Mango Sombrero Habanero by El Borracho brewing

December 20, 2016 by cloudx30 tagged Adelita Sánchez, amarillo, Cascade, Centennial, columbus hops, El Borracho brewing, El Borracho Home Brewing, El Libro De La Vida, Habanero chillies, india pale ale, IPA, mango, Mango Sombrero Habanero, Scardelita, The Book of Life | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.75/5

Mango Sombrero Habanero by El Borracho brewing is a 6.5% ABV India Pale Ale brewing with Mangos and Habanero peppers with Columbus, Cascade, Centennial hops and dry hopped with Amarillo hops.

==Introduction==

A special thanks to my friend Will Carranza who has allowed me to review the next beer in his home brewing adventures. The next homebrew release comes in the form of a Mango IPA. Mango IPAs are always awesome. With this one, he wanted to add a kick to it. So he added habanero. As many know, habaneros are the hottest commonly available peppers. There are hotter ones for sure but this one is definitely hot. This brew was made in an attempt to make his own version of an IPA like Sculpin Habanero. With the Mango however, it would add that spicy mangoneada like flavors. I am hoping that is the case, let’s have a sip, cheers!

Aromas:
Citrus, piney, floral, grassy and garlicky hops, stone fruit peach, biscuit bread, honey, Tropical fruit Mango, honey dew melon, kiwi hints, mild peppery hints, tangerine gummies and guava.

Flavors:
Tropical fruit Mango, pineapple, honey dew melon, passion fruit, dragon fruit, guava hints, honey notes
Citrus, piney, floral, oniony and grassy hops, biscuit bread, caramel, habanero spice hints, peppercorn hints, coriander hints, tangerine gummies, stone fruit peach, vanilla hints, cherries and mild rye hints

Aftertaste:
Finishes with slight habanero pepper spice on the back end, tropical fruit mango, citrus and floral dank hops. No alcohol in the taste, Golden Medium body, crisp, refreshing, and smooth mouthfeel along with easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A very delicious brew. Heat wise, not too spicy although the peppery aspects are there. I mainly enjoyed this one as the tropical fruit flavors and mango shined as the beer warmed up. The mangoneada flavors are super subtle but the mango does shine. While I did bring this up to my friend about getting more mango in the flavors than he did, I think this was true as I do have a tolerance for heat. I did get a bit of spice on the last pour. I think some of the heat settled to the bottom. Overall, this was definitely awesome. My friend said that he would definitely make it spicier next time!

Anime Corner:
Scardelita and Adelita Sánchez from El Libro De La Vida/The Book of Life were chosen to go with the name of the beer and since the ingredients are used in Mexican cuisine. It was easy to see why this pairing would work as the colors in the art of those of the mango oranges, reds and yellows and also the habaneros. The reference to dia de los muertos was also something that worked well too and the sombreros they wear.

Sources:
http://oddmachine.deviantart.com/art/Revolution-492118534
http://www.deviantart.com/art/Adelita-Sanchez-El-Libro-de-la-Vida-490237776
http://www.deviantart.com/art/adelitas-sanchez-528352659

Altar of Sacrifice by El Borracho Brewing

December 20, 2016 by cloudx30 tagged Altar of Sacrifice, cacao nibs, El Borracho brewing, El Borracho Home Brewing, Evangelion, Imperial Red Ale, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Oak Aged Ale, Rei Ayanami, Reposado Tequila Barrels, Tequila Oak Aged | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Altar of Sacrifice by El Borracho is a 9% ABV Imperial Red Ale brewed with Cacao Nibs and Oak aged in Reposado Tequila.

==Introduction==

Obtained this brew from my friend Will Carranza of El Borracho brewing. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to try his brews as many of the brews he has made thus far are amazing. When he told me of his idea to make an Imperial Red I thought it was awesome. When he said he will add cacao nibs and aged in in Oak tequila, I was sold! Today I bring his new brew to the website, Altar of Sacrifice. An Imperial Red that is as viscous as actual hemoglobin and plasma. The name was inspired by the Aztecs and the ritual sacrifices they did in the Pre-Hispanic times in order to appease the Gods. Such an awesome tribute and Metal as Fuck! So without further ado, let’s sacrifice this one. Cheers!

