Rating: 5/5
Rating: 5/5
The Coco Four Sons brewing is a 5.2% ABV Amber Ale brewed with toasted organic coconut.
Label:
None
==Introduction==
When I first tried this beer a while back, I could only think of New Belgium’s Fat Tire if it was made richer and with coconut. In fact, it was so good, I had to have several pints of this one. I have tried many ambers before. Many delicious ones but it has been a while since I had one that was mainly malty like the way Fat Tire was. It is funny because a malty Amber ale is what would actually work better with toasted coconut I would think. So when Four Sons finally released the beer in cans, I was not going to wait around to tell people about this amazing beer. Easy to drink and lots of coconut. Now let us look at the canned version and see if it stands to the way I remember it from back then, cheers!
Aromas:
Biscuit bread, caramel, dark fruits, chocolate notes, almonds, toasted coconut notes, floral and earthy hops, hazelnut notes, macaroon notes, rye bread, tropical fruit hints, brown sugar and piña colada hints.
Flavors:
Rich toasted coconut, caramel, milk chocolate, dark fruit raisins, dark cherries, piña colada, kiwi, strawberry, pineapple, rye bread, almond joy chocolate, vanilla, brown sugar, floral and earthy hops, flan notes, Irish cream hints, Danish cream notes, almonds, pecan pie hints, hazelnut hints, coconut macaroons and toffee.
Aftertaste:
Finishing with toasted coconut, piña colada notes, chocolate, caramel, biscuit bread and vanilla. No alcohol in the taste, amber clear body, smooth, creamy and refreshing mouthfeel and easy to drink.
Overall:
Very delicious and perfect coconut beer. I was genuinely surprised that this one had a tropical aspect to it. Something that I do not recall getting when I tried it from the tap. I think it actually adds to the beer’s already amazing flavor profile and makes it much better. While I have loved many toasted coconut stouts, seeing a different style with coconut such as this amber is definitely a new look at a somewhat frequent style. I definitely recommend this one, cheers!
Anime Corner:
Haruka from Pokemon was chosen in this pairing as I wanted to go mainly with the colors, label and ingredients of the beer and since the beer is more on the tropical side of things, getting some colorful characters seemed like the way to go too. Pokeballs = Coconut shapes?
Sources:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/4f/61/90/4f6190c751cb23ded66ec4d96ffce305.jpg
http://static.zerochan.net/Haruka.(Pokémon).full.1999749.jpg
http://img09.deviantart.net/f64d/i/2014/298/8/f/route_101_by_poch4n-d843jx6.png
http://static.zerochan.net/Haruka.%28Pokémon%29.full.1807758.jpg
Rating: 4.75/5
High Five by Smog City is a 7% ABV American Amber/Red Ale brewed with 5 different types of honey.
==Introduction==
Got a growler fill at Smog City during the Infinite Wishes event. I was not intrigued at first since I didn’t know what this was made up but when I did the research on spot and verifying that it is made with 5 different kinds of honey, I had to bring it to the site. Definitely very unique as I have not seen a beer that uses variants of an ingredient. It would be like making a beer using different vanilla beans, which would make for a very delicious brew ofcourse. But even so, a 5 honey variant seems even more unique as I have not heard of over 5 different types of honey. Let’s see what this one is about, cheers!
Aromas:
Biscuit bread, vanilla, caramel, rye bread, floral, citrus and piney hops, wild flower honey, banana hints, coriander spice, grape hints, trail mix hints, dark fruit raisins, raspberries, cranberries, pomegranates, blackberries and brown sugar hints.
Flavors:
Wild Flower Honey, Orange Blossom honey, Eucalyptus, Agave nectar, Mezcal hints, biscuit bread, vanilla, caramel, rye bread, floral, citrus and piney hops, dark fruit raisins, raspberries, cranberries, pomegranates, blackberries, figs, dates, grapes, trail mix, granola bars, maple syrup, leathery notes, chardonnay, mead, coriander spice, banana hints, grape jam on biscuit bread, green tea hints and honey dew melon.
Aftertaste:
Finishes with dark fruit flavors raspberries, honey, agave nectar, rye bread, caramel, toffee and brown sugar. No alcohol in the taste. Clear Dark Crimson light body, smooth, crisp, refreshing and creamy mouthfeel with an easy drinkability.
Overall:
A very good and delicious Amber. There is something very different about this brew since you can sense the honey but it is so complex. I have tried like 2 or 3 different types of honey before but never 5 and some of the honeys used actually do give way to other flavors that were not part of the beer as the ingredients. With the blend, it gives birth to these crazy fruit and flowery flavors. A must try for sure!
Anime Corner:
Original bee girls and Suzumebachi from Bleach were used in this pairing to kind of give the sense of different bees produce different kinds of honey which is true. But also, different kinds of flowers produce different honey variants too. With the brew around the whole honey bee theme, I figured it worked very well especially since the colors of the artworks also show some of the colors of the fruits and flavors that this beer has.
Sources:
http://blog-imgs-42.fc2.com/o/t/a/otakunanikki3/moe2019127620sample.jpg
http://rule34-data-009.paheal.net/_images/124e02ff31983a36be6818776db47153/988561%20-%20Bleach%20Suzumebachi.jpg
Rating: 4.85/5
Amber Smashed Face Colaboration by Cannibal Corpse and Three Floyds is a 6.66% ABV American Amber/Red Ale.
Label:
An aggressively hopped American Amber Ale sure to crush your skill and liquify your brain
==Introduction==
My friend Aaron Mendiola from BeerMetalDude.com struck gold when he was able to find this one online. Thankfully, he got one for his site and was able to get me one as well for mine. While Metal is awesome! It is even more awesome when I get a chance to write about it on my anime beer site. While Anime is the primary for it, I definitely enjoy adding some Metal to it from time to time like I did with Iron Maiden Trooper for example. I have been seeing many breweries collaborate with different bands and I think the more they do is the more craft beer will get involved and do collaborations with other mediums of entertainment or even other topics and categories. So enough said, let’s get this bloody beer on the glass, cheers!
Aromas:
Very nice tropical fruit aromas like kiwis, mango, papaya, passion fruit hints, dragon fruit, kumquats, guava, pineapple, grapefruit, herbal, piney, citrus, floral, garlicky and dank hops, stone fruit peaches, apricots, honey, lemon peels, brown sugar and berries.
