Rating: 5/5
New England IPA by Epic Brewing Co. is a 7.3% New England India Pale Ale.
Description:
New England style IPA. A juice bomb of citrus nuances.
Review:
This one is just as amazing as those tropical & stone fruit greats. Jackfruit goodness for days!!!
Some Rick and Morty inspired brews Los Angeles Ale Works I had when they were releasing this before the beginning of Season 3 of “Rick and Morty” with my friends Julio and Oscar. These 2 beers are amazing but I think Fleeb Joose was on another super tropic level on that of the Pink Snow we had from the Bruery if that beer was a super juicy Double IPA. I just hope they keep making this one it was super great!!!
Mr Meseeks of DragonfruitZ is done wit yo shit!
Rating: 4.5/5
Passion of the Mango Saiyan by Nubis Sanctum Ales is a 7% ABV Hard Apple Cider made with Mango and Passion Fruit.
==Introduction==
Project# 19 came up as the eventual need to go back to something basic. The fact that I have not been making ciders in and while my ciders have all been Belgian inspired, this was my first opportunity to make cider with the basic cider yeast. Nothing too fancy but definitely something of experimenting with natural and organic flavorings. As many should know by now, some ciders made commercially are like this. I will be making more of an actual cider using real fruits but for now, my attempts to mimic the common came to question, How good of a cider can I make with just simple to get ingredients and little effort? Don’t get me wrong, it still enough work to make sure it is made correctly, but I wanted to contrast this versus what I have done with beer which is drastically different amount of workload. Regardless, I bring forth my new creation. Let’s see how this one came out, Cheers!
Aromas:
Apple cider, passion fruit, mango, peach, pineapple hints, vanilla hints, cane sugar and stone fruits.
Flavors:
Passion fruit, Mango, Pineapple, Apples, Stone fruit peach, apricot notes, honey, starburst candy, strawberry notes, honey dew melon, agave nectar, cane sugar, grapes, vanilla and guava hints.
Aftertaste:
Finishes dry with notes of the mango and the passion fruit. No alcohol in the flavor, clear light golden body, crisp, clean and super refreshing mouthfeel and very easy to drink.
Overall:
A very good cider. Not much to it really in terms of complexity but damn is this very drinkable, super delicious and great for the coming summer. Who would of thought just going to the basics can be rewarding. Even if it is not super complex or a lot of work like brewing it proves one thing, if you really want to make your own fermented beverage, ciders and wine are on the easier end. Next time, I’ll want to make this with the real fruits to see the difference.
Anime Corner:
Android 18/Lazuli, Trunks and Vegeta from the Dragon Ball series were used in this pairing to represent the Passion Fruit and the Mango. In the series, Vegeta and his son Trunks both get beat down by Android 18. While they still have the passion to keep going, in they still lose. The representation here is pretty much like punishment for making something so easy using basic ingredients. Many people may see it as cheating in some context but as long as you keep trying different things, you will eventually find great things. Plus, Vegeta’s hair as a super saiyan looks like a dried mango and the cider is all yellow like Android 18 and both Super saiyan’s hair.
Sources:
http://static.zerochan.net/Android.18.full.1561469.jpg
https://fingerbook.com/uploads/fingerbooks/3429/81125/preview_large_10806_dragon_ball_z.jpg?1427359660
Rating: 6/6
20th Anniversary Higher Math by Dogfish Head is a 17% ABV Belgian Golden Ale brewed with Chocolate and Sour Cherry Juice.
Label:
Celebrating 20 off-centered years with our luscious chocolate-cherry birthday cake in liquid form.
==Introduction==
Holy Shit! It’s been a long time since Dogfish Head released a super gravity beer. Perfect along with Fort. The last time I tried a high gravity brew that was up in the 16% to 18% ABV from them was Dogfish Head 120 IPA. A crazy insane IPA that I wish I could find again. With the release of this beer, my need to the high gravity (Aside from the Bruery stuff) can be satisfied once again. These are the beers that you definitely cellar for a long time and see how it evolves. Since I don’t wanna wait and bring this to the site to see if you should cash for this one, I will be trying this one and let you know hot it is, like I always do. Cheers!
