Rating: 5/5
Rating 6/6
Dig My Earth by Brouwerij West is an 8% ABV Vermont style Imperial India Pale Ale brewed with Mecca Grade Barley and Raw Wheat. Heavily hopped with Amarillo, Simcoe, and Centennial.
New England style, no easier to get than standing in line overnight camping for beer…. super orange juicy tropics…. yessssss!!
Rating: 4.25/5
Thumb Master by Old Orange brewing Co. is an 8.5% ABV Double India Pale Ale.
Label:
Thumbmaster Double IPA is full of malt and aggresively hopped to give a perfect balance. Plentifully dry hopped to finish off this happy beer.
==Introduction==
Special thanks to my friend Will Carranza and homebrew brother for sharing this one with me at our last brew session. I was able to save some for review to bring this one to the site. While I thought this was very food, I figure any opportunity for a new brew for the site is always welcome. The best part about sharing beer and trading with friends is you always get something amazing and in return, they get amazing brews as well. Let’s see how this one is, cheers!
Aromas:
Orange marmalade, toffee, biscuit bread, Herbal, dank, Grapefruit, grassy, piney, floral and oniony hops, candied orange notes, lemon peel, stone fruit apricot, citrus zest, rye bread, honey, caramel hints and pineapple.
Flavors:
Herbal, dank, Grapefruit, grassy, piney, floral and oniony hops, caramel, honey, malt, rye bread, stone fruit peach, apricot, lemon peel, spearmint, orange marmalade, toffee, biscuit bread, butterscotch, tangerine, lychee, honey dew melon, dragon fruit, mango, guava hints, pine apple, brown sugar hints and candied oranges.
Aftertaste:
Finishing strong with dank piney, citrucy and resinous hops, orange marmalade, caramel, lemon peel, mango and floral notes. No alcohol in the taste. Golden Amber clear body, crisp, refreshing and smooth mouthfeel along with a easy to moderate drinkability.
Overall:
I felt like have had this before. A very good IPA but showcasing itself in the herbal, piney and yet orange and malty aspects that made west coast beers famous. It isn’t anything too extravagant but it is still awesome and well made. While now a days I am more of a tropical hop kind of guy, it is nice to go back to one’s roots ever so often. Give it a shot!
Anime Corner:
Yang Xiao Long from RWBY was used in this pairing to go with the colors of the beer but also the cool attitude that Yang has. Since Thumb master represents something in your face, like a swift bite of hops and punch of malt.
Sources:
http://static.zerochan.net/Yang.Xiao.Long.full.1759457.jpg
Rating: 5.75/6
Super Beer Bros – Level 1 collaboration by El Segundo and Grains of Wrath brewing is an 8% ABV Double India Pale Ale.
Label:
Super Beer Bros is a series featuring some of our favorite IPA brewers in the land. Level One brings us Fat Head’s alum Mike Hunsaker and his brand new project Grains of Wrath. Cue up some Moshing Samurai and jam into this Double IPA.
==Introduction==
Obtained this one at one of my local shops here in Southern California. It think the obvious reason I got this one was the retrogamer in me. Sometimes the artwork gets to me. There are some great label artworks out there and I sure am a sucker for great art. The reason I started doing reviews and trying different craft beers was because of my art appreciation for the labels and collecting. You can kind of think of it as coming full circle as soon as my other hobbies start to come into play such as retro gaming and video games in general. So when I see such beers, you know I gotta bring them here. This is the first time I try a beer with Grains of Wrath. Since El Segundo is involved in this one, I can confidently say, this one should be amazing. Let’s check it out. Cheers!
Aromas:
Citrus, grapefruit, piney, grassy, oniony, herbal and floral hops, tropical fruit such as dragon fruit, passion fruit, papaya, guava, pineapple, kiwi, mango, stone fruit peach, apricot, apples, biscuit bread, honey, blueberries, currants, pomegranate, strawberries, Danish cream hints and lemon drop candy.
Flavors:
Super Tropics, pineapple, grapefruit, guava, kiwi, mango, prickly pears, papaya, lychee, dragon fruit, honey dew melon, blueberries, currants, pomegranate, raspberries and cream, lemon drop candies, passion fruit, citrus, piney, grassy, oniony, herbal and floral hops, sweetened condensed milk, strawberries, whipped cream, coconut, almonds, macadamia nuts, marzipan notes, biscuit bread, three milks cake, stone fruit peach, apricot, apples, pears, candied oranges, Danish cream and flan hints.
Aftertaste:
Finishing with tropical fruits, pungent hops, grapefruit, flowers, pine, herbs, vanilla, sweetened condensed milk, three milks cake and stone fruits. No alcohol in the taste, golden honey clear body, crisp, clean refreshing and smooth mouthfeel with an easy drinkability.
Overall:
Damn exceptional beer! Almost reminding me of their power plant but at a low ABV. Definitely, their use of hops, which I feel, brings out so much of the tropical fruit and sweetened cream along with rich citrus flavors that really made me like power plant in the first place. Just like that one, this one has that similar charm but I would have to hint that the addition of the more dank, citrus and resinous hop flavors of the west coast are definitely present as well. If you are a fan of IPAs or even a retrogamer fan, I highly recommend this one.
Anime Corner:
Princes Peach, the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario and even some of Nintendo’s Smash Brothers characters were used in this pairing as the overall theme of the beer is tribute to Super Mario Brothers and retro gaming. Princess peach was perfect as she is the character the brothers are trying to save in many of the Mario games so it was perfect to bring them to the pairing.
Sources:
https://k60.kn3.net/taringa/7/A/0/A/F/6/reydereyesalex11/1CF.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/41/6a/3b/416a3bfb633f4a639b2fec32955265fa.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Lmy52Z0.jpg
https://i.redd.it/26i4xqtgy4ux.jpg
http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/000/899/685/9d1.png
Rating: 4.95/5
Stone Give Me IPA or Give Me Death collaboration by Stone Brewing in Virginia is a 8 % ABV Imperial India Pale Ale brewed with Raspberries & Blackberries from the commonwealth of Virginia
Label:
Virginia Commemorative Collaboration
An Imperial Tribute to Richmond & the rise of craft beer independence.
Just as Patrick Henry once stood addressing the city of Richmond in 1775 to spur resistance against the tyrannical British Empire, 20 years ago we were stirred to join the cry for resistance against the tyrannical oppression of industrial beer. And now, the opening of our Richmond brewery is yet another shot in the salvo that has been fired on behalf of American brewing independence. If we wish to brew free, if we mean to retain our identity and preserve the privilege of access to independent craft beer, we must recognize it is a group effort. We do not stand alone. And so, on our new brewing grounds, we gathered with fellow craft breweries and “His Excellency,” Governor McAuliffe, to join together in force. A group cry of freedom & independence! Consider this aggressively hopped imperial IPA, jam-packed with Virginia raspberries and blackberries, a testament to our passion and unwillingness to settle or sell out! We think Patrick Henry would be proud, and hope you will be too.
Our Collaborators
Ardent Craft Ales
Hardywood Park Brewery
His Excellency Terry McAuliffe, Virginia Governor.
==Introduction==
The second release from Stone’s new brewery in Virginia in collaboration with local facilities and government. The first was the stout made with the same ingredients. This time, its an IPA. Fruited IPAs have varied responses in the communities. I personally love fruit IPAs but with one being made with the tribute of the state and Stone’s location is quite the honor. Even the name is rings history as I uses the quote used in Patrick Henry’s speech, “Give Me Liberty of Give Me Death” during the American Revolution. So with that being said, let us see how this beer is, cheers!
Aromas:
Tropical fruit papaya, kiwi, passion fruit hints, guava, floral, piney, citrus, grassy grapefruit and earthy hops, biscuit bread, vanilla, lemon peel, wild flower honey, biscuit bread, lychee fruit, honey dew melon, tangerine gummies and cherry notes.
Flavors:
Citrus, grapefruit, floral, grassy, piney and earthy dank hops, biscuit bread, lychee fruit, honey dew melon, tangerine gummies, tropical fruit papaya, kiwi, passion fruit hints, guava, starburst candy, wild flower honey, Raspberries, blackberries, cherry, pomegranate strawberries, pineapple, mango, stone fruit hints, kumquats, lemon peel and vanilla notes.
Aftertaste:
Finishing with Raspberries, blackberries, dank dry, citrus, grapefruit, oniony and earthy hops, tropical fruit, honey, stone fruit hints and lemon peel. No alcohol in the taste. Amber clear body, crisp, refreshing and smooth mouthfeel along with an easy to moderate drinkability.
Overall:
A very good IPA although the Raspberries and Blackberries are subtle. They shine more in the after taste it seems as the overall beer is more of a delicious IPA in general. While I feel this could have used more of the raspberry and blackberry flavor, it is subtle enough that it will not offend people that do not like fruited IPAs. In fact, in that aspect, this is a winner for sure. Worth trying for sure!
Anime Corner:
Jenny X-J9 Wakeman from MLAATR was chosen in this pairing as I wanted to pair mainly with the colors of the beer but also the aspect that makes the name of the beer, which is bravery. Being brave is what would make someone make a stand for what they believe in. Jenny is a very brave fighter and a hero. So while I did use other art pieces that I like with this one, the one where she is stopping the falling meteorites is very brave representing the name.
Sources:
http://orig09.deviantart.net/0181/f/2015/137/a/c/jenny_rocks_by_14_bis-d8triub.jpg
https://brewerianimelogs.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/86ff7-robotic_friends_by_ry_spirit-d5slsz0.jpg
http://2static.fjcdn.com/large/pictures/b6/7b/b67ba3_5988473.jpg
http://static1.fjcdn.com/comments/Dat+metal+_07d34f25e915e50a0d8d0e1325a5394e.jpg
Rating: 5/5
Stone 20th Anniversary Citracado IPA by Stone brewing is a 9% ABV Double India Pale Ale brewed with Citra hops and Avocado Flower Honey.
Label:
Fortune Favors The Bold
For 20 years our passion for brewing and our obsession with hops have challenged traditional styles and expectations for beer. So it’s only fitting we commemorate this momentous occasion by crafting a liquid ode to bold brewing that satisfies your hop thirst and pays homage to our flagship San Diego brewery, located on Citracado Parkway (which itself pays homage to the citrus and avocado agricultural history of the region).
“Citracado” also teases the two key ingredients of this beer. “Citra” refers both to the juicy gem of a hop and its citrusy (and tropical) aromas and flavors. “Cado” inspired us to utilize wonderful, native avocado flower honey. Combine the two and the result pours like silk and abounds with enough hops to match our excitement for reaching this 20-year milestone. We thank you sincerely for the years of support and pledge that we will, as always, strive to live up to the reasons for your loyalty!
It seems like we started just yesterday, and at the same time, our early days feel like some distant, surreal parallel universe. Still fresh in our memories are the countless hours of intense work to get things started in a near vacuum of popular acceptance. Plus the camaraderie of early supporters and fellow craft brewers in those nascent days. While being told countless times in the late ’90s and early 2000s that our beer was too bitter, too strange, and that “this microbrew thing was just a fad, kid, and sorry to be the one to tell you, but it’s over now” has largely faded from memory.
While we’re remembering all the good times and accomplishments along the way and celebrating those who stood with us, we welcome the past skeptics to join us as well. After all, the detractors often gave us as much energy as our die-hard supporters, although it’s gratitude. THANYOU from the bottom of our hearts for believing along with us in this thing we call Stone Brewing. It is with true joy, humilty and appreciation that we present to you this special celebratory beer.
Greg Koch
CEO & co-founder
Steve Wagner
President & co-founder
==Introduction==
It is finally here, stone turns 20. Since the year 2010 and the introduction of Arrogant Bastard, stone has been one of my favorite breweries aside from The Bruery, Lost Abbey and many others when I first started tasting many beers. Arrogant Bastard was the first time I tried a beer that was so damn bitter, that I eventually fell for it. As the many years went by, many more awesome beers came and they have really been showcasing some great beers. Today, Stone is known worldwide and even has beers in Europe thanks to the new Brewery in Germany. With the release of this IPA, they mark what will a representation of what they have worked to be and what they will become in the future. Here’s to 20 more, Cheers!
Aromas:
Herbal, citrus, grapefruit, floral, piney, grassy, garlicky, oniony and earthy hops, tropical fruit mango, prickly pear, guava, lychee, papaya notes, dragon fruit, passion fruit, honey, oregano, basil, citrus blossom honey, stone fruit peach, tangerine gummies, sweetened condensed milk hints, lemon starburst and vanilla.
Flavors:
Italian Basil, Oregano, Avocado, honey, wild flower honey, biscuit bread, citrus, grapefruit, floral, piney, grassy, garlicky, oniony and earthy hops, caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, peppercorn, cherries, tropical fruit mango, prickly pear, guava, lychee, papaya notes, dragon fruit, passion fruit, cane sugar, lemon starburst, rye bread hints, stone fruit peach, tangerine gummies, sweetened condensed milk hints and citrus blossom honey.
