Monthly Archives: March 2017

(2017 Birthday Review) Home brew Project #29 SangriLeche Chapter: 2 – Hey You, Wanna Buy Some ChocoW00tCherries?!!? by Nubis Sanctum Ales

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Rating: 6.25/7

Home brew Project #29 SangriLeche Chapter: 2 – Hey You, Wanna Buy Some ChocoW00tCherries?!!? by Nubis Sanctum Ales is a 14% ABV Imperial Milk Stout brewed with Blood Lord Bourbon Barrel Aged Espresso Coffee Beans, Dark Chocolate, Cacao Nibs, Vanilla Beans, Sweet Cherry Puree, Gold Syrup and Pecans Oak aged in Maker’s Mark 46 Bourbon.

Label:
SangriLeche, Chapter: 2 Hey You, Wanna Buy Some ChocoW00tCherries?!!?
Damn it all! This is what I get for listening to pink haired broads trying to sell me some goods off the streets. When people used to tell me not to take candy from strangers, I should have listened. Heck, you too! How the hell else you get a hold of this damn cursed bottle. I was but a pawn to this girl’s seductions. Trying to sell me a bottle of some magical cherries and now, I am stuck here. Going on these dumbass, fucking space adventures.
I heed you warning though friend, do not make the same mistake I made. Drinking this will only summon that cherry choco cordial selling girl with no remorse and you will be a slave to this like I have. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya! Don’t drink this BEER!

Imperial Milk Stout brewed with Blood Lord Bourbon Barrel Aged Espresso Coffee Beans, Dark Chocolate, Cacao Nibs, Vanilla Beans, Sweet Cherry Puree, Gold Syrup and Pecans Oak aged in Maker’s Mark 46 Bourbon.

==Introduction==

Project #29 was inspired by everything that is awesome! Beer, Anime, Video Games and anything that celebrates geekdom. For the longest time, I always wanted to make a beer similar to the Bruery and Three Floyds Collaboration: Rue D’Floyd. An Imperial Porter aged in bourbon barrels with Vanilla, Cherries and Coffee. Since the days of Project #6 Oblivixen’s “Sangri-Leche” Maelstrom, I knew I wanted to make return to that beer. A beer that took a lot of experimentation, effort and time to essentially become, my first attempt at barrel/oak aging a beer. It was such a damn hit that it paved way for some of my other oak aged brews which I was very fond of and so were many of my friends. The return of the Sangrileche, however, was going to be different. Essentially, as I pondered about beer and geeky stuff, I remember how awesome and geeky Stone’s W00tStout was.

When I had heard that Wil Wheaton was awesome enough to share the recipe, I thought awesome I wanna brew that beer too. Then I thought, wait a second, What if I borrow some ideas from that W00tStout recipe and create my own new recipe . Essentially, it would not be a Belgian Stout, but many of the Sangrileche elements would make a return. Not in the way I imagined but very damn close. Heck, I wanted to make a W00Stout/Rue D’Floyd hybrid. Since Sangrileche already carried the vanilla, cherries and coffee like it did with Rue D’Floyd, why not, pay tribute and make it similar to that using some W00tstout inspirations of Pecans in place of peanut butter and add more dark chocolate and some sweeter cherries. What really put the “Cherry” on this dessert was when I brought the unholy grail of the Bourbon Barrel Blood Lord Coffee into the mix. Dark Matter’s Coffee beans, Unicorn’s Blood Coffee (Which were also used in the original Sangri Leche) aged in bourbon barrels that had “Three Floyds – Dark Lord Imperial Stout”. Yes, this coffee had a limited run but it was worth it to create this madness of a beer that would soon be the second coming of BloodyMilk (SangriLeche). So with that and a special Maker’s Mark 46 Bourbon (Unfortunately I ran out of Dragon’s Milk Bourbon) which was referred to me by my friend Oscar, this beer was finally born.

W00h! That’s a mess, TL:DR. Essentially, it took me several months of aging but this beer made it just in time to bring it to the website and give my thoughts on my crazy creation. Why does it have so much game influences? Go Read or Listen to the “Ready Player One”, which is also narrated by, you guessed it, Wil MuddaFuckin’ Wheaton himself! Yes, that book has so many references to the 80’s and 90’s lore just like this beer has so much going on making it in my mind, one of the best video game beers and also one of the best home brews I have ever brewed to date. With that says, today marks my birthday so this is essentially a treat to myself and fans alike. Cheers and thank you for your support!!

Aromas:
Chocolate Cherry Cordials, Dark chocolate, earthy chocolate, Chocolate abuelita, Carlos V Mexican chocolate, oak, bourbon, vanilla, toffee, caramel, mocha coffee, dark fruit raisins, prunes, currants, blackberries, raspberries, pecan pie, flan, crème brulee, banana split sundae, rocky road ice cream, Khalua coffee notes, coconut hints, walnuts, Irish cream, chocolate cherry cake, milk sugar, chocolate port wine, Nutella chocolate, oatmeal cookies, anise, tobacco and leather.

Flavors:
Super Rich Dark Chocolate, Chocolate abuelita, Carlos V Mexican chocolate, earthy chocolate, almost like a mole spice, Milk chocolate, German Chocolate, Bakers Chocolate, Chocolate Mousse, Vanilla, Dulce de leche caramel, toffee, butterscotch, dark fruit raisins, currants, raspberries, blackberries, prunes, dark cherries, sweet cherries, port wine, Nutella chocolate, Chocolate Cherry Cordials, Banana split Sundae, whipped cream, marzipan, mazapan, pecan pie, hazelnut nectar, walnuts, prailines, rocky road ice cream, almond joy chocolate, toasted coconut hints, flan, sweetened condensed milk, cocoa krispies, Kahlua coffee Liqueur, Irish cream notes, Cherry Chocolate cake, Tres Leches/ Three Milks cake, mocha, roasted coffee notes, fancy coffee notes, oak, bourbon, molasses, mint chocolate chip hints, oreo cookies and cream, raisin bread pudding, lactose milk sugar and chocolate cookie dough.

Aftertaste:
Finishing with Chocolates for days, Nutella, dark chocolates, Mexican chocolate, dark cherries, vanilla, caramel, earthy chocolate, oak, bourbon hints, mocha, pecan pie and banana split cherry sundae. For being my strongest beer to date at 14%, you can’t really any of the alcohol. The body is fully pitch black and abysmal like the previous iteration of Sangrileche. The mouthfeel is very smooth, not as chewey as the original sangrileche but velvety and syrupy. A major sipper for sure, but this brew was made to be sipped and taken with ease.

Overall:
Ridiculous. Really fucking ridiculous, oh did I mention, fucking ridiculous! While it is not as sweet as the original Sangrileche, its still a dessert though. Not cloying and very out there. The majority of the beer is like drinking chocolate syrup like some of the best choco vanilla barrel aged beers out there. The cherries really start to play when the beer warms up and more of the dark fruit flavors start to come out. While the beer does not have much head retention, it is expected at such a high 14% ABV. Now, the real question is, did I really succeed in making the ultimate hybrid geek beer. The answer is Yes and No. Yes because the flavors are similar to those on the Bruery and Three Floyds and W00tstout combined with some Dark Lord Imperial Stout. The No part really has to do with the fact that it is not those beers, its my own creation. It is something new but at the same time, it is a geek beer. I poured so much effort and fan splurging as I can possibly think of into this. Geekdoms are made by fans and Geek inspired home brews are made by fans as well. So yeah, it is a fucking Geek Beer in its own damn righr. A crazy one at that. Even so, as crazy as some of my other beer recipes have been in the past, this one truly takes the cake. Yes, how appropriate, cake for my birthday. Cheers!

