Decadent (10th Anniversary Ale) by SKA Brewing

March 12, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged 10th Anniversary, anniversary ale, decadent, Double India Pale Ale, Imperial IPA, SKA brewing | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Decadent (10th Anniversary Ale) by SKA Brewing is a 10% ABV Imperial India Pale Ale

Commercial Description: (skabrewing.com)
It’s a Celebration.

Imagine celebrating some huge, momentous occasion and then imagine drinking the liquid equivalent of that celebration every day.

Citrus aroma prevails. Mounds of fresh hops and caramel malts explode upon the palate. Originally produced to celebrate our tenth year in business, this Imperial IPA hides nothing of our tendency toward self-indulgent behavior.
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Never have I seen an IPA with a wax covering. Most beers with wax I have seen involve some special reserve stuff. Damn, this must be special. Even more special, as my friend Aaron from www.beermetaldude.com hooked me up with this awesome brew exclusively from Durango Colorado. So basically, this review would not be here without his contribution and SKA Brewing for making this. This is my first SKA Brewing, and special release, beer for review and your reading pleasure.

Aromas:
Citrus, piney, grapefruit hops, honey, biscuit bread, caramel, floral notes, lavender hints, mango, passion fruit, pineapple hints, papaya, oranges, tangerine, prickly pears, toffee, peach notes and herbs.

Flavors:
Peach, caramel, oranges, piney, grassy, floral and grapefruit hops, mango, passion fruit, dragon fruit, prickly pear, oranges, tangerines, papaya, melon, pineapple, toffee, hints of rye, biscuit bread, herbal notes and coriander hints.

Aftertaste:
Caramel, peach, grapefruit, herbal, dragon fruit honey, piney and flora hop linger. No alcohol in the taste which makes this great. A sipping beer with a medium mouth feel and some refreshing aspect.

Overall:
Damn, the best stuff I like from Imperial IPA, well, at least the tropical and caramel malted ones. This is perfect for those that like IPAs with a moderate amount of bite with some good hop profile and malty caramel support. The balance is simply great. If you are looking for a more herbal, garlicy, oniony type of IPA it has some minor elements to it. Still, Double IPAs are no joke. A 10% ABV awesome beer is no joke either. Great stuff from SKA and hope to try some of their other beers some day too.

Anime Corner:
Stitches from Sengoku wars and Misaki Mei from the “Another” series were chosen to represent the Skeleton presenting himself and introducing himself to a beautiful lady bringing a bouquet of hop flowers. In this case, the artwork represents how much the skeleton cares for the lady and likewise as Stitches holds the the skeleton. This beer is a representative that love goes beyond the boundaries of death but also, good flavors like IPA that is past its prime can become a totally delicious beer. Not to say that this beer is not fresh, which it really is, but!! Good IPA sometimes end up becoming some good Barleywines. Remember that, beer is not about having the freshest as possible, but even if you don’t, having it now or a long time down the road, it means life is short, so enjoy the beer whenever you want regardless of time.

Coco Fizz by Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Durango Soda company

March 11, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Chocolate Milk shake, Durango Soda company, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory | Leave a comment

Coco Fizz by Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Durango Soda company is a 0% ABV (Non-Alcoholic) Chocolate Craft Soda.

One of my favorite sodas that truly got me to try different sodas. I had tried this several years ago and had never done a small review on it. I don’t consider myself a craft soda expert but I will give my opinion on this one.

Aromas:
Cocoa, Chocolate Milk shake, cocoa powder, caramel, cola and Yoohoo.

Flavors:
Chocolate Milk Shake, Yoohoo, cola notes, caramel, mocha coffee notes and some mild artificial flavors.

Aftertaste:
Lots of sugar, chocolate, mocha left over. Moderately refreshing.

Overall:
Probably the best chocolate soda ever. I have not tried other chocolate sodas so it is hard to compare or say it is the best. One thing I will say, when drinking Pancho Pantera breakfast chocolate shake growing up at my grandmas, the chocolate flavor or milk shake was stronger when I was younger than today. This soda brought me back to those strong chocolate flavors of back then. So, yes, I highly recommend this soda.

Anime Corner:
The girls from High School of the Dead were chosen for this pairing mainly because when I first bought this beer in Iowa in 2011 when I visited my friend Steve, I bought the complete collection DVD and also this soda. I actually took a picture with the cover of the DVD next to the soda. So this pairing has more of a personal story to it than actual colors or flavors. Unless you want to say that the chocolate matches one of the girl’s hair then have at it .

Hellfighter & BBA 007 Hellfighter by Karbach Brewing (Dual Review Special)

March 10, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged 007 hellfighter, Aya Brea, Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Porter, dark chocolate, hellfighter, Hellfighter Imperial Porter, Imperial Porter, Karbach, Karbach Brewing, Parasite Eve, world class beers, World Class Imperial Porter | Leave a comment

So today I bring you something very special. A Double Review! Courtesy, Suggestion, Donation and Gratitude to my friend Aaron at www.beermetaldude.com. It would not be possible to bring you a dual review if it wasn’t for these special gifts from from him. This is the second time I try Karbach and I am looking forward to this review as this is something that is going to involve a side by side tasting. I will separate my work individually and provide you the final verdict for both at the end. The rating has been set after at the end to show case my final thoughts for the beers individually. SO….. on to the the review and Cheers to my loyal readers, Aaron, and the good people at Karbach brewing company for making this a possibility.

HELLFIGHTER REVIEW
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Hellfighter by Karbach Brewing is a 9.5% ABV Imperial Porter

Label:
Set your soul on fire

BLAZE ON!

From the depths of the earth leap flames of destruction. When time is of the essence, the Hellfighter boldly steps in the line of danger. Whether or not he’s insane is not important now. It’s with intensity and aggression that the Hellfighter taunts the blaze of almost certain doom.

Our Imperial Porter is much the same. Robust and black as oil, Hellfighter Imperial Porter, with roasted coffee and chocolate malt characteristics, finishes what it started. This explosion of flavors will extinguish even a Texas-sized penchant for boldness. Intense and maybe a little insane, drink carefully but drink often.
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Aromas:
Dark chocolate molasses, caramel, smokey notes, coffee, dark fruit notes, waffle cone, vanilla, hints of hazel nut and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Dark chocolate, anise, smokey notes, molasses, caramel, vanilla, dark fruit notes, waffle cone, coffee, brown sugar, earthy hop notes, mild licorice notes, rye and hinting coriander spice.

Aftertaste:
Earthy hops, dark chocolate, mild coffee roast and anise. No alcohol in the taste. A full bodied sipping ale.

Overall:
Very good porter indeed. It introduces a few new aspects from the average porter and that definitely has to be the complimenting anise and smokey factor that fuses very well with this one. Very good stuff out of Texas but if you have had a smokey porter before, this would probably be very similar. Still worth the taste ofcourse.

007 BBA HELLFIGHTER REVIEW
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007 Hellfighter by Karbach Brewing is a 10.8% ABV World Class Imperial Porter aged in Bourbon Barrels.

Label:
If you like darker, more robust ales and you also have a penchant for whiskey, you may have just reached the promised land. We took our Hellfighter Imperial Porter and aged it in bourbon barrels for several months. Alluring aromas of vanilla, chocolate and coffee give way to a rich, malty sweetness that slowly transitions to a silky, oaky finish. Bourbon Barrel Aged Hellfighter is a special brew that is best enjoyed with hearty foods, decadent desserts or the finest cigars. Ready to drink now in a snifter-style glass at 45-50* F, this fine ale will also benefit from years of cellaring under proper conditions.
F.U.N. Series 007 2013
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Aromas:
Holy toasted coconuts!! Wow!!, a big almond joy and bourbon fragrant beer. Dark chocolate, dark fruits, molasses, flan, crème brulee, caramel vanilla, oak, brown sugar, rocky road ice cream, mocha, roasted coffee, hazelnuts, roasted pecans, mocha, marshmallows, milk chocolate, graham crackers, mild smoke, fudge brownies, and chocolate cake.

Flavors:
Liquid Almond joys! Dark chocolate, toasted coconut, bourbon, oak, vanilla, caramel, flan, oak, raisins, cherries, currants, molasses, anise, brown sugar, rocky road ice cream hazelnuts, roasted pecans, maple syrup, chocolate fudge brownies, campfire smoke, campfire smores with the chocolate, marshmallows, graham crackers, mocha, coffee and crème brulee.

Aftertaste:
Marshmallows, almond joy chocolate, coffee, earthy notes, caramel, smokey notes at the end. No alcohol whatsoever in the taste. Sipping drinkability and full mouth feel with a sense of smoothness as it goes down. Very nice!

Overall:
Exceeding the expectations of the original by a lot. Holy shit this is fucking good. It should be up there with the best barrel aged imperial stouts. This one is unique as the earthy hops and smokey goodness shines but does not intervene with the already built complexity. In fact, it complements the flavors. Highly recommended and definitely one of my top best beers from Texas. Thank you Aaron, this made my day brother!

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Overall (Both Beers):
The choice is like night and day. Holy crap!! While they are both very good beers, the 007 beer is like like turning super saiyan for the first time. Another way of saying it is like saying your average Honda Accord suddenly turned into a Lamborghini Diablo.

Anime Corner (Both Beers):
If Aya Brea from Parasite Eve does not fit the bill of both of these beers, I don’t know what would describe an agent, maybe not a spy, but she fits the bill, of a “Hellfighter” who faces off parasitic deformities. They may not come from Hell but they sure look like demons on earth. Crazy experimentations and self combustion people is nothing short of horror, and Aya is the one who can take them down. The original hellfighter is her in a night gown looking like the spy chick from Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The 007 Hellfighter one is the one that shows her as she is essentially evolving into something greater. That and the obvious “Sexy Fan Service=Delicious Beer”. The pictures where it is both beers shows Aya as she is surrounded by the parasite demon and the bloody chaos that she has to fight and endure. This is the first time I use Aya in my reviews, so this is a very special occasion for this awesome double review. Can you tell any other things that are awesome about this pairing?

Rating: 4.65/5* Hellfighter
Rating: 5.8/5* 007 Bourbon Barrel Aged Hellfighter

Woodchuck Cellar Series Hard Chocolate Cider by Vermont Hard Cider Company, LLC

March 6, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Apple Cider, cacao beans, Cellar Series Chocolate, Chocolate Cider, Fate Stay Night, Holo, milk Chocolate, Saber, Vermont Hard Cider Company, Wolf and spice, Woodchuck, Woodchuck Cellar Series, Woodchuck HArd cider | 1 Comment

Rating: 5/5* Cider Rating

Woodchuck Cellar Series Hard Chocolate Cider by Vermont Hard Cider Company, LLC is a 6.9% ABV Apple Cider brewed with Cacao beans.

Label:
Woodchuck Cellar Series Chocolate features our original, small batch hard cider, complemented by cacao beans. The infusion of crushed cacao beans brings notes of artisan chocolate throughout the nose and taste of cider. A hint of caramel accompanies the full apple flavor with a dry finish. Cellar Series Chocolate is on of the most unique ciders we have ever crafted, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Cheers!
John Matson Cider Maker
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Another sweet pick up from the local beer store. Who would have thunk that there existed a chocolate cider. That is pretty crazy as the concept is quite, well, WTF? I love chocolate so this is a no brain-er for me. I had to bring this forth to the site for a review.

Aromas:
Chocolate, caramel, apples, peanut butter, cherry, vanilla, tootsie roll, butterscotch, and

Flavors:
Cherry, Milk Chocolate, Milk shake, peanut butter, caramel, apples, mild biscuit bread, butterscotch, tootsie rolls and cocoa crispies cereal.

Aftertaste:
Dry finish with a bit of lingering chocolate and mild peanut butter. No alcohol in the taste, very easy to drink and refreshing.

Overall:
This is freaking delicious, I ain’t gonna lie. I love Crispin ciders for their uniqueness but Woodchuck ciders has definitely stepped up their game here. This is is no joke, very good especially if you like chocolate and ciders. Almost reminds me of apple soda if it were mixed with the chocolate soda I had a while back. Get this one and give a try. You may or may not like it but just know, it is sweet as hell.

Anime Corner:
Saber from Fate Stay Night and Holo from Wolf and Spice were used in this pairing to compliment the label of the chocolate bars as being Saber’s chocolate armor but mainly the fusion of apple and chocolate that can be seen in the picture with Holo from Wolf and spice. It was very obvious I know but I figured this was the closest and most likely the best pairing to show case this delicious cider.

Endeavour IPA² (a.k.a Divine Reserve #11) by Saint Arnold Brewing of Texas

March 6, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Centennial, columbus hops, DIPA, Divine Reserve, Divine Reserve # 11, Double India Pale Ale, Endeavour IPA², Hops, Imperial IPA, IPA, Saint Arnold, Saint Arnold Brewing of Texas, Simcoe, Texas | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Endeavour IPA² (a.k.a Divine Reserve #11) by Saint Arnold Brewing of Texas is a 8.9% ABV Double/Imperial India Pale Ale brewed with Simcoe, Centennial & Columbus hops.

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION (Ratebeer.com)
The color is deep amber with a light, creamy head. The nose starts off with a touch of citrus but then turns decidedly into peaches. The taste starts off with creamy malt resulting from the pale 2 row and caramel malts and Saint Arnold yeast. The hop bitter starts low then builds to a crescendo, but always maintains a balance even in its big finish. The hop flavor continues to be peaches, an interesting manifestation of the Columbus, Simcoe and Centennial hops. This is the first Divine Reserve that we have filtered. This decision was made to make the hop flavors brighter, plus it would have been a bottling nightmare with all the hop bits in it. This beer is best enjoyed at 45° or even a little warmer. Though the recipe and style indicate this beer to be enjoyed fresh, we expect this beer to develop interestingly over the years.
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Special thanks to my good friend Aaron of http://www.beermetaldude.com for proving me my second ever, Saint Arnold beer. This is truly a treat once again as this one is another fine example of a great brewery which we don’t get their beer here in California. The beer I had before from them was very awesome. So to that, I say cheers, thank you SA for making this and thank you Aaron for hooking up a brother Cheers!!

Aromas:
Caramel, toffee, mango, dragon fruit, candied oranges, lemon, citrus, honey, Grapefruit, piney and grassy hops, tangerine, melon, orange preserves and rye.

Flavors:
Grapefruit preserves, piney and grassy hops, tangerine, mango, lemon, orange peel, rye bread, biscuit bread, melon, honey, dragon fruit, caramel, pepper spice, toffee, pineapple, cherry, hop oils, gummy bears and orange marmalade on a toast.

Aftertaste:
Caramel, toffee, grapefruit preserves, tangerines and piney hops. No alcohol in the taste. Medium body and moderate drinkability.

Overall:
Aside from the Tropical end of IPAs, my second love is the malty IPAs. This beer is great and it is a great example of the malty IPA variety. As a reserve series, this is something I would expect, higher ABV and more sweet delicious hop oils. Reminds me of 90 minute IPA almost. Very delicious IPA and definitely worth picking up, if you live in Texas that is. Hope maybe us Socal peeps will get it one day.

Anime Corner:
Original artwork by fangxian cuoluan is used in this pairing to represent the earth in the label of the beer. As the beer floats in space with its delicious flavors, it gazes at out existence to show the height of what delicious IPAs will go through. This beer reaches the height of IPA caramel and the rising sun so forth brings it delicious citrus and complexity. They say you can’t hear anything in space, but you can definitely taste it!!

Smokestack Series Chocolate Ale by Boulevard Brewing

March 5, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged American Strong Ale, boulevard brewing, Chocolate, chocolate cake, cocoa puffs cereal, dark chocolate, Korra, Legend of Korra, milk Chocolate, Smokestack Series, Voodoo Doughnut Pretzel Raspberry & Chocolate Ale | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Smokestack Series Chocolate Ale by Boulevard Brewing is a 9.1% ABV American Strong Ale brewed with cocoa.

Label:
One of the brightest stars in a city filled with culinary treasures, Christopher Elbow has world wide reputation for handcrafted masterpieces. His sweets are distinguished by their use of unusual, sometimes surprising ingredients, and that adventurous spirit has left its print on this special ale. The aroma is given over to earthy, fruity, cocoa, with just a hint hops. Smooth layers of dark chocolate intertwine with threads of caramel, vanilla, and nutty malt as the flavor warms and rounds to a bitter sweet finish.
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Picked this up at the local Ramirez Liquor in Boyle Heights California. Chocolate ales are something that definitely bring my attention. I cannot help it as they really are my favorite types of beers. Sometimes there is a Bias for chocolate beers in my reviews, but you can definitely tell. So take it with a grain of salt and try them for yourself to decide. As far as this beer goes, I was surprised by the color. This was not your typical dark beer.

Aromas:
Citrus, dark chocolate, rye bread, dark chocolate, caramel, very mild earthy hops, cinnamon, peanut butter, vanilla, bananas, clove spice, cocoa crispies cereal, hazelnut, pecans, tootsie roll, brown sugar and molasses.

