Rating: 5.5/6
2017 Pseudo Sue by Toppling Goliath brewing of Decorah Iowa is a 5.8% ABV World Class American Pale Ale.
Label:
This single hop ale showcases the Citra hop or a well-balanced beer that is delicate in body with a mild bitterness in the finish. Ferocious aromas of citrus and mango give way to pseudo Sue’s unique and refreshing taste that is clean and bright with just enough bite!
Original Review: https://animebeers.com/2016/01/18/pseudo-sue-by-toppling-goliath-brewing/
Rating: 4.5/5
8-Bit Pale Ale by Tallgrass Brewing is a 5.2% ABV American Pale Ale brewed.
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Just like those classic video games we all grew up with, 8-Bit Pale Ale is spectacularly simple at first glance yet remarkably fun and complex when you get into it. Our Hop Rocket infuses the character of Australian Grown Galaxy Hops into an American Pale Ale, giving a unique tropical, almost melon aroma in a classic American style.
ABV: 5.2%
IBU: 40
Malts: 2 Row, Victory, Vienna & Munich
Hops: Magnum, Centennial, Cascade & Galaxy
==Introduction==
The last time I had tried 8-bit Pale Ale was when I visited my friend Steve in Iowa. Before then, it had been sometime in 2012. Today, I was given a chance to bring this one once again to the website thanks to my friend Aaron Mendiola of BeerMetalDude.com. Seeing that it has been years since I last brought this one to the site, I want to take the approach using the tasting experience I have acquired over the years and well, try to analyze it further. This beer is inspired by my youth. The days of Nintendo and video games which to this day I still appreciate. They had released an awesome commercial for this beer where it shows a rooster blowing on the cartridge. I can’t seem to find it anymore as the brewery put it to private but it was definitely that one that made me want to get the beer back in 2012. Still, thanks to my friend Aaron, The old school is back for a review.
Aromas:
Tropical fruit mango hints, honey dew melon, passion fruit, pilsner grain, stone fruit peach, lemon peel, Grassy, Piney, grapefruit hint, floral and citrusy hops.
Flavors:
Grassy, Piney, grapefruit hint, floral and citrusy hops, Cane sugar, tropical fruit honey dew melon, cantaloupe, mango, pineapple, dragon fruit, passion fruit, vanilla, caramel, biscuit bread, stone fruit, peach, apricot, lemon peel, lemon candy, tangerine gummies, pilsner grain and mild peppery spice.
Aftertaste:
Finishing slightly dry with citrus. Grassy and floral hops, tropical fruits, stone fruits, vanilla hints and cane sugar. No alcohol on the taste, Pale Golden light body, crisp, clean, refreshing and smooth mouthfeel along with very easy drinkability.
Overall:
A very delicious beer. No matter what, from the first time I tried to now, this one continues to be awesomely refreshing. Pale ales don’t seem to be as popular as they were years ago possibly due to popularity of IPAs and Double IPAs. A well-made pale ale like this one definitely can compete even with those in my opinion. It is definitely refreshing and possibly a good gateway to craft beer. It’s also classic 8-bit era inspired. So yes, I would definitely recommend this one.
Anime Corner:
Samus Aran from Metroid and Chun-li from Street Fighter in Tron/ Shadow Lady form have been used when I first made the review of this brew. What I was going for back then is in the sense of characters in an 8-bit realm could be represented by the bits of 0’s and 1’s essentially leading into a Tron like cyberspace. The whole theme of the beer is videogames so both are video game characters.
Sources:
http://img09.deviantart.net/ce9e/i/2009/113/6/b/zero_suit_poster_by_twilit_arawen.jpg
http://n2.hk/d/attachments/day_110404/20110404_b9a4d7a3172d8bab1936GMpGVAhAgL8R.jpg
http://img12.deviantart.net/82ab/i/2014/284/1/d/time_to_collect_that_bounty_by_g_wolf101-d82h55e.png
Rating: 4.5/5
Bullet Proof by Audacity Brew House is a 5.2% ABV American Pale Ale
Commercial Description:
Brewed with Texas craft malts and Texas-grown grapefruit, dry-hopped for a strong citrus aroma, a subtle honey-like sweetness and a crisp, easy to drink finish.
==Introduction==
Received several cans from my friend Aaron Mendiola at BeerMetalDude.com. Many of which are from Texas local craft breweries and some I honestly can say I may not have tried these without the help from him sending me these. As gratitude for these treasures, I will be reviewing these on the site starting this this brew. This is my first beer from audacity brewing. I am going in blindly and see how this one turns out. Cheers!
Aromas:
Citrus, grapefruit, piney, floral and grassy hops, cane sugar, honey, stone fruit peach notes, tropical fruits like passion fruit, papaya, kiwi, strawberry notes, waffle cone, biscuit bread and cherry notes.