Aftertaste:
Finishes dry with rich citrus, grassy and herbal hops, oregano, avocado, honey, tropical fruit hints and starburst. No alcohol in the taste, Amber Honey clear body, crisp, smooth, refreshing and slightly creamy mouthfeel along with an easy to moderate drinkability.
Overall:
Perfect IPA showcasing many great flavors of tropical fruit with honey which the herbal notes taste somewhat like avocado. There are still the dank resinous flavors of a great IPA as always from the palate ruining hops that made many people’s dreams come true. As I sip the beer it still crazy that in only a few years since Arrogant Bastard, that Stone is still coming out with great recipes. Definitely worth a try and highly recommended.
Anime Corner:
Flootier and Cyda from Summon Night were used in this pairing to go along with the gargoyle mascot that has been around since the beginning of Stone brewing. Flootier from the picture is synonymous with the story of stone. In the beginning, the gargoyle was summoned and graced the people (Cyda) with such magical liquid arrogance that soon the masses fell head over heels for the brewery which has redefined what the true king of beers really means. After that, people could not get over the great beers and for many years, may the gargoyle keep giving more and more to the people. Stone (Flootier) works really hard to make people happy :).
Sources:
http://img.moeimg.net/wp-content/uploads/archives6/6283/30_1bjyzewe76.jpg
https://lolibooru.moe/image/fc4691c7ea3301f9f26349fbea97772f/lolibooru%2043469%20amachi_(ageha0214)%20black_sclera%20cyda_afrarn%20demon_horns%20detached_sleeves%20multiple_girls%20purple_hair%20summon_night%20summon_night_5%20very_long_hair.png
http://kurge1m.web.fc2.com/illust/samon2.jpg
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGlaHAVUAAEJMzZ.jpg
Rating: 5.4/6
Stone Enjoy by 09.05.2016 Unfiltered IPA by Stone brewing is a 9.4% ABV Imperial India Pale Ale brewed.
Label:
Our all-important, hop-driven quest to deliver the most devastatingly fresh IPA on the planet facilitated a paradigm shift in 2012 with the launch of Stone Enjoy By IPA. Not only did we brew this beer with more than 10 different hops, we brewed it specifically NOT to last. For this version of Stone Enjoy By IPA, we thought: “We don’t always have to filter, so why should our beer?” By Skipping a step and letting this devastatingly fresh, golden-hued double IPA go unfiltered, the beer takes on a haze appearance and its peach and tropical fruit hop aromas are intensified. So though it may sound like it, this missed step was no misstep.
Acclaimed for its ground breakingly short shelf life, this intense double IPA brought forth a whole new concept of what constitutes “fresh”—guaranteeing fans the ultimate level of hoppiness. For Stone Enjoy By Tangerine IPA, we added the tangy zeal of a mandarin fruit’s juicy nectar. The result…freshness has never tasted as ripe for the picking as this does right now.
==Introduction==
The review is late than when I first tried the beer which was back in August 6th 2016. Typically, I take notes on the beer as I try them and then compose my overall presentation at a later time. So as fresh as this beer was back when I tried it, it no longer is today according to Stone Freshness standards. Don’t worry though, there will be more releases of this one in the future. This release comes with the rise of an interesting trend in the East Coast where the “New England” or “Unfiltered” IPAs are setting a trend. Essentially those are the ones that are more tropical fruit forward than their west coast garlicky piney cousins. With the use of more modern hops and brewing processes, these beers have been like drinking juice. Let’s see how this one is, cheers!
Aromas:
Tropical fruits like papaya, mango, honey dew melon, dragon fruit, passion fruit, lychee, kiwi, citrus, grapefruit, floral, garlicky, oniony, herbal, piney and grassy hops biscuit bread, orange juice, honey, strawberry, cherry notes, oregano, stone fruit peaches, apricot, plums, kumquats, tangerines, citrus peels, grapefruit peels, lemon peel, starburst candy and sweetened condensed milk hints.
Flavors:
Rich dank hop flavors or citrus, grapefruit, floral, garlicky, oniony, herbal, piney and grassy hops, Rich tropical fruits like papaya, mango, honey dew melon, dragon fruit, passion fruit, lychee, coconut hints, stone fruit peaches, apricot, plums, kumquats, tangerines, citrus peels, grapefruit peels, lemon peel, starburst candy, sweetened condensed milk notes, honey, strawberry, cherry notes, oregano, basil, Italian herbs, orange juice, Mango tang, biscuit bread and kiwi hints.
Aftertaste:
Finishes with the dank oniony, floral, and garlicky hop notes tropical notes, stone fruits, honey, citrus and grapefruit peels linger. No alcohol in the taste, easy to drink despite the ABV, Golden hazy medium body, silky, crisp, clean and refreshing mouth feel.
Overall:
An exceptional brew. I am not sure if the appearance adds to the experience, but the flavors are definitely enhanced from the regular version. It seems more of the hop resins would appear keeping the beer more fulfilling than if it was filtered. This is true in homebrews as filtering processes for homebrew is difficult unless you are kegging but that yeast sediment will stay at the bottom of the bottle to carbonate. Professional brewers leaving the sediment to leave the beer cloud I feel actually makes it way better which in this case, it is what makes it damn delicious. Definitely pick it up when it comes out again.
Anime Corner:
Morrigan Aensland from Dark Stalkers Cosplaying as Cammy White from Street Fighter was used in this pairing as I have used Morrigan for past “Enjoy Bys.” However, this being a variant in terms of being unfiltered, I wanted to go with Morrigan being uncensored. Well, I need to keep it somewhat moderate so her being dressed up as Cammy exposes just a little more.
Sources:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/2f/ff/f9/2ffff948e57dbfd98c4cfafa8968cc0b.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cnk59iVVMAI5CYN.jpg
http://img09.deviantart.net/10c1/i/2010/110/a/4/morrigan_as_cammy__blue_sky__by_ziconviene.jpg
http://pds12.egloos.com/pmf/200808/31/45/f0000745_48bab16a1aa13.jpg
Rating: 5/5 
Rating: 5/5
Stone Mocha IPA by Stone brewing is a 9% ABV Double India Pale Ale brewed with Cacao nibs and Coffee.
Label:
A Style-Defying Double India Pale Ale with Cacao & Coffee
An Inexplicably Delicious Creation Born at our small Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station brewery, this beer was an instant hit. The tantalizing combination of fresh golden-roasted coffee and pure dark chocolate is undeniably amazing, yet it’s perhaps surprising to find them paired with a hoppy blend of Cascade, Amarillo and Citra. Clearly, style lines have been crossed. Is it half-IPA, half-stout? Not quite. It’s definitely all IPA, but it’s also the best of both styles, making this love child of a beer simply just a pleasure-seeking meld of Imperial IPA and mocha indulgence. How much exceptional, downright awesomeness came to be doesn’t really matter, though. What matters is that it exists and that it’s here for you now, thanks to our deliberate disregard for brewing norms. Some things are not meant to be known, just enjoyed … thoroughly.
==Introduction==
Obtained this one at one of my local shops that sells Stone beers. Sold in a pack, this was damn awesome especially for a beer that is 9% ABV. When I first heard of the Coffee IPA from stone, it reminded me of the Dayman Coffee IPA they brewed in collaboration with Aleman and Two Brothers a couple of years back. This release, however uses Cacao and Lactose. I do not remember if the other had lactose in it but this beer I would think would be probably be closer to coffee. It would be difficult to tell since IPAs don’t age well so I can’t compare. Anyways, let’s see how this one goes. Cheers!
Aromas:
Grapefruit, piney, citrus, floral, grassy and garlicky dank hops, Lactose Milk sugar, coffee, vanilla, biscuit bread, honey, green tea ice cream, tropical fruit mango, dragon fruit, tangerine gummies, pecan pie, sweetened condensed milk, crème brulee, maple, Danish cream and milk chocolate.
Flavors:
Vanilla, Lactose Milk sugar, Mocha, coffee, Java, milk chocolate, Yohoo Chocolate drink, Grapefruit, piney, citrus, floral, grassy and garlicky dank hops, green tea ice cream, biscuit bread, honey, tropical fruit mango, dragon fruit, tangerine gummies, dulce de leche caramel, flan, sweetened condensed milk, crème brulee, maple, Danish cream, cookies and cream, Jamoca ice cream, rocky road ice cream, pecan pie, rye bread and hazelnut.
Aftertaste:
Finishes with notes of chocolate, vanilla, coffee, lactose milk sugar, citrus and earthy notes. No alcohol in the taste, Honey amber clear body, smooth, creamy, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel and very easy to drink.
Overall:
Phenomenal beer. It is interesting how the combination of a normally hoppy, citrucy and bitter aspects of an IPA can actually work very well with the flavors of coffee and vanilla sweetness. It creates something that is very unique and delicious. It is almost like a coffee pale gold stout but mixed with an IPA which is definitely mind blowing. I would definitely recommend this one for those that love Coffee and vanilla stouts but also love IPAs. High recommendation.
Anime Corner:
C.C. from Code Geasse was used in this brew to not only pair with the colors of the label but also it is a tribute to when I first reviewed the Dayman IPA back then. So seeing as this one take the place of the older beer, it was fitting to bring her back to represent this beer.
Rating: 7/7
KING JJJULIUSSS by Tree House Brewing is an 8.4% ABV World Class Double India Pale Ale.
Label:
N/A
==Introduction==
Released in cans for the first time at Tree House. I had heard many great things about the up and coming New England Style of IPAs especially since the trend of the Heady Toppers with their unfiltered deliciousness. Tree House has made a good amount of unfiltered beers that are literally “Juice” IPAs. Basically like drinking Orange and a citrus variety of juices. As crazy as the styles have been, I have not seen a homebrew recipe for those but once can only experiment as the majority are West Coast Styles. Anyways, this brew was released to be one, if not, the best New England Style IPA so the fact that I had an opportunity to give this a shot, I had to bring it to the site. The other thing too is that it is hard to get these New England Styles so I hope with the coming years, we will see them more. As for this one, let’s see if this is the best. Cheers!
Aromas:
Full fragrance of citrus and mixed tropical fruits like oranges, orange juice, mango, dragon fruit, passion fruit, guava, tangerines, lemon candy, limes, honey dew melon, papaya, grapefruit juice with pulp, orange juice with pulp, strawberries, pomegranates, wild flower honey, stone fruit peach, apricot, lychees, kumquats, kiwis, dank floral and grassy hop notes, agave and cane sugar as well as Danish cream hints.
Flavors:
Sunny Delight, limes, lemons, lemon candy, Tropical fruit mango, passion fruit dragon fruit, strawberries, kiwi, prickly pears, pomegranates, honey dew melon, papaya, cherries, guavas, tangerines, mandarins, lychee, kumquats, oranges, grapefruit juice, orange pulp, grapefruit pulp, sweetened condensed milk, orange bang, cane sugar, agave nectar, wild flower honey, orange honey blossoms, tropical, grapefruit, mild dank and floral hops, stone fruit apricot, peaches, raspberries, almond notes, biscuit bread, Danish cream, pears and orange gummy bears.
Aftertaste:
Super dry with hints of Sweet tropical fruit and super citrus orange juice, earthy dank tropical hops and grapefruit gummies. No alcohol in the taste, Cloudy Golden Honey colored full body, Smooth, frothy, crisp, refreshing and juicy mouthfeel and very easy to drink.
Overall:
Straight up Sunny-Delight! I have never had an IPA that was super juicy with the dank bitterness from grassy aspect dancing around the supreme Orange and Tropical fruit juice. This beer is super different from even the best west coast IPAs I have had. Even next to power plant it is definitely something else. I think these New England IPA styles of unfiltered IPAs are really taking off. I don’t often get to try them and the last one I had was Heady Topper but even this is better than that one. It is hard to put in a category of Tropical/Citrus/Herbal IPAs as it fits mainly the super citrus and tropical IPA aspects but really, is this even beer?! Holy shit, what are they doing over there in the East coast, This beer is like dry hopped orange and tropical juice it is insane. If you can somehow get this fresh, definitely go for it and it is definitely a bucket lister.
Anime Corner:
KOS-MOS/ELMA from the Xenosaga/Blade series were chosen for this pairing as I wanted to represent the next King in IPAs as being this brew. The New England style of beer especially the stuff that’s coming from Tree House is worthy of using one of my favorite characters in such a pairing. While Elma is a tribute to KOS-MOS, the gold and black colors pair well with the label of the beer but since I was going to use Elma for this, I wanted to bring in KOS-MOS as she has similar colors of black, gold and silver. So being that one of my 4 favorite anime characters, I carefully selected her for this one as this beer could very well be the next Pliny killer.
Sources:
http://nillarz.deviantart.com/art/Kos-Mos-Ver-3-500373421
http://www.zerochan.net/full/389419
http://abload.de/img/xcx-alt02oyyk0.jpg
https://67.media.tumblr.com/c1143e22b9cc18a248a415aaf936dba4/tumblr_o89eldmxuI1u9b98uo1_500.jpg
http://urw.deviantart.com/art/Xenoblade-Space-Elf-579205626
Rating: 5/5
ExCherrymentations Gone AwRye by Nubis Sanctum Ales is an 9% ABV American Rye Imperial India Pale Ale brewed with Organic Black Cherry.