Flavors:
Grapefruit, herbal, piney, citrus, floral, garlicky and dank hops, Caramel, grapes, biscuit bread, raspberries, cherries, tootsie roll cherries, rye bread, tangerines, tropical fruit, kiwis, mango, papaya, passion fruit hints, dragon fruit, guava, pineapple, stone fruit peaches, apricots, honey, lemon peels, graham cracker hints, kumquat gummy bears and Danish cream hints.
Aftertaste:
Finishes with a delicious amount of tropical fruit, honey, biscuit bread, caramel, vanilla and super dank bitter hops. No alcohol in the taste. Honey crimson hazy to light body, crisp, refreshing and effervescent mouthfeel with an easy to moderate drinkability.
Overall:
A very good Amber that really crosses more into IPA territory. The hops let the beer be more on the tropical fruit side more than the malty side and yet somehow other fruit flavors come from it. The best part too is that it is very drinkable and the ABV, well, it is evil. An amber that is well done by the monsters at Three Floyds and one that I am sure many will want to get as it is a true metal beer!
Anime Corner:
Seras Victoria from Hellsing was used in this pairing to go with the whole aspect of zombies, horror and guts! While Hellsing is all about the undead, I found some great pictures that not only go with the label but also the name of the beer and the Smashed face. In these scenes you can definitely tell, Seras is not joke smashing faces but as payback for her friend getting killed. Crazy artwork for a crazy beer!
Sources:
https://anime-pictures.net/pictures/get_image/162942-1920×1200-hellsing-victoria+seras-pip+bernadotte-long+hair-highres-wide+image.jpg
http://static.zerochan.net/Seras.Victoria.full.767051.jpg
http://static.zerochan.net/HELLSING.full.415766.jpg
Rating: 4.75/5
Stochasticity Project Grainiac (aka Colon Blow) by Stone brewing is an 8.5% ABV Amber Ale brewed with Specialty Malts
Label:
STOCHASTICITY
STO-KAESTI-CITY
There is no happenstance or coincidence. Dumb luck 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.
Shining a light on rare, unexplored grains with a dry- hopped malt bomb
This one was controversial. The brewing team suggested the name, a reference to a variety-show commercial parody. They thought it was hilarious. Boss said, “No way am I going to let a beer be named that!” So the boss shut it down. Hard. More names were floated. For a while it was Multigrains of Truth. The Let it Grain. The last one… the final one… was Grainiac. The brewing team was OK with it, but only OK. Marketing was fine with it. (At this point, they just wanted a decision made.) Sales? They groaned at each of them. “Boooring!”Finally, at a sales meeting, they, corralled the boss. Boss said, “I got your back, I’m not going to ask you to go out and sell a beer called Colon Blow.” Crickets. Then someone spoke up: “But we LIKE that name. It’s…hilarious!” Boss was floored. “OK, I’ll give in. You’re the ones selling it, so if you want that name, so be it. “Then the onslaught began from the name haters. The name lovers were equally loud. Rumble! Quandary! Boss asked Other Boss (aka Co-Founder/Partner) for his view. The response: “I think it’s pretty funny.” Plus the beer is awesome. And so it was done.
Beer Facts
Malt Varieties
2-Row Pale, White Wheat, Grouse Malted Millet, Grouse Malted Buckwheat, Cararye, golden Naked Oats & Triticale
Hop Varieties
Columbus, Chinook, Cascade & Centennial
==Introduction==
Stone has released the next level in their Stochasticity Projects. This beer is a new type of Amber Ale. It seems with this one they are going with a more Multigrain type of brew. Sounds like something health conscious. Beer, now healthy and good for you? Maybe. Even so, I really like the idea. Hell, Colon Blow sounds something like eating all that extra fiber to help you go to the bathroom. Hopefully, that is not the case after drinking this brew. Reminds me of that commercial “Oops I crapped my pants” with the adult diapers. I think that is what they were going for. Yes the TABC did not let this one go through the radar but in the end, we have a new brew. So let’s roll with it and see what this one is about. Cheers!
Aromas:
Toffee, caramel, honey, coffee cake, pound cake, sweet potato notes, malty kernels, smoked peat, complex wood, vanilla, Pine, grapefruit, earthy, herbal and dank hop hints, dark fruit figs, vanilla, green tea ice cream, lemon candy, oatmeal cookies, wheat bread, rye bread, biscuit bread, grapes and piloncillo sugar cone.
Flavors:
Rich malt kernel flavors, Caramel, Toffee, smoked peat, complex wood, vanilla, dark fruit figs, chocolate hints, Pine, grapefruit, earthy, herbal and dank hop hints, lemons, starburst, honey dew melon, vanilla, green tea ice cream, lemon candy, oatmeal cookies, wheat bread, rye bread, biscuit bread, dark fruit grape jam on toasted bread, sweet potato, piloncillo sugar cone, banana nut bread, pound cake and coffee cake hints.
Aftertaste:
Finishing with lots of complex malty and hopped notes, hints of dark fruit, earthy and herbal hops, malty and bready hints along with toffee and vanilla. No alcohol in the taste, clear amber body, creamy, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel along with an easy to moderate drinkability
Overall:
A very delicious and healthy multigrain beer. Maybe not healthy but close. The way this amber is setup is very unique since it is well balanced overall but the malty side it does present is very unique and complex but not in the very sweet malt way but the way complex bread and nuts are. The hoppiness overall cuts the extra sugar parts but also imparting its own fruitiness on there. I’d say this one is definitely worth the find as it is pretty damn unique.
Anime Corner:
Roll from Megaman was used in this pairing as I wanted to go with something similar sounding to Brainiac from the DC universe which is evil and attached to cables and has evil red eyes. Roll is usually really sweet, like the way this beer was. However, in this pairing she is looking down at the viewer and evil with Red eyes at a lab similar to Brainiac. So to me, a change to use this artwork and pair it with a beer that sounds close to Brainiac was the best pairing.