Flavors:
Lots of honey, rich tropical juicy fruits of honey dew melon, passion fruit hints, kiwi, strawberry juice, Oranges, Coriander spice, citrus, grapefruit, piney, floral and grassy hops, cane sugar, Stone fruit sweet peaches, apricot notes, biscuit bread, waffle cone, flan hints, lychees, kumquats, crabapples, starburst and cherries.
Aftertaste:
Finishes with rich stone fruits, citrus, piney and grapefruit hops along with cane sugar notes. No alcohol in the taste. Golden light to medium body. Crisp, refreshing and smooth mouthfeel and easy drinkability.
Overall:
A very delicious and sweet pale ale. I was really well pleased with this one as it was full of fruity goodness and delicious ingredients that went down very smooth. A refreshing beer I would definitely have on a regular basis if I had it available for sure. Give this one a try if you live Texas.
Anime Corner:
Furyou Michi from Gang Road was used in this pairing to pair mainly with the name of the beer, Bullet Proof as she is wearing a bullet proof vest. The other things that I see with this picture are that her hair is the color of the brew but also with this beer having the Texas flag represents a bit of Texas pride in terms of gun ownership.
Sources:
http://static.zerochan.net/Furyou.Michi.~Gang.Road~.full.1747242.jpg
Rating: 4.75/5
Whoa Bundy!!! by El Borracho brewing is a 5.25% ABV American Pale Ale brewed with Simcoe Hops.
==Introduction==
A tribute to one of the best sitcoms growing up, Married with Children. Specifically, Al Bundy which was by Ed O’Neal. The reason my friend William Carranza chose Whoa Bundy!! as the name of the beer indicates as it is an American Pale Ale. As a American as Al Bundy and High School football of which he scored 4 touch downs in one game for Polk High. Thanks to Will for another awesome donation to the site. Let’s take a look and see what this one has to offer, cheers!
Aromas:
Citrus, piney, herbal, floral, dank, spicy and garlicky hops, tropical fruit notes of Guava, Papaya, dragon fruit, passion fruit, honey dew melon, Stone fruit peach, apricots, lemon zest, orange candy, mango hints and tangerines.
Flavors:
Herbal, Spicy, grapefruit, piney, floral, and dank garlicky hops, biscuit bread, vanilla notes, Tropical fruit Guava, Papaya, dragon fruit, passion fruit, pineapple, honey dew melon, kumquats, mango, Strawberries, raspberries, Stone fruit peach, lychee, apricots, lemon candy, oranges, green tea ice cream, gummy bears, and tangerines.
Aftertaste:
Finishing with stone fruit notes, tropical fruit, biscuit bread, herbal, grapefruit, citrus lemon candy and piney hops. No alcohol in the aftertaste, Honey colored light to medium body, crisp, refreshing, rich and smooth mouthfeel with an easy drinkability.
Overall:
A very delicious pale ale having so many of the nice tropical fruits and citrus notes that I enjoy from IPAs and Pale Ales alike. There was so much in this one that it did make me go… Whoa!? With use of all Simcoe in this brew, it was something very good. Definitely one of my friend’s better beers and one that is worth trying again.
Anime Corner:
Dead Pool from Marvel Comics and Harley Quinn from DC Comics were used in this pairing since I wanted to find something Married with Children related. In this case, it is not Anime but Comics. I have done many comic book characters in the past especially since I like many of them. So the fact that I found one for Dead Pool with Harley was one of the most perfect pairings I’ve seen in a while. An awesome beer pairing at that.
Sources:
http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/dv9qdbwdukvjzylt3oa8.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/31/56/3e/31563e819a27b3daf6087ed0645d1785.jpg
Rating: 5.25/6
Lizard King by Pipeworks is 6% ABV American Pale Ale brewed with Mosaic and Amarillo Hops.
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
This American Pale Ale is fresh as they come and only being poured at select bars in Chicago. Brewed with Mosaic and Amarillo hops, Lizard King will be the perfect way to start (or end) your day.
==Introduction==
Pipeworks has made some many tasty brews and it is thanks to online stores that many can get their beers as they are primarily from the Midwest. Their IPAs rule but this is the first time I will be trying one of their Pale Ales. The label looks awesome like Geon from King of Monsters fighting a giant Skeleton Monster. I’m assuming the whole lizard thing goes inside with the hops but not sure. Either way, let’s see what this one is about. Cheers!
Aromas:
Grapefruit, citrus, floral, piney and grassy hops, Stone fruit, peaches, apricot, lychee, lemon candy, crabapples, tropical fruits like passion fruit, kiwi, dragon fruit, honey dew melon, mango, papaya, guava, oranges, cherries, kumquats, honey, sweetened condensed milk, orange peel and green tea ice cream.
Flavors:
Rich tropical fruits like passion fruit, kiwi, dragon fruit, honey dew melon, mango, kumquats,
Stone fruit, peaches, apricot, lychee, lemon candy, crabapples, grapefruit, citrus, floral, piney and grassy hops, honey, sweetened condensed milk, orange peel, strawberries, prickly pear tunas, Starburst, mango cheese cake, papaya, guava, oranges, cherries, grapes, green tea ice cream, gummy bears, and tangerine preserves.
