Tag Archives: honey

2017 Eclipse Mocha Imperial Stout in collaboration with FiftyFifty Brewing Co. and Craftbeerkings.com

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Rating: 7/7

2017 Eclipse Mocha Imperial Stout in collaboration with FiftyFifty Brewing Co. and Craftbeerkings.com is an 11% ABV Imperial Stout brewed with Honey, Mostra Cold Toddy coffee and cacao nibs

A bourbon barrel aged imperial stout brewed with cacao and cold toddy coffee.

Brewed with Mostra cold brew coffee, and released exclusively through Craft Beer Kings.

This is supremely amazing! Mixed Berry, mocha, chocolate cake and Dulce de leche. Also, has flavors of jelly doughnuts and lots of complexity that is definitely worthy of World Class. One of the best of this year!!!

2017 Iridium Flare collaboration by Bottle Logic and Superstition Meadery

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Rating: 7/7

2017 Iridium Flare collaboration by Bottle Logic and Superstition Meadery is a 13.3% ABV American Strong Ale brewed with Honey and Marionberries aged in Bourbon Barrels.

Label:

Enter level II clearance – Arizona’s Superstition Meadery runs the gauntlet on high scores in the mead area. Our mead-inspired combo breaker is a concentrated punch of sweetness drawn out across a thick, viscous body. Arizona wildflower honey succumbs to the tart brightness of marionberries with bruleed sugar barrel finish. End transmission.

==Introduction==

Holy shit what a find. They say rare treasures are only there for those that look into the deep! What a rare find indeed. Bottle Logic hyped beers are stupidly ridiculously hard to find. If there are any beers in the current age of 2017 that would ask the question, well, whats the latest trend in terms of rare beers, Bottle Logic is it! Or at least their super damn special releases which are ridiculous to get. Like there is no way I could of ever got this bottle and I live locally. Unless I actually made a huge overnight light at Bottle Logic to get a chance to land some of these, they are just not worth it. One of the biggest beers they have is Fundamental Observation along with Number Crunch, Dark Star November, Leche Borracho, Fundamental Forces and so so so many others that are quick to sell out. Hell, it was only this year that they barely even got to a damn retail store let alone not have to pay 100$s of dollars of beers just to get one of their beers. Yea I know, ridiculous right?!?! I however, did not have to do any of this. Granted it was the very damn last bottle I saw by pure fucking luck on my way out of Whittier Liquor Mart. In fact, there was no way, there was just no fucking way I was this lucky to land something like this especially at the store. It’s just not possible. Heck I’m here right now with this beer and I still don’t believe it. But it was true. That damn bottle peered like a ghost who taps you on that cold shoulder but there it was. The last fucking bottle of a beer called Iridium Flare, a beer named after the shooting star effect that happens on the night sky due to the glare that’s given off when sunlight hits a satellite moving at hundreds of MPH. Yes, it was not the most hyped like the others but it had something to back it up for sure, that bottle logic name and a special release written all over it and somehow ended up in my hands with none the wiser as to this being the last bottle. So yeah, when I find something I think might be considered a great lost treasure worth taste and experience, you best believe that this might be it. Let’s have a looks, cheers!!!

Aromas:

Dark fruits of cherries, boysenberies, currants, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, marrionberries, raspberries, pomegranates, cranberries, raisins, plums, figs, dragon fruit, mango, Danish cream, Irish cream, flan, crème brulee, sweetened condensed milk, 3 milks/tres leches cake, mixed berry cordials, fruit cake, banana sundae, mixed berry chocolate mousse, Chambord Raspberry liqueur, steamed milk, whipped cream, bourbon, almond joy and mild oak.

Flavors:

Liquid Berries and Cream! Rich Wild flower honey, orange blossom honey, crème brulee, mixed berry cheese cake, dulce de leche caramel, oak, vanilla, bourbon, maple, biscuit bread, rye bread, bananas, pecan pie, hazelnut nectar, dark fruits of cherries, boysenberies, currants, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, marrionberries, raspberries, pomegranates, dragon fruit, mango, cranberries, raisins, plums, figs, lychees, strawberry short cake, raspberry ice cream, marshmallow smores, toasted coconut, berry almond joys, Danish cream, Irish cream, flan, crème brulee, sweetened condensed milk, 3 milks/tres leches cake, mixed berry cordials, fruit cake, whipped cream, butterscotch, chocolate cherries, pomegranate chocolates, strawberries in cream, banana sundae, grilled plantains, whiskey notes and leathery hints.