Sources:
http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/7/72303/1223870-1261077455703.jpg
Rating: 5/5
Pulp Addiction Juice Box Series “Blood Orange” by The Dudes brewing is a 6.5% ABV Amber Ale brewed with Madagascar vanilla beans, Ecuadorian cocoa nibs and Blood Orange Zest
Label:
Orange Whip? Orange Whip? 3 Orange Whips.
Here’s a brew that will “A Peel”to you! A tantalizing blend of cocoa nibs, vanilla beans, and hand-zested California Blood Orange Flavors makes this dude semi-sweet yet silky smooth. Every sip is bursting with creamy, chocolaty, citrusy flavor – and at 6.5 percent alcohol by volume, it’s sure to get your blood pumping. Orange you glad you picked this up?
==Introduction==
Huzzah! At last, the sweet sweet nectar of chocolate orange delight has finally been canned. While I did want to do a review of this one for a very long time since it’s release on taps, I finally got some cans from Ramirez Liquor after I saw they had it canned. I remember this beer very well and while it is very delicious off of the tap and especially on nitro, I want to see how it fairs in cans as many who cannot make it to the Torrance California area but are able to pick up this one will want to know. So let’s take a look at this one shall we?
Aromas:
Oranges, tangerine, grapefruit, blood orange juice, tootsie rolls, bubblegum, Milk Chocolate, Orange Creamsicle, brown sugar, vanilla, caramel, pecan pie notes, caramel,gummy bears, coriander spice, stone fruit peaches, earhy notes and honey.
Flavors:
Milk Chocolate, Orange Creamsicle, brown sugar, vanilla, caramel, tangerine, oranges, pecan pie, bubble gum, tootsie rolls, rye bread, dark fruit hints, biscuit bread, stone fruit peach hints, grapefruit soda, blood orange juice, Sunny Delight citrus, earthy notes, toffee, honey, rainbow sherbet ice cream, candi sugar, orange marmalade, matured oranges and gummy bears.
Aftertaste:
Orange, chococolate, vanilla, earthy notes, caramel, biscuit bread, honey and grapefruit hops. No alcohol in the taste, Dark Amber light to medium body, creamy, silky, smooth and refreshing mouthfeel and easy to moderate drinkability.
Overall:
Love this beer! Perfect! I am glad I was finally able to bring this one here to the site for review. Not many breweries make a chocolate orange creamsicle beer, but the Dudes got this one on lockdown. I know the Bruery’s version is not available anymore but this one is no doubt the next best thing especially since it is chocolate orange flavored. Highly recommended to those that love orange creamsicles.
Anime Corner:
Nadia Cassel from Metal Slug was brought here for a first time review as I wanted to pair her colors and tenacity in the game to the beer. She pairs well with this one as her hair color and eyes go well with the beer label. The bubblegum she blows is similar to the orange drinking from the straw but also the bubblegum and tootsie roll flavors of the beer. Overall citrusy and sweet.
Sources:
http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/10/101969/1658776-metal_slug_ensemble.jpg
http://static.zerochan.net/Nadia.Cassel.full.1013569.jpg
Rating: 5/5
Ambrée by Jester King is a 7.4% ABV Farmhouse Amber Ale.
Label:
There’s no secret to making farmhouse ale; just take some malt and hops, throw in a bunch of spices, add farmhouse yeast from your favorite yeast lab, let it ferment for a couple of weeks, and stick a picture of a barn or tractor on the label. Unfortunately, our brewers have yet to master these skills. They keep forgetting to add the spices, letting wild yeast into the mix, and allowing the fermentation to go on for months until the sweet sugar is gone. Oh well, at least there’s a barn on our label. Wait, is that even a barn?
Jester King is an authentic farmhouse brewery 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.
ALC/VOL 7.1% FG 1.005 IBU 29
Ingredients Hill Country Well Water, Malted Barley, Roasted Barley, Hops, Farmhouse Yeast, Wild Yeast from the Texas Hill Country, Native Souring Bacteria.
Suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans
Notes: A dry, tart, unspiced amber beer inspired by the rustic farmhouse ales of French Flanders, particularly those brewed by Brasserie Thiriez in Esquelbecq – one of our favorite breweries in the world. Naturally occurring wild yeasts from the Texas Hill Country impart a sense of place to this unfiltered, unpasteurized, 100% bottle conditioned beer.
==Introduction==
Special thanks to Aaron Mendiola of www.beermetaldude.com for hooking me up with this great beer from Jester King. If it was not for my friend Aaron, I would not have the opportunity to present Jester King beers to the site as well as I do. It is all thanks to him and for that, I am grateful to have such a great friend and a connection into the Texas beer scene!! So let’s take a look at this beer. It looks like they were going for the farmhouse look so I can definitely tell it is all about that Belgian style Saisons. Let us explore the farm shall we? Cheers!
Aromas:
Stone fruits like plums, apricots peaches, mango, dark fruits like raisins, cherries, strawberries, malty biscuit bread hints, peppercorn, grapefruit and grassy hops, honey, farmhouse hay, grape wine must.
Flavors:
Rich Stone fruit plum, apricot, peach preserves, mild mango, peach cobbler, peppercorns, vanilla caramel, biscuit bread, farmhouse hay, wine grape funk, honey on sourdough bread, brown sugar, dark fruit raisins, figs, dates, oak, butterscotch, leather, tamarind, strawberries, white grapes, celery, grassy, floral and grapefruit hops, clove spice, ginger, hibiscus flowers, lychee, mild chocolate notes, sour green apples, lemon peel and coriander spice.
Aftertaste:
Variety of tangy and sour hint stone fruits and dark fruit, vanilla, tamarind, peppercorn, grassy hops, hibiscus flowers, leather notes, lemon peel and brown sugar. No alcohol in the taste, clear yet dark crimson body, moderate mouthfeel, and moderate drinkability.
Overall:
I love this beer’s fruity and funky complexity. They definitely got it perfect with the style even without the spices. It is amazing how they can pull off such complexity when it comes to their beers. When it comes to best beers in Texas, Jester King is simply one of the best and is at that level of super complext awesomeness like the Bruery is to us here. If you live in Texas, you are very lucky to get these beers. I would highly recommend this one.