Aromas:
Dark fruit raisins, figs, grapes, currants, plums, dark cherries, cranberries, raspberries, Chocolate Orange Creamcicle, grilled bananas, dulce de leche caramel, banana cream pie, cinnamon, flan, double fudge cherry cake, honey, maple syrup, cherry cordials, port wine hints, milk chocolate, hazelnut nectar, orange peel, coriander, toffee, rye bread, tangerine preserves on toasted bread, butterscotch and tres leches cake.
Flavors:
Chocolate Orange Creamcicle, grilled bananas, dulce de leche caramel, banana cream pie, cinnamon, flan, milk chocolate, hazelnut nectar, orange peel, coriander, dark fruit raisins, figs, grapes, currants, plums, dark cherries, cranberries, raspberries, toffee, rye bread, tangerine preserves on toasted bread, butterscotch, tres leches cake, Stone fruit apricots, peaches in cream, apple pie, pecan pie, rocky road ice cream, double fudge cherry cake, honey, maple syrup, cherry cordials, port wine hints, grape must, capirotada raisin bread pudding, fruit cake and piloncillo sugar cone.
Aftertaste:
Finishing with rich cherry, orange, hints of chocolate, dark fruits, stone fruits, rye bread, tangerine preserves on toasted bread and rich honey. Slight alcohol in the taste but not detracting from the already rich flavors. Bloody Crimson hazy body, silky, creamy and syrupy mouthfeel and sipping drinkability.
Overall:
Exceptionally luscious high gravity goodness. Warms up the tummy on those late fall/ early winter days. There was so much going in this beer. For being high gravity, you could still taste the complex flavors even if the alcohol was slight. My only regret was that I could not get any more of these bottles. Now I will have to track them down so I can try it again. That or the other high gravity brews from Dogfish Head for sure. Any of them would be awesome. But seriously, if you like these types of beers, this one is king!
Anime Corner:
Android 18 (Lazuli) from Dragon Ball Z was paired with this one mainly for the colors of the beer and label but mainly the whole ABV and numbers relative to the name, Higher Math. The strength is a major as well seeing that Android 18 coming from Dragon Ball Z would be one of the strongest females in Anime History and one hot looking one at that. Next to Goku or Vegeta, Lazuli is my favorite since growing up with DBZ.
Sources:
http://1.media.dorkly.cvcdn.com/34/86/f4c98b05a6528bfc1f784dd84235a951.jpg
Rating: 5/5
Atomic Kangarue collaboration by The Bruery and Smog City is a 9.5% ABV American Wild Ale dry hopped and brewed with grapes.
Label:
HOLY SMOGOLY!
This complex ale was brewed with 2 grape varieties, fermented with brett trois, blended with a sour ale, dry hopped with Amarillo hops & bottled just for you.
We’ve been friends with the folks at Smog City for many years and getting to brew a beer with them was a dream come true. Truly, only in the world of dreams could this remarkable beer have been manifested. A Belgian-style golden ale, brewed with Semillon and Viognier grapes plus three types of hops, fermented with Brettanomyces Trois as well as our house yeast strain, then blended with a sour blonde ale and finally dry-hopped with Amarillo hops. This beer couldn’t be more complex and we couldn’t be more proud of it.
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This beer was a collaboration from Torrance local favorite, Smog City and The Bruery of Placentia. When I first heard they were doing a collaboration, I really wondered how it would turn out. As the Bruery is mainly experimental Belgian styles and Smog City IPA and variety styles. They bring forth a beer that actually uses Smog City’s best kept secret, the use of Amarillo hops which is what fan favorite, Amarilla Gorilla is based on. So since the Bruery rarely uses or plays with hops in their potent beers, a 9% doucey with hops I could only imagine how it would go. This beer was originally released to Reserve Society members and I believe will be hitting the public venues where the Bruery and Smog City beers are sold. Definitely can’t wait to try it, so let me break this caged beast for you, cheers!!
Aromas:
Oranges, citrus, lemon peel, peppercorn, vanilla, herbal, floral, piney and grassy hops, biscuit bread, honey, farmhouse hay, white grapes, white sage spice, coriander, basil, garlic notes, dragon fruit, passion fruit, pineapple, strawberries, papaya, stone fruit like apricots, peaches, mango, herbs and spices.