Aftertaste:
Rich stone fruits, tropical fruits, biscuit bread, herbal, grapefruit, citrus, lemon candy and orange hops and starburst candy. No alcohol in the taste, Hazy Golden honey body, smooth crisp, rich, and refreshing mouthfeel and easy to drink.
Overall:
Supreme delicious hoppy goodness! This was a damn good IPA. Like the Psuedo Sue I had from Toppling Goliath, they managed to get the rich tropical goodness of their IPAs to be fruitier in their American Pale Ale form. I wish we had this one here in California as I would probably get this one all the time. Like Psuedo Sue, a supreme Pale Ale amongst them all. Now with this being about Lizards, it was well fitting. Highly recommended.
Anime Corner:
Godzilla, Super Godzilla and Mothra from the Godzilla series was used in this pairing to go with the whole aspect of the Lizard King as Godzilla is the original and true King of the Monsters. The reason I used Space Godzilla-Chan was because the way she sits on the throne looking like a king or a bad ass. Technically, Space Godzilla is like an evil brother to Godzilla but either way, the whole Lizard King theme was awesome here. Mothra and Godzilla is hinted as being more than friends.
Sources:
http://img09.deviantart.net/d9e9/i/2009/105/e/0/a_samurai_and_his_love_by_kaijusamurai.jpg
https://archive.loveisover.me/foolfuuka/boards/d/image/1420/43/1420436629594.jpg
Rating: 3.75/5
Wasted Sea Star Purple Pale Ale by Rogue brewing is a 5.7% ABV American Pale Ale brewed with purple corn.
Label:
Dedicated to Dr. Bruce Menge and his Students
Sea stars on the west coast are rapidly dying from a mysterious disease called sea star wasting syndrome. It causes lesions, arm loss, and eventually can turn stars into goo. This is one of the largest marine animal disease events in recording history. Purchasing this beer will help to fund the research of this disease through the partnership for interdisciplinary studies of coastal oceans at Oregon State University.
Rogue Wasted Sea Star Purple Pale Ale is made with purple corn, giving it a slight purple color. Sweet up front with a smooth hop finish.
9 Ingredients: 2-row, Dextrapils, Rogue Farms Dare and Risk Malts; Liberty and Alluvial hops; Purple Corn Nector (Non-GMO), fre range coastal water and Pacman Yeast.
15° Plato / 5.7% ABV / 40 IBU / 76 AA / 15° L
==Introduction==
I obtained this one at the Rogue online store buy.rogue.com along with the Mango Astronaut. I was intrigued by the ingredients and the color of the beer but also the fact that purchasing this was going to a good cause. Save Marine wild life and enjoy some beer, you can’t beat that! With that being said, a beer made from purple corn is intriguing to me. Yeah, corn is just an adjunct added to many lagers but organic purple corn, well, this may seem like something different, or atleast I would like to think. So let’s see what this beer is about.
Aromas:
Caramel, pilsner malt, cereal grains, honey hints grapes, rye bread, dark fruit notes, piloncillo sugar cone, citrus, grapefruit, floral, herbal and grassy hops hints and berry notes.
Flavors:
Honey, grapes, cereal grain, corn adjunct, caramel, grape marmalade, rye bread, butterscotch, dark fruit raisins, plums, blackberries, taro ice cream, ube bread, sweet potato, piloncillo sugar cone, citrus, grapefruit, floral, herbal and grassy hops, brown sugar, cinnamon, and blackberry cobbler.
Aftertaste:
Finishing dry with a bit of malty, grainy and dark fruit sweetness. No alcohol in the taste, mainly amber colored with a purple tinge clear body, smooth, creamy and refreshing mouthfeel and is very easy to drink.
Overall:
A pretty good ale with a good amount of crisp and refreshing flavors. It does have some complexity to it and body but at the same time it has some flavors you would find in a nice lager. It does not seem to fall in the category of hoppy pale ale but more of malty yet crisp ale. It was decent and worth the try for sure if you can find it but nothing too extravagant. Sure it did have some notes that I really like, like the purple ube.
Anime Corner:
Rider from Fatestay Night was used in this pairing as I wanted a good representative for the overall purple theme of the beer. Sea Stars are near color blind and some believe have no sight at all. Regardless of what may be true, using Rider with the eye cover helps show case this. Her being purple and in the water also adds to the complement of the beer artwork and theme.
Sources:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1jDIKyxula4/UvTKGvOxXQI/AAAAAAAAAYU/ZAYobBNUQ2w/w1098-h1600/404590.jpg
http://img0.joyreactor.cc/pics/post/full/Anime-Fate-(series)-Fatestay-night-Rider-(Fatestay-night)-1918941.jpeg
Rating: 4.95/5
Light Speed by Toppling Goliath brewing of Decorah Iowa is a 5.8% ABV American Pale Ale.
