Tag Archives: Cigar City Brewing

Seasonal Sneak by Cigar City brewing

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

14556749_10103598536121730_8444380239853625420_oRating: 5/5

Seasonal Sneak by Cigar City brewing is a 7% ABV Chocolate Pumpkin Ale with Spices added

Label:
An insidious beast that Seasonal Sneak. A few days here. A week there. Before you know it you are hanging a Christmas stocking on your Jack o’ Lantern and hiding painted eggs in the pumpkin pie. But there is no use fighting. Be still and let the cold claw of Seasonal Sneak seize your palate with a tumult of chocolate, pumpkin, and spice flavors. Label designed by Foursixsix

==Introduction==
14481932_10103598536126720_3462073228787277524_o
Talk about an evil Bugs Bunny! So it is finally the fall and out comes the pumpkin spiced beers. I have become to like some and other seem just the same. This on the other hand, intrigued me. Aside from the awesome artwork with a crazy Halloween on Christmas Bugs Bunny on the label. It makes me wonder if the purpose of this beer is to combine the fall flavors with holiday ale flavors. I might be looking too much into it but let’s have a look at this one. Cheers!

Aromas:
Bumpkin flesh, butterscotch, cinnamon, toasted pumpkin seed, coriander, clove spice, peppercorn, dark Chocolate, Cocoa Nibs, Chocolate Abuelita, Ginger bread, cummin, nutmeg, dark fruit raisins, plums, figs, dates, piloncillo sugar cone, green tea, mint, chai spice, Mexican Ponche caliente “Hot Holiday Punch”, cane sugar, grapes, fruit cake, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, citrus, lemons, hazelnut nectar, tobacco, apple pie and apple cider.

Flavors:
Dark Chocolate, Cocoa Nibs, Chocolate Abuelita, Ginger bread, cummin, nutmeg, pumpkin flesh, butterscotch, cinnamon, toasted pumpkin seed, coriander, clove spice, peppercorn, sangria, tequila notes, oak, wine grapes, cucumber, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, citrus, lemons, hazelnut nectar, tobacco, apple pie, apple cider wassail, Mexican Ponche caliente “Hot Holiday Punch”, cane sugar, grapes, fruit cake, dark fruit raisins, plums, figs, dates, piloncillo sugar cone, green tea, mint and chai spice.

Aftertaste:
Finishes with herbal and spicy notes of mint, chai, Mexican Hot Punch, piloncillo sugar cone, dark chocolate, pumpkin flesh, wine grapes, nutmeg, ginger bread, cinnamon and hot apple cider. No alcohol in the taste, crimson dark light to medium body, smooth, creamy, velvety and silky mouthfeel,

Overall:
Perfect and complex and yet so damn unique. It is definitely like something you would have closer to the end of the fall, like in Thanksgiving more than Halloween although the complexity is scary enough to give it the something worth being scared about. With a lot of unique chocolate flavors and spices, it is definitely also a unique pumpkin beer which is not the same as any other pumpkin beer I have tried in the past. Cigar City really surprises with their beers often. I would highly recommend you find this one for the season, especially for the evil Bugs Bunny.
14468557_10103598536116740_4168056811807153678_o
Anime Corner:
Jack-O’ Valentine from Guilty Gear Xrd was used in this pairing to go with the theme of Halloween and the Jack O’ Lantern look from Jack-O. The colors of her also complement the evil Bugs Bunny and the overall label colors as well as the flavors of the beer. The name of sneaking works well too as her appearance with the pumpkin head, as she is trying to scare on screen, is almost like she sneaked up and it was unexpected.

Sources:
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/OGnaA8cMy2k/maxresdefault.jpg
https://67.media.tumblr.com/7916dcf9032cbb6ac70b684ea0a3f7fc/tumblr_o1oq3qnJ5R1rctu9po1_1280.png
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pJ8HOchf_eE/Vnwg5V5sYPI/AAAAAAAAARM/Zfs80B0MVvA/w426-h435/15%2B-%2B1

2015 Caribbean Chocolate Cake collaboration by Siren Craft Brew and Cigar City

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

12715955_10103068361011900_3112727561832377196_oRating: 6/6

2015 Caribbean Chocolate Cake collaboration by Siren Craft Brew and Cigar City is a 7.4% ABV Tropical Imperial stout with cocoa nibs, lactose and aged on Cypress Wood.

Label:
The return of an outrageous collaboration with Cigar City, this is a dense, rich and luxurious stout. Hand-roasted cacao nibs from the USA give hints of tamarind and soft lemon. The malt provides coffee and roast notes in abundance, while the experimental OCC hop variety offers orange, chocolate and coconut flavours. Ageing on Cypress Wood is the icing on the cake. Pure bottled indulgence.

==Introduction==

Got this brew from craftshack.com. At the time I was not too interested in it but they were having a sales and it was a good opportunity to get some of the other brews I wanted to buy so I included it in my purchase. Though it is a little bottle, a collaboration with Cigar City has yet to let me down. That and the ingredients being used in this brew made me want to try it even more. Ofcourse, this being such a small bottle, I will have to take all the time in the world for this. Enough of the babble, on to the beverage, Cheers!