Anime Corner:
Fio Germni and Eri Kasamoto from the Metal Slug series, art by Knockworst @Deviantart.com were used in this pairing since I wanted to find something similar to the label. I think Fio and Eri fit the bill in this beer. Namely for the description a they were going for the farmhouse look but it wasn’t what they expected. As far as Fio and Eri go, looks like a day at the beach wasn’t what they expected either. Either way. Their careless and worry free look pairs with how surprising this beer came out to be as well as the fact that they have nothing to worry about but just relax and enjoy the view.
Sources:
http://knockwurst.deviantart.com/art/Metal-Slug-Beach-Party-128954341
Rating: 4.5/5
Rosabi by Dogfish Head brewing is an 8% ABV Imperial American Pale Ale brewed with Wasabi.
Label:
The vivid rose hue of this imperial Pale Ale comes from a combination of Munich and Caramel malts and a touch of red rice from Louisiana, birthplace of musician and collaborator Julianna Barwick. Citrusy Simcoe and Centennial feed Julianna’s love of hops, and the star of the show is her go-to ingredient: wasabi. What’s hoppy? … Wasabi. The Japanese root adds bittering and herbal notes similar to hops, with its subtle heat creeping in after the kick of carbonation. It’s expansive from start to finish. So go ahead, take a sip, toss your head back, and howl at the red Rosabi moon.
==Introduction==
Now this is a Dogfish Head beer that really intrigued me. After seeing this one at Luekensliquor.com, and the fact that I am a Sushi and Wasabi fanatic, It didn’t take me long to just go on ahead and get this beer. The only unfortunate part is, they only allow you to purchase 1 bottle from the site. This was devastating since I know some good friends who would probably enjoy this beer. I really hope they release this one to all states that sell Dogfish Head. Not sure if this is a gimmick or not but I have never tried a Wasabi beer and this is definitely a great way to explore the vast world of the Lost treasure of beer experience. Cheers!
Aromas:
Rich caramel malt forward, wasabi notes, citrus and grapefruit hops, mango, grapes, hazelnut, rye bread, butterscotch, toffee, dragon fruit, brown sugar, cherries, chocolate hints, coriander spice, toffee, peanut brittle, hibiscus flowers, pineapple and rice cakes.
Flavors:
Subtle but not burning green Wasabi, citrus and grapefruit hops, caramel, grapes, hazelnut, rye bread, peanut brittle, toffee, oranges, mango, peaches, pineapple, chocolate notes, dragon fruit, coriander spice, mild wasabi spice as the beer warms up, apples, brown sugar, rice, cherries, hibiscus flowers, biscuit bread, toasted coconut and vanilla.
Aftertaste:
Lots of Caramel, citrus and grapefruit hops, wasabi notes in the backbone, sweet toffee rye, peanut brittle, hazelnut and mainly malty finish. No alcohol in the taste, crimson ruby rose medium body, moderate drinkability with a silky mouthfeel.
Overall:
Drinking more like an Amber Ale, this beer is really very good. There is no heat but if you know the subtle taste of wasabi, it is there but mild enough to be very enjoyable. It starts with the Wasabi flavor and then moves into a world of sweetness and hoppy goodness. There seems to be more sweetness than hoppy though which could be attributed to the malty sweetness cutting the Wasabi extreme heat. I can only hope that this beer and Sushi would be the ultimate combination which makes me want to have another bottle. I can only recommend this one if you would like a more maltier Pale Ale. There isn’t nothing wrong with that and I generally enjoy sweeter beers more, but I love me some super bitter hops too. So there you have it, Wasabi with some hop bitterness and drinks more like an Amber. Maybe not quite what you’d expect but still a very good beer.
Anime Corner:
Flandre Scarlet from Touhou Project was used in this pairing since I wanted to pair the label of the ruby red moon as well as the green colors of wasabi which you can see by the diamonds. Since this beer is more on the sweeter side than what I had expected, the apple Scarlet is chewing on represent this as well as the fact that this beer is more of an Amber ale than a Pale Ale. However, despite the fact that Wasabi is extreme, maybe how it worked with this beer, it cut all the other bitter hops and cancelled its own spiciness to get to this. This is why Scarlet looks innocent but her burning eyes state another story.
Rating: 4.65/5
Sabre-Toothed Squirrel by Smog City brewing is a 7.0% ABV American Amber Ale.
Label:
Known locally as Hopopio Maltocutus, our Sabre-Toothed Squirrel befriends you with a complex caramel and toasted malt character, then quickly flaunts its fangs with a solid hop profile lending notes of sweet citrus, pine resin, and a touch of peach.
This cunning cuddly companion is more Amber than IPA with lingering toffee like sweetness, but you won’t soon forget his substantial hop presence and firm bitterness in the finish.
Sabre-Toothed Squirrel is a balanced and approachable hoppy Amber that pairs well with full flavored foods and remains drinkable despite his HOPPY BITE!!
___
Recently released by Smog City, this cute squirrel label had me going. I said to myself, well, I do love their beers, this is a new release, and I can’t help it it but that is a damn cute and dangerous little squirrel. So there you go, I got it. Pick this one up locally at Smog City directly in Torrance California or keep an eye out as some stores will start to carry this really soon. So let’s take a look and see how this beer is.
Aromas:
Caramel, toffee, pecan pie, citrus, piney, floral and grassy hops, toast rye bread with honey, tangerine, peanuts, hazelnut, brown sugar, pineapple hints, walnuts, dragon fruit, maple syrup hints, cherries, mango, vanilla, herbal notes, grapefruit and coconut hints.
Flavors:
Caramel, rich biscuit, rich toffee, citrus, piney and grassy hops, rye bread, coffee hints, chocolate hints, hazelnut, pecan pie, tangerine, peanuts, honey, peach notes, toasted bread, brown sugar, coconut hints, dragon fruit, vanilla, herbal notes, mango, maple syrup and cherries.
Aftertaste:
Lingering toffee, caramel, piney, citrus, grapefruit, hints of tropical fruit linger, grassy and herbal hops. No alcohol in the taste, clear to medium body, easy to moderate drinkability, light to moderate mouthfeel.
Overall:
A very good amber for sure. The balance of hoppy and sweet is there and is very enjoyable almost tot he point of easy to drink. This works out well for those that love refreshing beers but also like some malt profile and caramel to their beers. Mainly me as I love sweet beers. So yeah, definitely pick up this little guy here, you won’t regret, yes he bites but not till later so enjoy.