Aromas:
Citrucy, grapefruit, floral, piney and grassy hops, mild oak, dark fruit, rye bread, caramel, honey, chocolate, cherries, tropical fruit notes, oranges, vanilla, graham crackers and toffee.

Flavors:
Piney, Grassy, floral and earthy hops, Caramel, Toffee, mild vanilla, butterscotch, tequila notes, agave hints, Honey, Dark Chocolate, mild milk chocolate, tootsie rolls, Dark fruit raisin hints, rye bread, oranges, grapefruit, citrus, oak, sangria hints, dark cherries, tropical fruit pineapple, passion fruit hints, dragon fruit, honey dew melon hints, papaya, tangerine gummies, lemon peel, and graham crackers.

Aftertaste:
Finishes with tropical fruit, piney, citrucy and earthy hops, mild dark chocolate, fruit cake, toffee, honey, rye bread, oak, and mild Tequila on the back end. No alcohol in the taste, Deep Bloody Crimson full body, refreshing, smooth, crisp and chewy mouthfeel and sipping drinkability.

Overall:
A perfect brew and this is due to the oak aging in Tequila and the cacao nibs. I love how the extra measures my friend took to make this beer better actually gave it the extra points to make it perfect. I do think the chocolate flavors do help to balance out the bitter hops and oak found in this one. The name was definitely fitting for the beer. This one is a definite sipper and an awesome red like the best ones I have had in the past. This one should definitely be rebrewed!

Anime Corner:
Rei Ayanami from Neon Genesis Evangelion was chosen in this pairing as I can only think of sacrifice to the sceneries that comes out in the series. Especially at the end of the series and during the annihilation of all the characters and all the Rei clones. So definitely with what my friend Will was going for in terms of sacrifice I do believe this fits very well.

Sources:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CxsG7cOUAAEKv0v.jpg
http://img11.deviantart.net/4260/i/2012/340/b/7/cross_of_lorraine_by_hasumi-d5n7v40.jpg

The Mosaic Pineapple by El Borracho brewing

October 7, 2016 by cloudx30 tagged El Borracho brewing, El Borracho Home Brewing, india pale ale, IPA, mosaic hops, pineapple, Simcoe, The Mosaic Pineapple, Whoa Bundy!!! | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.85/5

The Mosaic Pineapple by El Borracho brewing is a 5.25% ABV India Pale Ale brewed with Pineapple Simcoe and Mosaic Hops

Label:
None!

==Introduction==

My friend Will Carranza has shared another homebrew with me for the Fall. Using the Whoa Bundy!!! recipe he had previously made, adding the Mosaic hops and pineapple to the mix, we have this new IPA. The previous Whoa Bundy!!! From what I remember was definitely a delicious beer. This time around with the new ingredients, I hope it has more of a tropical fruit flavor to it. There wasn’t a specific reason for the name of the beer but I do remember he told me he always wanted to make his own pineapple IPA after the inspiration of the Sculpin variants such as the Grapefruit Sculpin and Pineapple Sculpin. Let’s take a dive into this one, Cheers!

Aromas:
Stone fruit peach, apricots, mango, pineapples, citrus, herbal, floral, piney and grassy hops, tropical fruit mango, dragon fruit, passion fruit, papaya, honey dew melon, grapefruit, orange candy, biscuit bread, vanilla, lemon zest, tangerines and guavas.

Flavors:
Rich pineapple, tropical fruit honey dew melon, prickly pear tunas, kumquats, mango, Strawberries, raspberries, guava, Papaya, dragon fruit, passion fruit, citrucy, grapefruit, piney, floral, and dank garlicky hops, lemon candy, tangerines, oranges, lemon grass, cherries, green tea ice cream, stone fruit peach, apricots, lychee fruit, pears, vanilla, sweetened condensed milk hints and biscuit bread.

Aftertaste:
Finishing with rich pine apple, tropical fruits, stone fruits, grapefruit, citrus, lemon candy, herbal hops and tangerine spread on biscuit bread. No alcohol in the aftertaste, golden colored light body, crisp, refreshing, clean, rich and smooth mouthfeel with an easy drinkability.