Aromas:
Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Bakers Chocolate, caramel, vanilla, toasted coconut, Dark fruit raisins, cherries, plums, grapes, currants, blue berries, black berries, raspberries, Tropical hints of dragon fruit, passion fruit, kiwi, honey dew melon, Stone fruit peaches, roasted coffee, mocha, hazelnut molasses, anise, piloncillo sugar cone, pecan pie and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Dark fruit raisins, dark cherries, plums, grapes, currants, blue berries, black berries, raspberries, Milk chocolate, Dark Chocolate, Bakers Chocolate, Mexican Abuelita chocolate, caramel, vanilla, toasted coconut, Stone fruit peach notes, Tamarind, Tropical hints of dragon fruit, passion fruit, lychee, mango, kiwi, honey dew melon, Kahlua liqueur, roasted coffee, mocha, coffee cake, oak, crème brulee, flan, cinnamon, ginger, fruit cake, chocolate cherry cake, sweetened condensed milk, chambord raspberry liqueur, molasses, anise, piloncillo sugar cone, pecan pie and hazelnut.

Aftertaste:
Leaving with some rich tropical and chocolate soaked dark fruits, coffee, caramel and vanilla. No alcohol in the tasted. Dark as night full body, smoth, rich, creamy and velvety mouthfeel and moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A very exceptional little bottle. What can I say, the whole tropical chocolate fruits was definitely something very prominent to his brew. How this was done with the cypress wood? I have no idea. While I really wish they could have made this into a 22oz. bottle instead, I think for what it is, it is still a great buy even if it was around 8$. Sometimes it is not the price but what it is you are drinking that determines that is great. With that being said, now I want to brew something like this in the future. With the way my current homebrews have been going, Inspirations like this can make for truly godly creations.

Anime Corner:
Ignis from Jingai Makyou was used in this pairing as I wanted to pair with the colors of the labels with the dark colors and the flowers. It also pairs well with the coffee, chocolate and tropical fruits this beer has. I still don’t know how the cypress wood combination of lactose and cocoa nibs got so much tropical notes out of the beer but I guess only the future will tell. Ignis sitting down relaxing reminds me of just relaxing, take a step back and have some tropical stout!

Sources:
http://www.1zoom.net/big2/15/213064-aliya06.jpg

Endless Nameless by Cigar City

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

12028748_10102826618919990_8601399048560632795_o 12017422_10102826619473880_7765847507134468512_oRating: 6/5

Endless Nameless by Cigar City is a ??% ABV Imperial Stout Aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon Barrels.

Label:
endless.
nameless.
imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels.

==Introduction==

A name used from a hidden track off of Nirvana’s album, Nevermind. Cigar city brings this very big whale of a beer off the depths of the Grunge Rock abyss. Simply put, the Nirvana tribute beer, this beer was released as part of the El Catador reserve release. Only those in that association would be allowed to get this one. I was able to snag this bottle as soon as I saw it on www.mybeercollectibles.com. Needless to say, that sit can be super pricey but luckily I got this at a decent price. I really got it since I wanted to bring it forth to the website and see how it is. Now, on with the show.

Aromas:
Smells like Beer Spirit, or its dark soul. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, German & Belgian chocolate, bakers chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, Mexican 3 leches/Three Milks cake, flan, Dulce De Leche Caramel, Vanilla, Rich Bourbon, oak, marshmallows, grahama cracker smores, molasses, bananas, crème brulee, dark raisins, dark cherries, plums, mocha coffee, Kahlua, Irish cream, agave syrup, candi sugar, rock candy, pecan pie, leather, tobacco, brown sugar and hazelnut nectar.

Flavors:
Rich Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, German chocolate, Belgian Chocolate, Bakers Chocolate, Bananas, Flan, Vanilla, Bourbon, oak, Dulce De Leche Caramel, Mexican sweetened condensed milk, Mexican 3 leches/Three Milks cake, molasses, hazelnut nectar, tobacco, leather, rye, maple syrup, dark cherries, currants, plums, blueberries, raspberries, dark cherries, coconut pie, mocha, crème brulee, toffee, brown sugar, cotton candy, choco flan, candi sugar, rocky road icecream, almond joy, Kahlua, Irish cream, agave syrup, Yoohoo Chocolate Milk Shake, Chocolate cake and chocolate cheese cake.

Aftertaste:
Long lingering dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, flan, crème brulee, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, hazelnut, dark cherries, marshmallow, pecan pie, coconut pie, bananas, bourbon notes and chocolate cake. Slight booziness but super subtle to keep stuff balanced and not detract from the flavors, beyond the endless and nameless darkness of the abyss body, smooth and sipping drinkability, silky, velvety and syrupy mouth feel.

Overall:
Essentially, this is the Black Tuesday of Cigar City and the East Coast. So many reminiscent flavors of Black Tuesday but leaning more toward milk candies and desserts. Either way, this is ridiculously balanced with the amount of complexity and alcohol. This is definitely a world class beer and a must get to add to your collection of super whales. A Nirvana whale is one beast of a while to collect for a special occasion.

Anime Corner:
Ryuko Matoi from Kill La Kill (one of my top 4 anime girls) was used in this pairing to pair mainly with the name of the song and the meaning behind it as well as the darkness the beer represents. In the series, Ryuko had to deal with turmoil and darkness. This beer represents that very chaos and attitude in her heart when stuff was not going well in her life during the sad parts of the show. She pulled through ofcourse! She didn’t lose her way! Just like the frustration Kurt Cobain felt as they said fuck it when recording Lithium! And created the song. The beer is dark as the endless abyss with no name.