==Introduction==
Project #24 was created as an experiment to do away with all my hops that I had left over. Stuff that was free, stuff where I didn’t use in some recipes and just hops that I wanted to try out. I had to come up with a recipe before the summer hit as brewing would be difficult due to the extreme heat causing issues in the fermentation process. So I just everything together and hope for the best. Little that I know that this monster of an experimentation would actually come out to be reminiscent of one of my favorites beers that dated back to my beginnings of craft beer. To find out, let’s take a look at this one carefully. Cheers!
Aromas:
Lots or Rye bread, toffee, caramel, dark cherry, grapefruit, citrus, piney, herbal, grassy, and earthy hop notes, vanilla, lemon grass, toasted malts, raspberries and dark fruit notes.
Flavors:
Rich Grapefruit, citrus, piney, herbal, dank, grassy, oniony, garlicky and earthy hops, Dark fruit raisin, lots of dark cherries, currants, pomegranates, cranberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, Toffee, caramel, vanilla, floral hibiscus, tangerine gummies, toasted rye bread with cherry and raspberry preserves, toasted malts, lemon grass and basil.
Aftertaste:
Finishing dry with huge dank piney, grassy, herbal, grapefruit hop bitterness and a slight touch of the cherry and rye malts. No alcohol in the taste, Crimson copper full body, bold, crisp, refreshing and slightly smooth mouthfeel with a moderate to sipping drinkability.
Overall:
Just like Arrogant Bastard. IT really is unforgiving considering how much hops I put this beer. A definite ruination to the tongue and yet, the complex sweetness provided by the cherry and the rye just keeps me wanting to drink more of it. I did not expect this beer to be very delicious, but it really surprised me. When I first tapped it, that’s when I realized it was definitely going to be a winner as it reminded me a lot of arrogant bastard. I will definitely want to make this one again.
Anime Corner:
Washuu Hakubi from the Tenchi Muyou series was used in this pairing as I was looking into how using cherries and this being an experimental batch would equate to a character that matches both criteria. Washuu is a genius and mad scientist. Being around more than 20,000+ years would definitely make one very intelligent. She has the hair that pairs well with the cherry aspects but also is not afraid to make crazy creations.
Sources:
http://wallpapershacker.com/wallpaper_1920x1200/tenchi_muyo_washu_hakubi_1920x1200_hd-wallpaper-152279.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/F1EociU.jpg
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8f7sC8oLMX8/sddefault.jpg
http://anime.astronerdboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/02-30-Washu-plans.jpg
Rating: 5/5
Working For The Weekend by Spiteful Brewing is a 7.9% ABV Double India Pale Ale.
Label:
None
==Introduction==
Received this awesome brew from my friend Aaron Mendiola, webmaster at BeerMetalDude.com. The first time I saw this beer I thought to myself “Best…. Label…EVER!!” Then I find out Spiteful Brewing makes some very awesome label artwork. Hilarious stuff like the Selfie beer..LMFAO!!!! Aside from being hilarious and artistic, I have the privilege to try a beer from them and seeing how I am enjoying their artistic work, Let’s see how their beer is. Cheers!
Aromas:
Tropical fruits, dragon fruit, passion fruit, kiwi, guava, papaya, mango, citrus, piney, grapefruit, floral, herbal, grassy and piney hops, stone fruit peach notes, biscuit bread, vanilla, tangerine peels and lychee fruit.
Flavors:
Rich citrus, piney, grapefruit, floral, herbal, dank garlicky, grassy and juicy hops, tropical fruits like papaya, mango, pineapple, guava, kiwi, honey dew melon, prickly pear, dragon fruit, passion fruit, mint, stone fruit peach notes, apricot, sweetened condensed milk notes, vanilla, tangerine candy and starburst.
Aftertaste:
Finishing very hoppy with lots of tropical fruits, vanilla, stone fruit, grapefruits, citrus, and sweetened condensed milk. No alcohol in the taste, Golden light to medium body, smooth, creamy, crisp, clean and refreshing mouthfeel with an easy to moderate drinkability.
Overall:
A perfect Double IPA. So damn juicy, I could swear there is actual fruit in there. Reminding me a lot of the Pipeworks IPAs, Chicago is really really hitting it out of the park with their breweries. I was super stumped. Perfect Double IPA and an awesome artwork. You can’t ask for more from the art and tasting experience. Surely, this is hopefully one of many I will hopefully get to try in the future. Definitely recommended highly!
Anime Corner:
Sayaka-Chan by Gashi-Gashi was used in this pairing to represent the working dude on the label, office attire and all. I think that’s about it. As simple as it maybe I really like how the colors blend well with the individual colors of the label. Even the fruit flavors.
Sources:
http://i4.pixiv.net/c/1200×1200/img-master/img/2015/12/25/00/14/28/54214095_p4_master1200.jpg
Rating: 4.85/5
Beer #88 Ginormous by Gigantic brewing is an 8.8% ABV Imperial IPA.
Label:
Developed in a secret testing facility deep in S.E. Portland Ginormous is powered by Seven Mighty Hops. His Mission is simple; To deliver a massive hop punch to those in need.
==Introduction==
Mazinger!!!! Finally, an anime tribute beer. A tribute to the classic series Mazinger Z where the hero fights other aliens and robots using a super robot he commands from his ship that attaches to the head of the robot. Kinda how hops invade the brains of craftbeer lovers and make everyone hop heads. I see what ya did there Gigantic, Good Game… Good Game. Eitherway, I figure I bring it to the site being anime beer and all that. Let’s see what kind of beer this brew is exactly. Cheers!
Aromas:
Citrus, Oranges, caramel, toffee, tangerines, juicy fruit starburst, Grapefruit, piney, floral, citrus, herbal, grassy, hops, tropical hints of fruit kiwi, dragon fruit, passion fruit, lychee, guava, mango, biscuit bread, marzipan, cane sugar, wafflecone hints, stone fruit peach hints and brown sugar.
Flavors:
Grapefruit, piney, floral, citrus, herbal, grassy, hops, tangerines, juicy fruit starburst, tropical fruit notes of kiwi, dragon fruit, passion fruit, lychee, guava, mango, lemon grass, mandarin orange gummy bears, orange peel, raspberries, papaya, strawberries, honey, biscuit bread, marzipan, cane sugar, wafflecone hints, caramel, toffee, stone fruit peach hints and berry flavors.
Aftertaste:
Dank herbal, rich citrus, tangerines, coriander hints, tropical fruits, stone fruits and piney hop notes. No alcohol in the taste, Clear honey golden body, rich, crisp, refreshing and delicious mouthfeel with an easy to moderate drinkability.
Overall:
A very good IPA leaning more toward the citrucy caramel side than the super grassy or super tropics. A very enjoyable double IPA that pays tribute to anime. It is awesome to know how many craftbrewers come from a range of passions ranging from video games, comics, anime, sports, music, fishing and other hobbies leading to infuse their passion with other things. Kinda like this website . Anyway, This one is very good and definitely recommended if you love IPAs and Anime.
Anime Corner:
Ryuko Matoi from Kill La Kill and Mazinger Z were used in this pairing for the colors of the label but also the theme of the beer. Since this is a Mazinger beer, I wanted to with him but also since Ryuko has some colors to complement with Mazinger, I figured it was for the best. Ryuko’s design is based on old school anime, especially the hair. Frilly and psychedelic. Either way, a good tribute to the first cartoons of my childhood mixing with one of my favorite anime characters, Huzzah!!
Sources:
http://pre12.deviantart.net/0fef/th/pre/f/2014/279/f/8/kill_la_kill_wallpaper_edit_by_firezombiedude-d81v22q.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/6jkvIe5.jpg
http://img04.deviantart.net/1cdb/i/2012/154/b/4/mazinger_z_by_ieko2011-d52381e.jpg
Rating: 5/5
Mach 10 (マッハ – テン) by Bear Republic brewing is a 9.2% ABV Double India Pale Ale (インヂイア ペ-ル エ-ル 2)
Label:
Pass through the event horizon with this IPA². American Cascades meld a citrus blast with spicy English First Golds. Savor an intense hoppiness, smooth bitterness and subtle malt character. Prepare to go hypersonic!
==Introduction==
Bear Republic has released another awesome IPA. This one, along with the different Racer beers, in relation to anime, have been some of the beers IPAs I have tried. This time, releasing one using the Japanese Katakana writing system confirms their passion for anime too. As such, I had to bring this one on board for the review as well. Cheers!
Aromas:
Stone fruit peach, apricot, pineapple notes, honey, lots of berry hints, passion fruit,tangerine candy, gummi bears, biscuit bread, toffee, pears, banana notes, orange marmalade, rye bread, currants, brown sugar, floral, lemon grapefruit, citrus and piney hop hints.
Flavors:
Citrus, Grapefruit, earthy, piney, floral and lemon hops, honey, passion fruit, tangerine candy, gummi bears, biscuit bread, toffee, pears, banana notes, strawberries, prickly pears, dragon fruit, coriander, caramel, mint, stone fruit peach, apricot, pineapple notes, cilantro, basil, lavender, green tea, hints of sweetened condensed milk, orange marmalade, rye bread, blueberry and currant notes.
Aftertaste:
Honey, strawberry hints, caramel, stone fruit hints, minor tropical hints oranges, gummi bears and floral hops. No alcohol in the taste, Gold light body, creamy, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel and easy drinkability despite this being high ABV.
Overall:
A perfect candy IPA. Just to be fair, be warned as this beer is on the fruitier and sweeter side than the hop forward side. Not in the tropical region much but the citrus and malty side. I really like this one so I think to me it hits many levels that I enjoy off sweet beers. So if you are hop herbal centric, this may not be for you. If you love sweeter IPAs then this one might be your beer. Kanpai!
Anime Corner:
Rei Ayanami from Neon Genesis Evangelion was used in this pairing as to go with the whole aspect of the racing uniform suit. Although, many of the characters I have chosen for the Racing series of Bear Republic IPAs, this one is more of a jet fighter one. Well, Rei pilots an Evangelion, a robotic/biological suit. As she is in this picture piloting, she looks like she is on a fighter plane and the colors just adds to the greatness that compliments the beer label.
Sources:
http://anime.oohapp.com/_data/i/upload/2013/07/04/20130704121538-b8818b9e-la.jpg
Rating: 5.25/5
Points Unknown IPA collaboration by Stone, Ecliptic and Wicked Weed brewing companies is a 9.5% ABV Double India Pale Ale blended with a Belgian Tripel that was aged in barrels that had wine and then had tequila in them for 4 months.
Label:
In creating our latest collaboration beer, It wasn’t easy deciding how best to pool the resources of brewers from three spatially distant points within the brewing universe: Portland, Oregon brewing legend and Ecliptic Brewing founder John Danis, and Luke and Walt Dickinson, the hop-and-funk brewmaster duo behind Asheville, North Carolina’s Wicked Weed Brewing. It seemed no single beer could adequately convey all that they and Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele bring to the brewhouse. So, this veritable triad of power opted to brew TWO beers: a traditional Belgian-style tripel and a West Coast imperial IPA. Doing so allowed them to work within the parameters of all styles while taking things in interesting directions, adding a touch of Southern Califomia style and petting into the spirit! The tripel was transferred into barrels that originally housed red wine before finding a second life as vessels for aging tequila. Four months later,that beer was excavated, then blended at a one-fifth to four-fifths ratio with the freshly brewed double IPA to create the beer you now hold: a hind of the traditional and the new, presenting a variety of diverse flavors that coalesce into something more unique than any one beer our trio could have conceived. Its eventual flavors were a mystery to even the group of master brewers who created it, but now they await the palates of those thirsting to venture to points unknown within the rapidly expanding craft beer galaxy. In other words: You.
“It’s been sweet to work with these fine brewers and take this beer out of sight!”
John Harris // Founder & Brewmaster, Ecliptic Brewing Co.
“Creativity is at the core of how my brother and I approach craft beer John and Mitch have been laying this foundation for years, and getting the chance to work with them has been truly inspirational.”
Walt Dickinson // Co-Founder & Brewer, Wicked Weed Brewing
“What a great experience, combining two of my favorite beer styles while brewing with two of my favorite breweries!”
Mitch Steele // Brewmaster, Stone Brewing Co.
==Introduction==
Another interesting release that will see national distribution. Based on the information given, this is probably some IPA that came by to visit this reality from like the 9th dimension of craft beer existence. It really intrigued me especially since it is a Belgian Tripel IPA but also aged in wine and Tequila. Go figure the complexity. Either way, Lets hope we can make it back to this reality at hand as it seems this buzz trip is headed where no palates have gone before. It’s On! Cheers!
Aromas:
Citrus, phenolic, Belgian candi sugar, grapefruit, herbal, grassy and floral hops, Peppercorns, wine, tequila, mezcal hints, stone fruits like peaches, apricots, mango hints, exotic fruits like passion and dragon, oak , vanilla, caramel, strawberries, caramel, vanilla, lemon peel, pear, honey dew and Danish cream.
