes it very enticing. Malty sweet and smokey notes to balance. Overall, like the many Bruery beers, it is a dessert on its own. Highly recommended.
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Anime Corner:
Inori Yuzuriha from Guilty Crown was chosen in this pairing as I wanted to mainly pair with the colors of the beer with the orange, black and brown colors. It was also an opportunity to bring this character to the Bruery series of beers as I have not used her in these pairings in the past. To prevent repeat characters, it is always hard to find all the needed characters. I think additionally, her colors and traits like complex personality would go great with the beer as well.
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Sources:
http://tp.lingyu.me/bz/timthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Ftp.lingyu.me%2Fbz%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F08%2Fwww.lingyu.me_20160816044331198.jpg&w=2560&h=1600&zc=1
http://76.72.168.19/images/2016-04-08-824018.jpeg
http://tp.lingyu.me/bz/uploads/2016/08/www.lingyu.me_20160816043321505.jpg
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xsSLRAcRT-M/UeDNJLVJ8FI/AAAAAAAABUY/TEmSjqQRGMI/w650-h795/B7951FA2-18BA-4AB8-A0A7-F3943796D4BF.JPG
http://i6.buimg.com/92d5df145faaab68.jpg
http://www.kartinki.me/images/201204/kartinki.me_3001.jpg
http://i.imgbox.com/K0JPn5AA.jpg

Chronology:6 Imperial Porter by The Bruery

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Rating: 5.85/6
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Chronology:6 Imperial Porter by The Bruery is a 12.7% ABV Imperial Porter aged in Bourbon Barrels

Label:
TIME WELL SPENT

This is the first in a chronological series of beers released at six-month intervals to chart the evolution of bourbon barrel-aged character in an imperial porter over time.

For this Chronology series, we brewed an imperial porter and set it to age in bourbon barrels. Every six months, we;ll take a quarter of the barrels, blend them and bottle them. The first bottling represents the nuances imparted to the base beer after six months of barrel-aging.

==Introduction==
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Another year of the awesome Chronology series begins. With this entry, 2017 starts by creating a passage of barrel aging prowess with the Imperial Porter Styles. The past 2 years of the series have been amazing and growing ever exquisite with age. The best one I love so far was the Wee Heavy as I have a preference for that rare style but still, they have all been amazing. Now bringing the first one in the series to the table, let’s see how this base will fair after the next couple of months, cheers!

Aromas:
Rocky road ice cream, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel oak, bourbon, toasted coconuts, Irish cream, Danish cream, pecan pie, hazelnut nectar notes, brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, Cadbury chocolate and caramel cream eggs, butterscotch, Tootsie roll chocolate, Jamoca Chocolate, dark fruit currants, raisins, dark cherries, raspberry notes, molasses and maple syrup.

Flavors:
Cadbury chocolate and caramel cream eggs, butterscotch, Tootsie roll chocolate, Jamoca Chocolate Cherry Ice cream, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, Bakers Chocolate, German Chocolate, Belgian Chocolate, smoked whiskey notes, marshmallow smores, rocky road ice cream, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel oak, bourbon, toasted coconuts, dark fruit currants, raisins, dark cherries, raspberry notes, molasses, maple syrup, anise, Irish cream, Danish cream, pecan pie, hazelnut nectar notes, brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk and almond joy chocolate.
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Aftertaste:
Finishing with rich notes of dark chocolate, vanilla, caramel, smokey notes, whiskey notes, marshmallow and toasted coconut. Slight alcohol in the taste but not detracting from the flavors. Dark full body, smooth, creamy and velvety mouthfeel along with a sipping drinkability.

Overall:
Very exceptional beer right off the barrel. I know it’s only been 6 months but this is already damn delicious. Ofcouse, I expected no different from some of the amazing barrel aging process that the Bruery does. Rich barrel and bourbon character along with the port flavors of the chocolate and dark fruit complexities.
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Anime Corner:
Morrigan Aensland from Dark Stalkers was chosen in this pairing since I have not done a Bruery pairing with Morrigan and she is a favorite character of mine. With her hair colors that are mainly what pairs well with the beer as well as other colors and beer strength, it was a personal fit in my mind for the pairing.
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Sources:
https://img.fireden.net/vg/image/1467/76/1467768472566.jpg
http://favera.ru/img/2016/06/27/1319260_1467012000.jpg
http://anime-pictures.net/pictures/get_image/456597-800×800-vampire++darkstalkers+%28game%29-capcom-morrigan+aensland-tsuaii-long+hair-single.jpg
http://e-shuushuu.net/images/2015-08-23-762603.jpeg
http://vsevgallery.com/img/bPIC/201512/s5QCUK3bH00I.jpg

Sugaree Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie by High Water brewing

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Rating: 6/6
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Sugaree Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie by High Water brewing is a 9.8% ABV American Strong Ale brewed with Vermont Maple sugar, Bourbon Barrel Oak chips and pecan.

Label:
Fill Your Pie Hole

Sugaree offers a big slice of flavors that you wish Grandma had put in her famous Thanksgiving pie. Sit back, relax and enjoy a wonderful bottle of liquid love. You will be transported back to times of holiday joy and family get togethers from the past. This is a special treat from us to you, to help relive some of those special memories or maybe help create some new ones.

==Introduction==
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High Water brewing is a brewery I haven’t had a chance to try much. I think I have seen some of their beers at the store before but this was the first time one of them really caught my eye. Being a fan of dessert beers, it is a major weakness of mine. I love sweet beers so this bourbon barrel aged maple and pecan pie beer sounded awesome! The last time I had something similar was the Southern Slice from Terrapin and Cigar City, which was awesome! I know I would have to gauge this one a bit different from that one but I am definitely glad I was able find it to bring it to the site. Let’s have a look, cheers!

Aromas:
Rich maple syrup, coffee cake, cinnamon, piloncillo sugar cone, flan hints, dulce de leche caramel, french toast, apples, stone fruit peach, sweet potato pie, molasses, toasted rye bread, toffee, vanilla, mild bourbon notes and dark fruits.

Flavors:
Rich pecan pie, rich maple syrup, hazelnut nectar, vanilla, oak, dulce de leche caramel, brown sugar, fruit cake, piloncillo sugar cone, flan, cinnamon, bourbon notes, marshmallow smores, piney, earthy and floral hops, sweet potato pie, molasses, toasted rye bread, french toast, apples, stone fruit peach hints, honey comb, waffle cone, coffee cake, dark fruit raisins, cherry hints, milk chocolate, marzipan, almond joy hints, Danish cream hints, toffee, scotch, butterscotch and chocolate truffle hints.
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Aftertaste:
Awesome pecan pie lingering notes of maple, vanilla, caramel, toffee, bourbon, coffee cake, oak and earthy hops. No alcohol in the taste. Crimson amber light to hazy bod. Smooth mildy crisp, refreshing, Easy to moderate drinkability despite the ABV.