Anime Corner:
Makoto Nanaya from BlazBlue was used in this pairing as she is the cutest squirrel girl in anime and video games I could find. She is a powerful fighter so I believe just like the hops are the bite of the sabertooth squirrel, she will kick your ass in such fashion. She is cute as hell like the little squirrel and is probably as sweet as well once you get acquainted.
Sources:
http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx294/girlsay/20131110B62F78C9D_zpsce75ad23.jpg
https://41.media.tumblr.com/60c110ad41de3784b55502c347ac71d0/tumblr_mlp87cRo4i1qi9bico1_500.jpg
Rating: 3.35/5
Chronic Ale by Pizza Port is a 4.9% ABV Amber Ale.
Label:
The ChronicAle
Canned Beer is Now here!
___
During my trip to San Diego with my friends, I decided to pick up a 6 pack directly from Pizza Port (Not in Direct relation to Port Brewing/The Lost Abbey). Considered to be San Diego’s number one brewery for many reasons. Their Pizza was very delicious and it felt like being in an adult Chuck E’ Cheese’s with the arcades and games. A small joint with some awesome beers like the Coco What? Porter, the E.S.Beetlejuice and the also the Pulp Fiction’s Jules Winnfield Stout. Some pretty creative beers for sure. So since I have never really had a chance to review some of their beers, I said might as well. So this is my first review for Pizza Port.
Aromas:
Biscuit bread, grains, caramel, toffee, apples, toffee, butterscotch, lemon, citrus, grassy, floral and mild piney hops.
Flavors:
Grainy malt caramel, biscuit bread, caramel, butterscotch hints, grassy, piney, citrus and mild floral hops, apples, apples, toffee and hazelnut hints.
Aftertaste:
Leaves dry with mild hop bitterness and caramel malt sweetness. No alcohol in the taste, light watery mouthfeel, easy to drink, light amber body, crisp and freshing.
Overall:
An averagely good beer. Nothing too complex or overwhelming and generally light. Made to have several of these. I can only recommend it on tap or if you would like to bring some at a party where the generic consensus is lagers. Great gateway beer for sure and for those that generally enjoy lighter beers for sure.
Anime Corner:
Vocaloid Hatsune Miku was used in this pairing to pair with the whole aspect the name, the beach, the label and summer. The dude on the label is riding his bike wearing sunglasses like a pot smoking hippy and Chronic was a slang name of some high quality weed. Weed is green and this beer is a summer beer. Like the kind you drink when your at the beach. So Miku with her green hair at the beach and shades looking all cool and bad ass definitely fit the bill in this pairing. What do you guys think?
Sources:
http://konachan.com/post/show?md5=e3bc65059cf76d5a69aeed9d0ba75c98
Rating: 4.35/5
Boont Barl by Anderson Valley Brewing is a 6.0% ABV American Amber/Red Ale aged 6 months in Wild Turkey, Bourbon Barrels.
Commercial Description:
What began with our flagship Boont Amber Ale and a passion for experimentation has become a unique addition to our Anderson Valley Wild Turkey Barl Series. The six month aging process in third-use Wild Turkey Bourbon barrels imparts flavors of coconut and vanilla and subtle bourbon aromas that are enhanced by a noticeable oak character in the finish. A great accompaniment to fine meals or to be enjoyed on its own, Boont Barl is a truly sessionable barrel-aged beer with finesse. MALTS: Pale Two-Row, Crystal (40L & 80L) HOPS: Columbus, Bravo, Northern Brewer, Mt. Hood.
___
I tried Anderson Valley’s Bourbon Barrel Stout so when I saw this one on the self at Ramirez Liquor, I had to get it. The Bourbon Barrel Stout was very good, but I don’t remember is as being extra ordinary. Even at 6% ABV, this one might still be just as good. You don’t always see session Barrel-aged goodies and some actually end up being more surprising than others. Some beers don’t need barrel aging but it still makes for one interesting beers. So let us see what this one is all about. Cheers!
Aromas:
Dulce de leche caramel, hints of vanilla, oak and bourbon, biscuit bread, dark fruit raisins, rye bread, hints of chocolate spread, brown sugar, grape jelly, some wine grape hints and whiskey.
Flavors:
Bourbon hints, vanilla, caramel, oak, dark fruit hints like raisins and plums, rye bread, biscuit bread, coriander hints, earthy hop notes, wine grape hints, brown sugar, grape jelly, butterscotch hints, hints of nutella chocolate spread and hazelnut nectar.
Aftertaste:
Leaving with residual caramel malt sweetness, oak, hints of whiskey, rye bread, raisins and earthy hop notes. No alcohol presence despite the nice oak whiskey notes. An easy to drink beer with a certain level of smoothness. Medium body with medium mouthfeel.
Overall:
A very good beer. Think of a Bourbon Barrel Aged Amber Light. You get a good amount of flavors like you would a nice bourbon barrel but nothing overwhelming. I think this type of beer is a good way to introduce barrel-aged beers to craft beer beginners. A gateway to the Barrel aged side of beers. In that aspect, I would recommend it. Especially if you just wanna drink a barrel-aged beer without calling it a night. Not too insane but still have some very good flavors to it.
Anime Corner:
Hera from Puzzles and Dragons was used in this pairing to pair with the label colors and to some extent the Anderson Valley Bear with the Antlers. The red hair represents that this is an amber ale while the blue represents some of the other flavors like dark fruit hints. Since I chose this character to represent this beer, the light aspect of the beer represents her petite figure. Show while the beer is light ABV, she still has a good amount of flavors.
Sources:
http://lohas.nicoseiga.jp/thumb/3225114i
https://fireden.net/4chan/images.4chan.org//vg/src/1399345901724.jpg
Rating: 5/5
RU55 by Jester King is a 7.3% ABV Flanders Red Ale aged in oak barrels.
Label:
For generations, the farms of West Flanders have been tended to by large, anthropomorphic automations. In recent years, many of these farms have been taken over by large, multinational corporations, and their automations replaced by shiny new electronic robots. Scattered about the countryside, however, there are still a few intrepid farmers who insist on doing things the old-fashioned way.