Flavors:
Dark Chocolate, milk chocolate, champurrado flavor, bakers chocolate, caramel, candi sugar, cinammon, earthy spices, bananas, cloves, chocolate cake, peanut butter hints, rye bread, mild flan notes, cocoa crispies or cocoa puffs cereal, citrus, mild dark fruits, tootsie rolls and white chocolate.

Aftertaste:
Chocolate, mild bittering earthy hops in the finish but mainly cinnamon and caramel linger. No alcohol in the taste. A sipping beer with a medium mouth feel.

Overall:
A perfect beer but you definitely need to let it warm up to get richer chocolate flavor. It is very different at first because it falls somewhere between the colors of chocolate rain and white chocolate from the Bruery (Beer Color only). A light brown per say. The flavor is not as exceptional but it falls somewhere in the middle in terms of beer color because although I was expecting a darker beer, the lighter beer aspect still lets the chocolate shine in this beer which was very surprising. This beer is not specifically chocolate but you can tell chocolate is still there. My extra credit can only do so much for the chocolate in this beer but it may not be enough to exceed my expectations like other chocolate beers. Still recommended and worth a try.

Anime Corner:
Korra from the Legend of Korra was used in this pairing because while fits in the style of my favorite character, Yoruichi, I wanted to portray an in between chocolate and white chocolate type of beer. Her wearing the outfit from Kill La Kill shows the strength of the beer as it warms up. The more she shines the more she becomes powerful. Chocolate is sexy so she definitely shines in that aspect too . This is a rare release too so she is a very rare character sometimes in these reviews .

Local 1 by Brooklyn Brewery

March 5, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Belgian Strong Pale Ale, Bleach, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Brewery, Local 1, Matsumoto, passion fruit, Peppercorns, Williamsburg, World Class Belgian Strong Pale Ale | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.2/5

Local 1 by Brooklyn Brewery is a 9% ABV World Class Belgian Strong Pale Ale.

Label:
In Williamsburg, Brooklyn, we forge barley malt and hops from Germany, aromatic raw sugar from Mauritius and yeast from Belgium into our latest beer, Brooklyn Local 1. Behind the golden color, find a dynamic complex of flavors, Belgian flair, Brooklyn fortitude and a dusting of our special yeast after 100% bottle re-fermentation. Enjoy it locally or globally, as an aperitif or with your favorite dishes.
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This is my first beer from Brooklyn Brewery out in New York. This was very generous donation from my good friend Aaron at www.beermetaldude.com. Thanks again Aaron as we don’t get these beers here in California so it is awesome go get a chance to try this stuff. There is definitely a lot good things said about this beer for sure.

Aromas:
Lots of stone fruits like nectarines, peaches, apricots, peppercorns, biscuit bread, honey, guava, melon, citrus, oranges, lots of papaya, mango, tripel like caramel and candi sugars, herbal hops, coriander spice, pears, apples, vanilla, bananas, bubble gum and passion fruit.

Flavors:
Papaya, guava, peach, nectarines, lychee, citrus, oranges, passion fruit, honey dew melon, honey comb, biscuit bread, bananas clove and coriander spice, bubble gum, peppercorns, caramel, candi sugars, herbal and floral hops, flowers, lavender, apples, pears, vanilla, guava, pineapple, lemon and grapes.

Aftertaste:
Lingering stone fruit and tropical fruit goodness along with honey, biscuit bread and peppercorns. The alcohol is lightly hinting in the taste but the sweetness and herbal notes take over. A sipping yet refreshing and crisp beer.

Overall:
Damn!! This just beat my other ratings for top Belgian Strong Pale Ale. Although, Eschatological is delicious in its own right, this wins because of its increased amount of exotic fruitiness. Drinks almost like a Tripel, but this is no tripel. A definite recommend and a great first beer review. Awesome stuff!!

Anime Corner:
Matsumoto from Bleach was chosen for this beer to compliment the label colors and mainly the colors of the beer and the flavors. Yes she has big melons . Regardless though, she is a strong Soul Reaper in the show and uses abilities of ash that dissolve from her sword to disintegrate her opponents. Like the richness of the Belgian yeast forward, this beer beer can knock someone out.

Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer by Rahr & Sons

March 5, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged aged in Bourbon Barrels, Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer, bourbon barrels, Fruit Cake, Kancolle/Kantai Collection, Rahr & Sons, Tenryuu, Winter Warmer | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.75/5

Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer by Rahr & Sons is a 9% ABV Winter Warmer aged in bourbon Barrels.

Label:
We take recently emptied bourbon barrels and refill them with our Winter Warmer English-Style Dark Ale. We then barrel age this majestic ale for 10 weeks. The result is a balanced, ambitious blend of dark malts and English hops.
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Amazing thanks to my good friend Aaron in Texas, ruler of www.beermetaldude.com who presented me with another great beer. This time, a style I have never even thought was possible. A winter warmer, aged in bourbon barrels. Although, Widmer did make a partial aged one but I am sure this one takes the cake.. Holy Shit! This is truly unique. It is an honor and a pleasure once again my friend to be able to bring this forth to our craft beer review fans. Cheers to you and Cheers to you readers. Thanks for reading.

Aromas:
Rich dark fruits like raisins, prunes, figs, dark chocolate, cherries, currants, all spice, ginger bread, fruit cake, vanilla, oak, coconut, hazelnut nectar, nutella, rye bread, dulce de leche caramel, raisin bread pudding, port wine notes, coffee cake and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Rich Dark Chocolate, Dark fruits like the prunes, raisins, cherries, currants, fruit cake, oak, bourbon, toasted coconut, rocky road ice cream, ginger, all spice, vanilla, choco flan, coffee cake, brown sugar, pecan pie, hazelnut, rye bread, dulce de leche carame, port wine, earthy hop character and Toffee.

Aftertaste:
Leaves with a coconut, raisin, chocolate, earthy hop and slight bourbon flavor. No alcohol in the taste. A sipping beer that is best enjoyed as alittle at a time.

Overall:
Exceptionally great. I think the extra cred definitely has to do with the rich chocolate flavors coming through along with the sweet bourbon, dark fruits and fruit cake and more. Amazing beer and one that is highly recommended if you can get it. Thank you once again Aaron, this was truly something very special. Cheers!

Anime Corner:
Tenryuu from Kancolle/Kantai Collection was chosen in this pairing to represent the winter and dark fruit flavors of the beer. Her eyes compliment the color of the label as she carries a sword of chocolate which strikes your senses like a pleasure train. Careful though, while she may be something that you may want to consume right away as she tries to seduce you, she will strike with her chocolate vengeance. Can you see any other things that compliment this pairing?

Stochasticity Project Grapefruit Slam IPA by Stone Brewing

March 3, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Asuka Langley Shikinami, DIPA, Double India Pale Ale, grapefruit juice, grapefruit peel, Stochasticity, Stochasticity Project Grapefruit Slam IPA, Stone Brewing, Stone Ruination | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Stochasticity Project Grapefruit Slam IPA by Stone Brewing is an 8.2% ABV Double India Pale Ale brewed with grapefruit peels.

Label:
Stochasticity

There is no happenstance or coincidence. Dumb fuck is a fallacy and randomness a commonly accepted mistruth. Much of what seemingly falls into place and seems so natural is a result of Stochasticity, a concept embraced and exalted by this special and unpredictable series of beers, where exotic notions, ingredients and ideas coalesce at an interesting and often unexpected endpoint.

India pale ales harness the inherent flavor characteristics of hops to bring forward familiar flavors of pine, resin, spice, and citrus. In some cases, those botanicals are so potent, they exactly mirror specific edibles. Such is the case with Centennial hops, which hail from the Great Northwest and come across on the palate like a mouthful of citrus fruit. That sensation is amplified with this, the first beer introduced via the Stochasticity Project–a double IPA brewed with Centennial, Chinook and Magnum hops as well as an immense dosing of fresh grapefruit peel. The result is over-the-top bittersweet grapefruit intensity that is at once refreshing and bracing in its citrusy bitterness.
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Picked this up at the local store. I know this beer came out pretty recently and it is the first of Stone’s Stochasticity project. This is basically Stone Ruination with grapefruit peels. I already enjoy Stone Ruination for what it is, so to have this, let’s see what it does to the Golden Standard of IPAs.

Aromas:
Grapefruit, piney, herbal, floral and grassy hops, caramel, honey, pepper, spices, garlic, onion, biscuit bread, citrus, hop oil, mild mango flavor and slight tropical fruits.

Flavors:
Herbal hop notes, orange, lemon and grapefruit peel, citrus, grapefruit juice, citrus, lemon zest, squirt soda notes, mild mango, caramel, biscuit bread, garlic, onion, spices and passion fruits.

Aftertaste:
Grapefruit, herbal and piney hop resin lingering for a bit along with lemon zest and biscuit notes. No alcohol in the taste. Easy to moderate drinkability with some crisp and refreshing aspects.

Overall:
A damn good DIPA with more of a herbal,citrus and spicy flavors more than the tropical fruits rising. I recommend worth trying especially since it is Ruination. Although, this is more grapefruit forward and what they were going for did actually come forth. So in that aspect, recommended and worth a try. In terms of Ruination though, it is only a slight step up from Ruination but not rating wise. I think it this taste a lot like Ruination but with a great grapefruit increase. Some may or may not notice.

Anime Corner:
Asuka Langley Shikinami Soryu was used in this pairing mainly to show case the flavors and the label. The label reminds me of Tron with their cyber space suits. Asuka is wearing a NERV plug suits with lights reminiscent of the colors or the label. Her colors represent that of grapefruit flavors, lots of citrus and the ruination bitterness is represented by her moody attitude. Yes, she is moody at times and bitter. But she is also sweet as hell.

2012 Barrel Aged Grand Cru by Alesmith

March 3, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged alesmith brewing, american oak barrels, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, dark fruits, French Oak, Grand Cru, Milla Maxwell, Red Wine Barrels | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.75/5

2012 Barrel Aged Grand Cru by Alesmith is a 10% ABV Belgian Strong Dark Ale aged in Red Wine Barrels.

Label:
This Belgian-Style Ale has been matured in American and French Oak Barrels for a year to add layers of complexity to its rich flavor profile of dark fruit and Belgian caramel malts. The oak and red wine flavors by the barrel-aging process blend seamlessly with subtle hints of raisin, plum, and bitter-sweet chocolate from the beer. Enjoy now or continue to age in a cool, dark place. Serve in a goblet at 50-55%
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Obtained this one through a donation to the site. This is the 3rd Barrel-aged beer I try from Alesmith, being that the best one was the Kopi Luwak Bourbon Speedway Stout. A chance to try one of my favorite beers from them in barrel aged form and bring it forth to you guys is an honor. Hopefully it is good enough for a recommendation, although I can already tell you, it will be since I loved the regular grand cru.

Aromas:
Very rich red wine grapes, chardonnay, port wine, merlot, oak, dark fruits like figs, raisins, prunes, plums, currants, cherries, raspberries, cranberries, Dulce de leche caramel, dates, leather notes, vanilla, bourbon hints, milk chocolate, coconut, pecan and hazelnut pie, cloves, bananas in caramel, toffee, butterscotch, candi sugars, brown sugar, peaches, apples and apricots.

Flavors:
Lots of dark fruits like figs, prunes, raisins, plums, currants, raspberries, cherries, cranberries, dulce de leche caramel, flan, brown sugar, port wine, red wine, merlot, leather, milk chocolate hints, bananas, clove spice, vanilla, bourbon like notes, coconut, oak , pecan pie, hazelnut cream, butterscotch, rye bread, rock candy, candi sugar, peaches, pears, apples, apricots, good wine and cheese party and lychee.

Aftertaste:
Dark fruits, caramel, wine notes, oak, tart fruits and slight buttery rye. No alcohol in the taste yet has a smooth character which is kind of dangerous as I can easily try to finish such a good thing in one sittings. Savor her as much as you, she will love you for it or feel the full wrath.

Overall:
Exceeding the expectations of its predecessor, the Alesmith Grand Cru, providing even richer fruitier flavors along with more caramel and candi sugars. I already loved their Grand Cru, but this is taking it to a whole new level with the oak wine characteristics that already bring something very interesting to the table. Especially since most Grand Crus already have an aspect of wine aging. This is not sour in any way and really is an incredible beer.

Anime Corner:
Milla Maxwell is back from the original review to show case the power of the beer in a form of complex flavor and strength animated by her ultimate powers. The fire, earth, water and air elements are a way to artistically show the improvement in the variety of flavors that this beer has. Especially after it aged for 2 years. In the picture where the guy tries to break her out shows that the beer has matured well and is ready to take on. Either that or he just wants to get her now. Regardless, she is damn stronger, maybe not ABV wise, but flavor wise for sure. Any other pairing ideas you can see in these pictures?

Jurata Collaboration by Coronado and Cigar City Breweries

February 27, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Baltic Porter, Baltic Sea, cigar city, Cigar City Brewing, Collaboration Beer, Coronado Brewing, dark chocolate, Jurata, Mermaid, Sirens | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.15/5

Jurata Collaboration by Coronado and Cigar City Breweries is an 8% ABV Baltic Porter.

Label:
When naming this Baltic porter, a collaboration with Tampa’s famed Cigar City Brewing, we opted for Jurata as a nod to a mythological mermaid known to roam the depths of the Baltic Sea, just as energetic yeast used to brew this deep dark beer navigated our fermentation tanks. Dive in and enjoy Jurata’s true-to-style rich and complex flavors!
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Picked this one up at one of the local liquor store places near my house since I wanted to try this beer for a while. It was a super hyped one, but a collaboration with Cigar City would definitely make for one tasty treat. I figure, scratch this one off the review list and time for a presentation.

Aromas:
Dark Chocolate, molasses, anise, coffee, brownies, roasted barley, caramel, soy sauce, raisins, tobacco, earthy hops, hazelnut, pecans, licorice and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Roasted coffee notes, anise, dark chocolate, roasted barley notes, earthy hops, tobacco, leather, raisin hints, soy sauce notes, nutty pecans, hazelnuts, oatmeal, maple, mild smokey oak, smoked clams, oysters, brown sugar and vanilla hints.

Aftertaste:
Dark chocolate fading, tobacco, earthy hops, anise and hints of caramel. No alcohol in the taste, moderate to sipping drinkability with medium to full mouth feel.

Overall:
A very good beer that is enjoyable but nothing specifically too extraordinary. Drinks similar to a sweeter Black IPA. I enjoyed Coronado’s Barrel Aged beer better than this one. Although, the rarity of the style makes it interesting. Although one of the best Baltic Porters I had was the one from Uinta called Sea Legs. Although that one is aged in bourbon barrels, so yeah, maybe that is cheating. Nevertheless, this one is very good and worth a try if you are interested.

Anime Corner:
Visitor artwork by moni158 of deviantart.com and original mermaid artwork by houtengeki were used in this pairing to show the Jurata siren which lured men at sea in with their beauty to the their watery graves in the Baltic sea. The label and colors were perfect for the artwork but also the Coronado mermaid was even more perfect for the beer in comparing to the Baltic sea. Aside from the very obvious, is there any other things that can be said about these pairings?

Pisces Pale by El Borracho Home Brewing

February 24, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged El Borracho Home Brewing, English Pale Ale, Home brewing, Pale Ale, Pisces Pale | Leave a comment

Rating: 4/5

Pisces Pale by El Borracho Home Brewing is a 5.8% ABV English Pale Ale.

Thanks to my buddy William Carranza for hooking me up with his first master piece. This is his first beer made and I was given the honor to do a review for him. We both went to beer class together and he took it upon himself to brew his first batch of beer. I will be right behind you brother .

Aromas:
Caramel, grassy and piney hops, grapefruit notes, mango hints, biscuit bread, rye, malt grain and honey.

Flavors:
Earthy, grassy and piney hops, caramel, rye bread, honey, mango hints, biscuit notes, mild toffee, grapefruit, citrus, lemon peel, peanuts, toffee and pecans.

Aftertaste:
Caramel, toffee, earthy, grapefruit hops, peanuts and honey. No alcohol in the taste with easy to moderate drinkability and medium body to it.

Overall:
A very good pale ale. Despite’s Will’s advise about a certain flaw in the beer, I enjoyed it more because I actually enjoyed it better this way. The flaw was that there was more malt concentrated due to the missing extra gallon that was not added to the batch, which case the pale ale to be closer to a red ale,winter warmer or an Extra Special Bitter. While it may not have been what he was looking for in the beer, it ended being great! I love sweet caramel beers and this was just that good in my opinion. The best temperature would be to drink it as cold as possible to get more hop profile out of it. It gets sweeter as it get warmer. There is no off flavors, just nice and sweet stuff. Thanks again Will!

