Simple Means by Jester King

October 7, 2016 by cloudx30 tagged AltBier, american farmhouse, Ayla, caveman, Chrono Trigger, jester king, simple means, Smoked Ale, smoked malt | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Simple Means by Jester King is a 5.6% ABV Farmhouse Altbier brewed with smoked malt.

Label:
Batch #1 11.02.2015

We Looked inward and begged for meaning. Perhaps our great ancestors would make themselves known from within to share their wisdoms. Immediately, a guttural call emerged from the primal darkness in answer. It reverberated through our bodies. Embarrassed, we looked instead to history for our answer. Simple as it was, the inspiration we sought had been written in books all along.

Jester King is an authentic farmhouse brewery located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country on the outskirts of Austin. We brew what we like, drink what we want, and offer the rest to those who share our tastes.

INGREDIENTS: ill Country Well Water, Malted Barley, Hops, Farmhouse Yeast, Native Yeast and Souring Bacteria from Texas Hill country

Suitable for Vegetarians & Vegans.

NOTES: The term Altbier. Though classically associated with the copper ales of Dusseldorf, can refer to any older-style beer in the German-speaking world. Both the use of smoked malts and mixed fermentation with native yeast and bacteria predate modern brewing techniques, lending flavors to our farmhouse altbier that are evocative of a simpler, much earlier time. Unfiltered, unpasteurized, and 100% bottle-conditioned.

==Introduction==

Brought to you by, wholehearted Texas goodness and my good friend and brother beer reviewer, Aaron Mendiola of BeerMetalDude.com. Aaron graces us once again with a brew from one of the best breweries in Texas, if not, one of the best Farmhouse breweries in the country, Jester King! Many brews from JK I have had the fortune to try thanks to Aaron especially since many are only exclusive to JK. So for as many of the brews I could get, always end up here in the site. This brew I first had it once at a beer tasting sessions with my friends at the BeerBumz. They presented its as one of the offering and I remembered that I really liked it. Now that I have a bottle of it, I can carefully analyze and give you a thorough take. Let’s have a look shall we? Cheers!

Aromas:
Dulce de leche caramel, burnt caramel, vanilla, smokey oak, tobacco notes, leather, brown sugar, banana notes, peppercorns, sea salt, tejuino, wine grapes, citrus, mushrooms, ginger bread, fruit cake hints, beachwood, hibiscus, lavender hints, burnt oak, BBQ, bacon and farmhouse hay.

Flavors:
Smokey notes, graham crackers, dulce de leche caramel, salted caramel, toffee, smokey oak, peppercorns, farmhouse hay, tejuino notes, rye bread, citrus, marshmallow notes, sea salt hints, hibiscus, lavender, bananas, clove spice, brown sugar, butterscotch, mushrooms, beachwood, maple, bacon hints, mild BBQ notes, tobacco notes, leather, sweet potato pie, ginger bread, pecan pie, funky must and wine grape notes.

Aftertaste:
Finishes rich smokey oak and bacon forward with bacon, sweet potato notes, rye bread, caramel, marshmallow, banana and chocolate hints. No alcohol in the taste, Brown medium body, smooth, crisp, chewey and syrupy mouthfeel along with an easy drinkability.

Overall:
A perfect Farmhouse Altbier. Very rich and nutty, smokey, funky with peppercorn sweets like bananas and other complex flavors. Jester King, while making lots of funky beers, definitely can differentiate itself from each beer made and especially the styles they make. Of the many saisons and wild ales I have had, Jester King is unique just like Stillwater Artisanals has its uniqueness and so does Jolly Pumpkin and other breweries as well. This one to me is a definite hit but then again I don’t know when JK wasn’t. I Highly recommend this one.

Anime Corner:
Ayla from Chrono Trigger was used in this pairing as I wanted to represent the Caveman era and “simple means” of hunter and gatherers. Ayla comes from the prehistoric times so using her in this pairing worked well. She represents a civilization where they had to live essentially like the beer says, simple means. I like these pairings since she also pairs well with the colors of the label and earthiness of the flavors and ingredients. Her holding a bone with meat is like some of the food that was cooked with the invention of fire in those time.

Sources:
http://76.72.168.19/images/2009-02-06-142007.jpeg
http://76.72.168.19/images/2012-09-15-529040.png
http://img.nijizou.com/photo/f770cf9c68adbe7a19f9b5420810a310ea750c5d.2.jpg

GPA (German Pale Ale) by 3 Nations brewing

February 10, 2016 by cloudx30 tagged 3 Nations brewing, AltBier, Ansatsu Kyoushitsu, dry hopped, German Pale Ale, GPA, Kolsh, Nakamura Rio | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.85/5

GPA (German Pale Ale) by 3 Nations brewing is a 5.2% ABV Dry Hopped Kolsh/Altbier

Label:
The Above Average Beer
Whats in a GPA? The unadventurous say midterms, flashcards and all-nighters. We take a more radical approach. After all, who cares what you graduated with? Our GPA consists of subtle blend of bitterness accompanied by passion fruit, citrus and tropical fruit like aromas. Go ahead, enjoy this above average beer, because your intelligence can’t be refined in the classroom.