Overall:
Damn very delicious tropical IPA! Definitely at that level of Pineapple Sculpin but in many ways better. The types of hop do definitely make a world of a difference when it comes to these beers. So much tropical fruit goodness that it is ridiculous. The pine apple pairs very well with the tropical type hops used that it enhances the experience with every sip. Definitely one of the friend William’s best beers! I hope to see more in time.

Anime Corner:
Original character was used in this pairing for the obvious. Essentially, the pineapple and mosaic hops added to this beer are the pairing of the ingredients, the colors and the flavors represented by the artwork. There weren’t any other specific reasons for the choice in pairing other than I think this works very well.

Sources:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CrCSC7qVYAAHdNh.jpg

Au Revoir Shoshanna by El Borracho brewing

October 7, 2016 by cloudx30 tagged Au Revoir Shoshanna, Chamomile, El Borracho brewing, El Borracho Home Brewing, Farmhouse Ale, lemon grass, orange peel, Saison | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.25/5

Au Revoir Shoshanna by El Borracho brewing is a 5.25% ABV Saison/Farmhouse Ale brewed with chamomile, lemon grass and orange peels.

Label:
None

==Introduction==

The fall has hit and my friend William has been busy prepping some new line of beers for the colder season. To start, he ended up brewing this saison in reference to a French quote in one of his favorite movies, Inglorious Basterds. For being his first saison, he added several ingredients to the brew. The use of chamomile, lemongrass and orange peel seems very fitting as many breweries use different types of herbs and flowers to make some saisons.

Aromas:
Herbal, Lemongrass, oregano, peppercorn, chamomiles, citrus, farmhouse hay, funky must, green tea, apple hints, stone fruit, grapes and biscuit bread.

Flavors:
Citrus, Orange peel, grapefruit, chamomile, green tea, basil, oregano, biscuit bread, banana, clove spice, peppercorn, sage, tangerine gummies, musty grapes, tejuino hints, floral notes of lavender, hibiscus, black tea, lemons, lemon peel, honey, agave, apple hints, stone fruit peach, apricot notes, vanilla, grassy and earthy hop notes.

Aftertaste:
Finishes dry with rich herbal notes of chamomile, orange, grapefruit, vanilla, honey, earthy hop and stone fruit hints. No alcohol in the taste, Clear to medium honey colored hazy body, crisp, refreshing, smooth and effervecent mouthfeel along with an easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A very delicious saison with unique herbal flavors. As the beer warms up more of the chamomile is released creating an orange and herbal tea of sweet and funky farmhouse flavors. I do find it an interesting choice as my friend will is not fond of saisons some of the times but what he has here is very definitive of the style and complex like the delicious saisons from Monkish brewing or Jester King too. I hope he makes more of these!

Anime Corner:
Original character by Azuma Syoujuan was chosen in this pairing as I wanted to gather similar colors but also the focus on chamomile in the beer. As you can see, you have the green for lemongrass and the overall orange theme works for the orange peel and the honey colored beer. In reference to the name, it is interesting how in the scene where Landa is about to shoot Shoshanna who is running through a field filled with similar colors and let’s her go uttering the words. The piece of art work I chose denotes the similarities in the scene like the flying of birds or swimming of fish as the action of running and the way sound of awesome music runs through the air mimicking that of the scene of freedom as one slips into bliss. So synonymous of the scene where essentially he had to choose between 2 freedoms. Freedom via Death for Shoshanna or Freedom to let her live. The beer has a meaning of its own where the consumption of the saison frees one of problems. Say Goodbye to your inhibitions!

Sources:
https://anime-pictures.net/pictures/get_image/485967-1920×1080-original-eshi+100-nin+ten-azuma+syoujuan-single-blush-short+hair.png

Something’s Up With Jack by El Borracho Homebrewing

December 24, 2015 by cloudx30 tagged All Spice, Cinnamon, cloves, El Borracho Home Brewing, Halloween, Home brewing, Jack Skellington, nightmare before Christmas, nutmeg, pumpkin ale, Sally, Something's Up With Jack | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Something’s Up With Jack by El Borracho Homebrewing is a 7.4% ABV Pumpkin Ale Brewed with cinnamon, clove, ginger, nutmeg and all spice.