Anime Corner:
Haruko Haruhara from FLCL/Fooly Cooly and many video game characters were all chosen in this pairing because for being an insane and really out there beer, I needed to bring an anime character from one of the most beloved franchises who is all about rock and is a space psycho. You really have to think, how crazy this beer is with all its ingredients, colors, strength, retro name and geekiness. Yes, recipe base of W00tstout inspired darkness is the embodiment of pure Beer and Geeky media! While Krystal Fox from Star Fox was the original mascot for this beer, I paid tribute to her as you can see from the label. Yes, I could think of no one better.

Sources:
https://ugc.kn3.net/i/origin/http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h476/santo969/501623.jpg?t=1298836348
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/5d/cb/5d/5dcb5ddbdf54b59cb498801cf17d272b.jpg
http://wallpapersonthe.net/wallpapers/l/haruko_haruharu_flcl_anime_vespa_haruko-8042.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I2yHaMXsWRs/WBU65zSeaMI/AAAAAAAADfI/jGUBAKYYpUsA2JD6ShTPtr76MBfEpIS6QCJoC/w426-h400/16%2B-%2B1
http://fanfics.frikitest.com/imagenes/foro/vD5hFVbG2taLxki.jpg
https://vamf.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/flcl-14.jpg
http://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.roosterteeth.com/uploads/images/2a699fb8-5fcb-433b-a439-2694a298c778/md/halo3paranod4b7cfec536a08.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/88/8d/03/888d035c3f1efdc54680b7d58c3868f5.jpg

Gimme Mo by Crux Fermentation Project

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Rating: 5/5

Gimme Mo by Crux Fermentation Project is a 6.2% ABV India Pale Ale.

Label:
Geez—not another IPA! That’s right, this is not just another IPA. Consider it a next generation IPA. A slightly sweet, lower ABV, IPA providing welcome relief from the onslaught of bitter hop-bombs out there. Its complex aromatic layers—suggest mango, melon, pine and berries—are driven by Mosaic and Citra hops which are then balanced by an acidulated and pilsner malt bill. Finally, its silky smooth mouthfeel will leave you asking for “mo.”

==Introduction==

Special thanks to my good friend and homebrew brother, Richard Avila of Avila Ales for donating this beer to the website. This is the first beer I have ever tried from Crux. The claim is that this is not the same IPA as your typical herbal, tropical or citrucy malty IPA. I always love the challenge to try new awesome beers so the fact that this one is said to be different is quite intriguing. While I can see their use of mosaic and citra can definitely bring some fruity tropics to the table, I am more intrigued to see if it really is true about a berry flavor. Let’s have a look, cheers!

Aromas:
Candied oranges, biscuits, Citrus, grapefruit, herbal, dank, piney and grassy hops, toffee, dark fruits, vanilla, lychee, tropical fruit mild notes, vanilla, starburst notes, honey and cane sugar.

Flavors:
Rich Citrus, grapefruit, herbal, dank, piney and grassy hops, toffee, caramel, chocolate hints, wild flower honey, tropical fruit mango, kiwi, passion fruit, honey dew melon, dark fruit blackberries, raspberries, cherries, cranberries, currant hints, maple hints, sweetened condensed milk, flan hints, tangerine gummies, lychee fruit, biscuit bread, candied oranges, rye bread, lemon grass, starburst candies, vanilla, strawberries and pineapple notes.

Aftertaste:
Finishing with nice notes of honey, vanilla, tropics, dark fruit, citrus and herbal hops and rye. No alcohol in the taste, Honey Amber light body, crisp, clean, refreshing and slightly velvety mouth feel along with an easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A very different IPA indeed. Show casing more of a sweeter fruiter side of things while also including some of the best aspects of IPAs like tropics, citrus and even some herbal dankness. The difference was clear in its sweeter flavor, which was fruitier like actual berries than malty sweetness. In that aspect, yes it was very different. It was not a fruit based IPA but however they got those magical flavors from the hops indicates to me that someday, certain breeds of hops will yield an even greater range of delicious flavors. For now, I highly recommend this perfect IPA!

Anime Corner:
Juri Han from Capcom’s Street Fighter series was used in this pairing mainly to pair with the colors of the can but also the flavors of the brew from what I can gather as well as the crosshair symbol. Essentially, the cross hair arrows on the label looks similar to the way Juri has the glimmer in her eyes. Also, the name of the beer is indicative and innuendoes of Juri wanting more! I will leave what the “more” is up to you!

Sources:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/3d/6f/78/3d6f782ad01398ea1c83d67a1b1a0233.jpg

Thai Wheat by Second Self Beer Co

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Rating: 4.25/5

Thai Wheat by Second Self Beer Co is a 5.1% ABV American Wheat ale brewed with Ginger, Lemon grass and Galangal.

Label:
This SPICY American Wheat beer is as EXOTIC as the country that inspired it. This beer uses both fresh LEMONGRASS and GINGER to give it a refreshing aroma and taste taking you on a trip access the globe. We keep the beer DRY letting the spices stand out on their own giving you a unique experience.

This flavorful wheat ale is great for an escape into your Second Self.

==Introduction==

Special thanks to my good friend and homebrew brother, Richard Avila of Avila Ales for donating this beer to the website. This is the first time I try a beer from Second Self Beer Co. Their use of exotic ingredients intrigues me especially since this is a light beer. Typically, some adjuncts maybe overwhelming for a beer especially if it is a lighter style. However, based on the recommendation from my friend, he advised it was very damn refreshing and the lemon grass was really present and worked well for the style. Let’s analyze the brew and see how it is. Cheers!

Aromas:
Ginger, wild flower honey, biscuit bread, pilsner malt, yerba buena/ spearmint, lemongrass, vanilla, rose hints and tropical fruit notes.

Flavors:
Herbs, Coriander, Wild flower honey, ginger, lemon grass, floral hops, honey suckle, hibiscus, roses, biscuit bread, pilsner malt, banana notes, basil, chai notes, ginger bread, vanilla, lychee, stone fruit peach, mango and cane sugar.

Aftertaste:
Finishing dry with notes of ginger, honey, vanilla, biscuit bread, floral and herbal hops as well as stone fruit hints. No alcohol in the aftertaste, golden pale clear light body, crisp, clean, smooth and refreshing mouthfeel along with a very easy drinkability.

Overall:
Very flavorful beer showcasing lots of the exotic ingredients and flavors used. Nothing too overwhelming or spicy and for being a light beer, the light use of the flavors and still presence is something that I really liked about this one. It is also very easy to drink to I definitely recommend this one for the spring and summer times coming.

Anime Corner:
Tinker Bell from Disney’s Peter Pan was used in this pairing as I not only did I want some similar colors to use with this pairing, but mainly for the whole tropical and exotic aspects of the beer. Essentially, Tinker Bell is from Neverland, which in itself is an exotic and tropical land. So using her with this pairing fit in my mind.

Sources:
https://anime-pictures.net/pictures/get_image/515243-1200×927-peter+pan-disney+fairies-disney-tinkerbell+%28character%29-peter+pan+%28character%29-captain+hook.jpg

Wonderstuff by Bauhaus Brew Labs

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Rating: 4.25/5
 
Wonderstuff by Bauhaus Brew Labs is a 5.4% ABV Neu Bohemian Pilsner.
 