Flavors:
Oranges, tangerine, white sage spice, floral notes, flowers, white grapes, brettanomyces, stone fruits like apricots, peaches, vanilla, caramel, lemon peel, citrus, grapefruit, herbal, floral, piney and grassy hops, rich biscuit bread, honey, farmhouse hay, basil, garlic notes, onion hints, dragon fruit, honey dew melon, passion fruit, pineapple, strawberries, papaya, farmhouse hay, herbs, honey, white wine grapes, musty funky notes, stone fruit apricots, peaches, old mango, coriander spice, clove spice and hints of allspice.
Aftertaste:
Tangy Oranges, Tropical fruit notes, floral hops, vanilla, herbs and spices linger. No alcohol in the taste, easy to medium drinkability, light to moderate mouthfeel, medium to light body, very crisp and refreshing.
Overall:
A perfect collaboration! Drinking more along of the Belgian Strong Pale Ale or Golden Ale, this beer definitely takes its roots and reminds me a lot of the Eschatological Ale from Stillwater if it was more sweeter with grapes and a bit more tropical. This beer is not a complete sour at all. The balance with the bitter hops and the brettanomyces helps it blend to a sweet, bitter and sour/tart tri-force of flavors.
Anime Corner:
Android 18/Lazuli from Dragon Ball Z/GT was used in this pairing to pair with the Sour Blond aspect and the colors of the beer as well as several things. Lazuli was evil in her beginnings but it wasn’t until she was in danger and was cared for by the protagonist Krillin, in which she learned to care and love. She grew sweeter and softer which eventually showed her true powers. This is reflected in the beers tropical and sweet yet bitter and sour aspect. Hey just because 18/Lazuli is sweet and awesome she still has attitude. That ain’t going away. Her stance is that of like an animal style in Kung-Fu lore. I have no idea what it is but let us call that one “The Kanagarue” Style lol. While I added Trunks in the mix, I wanted to basically show that basically, the Bruery while all powerful, a brewery like Smog City, in this case Lazuli, can bring so much more to the table and together can take the world by storm. Awesome job guys!!
Sources:
http://cfile30.uf.tistory.com/image/2123114651D44B2806EEB0
http://www.zerochan.net/full/1561469
Rating: 3.75/5
Top Shelf Series Tart Attack by NoDa Brewing is a 4.3% ABV Berliner Weissebier brewed with Blackberries.
Label:
This Berliner Weisse style sour ale is full of character and flavor at only 4.3% alcohol by volume. We sour mashed this ale to create a lovely tart and bright flavor. To further the tart character, we rested it on blackberries after its fermentation was complete. The result is a bright and complex tart ale with both semisweet and dry notes throughout. This ale was brewed to honor Pints for Prostates and all their work in bringing awareness to prostate cancer. So men… get tested, live longer and enjoy more craft beer!
For more information, please visit PintsForProstates.org
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Pink against Prostate Cancer goes many ways too. This beer is a light bodied rosy pink. This beer was released by the Rare Beer Club for the Pints for Prostates campaign where the money that they get from selling these beers goes to a good cause.
Aromas:
Wheat bread, lemon, citrus, tart black berries, funky wine grapes, grain, minerals and yogurt notes
Flavors:
Lemon,citrus, tart cherries, tart blackberries skins, coriander, wheat bread, grains, yogurt notes, wine grapes, light funky hay notes and mild herbal hints
Aftertaste:
Leaves with a hints of bread, yogurt notes, grains and lemon but then quickly becomes dry. Very refreshing, easy to drink, crisp and light.
Overall:
This is a pretty good beer. While the ABV makes it light, the its a good enough amount of tart to go around. Nothing extremely sour neither. One of the reasons I believe is the top shelf or table series is because it is the type of light beer that is served at a fancy dinner. It would work wonders with some nice meat, cheeses or even a very nice salad
Anime Corner:
Mio Akiyama from the K-ON! Series. I do not know a lot about the series other than the character is shy and likes to play Bass. She tends to freak out over things that make her scared or embarrassed. In this picture, the other characters are making fun of her to see what she would look like in a Maid outfit. While they laugh it off she mutters MOE MOE KYUN! and does a heart with her hands. While MOE MOE KYUN in Japan is used to describe something cute and sexy, it was taken as a cross reference in this picture to also refer to KAME HAME HA! In the same reference where Goku from Dragon Ball Z does a wave. Basically in this picture she’s is charging a pink heart beam to blast the other girls for making fun of her.