==Introduction==

A new brew by my friend William Carranza. This one was released for the Fall and at the right timing as it is pumpkin beer season. When it comes to pumpkin beers I am really picky as I enjoy the pumpkin beers that are more towards the pumpkin flesh with piloncillo kind or even more sweet potato to pumpkin pie flavors rather than the typical pumpkin spice. Although, when done right, the beers can come out great. My friend Will has handed me a bottle and so I wanted to see what his pumpkin beer was all about. Let’s take a look!

Aromas:
Ginger, cinnamon, sweet potato, pumpkin flesh, biscuit bread, pie crust, waffle cone, vanilla, honey, burnt sugar, clove spice, banana notes, stone fruit peach, apricot, peach cobbler hints, butterscotch, rye bread and pecan pie.

Flavors:
Pumpkin flesh, Pumpkin pie, pecan pie, pie crust, waffle cone, vanilla, caramel, ginger spice, ginger bread, clove spice, banana notes, cinnamon, stone fruit peach, apricot, peach cobbler hints, butterscotch, rye bread, biscuit bread, brown sugar, piloncillo sugar cone hints, Danish cream, maple syrup, sweet potato pie, honey and burnt sugar.

Aftertaste:
Pumpkin flesh, stone fruit peach, pie crust, vanilla, piloncillo, clove spice, ginger bread and fruit cake lingers. No alcohol in the taste, full body amber, creamy, smooth and effervescent mouthfeel and easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A perfect pumpkin beer showcasing so many of the delicious flavors I look for in pumpkin beers. The rich pumpkin flesh flavors, piloncillo on sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie. To me this was a damn winner. Even without the extra nutmeg added at the pour (which really makes it even more awesome) it really holds strong on its own. Definitely something I had to ask my friend for another. A very delicious seasonal.

Anime Corner:
Sally, Jack Skellington and the rest of the Nightmare Before Christmas cast were used in this pairing as it fits with what my friend William was going for. Essentially, a Halloween beer about Jack from the Nightmare Before Christmas. To go along with my artistic perspective, I included Jack’s girl Sally as well. A well placed pumpkin also adds the theme and the style of the beer.

Sources:
http://static.zerochan.net/The.Nightmare.before.Christmas.full.175475.jpg
https://anime-pictures.net/pictures/get_image/388620-842×1191-the+nightmare+before+christmas-disney-sally-rafaarsen+%28artist%29-long+hair-single.jpg

Esa Negra Linda by El Borracho Homebrewing

August 27, 2015 by cloudx30 tagged Black India Pale Ale, black ipa, Bleach, Caifanes, Chinook Hops, collaboration, El Borracho Home Brewing, El Borracho Homebrewing, Esa Negra Linda, Home brewing, Hops, india pale ale, IPA, Jaguares, Magnum Hops, That Black Beauty, Yoruichi, Yoruichi Shihouin | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.75/5

Esa Negra Linda by El Borracho Homebrewing is a 6.7% ABV Black IPA brewed with extra Magnum Cenntenial and Chinook hops.

==Introduction==

Esa Negra Linda or “That Black Beauty” was the name given by my friend Will Carranza to his first ever, Black IPA. This one was made with extra Magnum for bittering and the centennial and Chinook hops were for aroma.. I gladly assisted will on brewing day as brother help each other out when it comes to the home brew stuff like my other brother and homebrewer Richard of Avila Ales. While the original recipe and ideas were all Will’s you can almost say this was a collaboration in terms of me helping him out. So I bring forth, another awesome home brew and possibly the last for summer 2015 (what can we say, it’s too damn hot to make beer on a budget!) Hell, I still gotta review my 2 other homebrews I barely finished before the temperatures skyrocketed and we could no longer brew. Anyways, it is always a pleasure when Will donates to the site his awesome creations and always loving each as it comes by. Cheers!!

Aromas:
Rich citrus, pineapple, lychee, honey dew melon, grapefruit, floral, piney, grassy, herbal and earthy hops, minty notes, anise, coffee hints possibly from the roasted malt, licorice hints, anise and caramel.

Flavors:
Citrus, piney, grassy, herbal, grapefruit, earthy, and floral hops, pine apple hints, honey dew melon, lychee, Caramel, dark chocolate hints, anise, licorice, roasted malts, molasses, dark fruit prune hints, mango hints, brown sugar, clove spice, kumquat hints, coffee notes, lemon and mint.