Label:
Made with Millennium and Falconer’s Flight Hops
This seasonal pale ale was crafted with a perfect mixture of Millennium hops and Falconer’s Flight blend. Inviting orange aroma and hints of lemon flavor in this medium-bodied beauty will make you want to drink yours at light speed!
==Introduction==
Previously known as Millennium Falcon, this beer screams sci-fi and star wars! Obtained this one while I was on my trip to Iowa on October 2015. When visiting Iowa, I wanted to bring a couple of beers with me for the site but seeing as I could not due to the fact that it could of cost me extra for the plane ride and I couldn’t risk them being damaged, my friend Steve was able to send me a package with these. This would technically be the last one on the box but would it be the best? Well, it is Toppling goliath and the previous Pale Ale I tried was ridiculously awesome. Let’s see what this one has to offer.
Aromas:
Lemon Candy, tropical fruit mango, papaya, kiwi, honey dew melon, dragon fruit, raspberry, strawberry, Citrus, herbal, piney, grapefruit and grassy hops, Stone fruit peach, apricot, lychee, cherries, blue berries, orange peel, lemon peel, starburst and gummy bear hints.
Flavors:
Citrus, herbal, piney, grapefruit and grassy hops, orange peel, lemon peel, starburst, pepper corn, lemon candy, tropical fruit barrage of mango, papaya, kiwi, honey dew melon, dragon fruit, raspberry, strawberry, biscuit bread, Stone fruit peach, apricot, lychee, cherries, blue berries, Danish cream, green tea ice cream and gummy bears.
Aftertaste:
Lots of tropical fruit, stone fruit to the finish with some biscuit bread sweetness, herbal, grassy and grapefruit hop bitterness. No alcohol in the taste, Hazy Golden body, crisp, refreshing and smooth mouthfeel with very easy drinkability.
Overall:
A very delicious Pale Ale. Might not be as extravagant as Pseudo Sue, but this is still very delicious. I think this one was more on the grassy herbal forward side than the sweeter tropical fruit side although the flavors of stone fruit and tropical fruits were there. Pseudo Sue did have more tropics forward and I enjoy that better, just my preference. Either way, a definite recommend for Starwars/Scifi and/or Hop fans.
Anime Corner:
Samus Aran from Nintendo’s Metroid series, Jaba the Hut and an original artwork were used in this pairing as I felt it was good to use with some Sci-Fi characters, especially star wars. The Millennium Falcon name was homage and so that is why I got Samus to be Leia in this pairing. The original character was used as well since I wanted to pair with the colors of the label. Overall, I thought it be nice to do a tribute.
Sources:
http://img01.deviantart.net/5974/i/2015/306/4/1/samus_undercover_mission_by_karosu_maker-d9fb3cg.jpg
https://cdn0.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/000/177/176/small/zhenya-chung-syncmax-1.jpg?1408792660
Rating: 5.5/6
Pseudo Sue by Toppling Goliath brewing of Decorah Iowa is a 5.8% ABV World Class American Pale Ale.
Label:
This single hop ale showcases the Citra hop or a well-balanced beer that is delicate in body with a mild bitterness in the finish. Ferocious aromas of citrus and mango give way to pseudo Sue’s unique and refreshing taste that is clean and bright with just enough bite!
==Introduction==
A beer worth a crazy mission. My friend Steve from Iowa was able to send me this one after our journey across the endless farmlands in my second home away from home, Iowa. Visiting Iowa State University Ames Iowa, my Alma Mater, I was able to find this one readily available but limited. They had advised this one had just arrived but it was hard to get and would be very limited. I was all over this one. Knowing Toppling Goliath is one of Iowa’s best Micro Breweries and me wanting to go there or at the very least try their beer, I had to get this one to the site. Since I wanted to get different ones, I was only able to bring a bottle to the site as me and my friend had to finish the rest of them. I hope to get more in the future.
Aromas:
Orange zest, orange peel, tangerine, green tea ice cream, gummy bears, tangerine spread on biscuit bread, Stone fruit peaches, apricot, lychee fruit, crab apples, grapes, cherries, raspberries, tropical fruits, mango, papaya, guava, honey dew melon, dragon fruit, passion fruit, prickly pears, strawberries, Starburst candy, lemon candy and sweetened condensed milk.
Flavors:
Rich tropical fruits, mango, papaya, guava, honey dew melon, dragon fruit, passion fruit, prickly pears, strawberries, Stone fruit peaches, apricot, lychee fruit, crab apples, grapes, cherries, raspberries, Oranges, orange peel, tangerine, Grapefruit, rich citrusy, herbal, floral, grassy and dank hops, sweetened condensed milk, green tea ice cream, gummy bears, tangerine spread on biscuit bread, Starburst candy, lemon candy, mango cheese cake and kumquats.
Aftertaste:
Rich tropical fruit, stone fruit, vanilla, biscuit bread, dank herbal, rich citrusy hops and orange zest, and sweet fruit juices. No alcohol in the taste, Clear golden honey body, smooth, rich, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel along with being ridiculously easy to drink.