Overall:
Damn exceptional brew balancing out the super sweetness with some nice hops. The reason I give this one a high grade has to do with the ability to combine a brew that is exactly what I feel they set it out to be while at the same time giving some balance that is usually reminiscent of one of my favorite American Strong ales, essentially, notes of oaked Arrogant bastard. The brew is definitely a pecan pie that is not overly sweet so those looking for a delicious hoppy brew that is not too sweet will find a winner. I highly recommend this one.
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Anime Corner:
Temmie from Undertale was chosen in this pairing, as I wanted to pair her with a beer, as she became one of my favorite characters from the series. Since I found this brew with colors that best pair Temmie, I went with it and I feel with the whole dessert aspect of this beer, it fit great!
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Sources:
https://images5.alphacoders.com/727/thumb-1920-727790.png
http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/001/150/352/72b.png
http://img15.deviantart.net/ed70/i/2016/016/7/1/hoi_i_m_temmie_by_kenokino-d9o4a6v.png
https://static1.e621.net/data/33/d9/33d946ff99b7472ab82efae68767523c.png
http://img14.deviantart.net/1830/i/2016/097/e/3/hoi___by_hilcolor-d9y1ew2.png

2015 Dragon’s Milk Reserve “Double Dragon” Triple-Mashed Stout by New Holland brewing

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16486959_10103986382070340_1047002380448819807_oRating: 7/7

2015 Dragon’s Milk Reserve “Double Dragon” Triple-Mashed Stout by New Holland brewing is a 14% ABV Imperial Milk/Sweet Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels.

Label:
“Double Dragon is triple-mashed Dragon’s Milk, aged in New Holland Artisan Spirits oak barrels. Intense malt character is paired with the toasted notes of American White Oak, Robust, yet balanced, Double Dragon is an experience all its own.

Pairings: The stinkiest cheese, darkest chocolate and a day off.

==Introduction==
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Aged for two years hiding in the depths of the ends of the earth not to be disturbed until recently. The dragon has awoken. Well, it was not really found in some remote spot, but the excitement to get a chance to try the fabled, Double Dragon is definitely awesome. Since the first time I tried Dragon’s Milk, all those years ago, it was a beer that was my first and favorite from New Holland. I went out of my way to try to find the variants such as the raspberry and the coconut rum one and even the actual Bourbon that was made from this Beer. It was the inspiration and ingredient used In 2 of my special homebrews which came out awesome. So I feel that bringing this to the website is a damn honor for sure to one of my favorite beers. Will it hold up the original, let’s see, cheers!

Aromas:
Cadbury cream chocolate caramel eggs, Dark Chocolate, milk chocolate, Chocolate milk shake, Chocolate mousse, Bakers Chocolate, German Chocolate, Belgian Chocolate, hazelnut nectar, mocha coffee, espresso coffee, Kahlua Liqueur, Jamoca ice cream, Irish cream, fruit cake, sweetened condensed milk, tiramisu, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, bourbon, Nutella, dark fruits like raisins, prunes, figs, blackberries, plums, raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries, currants and toasted rye.

Flavors:
Rich Rocky Road Ice cream, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, crème brulee, flan,Dark Chocolate, milk chocolate, Chocolate milk shake, Chocolate mousse, Bakers Chocolate, German Chocolate, Belgian Chocolate, hazelnut nectar, Nutella, oak, bourbon, toasted coconut, marshmallows, Major Dark fruits like raisins, prunes, figs, blackberries, plums, raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries, currants, mocha coffee, espresso coffee, Kahlua Liqueur, Jamoca ice cream, Irish cream, molasses, anise, tobacco notes, leather, steamed milk, Cadbury cream chocolate caramel eggs, peanut butter notes, cocoa crispies, fudge chocolate, toasted rye, brown sugar, fruit cake, Danish cream, pecan pie, truffle chocolate, tiramisu and sweetened condensed milk.
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Aftertaste:
Finishing with Rich mixed Chocolates, Caramel, Rocky Road, vanilla, oak, bourbon, earthy notes, marshmallows, nutella, coconut and cadbury cream eggs. No alcohol in the taste despite the ABV. Aged has smoothed it out. Dark crimson full body, smooth, creamy, velvety and mildly syrupy mouthfeel and sipping drinkability.
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Overall:
A dragon unlike any other. A rare dragon like the three headed Final Fantasy Dragon, Tiamat. In liquid form. A bucket lister which I wish I had more of. For such a 12 ounce beer, much care and time must be taken. The flavors are super complex with an overall sweetness that lingers for a while. Nothing cloying but a malty complexity that can only be described as damn! A ton of roasty, oaky, bourbon and malty dark fruit comeplexity. I know there is a 2017 version of this beer that is even stronger but for this aging over 2 years, it is insane! It sure matured into a grand dragon for sure.I highly recommend getting this one!
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Anime Corner:
Toriel Dreemurr from the Undertale series was chosen not for the fact that she is not a dragon (a caprine), but for the characteristics of a dragon. When I thought of milk from a dragon, especially reserve as well as dessert, I could think of no other character. In the game, she makes butterscotch or cinnamon pie and pie goes great with milk. So essentially, the beer pairing I think works well as a dessert. The fact that this was a stronger version of my favorite beer, I also had to choose a strong character.
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Sources:
http://www.deviantart.com/art/undertale-welcome-my-child-606651582
http://68.media.tumblr.com/c9ae1b6af9d9deb890918e913e59980a/tumblr_ogpz5ccqrf1snoswqo1_500.png
https://static1.e926.net/data/3f/32/3f3263449063a40f0cc2dfa4dbf9ddf3.png
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5rfmzGL-7xU/maxresdefault.jpg
http://pm1.narvii.com/6184/cf822a41c85a11d8a565d5e239bf0c3409db2fe9_hq.jpg
http://orig05.deviantart.net/c524/f/2016/181/5/8/toriel_pin_up__undertale__by_catcouch-d9dp09r.jpg

Novo Quadrupel by Novo Brazil

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16665838_10103986367195150_890731621990145770_oRating: 6/6

Novo Quadrupel by Novo Brazil is a 12% ABV is a Belgian Quadrupel aged in Bourbon Barrels.