==Introduction==

Obtained this one from my friend Aaron Mendiola atBeerMetalDude.com. Along with the recent beers and cans I received, this one is from another new brewery I have not tried before. The style seems intriguing as it looks like they are using a German yeast strain and malts but also hopping it up to the pale ale status. Something I don’t think I have tried before, so I am definitely looking forward to it. Drink local, cheers!

Aromas:
Citrus, Grapefruit, floral and piney hops, tropical fruit notes of passion fruit, dragon fruit, biscuit bread, honey, caramel, stone fruit peach notes, coriander spice, cane sugar and oranges.

Flavors:
Citrus, Grapefruit, floral and piney hop, tropical fruits of guava, passion fruit, dragon fruit hints, pineapple, honeydew melon, biscuit bread, crackers, honey, caramel, coriander spice, pilsner grain, cane sugar, stone fruit peaches, lychees and mild berries.

Aftertaste:
Finishing with nice tropic fruits, stone fruit hints coriander spice, honey and citrus hops. No alcohol in the taste, Honey colored light to medium body, crisp, smooth and refreshing mouthfeel with an easy drinkability.

Overall:
A pretty good pale ale. I tried to find the aspects of a German that I would see in like a German Kolsh but the majority of the flavors are notes. Still a good and drinkable brew that would be good for the summer. Give it a shot if you find it. Cheers!

Anime Corner:
Nakamura Rio from Ansatsu Kyoushitsu was a character I found as I wanted to pair with the beer’s theme of being from school from the label and the chalk board. I did also happen to find a character that would pair with the colors of the beer and the flavors as well. This was a nice art piece.

Sources:
https://anime-pictures.net/pictures/get_image/440239-700×990-ansatsu+kyoushitsu-nakamura+rio-nananeko-long+hair-single-tall+image.jpg

Doppel Sticky by Lagunitas brewing

September 30, 2015 by cloudx30 tagged AltBier, Doppel Sticky, DoppelSticke, Double AltBier, Lagunitas Brewing, Neopolitan, Rwby | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.75/5

Doppel Sticky by Lagunitas brewing is a 7.7% ABV Double AltBier/ DoppelSticke.

Label:
Where do we go from here?” The words hung in the air like treacle. This gathering of dreams stood at the very center of decision making, the epicenter, the geodetic center of the brewery. he answer was everywhere obvious. “Forward, never straight.”

==Introduction==

Literally, the first Altbier I have ever had. Brought by Lagunitas! I haven’t had their beers in a while. While news of their recent buy out of 50% by Heineken has stirred the craft beer community. What does this mean for lagunitas? Well, according to the definition of craft beer and the amount of beer produced (Annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less) they will no longer be considered “Craft Beer”. Even so, what is to say the beer won’t be good? I like to keep an open mind and talk about beer in general. If it is bad, I’ll say so, if not, then give it shot. Let’s see how this one is, cheers!

Aromas:
Lots of tropical fruits, stone fruits, caramel, vanilla, toffee, coriander, floral, grassy, herbal, grapefruit hops, honey comb, waffle cone, rich berries like raspberries, strawberries and cream lemon grass, lemon candy, cane sugar, lots of oranges and biscuit bread.

Flavors:
Caramel, toffee, cane sugar, coriander, citrus, tropical fruit papaya, mango, guava, pineapple, grapefruit, lemon grass, floral, grassy and herbal hops, honey comb, clove spice, banana hints, piloncillo sugar cone, vanilla, honey comb, waffle cones, sweetened condensed milk, sweet hop candy, Danish cream hints, strawberries and cream, cherries, currants, raspberries and tangerine preserves on biscuit bread.

Aftertaste:
Finishes with a nice floral, citrusy, grapefruit, grassy, piney and herbal hops along with caramel, vanilla and tropical fruit and toffee. No alcohol in the taste, moderate drinkability, hazy medium gold body, frothy, effervescent but smooth mouthfeel.

Overall:
Indeed, very good and delicious reminding me a lot of an IPA but the body is more on the malty side. There seems to be a good balance of malty sweetness with a rich tropical fruit and herbal hop bitterness. This is probably my favorite beer from them now. Reminiscent of the sweet sugars one would get off of dessert IPAs but since the style is more of a German style, the sweets are a given already. One 12 ounce bottle is not enough, so good thing they sell this at a 6 pack. Highly recommended.

Anime Corner:
Neopolitan from RWBY was used in this pairing because of the whole aspect of being a Double but also the blend of tropical sweet with herbal notes and rich malty side is almost like the 3 flavors of a Neopolitan Ice Cream. She is a villain in the series but the fact that I chose her has nothing to do with the beer. I just liked her colors is all.

Sources:
http://img12.deviantart.net/6387/i/2014/308/a/f/neopolitan_by_reef1600-d858inq.jpg