Anime Corner:
Zodiac Sign Pisces original artwork by Deviantart.com artist yuhon was chosen as a pairing to my friends beer to show the name of the beer. Pisces Pale was born in early February 2014 and this with the sign and the name as well as Will’s Zodiac sign, this was the pairing I chose. It make not show case many of the colors of the beer itself, maybe the hops since hops are green, but the vibrant hazel eyes of the fishes and the girl hold its true nature, the flow of a sweet awesome beer. Any other pairing notes that you would like to share, please comment below.

Power Plant by El Segundo Brewing company

February 24, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged El Segundo Brewery, El Segundo Brewing, El Segundo California, IPA, passion fruit, Pliny the Younger, Power Plant, Ryuko Matoi, Ryuoko Matoi, Tripel India Pale Ale, Triple IPA, tropical fruits | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.25/5

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

Picked up a growler after my first visit to the El Segundo Brewery in El Segundo California. A small facility with a giant power house of flavors. I tried several beers which I really liked while I was there like the Standard Crude in bourbon and oak along with the range of great IPAs, pale ales and porters. This is the second beer I review from them since I really loved the White Dog IPA, but this beer, was in another level altogether. First of all, I have never tried an IPA that is over 10% ABV (Barrel Aged IPAs don’t count). This one is 11.3% and I must say, it sure doesn’t feel like it.

Aromas: Grapefruit, melon, kiwi, oranges, dragon fruit, grassy, piney and floral hops, honey dew melon, strawberry, apple, pear, mango, peach, pineapple, biscuit bread, caramel, lychee fruit, prickly pears, passion fruit, papaya, apricot, herbs, lemon peel and tangerines.

Flavors:
Lots of tropical fruits like grapefruit, kiwi, pineapple, oranges, honey dew melon, mango, papaya, strawberry, apples, pears, peaches, lychee, prickly pears, passion fruit, papaya, apricot, passion fruit, biscuit bread, caramel, grassy, piney, herbal and floral hops, orange gummy bears, lemon, tangerines, raspberries and honey.

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

Overall:
Extra ordinary beer out for a limited time. This is one of the finest examples of great IPAs I have ever tried and is the definition of how great IPAs should be. I think it also helps that it is super fresh. If you have ever tried the hoppy wort left over from when making beer, it would most likely be very similar to the hop bitterness but ofcourse, the bitterness does not linger for too long and mainly the tropical fruits do. So if you get a chance to go, definitely try this beer out.

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

Mocha Wednesday by The Bruery

February 19, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged American Imperial Stout, Black Tuesday, Bourbon Barrel Aged, chocolate chip cookies, Chocolate Rain, coffee, Coffee Beans, Grey Monday, Kahlua, Konan, Kopi Luwak, Melange 3, Mocha, mocha coffee, Mocha Wednesday, Naruto, Portola Coffee Lab, TCHO Cacao nibs, The Bruery, White Chocolate | Leave a comment

Rating: 6/5

Mocha Wednesday by The Bruery is a 19.2% ABV World Class Imperial Stout brewed with Coffee and Cacao Nibs aged in bourbon barrels.

Label:
MORNING AFTER

This exquisite version of Black Tuesday is brewed with TCHO cacao nibs and coffee beans from Portola Coffee Lab.

Mocha Wednesday is a perfect follow up to a Black Tuesday. This invigorationg ale will age gracefully if cellared properly, but the both chocolate and freshly ground coffee flavors will be most prominent when consumed fresh.
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Fucken right, the only beer this year from the stupidly exclusive and expensive hoarders society of the Bruery I was able to obtain thanks to a great donation. You will most likely have to trade or spend a grip of money on this rarity of rares. Black Tuesday, Grey Monday, White Chocolate, Chocolate Rain and Melange #3 have been my top favorite Bruery beers and today on this very Wednesday, a Mocha Wednesday, I contribute this beauty to the reviews. Thank you so much mystery person for the generous donation. Cheers!!

Aromas:
Alesmith Kopi Luwak coffee aroma complexity, rich mocha coffee, espresso, roasted coffee beans, Kahlua, dark, Belgian, German, sweet, bitter, milk, fudge and baker’s chocolates, bourbon, Dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, flan, hazel nuts, pecan pie, Bailey’s Irish cream, dark fruits, raisins, figs, plums, raspberries, cherries, almond joy, rocky road ice cream, fudge, chocolate chip cookies, molasses, oak, earthy notes, brown sugar, mint, anise and toasted coconut.

Flavors:
Toasted coconut, Kahlua, mocha, java, espresso beans, Kopi luwak coffee, dark, Belgian, German, sweet, bitter, milk, fudge and baker’s chocolates as in the aromas, dark fruits like currants, cherries, raspberries, raisins, figs, plums, raspberries, cherries, almond joy chocolate, See’s coffee candy, brown sugar, chocolate mocha flan, coffee cake, brown sugar, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla beans, oak, bourbon, rum, Bailey’s Irish cream, cookies and cream ice cream, anise, mint chocolate ice cream, pecan pie, hazelnuts, maple syrup, earthy chocolate sugar notes, tobacco, roasted cashews, mocha syrup and more chocolate, damn!

Aftertaste:
Lots of Kahlua coffee. You know the alcohol is there but all you taste is sugary sweet Frappucino and coffee to the point where you can’t sense it until it is too late. A major sipping chocolate mocha syrupy mouth feel beer, but scarily, a smooth beer as well. This beer is no joke.

Overall:
Holy Shit, this kicks a lot of the best coffee beers right in the nuts. I think this is really the best damn coffee beer I have ever had with Alesmith Barrel Aged Kopi Luwak Speedway Stout being the second runner up. This definitely is a warming welcome to the already great line up of Bruery beers specifically the ones I had mentioned earlier in my post. No doubt about it, it is not as chocolatey as Chocolate Rain, but the consistency and the coffee to give it a complex coffee-mocha flavor that makes it extremely unique. Something like this is what meets the highest expectation exceeding criteria that I look for in some of the best beers in the world. A rarity, but a lovely beer just the same. That and at 19.2% is the 3rd highest ABV I have ever tried next to Chocolate Rain and Tactical Nuclear Penguin (32% ABV although too harsh).

Anime Corner:
I looked for a couple of days figuring out which character to choose and after watching Naruto this past weekend, who else can actually make a great pairing but the 3rd Akatsuki Rogue Ninja leader and one of the top female ninjas in the series (next to Temari ofcourse), Konan of Amegakure. The alcohol shows her unique strength. The perfect pairing idea came from the label and a need to find one of my favorite characters to fit. Her blue hair and hazelnut eyes fit perfect with the beer label colors. Her strength is not the only thing that matters, but the rich sweet aspects of her flavors characterizes the deep love she has for her friends Nagato and Yahiko (Also known as Pain). The rarity of this beer is the rarity of her discipline. For the smallest times you do get to see her fight, she is a bad ass ninja. Hence the reason her smoothness and seduction will make you pay greatly later on if you try to consume her in one sitting. Patience is virtue!! Aside from these aspects, if you know this character or can even guess, what other aspects of this pairing compliment each other?

Orange Shandy by Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company

February 19, 2014 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.5/5

Orange Shandy by Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company is a 4.2% Shandy made with Oranges.

Commercial Description:
Our latest shandy, Leinenkugel’s® Orange Shandy is a traditional wheat beer with refreshing natural orange flavor inspired by the orange harvests. With a zesty, citrus taste, it’s just what you need to stay on the brighter side of the season.
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Got this one in a 6 pack. They sell 12 packs of this as well. I am sure it is sold in many places that sell Leinenkugel beers. It is not a too crazy beer but I figured, might as well. Let’s see what this one is all about.

Aromas:
Oranges, coriander, wheat, honey, cereal grains, lemons, mild berry like that of their “Sunset Wheat” with its fruity pebble like aroma.

Flavors:
Lots or sweet oranges, cereal grains, coriander spice, fruit pebble cereal like taste (possibly the yeast they use or a berry like flavor), mild berries, lemon peel, honey and wheat.

Aftertaste:
Mild cereal and orange juice sweetness. No alcohol in the taste. Crisp, refreshing and easy to drink.

Overall:
A good beer that actually taste better Shocktop. Way more fruitier than the average orange wheat beer but sweeter for sure. I enjoy the Hangar 24 Orange wheat more but this beer is made specifically to taste like fruity oranges so it works with no surprise. It definitely fits with the categories of summer beer and is one that sits nice on a hot summer day.

Anime Corner:
Nami from One Piece was chosen in this pairing to pair with the flavors, label, and style of the beer. It is all about Oranges here and it is the reason I chose it. Picking oranges and drinking orange juice on a summer day is what comes to mind when pairing this beer.

Coronado Collection series Barrel Aged Stupid Stout by Coronado Brewing

February 18, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged american oak barrels, Bourbon Barrel Aged, Coronado, Coronado Brewing, Coronado Collection, dark fruits, Imperial Stout, Stupid Stout | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Coronado Collection series Barrel Aged Stupid Stout by Coronado Brewing is a 9.8% ABV Imperial Stout aged in oak bourbon barrels.

Label:
The “Coronado Collection” is the limited release of our barrel aged liquid treasures. 2013 Release #3: Stupid Stout Imperial Stout aged in oak bourbon barrels.
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I picked this up at the local Downey liquor store. I have tried a Coronado collaboration and the Coronado Red ale but to try something like this is pretty special as I have never had any of their barrel aged stuff. They sure put an emphasis on the mermaid. I love Barrel aged beers but each one better than others and some which are just out of this world.

Aromas:
Bourbon, vanilla, caramel, dark fruits like currants, raisins, grapes, black berries, coffee, oak, dark chocolate, molasses, anise, dark cherry, hazelnut, mocha and toasted coconut.

Flavors:
Bourbon, dark fruits like currants, raisins, grapes, blackberries, dark cherries, mocha, coffee, vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, tobacco, molasses, anise, hazelnut, flan, toasted coconut, oak, mild marshmallow smores, chocolate fudge cake and a bit of mint.

Aftertaste:
Coffee, dark fruit currants, grapes, caramel, earthy notes and oak. The alcohol is mildly present in the flavor but does not detract from the flavors. A sipping beer with a full mouth feel.

Overall:
Damn delicious, but in a different way. It may not have exceeded expectations but it is still a perfect beer. The bourbon barrel aging of this beer makes it go more towards dark fruit, anise and coffee flavors than actual bourbon complexities like a richer amount of coconut, flan, marshmallows and such. Nevertheless, still a perfect beer worth trying. This beer reminds me of Ballast Point’s Sea Monster.

Anime Corner:
This mermaid creature is an original character from the card series called Monster Collection Fujimishobo Bushiroad which was used in this pairing to represent the Coronado mermaid, the collection series to pair with the “Coronado Collection” but also the flavors of the dark fruits and currants.

Tumescence collaboration by The Bruery and Bottlelogic brewing

February 15, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged american farmhouse, Bottle Logic, Bottle Logic brewing, Brettanomyces, collaboration, herbs and spices, Ignis, Jingai Makyō, mango, nitroplus, Saison, The Bruery, Tumescence | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.4/5

Tumescence collaboration by The Bruery and Bottlelogic brewing is an 8% ABV Saison/Farmhouse Ale brewed with Mangoes, Raspberries, Herbs and spices.

Label:
RAGING HAPPINESS

This saison was brewed with brettanomyces, mangoes & raspberries and a selection of herbs and spices for extra enjoyment.

The OC beer community is growing quickly and luckily it is filled with amazing people. We had a lot of fun brewing this experimental ale with our old friends who are now our new neighbors. Best enjoyed fresh, but may pleasantly evolve over time if cellared properly
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The first collaboration of the year for The Bruery and maybe for Bottle Logic. This was a february release for the Reserve society but will also be released for the preserve society and possible to the markets soon next month. A saison is a delicious style of beer brewed in the French speaking parts of Belgium, or so I heard. They are very prominent by many breweries and even my favorites are from Stillwater Artisanal. So, for the brewery to make one with mango, this I had to see.

Aromas:
Mango, peppercorns, hibiscus, raspberries, grapefruit and herbal hops, citrus, coriander spice, strawberry, cilantro, lemons, biscuit bread, brettanomyces funk, stone fruits like apricots and peaches and apples.

Flavors:
Lots of flowers, spices, mango, grapefruit hops, tart raspberries, peppercorns, stone fruit apricots, peaches, sour apple, sage, grapes, funky brett, biscuit bread, farmhouse hay, lemongrass, cilantro herbs, pineapple, strawberry, chamomile and hibiscus.

Aftertaste:
Citrus, herbs, spices, mild mango, tart raspberry, herbal and grassy hops. There is no alcohol in the taste. This is moderate drinking beer.

Overall:
If you love saisons, you may love this very delicious beer. At some points, the herbs were pretty sharp but I think that was the point when they needed to balance out the sweeter tropical notes of the beer. In this sense, it is not as sweet as other saisons but the bitter flowers, spices, herbs and some sweetness of the tropical fruits do come together nicely.

Anime Corner:
Ignis from Jingai Makyō was chosen to for the pairing of Tumescence for the label, beer colors and flavors. Tumescence is actually the word for inflammation of something. In this case, Ignis representing the raspberries and Mango fights off the demons of the living Brettanomyces to maintain a place in the beer so that it does not sour out and shows the tropics a bit more. The surrounding red of her hair and the red of the background really shows the raspberry and mango aspects of the beer. Can you see any other art of this luminescent beer that pairs with the artwork?

Smooth Criminal by The Bruery

February 14, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged american farmhouse, Anni are you okay?, anniversary ale, bois, English Barleywine, Haku Yowane, Michael Jackson, Saison, Saison Lente, Smooth Criminal, The Bruery, vocaloid, Who's Bad? | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.96/5

Smooth Criminal by The Bruery is a 15% ABV English Barley Wine and Saison Blend aged in bourbon barrels

Label:
ANNI ARE YOU OKAY?
Ever accidentally blend two brews, curse a bit, and then smile when tasting the excellent result? Us too. Rich malt, hops and wood come together harmoniously in this unique ale.

Smooth Criminal is the splendid result of moving a bit too quickly in the brewhouse. An accidental addition of Saison De Lente to a fermenter full of our Anniversary ale led us to ask, “Anni, are you okay?” She was. Best enjoyed fresh , but may pleasantly evolve over time if cellared properly.
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I have yet to try Saison Lente but this beer blended with Bois is probably very epic. Bois is already a beer that I highly enjoy but the addition of another blend may make or break a flavor enhancement. So far, the Bois Fume was freaking epic, let us see what Saison Lent did to “ANNI”versary ale.

Aromas:
Bananas, peaches, apricots, apple butter, vanilla, oak, bourbon, dulce de leche caramel, coconut, milk chocolate, pecan pie, hazelnuts, dark fruits like raisins, plums, cherries, figs, dates, grapes,apples, rum, Flan, brown sugar, peaches and cream, crème brulee, toffee and marshmallow smores.

Flavors:
Bananas, dulce de leche caramel, peaches, herbal spices, floral hops, peppercorns, toffee, vanilla, oak, bourbon, rum, apples, apricots, dark fruit raisins, figs, dates, prunes, cherries, pecan and hazelnut pie, walnuts, raisin bread pudding, marshmallows smores, rye bread with orange marmalade spread, flan, crème brulee, dark and milk chocolate, white chocolate, wine grapes, maple syrup, burnt sugars, candy sugar, brown sugar, and butterscotch, flowers and coriander.

Aftertaste:
Peach, grape, rye, caramel, bourbon, vanilla, pecan pie, earthy and floral notes and citrus linger. The alcohol is presently mild but does not detract from the delicious flavors. This is mildly smooth.

Overall:
Something about adding other beers to Bois take the beer to another spectrum of flavors. The Bois Fume was very delicious and now this one freaking awesome. I think I enjoyed Bois Fume more but this one is freaking delicious. If you enjoy both beers I am sure the hoppy, floral and citrus addition eill have you liking this one. A play at ANNI or Anni-versary is a well played criminal. A thief in the night exposing new flavors to the palate.

Anime Corner:
Vocaloid, Haku Yowane, was chosen for this pairing to represent the aspect of “Michael Jackson” and Smooth Criminal. Haku for the aspect of the beer and MJ, co-inside with themes of music since she is a musician but her name means utter bad thoughts. A pun to, “Who’s Bad?” In terms of the label, I did not get the colors right but the flavors of the beer such as the dark fruit, cherry and plums are there in in her clothing colors and evil eyes. Her white hair represents the addition of the Saison Lente (A white blond beer) that was added to Anniversary (Evil thoughts of Haku influencing the pure beer) and then creating this, Smooth Criminal. I’m just glad I found a great picture to pair with this beer and tribute to MJ’s “Smooth Criminal”.

Bois Fumé by The Bruery

February 14, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged bois, Bois Fume, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Rei Ayanami, Smoking, Smoking Wood, The Bruery | Leave a comment

Rating: 6/5

Bois Fumé by The Bruery is a 16.2% ABV Old Ale and Imperial smoked rye porter blend aged in bourbon barrels

Label:
VOULEZ UNE FUMÉE? (Would you like a smoke?)