Aftertaste:
Earthy hop notes, coffee, anise, tropical notes, citrus, dark chocolate hints and lots of nice bitter hops linger for a little bit. No alcohol in the taste, dark as the ether of space full body, smooth, creamy and crisp mouthfeel with an easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A deliciously good Black IPA. This IPA is on that level where the hops shine through to let you know you really are drinking an IPA, it just a dark IPA at that and the maltiness adds enough character to make it interesting. The balance is decent and for hop heads this means that the best flavors from Black IPA are delivered here. I hope my friend makes this one again or a variant using different hops as it was very delicious and would love to get some more. Cheers!

Anime Corner:
Yoruichi Shihouin from Bleach was used in this pairing to represent the name and the feel of the beer. Esa Negra Linda represented by the beautiful Yoruichi who is a ninja fits this beer perfectly. Like the night she strikes without warning. She is the fastest being in the world of Bleach and like this beer, it goes down very smooth and quick. It flows right through like the way a ninja attacks swift and firm for the kill and no ones the wiser. Her strength is in the complex flavors the extra hops provide but combine with the dark beer to make it shine like a light in a dark room. An elegant lady, a beauty, but deadly… If looks could kill well, fortunately, this will be the only time you see her before she strikes!

Sources:
http://static.zerochan.net/Shihouin.Yoruichi.full.1878848.jpg

The Gentle Way IPA by El Borracho Homebrewing

April 28, 2015 by cloudx30 tagged El Borracho Home Brewing, El Borracho Homebrewing, india pale ale, IPA, Judo, Jujitsu, makoto, prickly pear, Session beer, Session IPA, Street Fighter, The Gentle Way, The Gentle Way IPA | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.25/5

The Gentle Way IPA by El Borracho Homebrewing is a 4.5% ABV Session India Pale Ale.

==Introduction==
My friend Will Carranza hooked me up with another awesome homebrew project. This time, he brewed a session IPA. This IPA was brewed with trying to get as much of the IPA hop goodness in it as possible while maintaining its low ABV. Let’s see how this one turns out.

Aromas:
Mango, pineapple, guava, honey dew melon, prickly pear, kiwi, starburst, citrus, piney, grassy herbal and floral hop hints, biscuit bread, vanilla, toffee, caramel hints and gummy bear hints.

Flavors:
Citrus, piney, grapefruit, herbal, floral and grassy hops, lavender, mango, kiwi, tropical notes of honey dew melon, prickly pear, biscuit bread, tangerines, vanilla, toffee, caramel hints, guava, gummy bears and starburst hints.

Aftertaste:
Citrus, tropical notes, herbal, piney, floral and grapefruit hops to the finish. No alcohol in the taste, clear golden body, crisp, smooth and refreshing and very easy to drink.

Overall:
A very good session IPA with a good balance of herbal and tropical sides of the hops emphasizing on good flavors with a low ABV. I could find myself drinking this one all day. It is very good. William advised that he wanted more hop flavor in there for sure but even as it is, it is was very awesome. I prefer more tropical IPAs and this one has enough of that tropical aspect that I really like.

Anime Corner:
Makoto from Street Fighter was used in this beer pairing as I wanted to us something that went with Judo or in this case, The Gentle Way. My friend is into Jujitsu and I think this was the perfect pairing to represent that. In jujitsu, you use a karate gi which Makoto uses and judo and karate are part of her fighting style. So overall, I could see how this is definitely a martial arts beer. It is also goes well as a nice drink after training!

Sources:
http://static.zerochan.net/Makoto.%28Street.Fighter%29.full.168311.jpg

Almost As Good As Morning Sex Coffee Stout by El Borracho Home Brewing

April 28, 2015 by cloudx30 tagged Almost As Good As Morning Sex Coffee Stout, American Stout, brown sugar, Cinnamon, Coffee Beans, Coffee Stout, El Borracho Home Brewing, milk Chocolate, William Carranza | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.85/5

Almost As Good As Morning Sex Coffee Stout by El Borracho Home Brewing is a 6.5% American Stout brewed with Coffee beans and Cinnamon.