Overall:
Hands down, one of the best Pale Ales ever, right next to Zombie Dust. For being so light, and yet so damn hop complex, they were able to get a ridiculous amount for tropical forward flavors from this beer proving that even the basic American Pale Ales can take on even the toughest and strongest of IPAs. This beer is ingenious. They say the king Sue is even more ridiculous to find and is bigger than this? I can honestly say that this can even go up against my favorite IPA, Power Plant but the thing is they are different styles. This is a highly recommended one for sure!
Anime Corner:
Dragon Slayer from Black Rock Shooter was used in this pairing as I mainly wanted to pair with the T-Rex in the label. I found this one and definitely looked so bad ass. So bad ass like the way this beer is super bad ass. End of story…
Sources:
http://static.zerochan.net/Dragon.Slayer.full.553344.jpg
Rating: 4.25/5
Tropical Day Dream Pale Ale by Avila Ales is a 5% ABV American Pale Ale brewed with Citra Hops
==Introduction==
Partial base wort was brewed using brewing equipment at Monkish for the “Monster Home brew Event” back in June 2015. The idea was to create a base pale wort using the equipment at Monkish brewing. Each person would get 5 gallons (or 10 or more depending on how much you would pay) from this concoction you would take it home add to the wort to change the style completely to more than 10 different styles of beer. My friend Richard Avila and I went to Monkish on that day to buy 10 gallons of wort each. This is the first custom batch he made using citra hops. Thanks to my friend Richard for sharing this one with me and as a tribute, I was able to bring this beer over to the website.
Aromas:
Grapefruit, lemon juice, lemon peel, passion fruit, tart apples, Stone fruit hints like peach, tropical fruit like mango, peppercorn and green tea.
Flavors:
Lots of grapefruit, citrus, lemon peel, rich passion fruit, guava, prickly pear, grassy hops, floral hops, mango, peppercorn, honey dew melon, tart apples, stone fruit peach hints, green tea, herbal notes, grape hints, papaya, pineapple and biscuit bread.
Aftertaste:
Leaving a dry finish in the taste with some residual tropical fruit notes. No alcohol in the taste, Hazy yellow medium body, crisp, clean, refreshing mouthfeel and easy to drink.
Overall:
A very good pale ale. While there maybe some off flavoring due to the original wort being from Monkish, I think the control in the brewing and addition of my friend’s own ingredients to the beer made it a great style. Definitely rich in the tropical aspects including the rich grapefruit and tropical fruit. The only off flavors maybe the bit of lemony tartness or the green tea or tart apple hints but overall making it a pretty wonderful experience overall for being a pale ale. It definitely surpasses the first Pale Ale I made. I think my friend definitely has a great amount of experience to get next batch the way he likes as he will have more control of the wort.
Anime Corner:
Original artwork by Yuuza of DeviantArt was used in this pairing as I wanted to pair the flavors of the beer with the name. The colors representing the vast majority of tropical fruit goodness but alse the aspect of day dreaming which the mind uses to create figments of the imagination. This beer is like a dream in the sense that it tastes so rich and juicy like tropical fruits even for such a low ABV. Even in the artwork, you can see how the day dreams come to life as they are created upon the stroke of the pain brush the mind wields.
Sources:
http://orig12.deviantart.net/be4b/f/2014/023/e/1/painting_the_world_by_yuuza-d64n3cv.jpg
Rating: 4/5
Stochasticity Project HiFi+Lofi Mixtape by Stone Brewing is an 8.8% American Pale Ale with half aged in Oak Foudres.
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.
Fresh and Vintage tracks combine for the perfect liquid playlist.
Even before the science of beer was fully understood, those seeking to present the finest iteration of an ale had their wys of ensuring flavors and textures that were a cut above. In Britain, pub owners kept ‘stock ales’ on hand, beers that had been left to mature in vats or oak barrels. During this aging period, the beers would mellow and occasionally, develop a twinge of tartness. These publicans were unaware of the oxidative or microbilolicigal reasons for such changes, but found that blending some of their stock ales with fresh beers – which dented to be overly bitter and smoky – made ideal quaffs for their patrons. For this beer, we have taken a page from this tale of British pub life and blended a stock ale aged more than three months in oak foudres (large wooden fermentation vessels more commonly used by vintners) with a fresh version of that beer to create perfect harmony spanning end to end on the taste specctrum
Malt Varieties
Pale 2-Row, English Pale, Mild Ale, Briess & Amber
Hop Varieties
Apollo, UK Target & Williamette
Aged in
Oak Foudres
==Introduction==
Obtained this one at my local beer shop and this one is sold in many of the craft beer shops that sell Stone beers. This one will see national distribution. This beer used to be available on tap only and it was something Stone finally decided to release. Good for them as they have so many beers that never see the public tastes buds. So let’s take a sip of this and we rewind the tape as we go along. Cheers!