Label:
Some ideas are simply ahead of their time. The stuff in this can, however, is right on schedule. We channeled a madman’s spirit and wild ingenuity to create this truly unique version of a classic. Wonderstuff delivers the clean, balanced flavors you’d expect from a Bohemian Style Pilsner, but with a powerful, citrus hop twist. Truly the stuff of wonder, this beer will change the way you think about light lagers.
 
==Introduction==
 
Special thanks to my good friend and homebrew brother, Richard Avila of Avila Ales for donating this beer to the website. This is the first beer I have ever tried from Bauhaus brew labs and for this one to be a pilsner is right on time for the spring. Bauhaus has many other beers and focuses on nice lighter everyday beer such as lagers and light European styles. Let’s have a look at this one, cheers!
 
Aromas:
Floral, herbal and grassy hops, vanilla hints, biscuit bread, lemon zest, citrus, tropical fruit hints, lemon peel, and stone fruit hints.
 
Flavors:
Biscuit bread, herbal, floral and piney hops, honey suckle, stone fruit peach notes, honey dew melon, kiwi, citrus, pilsner malt, vanilla hints, lemon candy notes, lemon peel, grape hints, mango hints and crackers.
 
Aftertaste:
Finishing dry with notes of honey, biscuit bread, mild tropics, floral and herbal hops. No alcohol in the aftertaste, golden pale clear light body, crisp, clean, smooth and refreshing mouthfeel along with a very easy drinkability.
 
Overall:
A very good pilsner showcasing some nice hoppy characteristics. It is not too hoppy but as an undertone that provides some nice balance and mild tropical flavors as would some pale ales. I would recommend this one for the spring or summer days as this one is an everyday beer.
 
Anime Corner:
Jeanne D’arc from Fate/Apocrupha was used in this pairing in relation to Europe beers and since this is a light beer which pairs well with Jeanne’s colors in this artwork. There wasn’t much to go off with this one so I tried to mainly pair with something that looks awesome.
 
Sources:

2016 One Hitter Series High West-ified Imperial Coffee Stout by Lagunitas brewing

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Rating: 6/6

2016 One Hitter Series High West-ified Imperial Coffee Stout by Lagunitas brewing is a 12.2% ABV Imperial Stout brewed with Coffee beans and aged in High West Rye Whiskey Barrels.

Label:
There’s no shame in being a One-Hit Wonder. It’s hard to be right even once. This series of rare beers, brewed in our smallest fermentors all are experiments, liquid ideas, salubrious ruminations built on our 23 years of edgy brewing at the edge of brewing.

==Introduction==

Obtained this one at one of my local liquor stores in South Gate. I had heard great things about this beer and heard it also sold quickly. For a beer that was definitely up there with all the great spirit aged brews out there, I had to pick this one up. It was actually a surprised that I found it as I really believed they had sold out. For the ABV and the price of a 6 pack at what you would normally pay for a single 22oz or 12oz of some specialty whale (12-14$) this was a damn bargain. Sometimes, 6 packs maybe downplayed but when you realize you get more beer for your $, its insane. Especially when its something like this. Let’s take a look, cheers!

Aromas:
Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, German chocolate, Bakers chocolate, Belgian chocolate, chocolate milk shake, oak, whiskey, bourbon, vanilla, caramel, Irish cream, mocha, roasted coffee notes, toasted rye bread, marshmallow smores, rocky road ice cream, almond joy, toasted coconut hints and sweetened condensed milk.

Flavors:
Dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, oak, Whiskey, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, German chocolate, Bakers chocolate, Belgian chocolate, chocolate milk shake, mocha, espresso beans, Khalua, toasted coconut, rocky road ice cream, almond joy, hazelnut nectar, dark fruit raisins, plums, figs, Danish cream, Irish cream, flan, crème brulee, sweetened condensed milk, oatmeal cookies, marshmallow smores, malted milk balls, waffle cone, chocolate cream cake, toasted rye bread, mint chocolate chip notes, molasses, dark cherry chocolate cake, dark cherry ice cream hints, whipped cream and hints of smoke.

Aftertaste:
Finishing with rich mocha notes, vanilla, caramel, rye whiskey, oak, rocky road ice cream, Irish cream, marshmallow smores, caramel bourbon, smokey notes and roasted espresso coffee. No alcohol in the taste despite the 12.2% ABV, pitch black full body, smooth, creamy, chewy and velvety mouthfeel, as well as a sipping drinkability.

Overall:
Damn exceptional brew! Like drinking Bourbon County Rye or a specialty Rye whiskey barrel aged stout. The flavors are amazing displaying a ton of complexity and the rich deliciousness of the rye barrel. For them to sell it at such a price is something I wish they didn’t have it in a limited run and more of a yearly beer. This is why I think its called the One-Hitter series as it really is hit! They spent a lot of time making this one an awesome brew and I highly recommend people check this one out.

Anime Corner:
YoRHa No.2 Type B/ 2B/ 2E “Executioner” from Nier: Automata was chosen in this pairing as I wanted to choose a bad as character that also pairs with the label colors, beer colors and beer strength. She has a blindfold to represent the obliviousness that people have toward common brews which can can actually be on par with the likes of many of the awesome whales I have had before. Yes, this is worthy of a challenge!

Sources:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C6PbQw0VUAAZkyK.png
https://kazasou.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/konachan-com-233374-criin_659503-nier-nier_automata.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C5Lie57UcAEGKkJ.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C2c6n0EVQAEGy02.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C6b1OFEXQAISXJ9.jpg

Coco Nutorious by Four Sons brewing

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Rating: 5/5
 
Coco Nutorious by Four Sons brewing is a 5.3% ABV Amber Ale brewed with toasted organic coconut.
 
Essentially, this is a rerelease of “The Coco” which I reviewed some time ago. Still an awesome beer as I remember it!
 

Thumb Master by Old Orange brewing Co.

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Rating: 4.25/5

Thumb Master by Old Orange brewing Co. is an 8.5% ABV Double India Pale Ale.

Label:
Thumbmaster Double IPA is full of malt and aggresively hopped to give a perfect balance. Plentifully dry hopped to finish off this happy beer.

==Introduction==

Special thanks to my friend Will Carranza and homebrew brother for sharing this one with me at our last brew session. I was able to save some for review to bring this one to the site. While I thought this was very food, I figure any opportunity for a new brew for the site is always welcome. The best part about sharing beer and trading with friends is you always get something amazing and in return, they get amazing brews as well. Let’s see how this one is, cheers!

Aromas:
Orange marmalade, toffee, biscuit bread, Herbal, dank, Grapefruit, grassy, piney, floral and oniony hops, candied orange notes, lemon peel, stone fruit apricot, citrus zest, rye bread, honey, caramel hints and pineapple.

Flavors:
Herbal, dank, Grapefruit, grassy, piney, floral and oniony hops, caramel, honey, malt, rye bread, stone fruit peach, apricot, lemon peel, spearmint, orange marmalade, toffee, biscuit bread, butterscotch, tangerine, lychee, honey dew melon, dragon fruit, mango, guava hints, pine apple, brown sugar hints and candied oranges.

Aftertaste:
Finishing strong with dank piney, citrucy and resinous hops, orange marmalade, caramel, lemon peel, mango and floral notes. No alcohol in the taste. Golden Amber clear body, crisp, refreshing and smooth mouthfeel along with a easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
I felt like have had this before. A very good IPA but showcasing itself in the herbal, piney and yet orange and malty aspects that made west coast beers famous. It isn’t anything too extravagant but it is still awesome and well made. While now a days I am more of a tropical hop kind of guy, it is nice to go back to one’s roots ever so often. Give it a shot!