This rustic beer is the result of barrel aging a blend of our Anniversary, English-style old ale, with Smoking Wood, an imperial smoked rye porter for a pleasantly sweet quaff with an dry, peaty finish.

Bois Fumé is a combination that makes all too much sense. Smoking Wood and Bois (French for ‘wood’) combine force3s in a unique winter warmer. Best enjoyed Fresh but, may pleasantly evolve over time if cellared properly.
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Non merci, je ne fume pas. Je préfère la bière artisanale s’il vous plaît… or something like that. I will do an exception with this one though. Two of some of the best beers Bruery bees combined in a blend. Talk about a Melange. But in all seriousness, this beer is a Reserve exclusive and one that can probably be achieve by just mixing the Bois and Smoking Wood beers to make Bois Fumé (French for Smoking Wood, no surprise here). While Bois was already close to exceed expectations and Smoking wood for me was perfect, a blend would surely skyrocket the results. Let’s see what this one is about shall we? Cheers!

Aromas:
Lots of rye bread with bananas,vanilla,dulce de leche caramel, coconut, milk chocolate, pecan pie, dark fruits like raisins, plums, cherries, figs, dates, wine grapes, sherry, apples, Flan, vanilla, sweet condenced milk (Lechera), crème brulee, oak wood, toffee, marshmallows, rum, whiskey, bourbon, brown sugar, burnt sugars and mocha coffee.

Flavors:
Campfire Smokey notes, bacon, dark and milk chocolate, oak, bourbon, dark fruits, raisins, bananas, dulce de leche caramel, toffee, vanilla, rum, apples, peach, figs, dates, prunes, cherries, pecan and hazelnut pie, marshmallows, flan, sweetened condenced milk (Lechera), crème brulee, wine grapes, sourdough and rye bread, toffee, sherry, burnt sugar, brown sugar, butterscotch hints, Honey, scotch, mocha, maple syrup and coconut.

Aftertaste:
Smokey oak, dark fruit, bourbon, wine, earthy but sweet coffee notes. The alcohol is subtle in the taste but the smokey sweet flavors cover for it very well.

Overall:
Fucking Epic, this beer was definitely more than I expected. They are somehow referring this to be a winter warmer on the bottle. I have no idea how it is possible but it sure is. This is a freaking crazy beer. Like I stated before, I already loved both the smoking wood and the Bois and this just took it to another level. It is highly recommended if you can find this variant. Just be cautious, it is the most booziest smoked beer I have ever had so if you like smoke and boozy, you win a “fancy campfire or sitting in a fancy chair listening to classical music near a fire place” type of beer.

Anime Corner:
Rei Ayanami and Rei Ayanami 3.0 from Neon Genesis Evangelion were used in this pairing to symbolize the original Bois anime picture I chose. In the first scene, the colors portray fire or Rei being engulfed by flames of glory. Well not in a bad way but like in a “Goku powering up super saiyan” kind of way. Also, the addition of the Black and White Ray sitting over lava show off the complexities of the beer in terms of the sweet and smokey colors. Not to mention the fact that they are surrounded by lava or magma. The wave of the cloth symbolizes the smokey aspects of the beer as Rei 3.0 holds the cloth over the lava. Also the Rei sleeping symbolizes the extra strength of this beer is enough to put anyone to sleep. That is all I have, but can you find any other pairings for this beer?

Hot Lips Real Fruit Cherry Soda

February 14, 2014 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Hot Lips Real Fruit Cherry Soda is a 0% ABV (Non-Alcoholic) Craft Soda made with dark sweet and red sour cherries

Label:
Each deliciously refreshing bottle of HOTLIPS begins with fresh fruit picked at peak ripeness from family farms in the Pacific Northwest. Out all-natural CHERRY us a luxurious blend of sweet and tart varietals joined with soft, smooth bubbles.
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Another soda review. Yes, sometimes variety is good even if it may be short at times. I will give my best to give a good review but I cannot rate the soda as it I don’t consider myself good at it. Well, here we go.

Aromas:
Cherry yogurt, prunes, cherry cobbles, cherry pie.

Flavors:
Dark Cherries, yogurt, Sour cherry cobbler, prunes, cherry skins and raisins.

Aftertaste:
Cherry and prune in the aftertaste. Moderate to Easy drinkability.

Overall:
A very good and not overly sweet soda. The focus is definitely not artificial but more along the lines of matured fruit or sun dried fruits. It is not the best soda ever, but if you are looking for pure sugary cherry flavor, you won’t find it here and many will find it appealing for that reason.

Anime Corner:
Mitsuru Kirijo from Persona 3 was used in this pairing to showcase the Red hot cherry lips and the dark cherry aspects of the soda. The label colors fit perfectly and this character is not sweet, she is cool and collected. So that would bring in the prune flavors in.

2013 Serpent’s Stout by The Lost Abbey

February 12, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Belgian Stout, Dark Belgian Stout, Evil Rukia, Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia Kuchiki, Serpent's Stout, The Lost Abbey | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

2013 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.
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When it comes to drinking craft beer, sometimes you always find your self going back to some of the beers that started it all. This evil brew of sin was the original and first Belgian Imperial Stout that I have ever tried. Back in 2010 when I first started getting into collecting beer labels, this was one of the most artistic ones that I have tried from the Lost Abbey, and was one of my top favorites. A beer like this something that you really don’t forget. To many people, they all have a special set of beers sometimes they always want to go back and try. For me, this so called “blood of Christ” was something evil, dark, special and delicious. I try once more after those many times I tried it oh so long ago! It is a common here in California and in some places too. Sometimes, you just gotta go back.

Original Review: https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/serpents-stout-by-the-lost-abbey/

Aromas:
Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, bakers chocolate, dark fruits like raisins, currants, plums, figs, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, roasted coffee notes, earthy hops, toffee, mild mocha, graham crackers, smores, brown sugar and molasses.

Flavors:
Dark, milk, bakers and fudge chocolate, roasted coffee beans, dark fruits like raisins, currants, plums, dulce de leche caramel, eathy hops, vanilla, brown sugar, molasses, toffee, mocha, graham cracker smores, flan, tobacco, oak, candy sugars, anise, raisin bread pudding soaked in chocolate syrup and coffee.

Aftertaste:
Earhy notes, oak, dark chocolate, coffee, dark fruits and caramel. No alcohol in the taste with a sipping, yet scary, smooth drinkability. I am not kidding, this is is why this beer is so evil. It goes down smooth like hell even with a syrupy mouthfeel.

Overall:
Perfect example of one of the best Belgian Imperial Stouts. This beer was so good back then, I am currently aging one for a couple of years to come still. By then, I am sure it can sure fly above the “more than perfect/exceeding expectations” ratings. Even for a bottle as early as this, it is still damn great complex beer. One of my top favorites and a highly recommended stout.

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 ad 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!!

Flying Cauldron Butterscotch Beer

February 12, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Butterscotch, Butterscotch Beer, cream soda, Non-Alcoholic | Leave a comment

Flying Cauldron Butterscotch Beer is a Non-Alcoholic (0% ABV) Butterscotch Cream Soda.

Label:
A Magical Brew
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In the past I started to do some side reviews on Root beer, Hard Liquor and even Hard Lemonade. Specifically stuff that caught my fancy. So today I do a review on a non-alcoholic craft soda/beer.

Aromas:
Butterscotch, Vanilla, caramel, sugar and flan.

Flavors:
More Butterscotch, Flan, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla.

Aftertaste:
Lots of butterscotch, vanilla and sugary sweetness that lingers. Easy drinking.

Overall:
For being a cream soda/ Butterscotch Beer, It is pretty dead on to the flavors. If you love craft soda, cream ales, and butterscotch, you will love this one.

Anime Corner:
Original artwork by anje was used in this pairing mainly to showcase the colors of the label and the butterscotch flavors. The label has a picture of a cauldron and since the theme is about magic, then the next step would be something in regards to witches’ brew or in this case, the witch. Can you find any other aspects about this pairing?

Lips of Faith series Wild² Dubbel by New Belgium

February 12, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Belgian Dubbel, Belgian Dubbel Brewed, Franco il Nero, Lily Salvatana, Lips of Faith, new belgium, Schisandra Berries, Tre Donne Crudeli, Wild2 Dubbel | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.75/5

Lips of Faith series Wild² Dubbel by New Belgium is an 8% ABV Belgian Dubbel Brewed with Schisandra Berries.

Label:
This wild Colorado version of the Belgian Dubbel ropes you in with clove and dark fruit aromas. Deeply rich and malty, every sip has a creamy texture true to Belgian tradition before it rides off with hints of black pepper and cinnamon from the addition of shisandra berries.
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Been looking for this beer since November. Yes, it was quite the damn elusive find even for a brewery who is well established with distribution. Got this one at the liquor mart in Whittier California but you most likely can find it in many stores that sell the New Belgium Lips of Faith series. The series has ranged from hit or miss beers but over very good beers. This was the last beer from 2013 in the Lips of Faith Series. I can’t wait to see what we get this year. For now, on to the review and cheers friends!!

Aromas:
Lots of banana, cloves, dark fruits like figs, plums, raisins, raspberries, peppercorn, soy sauce, dulce de leche caramel, cinnamon, flowers, herbs, chocolate, biscuit, apricot, peaches, brown sugar and candy sugar.

Flavors:
Not sure what Schisandra berries are supposed to taste like but if they are anything like raspberry or currants, it is close. The banana, bubblegum and clove spices is there but mixes with like a plant and soy sauce. That is not the dominant though as you can still tell it is a dubbel by the dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, raisins, dark cherries, toffee, plums, figs dates, apricots peaches, brown and candy sugars. Some other flavors are of chocolate, biscuit bread, rye, cinnamon, Szechuan peppercorns, citrus, pineapple, pear and coriander, herbs and other spices.

Aftertaste:
The raisin and caramel notes linger along with some earthy notes. No alcohol in the taste with medium to full body mouthfeel and easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
Very good dubbel with lots of complex flavors but I just cant help feel like there is this Chinese gourmet aspect to it. It is isn’t a bad thing but if you have had Belgian beers with Szechuan peppercorns, you know the type of spice I am talking about. It makes the beer that more awesome!!It is like adding their Abbey Ale with the berries adds this complex experience. You definitely have to try it to understand what I mean. I think this beer is definitely on par with the quad I had last year.

Anime Corner:
Lily Salvatana (purple hair) and Franco il Nero (Teal hair) from Tre Donne Crudeli/Outlaw Django were the perfect pairing in this beer because I wanted to show case the cowboy aspect of the beer but also the flavor profile of this beer. Beginning with Lily who represents the dark fruit and caramel of the Dubbel style and then Franco with the stone fruit, herbs and spices added from the Schisandra berries. Yeah it goes all over the place. A takes two to make a Dubbel. Can you find any awesome details about this pairing?

Baphomet 15th Anniversary Ale by Snoqualmie brewing

February 12, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged anniversary ale, Baphomet | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.66/5

Baphomet 15th Anniversary Ale by Snoqualmie brewing is an 8.3% ABV Imperial Red Dunkel Bock

Label:
They say the Devil’s in the details! Baphomet is the 15th card in the Tarot deck, and this beer was designed for our 15th anniversary last year, but we missed it. The beer and the eye-grabbing label were just too good not to release, so it is now our 15th + 1 anniversary release! This special celebratory offering is a devilishly delicious high gravity Red Ale! The high alpha Bravo hops add a wicked bite. The Munich malt provides loads of mouthwatering malty character, and select crystal malt provides its bloody red hue.

This devilishly concocted full bodied brew featuring the highly unique citric quality of the Bravo will be enough to spin your head around- and you won’t even need an exorcist!

O.G. 1.080
Alcohol By Volume 8.3%
IBUs ~ 80
Unfiltered and unpasteurized
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This label has got to be reaching out to wall the conservative Christian fanatics as evil and all that sort of stuff. I ain’t gonna lie, this looks scary as fuck. But hey, it is still an awesome label and many fans of the occult will probably enjoy. The beer must be fucking awesome though, let’s check it out!

Aromas:
Lots of caramel, toffee, rye, vanilla, citrus, grapefruit, raisin notes, grassy and earthy hop notes, brown sugar, biscuit, hazelnut, peanuts and hints of molasses.

Flavors:
Toffee, caramel, tobacco, earthy hops, rye toast with orange marmalade, grassy hops, grapefruit, dark fruit raisins, vanilla, hazelnut, peanuts, brown sugar, biscuit bread, lots of aggressive pine and herbal hops.

Aftertaste:
Lingering grassy and earthy hops, with little caramel and dark fruit drying up quick. No alcohol in the taste, a sipping beer with a full body mouth feel.

Overall:
A damn very good beer. This drinks more like an Amber ale than a bock, or at least a bock that has been hopped. This devil’s water is sweet but also bitter. A similar to this would probably the Stone Levitation but then again, with the bock aspect this one adds more dark fruit and caramel to it. You will lots of hop bitterness though so really watch out.

Anime Corner:
Shaydeya Xeretas and Kazumi Original art and characters by sugarnhoney and TrueRageXRT of deviant art were used in this pairing to compliment the overall label. The colors with Baphomet and the background were perfect for this pairing. Just like Baphomet is chilling drinking a beer, the devil girls are chilling just taking a smoke. Can you find anything else about this pairing that is not obvious?

Yo Soy Ün Berliñer by Freetail Brewing

February 7, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Berliner Weisse, Freetail Brewing, Ich bin ein Berliner, oak barrels | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.5/5

Yo Soy Ün Berliñer by Freetail Brewing is a 4.4% ABV Berliner Weisse aged in oak barrels.

Label:
So stood President John F. Kennedy at the steps of the Rathaus Schöneberg, preparing to deliver what would become his iconic speech in front of 450,000 free citizens of West Berlin. “Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is Ich bin ein Berliner!” A half-century later, our country embroiled in bitter political debate over the most trivial of ideals, we present this wood-aged Berliner Weisse as a tribute to the world of Freedom and an olive branch of collaboration to all those who can’t seem to get along. For those who wish to drink it, “Lass’ sie nach San Antonio kommen” – Let them come to San Antonio! Ingredients: Pilsen malt, malted wheat; traditional German hops; top-fermenting yeast; lactobacillus; natural, limestone-filtered, Edwards Aquifer H2O; jelly-filled donuts.
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This is the third Free Tail beer I have tried from Texas. Thanks to my good friend at www.beermetaldude.comfor hooking up a great of the great. So far, a lot of the Freetail brewing stuff has been awesome! I cannot deny their world classness in their ever growing brewery. Hope one day we can get some of their beers here in California. Thanks again Aaron and thank you Freetail, ya bat rastards!

Aromas:
Oak, Honey, oats, cereal grains, barley, wheat, citrus, lemons, grassy hops, funky brettanomyces, peppercorn, hay, and biscuit bread.

Flavors:
Lots of lemon, citrus, rich wood oak, biscuit bread, tejuino, teguacan, salt, sour apples, tart sweet lime, sour grapes, vanilla, wet hay, honey, cereal grains, oats, wheat, coriander spice, barley and sourdough bread.

Aftertaste:
Lemon, grains, oats, barley, grassy notes and mild sour apples. No alcohol whatsoever, moderate drinkability with a very refreshing, crisp and palate cleansing dryness.

Overall:
While Berliner Weisse isn’t my favorite style, this is very good. It reminds me of drinking a tejuino or teguacan. One is a Mexican flour drink made with salt and lemon and the other is similar but with setzer water. Although, this beer is more way more than those basic drinks ofcourse. You have to have a good appreciation for sours and Berliner weisse beers to appreciate the qualities of this one. Also, the sourness is not overwhelming but fitting more of this style and more of the tart than sour aspects.

Anime Corner:
Wo-Class from Kancolle/Kantai Collection was used not for the color of the beer but for several aspects. This character is supposed to be some kind of Alien girl with a ship. In the series it supposed to be a fleet of WWII ships fighting alien ships. The ships happen to be these personified characters. The way it relates to the beer has to do with the label color but mainly the barrel aging process of lactobacillus in the oak that ferments the beer. Yes, literally, the little alien thing on her head represents that bacteria which makes the beer, in this case the “blonde girl”, sour out. The purple and red colors represent some of those oak and wine like properties of the fermentation. So yes, it is a stretch but it still looks bad ass. That and the fact that the girl has evil eyes like a vampire which fits the whole “Free Tail” bat of the beer. The girl is the Berliner!

Aloha Piña by Five Stones of Cibolo Texas

February 7, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Five Stones, Five Stones of Cibolo Texas, jalapeño, pineapple, Stones Craft Brewing Company, Texas, Tia Harribel | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.85/5

Aloha Piña by Five Stones of Cibolo Texas is a 6.43% ABV Golden Ale hand crafted with fresh Pineapple and Roasted Jalapeño.