Sources:
http://static.tumblr.com/3a0b53c0f68bfa5cdf6c584209ffd8f7/9dd108p/eSmn9wfk0/tumblr_static_cq0y11ev48owsg4ksow8okscc.jpg

Philly Taco collaboration by Perennial Artisan Ales and Cigar City

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

11741222_10102702401218260_335119000852031248_o 11760163_10102702401512670_6351712286714849013_n 11709935_10102702402435820_4565757349796078411_o 11009979_10102702401996700_8504143778359797296_nRating: 3.85/5

Philly Taco collaboration by Perennial Artisan Ales and Cigar City is a 7% ABV Belgian Brown Ale conditioned Brettanomyces.

Label:
The idea for Philly Taco arose from some ravenous late night hunger after our breweries teamed up for an event during Philly Beer Week in 2014. There is only one suggested food pairing for this beer. Go to Lorenzo’s, get a slice, and walk down to Jim’s on South St. Order a cheesesteak, preferably whiz wit, and roll that baby up.
Enjoy.

==Introduction==

One of the most prestigious and sought after breweries create a collaboration that is well, a midnight munchy liquid fest. I have no words for this but my wallet and mind acted on their own and now we have here is a beer that was brewed in the style of some crazy munchy inspiration. An party party late night beer whose recipe came to be during an after hour, graveyard shift hunger inspired session of brainstorming. Lots of Tacos, Pizza and Philly cheese steaks were consumed that night I’m sure!

Aromas:
Strong brett notes, peppercorn, funky cheese notes, earthy and herbal hops, basil, hazelnut nectar, brown sugar, Italian herbs, chocolate, rich biscuit bread, rye bread, caramel, cola hints, black IPA dark roast, coffee hints, tropical fruits of old mango, apricots, dark fruit figs, raisins, prune hints, rich clove spice, smoked oak notes, black IPA dark roast and coffee hints.

Flavors:
Italian herbs, chocolate, rich biscuit bread, rye bread, caramel, funky cheese notes, earthy and herbal hops, basil, hazelnut nectar, brown sugar, cola hints, black IPA dark roast, coffee hints, tropical fruits of old mango, citrus, dark fruit figs, raisins, prune hints, rich clove spice, smoked oak notes, rich rye bread, rich clove spice, peppercorn spice and pecan pie.

Aftertaste:
Leaving with a funky, herbal, earthy and malty dryness. Super thick dark brown full body, thick, creamy, smooth and syrupy mouthfeel along with a sipping drinkability.

Overall:
A very decent beer on the really weird side. The oddest thing about this beer is wanting to pair with some pizza, Philly cheese steak and other junk foods. Just like the overall theme of this beer represents, I couldn’t stop thinking about how the crazy flavors and ingredients used to make this beer seem to scream Philly cheese and pizza and to some degree, tacos in general. One of the oddest beers I have tried and one that I would recommend a try at least once to understand its weirdness. Not bad, but you better have something to pair with this fast!

Anime Corner:
Washu from Tenchi Muyo, Callen and C.C. from Code Geasse were used in this pairing to pair with the whole range of foody aspects starting with Washu and what looks to be tacos although it could be some other delicious dish. Callen and C.C. eating pizza combining themselves together is similar to the way the philly cheesesteak and the pizza are rolled into a taco. Taco Glory and pink tacos… I will leave that to the imagination. CC and the pizza and the taco… ummm..ok… that is enough!! Also, the liquid is from a juicebox, well, Don’t get any taco saucy ideas now. Carl’s Jr. used to have a quote saying: If it doesn’t get all over the place, it doesn’t belong in your face. We were young when that commercial aired, thanks Carl’s Jr for ruining our childhood! LMAO!!

Sources:
http://www.angelfire.com/wa/twizzlestix/images/washu9.jpg
http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/951/794/c26.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/hbodx0O.jpg
http://cfs11.blog.daum.net/image/1/blog/2008/10/02/00/42/48e39a553ffb9&filename=1001(43).jpg

(Double Review) Good Gourd & Good Gourd Almighty by Cigar City Brewing

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

10653695_10102076646660410_4058892050325129670_n 10702075_10102076648042640_6782403729961338047_n 10386835_10102076649200320_8500370107269952928_n 10670106_10102076649759200_2382520294939542327_nSummer is officially over as the reaper walks out of the hallways of the NubisSanctum cellar and sets its course to take the lives… I mean, leaves from the trees and plants to ready the environment for the winter. This time, the reaper brought a friend… As I do this double review, I would like to point out that these beers have been waiting an entire year in my cellar waiting for the next fall and now I have brought them forth together to unleash double review for the fall. I have previously had the good gourd before and it was an awesome beer. When I heard of the release of the Good Gourd Almighty, I had to grab it before it was gone. This beer was released for what Cigar City calls its “El Catador” club back in late 2013. So those that joined had the Almighty to obtain. Unfortunately for me, I had to go out of my way to trade for this one. Even some of the online sites do not have it and it would be hard to get it. So if you can find the almighty version, awesome! Fortunately for many, Cigar City released the regular Good Gourd for the masses. So if you can get this in your state, Florida mainly or have it shipped to you via the online stores, I vouch for this beer for sure. Let us now see how the reaper tolls… Cheers!