Flavors:
Citrus, grapefruit, herbal, grassy and floral hops, Peppercorns, Wine grapes, tequila mezcal hints, oak, Belgian Candi sugar, Stone fruit peaches, apricots, mango hints, dragon fruit, passion fruit, apples, starburst candy, caramel, vanilla, lemon peel, pear, peaches, banana notes, pineapple, honey dew melon, biscuit bread, honey, raspberries, strawberries, white grapes, Danish cream, bubble gum, rum hints, clove spice and tangerines.
Aftertaste:
Tequila mezcal, sangria hints, wine hints, citrus, stone fruit peaches, herbal and floral hops peppercorns and candi sugar linger. No alcohol in the taste, golden brown clear body, moderate to sipping drinkability, crisp, refreshing smooth yet creamy.
Overall:
An exceptional IPA that pretty much takes what you believe an IPA should be (Hoppy) and turns it into so many different flavors that it is all over the and yet supremely enjoyable and reminding you that the hops it does have are different for sure. It seems to be more of a tripel than it is an IPA but still an IPA and the Tequila and Wine…. damn it was a mission to cover this beer. Very enjoyable and something beyond a regular IPA. Find this one!
Anime Corner:
Hikoujouki, Senkanseiki and Wo-Class from Kancolle/ Kantai Collection were used in this pairing as the points unknown as not only represent three freaky creatures but also the colors work with the beer artwork. First, the girl on the left is Ecliptic as her hair curves with the phases of the moon. Stone in the back with the girl having horns is synonymous of Stone’s gargoyle and finally, Wicked Weed on the right having a big bug. Bugs live in weeds. Anyways, they are wicked (As in Awesome). Yeah they totally look like they aren’t of this world, complimenting the beer perfectly.
Rating: 5/5
Ruination 2.0 by Stone Brewing is an 8.5% ABV World Class Double India Pale Ale.
Label:
When this double IPA first hit the scene in 2002, the hoppy beer landscape was far different than it is today. Ales offering an onslaught of resinous humulus lupulus were virtually unknown. Thankfully, that is no longer the case. Terms such as “lupulin” and “IBU” are well established in the craft beer lexicon. And with the knowledge of all that hops have to offer comes the desire to go beyond bracing bitterness. Fortunately, Stone Ruination IPA has always been crafted to celebrate all facets of the hop—its beauty and poetry, its boldness and might. As craft beer has evolved, so too have techniques for extracting the best and the most out of hops. So we modernized Stone Ruination IPA, coaxing every last drop of piney, citrusy, tropical essence from the Centennial, Citra, Simcoe and Azacca hops that give this beer its incredible character. Join us in cheering this, the second stanza in our “Liquid Poem to the Glory of the Hop.”
==Introduction==
An update to the Golden Standard of IPAs. I haven’t reviewed the original Ruination in years and now they went ahead and upgraded to a more “hop” modern type of double IPA. A more tropical rounded updated based on the Citra and Simcoe used in this beer. Ruination was and most likely still is one of the best Golden Standards, but now that the recipe is different, can it stand up not only to the it’s own standards but the best IPAs in the world of today? Only a few sips and taking notes will tell the truth. Follow me as we investigate. Cheers!
Aromas:
Tropical aromas like mango, citrus, kiwi, papaya, pineapple, guava, strawberry hints, caramel, orange peel, herbal, citrus, grapefruit, Piney, grassy, herbal, oniony, blue basil, garlicky dank and earthy hops, orange zest, lemon drops, lychee, biscuit bread and kumquats.
Flavors:
Herbal, Citrus, grapefruit, Piney, grassy, herbal, oniony, blue basil, garlicky dank and earthy hops, hop oils, passion fruit, tropical fruit like kiwi, mango hint, dragon fruit, papaya, pineapple, guava, strawberry hints, caramel, biscuit bread, vanilla, stone fruit peach, apricot, toffee hints, orange zest, lemon drops, lychee, kumquats and honey dew melon.
Aftertaste:
Citrus, Piney, grassy, herbal, grape fruit, tropical, dank, oniony, garlicky and spicy hops linger along with caramel and vanilla hints finishing with some tropical hop burn vs. herbal of the original.
No alcohol in the taste, clear gold body, crisp, refreshing moderate, easy to drink despite the ABV unless you are not used to palate wrecking IPAs then definitely a sipper for you.
Overall:
Still a perfect beer as before but this time really balancing the tropical elements of the hops which was not previously there in the original. The update version may not please the pure herbal and grassy enthusiast/hope head but instead introduces a side of the ruination hop burn that it could not do before from the original recipe. I am going to miss the older recipe even though I love more tropical IPAs but this is still very well made and still a good representative of the golden standard that West Coast IPAs are known for.
Anime Corner:
Zabel/Lord Raptor from Darkstalkers/Vampire Saviour was used in this pairing since I used her in the original Ruination. Back then, Ruination not only stood for the palate wrecking machine but also ruining the someones character with different aspects, such as smoking or any other inhibitor that may be deemed a ruin in societies eyes. Not to say beer in general is the ruination but the way society sees the ruination of some people with substance abuse is the ruination that your palate sees. Unless you have a tolerant palate like mine, then let people do what they want and screw societies idea of what is normal. Whether it be their idea of how people should be or what people should drink (craft vs. macro). Live your life as you please!
Sources:
http://sbff08.deviantart.com/art/zabel-blissed-again-209579896
Rating: 5/5
Hammerland by El Segundo brewing is an 8.6% ABV Double India Pale Ale.
Label:
Bright, Clean Crisp, Blueberry dankness… exactly what you expect with a hop bill of Mosaic and Simcoe. Get your nose in the glass and the aromatics will overwhelm you like the double-overhead closeouts down at Hammerland.
==Introduction==
Obtained this guy from El Segundo brewing recently as I wanted to see what this one was all about. A double IPA with a lot of talk behind it. From the makers of power plant triple IPA, I did not expect anything less than awesome, or so I hope. While I would love to compare this one to the already awesome Power Plant, they are different categories of IPA. So let’s see how this one goes. Cheers!
Aromas:
Lots of grassy, citrus, herbal, piney, grapefruit, floral, and dank garlicky hops, biscuit bread, honey, gummy bear hints, peach hints, blueberry and cherry hints, tropical fruit notes like dragon fruit, mango, guava, prickly pear, kiwi, honey dew melon, passion fruit, cantaloupe, lychee fruit and tangerines.
Flavors:
Piney, citrusy, grapefruit, floral, herbal, grassy and danky garlicky hops along with honey, rich tropics such as pineapple, strawberry, blueberry, cherries, dragon fruit, passion fruit, mango, guava, prickly pear, kiwi, honey dew melon, orange peel, biscuit bread, cantaloupe melon, lychee fruit, tangerines, gummi bears and peach notes.
Aftertaste:
Dank piney, herbal, citrus and garlicky hops linger, tropical fruits, biscuit bread, gummi bear notes, strawberry and blueberry hints and peach hints. No alcohol in the taste, easy to moderate drinkability, crisp and refreshing mouth feel as well as a clear golden body.
Overall:
A perfect IPA indeed. This reminds me of some of the hybrid IPAs where it does not lean toward one direction or the other but certain balanced of bitter herbal hops with tropical fruit and malty citrus notes. I can kinda see why this one turned out to be a fan favorite for many. It is is not as complex as Power Plant nor is it it at that Sure Bet IPA level but for being of the best reps for the west coast style, it is surprisingly delicious and well deserving of that gold medal. Get this one where you can find El Segundo stuff like Ramirez Liquor in Boyle Heights for example.
Anime Corner:
Gunner version of Yuna from Final Fantasy X-2 and just for the heck of it, Lucy (Wyldstyle) from the Lego movie were used in this pairing to represent several aspects of the beer. To show case the tropical aspects of the beer, Yuna’s dress shows a patter that almost looks like waves as they approach an island. In this case, her and the aspect of Hammerland goes with respect to the barrel and hammer of her dual guns (Double IPA). The background represents the face of the hammer as it faces the bullet with what seems to be a never ending tunnel as the bullet travels down the barrel. The colors do work with the berry aspects of the beer which reminded me of Wyldstyles highlights and gold body representing the IPA in general. She is getting ready for the beach and with these two girls, they make up the double IPA.
Sources:
http://static.minitokyo.net/downloads/13/04/12713.jpg?1625883245
http://40.media.tumblr.com/9031a91fe550eaa58841468f90f9220b/tumblr_ncd1lydC7O1r3gwo9o1_1280.jpg
Rating: 5/5
Space Cake by Clown Shoes brewing is a 9% ABV Double India Pale Ale.
Label:
Why are Miracle Mike and his dog, Bionic, being chased by many evil laser beam shooting cupcakes and two giant layer cake mother ships? Because we’re straight lunatic fools? Well, maybe, but with a few brains cells remaining we managed to craft Space Cake double IPA, utilizing citrusy Mosaic hops and an immaculate West Coast style malt backbone. Dude… Chill out. Enjoy some Space Cake.
==Introduction==
I finally got around to bringing this one for a review. I had tried this one on draft last year but did not get a chance to get a bottle of this one until recently. From what I can remember, this IPA was very good introducing fair amounts of tropics. Later this year, they will be released a California exclusive one of this which will be like a session (lower alcohol) version. There is also the Lemon one but that is unfortunately out of my reach. Maybe in a future released. So why space cake? Maybe it is due to the fruity flavors that made it like a dessert. It is hard to remember as I did not get a chance to analyze this one all the way, until today. Cheers!
Aromas:
Rich citrus, grapefruit, piney, grassy, floral, herbal hops, tropical fruits like mango,pine apple, papaya, oranges, lemon peel, honey dew melon, dragon fruit, passion fruit, cherries, citrus and tangerine preserves on rye.
Flavors:
Grapefruit, citrus, piney, grassy, floral and mild herbal hops, old mango, pineapple, papaya, dragonfruit, passion fruit, honey dew melon, oranges, cocoa nib hints, cherries, Strawberries, raspberries, Sweetened condensed milk, biscuit bread, toffee, caramel, vanilla, Tangerine preserves on toasted buttery rye bread, orange gummy bears, stone fruit apricots, peaches, lychees and faint hint of cherry chocolate cake?
Aftertaste:
Citrus, tropical fruits, stone fruits, vanilla, caramel biscuit bread, toffee, cocoa nib hints, hoppy, grapefruit and herbal hops. No alcohol in the taste, creamy, smooth, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel, orange amber light to medium body and easy to moderate drinkability.
Overall:
There is some crazy malty component to this beer that reminds me of a dessert for some reason. After trying over and over, I can only conclude so much but still wonder if the name Space Cake wasn’t just a pun and they managed to make an IPA who’s sweetness starts to transcend into a dessert like chocolate cherry cake…nah! Well… maybe. I really don’t know. Maybe it is up to you to decide this one but I can definitely agree, this one is kind of unique and definitely recommend it.
Anime Corner:
Samus Aran from Nintendo’s Metroid series was used in this pairing to pair with the label of space and the space cake aspect. Samus is with the metroid hatchling which is the one from Super Metroid that considered her a mother. Maybe the bond they had is similar to the dude on the label and his dog. Either way, I tried to get it as close to space related as possible. Samus strength is represented by the ABV and hop character but the sweetness of cake is who she is inside the suit and as a person. Very sweet and caring but when it comes to hunting evil aliens trying to eradicate civilizations, well someone has to be the word of justice in the universe.
Sources:
http://www.zerochan.net/full/309859
http://luigiix.deviantart.com/art/Zero-Suit-Samus-505527148
Rating: 6/5
Sure Bet by Pipeworks brewing is a 9.5% ABV World Class Double India Pale Ale brewed with honey and mango puree.
Label:
Just the mere thought of the talk of a Citra and Mosaic hopped IIIPA brewed with honey and mango fills the Unicorn with too much joy and happiness for one horn to handle. The closest The Unicorn has come to this level of joy was when once, while skipping over rainbows, he encountered a cloud shaped like a rainbow! The Unicorns #1 favorite food is sunlight, but his #2 and #3 are honey and mangos respectively, and this brew has ’em both! The only thing that The Unicorn loves more than keeing something for himself, is sharing! So pour yourself a glass, because this beer’s a SURE BET!
==Introduction==
I obtained this beer through my online resources. I was unable to find this at any online shop. Seeing as this was a rarity and a highly rated beer, I really wanted to try it and bring it to the site. This is an IPA that can compare with some of the best IPAs out there and the fact that it has mango puree and honey. Well that just speaks tropical heaven to me. Let us see what this beer has to offer and see if this one is worth the buzz. Cheers!
Aromas:
A bouquet of rich tropical fruit fills the nose reminiscent of Power Plant and other awesome Tropical IPAs I have had before. Mango, Guava, Passion Fruit, Dragon Fruit Lychee, Papaya, Pineapples, Apricots, Strawberries, Prickly pears, raspberries, cherries, tangerines, tuna fruit, peaches, creamy vanilla, agave nectar, piney grassy, grapefruit, floral, herbal and dank garlicky hops, Sweetened condensed milk, tres leches cake, flan, caramel, gummy bears, citrus, orange and mango preserves, coconut hints and marshmallows.