Anime Corner:
Yang Xiao Long from RWBY was used in this pairing to go with the colors of the beer but also the cool attitude that Yang has. Since Thumb master represents something in your face, like a swift bite of hops and punch of malt.

Sources:
http://static.zerochan.net/Yang.Xiao.Long.full.1759457.jpg

Candy Sours Series – Peach Ring by Valiant brewing

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Rating: 6/6

Candy Sours Series – Peach Ring by Valiant brewing is a 4% ABV American Wild Ale brewed with Peach Ring Candies

Label:
Candy Sour Beers! What else will we think of? Our team was let loose in the brewery and came up with a unique twist of combining a Wild Sour Ale with the sweet enjoyable flavors of candies that we call our “Candy Sours”.

In this limited series, Peach Ring Sour which is responsible for the original concept showcases a brite peach aroma followed by a sweet and juicy fruit flavor but finishes on the tart side.

==Introduction==

My first beer from valiant brewing. I had only recently heard of this series and with the news of Valiant brewing closing, I definitely wanted to bring one of these the site, especially since it has Willy Wonka on the cover. The sour series also has other brews that are candy based which makes me really believe that they are truly adding candy at some point in the process. Who could resist though? Going back to the days of being a kid and eating all sorts of awesome Willy Wonka candies is amazing. So implement that with the love of craft beer and we have pairing. Candy Beers! Let’s see what this one is about, cheers!

Aromas:
Fakey peach flavors (It’s literal Candy), peach jolly ranchers, apricots and wine grape hints.

Flavors:
Tart stone fruit peach, apricot, peach cobbler, super rich Trolli peach candies, grape hints and strawberry hints.

Aftertaste:
Finishing dry with slight notes of peach candy, biscuit bread and grape tartness. No alcohol in the taste, golden peach light body, crisp, refreshing and smooth moughfeel with a ridiculously easy drinkabaility.

Overall:
How can I say that I don’t like this, when I absolutely and ridiculously enjoy this. You see, this beer has very little complexity. I usually grade higher per complexity and over enjoyment. Complexity had nothing to do with this one. The fact is, you are drinking liquid Peach Sour Trolli rings. They did exactly and as cleanly as possible a beer that is exactly how is supposed to taste. Essentially they made a perfect beer. Granted, the label tells you exactly what this is supposed to be so don’t expect anything else. It literally is peach sour rings in a bottle. I highly recommend this without a doubt to any one that loves these candies! Beer lover or not! Now I only wish Valiant wasn’t leaving us!

Anime Corner:
Tenshi Hinanawi from Touhou was chosen in this pairing as I was going for a character that would pair well with the peaches but also Willy Wonka with the cane. Tenshi was the right choice as she wears a hat with peaches and the look she has in the art looks like a bad ass. So with that being said I also added some references to “peaches” as well.

Sources:
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CwNuLNqUAAAjbdP.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/c9/d1/83/c9d183f882dba6bcd09cfe5723138aa0.jpg
https://nijiero-ch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/nijich1486256401470241.jpg

2017 Mocha Wednesday by the Bruery

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Rating: 6/6

2017 Mocha Wednesday by the Bruery is a 19.9% ABV World Class Imperial Stout brewed with Portola Labs Coffee beans and TCHO Cacao Nibs aged in bourbon barrels.

The utmost in true choco-coffee-mocha liquid gold. I have reviewed this one many times but wanted to bring this years to light. Check out my last year’s review. Cheers!

https://animebeers.com/2016/02/26/2016-mocha-wednesday-by-the-bruery/

2017 White Chocolate by The Bruery

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Rating: 6/6

2017 White Chocolate by The Bruery is a 13.8% ABV Wheat Wine Ale aged in Bourbon Barrels with Cacao Nibs and Vanilla Beans.

Encore:
https://animebeers.com/2016/10/14/2016-white-chocolate-by-the-bruery/

2016 Bourbon County Brand Stout by Goose Island Beer Co.

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Rating: 6/6
 
2016 Bourbon County Brand Stout by Goose Island Beer Co. is a 13.8% ABV Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels.
 
A treasure of a beer. I have reviewed this one several times but I wanted to bring one more to the site.

Home Brew Project #32 Thar Ye Be, Mangos! by Nubis Sanctum Ales

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Rating: 4.45/5
 
Home Brew Project #32 Thar Ye Be, Mangos! by Nubis Sanctum Ales is a 5% ABV Hard Apple Cider Made With Mango and Brown Sugar.
 
==Introduction==
Project#32 takes a throwback to my Passion Fruit and Mango Cider which one of the best light ciders I’ve ever made. Yes, and I meant the light ones as many of the strong ones I would say they are the best in their own right. The reason I wanted to make it just plain mango was mainly because I wanted to see how it would do on its own with just mango. If I make a Passion Fruit one by itself, I will rate it accordingly. Since the Passion Mango mix was ridiculous. The name of the cider I will explained later as I chose it with the choice of the artwork pairing as I usually do with many of my beer and cider pairings. Most of this year, I will be making simple brews and ciders as I am on a personal goal at the moment. Granted, I would still slightly like to experiment. While I do use flavoring to get an idea, as I get more experience, I will be using more fruit with these ciders like I do with beer. So for now, lets see how this one is, cheers!
Aromas:
Mango, honey, stone fruit peach, apricot hints, golden apples, cane sugar, brown sugar, honey dew melon and lychee notes.
Flavors:
Mango, Golden apples,stone fruit peach notes, honey, cane sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, grapes, honey dew melon, strawberry hints, guava, caramel, butterscotch hints, lychee and guanabano hints.
Aftertaste:
Finishes dry with notes of the mango, tart apple hints, cane and brown sugar hints. No alcohol in the flavor, clear light golden body, crisp, clean and super refreshing mouthfeel and very easy to drink.
Overall:
A very delicious cider! While it is not the same passion fruit tropical goodness I remember with the passion mango cider I made, the single use of mango and the brown sugar takes it in another direction. A sweet direction in fact especially since the brown sugar and mango does give it a very nice flavor. Very nice and clean like the original one I made. I will keep this recipe in the books and hope to make it again!
Anime Corner:
Nami from One Piece was chosen for this pairing as I wanted this cider to be synonymous with tropical fruit and hence the sea. So since Nami is a pirate, setting forth in search of gold would be like trying to find this amazing golden mango cider. Something that many would have to search far and beyond. The name Thar Ye Be, Mangos! Is pirate speak once the mango cider goodness is found! Also, Namis colors would fit with the different mango colors like reds, greens and yellows.
Sources:

Speedway Stout by Alesmith

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Rating: 5/5
Speedway Stout by Alesmith is a 12% ABV World Class Imperial Stout brewed with coffee.

While I have reviewed this beer in the past, I wanted to bring the dark wheel Rim looking can which fits perfectly with the whole racing aspect. Check out my old review here.
https://animebeers.com/2013/04/19/speedway-stout-by-alesmith/


Home Brew Project Project #31 Mega Rolling Light Sessions by Nubis Sanctum Ales

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Rating: 5/5

Home Brew Project #31 Mega Rolling Light Sessions by Nubis Sanctum Ales is a 6% ABV American Blonde brewed with Mosaic.