Original Good Gourd Review: https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2012/11/02/good-gourd-by-cigar-city/

Good Gourd 1 year aged Review:

Good Gourd by Cigar City brewing is an 8.5% ABV World Class Imperial Pumpkin Ale brewed with spices. This one has been sitting in the dark for a year.

Label:
Legend has it that when a pumpkin comes into the world it is possessed by either a good or an evil spirit. Ours got all the good baby! Bursting with real pumpkin flavor and yummy pumpkin spices including Ceylon cinnamon, Jamaican all-spice, Zanzibar cloves and nutmeg, Good Gourd is a celebration of Fall and that spookiest of holidays, Halloween. Pair Good Gourd with pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie and costume parties.

This high Gravity gob of Gourd-y goodness incorporates pumpkin in the mashing process and then gets wicked with the spices including Ceylon Cinnamon, Jamaican All Spice, Zanzibar Cloves and nutmeg.
___

Aromas:
Pumpkin pie, brown sugar, pumpkin flesh, coffee cake, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove spice, dark fruit prunes, raisins, sweet potato, yams, piloncillo, ginger bread, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel hints, maple, marshmallows, graham crackers, banana bread, hazelnut, pecan pie, maple syrup, hazelnut nectar, dark candi sugar and flan hints.

Flavors:
Rich Dark fruits like raisins, prunes, figs, plums, dates, pumpkin flesh, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, sweet potato rich, yams, maple, piloncillo, milk pumpkin latte, flan, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger bread, rock candy, dark candi sugar, dulce de leche caramel, hazelnut nectar, vanilla, coffee cake, marshmallow, whipped cream, Danish cookies, milk sugar, ginger snaps, candy corn, clove spice, rum hints, banana hints and pumpkin seeds.

Aftertaste:
Pecan pie, hazelnut, pumpkin flesh, dark fruits, vanilla, caramel, gingerbread, earthy notes and spicy notes linger for a bit. No alcohol in the taste, smooth, syrupy and creamy mouthfeel, slight sipping drinkability and medium to full body.

Overall:
Damn! Age does make quite the difference. This one went several notches over perfect. I have not had a pumpkin beer like this in, well, ever. It seems that 1 year aging took it to a whole new level I did not expect. It really is not the same beer anymore, it became a Pumpkin God. If that is the case, The Good Gourd Almighty will probably be in some new dimension of pumpkin reality, some kind of (nth) dimension of pumpkin. We will will only know until we see it. So if you stuck around to read this, I would highly recommend this one without a doubt and make sure to get 2. One for now and one for a year or later.

Good Gourd Almighty 1 year aged Review

Good Gourd Almighty by Cigar City is a ??% ABV World Class Imperial Pumpkin Ale brewed with spices and aged in Rum Barrels. This one, just like Good Gourd has been sitting in the dark for a year.

Label:
(SAME AS THE REGULAR)
Legend has it that when a pumpkin comes into the world it is possessed by either a good or an evil spirit. Ours got all the good baby! Bursting with real pumpkin flavor and yummy pumpkin spices including Ceylon cinnamon, Jamaican all-spice, Zanzibar cloves and nutmeg, Good Gourd is a celebration of Fall and that spookiest of holidays, Halloween. Pair Good Gourd with pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie and costume parties.

This high Gravity gob of Gourd-y goodness incorporates pumpkin in the mashing process and then gets wicked with the spices including Ceylon Cinnamon, Jamaican All Spice, Zanzibar Cloves and nutmeg.
___

Aromas:
Rum soaked pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, dark fruits, pineapple hints, leche nestle sweetened condensed milk, cinnamon, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, candi sugar, rock candy sugars, crème brulee, candi sugars, toasted coconut, piña colada, capirotada raisin bread pudding, sweet cola, pumpkin flan, pumpkin cheesecake, clove spice, gingerbread, molasses, oak and chocolate marshmallow smores.

Flavors:
Banana and Coconut Rum soaked Pumpkin Flesh in piloncillo and cinnamon sticks, yams, Japanese purple sweet potatoes, dark fruit raisins, plums, figs, dates, dark cherries, milk and dark chocolate notes, vanilla, tropical notes like hints of pineapple, stone fruit peaches, apricot hints, pumpkin seeds, marshmallow, hazelnut nectar, Leche nestle sweetened condensed milk, dulce de leche caramel, sweet Cola, flan, crème brulee, oak, graham cracker smores, almond joy chocolate, capirotada raisin bread pudding, pumpkin cheesecake, clove spice, ginger bread, molasses, piña colada, milk sugar, Danish cookies, candy corn and brown sugar.

Aftertaste:
Pumpkin pie, cinnamon, coffee cake, clove spice, bananas, tropical rum piña colada hints and earthy notes. Partial alcohol in the taste imparts flavors of nice sugary milk cream. This is a syrupy mouthfeel beer, with a sipping drinkability and full pitch dark brown body.

Overall:
Frankly, the best Pumpkin Beer, EVER!! This beer took what was awesome about the original and made it way better. Even after a year later, in comparison it shows how it moved along which is different from the original Good Gourd. This reminds me of Rumpkin from Avery but take to a new pumpkin extreme. The complexity and beer consistency is crazy up to the level of some of the greats like Chocolate Rain, Black Tuesday, Wineification and White Chocolate, some of the greats on the West Coast that are my favs This pumpkin beer is pretty ridiculous and I understand why it was so damn exclusive. I highly recommend it if you can trade or find this one online.