Aromas:
Rich butterscotch, caramel, biscuit bread, orange zest, waffle cone, toasted bread, black tea hints, earthy hops, grapefruit hints, pecan pie notes, brown sugar and hints of hazelnut.
Flavors:
Rich biscuit bread, caramel, rye bread, toffee, honey, grassy, piney, grassy, grapefruit, and earthy hops, butterscotch, citrus, orange, oak, waffle cone, toasted bread, black tea, almond butter, marzipan, hazelnut, pecan pie hints and marshmallow.
Aftertaste:
Lot of biscuit bread, citrus, caramel, pecan pie, hazelnut, oak, toffee, grapefruit and earthy notes. No alcohol in the taste, creamy, crisp and moderate mouthfeel, easy to moderate to drinkability and golden brown body.
Overall:
A very good beer almost reminding me of a pub ale with some added complexity. At a moderate drinkability, there is much that can be said as it is complex but palatte subtle enough to not overwhelm the palatte. Taking its time as coats the mouth with different types of complexities all at once. Something that is worth a try and might be a step up for light drinkers.
Anime Corner:
T-elos and Kos-Mos from Xenosaga were used in this pairing as I wanted to do a twin pairing but also match up the colors of the beer. The older and darker barrel-aged side which is represented by T-elos and the lighter alcohol and brand new Kos-mos. They pretty much compliment each other that they represent this beer as a unit of the blends. The mix. The colors also represent some of the flavors as well.
Rating: 4.75/5
Arctic Sun Stone collaboration by Amager Bryghus and Three Floyds is a 6% ABV Denmark/American Pale Ale
Label:
The sunstone – much disputed among scholars. Did the Viking navigators really have such a tool that would help them point out what was east and what was west – even on a less than sunny day? We certainly believe so. Many years later no sunstone was needed when Amager Bryghus was invaded by what very much looked like Viking ancestors of American descent. Hailing from Munster, Indiana, Chris Boggess and Barnaby Struve of Three Floyds Brewing arrived not with a vengeance but with very loud King Diamond on their portable mp3 player. This was not a day for slaughter but for brewing. And brew we did. The mellow and dangerously quaffable Arctic SunStone is proof that even Viking warriors can have a more subtle side to them. All hail to Three Floyds.
==Introduction==
Three Floyds beers are hard to find. Amager Bryghus was even hard too. The fact that I was able to find this one, even if it was a good online store, means that they are getting out there and being distributed more. Since it was a Three Floyds and Amager Bryghus beer, I had to get it. So without further ado, here is the beer treasure, Arctic Sun Stone. Cheers!
Aromas:
Grapefruit, citrus, mild piney and mild grassy hops, caramel, vanilla toffee, tropical fruits like pineapple, honey dew melon, guava hints, mango, apples, tangerines, orange peel, kumquats, lycheefruit roasted peanuts, banana hints and stone fruit apricot.
Flavors:
Citrus,grapefruit, grassy and piney hops, toffee, caramel, biscuit breads, tropical fruit like mango, guava, pine apples, honey dew melon, apples, tangerines, lychee fruit, orange peel, kumquats, strawberries, coriander spice, stone fruit apricot, peach notes, roasted peanuts, bananas and some herbal hop notes.
Aftertaste:
Caramel, biscuit bread, vanilla, citrus, roasted peanuts, toffee, grapefruit and piney hops linger. No Alcohol in the taste, Bold, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel, Hazy medium body and moderate drinkability.
Overall:
A very good Pale Ale. Drinks almost like an IPA but mainly sticking to the more malty sides and yet releasing a lot of the orange citrus and tropical flavors of some of the best pale ales out there. Pale Ales especially American ones, always have their own story to share trying to border line the IPA’s while stil offering more of a balance and not just pure hop bitterness like some west coast styles. Never the less, this one was pretty tasty and worth a try if you can get it.
Anime Corner:
Risty and Leina Vance from Queen’s Blade were used in this pairing since I wanted something to pair with the colors of the label, the beer and the Viking. While Risty covers that aspect and the picture with the loud roar, Leina is added to represent the collaboration of the 2 giants, Three Floyds and Amager respectively.
Sources:
http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120329014534/queensblade/images/9/97/Risty_and_Leina_3.jpg
http://danbooru.donmai.us/data/40d37bcd1dca070608a1a478e206087a.jpg
Rating: 3.95/5
Devil’s Ale by SanTan Brewing is a 5.5% ABV American Pale Ale.
Commercial Description:
Devil’s Ale – Our flagship brew! Devil’s Ale is a new breed of West Coast American Ales. Deep golden maroon in color, Devil’s Ale is defined by as delicious citrus hop character derived from Cascade and Centennial hops grown in the Pacific Northwest and balanced firm caramel malt flavor. Devil’s Ale pairs wonderfully with salmon and pork (i.e. BACON!!) and goes best with sharp cheeses such as Cheddar and Colby. Arizona’s highest rated pale ale! 96 Points- Draft Magazine. 13.5°
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This is the second SanTan brewing beer I try. I see they are mainly from Arizona but also distribute to Texas. I have not seen any of their beers here in California but maybe we will start to see them soon. This beer was donated by my friend Aaron Mendiola from www.beermetaldude.com. I can already see how this beer is the flagship as the name of the brewery is similarly named after the unholy one except for that extra ‘n’ in the middle of the name. Anyways, I wanna see what this Pale Ale is about so let us check it out and Cheers to you Aaron and the readers of my page, thank you for your support!!