Label:
San Diego brewed, Brazilian Inspired

Five types of malt and a noble trappist-style yeast grant this beautiful beer an extraordinary complexity. Our Quadrupel is aged in bourbon barrels, which lends it a deep layer of flavor. Enjoy it now or next year, but we recommend enjoying this brew in a proper glass at cellar temperature (50°F)

==Introduction==
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I am always up for trying new Quadrupels, one of my favorite styles from Belgium. Therefore, when I saw this one, I was definitely intrigued. There are not many Bourbon Barrel or for that matter, spirit aged quadrupels out there. Any opportunity to try one or bring one to the website is always something that I pride on. Novo Brazil is a new brewery to San Diego and one I have not seen in the past. These guys seem to be brewing some nice beers so a good way to gauge would be to try this beer. Let’s take a look, cheers!

Aromas:
Stone fruit peach, piloncillo sugar cone, hazelnut nectar, marzipan, pecan pie notes, candied Oranges, Waffle cone, butterscotch, rye bread, toffee, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, bourbon, oak, whiskey notes, rock candy, Belgian dark candi sugar, bananas, clove spice, dark fruit raisins, figs, dates, plum, prunes, dark cherry, honey dew melon and tamarind.

Flavors:
Candied Oranges, Waffle cone, butterscotch, rye bread, dark fruit raisins, figs, dates, plum, prunes, oak, toffee, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, bourbon, whiskey notes, rock candy, Belgian dark candi sugar, bananas, clove spice, dark cherry, raspberry notes, preserved tangerines, toasted coconut bread, leathery notes, stone fruit peach, piloncillo sugar cone, chocolate notes, brown sugar, cinnamon, fruit cake, peppercorn, raw sun oranges, cane sugar, honey, honey dew melon, tamarind, capirotada raisin bread pudding, hazelnut nectar, marzipan, pecan pie notes, tropical fruit pineapple, dragon fruit and old mango.
16463520_10103986364490570_8468558699005257463_o
Aftertaste:
Finishing rich with honey, dark fruits, chocolate, rock candy, oak, bourbon, oranges, rye bread, tropical notes, bananas and pecan pie. No alcohol in the taste despite the 12% ABV, crimson amber hazy body, smooth, creamy, crisp, and velvety mouthfeel along with a sipping drinkability.

Overall:
Damn exceptional quadruple! Unlike other quads, this one bring out the more candied orange like flavors but I think that is in part due to the bourbon barrel aging process. It still holds many of the complex flavors, which I love, from Quadrupels and more. I have noticed that some quads do enhance with dark chocolate or dark fruit flavors but this one is definitely more on the oak side. I highly recommend this one, definitely one to love!
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Anime Corner:
One of the 12th Gods of Destruction and his angel from Dragon Ball Super as well as Dizzy from Guilty gear were chosen in this pairing for 2 reasons. One to pair with the tropical rain forest of the beer label theme and the Quadrupel style being linked to monks, abbeys, religious figures like angels and gods. The characters from DBS are new and are insanely powerful, thus indicating the strength of the new comers. Plus the colors work well with the label.
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Sources:
http://orig12.deviantart.net/30b7/f/2017/022/1/f/dragon_ball_super_god_of_destruction_aka_joker_by_drrzolty-dawbgs0.png
http://charaud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/165220/dizzy03_25.jpg
http://i4.pixiv.net/c/480×960/img-master/img/2017/01/25/04/51/44/61100647_p0_master1200.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ldt2ZQR.png

2017 Serpent’s Stout by The Lost Abbey

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16587111_10103986360698170_4799979030853963563_oRating: 6/6

2017 Serpent’s Stout by The Lost Abbey is an 11% ABV World Class Belgian Imperial Stout.

Label:
From the beginning of time, it was so decreed, “From the this Tree of Knowledge, you shall not eat this fruit”. Soon enough, the Serpent slithered through the Garden convincing Eve to taste the nectar from this forbidden fruit. Once bitten and shamed, she then tempted Adam. Together, their actions brought Original Sin upon our world.

Discontent to rest on his laurels the Serpent continued his cunning ways bringing forth more temptations. Ultimately, he foisted upon the world his own Serpent Stout – a liquid so dark and viscous that all who tasted soon fell victim to this evil incarnate. Some turned to false prophets seeking advice. None of it mattered. Each struggle revealed the battle between Good and Evil. And now that you are holding a bottle of this liquid, it is certain he has tempted even you… So, welcome to our Darker Side of Life – home of the Serpent Stout’s Original Sin and the tastiest beers known to man.

==Introduction==
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It has been years since I last did a review on this beer. Being one of my top favorite brews of all time, I wanted to bring it back as it is sporting an awesome label design with some of my favorite colors. Therefore, I definitely took the opportunity to show that beer some love. One of the strongest stouts I had when I first started trying different beers and once that stuck to me, I was hooked on trying more. An evil looking brew with a pitch-black darkness that would seem malevolent but regardless is still very good. Even with the release of so many special stouts that would try to rival this one, to me, this can still go toe to toe despite others being barrel aged. Heck, Box Set Track #10 (Bat Out Of Hell) is the answer to that as it is the bourbon barrel version of this with coffee and chocolate. Anyways, tribute to the roots is always something I love doing, let us see what this is like after many years, cheers!

Aromas:
Roasted coffee, espresso, Khalua coffee liqueur, Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Bakers Chocolate, German Chocolate, Belgian Chocolate,marshmallow chocolate smores, toasted coconut hints, rocky road ice cream notes, Oak, tobacco, leather, dark candi sugar, anise, molasses, brown sugar, toffee, earthy hops, dark fruit raisins, currants, plums, figs, bananas, Danish cream and capirotada raisin bread pudding hints.

Flavors:
Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Bakers Chocolate, German Chocolate, Belgian Chocolate, Oak, tobacco, leather, dark candi sugar, anise, molasses, dark fruit raisins, currants, plums, figs, bananas, mild phenolics, marshmallow chocolate smores, toasted coconut hints, rocky road ice cream notes, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, brown sugar, toffee, earthy hops, roasted coffee, espresso, Khalua coffee liqueur, raspberry notes, port wine hints, sweetened condensed milk hints, flan, capirotada raisin bread pudding, Danish cream, Irish cream coffee and chocolate mousse.
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Aftertaste:
Finishing with lots of earthy notes, dark chocolate, dark fruit, caramel, vanilla, oak, banana and dark candi sugar. No alcohol in the taste despite the 11%ABV. Pitch black dark abyss full body. Creamy, Smooth, velvety and chewy mouthfeel with a sipping drinkability.