Label:
“Dude, you need to brew a beer with pineapple and jalapeno!” The inspiration, of course, came while eating a Hawaiian Fire pizza with those toppings. 5 Stones Craft Brewing Company has brewed this American Golden Ale with massive amounts of fresh-cut pineapple, two-row crystal and dextrine malts, Amarillo hops, honey, and roasted jalapenos. Our hope is that you will enjoy this ale, share with friends, and have a “Aloha-Pina Moment” for yourself. To you, we say “Mahalo!” and thank you!
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Another sweet hook up from Aaron at www.beermetaldude.com and his friends at Five Stones brewery out in Texas. Mahalo! Guys., it is an honor. So this beer is brewed with pineapples and Jalapeños. The only thing that I have tried that may come close to this could be the Stone 11.11.11 but then again this is more tropical than that I am sure. Well, on to the review to see what this special treasure is all about, Cheers!

Aromas:
Wow, very tropical aromas, citrus, mango, papaya, apples, grapefruit pineapple, peppercorn, honey, biscuit, flowers, caramel, subtle pepper spice.

Flavors:
Definitely tasting the Jalapeño, not to the overwhelming heat but the very nice toasted and peppery notes are there along with pineapple, cherry, oranges, mango, papaya, kiwi, lemons, grassy and floral hops, mild honey, mild rye, caramel, biscuit bread, sourdough, apricot, peach, apples, melon, flowers, herbs and spices. Damn, just needs the sauce and we got us a pizza!

Aftertaste:
Finishing with the pineapple, mild peppery notes, flowers, honey and biscuit bread. No alcohol in the taste with a easy to moderate drinkability. Very refreshing and almost crisp. Also, after a couple of sips, the roasted Jalapeño heat will longer a bit. It is quite nice and warming.

Overall:
Crazy and very delicious tropical beer. I can definitely see why the whole pizza thing was definitely the inspiration. It would pair so damn well too. Lots of tropical fruits along with the Jalapeño comes out freaking amazing. Damn, I wish they sold this here in California. I know I would pick this up often. Definitely recommended if you can get your hands on this for sure!

Anime Corner:
Tia Harribel from Bleach in her Resurreccion mode is the perfect pairing for this. You may not know, but here original form hides her face which is basically all skeleton all the way from her nose, down to her mouth, breast and collar bone. In her unleashed form she takes on a more human like persona. She is mainly a water type Espada that is truly more along the lines of a Shark. That aspect pairs with the just the tropics as well as the skull on the label. Her blonde hair and skin represent that of the golden ale and pineapple flavors. Her skin is that of a sunny suntanned which pairs with the beaches of Hawaii. The Flames in the background represent the fire blaze and kick of the Jalapeños in the beer. I you look at some of my other reviews with Tia Harribel, you will see her skeleton form. Can you find any other details about this pairing?

2011 Project Bourbonic Plague by Cascade Brewing

February 7, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged bourbon, Cascade Brewing, dark chocolate, Midna, oak barrels, sour grapes | Leave a comment

Rating: 6/5

2011 Project Bourbonic Plague by Cascade Brewing is a 12% ABV North West Style Sour ale aged in oak barrels and spices.

Label:
This NW style sour ale is a blend of spiced Double Porters that were aged in Bourbon and Wine Barrels for 18months before aging on dates and spices for up to an additional 12 months. This hand-packed and bottle conditioned sour ale should be served at 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Obtained from bringonthebeer.com and a rare specimen at that, this ale is a conundrum and a hybrid all of its own. I have not had a sour aged in wine oak and bourbon and let alone one aged in wine as well. Lots of work and preparation time spent in this little complex gem.

Aromas:
Red Wine, dark chocolate, dark fruits of raisins, cherries, plums, blue berries, currants, dates, caramel, vanilla, oak, bourbon, coconut, funky sour grapes, port wine, cinnamon, fruit cake, flan, almond joy, fudge brownie, brettanomyces, stone fruits like apricot, peaches and lychess, molasses, fancy wine aromas, flowers and other stuff, damn.

Flavors:
Rich flow of crazy complexity! Red wine, sour grape notes, Chocolate covered currants, tart dark Cherries, raisins, plums, prunes, blue berries, black berries, dates, apples, apricots, pears, oak, vanilla, bourbon, coconut, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, fudge brownies, peaches, flan, cinnamon, brown sugar, fruit cake, rye bread, dulce de leche caramel, coffee and mocha notes as it warms up, key lime pie, hints of peppercorn, mild brandy and more sweet stuff.

Aftertaste:
Lingering wine and bourbon, caramel, mild sour notes, raisin bread, tart cherries and sugar. NO alcohol in the taste, surprisingly and also moderate to sipping drinkability. Yes this is pretty smooth surprisingly.

Overall:
The best sour ale I have ever had aside from my favorite sour like Jolly Pumpkin’s Madrugada Obscura. Most sours don’t exceed my expectations but damn, this is just above and beyond! The flavors are really complex where at some point you feel like sour tart cherries, then wine, then sweet chocolate, then bourbon then caramel, then flan, then… damn! This should not even be categorized as a major sour beer as it really is more than that to the point where people that do not love sours will find some kind of crazy appreciation for this poison in a bottle, that’s, this is just the poison you need. At some points I thought this felt like Chocolate Rain if it went sour…lmao!!

Anime Corner:
Midna from Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess and Dead Master from Black Star Rock Shooter were the perfect poisons I mean pairings for this beer. The colors as well as the magic Midna uses like casting a spell is what is used to make this liquid death very tasty. Same for the Dead Master in her dark green castle background. Midna is another favorite character of mine as well so the pairing did the beer justice in show casing several aspects of witchery, the plague and medieval times too. Dead Master represents the aspect of death which the bubonic plague brings.

Vintage Series Barrel Aged 2012 Dancin’ Monks by Aldebert’s Brewery

February 4, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Aldebert's Brewery, Belgian Dubbel Aged, oak barrels, Vintage Series Barrel, wine grapes | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.8/5

Vintage Series Barrel Aged 2012 Dancin’ Monks by Aldebert’s Brewery is a 9.1% ABV Belgian Dubbel Aged in oak barrels.

Label:
The Ale: A complex ale with a sour wine funk and plum fruit aroma. Pairs well with tangy cheeses, rich meats, fried foods and fruit based desserts.

The Story:
The Columbian Monks could really cut loose during the annual retreat hosted by Del at his Naivasha Lake House in Kenya. After a glass you might find yourself doing your own little happy dance.
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I am familiar with Aldebert’s brewery as I have tried one of their beers back in 2011 when my friend Matt had hooked me up with it long ago. This rich goodie was provided by my good friend Aaron at www.beermetaldude.com in Texas. A Texas exclusive beer but generously donated to the site for review. So it is with great pleasure and a great honor to try this limited edition vintage ale here.

Aromas:
Caramel, wine grapes, funky notes, oak, mild bourbon, leather, honey, chardonay, apricots, vanilla, honey, apples, brown sugar and cloves.

Flavors:
Caramel, plums, raisins, wine grapes, oak, vanilla, honey, wheat, funky barnyard hay, mushrooms, brettanomyces, candy sugars, tart cherry, peppercorns, apricots, sour apples, citrus, coriander, fancy cheese, bourbon, banana notes, clove spice, tangerine marmalade on rye bread and butterscotch.

Aftertaste:
A dark fruit, caramel, brown sugar aftertaste with a good amount of barnyard hay and funky wine oak notes. No alcohol in the taste but moderate to sipping drinkability on this one. While yes, it is a funky little beer, it has a smooth component too it too.

Overall:
A very good dubbel and a particular style that I have not tried before. I have tried Bourbon Barrel Aged quads before but a Wine Oak Barrel aged dubbel is quite a treat and very unique. Although, this beer reminds me of the Fantome Beers of Belgium with similar flavors. They are very good and this one is just as good if not in par to those. Amazing stuff and an honor to try them.

Anime Corner:
Wang Yuanji from Dynasty Warriors was used in this beer pairing to represent the the Monk’s dancing as in the beer name but also to represent the beer label’s colors. The blue dress with the gold pair those colors. In the background it almost looks like Wang is dancing. Can you see any other features of this pairing that best complement?

2014 Old Bat Rastard by Freetail Brewing of San Antonio Texas

February 4, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Old Bat, San Antonio Texas, Texas | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.4/5

2014 Old Bat Rastard by Freetail Brewing of San Antonio Texas is an 8.2% ABV Winter Warmer/Olde Ale.

Label:
Every New Year Old Bat Rastard unfurls his withered wings and stretches, feeling for any sign of the sun warming his would-be thumb. If there is no warmth, he’s in for a long winter; if however he feels a sunrays’ warmth, he folds his leathery appendages back, content to know spring is not far. Deep, tawny brown, our winter warmer welcomes you with its inviting malt aromas and caramelized sweetness. Thick, full and increasingly bitter, this is the beer to break the dead of winter. Suitable for aging but also for sharing, so don’t be a rastard – pass some along to your closest compatriots.

Ingredients: 2-Row, aromatic, dark crystal, caramunich & roast malts ; subdued, yet imposingly present hops; top-fermenting yeast; natural, limestone-filtered, Edwards Aquifer H2O; New Year Resolutions.
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Special thanks to the ultimate beer metal dude, Aaron for this Rocking beer here. Check out his website at www.beermetaldude.com. This beer is an exclusive out at San Antonio Texas, so if you are lucky to get this one, definitely pick it up. This is the second beer I have had from Freetail and so far everything I have tried has been more than exceptional. I have only seen labels of this beer without really knowing what this is all about until now. If it is anything like La Muerta, expect it to be more than perfect.

Aromas:
Very rich caramel, dark fruits like raisins, plums, dates, prunes, fruit cake, chocolate, fig pudding, toffee, port wine notes, grapes, apples, molasses, anise, rye bread, vanilla and blueberries.

Flavors:
Very similar to the Figgy pudding ale I had long ago, rich dark fruits like figs, raisins, plums, currants, prunes, black berries, blueberries, toffee, rye bread, vanilla, hints port wine, grapes, apples, dulce de leche caramel, candy sugar, molasses, anise, pecan pie, hazelnuts, mild flan hints and earthy hops.

Aftertaste:
Finishes with like an earthy bitter aftertaste that is balanced with the caramel, dark fruits, rye bread and vanilla. No alcohol in the taste, a sipping beer with a good full mouth feel.

Overall:
Damn… This is freaking great!! It exceeded some of my expectations in the category of perfect beer because of the extra rich complex flavors reminding me of the Figgy pudding ale I had long ago but also the Sede Vacante ale but not as strong. This is freaking great and another great honor to try a beer like this from Texas. We don’t get many like this in California but damn, I really wish we could have a lot like this one here.

Anime Corner:
Sakuya Izayoi from Touhou Project was chosen for this pairing to represent the aspect of time. It is the new year and Old Bat Rastard waits for the Spring as it is too cold outside. Her evil red gaze shows the possibility of her being the Bat Rastard although it is not admitted because even the undead vampires have secrets they won’t admit. In the anime series she may not be a vampire, but she works for a Devil, so it sort of fits. I was also looking for a period in time based on what Old Rat Bastard was wearing and it seems to fit something around the steam punk theme. So it fits in my mind. Any other way this pairing fit in your mind?

Floraison by Monkish Brewing

February 1, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Chamomile, Floraison, monkish, monkish brewing | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.75/5

Floraison by Monkish Brewing is a 6.4% ABV Saison/Farmhouse Ale dry flowered with Chamomile and Hibiscus.

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION (Ratebeer.com)
An experimental summer beer that starts off in a saison direction with oats and wheat but steeped with hibiscus and chamomile. Then the beer is “dry flowered” with more hibiscus, chamomile, and sterling hops. Floraison is robed with pinkish & orangish hues and gives a bouquet of floral, spicy, tea-like aromas and flavors.
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Picked up a growler fill at Monkish Brewing at Torrance California. They have been one of my favorite growing local breweries and one with Belgian specific theme going on with the beers. I have reviewed 2 beers so far but this is my third favorite from them and is one that I always pick up. It is now joke with chamomile and hibiscus, you can definitely taste it.

Aromas:
Lots chamomile, hibiscus, peppercorns, biscuit bread, honey, floral hops, green tea, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, caramel, raspberry notes, sun flowers and oats.

Flavors:
Hibiscus flower(Jamaica) flavors, pink peppercorns, oatmeal, barnyard funk, hay, chamomile, vanilla, honey, green tea, citrus, tart raspberries, cranberries, biscuit bread, caramel, coriander spice, cinnamon, herbs, raisins, apples, apricots and cherry.

Aftertaste:
Floral and grassy finish with some citrus and chamomile lingering a bit. No alcohol in the taste, easy to drink with a crisp and refreshing taste.

Overall:
Very good beer reminding me of the chamomile teas my mother used to make for upset stomachs. The hibiscus adds a great amount of flowery complexity. This is my third favorite beer from Monkish next Anamoly and Seme De La Vita. They are slowly distributing the to stores but if you happen to be in the southern California area near Torrance, you should definitely stop by the brewery and give Monkish a try.

Anime Corner:
Vocaloid Luca drawn by okingjo was used as the inspiration for this pairing to portray the very flowery aspects of the beer as well as its pink colors. The word floraison means to blossom and she is definitely blossoming some very good colors to pair with the beer. The whole wedding dress aspect of it is tied to this beer being of an Abbey Style which leads to Monks, which leads to church which leads to people getting married. So a link in that direction was definitely one that was well fitted for the Floraison beer.

Merry Christmas by Five Stones of Cibolo Texas

February 1, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Christmas, christmas beer, Five Stones of Cibolo Texas, Merry Christmas, true meaning of Christmas | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Merry Christmas by Five Stones of Cibolo Texas is a 7.9% Holiday Amber Ale handcrafted with Cinnamon, Vanilla Beans, Nutmeg and Allspice.

Label:
I remember my childhood when the phrase Merry Christmas was used without hesitation. Somehow over time, “Merry Christmas” has disappeared from many greetings you hear and see this time of year. We at 5 Stones want to say “Merry Christmas” to you and yours this season and sincerely hope you spend it with those closest to you and not miss the true meaning of Christmas. We suggest you share “Merry Christmas” with family and friends during a festive get together or just a silent winter night. Merry Christmas and cheers!
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A great thanks to Aaron at www.beermetaldude.com for passing this Christmas goodie on to me and great thanks as well to the good people at 5 Stones for making this awesome beer. We don’t normally get your beers out here in California but to do a special Christmas review, even if it did just pass about a month ago, it is still an honor to try something thing like this. While I have tried many Christmas ales in the past with similar ingredients, the addition of the vanilla beans will most likely take this to the level of where the best Christmas beers should be. Well, let me break it down as best as I can.

Aromas:
Fragrances like flowers almost, vanilla, dark fruits, raisins, cinnamon, oats, nutmeg, candy sugar, chocolate notes, caramel, ginger bread, fruit cake, mild coffee, earthy hop hints, sugar plums, molasses and anise.

Flavors:
Rich sugar plums, dark cherries. raisins, mild coffee, molasses, vanilla, caramel, fruit cake, dark chocolate, oatmeal cookie, maple notes, nutmeg, pecan pie, ginger bread, floral notes, cinnamon, rye, toffee, mint, coriander spice, anise, licorice hints, raisin bread pudding and grapes.

Aftertaste:
A good amount of the anise, nutmeg, dark fruits, vanilla, cinnamon, caramel, ginger and earthy notes linger. No alcohol in the taste, a sipping beer with moderate mouthfeel.

Overall:
Awesome stuff, definitely reminding me of the Monkish Anomaly but if it was Christmas flavored and had lots of vanilla. The vanilla definitely makes an interesting impact on a beer when normally it is not seen in other Christmas offerings. Fucking awesome beer and definitely a great Christmas offering. Hope to see this beer again, maybe later this year but definitely keep growing. I hope the Texas shipping liquor laws changes so we can see more of you guys here. Cheers!

Anime Corner:
Elwyn from Shinning Tears was chosen for this beer pairing to go with the elf on the label. A perfect Christmas art piece to go with a perfect Christmas beer. A lot of the colors are very obvious but that’s the beauty of it. Can you find any other awesome things from this beer?

Dawn of the Red by Ninkasi

February 1, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged mango, the Red by Ninkasi, tropical fruit | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.4/5

Dawn of the Red by Ninkasi is a 7% ABV Imperial Amber/Red Ale.

Label:
An IRA bursting with notes of mango, papaya and pineapple, this beer finishes juicy with a subtle malty backbone. It doesn’t take brains to know hoppy, tropical IRAs are a great way to welcome warmer months ahead!
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Picked this one up at Ramirez. Loved the label and the Dawn of the Dead movie. It may be a gimmick maybe but it as an inexpensive gimmick I could afford and bring forth. So I will do my best to give this one a good go. Hunt for the Zombies, Fuck Yeah!

Aromas:
Grassy and grapefruit hops, mango, citrus, caramel, biscuit bread and other mild tropics.

Flavors:
Biscuit bread, grassy and grapefruit hops, caramel, apple notes, cereal grains, mango, caramel and toffee, papaya, orange notes, peanuts and almonds.