Anime Corner:
Rukia Kuchiki (Dark version) and Ichigo Kurosaki from Bleach were used in the overall pairings you see hear. They are both Soul Reapers from Soul Society. I wanted to pair Evil Rukia in these pairing since I had used Rukia for the original review. The addition of overall heightened power and Ichigo were for Good Gourd Almighty which basically all the colors they represent are of the death of plants, coming of the fall, the pumpkin like Ichigo’s hair, the dark fruits and the purple yams of Rukia’s hair and over all strength and complexity from both the characters but mainly from Rukia. Evil Rukia is a bad ass, plain and simple even if her Bankai form is supreme, but that is a “Grey Monday” story all together.

Sources:
http://static.zerochan.net/Kuchiki.Rukia.full.663934.jpg
http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34500000/Dark-Rukia-hichigo-and-darukia-34581200-245-400.png
http://hdw.datawallpaper.com/anime/dark-rukia-318386.jpg
http://www.deviantart.com/art/Fade-to-Black-213542097

Rating: 5.5/5 *Good Gourd 1 year aged
Rating: 6/5 * Good Gourd Almighty 1 year aged

Jurata Collaboration by Coronado and Cigar City Breweries

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

1489052_10101684850528000_576981799_n 534072_10101684851461130_2022681092_nRating: 4.15/5

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

Label:
When naming this Baltic porter, a collaboration with Tampa’s famed Cigar City Brewing, we opted for Jurata as a nod to a mythological mermaid known to roam the depths of the Baltic Sea, just as energetic yeast used to brew this deep dark beer navigated our fermentation tanks. Dive in and enjoy Jurata’s true-to-style rich and complex flavors!
___

Picked this one up at one of the local liquor store places near my house since I wanted to try this beer for a while. It was a super hyped one, but a collaboration with Cigar City would definitely make for one tasty treat. I figure, scratch this one off the review list and time for a presentation.

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

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

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

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

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

Hopped on the High Seas by Cigar City

by tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

1620465_10101626284834120_1775691900_nRating: 4.5/5

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

Label:
A tropical IPA dry-hopped on the high seas with one of our favorite hops: Ahtanum .
___

This is the second IPA I try from Cigar City brewing. The first one was the Flagship series. I was able to get this one from luekensliquors.com which always sells very good goodies from Florida. Awesome stuff.

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

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

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

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

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

Don Gavino’s Big Guava by Cigar City Brewing

by tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

1525392_10101623064697300_1588697242_nRating: 5/5

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

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

It is not often that a Latino is given such praise for not just given a beer named after but such praise as giving the plans to build a city. As a Latino myself, this is something very special. Guavas or Guayabas are something that is common fruit among many Hispanic communities but to see a beer like this is freaking awesome! Them Tampa peeps have good taste.

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

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

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

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

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

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

by tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

1483439_10101623059547620_633078307_n 1518897_10101623060720270_1330248281_nRating: 6/5

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

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

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

The two breweries agreed that a malty, dark lager would be a great canvas for such a Southern tradition, graciously slathering heaps of Munich malt and other specialty grains to emulate a portrait of Southern hospitality, the likes of which could conquer any sweet tooth.
___

You can find this one at Luekensliquor.com if it is still available as of this posting. It will most likely go by quick.. I have been waiting for this beer since the release of Window Sill by the Bruery. While that beer was good to represent a Rhubarb pie, an actual pecan pie as I described in flavors found in some of the best beers I have tried has not been done before so I wanted to definitely put my palette to the test and see how much it actually compared to the great quads of Belgium. Not to mention the fact that this is a doppelbock to bring in some flavors of the prunes and toffee to the mix.

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

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

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

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

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

Lips of Faith Series Cigar City and New Belgium Collaboration

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

891_10101542495004610_434845542_nRating: 3.45/5

Lips of Faith Series Cigar City and New Belgium Collaboration is an 8.5% ABV Chile beer brewed with Anaheim and Marash Chiles aged in Spanish Cedar

Label:
We’re about to light up Florida with this Cigar City collaborative brew. Our Belgian yeast tangos with Anaheim and Marash peppers along with loads of citrusy hops to create an ale full of spice. Aged on Spanish cedar to salute our mutual love for wood!
___

The beer with literally no name, other than the fact that it was collaborated with New Belgium and the awesome Cigar City. Lips of faith series is a good series and has been a hit or miss in some instances. The beers have ranged from Good to Very good and some even Great in the past years. I am not sure if there one I truly disliked or found average (Pluot lol) they came together to brew a beer made with chiles. 

Aromas:
Sweet Honey dew melon, kiwi, apricot, mango hints, mild pepper notes, lemon, oranges, grapefruit and citrus hops, pear, hints of cedar, caramel and biscuit bread

Flavors:
Apricot, pepper notes but no heat, citrus, grapefruit hops,hone dew notes, orange peels, biscuit bread, lemon, grapefruit peel, mild spiciness, tangerine notes, butterscotch, pears, cedar wood and light plum hints

Aftertaste:
This beer finishes off with lots of grapefruit skins, citrus, grassy bitterness and a bit of pepper notes. No alcohol present in the taste with a moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A good beer but nothing super intensive. It is more on the hoppy, bitter and a bit fruitier side than anything. The least heat intensive chile beer I have ever tried. The balance to bitterness and what would like to be chili heat doesn’t seem to meld well. On a good note, the aromas are much better than the flavors. Could have been more but hey, at least is a good beer. I feel it is better than Pluot for sure.