Overall:
A truly exceptional brew that is surely lasting the years. The flavors are just as complex, if not better, from what I remember. I may not remember every detail, but still an awesome beer. Lots of roasty notes, dark chocolate, dark fruits and flavors of Belgian dark stout and oak. It is not barrel aged but it has that aged oak feel to it. I highly recommend this one as it is definitely still one of my favorites out there.
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Anime Corner:
Ichigo Kurosaki and Fade to Black Rukia Kuchiki from Bleach were the perfect pairing back then when I did a review for this beer still continuing the tradition are used to pair the Adam and Eve label. The aspect of Adam and Eve relate to Rukia and Ichigo since Rukia was possessed by evil twins and Ichigo tries to fight Rukia to try to save her from the possession. As you can see in the picture where Rukia attacks Ichigo, it is synonymous with Eve trying to lure Adam to eat the forbidden fruit. Crazy idea I had back then but damn it works. Hell, Serpent’s Stout is pitch black like the “Fade to Black” version of Evil Rukia. Definitely one of the best pairings I have for one of the original beers that started me into craft beer. Cheers!!
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Sources:
http://images6.fanpop.com/image/polls/1133000/1133279_1350862708265_full.jpg?v=1350863217
https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w1280/8bhxW4w4wQdPdIWEkPIsXeRZcPU.jpg
https://images3.alphacoders.com/827/82715.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/39/4a/df/394adfd598e65b1debc3a17f03ceda18.jpg

Exorcism of Rachel Wall by Clown Shoes brewing

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16463101_10103986347240140_3273420329624395278_oRating: 6/6

Exorcism of Rachel Wall by Clown Shoes brewing is a 10.75% ABV Holy Smoked Imperial Stout aged in Rum Barrels with Tahitian Vanilla Beans added.

Label:
Unfortunately, there was another incident in front of Sunset Grill in Allston and this time the ghost Rachel Wall emerged from the wreckage. She was a true pirate, and the last woman to be hanged in Massachusetts, and we felt that a fitting remembrance would be to fill 14 rum barrels with Undead Party Crasher and add Tahitian vanilla beans. Rachel, we know you have fury from beyond the grave, but cut it out with the possessions please.

==Introduction==
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What a great way to start the year off with a new entry in the ever growing spirit aged brews from Clown Shoes. While this one seems similar to the Hammer of the Holy, this one I do believe used a different Rum and specific vanilla beans making it a different beer overall. With the way the brews go for Clown Shoes, they are always amazing and above exceptional. I would expect no different from this one so let’s take a look and see how the spirit changes the undead party crasher as well as the use of different types of Vanilla beans. Cheers!

Aromas:
Dark fruit raisins, prunes, currants, blackberries, raspberries, dark cherries, Rum, smoked malt, Oak, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, toasted coconut, marshmallows, fudge Chocolate, dark Chocolate, Chocolate mousse, licorice, anise, stone fruit, peach, rocky road ice cream, almond joy chocolate, hazelnut nectar, pecan pie, macadamia nuts, brown sugar, tropical notes of pineapple, and passion fruit.

Flavors:
Rich Fudge Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, Chocolate mousse, dark fruit raisins, prunes,currants, blackberries, raspberries, dark cherries, vanilla, flan, sweetened condensed milk, crème brulee, Mexican Custard/Jericalla, dulce de leche caramel, toasted coconut, marshmallows, Rum, smoked malt, Oak, tropical notes of pineapple, passion fruit, dragon fruit, strawberry cheese cake, Danish cream, Irish cream, coffee cake, stone fruit, peach, rocky road ice cream, almond joy chocolate, hazelnut nectar, pecan pie, macadamia nuts, brown sugar, Pancho Pantera Milk shake, licorice, anise and molasses.
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Aftertaste:
Finishing with chocolate, dark fruit, rum, vanilla, caramel, sweetened condensed milk, stone fruit hints, tropical notes, coffee, milk shake notes and smokey oak. No alcohol in the taste despite the ABV. Dark abyss full body, creamy, smooth velvety and semi chewy mouthfeel along with sipping drinkability.

Overall:
A definitely exceptional brew. I think the difference in the vanilla bean type used in this brew may have actually made things more complex. Maybe the rum, but it sure is an awesome brew. Like many of their barrel-aged beers, this one is not only complex but also even at the ABV, it is not boozy. It does not have any actual spirits but I am sure drinking enough of will definitely make you feel possessed. I highly recommend this one.
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Anime Corner:
Marceline The Vampire Queen from Adventure Time was used in this pairing as I wanted her to represent Rachel Wall as she possess the person in the story of the label. Marceline being undead and looking somewhat evil was something that I felt worked well with this pairing. Especially, since they used vampire slayer/undead party crasher for this one as the base beer, Marceline works well overall. The strength and flavors along with the colors of the label work well with Marceline as well.

Sources:
https://cdn3.patreon.com/1/patreon.posts/5346537207113925239.jpg?w=1600&v=qgPRYAwVdD0kW0apVrEiWNBxtT1v35kh-HZfFvxT8EE%3D
http://76.72.168.19/images/2016-01-03-798692.jpeg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/16/00/44/1600447faf11a1958204e3f033084704.jpg
http://blog-imgs-63.fc2.com/j/i/n/jingaidaisuki/4496177d6500_2497164B_028_thumb.png

Space Cake #7 Anniversary Ale by Clown Shoes

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16602414_10103986344465700_583721248060471174_oRating: 5/5

Space Cake #7 Anniversary Ale by Clown Shoes is a 7.7% ABV India Pale Ale brewed with the following 7 hops (Idaho 7, Mosaic, Citra, Ella, Galaxy, Centennial, and Nelson Sauvin)

Label:
Tasked with bringing cake to our 7th anniversary party, Miracle Mike needed to destroy the laser beam shooting pastries that menace him. He appears to have “borrowed” the birthday surprise from a young wizard who did not die. Dry hopped with seven hops (Idaho 7, Mosaic, Citra, Ella, Galaxy, Centennial, and Nelson Sauvin) this IPA salutes the industry and our customers. Thank you for a wonderful seven years!

==Introduction==
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Space Cake is one damn delicious IPA. It has been a while since I tried the original. With this release, they took the base recipe and used 7 different hops to indicate their 7th anniversary. When I saw this was their actual Anniversary Ale, I wanted to bring it to the site. Clown Shoes has been one very amazing brewery making so many awesome beers and improving their spirit-blending portfolio with different brewing and aging techniques. I have been a big fan for the longest time and I am glad to present another awesome beer to the site. Here is to many, many years of brewing awesome brews. Cheers to Clown Shoes and all its fans!