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Gotta give a great thanks to my friend Aaron at http://www.beermetaldude.com for hooking me up with this hard to find/brewery/Texas only exclusive beer. Jester King has been on the rise as one of Texas best breweries when it comes to sour ales and saisons. They make some very amazing beers. I have only been lucky to try a handful until recently since my friend has been hooking me up. A great donation to the site and vise versa. Thank you once again brother !
Aromas:
Sour wine grapes, dark fruits, oak, musty funky barnyard hay, caramel, cherries, biscuit bready, rye, brown sugar, hints of chocolate, toffee, sour apples and berries
Flavors:
Lots of oak, sour wine grapes, dark fruit raisins, biscuit bread, chocolate hints, dark cherry yogurt, caramel, toffee, musty and funky yeast notes, tart sour apples, oak, brown sugar notes, rye, berries, tart currants and plums.
Aftertaste:
Puckering tart dark fruits, caramel, biscuit, berries, wine grapes, sour funk and oak. No alcohol in the taste and a sipping beer with full mouth feel.
Overall:
There is something I love about amber ales since the first one I tried which was the Fat Tire Ale. This beer reminds me of the malty, biscuity and caramel ambers that I love with some very nice sour flavors. It is well balanced. I especially like how these characteristics really show as the beer warms up. It is a perfectly well made Flanders Red Ale and I highly recommend it.
Anime Corner:
Maria from Ghost Sweeper Mikami was used in this pairing to pair with the robot used in this beer as well as the variety of flavors in this beer. Berries and Cherry oak with souring grapes and malty caramel and the vest of dark fruit carry this one while Maria still packs a crazy sour punch but her sweetness is undeniable under that metallic structure of hers. She is a bad ass android and was the best choice for this paring!
Rating: 4.66/5
Morning Wood by Local Option Bierwerker is a 7.3% ABV Amber Ale brewed with Dark Matter Coffee beans and aged in oak barrels.
Commercial Description:
Local Option Morning Wood: Local Option Morning Wood is an oak-aged coffee ale developed and brewed by Local Option Bierwerker. Fresh American oak used during the aging process and Dark Matter’s El Salvador San Jose pulp-natural coffee aromatically drive the beer; while remaining subtle components of the beers’ complete flavor profile. The amber colored, medium-bodied, and extraordinarily well-balanced ale was first unveiled at the Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beers in November 2011. Morning Wood’s taste is delicate and should be appreciated by beer drinkers of all palates.
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A special find with my friend Alex. I really don’t think this beer is sold in California yet but it was definitely found in downtown somewhere along the streets of the Buzz Beer Jewelry district. This label has intrigued me for a while. I just always kept passing it up, but this time when I saw it, I had to review it. I never had a Coffee Amber beer so let’s check this one out and see what it is like :P.
Aromas:
Big coffee espresso fragrances, toffee, rye, caramel, oak, dark fruit raisins, biscuit bread, chocolate notes, earthy hops notes, roasted barley, vanilla, hazelnut, honey, brown sugar and cinnamon.
Flavors:
Fancy coffee grounds, espresso, earthy hop notes, vanilla, oak, caramel, roasted barley, toffee, hazelnut, mocha, chocolate notes,honey, brown sugar, orange marmalade on toast and biscuit bread, dark fruit raisins, rye, toffee, floral notes, brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans.
Aftertaste:
Coffee, earthy notes, rye, barley, vanilla oak, tart berry and honey linger. No alcohol in the taste, moderate drinkability with medium to full mouth feel.
Overall:
A very good beer reminiscent of drinking a coffee stout but not a coffee stout, an amber/red ale. Definitely has that special coffee mix from the Dark Matter Coffee like the Big Hugs beer I had a while back. The oak and amber aspect complement the coffee flavors giving it a whole new light. It is a very good beer and definitely worth trying out. Although at times, the coffee might be too much but for some that might be the best part!
Anime Corner:
This original artwork by Iga Tomoreru was used in this beer paring to show the colors of the label, the skeleton, the gun and well the aspect of “morning wood” which is mainly giving someone a “boner” or in this case a skull-er. The beer flavors are represented in the in the name as well since this does seem like a rise and shine type of beer or breakfast beer for sure. Can you find any other beer pairing ideas here?
Rating: 5.2/5
Evil Dead Red by Alesmith brewing is a 6.66%ABV Amber/Red Ale. First limited bottle release.
Label:
Each Halloween we release this special concoction to celebrate one of our favorite holidays. Deep blood-red in color an intense aroma of pine and citrus from an abundance of American Hops balances the sweetness and rich, bready flavors of this bee’s caramel malts. The result is a fiendishly smooth brew that will make your taste buds scream with delight.
This beer pairs Excellent with Toffee, Caramel, Apples or your favorite Horror flick.
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After a long wait, 3 years to be exact, Alesmith finally releases their coveted Evil Dead Red Ale. I remember as far back as 2010 when the clerk at the local BevMo told my friend that they sold this in bottles but were out of stock, I remember looking it up only to find that it was never in stock. This is because it was never bottled until 2013. I remember its cousin the “My Bloody Valentine” and this is supposed to be way better. Well let’s see.
Aromas are of rich orange, grapefruit, pineapple, biscuit bread, caramel, piney and grassy hops, cherries, toffee, kiwi, strawberry, cinnamon, herbs, spice notes, earthy hops,nutmeg and raspberry candy notes
The flavors are herbs, spices, basil, oregano, caramel, grapefruit, orange, pineapple, grapefruit, apricot, strawberries, mango, pecans, honey, biscuit bread, toasted wheat bread, peanuts, cinnamon notes, rye bread, raspberries, walnuts, vanilla, butterscotch, kiwi dragon fruit, coconut, pecans, vanilla and toffee
The aftertaste is of caramel, herbal hops, citrus and nutty. The beer is perfectly balanced. Not to sweet not too bitter. Easy to moderate drinkability
Overall this is an awesome beer bringing forth some of the best flavors of what true ambers should be. Extremely delicious and extremely flavorful. Beeradvocate.com rates it 7th best in the world. In 2010, it used to be number one. Now that is is available more, it may turns those odds. This is very equivalent to the nugget nectar or pretty damn close to it.