==Introduction==

Project #32 was inspired by my need to go back to something simple and ofcourse save money. Essentially, I must save money this year for a friend’s wedding in which I will be providing some of my homebrew to his event. This will require saving bottles and not as much experimentation from my homebrewing side and to some degree, less reviews. Well, not less reviews but reviews on less expensive brews. Donations would always be welcomed. Regardless, this project was a similar take on the other home brew project I did, Kölsch Encounters of the Briny Deep, which was a Kölsch using only 1 ounce of hops and Kölsch yeast. With this project, I changed up the hops and yeast and also made the beer lighter. I mainly wanted to see if I could make a different style instead with different hops but still light drinkable beer. My gravity ended up being higher than what I wanted but this is the best part about fine tuning recipes. Next time, I will got for lighter and see how that goes. For now, let’s see what my project produced. Cheers!

Aromas:
Grapefruit, floral, grassy and piney hops, tangerine, stone fruit peach, tropical fruit guava, mango, biscuit bread, honeydew melon, passion fruit, oranges, tangerines and banana hints.

Flavors:
Lots of tropical fruits, Passion fruit, Dragon fruit, guava, mango, papaya, lychee fruit, pineapple, honey dew melon, strawberries, cherries, roses, blueberries, oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, floral, grassy and piney hops, biscuit bread, honey, sweetened condensed milk hints, banana notes, stone fruit peach, apricot and plum hints.

Aftertaste:
Finishing with lots of tropical fruits, mango, lychee, stone fruit peach hints, citrus and grapefruit hops hints, honey. No alcohol in the taste. Pale light straw body. Smooth, crisp, super clean and refreshing mouthfeel along with an easy drinkability.

Overall:
I did not expect this to be so damn juicy and tropical. Using such a small amounts of hops I would think I that the bigger malt profile would balance out but this is not a bad thing at all. It does seem balanced but this goes to show how clean the Safale-05 dry yeast ferment. It really just lets the overall hops and malt profiles shine than giving its own input. I really noticed the difference of this to the Kolsh. While the Kolsh seemed more like a lager or pilsner due to the yeast influence, this turned out to be more of a hoppy blonde. Also, since Mosaic is tropical and juicy, its best flavor profile came out awesomely and not offensively like a pale ale or IPA. While the ABV could have been lighter to make it even more sessionable, its still came out more perfect than I would of expected it to be. Me being more of a tropical fruit hop flavor lover, this light beer really shined. It will definitely be my number one go to and one I will keep remaking.

Anime Corner:
Roll Light from Capcom’s Megaman series was used in this pairing because it made a lot of sense. I wanted a light beer, both in ABV (although it did not come out that way although the mouthfeel and drinkability says otherwise) light in color (you can shine a light through it, like a lightbulb) the pun on her name and how the beer just “Rolls” through smoothly. The sessions part is in reference to a beer you can drink anytime and even during “Music Sessions”. The original Megaman was named Rock and his sister is Roll, so that is the connection to music and just having a beer in general. The every day beer as recommend by the Dr.’s assistant Roll. Also, in terms of the style, a hoppy blonde in terms of color, she is a blonde and her green ribbon is representative of the single ounce hops of Mosaice used for this. Mosaic is a damn amazing tropical hop even for a small amount.

Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/aK1owbg.jpg
http://img04.3dmgame.com/uploads/allimg/130910/153_130910111238_1_lit.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/QmF44WE.jpg
http://i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/001/143/891/c5d.png
http://i.imgur.com/7FErA0k.jpg
http://orig03.deviantart.net/9aff/f/2013/362/2/5/roll_suave_by_robduenas-d6zp893.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/AOmbB1a.gif

[Anime Beers On The Road] Bake This: Key Lime Pie (Nitro) by The Bruery

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[Anime Beers on the road]

Rating 6/6
Bake This: Key Lime Pie (Nitro) by The Bruery

For a beer that taste almost exactly as what they set it out to be, this is simply an amazing dessert! Rich key lime pie and vanilla goodness.

 

 

About  Animebeers/Brewerianimelogs On The Road:
If you are wondering what this segment of my website is, it is essentially something new I am trying. Of the many great beers that are out there in the world, I don’t often get a chance to review some really phenomenal beers that I get to try. With that being said, for beers I find unique and appealing so much that I atleast want to do an anime beer pairing, then this is what it will be. An anime beer pairing on the road per se. While I have done some of these in depth in the past, some beers may actually escape me and a quick rating is given.  Find many more to come!

Home Brewing Project #28 Essence Of The Cryonical Banshee by Nubis Sanctum Ales

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Rating: 5.25/6
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Home Brewing Project #28 Essence Of The Cryonical Banshee by Nubis Sanctum Ales is a 9% ABV Wee Heavy/ Scotch Ale.

Label:
Essence Of The Cryonical Banshee

In every culture of the world, there are tales about roaming spirits. One in particular is the story of a woman who keens over the loss of her loved one or loved ones. In Scottish and Irish lore, she goes by “The Banshee”. Mexico calls her, La Llorona”. Britain and Japan have spotted her and she goes by “The White Lady” and “Onryo” respectively. Her origin can even be traced in Greek Mythology as the “The Siren”

She survived the ages. A being of pure immortality, created in an Atlantical cryonics experiment in search of true immortality. History has shown that the majority of our technological advancements was due to the Atlantians. However, they were warned by higher dimensional beings about spreading their secrets to mankind. With the sinking of their city, their fate was sealed. Having been the only one of her kind, the banshee was forced to roam the earth. While most fear her, her story is of sadness, for she is still spreading the secrets in bottles of tears we call, “spirits”, that she leaves wherever she travels.

Ingredients: Water, Hops, Malt & Scottish Ale Yeast.

==Introduction==
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Project #28 was inspired by my need to create a rare style that I only get a to try every now and again. That style is the Wee Heavy. Ever since I got the Sam Adam Wee Heavy, I realized how different of a beer it was. So much so, that I really loved it and wanted to try to find as many of these as I could. I have tried many great ones since like the Alesmith Wee Heavy, Founders Backwoods Bastard and even the Bruery’s Chronology Wee Heavy. With the experience I have gathered brewing several batches, I figured this would be easy. Although the ingredients shown really didn’t look like much. How could only a few grains and lots of malt really create that unique profile. I can understand how the style is manly malty in profile but there was a unique complexity which I see in the style. I have yet to have a bad Wee Heavy and it is one that I think I would be critical as I will compare to the other greats. With that being said, this creation that took me several months to have ready especially since it sat a long time, let’s see how it turned out. Cheers!
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Aromas:
Dulce de leche caramel, burnt caramel, butterscotch, smoked peat, smokey chocolate, dark pepper notes, banana, dark fruit prunes, raisins, plums, dates, currants, dark chocolate, licorice, brown sugar, figgy pudding, vanilla, stone fruit peach, scotch and fruit cake.
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Flavors:
Rich dark fruit prunes, raisins, plums, dates, currants, smoked peat, dark chocolate, smokey chocolate, Scotch notes, molasses, anise, dulce de leche caramel, burnt caramel, butterscotch, cinnamon, fruit cake, sweetened condensed milk, toffee, figgy pudding, vanilla, stone fruit peach, old mango, pecan pie, burnt marshmallow, coffee cake, brown sugar, licorice, honey, dark pepper, earthy notes, bananas and crème brulee hints.
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Aftertaste:
Finishing with rich dark fruit prunes, burnt caramel, vanilla, Scotch, stone fruit hints, dark pepper, licorice, bananas and rich toffee. No alcohol in the taste. Crimson Brown Medium body. Smooth creamy, and mildly syrupy mouthfeel along with a sipping drinkability.
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Overall:
Into the exceptional territory. I honestly did not know what to expect in the beginning seeing as it was such a minimal grain recipe but the huge part being the yeast and the malt use. However, this blew my mind. It is smooth, no alcohol in the taste which is great and not offensive and it also has some Belgian dark notes to it although the European malty aspects in the tribute of Scotch ales, this is simply just that. A great wee heavy! I would definitely love to make this a Scotch barrel version next time to see how this comes out.
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Anime Corner:
Kula Diamond from the SNK King of Fighters series was chosen in this homebrew pairing as I have chosen her with some of the best Wee Heavys I have tried in the past especially the Alesmith Barrel Aged Wee Heavy. The reason I chose her in this pairing as well was that she looks a lot like a Banshee with her cold stare looking into the void. Although, honestly she is well loved by her peers and really isn’t by herself in the KOF series but she sure made for a great character for the story of the Banshee. Many of the colors she has also work well with the flavors and the dark color of the beer. Since it is close to a winter warmer, it also fits as she is a user of the cold.
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Sources:
http://r002.joyme.com/r002/image/2012/07/21/2C0AA3B6B1CE44FE408C0BA759C84D80.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/24/99/54/24995452ae629f5987c1a21cf39bbb33.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/f1/46/be/f146befd893dfc793d381f240155a024.jpg
http://screenheaven.com/walls/anime-manga/king-of-fighters-kula-diamond-anime-79572-1920×1080.png
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/5f/b3/86/5fb386af159a3c8b41e627c1e857bb54.jpg
https://d.wattpad.com/story_parts/212296060/images/142c8d78b2719b79.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/MzIfaOI.jpg