Aromas:
Grapefruit, piney, grassy and garlicky hops, tropical fruits like mango, guava, pineapple, papaya, kiwi, passion fruit, dragon fruit, honey dew melon, stone fruit peach, honey, lemon zest, caramel, oranges, vanilla, biscuit bread and sweetened condensed milk notes.

Flavors:
Super tropics of Guava, Mango, Kiwi, Strawberry, pineapple, citrus, papaya, honey dew melon, cantaloupe, passion fruit, dragon fruit, grapefruit, piney, grassy and garlicky hops, sweetened condensed milk, crème brulee hints, white chocolate cake, cherries, milk shake notes, pomegranates, raspberry hints, blueberries, vanilla, rye notes, biscuit bread, tangerine preserves, lychees, stone fruit peach, honey, waffle cone, orange preserves, caramel notes, lemon zest and fruit cake hints.
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Aftertaste:
Finishing up with lots of stone fruit, tropical fruit, vanilla, caramel, toffee, grapefruit, piney, citrus and herbal hops along with vanilla. No alcohol in the taste. Golden light body, creamy, smooth, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel, and easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A perfect IPA indeed. I loved the original Space Cake and this one with the additional hop varieties bring out more sweet tropics to the beer. While the original space cake had this sweetness that was awesome like if it was an actual cake, this one seems to amplify that slightly more while still packing a huge hop punch. Definitely give this one a go, a definite recommendation from me.
16587221_10103986343911810_7531686700108868316_oAnime Corner:
Princess Allura and the Paladins of Voltron The Legendary Defender were chosen in this pairing to go with the theme of space and the colors of cake but also the label colors. Since this was the 7th Anniversary, I wanted to pair with the paladins, Voltron and Allura. Voltron is a bad ass and having that mech in a pairing is always badass. The new designs for Allura are also amazing as well.
16587085_10103986343931770_3416871415512977342_oSources:
http://orig09.deviantart.net/1678/f/2016/160/7/3/voltron_fake_poster_print_jpeg_by_steveahn-da5m2un.jpg
http://orig07.deviantart.net/40e2/f/2016/226/c/d/princess_allura_by_mimibert-dadyj00.jpg
http://klevinkeeni.deviantart.com/art/Princess-Allura-650662499
http://68.media.tumblr.com/87a68989359758ed33b38103c79310bd/tumblr_oemsmxyk5n1ru00pmo1_1280.png
http://img01.deviantart.net/ea9f/i/2016/255/7/1/voltron___allura_by_bisho_s-dahdzkt.jpg

Stone Enjoy By 02.14.17 Chocolate & Coffee IPA by Stone Brewing

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16665160_10103986320987750_1935633678858229512_oRating: 5.5/6

Stone Enjoy By 02.14.17 Chocolate & Coffee IPA by Stone Brewing is a 9.4% ABV Double India Pale Ale brewed with Chocolate and Coffee.

Label:
Brewed to Enjoyed Within 37 days

It’s not unusual to see pronouncements of “I Heart Hops,” “I Heart Chocolate” or “I Heart Coffee” throughout #socialmedia, printed on T-shirts and, natch, emblazoned on coffee cups. Over the past couple of decades we have helped add “I Freaking Heart IPAs” to that lexicon. Today, passionate people can’t imagine a world without all of the above. For this special edition, we added chocolate and coffee to make this devastatingly fresh IPA even more seductive to the palate. We humbly suggest that you use this libation to proclaim your love for someone… and we suggest that someone be you. Loving yourself is exactly what this libation is all about. Love now; remember forever.

A Rich Decadent IPA to Fall in Love With Now!

==Introduction==
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Originally reviewed 1/19/2017 to meet within the 37 day mark, I brought this limited time beer to the site for the love of the original Mocha IPA. Essentially, I believe this is similar except it is a much fresher version and possibly different ingredients. While the other one says it is made with Cacao Nibs and this one says chocolate, depending on the type of chocolate would actually make the beer overall different. Heck, even the coffee too if they used a different type of coffee. Regardless, the Enjoy By series has been amazing overall for the many beer releases and now with this one, let us see what this is about. In time for Valentine’s day.

Aromas:
Grapefruit, piney, citrus, floral, grassy and garlicky dank hops, coffee, chocolate, caramel, vanilla, tiramisu, mocha, cherry, oranges, rye bream toffee, honey, tropical fruit mango, dragon fruit, tangerine gummies, rye bread, hazelnut nectar, pecan pie hints, and chocolate orange creamsicle notes.

Flavors:
Tiramasu pastry, vanilla, mocha, coffee, java, milk chocolate, chocolate mousse, Yoohoo Chocolate drink, Grapefruit, piney, citrus, floral, grassy and garlicky dank hops, dark cherry, biscuit bread, tropical fruit mango, tangerine gummies,dragon fruit, honey, rocky road ice cream, marshmallows, cookies and cream, Jamoca ice cream, caramel, toffee, rye bread, hazelnut nectar, pecan pie, chocolate orange creamsicle, lactose, milk sugar, flan, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate cherry cordial, hopped coffee cake, crème brulee, Irish cream, Danish cream, maple syrup hints and green tea ice cream.

Aftertaste:
Finishing with notes of coffee, mocha, chocolate, vanilla, cherry, green tea ice cream, citrus, earthy and piney hops, tropical notes and cookies and cream. No alcohol in the taste, Golden clear body, smooth, creamy, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel and very easy to drink.

Overall:
Definitely above exceptional. Lots of chocolate and coffee mix very well with the tropical flavors of the already awesome Enjoy By series. Many may think this may not work but I really enjoyed this one. With the brewing method they used to make this one and possibly since its “fresh”, this brew is definitely way above the Mocha IPA. It is more flavorful and as a result, higher ABV. I really hope this one is released again. Regardless, this one I highly recommend. Get it before Valentine’s day.
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Anime Corner:
Erza Scarlet from Fairy Tail was chosen in this pairing as I wanted to pair a strong and hoppy beer with a strong character that pairs with the colors of the label and Valentine’s day. While I have mainly used Morrigan in these Enjoy by Beers, this different beer called for a change using a character who is bad as and arrogant like the brews from Stone. Awesome sauce.