Flavors:
Ridiculous amount of tropical fruits from all over the spectrum such as oranges, grapefruit, lychee, apricots, mangos, guava, papaya, dragon fruit, passion fruit, honey dew melon, strawberries, prickly pear, tuna fruit, raspberries, cherries tangerines, apples, peaches and cream, agave nectar, piney, grassy, herbal, floral, earthy, dank oniony, garlicky and grapefruit hops, sweetened condensed milk, tres leches cake, mango flan, caramel, gummy bears, citrus and mango preserves and orange preserves on rye bread, toffee, butterscotch, blue basil, peppercorn hints, lemon candy, coconut hints and marshmallows.
Aftertaste:
Very rich tropical fruits, variety of citrus fruit, rich mango, honey, dank piney, garlicky oniony, grassy, floral, earthy and herbal hops linger. No alcohol in the taste, golden medium body, creamy, crips, refreshing and silky mouthfeel and an easy to drink beer despite the ABV.
Overall:
Talk about rare GEMS no one knows about. Supremely righteous of tropical gods! This Double IPA blew me away into the stratosphere. I have to agree that addition of mango and honey dynamically changes the beer from its highest potential on its own. This is why Power Plant by El Segundo brewing can be the best triple IPA in the world to me, but this one is beyond that with the addition of the ingredients that take it to the next level. Holy Shit! This beer is like the absolute Trifecta of the IPAs. Meaning, you get a huge balance of the herbal, the orange malty and the rich tropical aspect found in many IPAs. If I find the right recipe for this, I will have to make this one for sure! For now, you better make DAMN SURE BET that I will recommend this to the masses! The Pliny and Heady killer of the midwest.
Anime Corner:
Twighlight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash from MLP were used in this pairing to pair two of the best sides of an IPA. The malty sweet side represented by Twilight sparkle and the citrus and tropical fruit flavors represented by Rainbow Dash. Since this beer has a unicorn and has so many colors representing the flavor spectrum of the delights that is this beer, the ponies were the right choice to compliment the beer and label. That and this is the most bad ass I could find these characters.
Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/EW4mNmZ.jpg
http://nyuuchandiannepie.deviantart.com/art/Rainbow-Auditore-da-Firenze-303474835
http://nyuuchandiannepie.deviantart.com/art/Diablo-3-Twilight-304708395
Rating: 5.25/5
On the Wings of Armageddon by DC Brau Brewing is a 9.2% ABV World Class Imperial India Pale Ale.
Label:
And so it was written…….
According to Mayan and Hopi calendars the “transition from one world age to another” will happen on December 21, 2012. As an homage to the “transition” DC Brau has concocted an Imperial IPA named “On the Wings of Armageddon”.
==Introduction==
An awesome donation to the site, Aaron Mediola from www.beermetaldude.com came through for me by bringing this awesome piece forward. This is my first beer by DC Brau and it is one that I have been searching for a long time and kind of just let it slide me by. You can’t really find this beer in the west coast. Seeing as this was a very coveted beer, I was glad I finally had a chance to try this magnificent IPA and with a chance to bring it to the site, I am going all out!
Aromas:
Rich Citrus notes, piney, floral, herbal, grapefruit, piney, grassy and dank hops, orange and peels, rich tropical fruits like dragon fruit, passion fruit, strawberry, tangerine candy, papaya, honey dew melon, prickly pears, kiwi, raspberries, stone fruit peaches, sugar cane and floral notes.
Flavors:
Very rich Citrus, grapefruit, piney, floral, herbal, grassy and dank hops, sweetened condensed milk, oranges, orange peel, dragon fruit, passion fruit, strawberry, banana hints, honey dew melon, tropical flavors like pineapples, honey dew melon, papaya, tangerine candy, gummy bears, guava, plums, apples, raspberries, stone fruit peaches, apricots, mango, prickly pear, herbs, caramel, biscuit bread, sugar cane, rye bread with orange and tangerine preserves, kiwi, flower notes and cantaloupe.
Aftertaste:
Lots of orange peel, grapefruit juice, complex tropics with citrus leading the pack, variety of hops and a variety of sweet goods. No alcohol in the taste, Hazy Orange amber full body, creamy, refreshing and crisp mouthfeel, and easy to moderate drinkability.
Overall:
A Damn great IPA just as great as it’s east coast companion, the Heady Topper. I think in some aspects, I really was missing out on a great IPA. This one was a great amount of tropical notes but coscuing on the citrus malty aspects and then trying to balance everything. Of the many IPAs I have had, I would highly recommend this one and gladly get it again!
Anime Corner:
Succubus character was used in this pairing to represent the Wings of Armageddon in terms of the label colors with the silver but also what Armageddon represents which is the end of times. That was basically what I was going for. There isn’t much to the label and it s pretty bare like the girl in this pairing but the thing is, there is so much inside. Some great flavors, you basically have to pick this one up for yourself to find out.
Sources:
https://i.warosu.org/data/tg/img/0356/25/1413736858944.jpg
Rating: 5.2/5
Japanese Green Tea IPA collaboration by Baird, Stone and Ishii brewing is a 10.1% Double India Pale Ale brewed with Green Tea.
Label:
Our style of brewing has always been about taking chances. It’s an extension of our “what-if” mentality, wherein we ask ourselves what would happen if we did things di¬fferently in the brewhouse, such as fermenting with a di¬fferent strain of yeast or, in the case of this beer, incorporating whole-leaf green tea imported from Japan. The answer, embodied in this IPA when we first released it in 2011, was something truly magnificent, delicious and as proven by the reissued edition you hold in your hand in 2015, well worth brewing again. But what if we changed it up a bit? Yes, it’s riskier to change something most people thought to be liquid perfection, including out two-time collaborators Bryan Baird of Japan’s Baird Brewing Company and Toshi Ishiii, a former Stone brewer and the founder of Guam’s Ishii Brewing Co., but we’ve found that, when approached with cautious curiosity and logic-driven creativity, reward often follows such risk. So, in bringing this IPA back to life, we followed the same recipe developed four years ago, but exchanged Pacifica hops from New Zealand,a hop-growing region that was becoming quite popular in 2011, for Helga hops from Australia, an area with burgeoning botanical scene right now. The result is an IPA that’s as bright, herbaceous and bitingly hoppy as the one that’s had our fans requesting its return ever since its depletion from store shelves, but with a modern, hop-driven twist that makes this second draft unique and tasty in its own right.
==Introduction==
Oh My God It’s Back!! The Green Tea IPA is back! The one beer that actually managed to nail the green tea flavors. The original brew was made in support of the Japanese Tsunami from March 2011. I had received my first sample from my friend Julio who got me a bottle of this and had traded for a St. Bernardus back in 2011. This beer was very special and as I remember it was very delicious. It’s return and especially in a bigger quantity is baffling. I am hoping and praying and a return of the Chocolate Cherry Stout collab. That beer was damn out of this world and even aged well too. Well, let us take a look at the re-release, Cheers!
Aromas:
Green Tea, caramel, vanilla, grassy, piney, herbal, floral and mild grapefruit hops, stone fruit like lychee, apricot, pears, apple, guava, dragon fruit, green tea ice cream, mango, purple sweet potato ice cream, sweetened condenced milk, vanilla, oranges, tangerines, prickly pears, lemon grass and brown sugar.
Flavors:
Rich Green Tea Ice cream, vanilla, biscuit bread, grassy, piney, herbal, floral and mild grapefruit hops, garlic and oniony notes, citrus, pineapple, rich Green tea leaves, spearmint/yerba buena, sweetened condensed milk, strawberry notes, flan, dragon fruit, lychee, pears, apples, stone fruit hints, purple sweet potato ice cream, guava, tangerines, oranges, coriander spice, lemon peel, lemon grass, mango, pineapple hints and prickly pear.
Aftertaste:
Green tea, rich vanilla, caramel, sweetened condensed milk hints, rich hoppy, grassy notes, citrus and honey. No alcohol in the taste, clear golden body, creamy, crisp, refreshing and smooth mouthfeel, easy to drink. 10% really ain’t nothing for this beer.
Overall:
Damn perfect IPA. Just as good as what I can remember from when I first had it in 2011 but maybe better. It is like a fusion between an IPA and a Green Tea Ice cream. So far, it is showing me it is the best Double IPA in 2015 and very damn unique. The variety and change slightly in the recipe is showing me some stuff I have not seen before. I would highly recommend this one as it has become one of my favorite IPAs.
Anime Corner:
Fuu Kasami from Samurai Champloo was used in the original review way back in 2011. I chose her for the review in this pairing since I wanted to pair with the aspect of Japanese Culture and Green Tea. Fuu has a back up of Samurais by the names of Mugen and Jin so if she is in trouble they are there to protect. The overall aspect of Japanese influence in this beer is insane so the perfect pairing back then was just the one for this one too. Definitely even at 10%, it has Samurai Champloo all over it.
Sources:
http://genzoman.deviantart.com/art/Fuu-Samurai-Champloo-165865071
http://denoro.deviantart.com/art/Fuu-78135233
Rating: 5/5
Tricerahops by Ninkasi brewing is an 8% ABV Double Indial Pale Ale.
Label:
Tricerahops is double everything you already love in an IPA. More hops, more malt body and a higher gravity define this Double India Pale Ale. Fiercely flavorful, guaranteed to satisfy.
==Introduction==
A beer I have seen for a number of times but didn’t pick up until one day I said, meh, what the hell. Ninkasi brewing makes some awesome beers and so far I have been fortunate to try their Maiden the Shade and Vanilla Oatis. Today I bring their Double IPA to the site. Ninkasi has been a recent find here in California and was not the case in the past. People have asked me about this beer advising that it was really awesome. So I figured I put it to the test. Let’s take a peek, cheers!
Aromas:
Oranges, caramel, honey, floral, grapefruit, grassy, piney and herbal hops, toffee, butterscotch, stone fruits like peach and apricot, brown sugar, pineapple, dragon fruit, honey dew melon, lots of citrus, lemon peel, dank oniony and garlic notes and flowers.
Flavors:
Caramel, honey, Grapefruit, grassy, piney, floral and herbal hops, peach, apricot, tangerine, dragon fruit, mango, rye bread, lychee, pineapple, butterscotch, biscuit bread, garlic and oniony notes, sweet flan hints, orange marmalade, toffee, herbal notes, flowers, lemon peel, guava hints, vanilla hints, oregano, yerba buena/spearmint and good amount of brown sugar.
Aftertaste:
Caramel, citrus, rye bread, mango, piney herbal and grapefruit hops linger. No alcohol in the taste, crisp, refreshing and almost creamy mouthfeel, clear golden amber body and easy to moderate drinkability.
Overall:
A very delicious and perfect DIPA in the category of more malty and caramel like with enough hops to balance everything out. It is almost like the east coast style but not as citrusy. Unlike the tropical IPAs I really enjoy, this one I enjoyed since it was pretty balanced. This is almost at the realm of Hop Stoopid as it is super balanced with hops and malty sweetness. Despite those that are to the more extreme hop side and me who enjoys more tropical IPAs, I really liked what this one had to offer and therefore highly recommended.
Anime Corner:
Queen Chrysalis from MLP was used in this pairing mainly to pair with the colors of the label but also the invigorating power of the hops. You can see how the teals and greens kind of meld together in this beer making for one super strong Double IPA. I do not know much about the character but I figured she worked well with this pairing as I am sure being the antagonist comes with supreme power (Hops and ABV) even if she looks damn innocent (Sweet malt yet hoppy balance). Also She looks like a damn dragon and dragons are cool so there! She also has that whole Maleficent thing going on.
Sources:
http://bakki.deviantart.com/art/Chrysalis-404431680
Rating: 5.2/5 (Date of Tasting: 11/29/2014)
Pliny The Elder by Russian River brewing is an 8% ABV World Class Double India Pale Ale.
Label:
Bottled on 11/12/2014
RESPECT YOUR ELDER: KEEP COLD, DRINK FRESH DO NOT AGE! PLINY THE ELDER IS A HISTORICAL FIGURE, DONT’T MAKE THE BEER INSIDE THIS BOTTLE ONE! NOT A BARLEY WINE, DO NOT AGE! AGE YOUR CHEESE, NOT YOUR PLINY! RESPECT HOPS, CONSUME FRESH. IF YOU MUST, SIT ON EGGS, NOT ON PLINY! DO NOT SAVE FOR A RAINY DAY!PLINY IS FOR SAVORING, NOT FOR SAVING,! CONSUME PLINY FRESH, OR NOT AT ALL! DOES NOT IMPROVE WITH AGE! HOPPY BEERS ARE NOT MEANT TO BE AGED! KEEP AWAY FROM HEAT!
Pliny the Elder, born in 23 A.D., was a Roman naturalist, scholar, historian, traveler, officer, and writer. Pliny, and his contemporaries, created the original botanical name for hops, “Lupus Salictarius,” meaning “world among scrubs.” Hop vines at that time, grew wild among willows. Pliny the Elder died in 79 A.D. while saving people during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. He was immortalized by his nephew, Pliny the Younger, who continued his uncle’s legacy by documenting much of what his uncle experienced during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. This beer is a homage to the man who discovered hops and perished while being a humanitarian.