Aftertaste:
Leaving with some very mild tropical fruit but mainly grassy and earthy hoppiness with some cereal grains. No alcohol in the taste, easy to drink and very refreshing.

Overall:
A very decent amber but nothing too explosive. It gets better as it warms up but I can only recommend it if you love the label which is bad ass! This goes to show, labels aren’t always everything. Still, a good beer none the less if you still decide to get it just don’t expect overwhelming tropical fruit.

Anime Corner:
A.B.A from Guilty Gear was used in this pairing as with most of the other zombie beers I have tried, this one fits the Bill perfect to show case the “Red” aspect and the Dawn of the Dead movie reference. Some can say the “giant key” she carries is the sun rising, hence, dawn of the red. It is a stretch but still a good pairing. Also, how the beer is bitter, she has that bitter face.

APEX Special IPA by Bear Republic

January 28, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged APEX Special IPA, Bear Republic, Bear Republic Brewing, Black Racer IPA, Café Racer 15, Cafe 15 Racer, IPA, IPAs, lychee fruit, passion fruit, Pliny the Younger, Racer 5, Racer X | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

APEX Special IPA by Bear Republic is an 8.95% ABV Double/Imperial India Pale Ale.

Label:
Apex: The highest point, the culmination or climax. In racing, the apex of the turn is approached differently as conditions dictate but always with a forward looking mindset. This beer is the culmination of years of brewing and drinking hop forward IPAs. We reserve the right to move forward, to advance the style to the next Apex.
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The next in the Racer series release which was a brewery only beer for a such a long time before they decided to shell it out for the masses is this one. According to my buddy Omar over at Uncle Henry’s deli, this is Bear Republic’s response to Pliny the Younger. I have never had Pliny the Younger but I am sure many of the IPAs or Triple IPAs for that matter are more likely better.

Aromas:
Tropics, tropics and more tropics! Lots of fruit, honey dew melon, peach, kiwi, passion fruit, papaya, mango, grapefruit, caramel, biscuit bread, grassy and piney hops, citrus, apricot, floral notes, lemon peel, lychee fruit, pineapple, tangerines and prickly pears.

Flavors:
Very tropical hop forward, grassy piney, floral, grapefruit hops, tangerine, peaches, apricot, kiwi, honey melon, papaya, passion fruit, tangerine, oranges, lemon peel, citrus, caramel, biscuit bread, dragon fruit, guava notes, lychee, prickly pear and gummy bears.

Aftertaste:
Finishing with nice grapefruit hop bitterness, caramel notes and more tropical fruit. No alcohol in the taste, refreshing as all hell with easy to mostly moderate drinkability.

Overall:
Awesome tropical IPA. No overwhelming bitterness, yet very hoppy and fruity. If it was anything like Heady Topper, it is damn close. I can agree I like this one more than Pliny the Elder but I cannot speak for but would, with most certainty, believe that this beats the younger in my mind so far. In terms of Cafe 15 or this one, I would like to add that this one is is more hoppy than maybe Cafe 15 which brings a nice blend of hoppy and tropical balance.

Anime Corner:
Original Art by Hybrid Mink was used to pair APEX because I wanted to show how one would react to be at the highest point, to feel high in the sky and feel like no ones bringing you down. Some of the colors hit the label perfectly and the helmet, although it may be a lion or a cat, maybe closer to a bear, or at least I’d like to think that that way. Like Cafe Racer 15, Racer X and Racer 5 before it and even Black Racer, there is either an aspect of car racing, of powering up, or the feeling of being very powerful when it comes to mind with these world class IPAs.

2013 Quingenti series Batch no. 9 Punishment by Stone brewing

January 28, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged American Oak Kentucky Bourbon Barrels, bastard ale, bourbon, Bourbon Barrel Aged, jalapeño, Lilith Aensland, Morrigan Aensland, punishment, Stone Brewing, Stone Crime, Stone Punishment | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.2/5

2013 Quingenti series Batch no. 9 Punishment by Stone brewing is a 12.0% ABV Chile beer which consist of Double Bastard ale brewed with chile peppers and aged in American Oak Kentucky Bourbon Barrels.

Label:
Punishment was born as Double Bastard Ale – a heavy, bitter, beast of a beer. It was already not for the timid, but with the addition of jaw-dropping quantities of freshly harvested local peppers, including mid-level-heat red and green jalapenos and ultra-hot black nagas, Caribbean red hots, Moruga scrorpions and fatalis, it morphed into a truly punishing brew.

Leads with ultra-hot and fruity chile flavors along with subtler green jalapeño notes. Intense caramel, butterscotch and bourbon flavors make a strong appearance mid-palate, and the beer finishes with a long-lasting, fiery after burn.

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For a lover of spicy foods, this is even more fucking scary than crime. I saved this bottle for several months, always looking at me, always taunting me, awaiting until the day I picked it up and reviewed. I looked at it always flipping the finger very time I closed the fridge. Today I decide to bring this one forth for a review and this may or may not be a mistake. Either way, I will try my damnest to give it a good review and pursue the fires of this hell to see what I find. Wish me luck :S.

Aromas:
Lots or fruit spices and intense hot chile aromas like habanero, piquin, jalapeño, flower notes, caramel, toffee, mild brown sugar, mild vanilla, oak, bourbon, mild marshmallow hint, cucumber, citrus, tropical fruit, but overall just lots of scary spices of different peppers.

Flavors:
Lots and lots of habanero and jalapeño pepper heat, but as I dug deeper, I could taste the hidden bastard of citrus, caramel, bourbon, oak, pizza, fancy cheese, grapefruit, herbal tea, flowers, marshmallow, very mild dark bitter chocolate cocoa plant, cucumber, toffee, old mango, minor tropics and brown sugar near the finish

Aftertaste:
Lots of oak and pepper heat. The bourbon and caramel fade quick. You are too busy trying to play down the heat to even look into finding any alcohol in this which is not detectable or my taste buds are numb. It is a very major sipping beer.

Overall:
Fuck!! It’s hot, but even for chile heads, its drinkable. Even for me who loves chiles and thought this would be a very bad idea, I think there was definitely enough sweetness to counter the heat or atleast keep some of it at bay because I could still taste some complexity. Although, the Chili comes quick with no remorse. If you do not like super hot, you will not like this beer. Ir’s tough to crack the code but if you play with this liquid fire, you will find somethings that are good about it. Do not try to finish this in one sitting, it is not worth finishing it all at once if your taste buds go numb after a couple of sips. Savor the pain, but enjoy!

Anime Corner:
Lilith and Morrigan Aensland as well as the original Artwork by Sang-heun Nam were used to pair this unholy liquid hell to show off many aspects of punishment in different context. In the first part you see a girl being punished forever having to write and write and write, lol reminds me of me trying to come up with good review pairings and explanations. As you can see, she is being punished while the stone gargoyle is kicking back sipping on expensive drink, lol I hope its beer. Then you see Lilith and Morrigan in the background tending to his every need. The second pairing shows Morrigan and Lilith in what looks to be like fire and brimstone, either resembling eternal punishment or just the suffering of the heat of how damn hot this beer is. So yea, this what I came up. Can you find any other ways Punishment pairs with these artworks?

Box of Chocolate by Charleville microbrewery of Sainte Genevieve, Missouri

January 23, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Belgian Abbey Quadrupel, Belgian Chocolate, Belgian Quadrupel, Belgian Quadruple, Belgian Style, Box of Chocolate, Box of chocolates, chocolate covered cherries, cocoa nibs, Life is Like a Box of Chocolates, Missouri, Sainte Genevieve, T-elos, Xenosaga | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.65/5

Box of Chocolate by Charleville microbrewery of Sainte Genevieve, Missouri is a 10% ABV Belgian Quadrupel brewed with Chocolate.

Label:
It’s Difficult to express Love’s nuances, much like the complexity of this Belgian style Chocolate Quad. You Might use a Box of Chocolate to express your love, we use it to demonstrate our passion for great beer.
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Only available, from what I can tell, at the wine and cheese online store, (Google this one). A small price for what I have never seen in my life. A Chocolate Quad? Well, aside from the Bruery who makes chocolate rain and possible chocolate indulgence by Ommegang may be the closest to what a Belgian Chocolate Quad could be like. Well, enough pondering and on the review!

Aromas:
Sweet, Milk, bakers and dark chocolate, dark fruits, raisins, plum notes, dulce de leche caramel, bananas, vanilla, clove spice, brown sugar, mild anise, molasses and hazelnut.

Flavors:
Lots of chocolate flavors ranging from sweet, milk, dark, fudge and bakers, chocolate covered cherries, vanilla, raisins, plums, prunes, brown sugar, bananas, dulce de leche caramel, clove spice, anise notes, underlying earthy notes, mild coffee, marshmallow, waffle cone, hazelnut, almonds and candy sugar.

Aftertaste:
The aftertaste leaves with chocolate covered raisins, bananas, caramel, vanilla and earthy notes. Hidden alcohol through and through with a sipping drinkability level.

Overall:
A beer that exceeds expectations and maybe more perfect than some of my other perfect beers, but the one thing about this, which I don’t complain but you have to be aware, is that the chocolate does take over some of the more complex Belgian qualities. I don’t really care about this little aspect because you can tell the quadrupel is still there, it is unique and I don’t think there is a quad quite like this one. Fucking amazing straight out of a little microbrewery in Missouri.

Anime Corner: SPOILER ALERT
T-elos from Xenosaga was used for this pairing not so much for the labels but for 2 reasons. The flavors of Chocolate, cherries (on her forehead piece), dark fruits, vanilla, caramel and others and the Belgian Quad aspect. The reason for the Belgian quad aspect is because it leads back to the Abbeys of Belgium and how they were represented Holy and Christian inspired. T-elos was the original cyborg vessel that would inhabit the resurrection of Mary Magdalene in the Christian influenced Xenosaga series. Ofcourse, she eventually fuze with the perfect vessel, Kos-mos but anyways, that is the most I can link a Belgian quad to Abbeys, to Christianity to Xenosaga and to T-elos and at the end, this pairing. Her name means purpose, ends or goals, so if the overall purpose of the beer is to meet a unique Belgian inspired Chocolate Quad then, Bravo!

Peter Brown Tribute Ale by Bear Republic Brewing

January 23, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged American Brown ale, Bear Republic Brewing, brown sugar, Peter Brown | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.85/5

Peter Brown Tribute Ale by Bear Republic Brewing is a 6.3% ABV American Brown ale brewed with molasses, brown sugar, and hopped with Cascade and Centennial

Label:
Pete Brown Tribute Ale is our rendition of a Strong American Brown Ale. This ale pays homage to subtle flavors of golden brown sugars, and sweet molasses. Just the way Pete would have wanted it… Here’s to you, Peter Brown…it’s the least we could do.
Peter Brown, Sales Manager our “Million Dollar Man”

Brew Master Notes:
Keep cold, respect life, give more hugs, Make Beer not Bombs, Real ale is alive, yeast is good, serve at 45degrees -50degrees Farenheit.
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Thanks to William for sharing this one with me. Even though it is a California common, it is one I have not tried before. I also got to give thanks to William’s relative that works at Bear Republic for giving this to William as a gift. Your tribute to this website is greatly appreciated and well notes. Cheers!

Aromas:
Molasses, Brown sugar, pecans, caramel, biscuit notes, dark chocolate notes, mild coffee notes, earthy hop notes, maple notes and toffee.

Flavors:
Brown sugar, earthy hop notes, mild mocha, coffee, dark chocolate, caramel, molasses, biscuit bread, raisins as it warms up, toffee and maple.

Aftertaste:
Finish close to dry with hints of the caramel, brown sugar, molasses, mild coffee and hop notes.
There is mild taste of alcohol in the flavor but it doesn’t detract a lot from the flavors. It has a moderate sipping quality to it.

Overall:
It is a very good brown ale and is interesting for what it has to offer. Brown ales are typically not my style but I do enjoy them once and a while and this one is very enjoyable. If you like browns, give this one a shot, it is very good.

Anime Corner:
The characters from the anime K-ON! Were chosen in this pairing to represent Tribute. Like the we some songs are used to pay tribute just like this beer was used to pay tribute. It may be hard to see in this art piece, but you can see the Zeppelin in the sky which read Led Zeppelin. Anyways, I think this was one of the reasons I chose this art piece. Can you find anymore references in this pairing that goes well with the beer?

Hopped on the High Seas by Cigar City

January 23, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged American IPA, cigar city, Cigar City Brewing, IPA, passion fruit | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.5/5

Hopped on the High Seas by Cigar City is a 7% ABV American IPA dry-hopped with Ahtanum hops.

Label:
A tropical IPA dry-hopped on the high seas with one of our favorite hops: Ahtanum .
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This is the second IPA I try from Cigar City brewing. The first one was the Flagship series. I was able to get this one from luekensliquors.com which always sells very good goodies from Florida. Awesome stuff.

Aromas:
Herbal, grassy and piney hops, mild grapefruit, biscuit bread, pineapple,honey, citrus, melon, passion fruit, melon and mango.

Flavors:
Grapefruit, grassy, herbal and piney hops, citrus, honey, kiwi, biscuit bread, mild garlic, passion fruit, melon, caramel, tangerine, apricot, mild hints of coconut and dragon fruit.

Aftertaste:
Citrus, piney, grassy and herbal hops at the end. No alcohol in the taste, easy to drink, crisp and refreshing.

Overall:
Very good IPA and very refreshing at that. Coming in the can helps out a lot since the flavors are really fresh. For this being my second IPA I try from Cigar city, it is definitely one that is very good. I liked the flagship one better but either way this one is good too. I am familiar with other great IPAs that are easier to find in the West coast so if you don’t find this one, I am sure you can find others just as good or even better than this one.

Anime Corner:
Shiori Tsuzuki from Witchblade was chosen in this IPA to pair with the colors of the can. The Blue and grey colors from Shiori pair with the colors of the can and her blade is like a wave splashing in the ocean. She is arrogant and bitter at times which is the same way an IPA is but she also has strong feelings for her employer in the series which is part of what the tropical flavors in this beer are all about.

Humidor Series India Pale Ale by Cigar City brewing

January 23, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged cigar city, Cigar City of Tampa Florida, india pale ale, spanish cedar | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.8/5

Humidor Series India Pale Ale by Cigar City brewing is a 7.5% ABV India Pale Ale aged in Spanish Cedar.

Label:
An unfiltered India Pale Ale brewed in the Cigar City of Tampa Florida and aged on Spanish Cedar. Pairs well with spice food and medium robust cigars.
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This is Cigar City’s flagship beer which is essentially the Jai-alai beer just aged in cedar. I have never tried Jai-alai but I hear it is good. This must be great too as it is aged in cedar. Let’s test this one out shall we?

Aromas:
Upon opening, Old sweet and matured mango, oak cedar, matured oranges, grapefruit, citrus, pine and grassy hops, biscuit bread, caramel, papaya, kiwi, dragon fruit, passion fruit, peaches, apricot, brown sugar and herbs.

Flavors:
Old orange, grapefruit, mango, cedar oak, biscuit bread, caramel, passion fruit, floral, herbal, earthy and piney hops, papaya, dragon fruit, kiwi, pineapple, vanilla, tangerines, brown sugar, mild rye and peaches.

Aftertaste:
Finishing dry with some hop resin and earthyness still there with some very faint tropical fruit and caramel flavors. No alcohol in the taste. Easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A damn good IPA. I know this was gonna be awesome as soon as I smelled that mango. I love tropical IPA and to put it in Spanish cedar gives I very nice character which I have no seen in many IPAs. This is freaking great and definitely recommended if you can find it. Now to find Jai-Alai…

Anime Corner:
Welcome to Cigar City! Or at leas in the pairing of this original art piece by emperpep. Mimi and the Black bunny sit in front of the burning flames of Cigar City. Not to say the city is destroyed or anything like that, its just that I wanted to get the colors of the label and the Spanish Cedar oak to pair with Cigar City and Mimi the bunny. Cigars are fancy, that is why Mimi is wearing fancy clothing which pairs greatly. The Black Bunny? Well, I will leave that for you to decide.

Chocolate Rain (2014 Release) by the Bruery

January 20, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged best beers in the world, Bleach, Bourbon Barrel Aged, chocolate chip cookies, Chocolate Rain, creme brulee, Dulce de leche, The Bruery, vanilla beans, Yoruichi Shihouin | 1 Comment

Rating: 6/5* Just as good as ever

Chocolate Rain (2014 Release) by the Bruery is an 18.5% ABV Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels with TCHO Cacao Nibs and Vanilla Beans.

Label:
MAKE IT RAIN
This decadent version of Black Tuesday is proudly brewed with TCHO cacao nibs.