Aromas:
Grassy, piney, grapefruit hops, oranges, papaya hints, caramel, biscuit bread, toffee, lychee fruit, floral notes, apples, pear, herbal notes, tangerine and brown sugar.
Flavors:
Orange citrus, grassy, herbal, and grapefruit hops, caramel, biscuit bread, hints of tropical fruit like papaya and mango, guava notes, tangerine, lychee, floral notes, apples, brown sugar, toffee, pears, gummy bears and lemon peel.
Aftertaste:
Dry finish with a little bit of citrus, caramel and grassy hops lingering. No alcohol in the taste, very crisp and refreshing, easy to drink, light to medium body and light to medium mouthfeel.
Overall:
This pale is pretty good. Devil’s ale is hoppy enough and sessionable to the point where one can drink this one all day. I can definitely see myself buying this one as a summer beer and just relaxing with several of these cans. While its complexity is mainly noted and overwhelming, it may not be up there with the crazy double IPAs but for what it is, as delicious as it is, you should definitely give this one a try.
Anime Corner:
Devil girl chracter by Tamaki Kousaka was paired for the obvious reasons. Devil girl for a Devil ale. The moon and the color of her hair and the background pair really well with the colors of the label on the can and the color of the beer. Like I said before, this beer works day and night on a summer day just kicking back and drinking a cold one, just like the Devil chick in this picture is relaxing too.
Sources:
http://i48.tinypic.com/2ep6a14.jpg
Rating: 3/5
Solitude by El Borracho Home Brewing is 3% ABV Session Pale Ale.
Thanks to my friend William Carranza once again for another sweet beer donation. This beer’s name comes from need to just drink a couple of beers by yourself but still want to chill and not get wasted. Solitude is the kind of beer for the lonely drinker. So this beer will keep you company. Solitude is not necessarily a bad thing as one can use the time to be alone to reflect on a lot of things in life. Especially the good ones and to take action on those positive ideas. Solitude should never be considered as a means to dwell on the negative as it is part of like. This beer is something that can enjoyed while just relaxing in general I’m sure.
Aromas:
Citrus, floral and grassy hops, biscuit bread, maize, mild caramel and apples.
Flavors:
Apples, cereal grains, citrus, mild grassy hops, corn, lager and pilsner notes, caramel and crackers.
Aftertaste:
Finish dry with very little hop and citrus presence. No alcohol in the taste, absolutely refreshing, crisp and mildly clean and is pleasantly easy to drink.
Overall:
An Average to decent beer. Something that is definitely worthy of a beer that you can drink a lot of. It is better than the macros average lagers and has enough flavor to keep it interesting. Session beers are a great thing as they maintain a good amount flavor even if the alcohol is sacrificed allowing more to be enjoyed. While this beer is expected to be mild, it doesn’t disappoint and some of those really nice flavors do stand out.
Anime Corner:
Spike and Julia from Cowboy Bebop were the perfect pairing for this beer. The representation of Solitude is greatly represented by the need to have company but also it is a moment of reflection to make you take action for the next step. Solitude should never be represented with depression but more of making peace with one’s self and keep pushing forward to the next best thing. Spike and Julia’s love story in the series is a sad one which I won’t spoil here. As with drinking this beer, it give yous enough feel good experience without calling it a night. Relax and take in the moment
Rating: 3/5
Hammer 30 Revolutionary Ale by Rhinelander Brewing is a 5%ABV Cream Pale Ale
Label:
Nail your thirst. Beer for the People.
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Fresh and Easy in Southern California has a 30 pack of this. Hung out with my friend Hugo when we found this. It was actually well worth the try. It wasn’t a typical lager for sure. Different sites have different ideas about what this beer is. Some say a Pale ale while others say a Cream Ale. I think it is a mix.
The beer has aromas of like a apple cider, floral hops, grains, pilsner, corn, cereal, some minor bready notes and grass. The flavors are of red apples, pilsner grains, cereal, floral hop bitterness, honey, a little bit of sugar, some biscuit and corn bread.
Hugo and I agreed that this was good stuff and was very drinkable and nice. You can definitely take several of these and each one just as good as the next. There are no metallic bitter taste like in lagers which is appealing in some cases. I would rather drink this than bud light and it will get the job done if your looking to get buzzed. It also will make a good summer beer. So all and all, it is worth the try.
Rating: 4.75/5
Indian Brown Ale by Dogfish Head is a 7.2%ABV Brown Ale brewed with caramelized sugar and hopped liberally and often.