Rating: 3.8/5
Galactic Imperial Red by Hopworks Urban Brewery is a 9.5%ABV Imperial Amber/Red Ale coming in at 100+ IBU
Label:
Hopworks Galactic Imperial Red; One small sip for man, one giant bottle for mankind. Robust caramel malt flavors battle NW Centennial, Cascade, Magnum and Nugget hops for interstellar supremacy. Throw down your quarters before it’s game over.
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Galaga fans will remember the similarities of this bottle’s beer label. This beer is an organic made beer using organic ingredients.
Aromas of this beer are of piney and grassy hops, citrus, rich caramel, toffee and biscuits.
Flavors are of Caramel, citrus, slight grapefruit, grassy and piney hops, toffee, biscuit bread, maple, slight peppercorn, earthy and metallic hop notes, oranges and herbal bitterness
The alcohol is somewhat noticeable in this one. I think it gets better as you drink more of it but in the beginning it wasn’t overly impressive. I think the hop character over powers the rest of the beer but some may find this appealing. I like more tropical hop characters but these are more herbal to explain what I mean. The balance is somewhat impartial. You get more hop than malt but that is not too bad at at all. While overall this is still a very good beer, there are other ambers that do more wonders. Still worth the try for sure if you love ambers.
Rating: 5.45/5
Nugget Nectar by Tröegs Brewing is a 7.5%ABV Imperial Amber/ Red Ale. Considered by many, the best Amber ale in the world
Description:
Squeeze those hops for all they’re worth and prepare to pucker up: Tröegs’ newest single batch brew, Nugget Nectar Ale, will take hopheads to nirvana with a heady collection of Nugget, Warrior and Tomahawk hops. Starting with the same base ingredients of our flagship HopBack Amber Ale, Nugget Nectar intensifies the malt and hop flavors to create an explosive hop experience.
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Almost missed out on this piece of gold. If you are still looking for it, Witty’s wine (www.wittyswine.com) still has some. This is not a west coast beer but something that comes close to this is the Ale smith Bloody Valentine and the Evil Dead Red. The aromas are very nice. Cherries, grassy hops, nutty walnuts, rich caramel, toffee, honey, peaches, mango, grapefruit, papaya, . The flavors are reminiscent of the 120 minute IPA with is extremely rich maple and honey flavor with bleeding piney, grassy and grapefruit flavors. Although this is not 18% ABV so it goes beyond. While it does not have the focus of rich cherry and fruit punch flavor like that of the Bloody Valentine, it’s emphasis on almost barley wine like aspect with tropical fruits like mango, papaya, peaches, apricots, dragon fruit almost coconut flavor, pecan pie, vanilla in walnuts, citrus, orange juice, Christmas tree, a very minor scotch note, biscuit bread with grapefruit marmalade and sweet rich pineapples. This was just.. epic!!.. The crazier part is that it has so much flavors that you would expect from a high ABV beer but lowered into the realms of refreshing and crisp drink ability. I can only describe it as taking all the flavors you would get from like lets say for example, a beer like Chocolate rain with its strong strong flavors and super high ABV then just removing almost all the alcohol but still maintaining an extremely rich flavor profile of complexity. The balance is awesome as well. I love the way Bloody Valentine tasted but this is just super amazing. Hard to find around in the West coast but if you can find it… DO NOT MISS OUT. Amber ale lover’s dream…
Rating: 4.8/5
Alaskan Imperial Red is Alaskan Brewing Limited Edition Pilot Series Imperial Red Ale at 8.5% ABV.
Description:
A full-bodied deep mahogany ale with ruby red highlights. Citrus notes of chamomile, grapefruit and Meyer lemon brighten the aroma. A zesty array of hop flavors from mango and bitter orange to green mint and hibiscus meld with the nutty, roasted caramel and subtle dried fruit flavors of the complex malt profile to create a surprisingly fresh, yet warming example of the style.
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Aromas are of sweet caramel, rich grassy, piney and grapefruit hops, biscuit bread, peach, mango, pineapple, cherry juice and almond. The taste is truly where this beer outshines the aroma. The flavors are of Toffee, caramel, grapefruit, mango, citrus, cherries, honey biscuit bread, grassy and piney hops, chocolate, biscuit, tropical flavors like pineapple, peaches and melon as well as some nutty pecan and almond notes near the end. The aftertaste continues on with like a barleywine or cherry rye bread with only some minor bitterness that does not linger for too long and stays constantly sweet . The great thing about this beer is that it plays very strong in terms of the sweet and bitter flavors but combining both to make a very nice balance. So much balance and great flavor that each side compliments each other rather than detract. You get strong sweet and your tropical hoppy bitterness as well. Amber ales are usually not my style but ambers like these sure as hell make me rethink the style as more to them than what others may see them as. Amber lovers will love this one.
Rating: 5/5
My Bloody Valentine Ale, cousin of Evil Dead Red by Ale Smith is a 6.66%ABV Amber/Red Ale. First time for this one :P. Truly a beer for the occasion. To share with your loved ones 😉
Label:
Don’t spend this single awareness day alone – grab a beer! The red-blooded cousin of Evil Dead Red Ale, our Halloween brew, is beautiful crimson color. Notes of caramel, toast, and bittersweet chocolate balance an intense bouquet of floral hop aromas that we know you’ll fall in love with. The finish leaves a pleasant, full-boded sweetness on the palate that won’t spread angry rumors about you to all you friends like that one time when I was… ohh… umm… Happy Valentine’s Day!
Pair this beer with jilted lovers, reservations for one, or your favorite emo album.”