The beer reference comes into play in many aspects. The beer is pink and is Tart. The name tart attack in the context of the picture refers to the pink attack she is powering up to launch. Just like the beer has some nice fruity and easy going flavors, the tart part of it will attack the taste buds. Also, her outfit is of a maid. Since the label shows like a waiter serving the beer, I wanted to show it is similar as in this maid here is serving you a Tart Attack!
Rating: 4.45/5
Belgorado by Wynkoop brewing is a 6.7%ABV Belgian India Pale Ale
Label:
Meet our small batch Belgium-meets-Colorado thriller. It’s built with Colorado-grown malts and whole leaf hops, then fermented with a Belgian yeast. Luscious and balanced, it features pale malt flavors, layers of hops from start to finish, and spice notes.
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The aromas had some very interesting bready and somewhat exotic fruit aromas. I was able sense like a mango, guava, grapefruit, biscuit bread, honey, pineapple, bubble gum, slight banana, slight grassy and hoppy notes. The flavors are mostly sweeter than hoppy. Very nice honey, mango, papaya, orange, pineapple, guava, floral, bananas, peppercorns, biscuit bread, slight grapefruit, grassy and herbal hops near the end for some bitterness. This beer is more like a Belgian Pale that is almost at the Tripel borderline. Brings for light amount of bitterness with some nice fruit and bread forward. This was definitely awesome.
Rating: 6/5 * Final Review of 2012*
Grey Monday by The Bruery is an 18.6% ABV Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels with Hazelnuts. Essentially, this is the Black Tuesday Variant but made with Hazelnuts. Black Tuesday along with it’s cousin, Chocolate Rain are one of my most favorite Chocolate beers ever. They may not be the highest in the world but they certainly rated higher in my opinion. While St. Bernardus abt 12 and Trois Pistoles covers my most favorite Belgian/ World beers ever. Mainly this cover covers my ultimate chocolate beer sweet tooth. This is like a very special chocolate liquid of the gods.
Label:
Originally brewed for a molecular gastronomy dinner at Beachwood BBQ, this decadent version of Black Tuesday is brewed with Oregon grown, roasted hazelnuts.
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The ABV on the label said 18.6% however, at the tasting rooms in The Bruery they have it at 19.2%. Chocolate Rain was about that much, maybe more. This year’s Black Tuesday is in the 19 something as well. Anyways, on to the review 🙂
Grey Monday is hard to get. You have to basically go out of your way to get it so for those that want to seek this on out, be ready to climb over a good amount of obstacles. If your lucky, you may find it online though. So immediately after you open the beer is an massive explosion of extremely rich chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, cherries, plums, pecans, hazelnut, and caramel. Like literally, you can smell how sweet and nutty this is. Aromas are just that rich. Just like I said about Chocolate Rain. Basically Diabetes in a bottle. Also a note to the wise. Take your time and do not consume in one sitting. 1 small 8 ounce glass or less is best. Nectar of gods should be taken lightly and savored to the best ability and saved some for later or for friends. I decided to drink this on Monday 31st as being the last beer of 2012 I review :). So I figure why not. Upon trying it I was taken to the boozy world chocolate nirvana. Immediately I was surrounded by flavors of very strong milk, dark, sweet chocolate, chocolate covered raisins and tart cherries, rich mocha, rich dulce de leche caramel, rich sweetened condensed milk (Mexican Lechera), flan with pecans, almonds, walnuts, Bourbon, vanilla, raisins, port chocolate, Chambord Raspberry in chocolate cake, hazelnut nectar, pecan pie, chocolate cheesecake with maybe some macadamia nuts and well lots of burnt sweet caramelized sugars and cocoa. There is also an underlying banana nut bread with cherry and chocolate, vanilla and caramel hazelnut in the aftertaste. This beer is pretty deep and it takes grasp of the spirit. You would probably be done in one sip. The Oak Bourbon is present but no burn, just a small level of intensity for this super giant megaton fusion super saiyan of an ABV beer. Certainly one of the greats and nothing less. World Class in its own special way. The Grey Monday, The Black Tuesday and The Chocolate Rain. I love Trois Pistoles and I love St. Bernardus abt 12, but just as Chocolate Rain has taken me above and beyond this has taken me to another level of rich hazelnut, chocolate, caramel, vanilla, dark fruits and oak bourbon vanilla heaven.
Brewerianimelogs (Anime and Beer Lore) 