Sources:
http://static.zerochan.net/Erza.Scarlet.full.2051049.jpg
http://www.wallpaperup.com/uploads/wallpapers/2015/12/30/866911/big_thumb_2fb4f290648a6984954e353def4373b7.jpg
https://k60.kn3.net/taringa/2/7/4/6/4/3/47/demonslayer77/095.jpg

2016 La Parcela No.1 by Jolly Pumpkin

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16402824_10103973386982600_7926790470627842134_oRating: 5/5

2016 La Parcela No.1 by Jolly Pumpkin is a 5.9% ABV American Wild /Sour Pumpkin Ale brewed with Pumpkin, Spices and Cacao.

Label:

Ok, so the joke was that “Jolly Pumpkin doesn’t brew a pumpkin beer.” Well, now we do. Packed with real pumpkins, hints of spice, and a gentle kiss of cocoa to liven the soul. An everyday easy way to fill your squashy quotient. Guess now folks will have to find something else to joke about…

==Introduction==
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It’s been years since I have last tried this beer. The first and I think, still the best pumpkin sour for the longest time. Since they started releasing new labels for their beer, I wanted to bring some of them back to the website. This one caught my eyes especially due to the artwork. So naturally, I had to seek it out and bring this brew back to the website. Even if it is past Halloween, these beers are awesome anytime of the year. Which reminds me how I wish sometimes that they brew them all the year round. So let us see how one of the, if not, the best pumpkin sour beers in the world is since I last tried it. Cheers!
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Aromas:

peppercorn, vanilla, caramel, Stone fruit peaches, apricot, pumpkin pie, brown sugar, cinnamon, chocolate notes, piloncillo sugar cone, nutmeg, passion fruit, mango, oak, citrus, wine grapes, hibiscus, sweet potato pie, bananas and clove spice.

Flavors:

Rich Stone fruit peaches, apricot, pumpkin pie, pumpkin flesh, cinnamon, Dark chocolate, white chocolate, sweet potatoes, sweet squash, flowers, hibiscus, honey, waffle cone, bananas, piloncillo sugar cone, clove spice notes, brown sugar, funky oak, cane sugar, citrus, tangerines, kumquats, wine grapes, white grapes, nutmeg, phenolic notes, peppercorn, vanilla, caramel, sour apples, mango notes and passion fruit.

Aftertaste:

Finishing with rich stone fruit peaches, funky sour white grape notes, pumpkin flesh, chocolate, lemon peel and flowers. No alcohol in the taste, Golden amber hazy body, smooth, crisp, and effervescent mouthfeel along with a moderate to sipping drinkability.

Overall:

Still the perfect pumpkin sour. With a name like Jolly Pumpkin for a brewery, you would definitely want to make a really delicious pumpkin beer and this is it. For the brewery that started my sour path in the beginning, this was one of the best ways to go. Since their focus is on sours, they can really get brews to taste very delicious and not strictly lactic sour. These funky tart beers are amazing and this one in particular is full of pumpkin goodness which really balances out the tartness overall. Highly recommended like other JP beers.
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Anime Corner:

Naruto and Bleach characters for Halloween as well as Succubus/Devil Rukia Kutchiki were chosen for this review since the first review of this beer. So I wanted to bring them back to go with the new beer label. I think Rukia makes it better especially the one where she is inside the pumpkin and has the cat like and devil features that fit the label.
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Sources:

http://orig06.deviantart.net/7716/f/2011/304/3/a/___happy_halloween_2011____by_arathar-d4em95e.jpg
http://img13.deviantart.net/5462/i/2009/297/3/9/devil_rukia_by_gray_fullbuster.jpg

http://static.zerochan.net/Kuchiki.Rukia.full.1653356.jpg

Hazelutely Choctabulous by Rogue brewing

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16422922_10103973364687280_7531971652912092446_oRating: 5.75/6

Hazelutely Choctabulous by Rogue brewing is a 5.7% ABV American Cuvee of 60% Hazelnut Brown Nectar brewed with Natural Flavor and 40% Chocolate Stout brewed with Chocolate.

Label:
Candy Bar In A Bottle

Dedicated to Seb and Chris
For years, our hardest core local fans have been drinking a blend of Chocolate Stout and Hazelnut Brown Nectar, they say it takes like a chocolate candy bar. we have taken these two absolutely fabulous beers and fused them together to create Rogue Hazelutley Choctabulous, dark and decadent with a rich nutty flavor up front followed by a chocolate truffle finish. We’re thrilled to share our little secret with the world.

Brewed Using 2 Ingredients:
Hazelnut Brown Nectar & Rogue Chocolate Stout.
14.5° Plato 75 IBU 75.3AA 74°L

==Introduction==
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Hazelnut Brown Nectar has been one of my top favorite brews since I first started trying different craft beers. Even to this day, If I see it on the taps or on the store, I definitely get it. When I first heard they were releasing a Chocolate version of the Hazelnut Brown by combining the 2 recipes of beer, this was something I did not want to miss out on. A candy bar in liquid form. There have been many nutty chocolate beers especially hazelnut chocolate beers that I have tried before. However, with this one, I will have to remember and compare to the original Hazelnut nectar to see if I love this one as much as the Hazelnut Brown Nectar or even more. Let’s take a look, cheers!
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Aromas:
Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, chocolate milk shake, chocolate mousse, Ferrero Chocolate, Nutella hints, mocha, coffee, biscuit bread, vanilla, toffee, dulce de leche caramel, marshmallow hints, pecan pie, and hazelnut nectar.

Flavors:
Rich Nutella flavors, hazelnut nectar, pecan pie, pralines, marzipan, mazapan, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, chocolate milk shake, chocolate mousse, Ferrero Chocolate, Chocolate Truffles,
cashew butter, peanut butter, butterscotch, toffee, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, marshmallows, chocolate smores, toasted coconut hints, hints of rocky road ice cream, dark fruit raisin notes, banana, cherry hints, apricot hints mocha, coffee, java and brown sugar.

Aftertaste:
Finishing with vanilla, chocolate, hazelnut, caramel, dark fruit hints and toffee. No alcohol in the taste. Dark medium to full body. Smooth, velvety and creamy mouthfeel and easy drinkability.