Chocolate Rain began as a single cask of beer at our very first release event for Black Tuesday back in 2009 and now has a storied history of its own. This ale will age gracefully if cellared properly but will be the most prominent when consumed fresh.
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Walking 1000 miles, over 1000 life times and yet, the ultimate (diabetes in a bottle) dessert beer will always be one of my most favorite of rare beers out there. Right next to Melange3, Black Tuesday, White Chocolate, Trois Pistoles, St Bernardus 12 and Three Philosophers. This beer is released by the Bruery for their reserve society and preserve society too. There isn’t much about this beer I cannot stress enough because it really is one of my favorites, yet difficult to obtain. So anyways, here is to the review!

Aromas:
All the fragrances of the chocolate rainbow, dark, white, Belgian, German, sweet, bitter, milk, fudge and baker’s. I may have missed a couple others. Bourbon, Dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, toasted coconut, choco flan, crème brulee, hazel nuts, pecan pie, dark fruits, raisins, figs, plums, raspberries, cherries, almond joy, rocky road, leche nestle sweetened condenced milk, fudge cake, coffee, mocha, Rocky road Ice cream, oreo and chocolate chip cookies, molasses, oak, earthy notes and brown sugar.

Flavors:
The utter definition of CHOCOLATE! Sweet, Belgian, dark, white, German, milk, fudge, bakers, bourbon whiskey, oak, vanilla, choco flan, dulce de leche caramel, crème brulee, toasted coconut, chocolate covered cherries, dark fruits, raisins, figs, plums, raspberries, almond joy, hazelnuts, pecan pie, tobacco, leather, fudge brownies, raisins, rocky road ice cream, mocha, coffee, brown sugar, oreo cookie, chocolate chips, oatmeal, Kahlua, chocolate covered funnel cake, milk shake, black currants, roasted cashews, tootsie roll candy, “Willy Wonka ain’t got nothing on this Chocolate Rain” flavors!…I ran out of things to describe this epicness…

Aftertaste:
Lingering chocolate, vanilla, caramel, dark fruits, brown sugar, bourbon, white fudge, chocolate fudge and more and more sugar! The alcohol is very little in the taste, but for all its worth, it doesn’t detract from any of the flavors at all and since it is 19-20% alcohol, It is in no way harsh. Sure it is a sipping beer, a dangerously sipping beer because it also has elements of smoothness. It does feel warm going down too. JEEZUUZ YES!!!. Very syrupy mouth feel, like I had mentioned in my previous review of this, boozy chocolate syrup.

Overall:
One of the top best sugary boozy chocolate syrups, I mean beers. Ever! Like I said before, there is nothing I can say about this beer but utter heaven! It could be overkill if placed in ice cream but hey, if you want Dat Dia-bee-tus! Watch out now. No joke, it is pretty sugary and utter bliss. DO NOT DRINK THIS BOTTLE IN ONE SITTNG!!, if you enjoy beers, even if it is the only one you will drink for the rest of the night, don’t do yourself the dissatisfaction. This is really a great beer and should be enjoyed a few sips at a time. Chocolate Rain!! Some stay sober, while other feel the bliss….

Anime Corner:
Yoruichi Shihouin from Bleach was used in this pairing, even from the last time I tried Chocolate Rain for many reasons, aside from the fact that she is one of my favorite anime characters of all time. For starters, in the original Chocolate Rain pictures for my last review, I wanted to describe that Yoruichi as the bringer of the rain since was given a Native American outfit and she was doing a dance to make it rain, rain chocolate!! Her attitude is very caring for her friends but at the same time feisty and very seductive (Lucius Chocolate Rainbow and Vanilla added). She is one of the fastest and strongest characters in Bleach (alcohol due to Bourbon). She is a Princess but was aldo the leader of Onmitsukidō, the Secret Mobile Unit/Corps, Special Forces or Covert Ops. In other words, bad ass ninja! (Alcohol undetected, hidden, hits ya hard later on). In fact, she is so bad ass she took down several ninjas in a matter of seconds. She also has Flash speed (Shunpo) and Shunko or Flash cry (Lightning based attacks)! Which describes Chocolate Rain’s aspect of smooth drinking and you can’t have Rain without lightning. Her sexy and seductive properties can all be described above in the aromas and overall flavors of the beer. Even her outfit and being show the dark fruit flavors, the chocolate, the vanilla, the caramel, the nutty, way more. There is so much more I can go on and on about Yoruichi being the perfect pairing for this beer it ain’t even funny…

El Cedro by Jester King

January 20, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged El Cedro, hibiscus flowers, jester king, pink peppercorns, wheat bread | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

El Cedro by Jester King is an 8% ABV Hoppy Farmhouse ale/Saison aged in Spanish Cedar spirals with brettanomyces.

Label:
I have conquered many nations defeated vast armies of men, but even I do not dare to trespass in the forest of El Cedro, for El Cedro is no man. Many have ventured within the silent reach of his branches, lured but his sweet smell, never to return. Whispered legends tell of one particularly sorry soul who… hey, did we tell you this has brett in it!
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Aggressive yeast this one has. Yet, a very special thanks as well, once again, to Aaron from www.beermetaldude.com for another goodie exclusive from Jester King. Another honorific beer worth reviewing here on the site and one that I take pleasure of doing as JK is one of my favorites so far from Texas. Keep em’ coming, and I’ll keep writing and art pairing for the masses.

Aromas:
Rich pink peppercorns, honey, apricots, floral hops, hibiscus flowers, peaches, pears, cedar oak, lemons, citrus, vanilla, piney and grapefruit hops, honey, biscuit bread, wet hay, coriander spice, wheat bread, brown sugar, grapefruits, white wine grapes and funky brett.

Flavors:
Cedar oak, apples, vanilla, caramel, pink peppercorns, apricots, peaches, plums, honey, coriander spice, hibiscus flowers, roses, piney, herbal, floral and grass hops, rich citrus, grapefruit, lemon peels, wheat bread, biscuits, brown sugar, funky wet hay and white wine grapes.

Aftertaste:
Hoppy, rich citrus, cedar oak, funky notes, wet hay, honey, coriander, flowers and biscuits linger. No alcohol in the taste, refreshing, crisp, easy to moderate drinkability and over all well balanced.

Overall:
A great and perfect Saison, reminiscent of my favorite Belgian Strong Pale, the Eschatological ale and even the Bitter monk beer. So far, of the 3 Jester Kings I received from Aaron, this one has got to be my favorite. Damn hidden flavors and so much active yeast, the beer is literally alive! Recommended if you can find it for sure.

Anime Corner:
Khameleon from Mortal Kombat and the original artwork from Hitomaru were chosen for this pairing to show the trees and the living forest but also how deadly the forest can be. The legend of the bottle talks about the forest and in reference to the beer, the Living forest of Mortal Kombat who has stolen many souls pairs this beer perfectly. Not to mention the fact that the living yeast that were still churning as I opened the bottle proved of its deadliness. Khameleon, like reptile, can go unseen and hidden in the forest without being detected. She shows many colors and blends in nicely, such is the complexity of the beer. Hitomaru’s artwork showcases not just that of an evil forest but a girl forest who commands an army of the undead, whom presumably died there, like it was told in the legend of this forest. Anyways, so much can be said about these pairings but the main aspects have been showcased here. It is a deliciously deadly beer!

Tout Mais Le Coller collaboration by The Bruery and Noble Ale works

January 20, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged cream ale, Noble Ale, orange cream, orange soda, vanilla ice cream | Leave a comment

Rating: 6/5* Taste like it says, enough said!

Tout Mais Le Coller collaboration by The Bruery and Noble Ale works is s 7.70% ABV Cream Ale brewed with Oranges and Vanilla.

Label:
JUICE THIS!
Sweet, creamy and with a citrus kick, this Orange Cream Ale is reminiscent of one of our all-time favorite frozen treats on a stick.

Who doesn’t want to enjoy a favorite frozen treat in the form of an adult beverage? A perfect homage to both Noble Ale Works’ & The Bruery’s home county, this creamy orange popsicle-inspired collaboration beer is best enjoyed fresh.
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“Tout Mais Le Coller” loosely translates to “everything but the stick,” so pure orange cream is what is referenced here. I didn’t know what to say when I picked up this limited release at Ramirez Liquor a couple of weeks ago, other than it was a cream ale. SO in my mind, I was thinking based upon the label, it was supposed to be an Orange Cream-sickle beer. I definitely had to put this to the test.

Aromas:
Lots of VERY RICH ripe and matured oranges, vanilla, caramel, orange peels, biscuit bread, grapefruit hops, sweet milk vanilla ice cream, sherbet ice cream, coriander spice, biscuit bread, honey, brown sugar, orange marmalade, orange cobbler, pecan pie and orange soda.

Flavors:
Matured oranges, orange soda, vanilla, caramel, honey, coriander, biscuit bread, orange marmalade, orange peel, Orange Cream sickle, rye bread, toffee, Sunny Delight, earthy and grapefruit hops, pecan pie, sherbet ice cream, vanilla ice cream, rainbow sherbet ice cream and candy sugar.

Aftertaste:
Lingering is more like orange soda, caramel, vanilla cream, rye, earthy notes but then finishing off dry. Moderate drinkability with no alcohol in the taste.

Overall:
They hit it dead on the money with a beer that taste like oranges and cream. Sunny D with creamy flavors. I exceeded my expectations as a beer that delivers what it says, literally. So with this, I recommend getting it if you still get a chance to find it. First ever, liquid orange cream-sickle beer.

Anime Corner:
Original artwork by Korean Anime artist, Hyung Tae Kim. I chose this piece to pair with a sweet orange cream-sickle beer because I wanted to show the colors and flavors of the beer. She is orange all over and the blue near her feet represent cryo or cold, meaning Orange Ice Cream or in this case, the Orange Cream-sickle. You can also tell where the white and yellow clothing are that it represents the cream filling of the orange cream-sickle. Yes I have a crazy imagination, thank you.

Ol’ Oi by Jester King brewing

January 20, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged jester king, oak barrels, Oi, wine grape | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.8/5

Ol’ Oi by Jester King brewing is a 6.2% ABV organic Sour Brown Ale Aged in wine oak barrels

Label:
Oi! Dems was da good ol’ days. Rowdy gigs ‘n Stoke-on-Trent filled wif da stench o’discontented youf. Oh, but da times, dey do change. Da next t’ing ya know, you’re pluckin’ an upright bass in a Gypsy-fusion proto-funk jazz band an’ touring Stateside for a bunch o’ Yanks. But all’s well dat ends well as dey say. As far as I see it, I may be ol’ an’ soured, but I ain’t stale an’ stiff.
___

Thanks to Aaron of www.beermetaldude.com for another awesome Jester King beer of Texas. As I had said before about these guys, they have been quite the ordeal to get their good saisons here in California. Some of their best ones can only be bought in their brewery exclusively, so getting these for a review is quite an honor, especially a second one. Hopefully, one day Texas laws will favor the craft beer fans to allow for more distribution. Until then, we will still find ways to show some awesome reviews and pairings here on the site.

Aromas:
Deep funky wine grapes, dark tart cherries, caramel, oak, dark fruits, vanilla, biscuit bread, toffee, lots of funky sour notes but the tart cherry and toffee come out stronger.

Flavors:
Oak, vanilla, caramel, tart dark cherries, dark fruits like plums, raisins, biscuit bread, mild rye, lots of wine grape funky notes as well as a decent amount of acidity, apricots, apples, pears and mild brown sugar.

Aftertaste:
Still getting sweet tart cherries in the end along with toffee, earthy notes and funky wine grape that finishes pretty dry. No alcohol in the taste, but this one is a sipper.

Overall:
A very good sour that drinks like an oud bruin or a sour flanders. While the sourness is the most overwhelming component, the sweet and tart flavors balance it out very nicely. If you enjoy sours, this one is one of the better ones. It definitely seems like it will get way better with age. Be sure to let it warm up too as that is when the magic begins .

Anime Corner:
Chyoba-sama of the Sand Clan from the Naruto series is one of the strongest ninjas and the leading master of the puppet ninja arts. I am using her for this pairing as I wanted to pair the artwork of the label with her and also to remind about how things get better with age. Even at her old age, she is still one bad ass and deadly ninja granny.

Smoglifter by Brash brewing

January 20, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Brash, chocolate experience, Chocolate Milk Stout, chocolate mousse, dark chocolate, rich milk chocolate | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.75/5

Smoglifter by Brash brewing is a 10% ABV Imperial Milk/Sweet Stout brewed with cocoa.

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION (Ratebeer.com)
Don’t wreck a sublime chocolate experience by feeling guilty. Chocolate isn’t like premarital sex. It will not make you pregnant. And it always feels good. Imperial chocolate milk stout brewed with real cocoa, clocking in at 10%abv, and making love to your mouth like a horny sorority girl.
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Obtained this puppy at the local Downey Liquor store in Downey California as a recommend by one of the dudes that works that. A “Guilty Pleasure” as he called it. This is the first time I try Brash beers, and as I am seeing it now, what a great way to start checking out their beers.

Aromas:
Rich Milk, dark and sweet chocolate fragrances, coffee mocha, caramel, vanilla, lactose sugars, malted milk balls, chocolate ice cream, molasses, anise hints, earthy notes as well.

Flavors:
Lots of rich milk chocolate forward with release of bakers chocolate, dark chocolate, rocky road ice cream, waffle cone, vanilla caramel, velvet chocolate mousse, chocolate cream cake, fudge brownies, coffee notes, molasses, malted milk balls, mocha, Irish cream and mild anise.

Aftertaste:
Lingering rich milk and dark chocolate, vanilla, mocha, and mild earthy and coffee notes. A sipper with no alcohol in the taste and very damn smooth and syrupy.

Overall:
Perfect Milk stout, damn good. Almost reminded me of the Hudson Porter in Brandy, although that one may be above this one. Does way to well on its own to be pretty surreal. These are the kinds of beers I love and just because of the extra rich chocolate they deliver. Guilty pleasure? YES!, can it go up to face some of the best chocolate beers out there, fuuuckkk yea!! Talk about finding the diamond in the rough.

Anime Corner:
Asuka Shikinami/Langey Sohryu from Neon Genesis Evangelion was chosen for this pairing to represent a couple of bad ass aspects of the beer. First, the label colors or the read and the family wearing the toxic suit avoiding the radioactive environment. Asuka flows in like a chocolate Ninja, smooth and sweet, but don’t be fooled by her sexy appearance. She is deadly and has a really mean attitude which is represented by how the alcohol will kick your ass later. Very deceiving, but she is very sweet and a strong headed person sometimes.

Golden Sabbath by Big Island Brewhaus of Hawai’i

January 20, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged banana bread, Belgian Strong Golden Ale, Big Island Brewhaus, Golden Sabbath, Hawaii, Malted Barley | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.75/5

Golden Sabbath by Big Island Brewhaus of Hawai’i is an 8.5% ABV Belgian Strong Golden Ale brewed with Hawaiian Honey.

Label:
You hold a special handcrafted beer brewed and bottled only in Hawai’i. This hefty 22 ounce bottle is meant to be shared, but of course you may not want to! Our Belgian Style Golden Ale is brewed with Malted Barley, Hawaiian Honey, and Noble Hops. A Special Belgian yeast imparts a wondrous range of fruit flavors like plum, apricot, and spice. These flavors harmonize well with roasted meats like lamb and duckling as well as rich seafoods like lobster and is perfect with desserts such as crème brulee, tiramisu, and of course…chocolate. Traditionally served in special goblets, this beer turns an ordinary lunch into an extraordinary event and transforms a slow Sunday afternoon into a Golden Sabbath.
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A very special thanks once again to my friend Richard and his fiancee Megan who were able to bring this special gift for me from their trip to Hawaii. It is an honor to try a Belgian style beer from Hawai’i, especially since that is pretty much the only place you can get this one.

Aromas:
Oranges, peppercorns, floral and citrus hops, honey, apples, apricot, biscuit bread, cotton candy, banana bread, vanilla, caramel, coriander and other spices.

Flavors:
Flowers, peppercorns, banana bread, apricot, plums, honey, biscuits, pineapple, pears, vanilla, bubble gum, cotton candy, rock candy, coriander, cloves, herbs and other spices.

Aftertaste:
Finishing dry with some nice honey, peppery spices and slight banana left over. Crisp, refreshing, easy to moderate drinkability with no alcohol in the taste.

Overall:
A very good Belgian that is really close to a Tripel but it does stay more with the Golden Ale style and the Belgian Pale Ale but less hoppy and more fruity. While I enjoyed this one a lot, I think I enjoyed their coconut porter more. Nevertheless, this is still an amazing beer and an honor to get a chance to try something like this from Hawai’i. Belgian beer lovers will like this one.

Anime Corner:
I was unable to find the artist of this original artwork I used for pairing with this beer. If you are the artist let me know so I can give you credit for using the picture as a background for this beer pairing. I decided on this piece to portray several aspects of this beer. For starters, The label colors fit perfectly. Second, I wanted to find something that would relate to monks in Hawaii or even Monks at the beach. That is what the girl in the cloak is doing at the beach. The sandy and tropical aspects of rich Hawaiian honey are showcased with the beer flavors and also shown as a representative of the sea here in this pairing. Can you find any other things in this pairing?