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Upon opening this beer, well they sure as hell were not kidding. This is like an IPA fragrance with an Amber Ale body. Fragrances of rich grapefruit, citrus, piney, grassy hops, cherries, rye, blood >:[, peanuts, caramel, biscuit bread, pineapple, basil, herbs and spices, Valentine’s sugar candies and cinnamon. Flavors explode of crimson tart and sweet cherries, caramel, toffee, balance grassy and piney hops, citrus orange, mango, apricot, valentine’s candy, rye, cranberry, blood red tart raspberries, biscuit bread, chocolate, strong tropical fruits, peanuts and walnuts. The after taste stays with you with a balance of cherry sweetness mixing with with hoppy bitterness. Damn, quite the surprising Amber Ale. Extremely delicious, extremely balanced and extremely flavorful. A true amber among ambers. It is through and through one of the best damn Amber ales I have ever had. That is saying a lot considering it is like my 5th or 6th favorite style of beer. If Evil dead Red is at the top for Halloween World class beers, it is surely not a surprise why this is just freaking awesome!! Truly a love beer :3
Rating: 4/5
Whiskey Barrel Aged Amber by Indian Wells is a 12% ABV Imperial Red/Amber Ale Aged in Whiskey Barrels. First Barrel Aged Amber I have ever tried.
Label:
As a young boy in the 1940’s, Cliff Fyffe used to Contemplate the old, broken whiskey barrels in the Evan Williams Distillery Yard. He noticed the barrels were sweating out the aged Kentucky whiskey in the summer heat. The whiskey would pool in the barrels in amazing quantity. Cliff shared this memory with the Indian Wells Brewing Co. founders, Rick and Greg, who suddenly had an inspiriation! They reached out and contacted Evan Williams Distillery directly and ordered a dozen, 55 gallon, used oak barrels that had held their flagship whiskey for two years.
Indian Wells Brewing Co. then left these barrels in the direct Mojave Desert sun until the whiskey sweated out. When the barrels were ready, they brewed a special ’amber’ style lager by using their own natural artesian spring water, filling the whiskey barrels and allowing them to lager down to 34-degrees for months. Our own delicious whiskey barrel aged amber lager. It pairs well with BBQ and is just great for sipping.
We hope you enjoy drinking it as much as we enjoyed making it.
Cheers, Rick and Greg
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Got this one at Emilio’s Beverage warehouse in Lakewood CA. Never really tried a barrel aged amber before so I figure why not. The aromas are of Vanilla, coconut, bourbon, caramel, banana, cherries, maple, oak, walnuts and pecans. The taste of the beer are of Caramel, vanilla, bourbon, peanuts, pecans, cherries, whiskey, marshmallows, apples, apricots and cereal grains. Not the best Barrel Aged beer out there, but definitely a little better than some of the other ambers I have tried. The flavors are not super intense. The whiskey and alcohol are more noticeable in the aftertaste than other beers. Although the burning is not there. While the amber style is not my supreme favorite, I really think this one is definitely worth a try. Barrel Aged beers just add more to a regular beer. However, some may not agree. In this case, for me it was above average. I must have got the good bottle 😛
Rating: 3.75/5
Double Barrel Ale by Firestone Walker is a 5% ABV British Pale Ale.
Description:
Our patented Firestone Union uniquely incorporates 60-gallon American oak barrels into the fermentation process that yields beers of extraordinary character and complexity. This system improves the fullness of the palate, balances hop character and lends a clean briskness to the finish. The influence of the toasted oak also imparts unique hints of smokiness and vanilla, as well as a subtle fruitiness to the flavor profile.
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Aromas are of mild citrus, grassy and earthy hops, biscuit, caramel, butterscotch, and a slight smoke or campfire oak. The flavors of this beer are of caramel, anise, slight grapefruit hops, slightly citrusy, earthy, smokey, oak, toasted bread and black tea. I think this beer speaks better in the taste than its fragrance. Not quite as nutty as an amber ale but leans more towards an amber ale that is lightly oaked and smoked. For a beer that is 5% ABV, way better than an average lager. Definitely above average beer with some great flavors to keep stuff interesting. Served all year long.
Rating: 4.9/5
L’Affriolante by Le Bilboquet is a 7% ABV Spiced Amber ale.
Label:
Tantôt elle taquine, tantôt elle séduit. On se sait pas comment l’aborder. Une bière forte et douce à la fois, légèrement sucrée, réhaussée d’un soupçon d’épices. L’Affriolante saura égayér vos soirées aussi bien que vos journées. Tout ce que vous souhaitez, c’est de la toucher de bout des lévres et de vous laiser border. Santé!
Sometimes it teases you, sometimes it charms you. One does not know how to approach it. With both a strong taste and a mild flavor, this beer slightly sweet with a touch of spice. L’Affriolante will enrapture your evenings and enliven your days. Once it hits your lips you will know it is everything you wished for. Cheers!
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Now this is a pretty potent amber ale. Haven’t had something like this before especially in an amber ale. Fragrances of rich honey, hops, caramel, cinnamon, vanilla, fruit cake, nuts, grapes, cherry, roses and toffee. The flavors are of honey, caramel, peach nectar, nuts, maple, toffee, vanilla, biscuit bread, plums, cherries, raisins, dried grapes, pineapple, almonds, cinnamon, butterscotch, coriander and ripe sweet orange creme. For being an Amber ale, it is more sweet than bitter really. Quite nice actually. Seducing almost :P. Drinks more like a Christmas type of beer with oh so much sweet honey. Simply very delicious give it that. I need to find more of these Canada beers. Simply just that damn good. Troise Pistoles is my toe to toe World Beer favorite along with St. Bernardus abt 12. Belgian Inspiration in Canada 😛
Rating: 4.85/5
Dead Cat by BeerHere Brewing of Denmark is a 4.7% ABV Amber/Red Ale.
Label:
Hard to find back in October, now easier to find online and possibly in some beer specialty shops. This beer cries with hop, mango, peach, pears, citrus, maple and caramel aromas. For an amber ale, this seems pretty good. I would wanna say, just as close to dead guy (no pun intended…maybe 😉 ). That is pretty good balance of hops and caramel. The flavors pour in of maple, hazelnut, roasted peanuts, pine, grass and grapefruit hops but mild to medium bitterness. Some nice biscuit bread, caramel, but not as yeasty and sweet like the glory of Rogue Dead Guy. The Dead Cat likes to take it alittle bit more tropical. Not into the bitterness though. There are still some notes of orange, mango, and peach but not super fruity. The amazing thing about this beer, is just the fact that it is so low in ABV (.2% higher than Bud Light) and yet somehow it packs so much flavor. It is quite an amazing beer for such flavors and being so low in ABV. Too bad this is an import, this would be a top for so many amber beer lovers.
Brewerianimelogs (Anime and Beer Lore) 