Overall:
While it is no Grey Monday, this beer is insane! It mainly gets the praise from me since I was such a fan of the original in the beginning that this takes it a bigger step above. I think while the beer is not super rich, it still has all the flavors of chocolate and hazelnut that will not overwhelm the average beer drinker. Personally, I would go with Grey Monday but that beer is night today in comparison. Even so, as a tribute to the original, I highly recommend people try this one and I hope to get this one again!
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Anime Corner:
Asuka Langley Shikinami Soryu from Neon Genesis Evangelion was chosen to return for this brew as I chose her to be the one in the original Hazelnut Brown Nectar. The idea was that she represents a punch of flavors and hair hazelnut colored hair represented the colors of the beer but also the flavors. Since this one impacts a greater flavor profile, it would only make sense to make her comeback hitting much harder than before.
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Sources:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/3a/58/2d/3a582d9edeb185d5603593bf4857a66a.jpg
http://k37.kn3.net/taringa/1/2/4/2/4/0/03/marduk5233/723.jpg?3917
https://wallpapers.wallhaven.cc/wallpapers/full/wallhaven-411474.jpg
http://pm1.narvii.com/6102/ad6ccd4128b194f3e01e8a12bfbea0743aed3532_hq.jpg

Cherry Chocolate Milk Stout by Garage Brewing Co.

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16422886_10103973342446850_2788745714429242678_oRating: 6/6

Cherry Chocolate Milk Stout by Garage Brewing Co. is a 7.1% ABV Sweet/Milk Stout with Chocolate and Tart Cherry Juice

Label:
We believe in making out fresh craft beer from only the finest ingredients. And guess what? It’s a perfect way to end any meal or an evening of indulgence. No need to order dessert with this flavor combination. Flavor: Sweet Milk chocolate, Cherry; Aroma: Mocha, Dark Fruit; Balance: Rich; Body: Full.

==Introduction==
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I first saw this one on a social media post by Garage Brewing a while back. Being a fan of fruit beers and especially the love I have for their Marshmallow Milk stout, I had to bring this one to the site. I have had a ton of cherry beers to the site especially the ones I have made home brewing myself. Much like raspberries or blueberries, beers like that have a home here. So with that being said, I was really excited to see if this one had what it takes to compare with the best cherry stouts I have had in the past. Let’s take a look, cheers!

Aromas:
Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, tootsie roll chocolate, chocolate milkshakes, Dark fruit cherries, dark cherries, tart cherry skins, raisins, prunes, currants, blueberries, strawberry cheese cake, cherry yogurt, chocolate cherry cordial, butterscotch, brown sugar, banana and hazelnut nectar hints.

Flavors:
Sweet & Tart Cherries, Dark Cherries, Cherry Yogurt, Chocolate cherry cordials, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, tootsie roll chocolate, choco flan, Dark fruit cherries, raisins, prunes, currants, blueberries, strawberry cheese cake, marshmallow smores, chocolate cherry cake, Pancho Pantera cherry choco milk shake, bananas, butterscotch, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, fruit cake, pecan pie, brown sugar, anise, molasses and pecan pie.

Aftertaste:
Finishing rich with cherry cordials, milk chocolate, flan, vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, dark fruit and dark cherry yogurt notes. No alcohol in the taste. Dark full body, smooth, creamy and velvety mouthfeel along with an easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
Damn exceptional beer! Very much like a cherry chocolate sweet and tart cordial. The beer is semi sweet and semi tart. A good balance of complex flavors all around. The best part too is that I think those that do not drink craft beer may really dig this one. So this may actually entice more people to drink craft beer. Just goes to prove, Garage is doing some amazing beers. The fact that this is a lot like a cherry cordial is the reason I provided the score I did. I highly recommend this one.

Anime Corner:
Dark Amy Rose from Sonic the Hedgehog series was used in this pairing as I wanted to pair the colors of dark cherry with a girl similar to Sakura Haruno, which Amy Rose comes to mind. Although, since this was essentially like a chocolate cherry cordial but not to the level of the Bruery’s BBL Cordial, I brought Amy. Essentially, tart dark cherry chocolate cordial light and yet still full of rich flavors.
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Sources:
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rVtou3oCbV4/maxresdefault.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A8twpTcSTdc/WA9WqtE8G4I/AAAAAAAACxk/yorUZBQviKECzGF5swMR_TFGZHqaisMFQCJoC/w1024-h1219/tumblr_o4r8ra6bPk1uk1hd1o1_1280.png
http://img12.deviantart.net/3708/i/2015/214/d/0/amy_rose_pinup_by_proboom-d93u6do.jpg

Michigan Maple Jesus by Evil Twin brewing

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16422601_10103973293315310_8453699766644645694_oRating: 7/7

Michigan Maple Jesus by Evil Twin brewing is a 12% ABV World Class Imperial Stout aged in Maple Syrup Bourbon Barrels

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Imperial stout aged in Maple Syrup Bourbon Barrels. Produced and bottled for Evil Twin Brewing at Dark Horse Brewing Co, Marshall, MI.

==Introduction==
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It has been years since I last tried the Even More Jesus from Evil Twin. I have heard a lot of great things from their variants and have also heard that it is hard to find these beers sometimes. Lucky for me I was able to find this one. A little bottle indeed, but something I really wanted to bring to the sire specially since it was in the series. I had also heard that this one was insanely coveted as well, so even more of a reason to bring it to the site. Although, I would of liked a 22oz. of this. Nevertheless, the show must go on, cheers!

Aromas:
Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, German Chocolate, Bakers Chocolate, Belgian chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, crème brulee, maple syrup, pancakes, anise, molasses, smokey notes, BBQ, marzipan, pecan pie, almond joy, toasted coconut, mocha, Irish cream, dark fruit cherries, plums, currants, raisins, raspberries, blackberries, marshmallow smores, bourbon, whiskey, rich oak, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel and rye bread.
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Flavors:
Rich Maple Syrup, molasses, anise, licorice, Smokey, BBQ, smokey campfire notes, toasted coconut, marshmallow smores, bourbon, whiskey, rich oak, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, rye bread, leather, tobacco, brownie batter, dark fruit cherries, plums, currants, raisins, raspberries, blackberries, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, German Chocolate, Bakers Chocolate, Belgian chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, crème brulee, grilled bananas, rocky road ice cream, almond joy chocolates, Kahlua Coffee liqueur, almond milk, pecan pie, hazelnut nectar, marzipan, roasted coffee, mocha, Irish cream coffee, Danish cream, cookies and cream and candied bacon.

Aftertaste:
Finishing Maple rich, dark fruit, anise, chocolate, vanilla, caramel, oak, coconut, bourbon, mocha coffee, sweetened condensed milk and almond marzipan. No alcohol in the taste, pitch black dark abyss body. Rich, velvety, smooth and creamy mouthfeel along with a sipping drinkability.