Victory! Victory! Victory! brewed by Angel City Brigade (Do-It-Yourself Brew)

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Rating: 4.95/5
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Victory! Victory! Victory! brewed by Victory! Victory! Victory! is an American Porter brewed with Coffee and Vanilla beans.

==Introduction==

The cousin of my friend William Carranza, founder of El Borracho homebrewing, created this recipe while working with Zymurgy Brew Works and Angel City Brigade. Essentially, they opened up a “Do-It-Yourself” brewing experience where the public can brew a recipe for a fee. They would get assistance from the brewers there in making the recipe they would like to make and provide them the finish product upon completion of fermentation. William’s cousin brewed this beer and was gracious enough to allow me to do a review for it on the site. When I first tried it, I was pleasantly amazed at how good this was. Something definitely worth reviewing. While the recipe maybe a onetime deal, I’ll share it with you as a favor to my friend. Cheers!

Aromas:
Vanilla, dark fruit raisin hints, currants, cherry hints, mocha, roasted coffee, pecan pie, hazelnut nectar, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, cocoa, Irish cream, brown sugar, earthy hop notes, and mint chocolate chip hints.

Flavors:
Mocha, Roasted coffee, vanilla, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, cocoa, Baker’s chocolate, caramel, anise, molasses, whipped cream, espresso, Irish cream coffee notes, mint chocolate chip, dark fruit raisin hints, currants, cherry hints, steamed milk, pecan pie hints, hazelnut nectar, earthy hops and lactose hints.

Aftertaste:
Finishes with a very nice fancy coffee and mocha roastiness, chocolate, vanilla, dark fruit and caramel. No alcohol in the taste. Dark full body, Smooth, creamy and velvety mouth feel along with an easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A very delicious porter. Definitely very well made having great body, smoothness, no off flavors and delicious. I loved how it had rich coffee and vanilla forward overall and some complex flavors of the dark fruits coming through. I am definitely glad I brought it here. Hopefully they can brew this one again.

Anime Corner:
Stocking Anarchy from PSG was chosen in this pairing as I wanted to show Victory as a Victory to a battle. With the name being more of a tribute and a victory pose like that of Final Fantasy VII’s cloud, I figure it would fit nicely. In addition, the beer is dark, like the artwork being used. This version of Stocking is evil.

Sources:
https://archive.nyafuu.org/foolfuuka/boards/w/image/1444/86/1444868907939.jpg

Super Beer Bros – Level 1 collaboration by El Segundo and Grains of Wrath brewing

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Rating: 5.75/6
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Super Beer Bros – Level 1 collaboration by El Segundo and Grains of Wrath brewing is an 8% ABV Double India Pale Ale.

Label:
Super Beer Bros is a series featuring some of our favorite IPA brewers in the land. Level One brings us Fat Head’s alum Mike Hunsaker and his brand new project Grains of Wrath. Cue up some Moshing Samurai and jam into this Double IPA.

==Introduction==
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Obtained this one at one of my local shops here in Southern California. It think the obvious reason I got this one was the retrogamer in me. Sometimes the artwork gets to me. There are some great label artworks out there and I sure am a sucker for great art. The reason I started doing reviews and trying different craft beers was because of my art appreciation for the labels and collecting. You can kind of think of it as coming full circle as soon as my other hobbies start to come into play such as retro gaming and video games in general. So when I see such beers, you know I gotta bring them here. This is the first time I try a beer with Grains of Wrath. Since El Segundo is involved in this one, I can confidently say, this one should be amazing. Let’s check it out. Cheers!

Aromas:
Citrus, grapefruit, piney, grassy, oniony, herbal and floral hops, tropical fruit such as dragon fruit, passion fruit, papaya, guava, pineapple, kiwi, mango, stone fruit peach, apricot, apples, biscuit bread, honey, blueberries, currants, pomegranate, strawberries, Danish cream hints and lemon drop candy.

Flavors:
Super Tropics, pineapple, grapefruit, guava, kiwi, mango, prickly pears, papaya, lychee, dragon fruit, honey dew melon, blueberries, currants, pomegranate, raspberries and cream, lemon drop candies, passion fruit, citrus, piney, grassy, oniony, herbal and floral hops, sweetened condensed milk, strawberries, whipped cream, coconut, almonds, macadamia nuts, marzipan notes, biscuit bread, three milks cake, stone fruit peach, apricot, apples, pears, candied oranges, Danish cream and flan hints.
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Aftertaste:
Finishing with tropical fruits, pungent hops, grapefruit, flowers, pine, herbs, vanilla, sweetened condensed milk, three milks cake and stone fruits. No alcohol in the taste, golden honey clear body, crisp, clean refreshing and smooth mouthfeel with an easy drinkability.

Overall:
Damn exceptional beer! Almost reminding me of their power plant but at a low ABV. Definitely, their use of hops, which I feel, brings out so much of the tropical fruit and sweetened cream along with rich citrus flavors that really made me like power plant in the first place. Just like that one, this one has that similar charm but I would have to hint that the addition of the more dank, citrus and resinous hop flavors of the west coast are definitely present as well. If you are a fan of IPAs or even a retrogamer fan, I highly recommend this one.
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Anime Corner:
Princes Peach, the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario and even some of Nintendo’s Smash Brothers characters were used in this pairing as the overall theme of the beer is tribute to Super Mario Brothers and retro gaming. Princess peach was perfect as she is the character the brothers are trying to save in many of the Mario games so it was perfect to bring them to the pairing.
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Sources:
https://k60.kn3.net/taringa/7/A/0/A/F/6/reydereyesalex11/1CF.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/41/6a/3b/416a3bfb633f4a639b2fec32955265fa.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Lmy52Z0.jpg
https://i.redd.it/26i4xqtgy4ux.jpg
http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/000/899/685/9d1.png

He’Brew Jewbelation 20th Anniversary Ale by Shmaltz Brewing

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Rating: 6/6
17038845_10104048592739660_7560130813169187252_oHe’Brew Jewbelation 20th Anniversary Ale by Shmaltz Brewing is a 16.8% ABV American Barleywine brewed with 10 Malts and 10 Hops.