==Introduction==
Special thanks to William Carranza for hooking me up with his first ever, Coffee Stout. As Will has brewed many beers, this time he scored with a winning beer. The name alone was enough for me to really want to try this one out. Using coffee and adding his own twist by using cinnamon stick, this recipe became a winner. Let’s check it out and see what my friend’s brew really has to offer. Cheers!

Aromas:
Coffee hint, cinnamon, milk sugar, milk chocolate, flan hints, chocolate fudge brownies, brown sugar, vanilla, caramel, mocha, espresso,coconut hints, ginger bread, dark fruit raisins, cherry hints, marshmallow hints, anise and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla, caramel, mocha, espresso, molasses, coconut hints, dark fruit raisins, cherry hints, cinnamon, ginger bread, milk sugar, milk chocolate, flan hints, chocolate fudge brownies, marshmallows, campfire smores, anise hints, fruit cake hints and brown sugar.

Aftertaste:
Good amount of dark chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, coconut hints, earthy notes and toffee. No alcohol in the taste, dark and hard to see through body, smooth, creamy and moderate mouthfeel as well as moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A very good and definitely close to perfect coffee stout. This one is so close to the awesome coffee milk stouts I have tried in the past. It’s flavor of coffee blends well with the other complex characters. While Will did advise that he would love to have more coffee, I think it is also great as is. William did an awesome job and I really believe up to date is one of his best beers so far. I would definitely love to have this one again.

Anime Corner:
Original character by JJUNE is used in this paring to go with the name and flavors of the beer. As the name goes, Almost as good as morning sex goes with the aspect of waking up in the morning for some coffee but in this case it is kind of enuendous as to what I was going for with the coffee drops all over her her and the coffee cup. The represent the climax of great and awesome coffee, let’s just leave it at that. This coffee beer is really awesome and I guess what my friend was going for, is almost orgasmicly good!

Sources:
http://e-shuushuu.net/images/2015-02-15-711757.jpeg

Sgt. Stiglitz Hefeweizen by El Boracho Home brewing

April 28, 2015 by cloudx30 tagged Asuka, Asuka Langley, Asuka Langley Shikinami, Asuka Langley Soryu, Asuka Shikinami Soryu, banana notes, El Borracho Home Brewing, German Hefeweizen, Inglourious Basterds, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Sergeant Stiglitz, Sgt. Stiglitz Hefeweizen, William Carranza | Leave a comment

Rating: 4/5

Sgt. Stiglitz Hefeweizen by El Boracho Home brewing is a 4.9% ABV Germen Hefeweizen.

==Introduction==

A much appreciated and awesome donation by my good friend and homebrew brother, William Carranza. This here is his first Hefeweizen! To go with the the German aspect of it, Will chose the name from one of the characters from his favorite movies, the Inglourious Basterds where the character Sgt. Stiglitz was famous for killing 13 Gestapo officers. I think the fact that the Heff is low in ABV could explain how Stiglitz could swoop in like a ninja and take out nazis. Meaning that the fact that this could be good and make you drink many would enough to take you out too. Let’s examine this one and special thanks to William once again, Prost!

Aromas:
Light banana notes, clove spice hints, bubble gum hints, vanilla hints, coriander, orange hints, peppercorn and peach cereal notes.

Flavors:
Banana, clove spice, coriander spice, orange hints, caramel, honey notes, peach hints, toffee, wheat bread and biscuits.

Aftertaste:
Banana notes, wheat bread, orange hints, honey, caramel toffee and peach hints. No alcohol in the taste, caramel gold body, crisp, smooth and refreshing mouth feel and easy to drink.

Overall:
A very good heff that got better the more I drank it. Definitely in that summer ale range. While it is more of a lighter heffeweizen, a good amount of the delicious banana and clove spice of heffs can be found in this one.

Anime Corner:
Asuka Langley Soryu Shikinami from Neon Genesis Evangelion was used in this paring to go with the Sergeant Stiglitz as she is German descendant and an Eva pilot who would brutally and viciously destroy her enemies down to ripping their guts out in rage. Yes, as seen in The End of Evangelion movie. So definitely fitting for the Sergeant’s character but also this beverage which is easy going and smooth but keep drinking more I am sure you will have a “wonderful” time.