Overall:
A definite bucket lister. I had no idea of the crazy potential from this one. Rich maple, chocolate and super fancy coffee complexity taking things to a different level. It is a step above the original as the maple brings in some new characteristics to the table causing the original to shine even more. While this is only a small bottle, it is a kicker. Although me being me, I would have loved a 22oz. It will age very well. I highly recommend getting this one.
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Anime Corner:
Pyrrha Nikos from RWBY was chosen for this pairing as I wanted to pair with the colors of the label mainly and maple syrup colors of red. The other part is the name of Jesus being used in the beer as I see is as representing something Christian and therefore angelic. While this beer in itself maybe a spoiler to some fans of the RWBY show who are not past RWBY Vol. 3, it was necessary for me to elaborate why Pyrrha as an angel works for this beer in relation. The beer gets you closer to the divine if it is not divine itself.
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Sources:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/6c/1d/2b/6c1d2b0068892293128804399f16589c.jpg
http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/001/205/017/3a5.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cy8reIJVQAARaur.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Crny-55UEAI4__k.jpg
http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/001/152/522/0e5.jpg_large

Nitro Red Velvet by Ballast Point

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16463436_10103973263594870_2426886073992062179_oRating: 5/5

Nitro Red Velvet by Ballast Point is a 5.5% ABV Golden Oatmeal Stout with Beets, Chocolate and Natural Flavors added.

Commercial Description:
This stout takes the cake.
Our Red Velvet oatmeal stout is a mind-bending beer. Like the cake that inspired it, the deep red color comes from beets, which add a rich, earthy character that complements the chocolate flavor and aroma. The foamy head of the nitro pour is our “icing”, adding a creamy smoothness to the mouthfeel. But this liquid dessert still finishes like a beer – not sweet, but just as satisfying.

==Introduction==
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It has been a very long time since I tried a Red Velvet Cake like beer. In fact, the only one I can remember was the Red Velvet from Buffalo Bayou brewing that my friend Aaron Mendiola from BeerMetal.net provided me with. That one was damn amazing and one I would have greatly love to get again. Now with Ballast Point creating their own, I feel like this would be supremely interesting. First and for most is the color. They took a pale golden stout and with the beets were able to get a red stout color. Something I have not seen before. Finally, the chocolate and other flavors would the stout flavors and mouthfeel. Let’s take a good look at how this turns out, Cheers!

Aromas:
Vanilla, chocolate, toffee, caramel, brown sugar, red velvet cake notes, raspberry cheesecake notes, coffee notes, cinnamon, Danish cream and dark fruit.

Flavors:
Rich red velvet cake, chocolate, milk chocolate, vanilla, toffee, dulce de leche notes, white chocolate, dark fruit raisins, cranberry, cherry, fruit cake, cinnamon, Danish cream, beet juice hints, Irish cream notes, strawberry shortcake notes, raspberry cheesecake notes, roasted coffee notes, lactose, flan notes, brown sugar, pecan pie, cherry cordial notes and sweetened condensed milk.

Aftertaste:
Finishes with lots of notes of vanilla, chocolate coffee, dark fruit notes, earthy hops and white chocolate. No alcohol in the taste, Ruby and Magenta clear body, smooth, creamy slightly thin but slightly velvety mouthfeel and very easy to drink.

Overall:
Now that’s insane. This is damn liquid Red Velvet cake!! I think if it was more full bodied and richer it would be much higher in my opinion. Although this being nitro and smooth gives points as well as this being very unique. Enough to be not just a perfect beer but exceptional. Regardless, this beer is one I want to get more of whether on tap or on bottles. Red Velvet beers are hugely uncommon so this is something you definitely want to get. I highly recommend it.
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Anime Corner:
Asuka Soryu Langley Shikinami from Neon Genesis Evangelion was used in this pairing as I wanted to get a pairing that would fit the whole feast fit for a king/queen theme. I have used 2 of these of pictures before but I had to bring them back as well as an additional one with Asuka wearing the crown and the eye patch. Not only does it fit with the king on the label but the Ballast Point theme of Fish and Pirates. A pirate king/queen. That and the whole red theme is all over with Asuka.

Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/JboO4Cq.jpg
http://arhivach.org/a_cimg/?h=462d7471529bfb9a650cf676aea4ea28

Tropical Torpedo by Sierra Nevada

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16423168_565689913627115_969433584500699341_oRating: 3.75/5

Tropical Torpedo by Sierra Nevada is a 6.7% ABV India Pale Ale brewed with Amarillo, Mosaic, Citra, El Dorado and Comet Hops.

Label:
Inspired by the island life, we created an IPA completely disconnected from the mainland. We used our one-of-a-kind Hop Torpedo to deliver an intense rush of hop flavor and the lush aromas of mango, papaya, and passion fruit with every sip. Enjoy our tropical twist on the American IPA.

==Introduction==

It has been a long time since I brought a Sierra Nevada brew to the site. Many of them like the Celebration, Narwhal and their Ovila series are some of my favorites. When I saw they released a “tropical” version of their torpedo, I definitely wanted to bring it to the site. I have not tried torpedo in years and it will be interesting to see how using whole cone hop versions of these newer and modern hops will have affected the beer’s profile in terms of the aromas and flavors. Let’s have a look, cheers!

Aromas:
Lots of tropical fruit like mango, pineapple, kiwi, passion fruit, guava, stone fruit peaches, mild toasted coconut hints, floral, grassy, dank, grapefruit, pine and garlicky hops.

Flavors:
Floral, grassy, dank, grapefruit, pine and garlicky hops, biscuit bread, vanilla, tropical fruit kiwi, mango, papaya, passion fruit hints, pineapple notes, lemon peel, tangerine gummy hints, stone fruit apricot, peach, honey, citrus peel, candied orange, toffee, sourdough bready hints, crackers and grape hints.

Aftertaste:
Finishing dry with lots of dank garlicky and piney hops along with some tropical fruit hints. No alcohol in the taste. Honey golden clear body, smooth, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel and easy to drink.

Overall:
A pretty good IPA. It does not present the full rush of tropical punch as I have come to love from many IPAs but it sure is hinted. Better than the original torpedo for sure. I think the tropical aspects are represented better in the aromas than they are in the flavors. In the flavors, you definitely get danker west coast hop flavors than malty or tropical flavors. I would recommend giving this one a shot but there are better tropical beers out there.
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Anime Corner:
Sona from League of Legends and Vocaloid Hatsune Miku look a lot alike so I used them for this pairing as they pair with the colors of the label mainly but also the theme of this being a tropical beer. Sitting at the beach on a summer’s day relaxing, that is what this beer is about.

Sources:
http://images.battlecomics.co.kr/board/238978/image-boardid_238978-cut_0-w_900-h_803-t_20160220140636.jpg
https://static.acg12.com/uploads/2016/09/dc06b4b316b6d3ed4529c8fa721ebeb7.jpg