Label:
Celebrating 20 years of Award Winning Beer & Delicious Shtick. L’Chaim!

“Score” is an ancient word for 20. 4 score from Gettysburg, plus Psalm 90 and MLK’s “I Have a Dream”. 20 Years of Shmaltz, one helluva Score, officially complete! About the Fugees 1996 hit The Score, Lauryn Hill said, “It’s like a hip hop version of Tommy.” At age 20, Bette Midler who later played the Acid Queen in the 1st stage show of Tommy, debuted on Broadway in Fiddler on the Roof, originally considered “too Jewish” for mainstream audiences. 20 is the Biblical age of maturity, when Jewish Priests could work in the sacred Temple. 20 years after the naked Starman icon 1st appeared on 2112, Rush released their best that’s-what-he-said lyric in ‘96: “I’ve got a pantheon of animals in a pagan soul / Vishnu & Gaia, Aztec & Maya / Dance around my totem pole.” ’96: the Sex Pistols 20th anniv reunion & the final Ramones tour. Married in ‘96, Jack & Meg claimed they were siblings in the early years of the White Stripes. At 20, Woody Allen wrote scripts for Ed Sullivan & The Tonight Show. The title song for his ‘96 musical Everyone Says I Love You came from a favorite Marx Bros movie. After appearing on The Tonight Show with Groucho Marx & opening for Liberace in Vegas, at 20, Barbra Streisand’s debut album skyrocketed her to stardom. At 20, Dave Chappelle was cast by Mel Brooks as Ahchoo in Robin Hood: Men in Tights. When the crowd grumbles at a black sheriff of Rottingham, Ahchoo quips “It worked in Blazing Saddles.” Inspired by the Blazing Saddles musical score, Here’s to conquering fear & hate & taboos. A torch to light the way! To life… L’Chaim!

==Introduction==
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Every year, since the 15th anniversary of this beer, I have brought this beer to the site. In each iteration, they have added a hop, a malt and in some cases an ABV point until getting to around 17% ABV. This year only using 10 hops and 10 malt varieties. It calls for essentially a different and yet still very complex Barleywine. In fact many of the previous beers over the years have beer similar with some having different flavors due to the malt and hop use but overall, it is a beer I always go to. I really enjoy this series and hope to try more over the years, Cheers!

Aromas:
Dark fruit cherries, raisins, plums, prunes, figs, citrus, grapefruit, herbal, piney and earthy hops, licorice, molasses, dark chocolate, bakers chocolate, milk chocolate, fudge chocolate, smokey campfire notes, roasted barley, tropical notes of guava, beet juice hints, tangerine gummies, tobacco, and soy sauce.
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Flavors:
Juicy Citrus and dark fruit blend, oranges, earthy, herbal, grapefruit and piney hops, dark fruit cherries, raisins, plums, prunes, figs, currants, molasses, anise, soy sauce, oaky notes, tobacco notes, licorice, dark chocolate, bakers chocolate, milk chocolate, fudge chocolate, smokey campfire notes, roasted barley, leather, tobacco, molasses, rye bread, clove spice, maple syrup, fruit cake, toffee, butterscotch, pecan pie, sweetend condensed milk, flan notes, marshmallows, cotton candy, toasted coconut, honey, tropical notes of guava, beet juice hints, tangerine gummies, dragon fruit and passion fruit.

Aftertaste:
Finishing with dark fruits, dark chocolate, tropical notes, mixed berry blend, earthy, citrus, grapefruit, floral and herbal hop notes along with caramel, vanilla and burnt marshmallow smoke. No alcohol in the taste. Pitch black motor oil full body, Silky, smooth, creamy and syrupy mouthfeel, and a moderate to sipping drinkability.

Overall:
For being their 20th year, this one was damn supremely exceptional as its predecessors. Very complex like always showcasing the sweet dark fruits and chocolate mixed with some piney and citrucy flavors. The alcohol is subtle due to the complexity of the beer overall. Super malts with super hops makes this one a double whamy especially its multiple of x10. Level 20 insanity that I think will appeal to both hop heads and dark strong beer lovers. I highly recommend this one!
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Anime Corner:
WyldStyle from The Lego Movie was used in this pairing, as I wanted to mainly pair with the colors of the label but also a character that looks like a bad ass. She has a complex and strong attitude towards many other characters in this series and pairs well with the complexity and ABV strength of the beer. I am sure she can kick the crap out of anyone too. In the past, I have done the same choosing similar characters that I think would pair with the yellows, blues and reds.

I also added Fluttershy at the last minute as this pic of her fits really well with the beer and the punk similarities to Wyldstyle
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Sources:
http://orig12.deviantart.net/9f49/f/2014/276/4/1/lego_movie_wyldstyle_by_darkness1999th-d81g29h.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ByJSb0tCQAMIGY7.png:large
https://desu-usergeneratedcontent.xyz/co/image/1416/10/1416100294679.png
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Cikp05Rl2Lg/VxjqHQUKfjI/AAAAAAAAAwk/M65H7FyjpfcizfISZu2Yj7QMFOolLS91g/s530-p/e1728be4-72b6-4c93-8d63-15686235a52c
https://desu-usergeneratedcontent.xyz/aco/image/1460/13/1460136496861.png

Frootwood by Founders brewing

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Rating: 6/6
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Frootwood by Founders brewing is an 8% ABV Cherry Ale aged in Maple Syrup Bourbon Barrels

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
We took a crisp, light-bodied cherry ale and hid it away in oak barrels that have held both bourbon and maple syrup. After a lengthy stint, it emerged a changed beer, blanketed in notes of warm vanilla and earthy sweetness. The wood proves itself the star of this beer, adding depth and taming the tart cherry while the maple imposes a velvety texture that lingers for not a moment too long.

==Introduction==
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The 4th Barrel aged brew I have ever tried from the Founders series of beers. KBS, Backwoods Bastard and Lizard of Koz were the other three. This time they bring a beer with cherries which I believe was the original brew, Cerise and barrel aged that in barrels that previously had Maple syrup and Bourbon barrels to cream this light bodied beer. It was strange at first since many of their barrel aged beers I expected this to be darker but this is very nice. Regardless, Founders has been a great brewery since the days of their Breakfast Stout and to this day I enjoy getting my hands on them whenever I can. Let’s take a look at this one and see how good The “Fruit Wood” is. Cheers!

Aromas:
Maple, dark cherries, cinnamon, mint, yerba buena tea, green tea ice cream, sweetened condensed milk notes, Danish cream, ginger bread, brown sugar, honey, floral notes, roses, apple cider, stone fruit, vanilla and caramel.

Flavors:
Rich Dark Cherries, Cinnamon tea, brown sugar, maple, vanilla, caramel oak, bourbon, marzipan, chardonnay, wine grapes, honey, floral notes, roses, stone fruit peaches, apple pie, cherry cobbler, peach cobbler, mint, yerba buena tea, green tea ice cream, sweetened condensed milk notes, biscuit bread, butterscotch, apple cider, Danish cream, ginger bread, fruit cake hints and cookie dough ice cream hints.

Aftertaste:
Finishing semi dry with cherry, oak, maple, wine grapes and vanilla. No alcohol in the taste, light to medium amber body, crisp, refreshing, smooth and clean mouthfeel along with a very easy drinkability.