Sources:
http://anime-pictures.net/pictures/get_image/379623-2480×3508-neon+genesis+evangelion-gainax-soryu+asuka+langley-eva+02-jacky-long+hair.jpg

Drink It Down Brown by El Borracho Home Brewing

January 21, 2015 by cloudx30 tagged American Brown ale, Asuka Langley Shikinami, Asuka Langley Soryu, Asuka Shikinami Soryu, Brown ale, brown sugar, Drink It Down Brown, El Borracho Home Brewing, Evangelion, Home brewing, Neon Genesis Evangelion | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.75/5

Drink It Down Brown by El Borracho Home Brewing is a 4.4% ABV American Brown Ale.

==Introduction==

My friend William Carranza’s attempt at another home brew recipe for one of his favorite beer styles, the American Brown Ale. This ale was brewed using a slight modification to the original recipe using other ingredients. As a result, he realized this was not what he had expected as the last beer was way better. The beer, at the same time, was also more drinkable as well and there for the name, Drink it down Brown was given. I got a chance to try this beer before the review and I liked it despite the fact that he did not so much. Let us take a look at this one, cheers!

Aromas:
Chocolate hints, caramel notes, mild earthy notes, brown sugar, hints of mild coffee, mild raisins, and pecan notes.

Flavors:
Caramel notes, dark chocolate hints, earthy grains, rye, mild coffee, toffee, mild raisin notes, biscuit brad, pecan notes, hazelnut and brow sugar.

Aftertaste:
Nice dry finish with mild chocolate, earthy grains, toffee, caramel and mild dark fruit. No alcohol in the taste, easy to drink and medium body.

Overall:
A pretty good Brown Ale. Will described this one as more of a New Castle like brew. For me, it is still leagues above New Castle and more flavorful at that. While it may not have been a total success for my friend, there were others like myself that really enjoyed this one. The best thing about homebrewing is experimenting sometimes and sometimes batches of beer come out exceptional and sometimes not so much. Regardless, it is still helpful to learn greater methods of brewing along the way. For that, I would recommend it.

Anime Corner:
Asuka Langley Shikinami/Sohryu from Neon Genesis Evangelion was chosen in this pairing once again as it was the best one that suited the pairing based on my friend Will’s pick from the list. Honestly, I agree as this fits well with the whole drink because you are thirsty. The colors represent the brown and the potential the beer has to grow into something more.

Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/KHZ7F0j.jpg

Solitude by El Borracho Home Brewing

April 8, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged American Pale Ale, Cowboy Bebop, El Borracho Home Brewing, Julia, Session beer, Solitude, Spike, William Carranza | Leave a comment

Rating: 3/5

Solitude by El Borracho Home Brewing is 3% ABV Session Pale Ale.

Thanks to my friend William Carranza once again for another sweet beer donation. This beer’s name comes from need to just drink a couple of beers by yourself but still want to chill and not get wasted. Solitude is the kind of beer for the lonely drinker. So this beer will keep you company. Solitude is not necessarily a bad thing as one can use the time to be alone to reflect on a lot of things in life. Especially the good ones and to take action on those positive ideas. Solitude should never be considered as a means to dwell on the negative as it is part of like. This beer is something that can enjoyed while just relaxing in general I’m sure.

Aromas:
Citrus, floral and grassy hops, biscuit bread, maize, mild caramel and apples.

Flavors:
Apples, cereal grains, citrus, mild grassy hops, corn, lager and pilsner notes, caramel and crackers.

Aftertaste:
Finish dry with very little hop and citrus presence. No alcohol in the taste, absolutely refreshing, crisp and mildly clean and is pleasantly easy to drink.

Overall:
An Average to decent beer. Something that is definitely worthy of a beer that you can drink a lot of. It is better than the macros average lagers and has enough flavor to keep it interesting. Session beers are a great thing as they maintain a good amount flavor even if the alcohol is sacrificed allowing more to be enjoyed. While this beer is expected to be mild, it doesn’t disappoint and some of those really nice flavors do stand out.