Noble King by Jester King brewing

January 20, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged jester king, Noble King | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.2/5

Noble King by Jester King brewing is a 5.9% Organic Hoppy Farmhouse Ale.

Label:
Not all kings are overbearing alpha types. Well, okay, in the real world, probably most are, and, truth be told, we’re not especially into the whole monarchy thing, anyway. But if we ever find ourselves transported to a mythical kingdom, we’d like for it to be one with a ruler who embraces the principles of subtlety, balance, and restraint, welcomes criticism and intellectual challenge, and isn’t afraid to laugh at his or her own expense.
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Thanks to Aaron of www.beermetaldude.com for another awesome beer from Texas. Jester king has been quite the ordeal to get their good saisons here in California. Some of their best ones can only be bought in their brewery exclusively, so getting these for a review is quite an honor. Hopefully, one day Texas laws will favor the craft beer fans to allow for more distribution. Until then, we will still find ways to show some awesome reviews and pairings here on the site.

Aromas:
Lots of peppercorn spices, citrus, lemons, piney, grassy and floral hops, honey, green apples, biscuit bread, farmhouse hay and herbs.

Flavors:
Grassy, floral, piney and earthy hop flavors along with peppercorns, honey, farmhouse hay, lemons, green apples, coriander spice, apricot, biscuit bread, herbs, wheat grain and funky brettanomyces.

Aftertaste:
Dry finish with only some mild hop, honey and peppercorn notes that fade. Light, Crisp, refreshing, easy to drink and no alcohol in the taste.

Overall:
A very good beer that drinks more like Belgian Pale Ale. It is not as super hop and peppercorn forward like a Golden ale, but the beer on its own provides some flavors that I like from hoppy saisons. Very few good saisons are made as awesome and Jester King sure likes taking them to another level of flavor experience.

Anime Corner:
Original artwork by Yoshinori Shizuma was used for this pairing to pair the hop lion of the label with a bad ass lion. The owner of the lion can be assured that no harm will come to her as long as this lion ninja hops into action. How noble of him, King of the hops! As for the second picture of a character from Monster hunter, I used her to show the hop scales of the hop lion’s mane. It its not quite the close color but it comes very close. Plus, she is wearing a crown or tiara, like the hop lion is, so there!

Sans Pagaie (2013 version) by The Bruery

January 20, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Sans Pagaie, sour grapes, sour wine grapes, The Bruery | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.45/5

Sans Pagaie (2013 version) by The Bruery is a 5.4% ABV Sour Blond Ale aged in Oak with Cherries.

Label:
UP A KRIEK
We added loads of cherries to this sour blonde ale, giving it a color as bright as its flavors.
Sans Pagaie is best enjoyed fresh, until then, please store in a cool dark place.

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION (ratebeer.com)
French for “without a paddle”, Sans Pagaie is our take on a Belgian Kriek. We added an incredible amount of cherries (whole and pureed) to this sour blonde ale and then we decided to add more. The result is a well balanced fruited sour ale, perfect on it’s own, even better with a slice of chocolate cake. 5.8% ABV, Cellerable for up to 3 years.
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Up the Kriek without a paddle is what this beer is about. The river of cherries is long flow of sweet and sourness. This beer was released last year and one could buy it from the Bruery. It is an yearly seasonal release. I tried this one last time and I thought it was pretty good as the cherries were more forward than the sour oak. Now this is the bottle one, let’s see how it fairs.

Aromas:
Strawberry,Cherry and vanilla Mexican Flour Atole, caramel biscuit bread, then the funky sour wine grapes and lactic acid notes kick in, sour apples, pears, oak, cherry cobbler, Hibiscus, roses and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Dark Cherry yogurt but then the funky sourness takes over. Cherry pie, Mexican coconut alfafor sugar block, vanilla, lemons, apples, sour grapes, oak, hibiscus wine notes, barnyard hay, spices and coriander.

Aftertaste:
Cherry and coconut flavor seems to linger along with the sour wine grapes and barnyard hay. It is a sipping beer as it is a sour but there is no alcohol in the taste.

Overall:
A very good beer if you enjoy digging through sours. I was surprised by this one because it smelled sweet and it was sweet until the sourness kicked in. Lucky, there is enough sweet to balance it out from being just pure sour. Like I said, if you don’t like sours, you won’t like this one.

Anime Corner:
Milla Maxwell from Tales of Xillia 2 was chosen in this pairing to showcase her colors in this artwork to pair with the colors of the label but also the flavors of the beer. Which are the sweet and tart cherries, coconut alfafor, and all the flavors which then proceed into purple or the funky wine grape and oak flavors of the beer. She is normally a blonde girl as well so with the addition of cherries which makes her hair red, pink, purple and some yellow definitely compliments Sans Pagaie.

Don Gavino’s Big Guava by Cigar City Brewing

January 20, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Cigar City Brewing, Don Gavino, Gavino Gutierrez, Hellsing, Seras Victoria, Tampa | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Don Gavino’s Big Guava by Cigar City Brewing is an ??% ABV American Strong Wild Ale brewed with Guava and Aged in Chardonnay Barrels.

Label:
Most Tampa residents are familiar with Vincente Martinez Thor, who along with fellow cigar factory owner Ignacio Haya turned Tampa from a sleepy fishing village into the ‘Cigar Capital of the World” which at its peak was home to 200 cigar factories producing over 700 million cigars a year. But few of Tampa’s even long-time residents are familiar with Gavino Gutierrez, the Spanish architect, surveyor and civil engineer who first came to Tampa looking for wild guava trees. The plan was to use the supply of supposedly abundant wild fruit in a new factory making marmalade and guava paste. However, the journey was not fruitful and the guava population was much smaller than expected. Gavino did not give up on Tampa however. Convinced Tampa’s natural harbor and access to Henry B. Plant’s new rail-line would make Tampa an excellent import/export hub, Gavino set about convincing his friends Thor and Haya to move their cigar factories to Tampa. They agreed and Don Gavino set about surveying 40 acres of swamp and scrub brush northeast of Tampa for “Mr. Ybor’s City”. Vincente then named Don Gavino his architect and construction foreman and he set about developing the Master Plan for what would become Ybor City, designing the system of streets and avenues and overseeing the construction of the factory and even the housing built for the factory workers. In honor of his life’s work we could think of no better name for our Double Guava Ale than Don Gavino’s Big Guava. Cheers, Gavino!
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It is not often that a Latino is given such praise for not just given a beer named after but such praise as giving the plans to build a city. As a Latino myself, this is something very special. Guavas or Guayabas are something that is common fruit among many Hispanic communities but to see a beer like this is freaking awesome! Them Tampa peeps have good taste.

Aromas:
Tangy orange, tart pineapple notes, strong guava nectar, oak, peppercorns, spices, Chardonnay?(Never had it), strawberry, kiwis, dark fruits like cherries, raspberries, vanilla, white wine, apples, plums, apricots, flowers, coriander spice and earthy notes.

Flavors:
Tart pineapples, lots of guavas, funky sour grapes, orange marmalade, strawberries, kiwi, bicuit bread, peppercorn, coriander spice, white wine, mild barnyard hay, mango, oak, chardonnay or white whine flavors, cherries, raspberries, sour melon, apples, apricots, herbal, floral and earthy notes.

Aftertaste:
Finishes mostly dry with some notes of mango, citrus, guava, oak and white wine flavors.No alcohol in the taste with sipping level of drinkability.

Overall:
A very good beer if you love tart beers. It has a good amount of fruity sweetness to balance the sour and tart notes provided. The chardonnay barrels I am sure add good complexity, but since I have never tried a chardonnay, I can only assume that it is in there. I think white wine aspect of it is most likely that chardonnay kicking in. With a ?? ABV, it sure can be dangerous since it is very good.

Anime Corner:
Alucard and Seras Victoria from Hellsing were chosen for this pairing for several reasons. I wanted to shows case the label of Don Gavino being someone very famous and classy, like in the background picture with Alucard. Seras can represent the Guava and citrus of the beer, the colors of the label, but she is also a protector of Don Gavino as well. The overall aspect of the beer I wanted to showcase is fancy and classy, especially since this beer is made with chardonnay and well, that is pretty damn fancy. Any other things you can tell from this beer?

Lectio Divina 2012 edition by Saint Somewhere brewing

January 20, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Lectio Divina | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.66/5

Lectio Divina 2012 edition by Saint Somewhere brewing is an 8% ABV Amber Saison/Farmhouse ale

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION:
Lectio Divina is a cross between an abbey double and a saison. Open fermentation with a saison strain and a dose of wild yeast at bottling add to the complexity.

Label:
Saint Somewhere Brewing Company is a brewer of traditional Belgian style
ales. We are a small batch brewery, using only the finest ingredients available. Belgian malt and wheat, whole noble hops and open fermentation add to the complexity of their ales. Our beers are unfiltered
and re-fermented in the bottle, not engineered, but truly hand crafted. We brew simply and authentically, the way beer was brewed 100 years ago.
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I got this beer a while back at Ramirez Liquor of Boyle Heights California. I am not sure if they still sell this one, but they may still sell it. Whittier Liquor has this one I think. I would need to recheck with them. Lectio Divina or Divine Reading in Latin is a beer I had way back in my beginnings with craft beer. It was a beer that I have not reviewed since 2011 on Facebook back in the day. You can see the original review below. Back then, my complexity in finding flavors of beers wasn’t that great although I loved having them. Today I bring you the re-review to see how much I can pick from the last time I tried this beer. Not to mention the fact that this is a Dubbel/Saison hybrid.

Aromas:
Stone and Dark fruit aromas of Apples, peaches, pears, plums, mild raisin notes, dulce de leche caramel, biscuit bread, peppercorns, Banana bread, bubble gum hints, earthy notes, coriander spice, grapes, cider, apple butter, wine grapes and very mild earthy funk.

Flavors:
Definitely getting the peppercorns, wine grapes, apples, apricot peaches, pears, plums, raisins, caramel, bicuit bread, bubble gum, rye, earthy hop notes, mushroom notes, coriander spice, cider, dulce de leche caramel notes, barnyard hay and dark and tart cherry notes.

Aftertaste:
Finishing with with dark fruit and sour notes leaving some nice stone fruit, bubble gum and sour grape notes in the taste. A sipper of a beer with full mouth feel and mild alcohol in the taste but possibly in the form of peppercorns or the wine grape taste.

Overall:
A very good but a very different beer at that. The fusion of Dark and Light is very interesting. A twilight beer (No not that fucking vampire series but light and dark aspect). If love Belgian beers and would like to see how just a touch of mild funky sour notes are with no overwhelming sourness but to the point of a saison then you will love this one. Especially since it has some Belgian Dubbel aspects to it as well.

Anime Corner:
Vocaloid Yowane Haku and Snyp fairy wallpaper design was used in this pairing to show many aspects of the beer like the label, mainly the flavors and possibly beer style as well. Yowane is a character that is supposed to represent the negative or darker side of Hatsune Miku’s songs that ended up sounding bad. Her name means: to say negative thoughts or to show white feather. Aside from representing the leaping angel/fairy in the label, she represents the mixture of dark aspects of the beer like the fact that it is a dubbel and the bad songs meaning the sourness that the beer brings. The light aspect of the beer is in her white hair and joyous attitude. The Fairy in the second picture on the other hand represents a fairy/angel showing off her different colorful spectrum of flavors encompassing every color/flavor between the light/sweet and dark/bitter or sour.

2011 Review:
This Holy beer has a couple sides to it. Belgian yeast and malt are combined with spices in this abbey double like, wild saison ale. Mixture of sweetness from the malts but the sourness finish of the wild yeast. Over all this beer is very good. Fancy wine like notes which make this beer close to the Stateside Saison but with hints of fruits like the raisins brewed in the Lost Abbey Judgement Ale.

Southern Slice collaboration by Cigar City, Terrapin Brewing and South Georgia Pecan Co.

January 20, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged cigar city, Cigar City Brewing, pecan pie, South Georgia Pecan Co., Southern hospitality, Terrapin Brewing | Leave a comment

Rating: 6/5

Southern Slice collaboration by Cigar City, Terrapin Brewing and South Georgia Pecan Co. is a 10% ABV Doppelbock brewed with pecans and vanilla beans.

Label:
A collaborative beer produced by Terrapin Beer Co. and Cigar City Brewing, two innovative breweries in the deep South. We decided to make a beer that will bring to mind a Southern staple, pecan pie.

Pecans were first introduced to colonists by the Algonquin Indians. They referred to the nut as pakan or paccan, which means “a nut so hard that is has to be cracked with a stone.”

The two breweries agreed that a malty, dark lager would be a great canvas for such a Southern tradition, graciously slathering heaps of Munich malt and other specialty grains to emulate a portrait of Southern hospitality, the likes of which could conquer any sweet tooth.
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You can find this one at Luekensliquor.com if it is still available as of this posting. It will most likely go by quick.. I have been waiting for this beer since the release of Window Sill by the Bruery. While that beer was good to represent a Rhubarb pie, an actual pecan pie as I described in flavors found in some of the best beers I have tried has not been done before so I wanted to definitely put my palette to the test and see how much it actually compared to the great quads of Belgium. Not to mention the fact that this is a doppelbock to bring in some flavors of the prunes and toffee to the mix.

Aromas:
Rich pecan pie, maple, vanilla, chocolate notes, brown sugar, figs, dark fruits, prunes, raisins, hazelnut, dulce de leche caramel flan, toffee, pie crust and fruit cake.

Flavors:
Very rich raisins, dark fruit plums, figs, prunes, pecans, vanilla, maple, brown sugar, molasses, dulce de leche caramel, rum, hazelnut, butterscotch, rum notes, fruit cake, toffee, milk and dark chocolate notes like tootsie roll, earthy notes, wheat bread, rye, mild mocha and coriander spice.

Aftertaste:
Leaving with flavors of prunes, pecans, pie crust, caramel, and earthy notes it finishes a bit dry, but that’s what makes me want to sip more. Hard to detect the alcohol in the taste but some notes are like a liquor which does not detract from the flavors. It has sipping level of drinkability with rich syrupy mouth feel.

Overall:
Very Exceptional beer reminding me of figgy pudding along with a rich quad and almost like rum flavor. Damn outstanding and the closest thing to pecan pie in a bottle without the need to barrel age. Highly recommended if you can find it. It surpassed my expectations of utter sweet dessert goodness of a beer. Very delicious and possibly the highest rating I have given a “lager” ever.

Anime Corner:
Kan’u Unchou, Ryofu Housen and Hakufu Sonsaku from Battle Vixens were chosen to represent the label of the beer as well as the flavors. Ryofu’s checkered dress and Kan’u’s Blue dress represent the background of the label colors. If I say, Kan’u is cigar city because of the yellow ribbon and long spear and Ryofu is Terrapin because of her green hair, then we can assume both of them together give breed Hakufu which has the orange brown hair to represent the vanilla and pecans as shown in the second picture. You can also say Kan’u’s hair is the dark fruits implied in the flavors as well as Hakufu’s colors and Ryofu’s crimson suit to match that of the fruit cake, spices and maple. Yes it is kind of a stretch but that’s what I got. Any other things you can see here?

Squatters Hop Rising by Utah Brewers Cooperative

January 12, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Double India Pale Ale, hop aroma, Utah Brewers Cooperative | 1 Comment

Rating: 4.4/5

Squatters Hop Rising by Utah Brewers Cooperative is a 9% ABV Double India Pale Ale

Label:
Bog hop, big malt, big beer. A monster of a beer with intense hop aroma and 75 IBU’s. – from the brewerew
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Gotta give special thanks to my friend Julio and his girlfriend Janette for hooking me up with this beer from Janette’s hometown in Utah. Like some of the other goodies that are normally not sold here due to laws, distribution restrains, quantity, or even exclusivity, you can only get this one in Utah. Well, as far as I know lol. Anyways, on to the review.

Aromas:
Grassy, grapefruit and earthy hops, orange, caramel, biscuit bread, orange preserves, honey, tangerine and mild melon notes.

Flavors:
Grapefruit, orange preserves, honey, toasted biscuit bread, piney and earthy hops, rye bread, caramel, pineapple, mild herbal spice, melon, kiwi, papaya and dragon fruit.

Aftertaste:
Rye, caramel, mild piney and grapefruit hop aftertaste. No alcohol in the taste, a moderate to sipping drinkability with a nice edge of refreshing taste.

Overall:
While it is sweeter than other bitter IPAs, I like it a lot. What can I say, sweet beers are my thing. However, if you are expecting a super hoppy beer, this may not be the one for you. If you like citrusy IPAs with sweet honey and caramel, then this is awesome!!

Anime Corner:
Rio from Harvest Moon was chosen for this beer for the obvious reasons. She is wearing similar farming gear and has a pitchfork like the dude on the label. She is also squatting, so yeah, couldn’t pair it any other perfect way. That and finding farming anime characters is tricky. It took me a very long time to find this piece.