Unlike many of the Russian River Brewing Company beers which are ageable, the beer inside this bottle is meant to be consumed fresh. Keep Pliny the Elder refrigerated and consume fresh to experience the explosive hop character.
==Introduction==
It has been at least 2 years since I first tried Pliny the Elder. Back then this beer was a little easier to get. Today, it is pretty seldom if you can really find this one. If there are places that have this one, they get so little of them that they sell out within the first couple of hours. So I thought to myself, after trying so many IPAs for so many years, including the so called Pliny killers like Heady Topper and Power Plant from El Segundo, what makes this beer as well as Pliny the Younger, so legendary. Well, the story really has to be that this beer was one of the original inventions of the Double India Pale Ale Style. This beer is what started a lot of the hop craze of adding more and more hops to a beer to make it a hop supreme beer. With the evolution of hops and methods of growing them to have different flavor varieties like more citrus, more tropical notes, this is what I think really changed the way people like their IPAs. While I respect this beer and would one day like to try the younger, it seems that today, this beer may be going the way side due the more variety of IPAs and Double IPAs with a variety of hop profiles. Nevertheless, this is really what started it all and I think is the reason why the hop heads truly enjoy this one at the freshest possible. At least I tried to do the review as fresh as I could get it due to its limited availability. Without further ado, here is the review and thanks for reading. Cheers!
2012 First public review by me:
https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2012/10/24/pliny-the-elder-by-russian-river/
Aromas:
Rich Grassy Grapefruit, floral, herbal, citrus and piney hops, Cannabis, Oregano, Italian herbs, blue basil, honey on biscuit bread, rye bread, super dank garlic and onion notes, tropical fruits like pineapple, honey dew melon, lychee, passion fruit, dragon fruit, stone fruit peaches, cherries, plum hints, hop oils, lemon and orange peels, vanilla, caramel and tangerines.
Flavors:
Rich Grassy, floral, Piney, citrus, grassy, herbal and grapefruit hops, basil, super garlicy and rich oniony dank herbs, Oregano, tropical pineapple, honey dew melon, papaya, prickly pear, strawberry, mango hints, dragon fruit, lychee, passion fruit, stone fruit apricot, peaches, cherries, fig notes, plum hints, cannabis or dank Italian spices, lemon peel, orange peel, biscuit bread, vanilla, caramel, tangerines, hop oils, forest pine needles, honey and rye bread.
Aftertaste:
Super hoppy grassy herbal yet fruity, malty and tropical underlining sweetness but mainly super hopped dry to oblivion lingers on the tongue. No alcohol in the taste, clear gold body, smooth, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel, almost easy to drink.
Overall:
A hop heads dream. Really, if you love super well balanced and refreshing Double IPA with lots of grassy and herbal hops, then this is the definition of its style. There is a reason people like it so much and despite the fact that I still think that it may be too hyped and I cringe at those that drain pour just because the beer is not “fresh” enough. Beer like this should be respected at least but not hyped. Take this one for what the origins stood for but not because it is the best out there. Does this one get beaten by the upcoming El Segundo Power Plant Triple IPA? Yes but only because that one is a different monster all together. Heady Topper is more on the citrus absolutes for its world class. We have to choose absolute tropics or absolute herbal hop dankness or absolute citrus or a massive variety. While I love all the variety, I love sweet beers so I feel I get more from the tropical fruit IPAs. Not to say this isn’t World Class. It truly is. Is it the best Double IPA? Not quite, but you have to give it respect where it belongs as this is one of the few that started the Double IPA style. I highly recommend it, even if it is elusive as all hell, and I hope to someday try Pliny The Younger.
Anime Corner:
Ryoko and Washuu Hakubi from the Tenchi Muyo series were used in this pairing since I had used Ryoko before for Pliny the Elder. Washu will someday be used for the Younger although the funny part is that Ryoko is the daughter and Washu is the mother even if she looks younger. Conundrum yes, but if you knew about Washu, she is 20,000 years old. Either way, you can see the colors pair up well with the artwork and the label. Ryoko’s light teal hair color represents the super hops but as well as the whole aspect of the ‘Elder’. Ryoko is young but I love how she sits contemplating or wondering. Like an elder thinking about the future or just simply day dreaming like a kid. Regardless, this beer is the kind that you take your time with and relax. You may not have another chance to try it, so might as well enjoy it since you can’t age it either.
Sources:
http://www.homemademech.com/Uploads/Areview/1501085314817.jpg
http://objection06.deviantart.com/art/Washu-and-Ryoko-472156179
Rating: 6/5
Firestone XVIII Anniversary Ale by Firestone Walker is a 13% ABV World Class Strong Multi-liquor Barrel Aged Style Hybrid Blend Ale.
Description: (Please Click On The Strategy Guide/Letter From Firestone Walker)
38% Parabola (bourbon barrel aged Russiant imperial stout),
16% Helldorado (bourbon and brandy barrel aged blond barleywine),
16% Bravo (bourbon and brandy barrel aged brown ale),
14% Stickee Monkey (bourbon and brandy barrel aged quad),
5% Velvet Merkin (bourbon barrel aged oatmeal stout),
4% Hydra Cuvée (a blend too much of a mouthful to describe here),
3% Wookey Jack (black IPA),
2% Ol’ Leghorn (English barleywine, collaboration with Three Floyds, aged in fresh barrels),
2% Double Jack (Double IPA)
==Introduction==
It has been an awesome year for Firestone Walker beers and with the release of their 18th one, they add some new beers into their final blend. As with every year, this one comes with the strategy guide to basically see if you can figure out what’s what. While this is a difficult task, I try to write down as much as I can and see what new flavors this one is composed of versus the previous releases. It really does not matter sometimes as they have all beer exceptionally world class beers. Yes, don’t take my word for it, try it for yourself. Cheers!
Aromas:
Rich oak, vanilla, flan, bourbon, maple syrup, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, bakers chocolate, Belgium chocolate, German chocolate, ferrero rocher chocolate, toasted coconut, almond joy, dulce de leche caramel, rocky road ice cream, marshmallow smores, oreo cookies, cookies and cream, oatmeal cookies, cookie dough, cocada coconut candy, pilloncillo sugar cone, choco flan, dark fruits like currants, raisins, prunes, raspberry, cherries, currants, blackberries, capirotada raisin bread pudding, anise, molasses, brownies, brown sugar, bananas, clove spice hints, mocha, tres leches/three milks cake, dragon fruit, tangerine, pineapple hints and more!
Flavors:
Very strong oak barrel forward character, rich vanilla, bourbon, toasted coconut, almond joy, dulce de leche caramel, rocky road ice cream, marshmallow smores, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, bakers chocolate, Belgium chocolate, German chocolate, ferrero rocher chocolate, pralines, cookies and cream, oreo cookies, oatmeal cookies, cookie dough, flan, cinnamon hints, brown sugar, hazelnut, macademia nuts, cocada coconut candy, piloncillo sugar cone, dragon fruit, mango hints, pineapple hints, sweetened condensed milk, port wine, maple syrup, dark fruit currants, raisins, prunes, raspberry, cherries, currants, blackberries, capirotada raisin bread pudding, anise, molasses, brownies, brown sugar, bananas, clove spice hints, leather, tobacco, waffle cone, peaches and cream, pecan pie, candi sugars, rock candy, choco flan, espresso, mocha, toffee, tres leches/three milks cake, tangerine and more!
Aftertaste:
Port wine, dark chocolate, maple syrup, dark fruits, rocky road ice cream, oatmeal and oreo cookies, oak, vanilla, coconut, mango, chocolate chips and marshmallow smores with earthy hop notes finish at the end. No alcohol in the taste, Smooth and silky mouthfeel, dangerously easy to drink but should be handled as a sipper and crimson yet pitch black body.
Overall:
Exceptionally great. Each release more awesome than the last. I really think this one is the best one by far. If aged, it will will definitely do wonders I am sure. This one seems to have richer flavors which I am sure were due to the addition of the Three Floyds collab and the Hydra Cuvee as well as the Stickee Monkee, Velvet Merkin and Parabola. This beer is insane and it will only get more insane as time goes on. If you can still find this goodie, definitely get it. It is one of the best!
Anime Corner:
Asuka Langley/Shikinami Sohrty, Rei Ayanami, Haruko Haruhara, and many others from Neon Genesis Evangelion and Fooly Cooly (FLCL) were used in this pairing to represent some of the blends represented by this beer. It is something I have done in the past with this series of Anniversary beers. This was a great pic because not only does it show case the colors of potential ingredients used but also how each flavor tries to out do the other. Also, Haruko was used in a previous Three Floyds collaboration this year (Rue D’Floyd) which represented her wacky aspect as “Not Normal”. The addition of Firestone and Three Floyd’s collab beer into this one made it so she can be in this pairing as well. What a bad ass!. Also, Asuka and Rei have been seen in pairings like Firestone’s Double Jack so they are definitely in the right pairing here too.
Sources:
http://articleimage.nicoblomaga.jp/image/64/2013/f/f/ffd9f7487115ef5bb2d6b22dedcca9f69c75e5641373178280.jpg
http://www.zerochan.net/full/39691
Rating: 5.2/5
Judge Jury & Executioner IIIPA by Ironfire brewing is an 11.2% ABV Triple India Pale Ale.
Label:
The verdict is in. Normal IPA’s have been found, wanting.
Enter the palate wrecking goodness of
Judge, Jury & Executioner Triple IPA!
Continuous hopping from mash tun to fermenter with 7 high alpha hop varieties from 3 different continents. Only extreme hop heads need apply, for this IPA judges you, not the other way around. Make sure your hop snobbery is on top of it’s game for if not, the weak will be found guilty for their hop hating foolishness. The noose will be strung…the order will be given…and your palate will be swinging from the gallows.”
Brewed once a year so enjoyit cold, fresh and while it lasts!
==Introduction==
The moment I saw this one, my IPA senses (which aren’t as strong as my Belgian or Barrel Aged beer side but still damn strong) were going off the radar. The last time I had a triple IPA was when I had the Power Plant from El Segundo. Since IronFire is from Temecula California, I simply could not wait. I had to try this massive IPA. I was able to get this one online at www.craftshack.com and was glad when I got it. Now, on to the trial, will this beer be judged or will my beer experienced taste buds be at the mercy of death row. I won’t say I will have it easy even if I had some of the best IPAs in the world, but this beer makes me be cautious for sure. Slowly, into the the doors of the court room we walk and you, are my jury… cheers!
Aromas:
Citrus, herbal, grapefruit, piney, grassy and floral hops, yerba buena/spearmint, vanilla, caramel, oranges, blue basil, garlic notes, dank onions, hints of tropical fruit like dragon fruit, honey dew melon, lemon peel, pineapple, mango, lemon grass, oregano, biscuit bread, Italian herbs, toffee and orange juice.
Flavors:
Rich Herbal, citrus, grapefruit, piney, grassy and floral hops, caramel, vanilla, oranges, blue basil, dank oniony, garlicky flavors, minor hints or tropics like pineapple, dragon fruit, prickly pear, lemon peel, mango, honey dew melon, stone fruit apricot, sour apple, biscuit bread, Italian herbs, orange juice, oregano, tangerine candy, strawberry hints, yerbabuena/spearmint, honey and wasabi hints without the burning.
Aftertaste:
Dank, oniony, grassy, garlicky, hoppy, palate drying, grapefruit, orange and vanilla hop flavors linger after the rest dry off. Slight alcohol in the taste but not detracting from the flavors. Clear as daylight and deadly as sin gold body, sipping drinkability and almost creamy mouthfeel.
Overall:
While this is a perfect hoppy IPA, it is not exceeding like El Segundo’s Power Plant. I only say this because of my more tropical palate preference when it comes to IPAs. It is still a great IPA and one I would definitely try again and again. It’s hop variety surely focuses on the more grassy, herbal and super dank qualities of IPAs. Basically, of the 3 ranges I categorize IPAs (Tropical, Herbal and Malty) this one lies in the herbal strength but also balances the other flavors well. This beer ends so damn dank and dry it almost burns in a hop sense of greatness. It’s painfully delicious reminding me of the time I drank ruination for the first time. This truly is not for those that can’t handle their hops. At a triple verse, I can only imagine that this monster is literally knocking at Pliny the Younger’s door with a death warrant. While I was able to survive this one, it did surely take it’s toll but this is one for you to experience too reader, take my word on this one, I highly recommended!
Anime Corner:
Donne Anonime, Franco il Nero and Lily Salvatana from Tre Donne Crudeli/Outlaw Django are used in this pairing to represent the Judge Jury & Executioner respectively. In the label, you can see 3 women looking for a convicted cowboy ready bring on mortal punishment. While the label makes a great explanation as to how the flavors unleash these beauties onto your taste buds, I can elaborate on who these cowgirls are. In the pictures, you see the act of the executioner Lily trying to execute Franco while Donna Anonime come sup behind and says… not today. A Jury as Franco is can only determine so much before before the Judge Donne passes judgment and Executioner Lily looks for your head! A great pairing here for sure.