Anime Corner:
Spike and Julia from Cowboy Bebop were the perfect pairing for this beer. The representation of Solitude is greatly represented by the need to have company but also it is a moment of reflection to make you take action for the next step. Solitude should never be represented with depression but more of making peace with one’s self and keep pushing forward to the next best thing. Spike and Julia’s love story in the series is a sad one which I won’t spoil here. As with drinking this beer, it give yous enough feel good experience without calling it a night. Relax and take in the moment

Bailey Beagle’s Bitchin Brown Ale by El Borracho Home Brewing

March 27, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged American Brown ale, Bailey Beagle's Bitchin Brown Ale, Brown ale, El Borracho Home Brewing, Full Metal Alchemist, William Carranza, Winry Rockbell | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.25/5
Bailey Beagle’s Bitchin Brown Ale by El Borracho Home Brewing is a ~4.6% ABV American Brown Ale.

Another sweet donation from good friend William Carranza. This ale pays tribute to Will’s friend, Brent Rivera, who’s beagle, Bailey, had passed away recently due to medical complications. This is Will’s second beer and it is one that was cleverly named. The Tribute and the named worked. Is it a Bitchin brown ale? Let’s take a look and see.

Aromas:
Chocolate hints, hazelnut, pecans, coconut hints, caramel, earthy hop notes, mild coffee roast, brown sugar and a hint of raisin.

Flavors:
Caramel, hints of coconut, chocolate, rye, coffee hints, earthy notes, mild raisin notes, biscuit bread, brown sugar, hazelnut, toffee, pecans and peanuts.

Aftertaste:

A nice dry finish with a bit of lingering toffee, earthy notes and caramel. No alcohol in the taste, easy to drink even with a medium to full body.

Overall:

A very Bitchin brown ale indeed! There were some flavors in this beer that at different temperatures reminded me of other sweet flavors I would probably find in other beers. It is well crafted and definitely goes to show that anyone with a little know how can make really good beers. Now I just have to get my kit and star brewing soon.

Anime Corner:
Winry Rockbell from Full Metal Alchemist is used in this pairing to pay tribute to man’s best friend. The different shades of brown in this picture coincide with the delicious flavors of this Brown ale. It has different layers of flavors that remind me of other flavors I have seen in other beers, especially the coconut one. The dog in the picture also pairs as this is shows how dedicated the dog is to their owners. A lot of dedication went into making the beer, and if Bailey could drink beer, I am sure she would have enjoy it!

Pisces Pale by El Borracho Home Brewing

February 24, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged El Borracho Home Brewing, English Pale Ale, Home brewing, Pale Ale, Pisces Pale | Leave a comment

Rating: 4/5

Pisces Pale by El Borracho Home Brewing is a 5.8% ABV English Pale Ale.

Thanks to my buddy William Carranza for hooking me up with his first master piece. This is his first beer made and I was given the honor to do a review for him. We both went to beer class together and he took it upon himself to brew his first batch of beer. I will be right behind you brother .

Aromas:
Caramel, grassy and piney hops, grapefruit notes, mango hints, biscuit bread, rye, malt grain and honey.

Flavors:
Earthy, grassy and piney hops, caramel, rye bread, honey, mango hints, biscuit notes, mild toffee, grapefruit, citrus, lemon peel, peanuts, toffee and pecans.

Aftertaste:
Caramel, toffee, earthy, grapefruit hops, peanuts and honey. No alcohol in the taste with easy to moderate drinkability and medium body to it.

Overall:
A very good pale ale. Despite’s Will’s advise about a certain flaw in the beer, I enjoyed it more because I actually enjoyed it better this way. The flaw was that there was more malt concentrated due to the missing extra gallon that was not added to the batch, which case the pale ale to be closer to a red ale,winter warmer or an Extra Special Bitter. While it may not have been what he was looking for in the beer, it ended being great! I love sweet caramel beers and this was just that good in my opinion. The best temperature would be to drink it as cold as possible to get more hop profile out of it. It gets sweeter as it get warmer. There is no off flavors, just nice and sweet stuff. Thanks again Will!

Anime Corner:
Zodiac Sign Pisces original artwork by Deviantart.com artist yuhon was chosen as a pairing to my friends beer to show the name of the beer. Pisces Pale was born in early February 2014 and this with the sign and the name as well as Will’s Zodiac sign, this was the pairing I chose. It make not show case many of the colors of the beer itself, maybe the hops since hops are green, but the vibrant hazel eyes of the fishes and the girl hold its true nature, the flow of a sweet awesome beer. Any other pairing notes that you would like to share, please comment below.