Description:
Indian Brown Ale A cross between a Scotch Ale, an I.P.A, and an American Pale, this beer is well hopped and malty at the same time. It is brewed with Aromatic Barley and caramelized brown sugar. – 50 IBU available year round, bottles & draft – Descriptors: Notes of molasses, coffee, ginger, raisinettes, chocolate
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Right up there with Board Meeting, considered a world class beer among reviewers. This beer fragrance is close to a porter with its aromas of chocolate, coffee, mocha, milk chocolate, rich caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, hazelnut, slight brownies and some raisin notes. The flavors are of coffee, hazelnut, caramel, earthy hop bitterness, coffee and chocolate cake, some plum and raisin notes as the beer warms up. The after taste of mocha and hazelnut stays with you for a bit. Definitely up there with the best of the browns ales in the world. Although the Board meeting was slightly a little more delicious, this is still a great and awesome beer.
Rating: 3.5/5
New Albion Ale by New Albion brewing company and bottled under Samuel Adams is 6%ABV reboot of the first American Pale Ale brewed in America which sparked the way for all brewing awesomeness as we see today.
Label:
Jack McAuliffe’s pioneering spirit paved the way for the American craft beer revolution. We’re rereleasing his original Pale Ale, with its distinct American hop character for the first time in 30 years in honor of Jack and his contributions to craft brewing. Cheers!
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Aromas of this beer sweet honey, somewhat pilsnery, light flowery, slighty fruity and grassy and pretty much like a lager with some malty and some hop fragrances. The flavors are of slight grape, citrus, mild hoppy bitterness, some pilsnery aspects, slight honey, some grains, a touch of vanilla or caramel sweetness but very very slight. This beer is made with a 30 year old recipe and is quite historic. While it may not be on par with some of the greats of this time, I swear, it is still above some of the best lagers out there. This stuff is like borderline ale/lager. Also due to its symbolism in the craft beer movement, It gets my thumbs up and a must try even if at least once. This is how beers were back then and they were still the best alternative out there
Rating: 4.75/5
Fillmore Fusion by Lagunitas Brewing is a 5%ABV American Pale Ale
Description:
Brewed to honor the 100th Anniversary of the building housing the historic Fillmore Theater in San Francisco. The resulting 5% ABV beer utilizes a new, experimental hop called ADHA 483.
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Upon opening this beer, I knew something was quite different about this beer. This was in a good way of course. The hoppy fragrance is quite different adding like an exotic fruit character like a lychee, kumquat, dragon fruit or persimmon like aroma. Some of the grassy and pine notes are subtle and give way through some more tropical fruit flavors such as the grapefruit, mango, oranges, tangerines, caramel, cherries, and like a gummy bear sweetness. The Flavors are awesome. Starts off with typical west coast California grassy, piney and grapefruit hops followed by those exotic fruits like a persimmon, dragon fruit, lychee or kumquat. We also come a nice tangerine, orange, lemon, mango, papaya, pear, slight cherry, apple, herbs and spices. A very crisp and sweet Pale Ale. Refreshing as well. Definitely a summer type of beer with some very interesting flavors. A must try.
Rating: 4/5
This is a series from Elysian, The 12 Beers of the Apocalypse. “The End is Beer”
Beer#12 (December) Doom is a 6% ABV Golden Treacle Pale Ale brewed with oats and fermented with golden syrup and raisins. Doom is the End.
This is the final installment to the series depicting the End has come…
Doom is in reference to the final apocalyptic event of ultimate judgment. Whether it was the good deeds or bad that had set fate in motion or simply predetermined at birth, the final stage in which will result into the ultimate judgment of that fate will be sealed. We have already passed 12-21-2012 which was set as the Mayan Apocalypse to be the end of the world. Since it did not happen, does not mean that humanity itself is invulnerable to each individuals fate. We are mortals, we will face death one day and what comes after is the unknown. However, it is believed some type of fate or judgment will come after. Whether you are brought back as a speck of energy, a fly, another person, whether there is a heaven or hell OR whether your existence becomes another piece to the molded universe of this reality…nothing is certain. Things happen for a reason and all we can do is wait and see what happens. Till then, pass the time and drink some phenomenal beers 😛
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This is it, the final beer in the series. Upon opening the beer, there was some tropical fragrances reminiscent of a double IPA or an Imperial Pale Ale. Aromas of mango, orange, papaya, pineapple, hop grass, grapefruit, treacle syrup, honey and caramel. There is no aromas of raisins in the fragrance though. The flavors are of orange, tangerines, mango, lemon, pine, grassy and grapefruit hops, honey, caramel, treacle syrup, matured bananas, raisins and a little bit of biscuit bread. The matured banana dryness and hoppy bitterness remains in the aftertaste along with the notes from the tropical fruits. It is pretty good ale and reminiscent of a more Tropical IPA but with lower ABV. Recommended to those that like tropical hoppy pale ales.
Brewerianimelogs (Anime and Beer Lore) 