Sources:
http://www.zerochan.net/full/891881
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/Opphiucus/066.jpg~original
Rating: 5.2/5
Enjoy by 12.05.14 by Stone brewing is a 9.4% ABV World Class Imperial India Pale Ale.
Label:
Devastatingly fresh
You have in your hands a devastatingly fresh double IPA. Freshness is a key component of many beers- especially big, hoppy IPAs – but we’ve taken it further, a lot further, within this one. We brewed this IPA specifically NOT to last. We’ve not only gone to extensive lengths to ensure that you get your hands on this beer within an extraordinarily short window, and we’ve sent a very clear message in the name of the beer itself that there is no better time than right NOW to enjoy this IPA!
____
Haven’t tried this beer in ages. Mainly since it was coming out so frequently I always tried to pass it up for other beers. I guess I decided screw it, I am doing another review of this one. Each release is the same I would think but the idea is to drink this one as fresh as possible without sacrificing the hop head theology of as fresh as possible. While me personally, I could care less about what hop heads think of freshness, but even a moderately fresh one, I will give it a round to see what flavors I can get from this. I think even at 9.4% ABV, freshness would get thrown out the window, but that is none of my business. Now let’s drink some of this tea. Cheers!
Aromas:
Citrus, grapefruit, floral, herbal, piney and grassy hops, Rich tropical fruits like mango, dragon fruit, papaya, guava, passion fruit, lychee, honey dew melon,blue basil, oregano, lemon peel, garlicky, oniony, dankness, stone fruit peaches, apricots, plums, honey dew melon, tangerines, oranges, hints of sweetened condensed milk and milk coconut.
Flavors:
Rich hop flavors or citrus, grapefruit, floral, herbal, piney and grassy hops, biscuit bread, lemon peel, tangerine, oranges, caramel hints, super dank oniony and garlicky notes, oregano, basil, Italian herbs, Rich tropical fruits like papaya, mango, honey dew melon, dragon fruit, passion fruit, lychee, coconut hints, stone fruit apricots, peaches, plums, sweetened condensed milk and honey.
Aftertaste:
Sweet tropical notes, honey, herbs, citrus and grapefruit hops, dank oniony and garlic notes linger
No alcohol in the taste, easy to drink despite the ABV, clear body, silky mouthfeel, crisp and refreshing.
Overall:
In comparison to when I had this over 2 years ago, they really perfected the freshness in this beer. This is super well balanced giving those tropical fruits I really love along with the hoppy, herbal and dank notes. So as to coming close to what I would think would be some of the best IPAs in the world like Pliny the Elder, Heady Topper and the new Power Plant, I would like to say, YES!! Ofcourse it is a player in the best IPAs. It is closer to Pliny in the herbal hoppy department but since it is balanced with tropical notes, It comes close to Power Plant too. Either way, maybe there is a reason they tell you to drink it fresh. Either way, great beer and a must have. Don’t worry, if you miss this one, they release it almost year round.
Anime Corner:
Morrigan Aensland from Dark Stalkers was used in this pairing long ago since she stands atop a stone gargoyle representing the Stone brewery. Her hair colors pair well with the label and those melons, I mean…. umm colors of the artwork represent the herbal and tropical complexities of of the beer flavors. Yes this beer is damn sexy and taste great!
Sources:
http://img1.ak.crunchyroll.com/i/spire4/1f1100e5ab84c8a3e2e8d7acb1bba84a1396195257_full.jpg
https://brewerianimelogs.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/4bc03-jmorriganaensland.jpg
Rating: 5.25/5
Stone 18th Anniversary IPA by Stone Brewing is an 8.5% ABV Golden Brown Double India Pale Ale.
Label:
The Hoppiest Golden-Brown IPA on Earth
The 18-year milestone is a significant one, affording us a brilliant apex from which to employ crystal clear hindsight. Looking back to who we were when we embarked on this humble yet noble journey to the craft the finest of ales, we see a company that, while much , much smaller, was every bit the sincere, bullish, determined entity it remains today. Since Day one, we’ve fostered grand-scale aspirations while stalwartly maintaining long-sightedness firmly fixed on a bevy of goals. From brews extending the idea and definition of what beer can be through their intensity , outlandishness, decadence and refinement; to venues and facilities harnessing and celebrating Earth’s elemental resources; to helping awaken collective consciousness to the great worth of authentically, consciously well-crafted artisanal items; to playing a major tole in bringing together and cementing the bonds of peers within our industry; we have accomplished a great many objectives. But we’re far from done!
As we compose the text for this celebratory beer—a golden-brown India pale ale dry-hopped exclusively and abundantly with El Dorado hops—we stand ready to leap from the precipice of all we know into a new era for our company, our beers and, most importantly, our fans. It’s one that will see us exploring new territory, both geographically and creatively, as we evolve from pacesetters for the American craft brewing movement to cross-planetary champions of the worldwide cause of craft, hoisting our banner to proclaim artisanal beers’ vast superiority over stripped-down, business-driven, industrialized, fizzy, yellow mediocrity. We thank you for shadowing us for the first 18 years of our journey, and welcome you to join us for next leg and all that follows.
___
Congratulations to Stone on their 18 year success making a difference and sticking it to the man (tasteless macro beers) and just basically making some really great beers over the years. While some beers have been more unique than others, Stone has bee one of those breweries that is a favorite of mine. Arrogant bastard was one of my first strong gate way ales that lead me to try stronger and stronger beers. While other craft beers like Fat Tire form New Belgium were my gateway, Stone showed me what true beers can really taste like when they are truly potent. Nevertheless, thanks for making the craft community a powerful force that it is today. You along with many others have paved the way to the Beerevolution and the consistent drive to find more rare, lost treasures of taste and experience. Cheers!!
Aromas:
Peaches in pilloncillo sugar cone, Tangerine candy, Cotton candy, mandarin herbal spices, flan hints, dulce de leche caramel, citrus, grassy, piney, floral, herbal and earthy hops, lemon peel, lemon heads,pecan pie, tropical fruits like dragon fruit, mango, stone fruits like apricots, chocolate hints, rock candy, mint, coffee notes, brown sugar and toffee hints.
Flavors:
Peaches in pilloncillo sugar cone, Citrus, grapefruit, grassy, floral, herbal, piney and mild earthy hops, dulce de leche caramel hints, cotton candy, pecan pie, hazelnut hints, Tangerine candy, mandarin herbal spice, orange, strawberry, rock candy, tropical fruits like mango, dragon fruit, passion fruit, honey dew melon, hints of papaya, pineapple, stone fruits like plum, apricot, clove spice, garlic, onion, lemon, rye bread, mint, flan hints, chocolate notes, lemon heads, honey, coffee, butterscotch hints, brown sugar hints and toffee hints.
Aftertaste:
Cotton candy, Tangerine and lemon candy, strawberry,hazelnut, citrus, grapefruit and lots of herbal dank notes linger. No alcohol in the aftertaste, easy to drink, crisp and refreshing, and light to medium golden-brown to amber body.
Overall:
A perfectly delicious and unique IPA. Seems like stone keeps pushing the way toward IPA and hop monsters that truly can be unique in many aspects aside from just being bitter and Arrogant. This is still an IPA while still introducing some sweet unique flavors that are not just tropical or citrus caramel but more nutty, chocolatey, coffee and other fruity varieties. You definitively cannot age this and recommend getting this one for sure. I highly recommend it!
Anime Corner:
Yoshihime from Sengoku Saga by Yamada Rokkaku was used for the Stone 18th Anniversary since I wanted to show several aspects of stone. Let’s start with the label. You have the blue and grey colors that pair well with the the artwork. Second, the gargoyle has always been represented by either a devil like creature or demon but in this case not evil but mainly used to ward off bad flavors of beer. The third is the shogun/general attire. While I have shown Arrogant bastard as being a bushido code samurai and the fact that Stone is a revolutionary, I have given the general attire to many pictures in the past. If you look closely, Asmodeus and Astoroth have similar general attire. While although revealing, the sexyness is only a distraction because what lies within the sweetness is pretty deadly but awesome while taken responsibly of course. This Iron Maiden can be a formidable ally to fighting the war of great flavors but she can also be a double edge sword if taken lightly and not responsibly. Remember that….
Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/mohWL.jpg
Rating: 3.75/5
DUDE by Oceanside Ale Works is a 9.4% ABV Double India Pale Ale.
Label:
Dude – a slang expression of emphasis, amazement, and wave. Through the intense aromas , strong and complex hop flavor , this double IPA will unconsciously make you bellow out a thunderous “dude”. Enjoy!
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Got this one at the local shop down the street where I live. I have not seen this brewery or this beer so I am definitely thinking this is new stuff. I am always up for trying new beers so I figured let’s give it a chance. Besides, the dude on the label almost looks like the big labowski, the dude!
Aromas:
Very herbal, grassy, piney, floral and grapefruit hops notes, citrus, vanilla hints, biscuit bread, very bitter grains, caramel, tangerine hints and gummy bear hints.
Flavors:
More on the herbal and dank side of an IPA. Citrus, grapefruit, grassy, piney, herbal and floral hops, dark onion and garlicky notes, caramel biscuit bread, vanilla hints, bitter grains, tangerine, gummy bear hints and tiny hints peach.
Aftertaste:
Herbal, grassy and grapefruit hops linger with a good amount of dark piney and garlic notes. No alcohol in the taste and has a moderate drinkability with close to medium mouth feel and appearance. It is quite crisp and refreshing though.
Overall:
A good beer overall. Kick ass label for sure but if you like herbal and bitter IPAs then this one is good. Not a lot of complexity but just enough to keep stuff interesting. Not the supreme best double IPA I have had, but in terms of double IPAs I would at least give this one a try. You may actually like this one. This one is definitely for the super hop heads.
Anime Corner:
Yoko Littner from Tengen Toppa Gurren Laggan was used in this pairing mainly to pair with the beer label. I wanted to get something that would go with the whole sunglasses and the colors of the dude looking bad ass! Yoko definitely looks like a bad ass in these pictures.
Sources:
http://www.zerochan.net/657475
http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2013/075/d/5/yoko_littner_hd_wallpaper_1440x900_by_labotaze-d5y86qe.jpg
Rating: 4.8/5
Death By Hops by Smog City brewing is a 9.3% ABV Double India Pale Ale.
Released recently at the brewery exclusively, I wanted to pick up this beer to give it a review but mainly to get a growler as well. This is Smog City’s first Double IPA. I have reviewed El Segundo’s Tripple IPA from a growler before so I figured I give Smog’s DIPA a shot too as a lot of Smog City’s beers are awesome.
Aromas:
Dank grassy, floral, piney and grapefruit hops, citrus, dank garlicky, oniony, oily hop scents, biscuit bread, some tropical notes like, tangerine preserves, caramel, toffee, passion fruit, kiwi, prickly pear and berry notes.
Flavors:
Grassy, Grapefruit, floral, pine and herbal hop dankness, citrus, tangerine preserves, tropical notes like mango, kiwi, prickly pear, passion fruit, biscuit bread, garlic and onion dankness, caramel, toffee, berries and honey.
Aftertaste:
Lingering citrus with lots of piney hop goodness and dank hop resin. No alcohol in the taste. A sipping beer but very crisp and refreshing.
Overall:
A very good beer if you like your Double IPAs grassy and herbal with not overpowering tropics. Personally I enjoy more tropical IPAs but this one has enough to keep me interested so the flavors work really well here. It is also very damn fresh so the freshness really helps. The hops really resonate in all aspects of the beer. Worth stopping by again for another growler fill of this!
Anime Corner:
Shampoo from Ranma½ was used in this pairing since I got the crazy idea of linking Death by Hops to Death by Snu-Snu from the Futurama episode “Amazon Woman in the Mood”. In that episode, the main characters travel to a planet where it is ruled by Amazonian women and when they have men around, they kill them by snu-snu which is essentially having their pelvic regions crushed while having sex with these womanly giants. Shampoo, according to the Ranma show is actually an Amazonian woman herself. In the picture we see her almost looking like a giant looking down at the beer and the drinker. Meaning she will kill you!! Also, along with the second picture, when I meant to say she is a killer, well yes!! So if death by snu snu is related to Shampoo, then Shampoo killing is Death by Shampoo or Death by Hops!
Sources:
https://1-media-cdn.foolz.us/ffuuka/board/a/image/1335/86/1335864780033.jpg
http://www.zerochan.net/289079
Rating: 5/5
Endeavour IPA² (a.k.a Divine Reserve #11) by Saint Arnold Brewing of Texas is a 8.9% ABV Double/Imperial India Pale Ale brewed with Simcoe, Centennial & Columbus hops.
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION (Ratebeer.com)
The color is deep amber with a light, creamy head. The nose starts off with a touch of citrus but then turns decidedly into peaches. The taste starts off with creamy malt resulting from the pale 2 row and caramel malts and Saint Arnold yeast. The hop bitter starts low then builds to a crescendo, but always maintains a balance even in its big finish. The hop flavor continues to be peaches, an interesting manifestation of the Columbus, Simcoe and Centennial hops. This is the first Divine Reserve that we have filtered. This decision was made to make the hop flavors brighter, plus it would have been a bottling nightmare with all the hop bits in it. This beer is best enjoyed at 45° or even a little warmer. Though the recipe and style indicate this beer to be enjoyed fresh, we expect this beer to develop interestingly over the years.