Anime Corner:
Sakura Haruno and Kushina Uzumaki from the Naruto series are used in this pairing to represent a pairing of 2 hot heads unleashing the rage which is supposed to be the peppers used in this beer. While the beer may not be hot at all, the intent for the artwork and for what it was supposed to represent was at least done creatively. Sakura has a bad temper at times and has this crazy super strength that comes from her inner being. Kushina on the other hand, nicked named the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero, would become an actually deadly beast. Even before she had the 9 tailed fox embedded in here, she was still a demon in disguise. That crazy attitude, mother of Naruto, is most likely the where the guts to never give up comes from. Some of the colors of the artwork match the label a bit but the nick name and the tempers they have was the intent for a collaboration Chile beer, Sakura being New Belgium and Kushina Cigar city.

Dubbel Dare (Dubbel Coast) collaboration between Cigar City and Alesmith

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

1459307_10101525490147480_1146607088_n 1422351_10101525489972830_1553672955_n 488015_10101525490002770_940875465_nRating: 4.56/5

Dubbel Dare (Dubbel Coast) collaboration between Cigar City and Alesmith is an 8.5% ABV Belgian Dubbel

Label: 
COLLAB

A tropical interpretation of a Belgian-Style Dubbel, Dubbel Dare is a collaboration created by AleSmith Brewing company and Cigar City Brewing. Keeping their local environments in mind, this dubbel was crafted implementing Coconut Palm Sugar instead of Candi Sugar. Coconut Palm Sugar adds caramel notes to the already complex malt flavor and has lower glycemic index than other simple sugars.

Deglet Noor dates and Black Mission Figs were added during active fermentation, adding another complementing sweetness to the grist bill and tying in beautifully with the spice & fruit aromas and flavors provided by fermentation with a traditional Abbey yeast strain.
___

Inspired by the late 80’s / early 90’s TV game show, Double Dare, this beer was brewed as a throwback honor to the challenge of creating a beer that was both a Belgian Dubble yet tropical. 

Aromas:
A mix of dark fruit and tropical fruits, rich caramel, pineapple, raisins, figs, dates, plums, mango, flan, peppercorns, apricot, coriander spice, nutmeg, cinnamon notes, chocolate hints, slight coconut, brown sugar, pecan pie, fruit cake and brown sugar

Flavors:
Nutmeg, caramel, pineapple, mango notes, pineapple notes, apricot, peach, raisins, figs, dates, plums, flan, orange slices, coriander, pecan pie notes, mild coconut sugars, coconut hints, kiwi, strawberry notes, biscuit bread, banana notes, clove spice, chocolate, peppery spice notes, cinnamon and hints of fruit cake

Aftertaste:
The flavors of caramel, tropics, dark fruit, pecan pie and nutmeg linger. Moderate to sipping drinkability. Hidden alcohol as well

Overall:
It is a very good beer, but not a super duper dubbel. While it meets the challenge of diversity and tropics, it still not the best dubbel ever. Very good dubbel never the less and if you love Belgian Dubbels still up there with some of the greats. I would recommend a try from it but you may find others to be more inciting.

Anime Corner:
In this set of anime pairings, I have brought back Shiro and the gang from Deadman Wonderland into the mix. The relation to the beer has mainly to do with the whole aspect of audience entertainment and game shows. You see, Deadman Wonderland is a show about part of Japan being sunk into the ocean due to an earthquake and the main character, Ganta Igarashi, trying to save his hide as a prisoner by participating in prisoner games to gather points to save himself from a crime he did not commit. The whole setup earns money from the audience who watch inmates struggle through these twisted theme park games all for the purpose of rebuilding the cities. Shiro, the albino chick is Ganta’s child hood friend who helps him out. They find out that their blood posses some type of special power which helps them out through the ordeals. If we were to set who is who, Ganta is Cigar City and Shiro is Alesmith. These two are fighting the challenge which is Deadman Wonderland or Dubbel Dare to bring forth and awesome brew. The Red of the label represents the blood of their struggle. The artworks also fits with the beers as it shows Shiro eats a tropical dessert but also the fact that the beer uses coconut palm sugars. Sweet White sugar is a representative of Shiro, the albino girl as well as coconut being white on the inside. What other things can you find in this beer pairing?