Overall:
A very nice exceptional hitter. The flavors are not super complex but there is an array of reasons why I consider this one very exceptional. For starters, ridiculously easy to drink, not offending in the alcohol, very nice flavors are noted and the semi dry finish is something that keeps you wanting more. You can easily finish this in one sitting if not careful. The very interesting thing about this beer is that it is not cloying at all. This can definitely be very approachable to non beer drinkers. I highly recommended.
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Anime Corner:
Ruby Rose from RWBY was chosen in this pairing for the colors that pair well with her and the red of cherries and dark maple and oak bourbon. Even the color of the beer as well showcases the ruby and rose colors in general that fit well with the beer.
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Sources:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C2pnlbkXEAArFG0.jpg
http://static.zerochan.net/Ruby.Rose.full.2061817.jpg
http://e-shuushuu.net/images/2016-08-20-854922.jpeg
http://pic.element3ds.com/forum/201611/18/145623fexpvxxpjbrjrxfv.png

Birthday Cake by The Dudes’ brewing

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Rating: 6/6
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Birthday Cake by The Dudes’ brewing is a 4.9% ABV American Stout brewed with Cake flavors.

==Introduction==
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Draft Only release, well, at least for the mean time. When I tried this one at the Dudes’ brewing, I simply thought it was amazing. I am not sure what process they used to get the cake flavors in there as extracts are something that not a lot of breweries use. Regardless, sometimes it can cause beers to “taste fake” but this does not taste fake. Some people may not concur but I for one really loved this one so much I wanted to bring it home for analysis. Thanks to the Dudes’ draft canning line or Crowler system, I was able to bring a can home. For a beer that takes super close to chocolate cake I definitely wanted to bring it to the site. Let’s have a look, cheers!
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Aromas:
Dark Chocolate, milk chocolate, cake frosting, Tres Leches/Three Milks cake, almond joy chocolate, coffee cake, steamed milk, hazelnut nectar, lactose milk sugar, whipped cream, banana sundae, sweetened condensed milk, crème brulee, vanilla, caramel, molasses and mild dark fruit notes.
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Flavors:
Rich frosting of cake flavors, Tres Leches/Three Milks cake (Not just one, lol), vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, flan, sweetened condensed milk, crème brulee, lactose milk sugar, whipped cream, banana sundae, red velvet, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, chocolate milk shake, earthy hops, Dark fruit raspberry, cherries, black berries, currants, molasses, toasted coconut hints, madamia nuts, almond joy chocolate, coffee cake, steamed milk, hazelnut nectar, peanut butter notes, pecan pie, Irish cream, Danish cream and chocolate mousse.
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Aftertaste:
Finishing with cake flavor, dark chocolate notes, earthy notes, burnt sugar, vanilla, toffee and caramel.
No alcohol in the taste. Dark body, smooth, creamy, velvety and watery like mouthfeel. Very easy to drink as well.

Overall:
Let me just say that the reason I thought this beer was damn exceptional was mainly because this is pure liquid cake. The complexities are mainly variations of the cake flavor. While not cloying, the light ABV and semi light body makes up for this ever becoming cloying and yet giving rich cake flavors. I am not sure if natural cake flavors were used to make this but however the process, it is insane and I hope to see this one see a public release! Highly recommended
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Anime Corner:
Asmodeus and Astaroth from Shinrabansho were used in this pairing as I wanted mainly to pair with the pastel colors of cake. That and the fact that this beer is evil! Well not evil but its so sweet and awesome it should be evil. Yes, I could of gone with an actual cake pairing, since there is no label, I wanted to think of abstract colors and since these 2 are favorite characters of mine.
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Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/eW7uTxJ.jpg
http://mugen-ryu.matrix.jp/image/asmo-m.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/uxodV46.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/pvQsE2H.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CeJLY6IUMAAZn9O.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/FyYcRqG.jpg

Sirens’ Song by Ommegang brewing

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

Rating: 5.5/6
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Sirens’ Song by Ommegang brewing is a 9% ABV Belgian Dark Strong Ale brewed with Figs and Raisins.

Label:
Where heaven met earth and stayed awhile

To revel in life’s sweet Music

Ancient mariners braved the Aegean, holds laden with figs and raisins. They faced great storms, monstrous sea creatures, and merciless pirates. But all paled compared to the Sirens, whose enchanted songs drifted to sea and drew the sailors to their end.

Our dark ale, Sirens’ Song, pays homage to the lost cargos, with figs and raisins added to the brew kettle. The resulting beer is dark, mysterious, and as irresistible as the Sirens’ seductive song.

Roasted malt and burnt sugar aromas lead, followed by flavors of dark fruit and notes of dark caramel. The finish is smooth and balanced with subtle bitterness.

==Introduction==
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Ommegang has been one of my favorite Belgian style breweries making great beers including one of my top 3 favorites in the world, Three Philosophers. They recently released this new Belgian Dark Strong brewed with figs and raisins. While Belgian yeast, candi sugars and the right malts and hops can create great complexity similar to these fruits, adding them brings about other unique complexities. So I can definitely see how this may actually elevate the beer to higher levels of flavors. Let’s see who this dark ales does, cheers!

Aromas:
Banana phenolocs, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, dark fruits of raisins, prunes, currants, figs, dates, plums, raspberries, dark candy sugar, piloncillo sugar cone, rock candy, rye bread, molasses, pecan pie, hazelnut, stone fruit peaches, apricots and cinnamon.

Flavors:
Super dark fruits of raisins, prunes, currants, figs, dates, plums, raspberries, pears, apples, Banana cream pie, Banana sundae, dark chocolate notes, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, maple syrup, cloves, anise, coriander, stone fruit peaches, apricots, cinnamon, peppercorn, dark candy sugar, piloncillo sugar cone, rock candy, rye bread, molasses, pecan pie, hazelnut, pralines, peanut clusters, marzipan, toffee, apple pie, peach cobbler, peach preserves and port wine.
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Aftertaste:
Finishing up with rich dark fruits, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, stone fruit, bananas, dark candy sugar, clove spice and marzipan notes. No alcohol in the taste. Full Crimson body. Smooth, creamy, and velvety mouthfeel and a moderate to sipping drinkability.

Overall:
Exceptional dark Belgian with so much dark fruit complexity. The figs and raisins actually did make a difference enhancing the beer, which I can only assume the base was already delicious. The phenolic and banana flavors really stand out wonderfully almost making this more of a banana and dark fruit dessert. It has been a long time since I have tried a new Belgian from Ommegang and trying these new beers are always pleasant. I highly recommend this one to those that love dark Belgians.
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Anime Corner:
Ariel from Disney’s the Little Mermaid as well as original Siren and mermaid characters were chosen for this pairing as it was the obvious choice to go with the name of the beer and the label colors. It was something that I felt should have been easy but I also wanted to give a pairing to the name which is the Song of the Siren and there for it shows Ariel singing. While Sirens and Mermaids differ in how much more of a fish they are and other characteristics, some mermaids can be seen as sirens. So I think it worked out just fine.
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Sources:
http://e-shuushuu.net/images/2016-11-26-874085.jpeg
http://img13.deviantart.net/77cc/i/2016/113/8/c/headphone_girl_reborn_by_sakimichan-d9zz8ea.jpg
https://anime-pictures.net/pictures/get_image/233346-1542×2000-the+little+mermaid-ariel-sakimichan-long+hair-single-tall+image.jpeg
https://anime-pictures.net/pictures/get_image/393181-1500×985-the+little+mermaid-disney-ariel-u-min+%28artist%29-long+hair-single.jpg
https://anime-pictures.net/pictures/get_image/509203-905×1280-the+little+mermaid-disney-ariel-cian+yo-long+hair-single.jpg