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Special thanks to my good friend Aaron of http://www.beermetaldude.com for proving me my second ever, Saint Arnold beer. This is truly a treat once again as this one is another fine example of a great brewery which we don’t get their beer here in California. The beer I had before from them was very awesome. So to that, I say cheers, thank you SA for making this and thank you Aaron for hooking up a brother Cheers!!
Aromas:
Caramel, toffee, mango, dragon fruit, candied oranges, lemon, citrus, honey, Grapefruit, piney and grassy hops, tangerine, melon, orange preserves and rye.
Flavors:
Grapefruit preserves, piney and grassy hops, tangerine, mango, lemon, orange peel, rye bread, biscuit bread, melon, honey, dragon fruit, caramel, pepper spice, toffee, pineapple, cherry, hop oils, gummy bears and orange marmalade on a toast.
Aftertaste:
Caramel, toffee, grapefruit preserves, tangerines and piney hops. No alcohol in the taste. Medium body and moderate drinkability.
Overall:
Aside from the Tropical end of IPAs, my second love is the malty IPAs. This beer is great and it is a great example of the malty IPA variety. As a reserve series, this is something I would expect, higher ABV and more sweet delicious hop oils. Reminds me of 90 minute IPA almost. Very delicious IPA and definitely worth picking up, if you live in Texas that is. Hope maybe us Socal peeps will get it one day.
Anime Corner:
Original artwork by fangxian cuoluan is used in this pairing to represent the earth in the label of the beer. As the beer floats in space with its delicious flavors, it gazes at out existence to show the height of what delicious IPAs will go through. This beer reaches the height of IPA caramel and the rising sun so forth brings it delicious citrus and complexity. They say you can’t hear anything in space, but you can definitely taste it!!
Rating: 5/5
Stochasticity Project Grapefruit Slam IPA by Stone Brewing is an 8.2% ABV Double India Pale Ale brewed with grapefruit peels.
Label:
Stochasticity
There is no happenstance or coincidence. Dumb fuck is a fallacy and randomness a commonly accepted mistruth. Much of what seemingly falls into place and seems so natural is a result of Stochasticity, a concept embraced and exalted by this special and unpredictable series of beers, where exotic notions, ingredients and ideas coalesce at an interesting and often unexpected endpoint.
India pale ales harness the inherent flavor characteristics of hops to bring forward familiar flavors of pine, resin, spice, and citrus. In some cases, those botanicals are so potent, they exactly mirror specific edibles. Such is the case with Centennial hops, which hail from the Great Northwest and come across on the palate like a mouthful of citrus fruit. That sensation is amplified with this, the first beer introduced via the Stochasticity Project–a double IPA brewed with Centennial, Chinook and Magnum hops as well as an immense dosing of fresh grapefruit peel. The result is over-the-top bittersweet grapefruit intensity that is at once refreshing and bracing in its citrusy bitterness.
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Picked this up at the local store. I know this beer came out pretty recently and it is the first of Stone’s Stochasticity project. This is basically Stone Ruination with grapefruit peels. I already enjoy Stone Ruination for what it is, so to have this, let’s see what it does to the Golden Standard of IPAs.
Aromas:
Grapefruit, piney, herbal, floral and grassy hops, caramel, honey, pepper, spices, garlic, onion, biscuit bread, citrus, hop oil, mild mango flavor and slight tropical fruits.
Flavors:
Herbal hop notes, orange, lemon and grapefruit peel, citrus, grapefruit juice, citrus, lemon zest, squirt soda notes, mild mango, caramel, biscuit bread, garlic, onion, spices and passion fruits.
Aftertaste:
Grapefruit, herbal and piney hop resin lingering for a bit along with lemon zest and biscuit notes. No alcohol in the taste. Easy to moderate drinkability with some crisp and refreshing aspects.
Overall:
A damn good DIPA with more of a herbal,citrus and spicy flavors more than the tropical fruits rising. I recommend worth trying especially since it is Ruination. Although, this is more grapefruit forward and what they were going for did actually come forth. So in that aspect, recommended and worth a try. In terms of Ruination though, it is only a slight step up from Ruination but not rating wise. I think it this taste a lot like Ruination but with a great grapefruit increase. Some may or may not notice.
Anime Corner:
Asuka Langley Shikinami Soryu was used in this pairing mainly to show case the flavors and the label. The label reminds me of Tron with their cyber space suits. Asuka is wearing a NERV plug suits with lights reminiscent of the colors or the label. Her colors represent that of grapefruit flavors, lots of citrus and the ruination bitterness is represented by her moody attitude. Yes, she is moody at times and bitter. But she is also sweet as hell.
Rating: 5.25/5
Café Racer 15 by Bear Republic is a 9.75% ABV Double/Imperial India Pale Ale
Label:
Café Racer 15™ features aromas of bright citrus and resinous pine from the generous use of Citra, Amarillo, Cascade and Chinook hops which are complimented by a dry malt finish. The result is a high revving Double IPA that is loud and assertive, much like the rebellious street racers who inspired it. Never ride alone…
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Just in time for IPA day, this version of their double IPA is supposed to be more west coast (more hoppier due to the greater variety of hops as stated above) than the Racer X which was more English tradition plus hops. This beer won the Great American Beer Festival Silver award in 2012.
Aromas are very hoppy and tropical. Grapefruit, mango, kiwi hints, citrus, prickly pear, pineapple, floral, dank, piney and grassy hops, lemon peel, biscuit bread, honey notes and caramel
The flavors are awesome as well. Lots of flowy, oily, dank, piney and floral hops, grapefruit, pineapple hints, mango, honey dew melon, kiwis, passion fruit, papaya, peach and apricot notes, dragon fruit, blood oranges, lemons, caramel and biscuit bread with tangy mandarin jelly
After taste lingers in the tropics. Almost like I just got drinking some type of hoppy bitter fruit punch. Kinda hard to find the alcohol in this one as well. It is also very refreshing, surprisingly smooth and well balanced both in the hop, malt and tropical aspects.
Just like Racer X, definitely as close to Heady Topper, maybe closer. I honestly think the difference from the 2 IPAs is that Cafe 15 is way more tropical. Simply amazing and gets more tastier with every sip. Seems to be way better than Racer 5. I am sure this beer will soon be coveted, so if you find this savor it!! It really is an amazing IPA. Happy IPA day everyone 🙂
Rating: 5.25/5 *A triumphant fresh return to the golden standard.
RuinTen a.k.a Ruination Tenth Anniversary (re-release) by Stone Brewing is 10.8% ABV 110 IBU World Class Double India Pale Ale
Label:
Back in 2002, we first released out notoriously mega-hopped Double IPA, Stone Ruination PA, and in 2012 we celebrated its 10th anniversary with the release of a very special version that was even bigger and incredibly, even hoppier than the original. If Stone Ruination IPA is “A Liquid Poem to the Glory of the Hop,” then Stone Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA was a “Stage dive into a mosh pit of hops.” Luckily for us, our fans love loud and aggressive brews, specifically when copious amounts of humulus lupulus are involved. The original release of this beer was so instantly beloved by those who dared try it [particularly us] that there was no way we could relegate in one-hit-wonder status. You are holding in your hands a veritable hop monster. We dropped the word “Tenth” but the decidedly indelicate recipe is the same as the one first unleashed in 2012. This belligerently delicious ale has the substantial malt backbone needed to stand up to the whopping five pounds of hops packed into each barrel. If all the hyperbole hasn’t frightened you away by now, we know you’ll love this audacious gem of hoppy splendor just as much as we do. Crank it up!
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The IPA Gold standard is back with a vengeance. One release was not awesome enough. The second is enough to cause havoc with irreparable damage to the palette and I am sure you will love it. AS I remember correctly from last years beer, this not only was so bitter that it lingered, it actually started burning. Maybe not like a chile heat, but like a real hop plant bitter trip to Hell.
Aromas are just like I remember, a lot of hoppy aromas ranging from grassy, pine needles, grapefruit, herbal, dank, hop oil, tropics to the brim like mango, pineapple, papaya, passion fruit, dragon fruit, citrus, lemon peel, oranges, tangerines and peaches. The flavor are in your face bitter with straight burning hop character, pine needles, dank hop oils, grapefruit, lemon grass, herbs and slight floral notes, some nice biscuit and caramel along with the in between tropics of the citrus, tangerine, peach, mango, pineapple, passion fruit, dragon fruit, kiwis, papaya, lychees and some nice peppery notes. The After taste just lingers in Hopmaterasu ([Unquenshable Black Flames]Naruto reference) burning to the untrained palette. However, if you are willing to continue drinking, on top of those green hellish flames will lie some nice tropical residue to keep you from fading into the oblivion (Leave that part to the alcohol ). Very nice thing those hops do , ain’t that sweet of them. This beer is awesome. It is so awesome that I think it makes it the prime reason why they may only be able to release it one more time. Maybe even release it every year if not. I think that if they were to release it as a yearly, it may or may not detract from the original Ruination. However, it if they did do that, it would be nice to have a variety or Ruination to choose from. You know, Hard mode versus Expert mode sort of thing. Get this beer while you still can. Stop Reading this and go buy this beer before it is gone. As for the Brewery–exclusive-Camp-out-all-night-Black-Friday-style-for-only-enjoy-3-pints-Pliny-the-Younger…. eat it!!!!!!
Still need more convincing about the greatness of this beer? Read my past review
2012 Original Review:
https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2012/10/26/stone-ruination-tenth-anniversary-ipa/
Rating: 5/5
The Maharaja from the Dictator Series by Avery Brewing is a 10.4%ABV Double India Pale Ale
Label:
Maharaja is derived from the sanskrit words mahat, – “great” and rajan – “king”. Much like its namesake, this imperial IPA is regal, intense and mighty. With hops and malts as his servants, he rules both with a heavy hand. The Maharaja flaunts his authority over a deranged amount of hops: tangy, vibrant and pungent along with an insane amount of malted barley – fashioning a dark amber hue and exquisite malt essence. This newest Avery Dictator completes the “Dictator Series” joining the likes of The Kaiser & The Czar. Be aware that The Maharaja is a limited release only available for the summer. Welcome to his kingdom!
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This is considered a world class IPA according to a lot of Reviews standing at 102 IBUs. Upon opening the bottle, there was very nice tropical fruit fragrance that overwhelmed. The aromas have a more sweet tropical fruits like pineapple, mango, peach, orange juice, and rich caramel base coming forward followed by the floral, grassy, piney and grapefruit hops, garlic and onion bread scent, but very nice along with some herbs and spices. The flavors are similar to the fragrance of this one which are of caramel, grassy, piney, floral, and grapefruit hops, some peach, pineapple, garlic and sweet onion bread, biscuit bread, toffee, strawberries, flowers, some peppers, herbs and other nice spices. It surely quite the DIPA. While it doesn’t focus all the way into the regions of tropics, it has enough to balance the other herbs, spices and strong hops allowing for a very bitter but extra sweet beer. It leaves off pretty dry which is interesting for 102 IBUs. Doesn’t leave a lot of bitterness so it allows you to take even more sweetness next time around. Surely a great DIPA to get and one that is best fresh!
Rating: 4/5
Life and Limb series Rhizing Bines collaboration by Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada is an 8%ABV Double India Pale Ale with Bravo and #644 hops.
Label:
Rhizing Bines is a collaborative IPA using the best of both coasts: Carolina-grown red fife wheat and Dogfish Head’s continual-hopping from the East and Sierra Nevada’s estate-grown caramel malt and Torpedo dry-hopping from the west.
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This is the second beer of the Life and Limb series I have the honor to try. The first collaboration I had was a dark ale. This one is an IPA. Upon opening this beers there was a nice honey rich and grassy hop fragrance. Some very slight breadiness, citrus, grapefruit, caramel and biscuit aromas. There are flavors of hop oil and honey. Reminds me of 120 min IPA but not as ABV strong or complex. Flavors of grapefruit, orange, coriander, lemon grass, grapes, caramel, maple, berries, slight flowers, some honey and toast bread flavor, somewhat of a barley wine note and butterscotch. Not the typical IPA. The flavor says it all. While still hoppy, it is not like a typical grassy IPA. It goes more along the lines of like an amber. There seems to be more malts in this. Not a bad thing in my opinion as I think this beer is delicious and refreshing. Just do not expect much of the bitterness or tropical flavors you would from an IPA or DIPA in this case. Still, worth getting as it is nice to taste those hops without the bitterness. Although bitterness is part of what hops are all about.
Rating: 4.25/5
Tower 20 IIPA by Karl Strauss is a 9.5% ABV Imperial India Pale Ale. Had this one a couple times but never really sat down to review it. Had this for my friend Carlos Bachelor party as well. Our friend Eric brought it in a growler and even though some of my friends don’t like IPAs, this was definitely Gold
Label:
Brewerianimelogs (Anime and Beer Lore) 