Forgotten Island by Cigar City brewing

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

1374901_10101457321912170_1203501524_nRating: 6/5

Forgotten Island by Cigar City brewing is a 15% ABV Belgian Quadruple aged in Jamaican Rum Barrels

Label: 
This dark complex style of ale originated in the Trappist monasteries of Belgium. It was sipped by monks during fasting and winter months. Forgotten Island adds a tropical twist via aging in Jamaican rum barrels. The barrel lends notes of vanilla, molasses, orange peel, cocoa, brown sugar, nutmeg, hazelnut, apricot and peach. This plethora of flavors and aromas from the rum barrel intermingles with banana, clove, cinnamon,fig, plum and brown sugar aromatics and flavors from the quadruple, creating a contemplative ale perfect for introspective moments far from the cares of the world beyond. 
___

Released exclusively for the Cigar City Catador club. A hard to get beer unless you know some one who is in the club or can trade/buy from someone online. This is the first time I try a rum barrel aged quad. I have tried a good number of Bourbon barrel ones but never a rum one. Good luck in getting this one

Aromas are very sweet. Velvety dark fruits, currants, plums, raisins, chocolate notes, dulce de leche caramel, figs, raisin bread pudding, oak, rum, rich coconut, vanilla, pecans, bananas, cloves, cherries, blackberries, boysenberries, blackberry marmalade, brown sugar, cinnamon, hazelnut, oranges, apricot, peach, piña colada, tropical fruits like papaya, melon, dragon fruit and other fruit and spices

The flavors are freaking amazing! This would be a great response to the Bruery’s Cacaonut, except it is rum and quad and has more dark fruits than Cacaonut. Yet each is freaking amazing and I can tell you this beer has already exceeded my expectations once again. Rich plums, rich curtants, figs, cotton candy, raisin bread pudding, pecans, peaches and cream, apricot, boysenberry marmalade, toasted coconut, oranges, dragon fruit, melon, papaya, piña colada, nutmeg, hazelnut, brown sugar, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, oak, blackberries, bananas, clove spice, cherries, molasses and other complex flavors. Diabetes in a bottle!

The aftertaste leaves with very nice caramel, dark fruit and tropical fruit flavors with oak rum and spices lingering. Good Luck finding the alcohol. Even at 15% ABV, it is one dangerously smooth and tempting Siren. Does not drink like a 15% ABV, holy crap. Take it easy with this one. Even if you want more, save some for later and share.

Overall, it is exceptionally wonderful and delicious. Think of a Quad that is tropical with rum flavors, coconut and piña colada. Let me put this in comparison with Cacaonut from the Bruery. Cacaonut from the Bruery is liquid Almond Joy with tropical fruits. This is a Dark Fruit Coconut Rum Piña Colada raisin bread pudding. Combining the fact that it is barrel aged, chocolate, quad and exotic is what make this one qualify for the top score which I give to either my best favorite beers or beers that have met the eligibility to be my favorites, even if rare. If I could, I would probably drink this everyday. That would be good, but would not be good for me, but would definitely be good. Cigar City is definitely the East Coast’s Bruery. As far as recommendation, HELL YES!! If you happen to find this parable paradise of an ale, set sail!! You will not regret this one.

Life is Like… collaboration by Cigar City and Mikkeller

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

1385491_10101445792577050_719922253_n 1377590_10101445792557090_145495964_n 1381631_10101445792696810_661862072_nRating: 6+/5 *My new second most favorite chocolate flavored beer ever. Why be limited 😦 ????

Life is Like… collaboration by Cigar City and Mikkeller is a 15% ABV Imperial Milk / Sweet Stout brewed with cherries & cacao nibs & aged in bourbon barrels

Label: 
An imperial sweet stout brewed with cherries and cacao nibs, which is then aged in bourbon barrels. This beer is brewed in collaboration with Mikkeller our generous friend from Copenhagen, Denmark. What you have here is a modest attempt to emulate the experience of biting into a chocolate-covered cherry candy. We hope you enjoy it but you never know what you’re gonna get.
___

Released exclusively at the Cigar City Brewing tap room, this one had become a quickly coveted beer. I was only able to grab a bottle by pure luck as now a days you either have to get them through trading or online sites that cater to rare beers. If you somehow stumble upon this treasure, the choice to drink now or save for later will be completely up to you. I have taken the brevity to do a review now but check several years later and see if the brew has completely changed into something, possibly extraordinary.

Aromas of this is exactly what I had expected and more!! Cordial Cherries, Chocolate covered cherry notes, vanilla dulce de leche caramel, milk chocolate, cherry rye bread, flan, bourbon, hazelnut, dark cherry notes, roasted coffee, Kahlua, mocha, banana, cloves and cake

The flavors are basically, Chocolate Rain brewed with cherries. The flavors are very awesome, on point and rich. Lots of rich cherries in the taste, Cordial Chocolate-covered cherries, raspberries, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, Kahlua, bourbon, mocha, banana notes, hazel nut, vanilla, cherry flan, dulce de leche caramel, cherry rye bread, dark fruits like raisins, figs, blueberry and raspberry jam notes, cherry skin and rich cherry cake

The aftertaste leaves like a combination of chocolate, cherry and vanilla syrup with some very nice bourbon notes. The alcohol is mildly present and really almost hidden. A very syrupy sipper. Almost like drinking liquid gourmet Cordial Chocolate cherries. As the beer warms up, more cherries start to come out. Give it some time and enjoy

Overall, just plug it into my veins!! Freaking awesomely delicious Chocolate Rain, basically with real cherries. Cigar City is The Bruery of the east coast for me. Now you add the awesome gypsy Mikkeller into the mash and you have a beer that is so rich and sweet, it really does make me wonder if the meaning of Life is like… enjoying it and making the best of it. A symbolic representation of life is most likely represented in this bottle or anything you love. Either that or this is Diabetes in a bottle (Willford Brimly voice). And in several years, if you are alive to enjoy it, take it and share it with the lucky ones. You most important ones because they are what make life worth living. This is true to what they say it is. To me, this is actually better than the than the Cherry Rye Bourbon County in the chocolate and cherry department.

Capricho Oscuro Batch 5 by Cigar City Brewing

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

1383159_10101428773358700_1514628837_nRating: 6/5

Capricho Oscuro Batch 5 by Cigar City Brewing is a ??% ABV World Class American Strong Ale

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION (Ratebeer.com)
This beer is a blend of at least five different beers, including Hot Blooded Foreign Stout, Puppy’s Breath Robust Porter, and several vintages of Warmer Winter Winter Warmer. These beers were aged in some cognac and brandy barrels before being blended together.
___

Hard to come by, looked and looked for this piece of barrel aged treasure all over. Hard to get. Impossibly rare? Maybe, not as much as other but still it was hard to come by. This beer seems very good but very evil and mysterious. Without an ABV to gauge it, I am pretty much lost in the dark as to how strong this one is that it is kind of scary. Perfect art pairing with Majora from Legend of Zelda Majora’s Mask. Anyway, if you manage to find this one, choose wisely.

Aromas are of rich dark fruits like raisins, prunes, figs, dates, dark cherries, raspberries, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, toasted hazelnuts, pecans, coconuts, vanilla, cognac, brandy, notes of Hunnapu like the spiciness of it, caramel flan, chocolate cake, dessert wine, port wine, rocky road ice cream, almond joy and maple

The flavors are of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, brandy, cognac, dark cherries, raisins, figs, prunes, toasted coconut, hazelnuts, pecan pie, flan, port wine, rocky road ice cream notes, almond joy notes, caramel, vanilla, toffee, raspberries, maple, molasses, anise, slight smokiness, leather, tobacco, bourbon, Cordial Cherries and chocolate covered raspberries

The aftertaste is pretty complex leaving trails of sweet caramel, chocolate, oak, brandy, cognac, dark fruits and a bit of port wine. This beer is a definite sipper. The alcohol is noticeable but very pleasant and warming. The alcohol only brings the rich flavors above and it is nothing harsh. 

Overall this is an amazingly delicious beer, exceeding exceptions. I cannot guess the ABV from the taste which is scary but also good that it comes in a small bottle to sample. Definitely like some of the best beers in the world. Close to Melange 3, close to Black Tuesday, Grey Monday and even some of the other Bruery anniversary ales. What can I say about CCB, other than it is “The Bruery of the East Coast” making some of the best beers in the world possible like many champions. If you can find this, definitely get it.

Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout 2012 by Cigar City Brewing

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

576200_10101082459165120_925278613_n544111_10101082471345710_1363262627_nRating: 5.75/5

Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout 2012 by Cigar City Brewing is an 11%ABV Imperial Stout Aged on cacao nibs, ancho and pasilla chiles, cinnamon and Madagascar Vanilla Beans. This was released in March 2012 so it is almost exactly 1 year of aging.

Label:
In Mayan mythology, Hun Hunahpu was the father of the Mayan hero twins Hunahpu and Xbalanque. Hun Hunahpu, along with his brother Vucub Hunahpu, was tricked by the Dark Lords of the underworld and slain. Hun Hunahpu’s corpse morphed into a cacao tree, his head becoming a cacao pod, which in typically awesome mythology fashion, spit upon the hand of a young maiden named Xiquic who promptly became pregnant with the hero twins. The twins would ultimately grow up to avenge their father and uncle and defeat the Dark Lords and ascend to the heavens to become the moon and sun

We brew Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout once a year and release it only at the brewery. We will continue to do so until the end of the cycle.
___

Rated to be the 4th best Imperial Stout in the world. 100% world class. This version is aged almost exactly 1 year. I can only assume this is like a response to Dark Lord de Muerte from the Three Floyds as it is brewed with chiles also. Never the less, this is something special. Aromas immediately rush the nose several inches from this liquid of gods. Fragrances of Very strong Dark chocolate, Milk chocolate, Khalua, Chocolate Abuelita, chile spices from the ancho and pasilla, some vanilla, coffee, strong bourbon, vanilla, flan, cinnamon, champurrado, dulce de leche caramel, molasses, piloncillo sugar cone, oak, cherries and alittle bit of coconut. The flavors are of smokey roasted pasilla and ancho chiles but without the heat, dark chocolate, Khalua, coffee, chocolate abuelita, mole, champurrado, cherry, raisins, prunes, molasses, vanilla, small amount of earthy bitterness, cinnamon sticks, ginger bread, alittle bit of dulce de leche, piloncillo sugar cone, tamarind, oak wood and maple syrup. Initially, the chile spices would take over but then as the beer got warmer, it let a massive amount sweet chocolate flavors pull through with vanilla and cinnamon dancing all over. A delicious beer that is truly world class. While it definitely surpasses a great amount of world beers, I believe it is really preference based. While this one is very sweet and has the spiciness to cancel out the over powered sweetness, many people will find this appealing over more “Diabetes in a bottle” types like Dark Lord, Black Tuesday, Grey Monday or Chocolate rain (some of my ultimate favorites). For me I like the extra sweetness in some beers, but this has so much flavor of my culture written all over, fragrance and taste alike. In terms of Chile beer Imperial Stouts, hands down, The best in the world Chile beer right next to the Dark Lord de Muerte.