Aftertaste:

Long and ever lasting berries and cream, herbal honey, wld flower honey, dark fruits, chocolate, flan, crème brulee, 3 leche cake, mixed berry cheese cake, raspberry Chambord, banana sunday,

No alcohol in the taste, Deep Magenta and Crimson light to medium body, creamy, smooth, syrupy

Overall:

Berries and cream, Berries and cream, I’m a little lad that loves berries and creeeeaaamm!! f y’all don’t remember that commercial from back in the late 90’s then where have you been? Berries and cream was like my mixed berry chocolate and white chocolate. No joke, legit, there is a damn crazy reason why the hell this one is hyped. I swear, I really swear I have tried so many awesome beers and do honestly believe there I better out there, but this? This right here is really ridiculous. I’m really mad because this is so damn awesome and for the longest time I was such as skeptic about some of these beers believing it is all hype. I don’t know what it is but this beer is only a sample of the many beers I have not tried and hope to try granted I could find them and not have to trade for them or get them online. I’m pretty torn because I want to say, you should really check this out if you can get it but I really don’t recommend you go out of your way if you can’t find it. Yes, it is a definitely a bucket lister in so many ways but the fact of the matter is, with the current hype it is just not worth it to get it unless you can find it locally or are really willing to trade for this. Luck is the devil of details, you decide!!

Anime Corner:
Reiko Mikami from the Ghost Sweeper Mikami series was used in this special occasion to pair with the rich colors of berries mixed into this. The reds, the purples, the oranges and even the greens. Whatever you would like to see. However, the other reason why I chose Mikami for this pairing is mainly that as a Ghost Sweeper/Buster she takes down malignant spirits. Being’s of the undead you can only see glimpses of as they blend into this reality like a bad reception of the television. Essentially, like the actual Iridium Flare that cuts through the night sky like butter and a shooting star, Reiko can see them. Let’s be honest, her damn special ghost saber is what cuts those ghosties like butter. In a way, her weaponry is like that of the Iridium Flare, the beer/sattellite that I only got a glimpse of by pure fucking luck and have no way of getting a chance at this again. Let’s see what the future holds, cheers!

 

Barmy by Ballast Point brewing

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Rating: 5.5/6

Barmy by Ballast Point brewing is 12% ABV is an Imperial Golden Ale brewed with Apricots and Honey.

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Made with only six ingredients. Malted 2-row barley, palisade hops, orange blossom honey, White Labs California Ale Yeast, apricots and San Diego carbon filtered tap water. Low bitterness is balanced by tart apricots with a sweet but not cloying finish. Barmy Ale can be aged up to eight years with a strong honey wine character emerging if cellared. Be careful not to be the barmiest of them all.

==Introduction==

Obtained at www.craftbeerkings.com at Plaza Market in El Monte California. I have really been liking some of the new releases for Ballast Point. Especially since they are fish inspired. In this release, they came out with a Golden ale that is 12%. This beer is definitely the strongest, alcohol wise, that I have ever tried form Ballast Point. The others being Sea Monster and Victory at Sea. For a golden and sold in a 6 pack, this is a crazy selection. It will definitely get ya drunk! Being as it was the strongest, I definitely wanted to bring it to the website. Let’s have a look at this new monster, cheers!

Aromas:
Tropical fruit kiwi, honey dew melon, papaya, strawberries, honey, Stone fruit apricot, peaches, lychees, mango, coriander spice, vanilla, tangerine gummies, peppercorns, bananas, clove spice, phenolics, cane sugar, raspberries, biscuit bread and waffle cone.

Flavors:
Rich Stone fruit apricot, peaches, lychees, mango, citrus blossom wild flower honey, orange preserves, tangerine gummies, peppercorns, bananas, clove spice, phenolics, cane sugar, white grapes, pineapple, biscuit bread, rye bread, grapefruit spread, peach cobbler, floral notes, waffle cone, lemon notes, coriander spice, vanilla, raspberries, blueberries, tropical fruit kiwi, honey dew melon, papaya, strawberries, dragon fruit and passion fruit.

Aftertaste:
Finishes with lots of honey, stone fruits, cane sugar, banana, tropical fruit and biscuit bread.
Slight alcohol in the taste, Golden clear in color, smooth, crisp, velvety and refreshing along with a sipping drinkability.

Overall:
An exceptional brew! Something I would definitely love to have more of. Yes it is 12% and it will take a toll right away but still, you can’t beat good beer for the price. Although my only gripe is that while it is complex, the booze does creep up and you can tell it is there. A few years and this will be much better to the point where it will be drinkable better. I highly recommend this one.

Anime Corner:
Princes Zelda from Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild was used in this pairing as I wanted to mainly go with the colors of the label with the orangey yellow fish and the blue sea so the colors worked well. The barrel is essentially an innuendo for her bottom. While it did become a meme when Nintendo focused on Zelda’s rear, the way barrels sit for months is similar to how big butts are big due to long points of sitting around. Although, Zelda isn’t lazy, she’s actually very athletic.

Sources:
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/C_Y70XAW0AEoLJP.jpg
https://img.fireden.net/v/image/1485/02/1485027607142.png
http://i.imgur.com/9yqT4D0.jpg
http://orig05.deviantart.net/2929/f/2017/062/5/a/zelda___breath_of_the_wild_by_genzoman-db11zxo.jpg
https://babylon.naurunappula.com/screen/c1/d1/c1d153ea4ef8777c/0/1390288.png

 

2016 Hoarders Cuvee by The Bruery Terreux

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Rating: 5.5/6

2016 Hoarders Cuvee by The Bruery Terreux is a 12% Sour Blonde ale aged in oak barrels with Honey, and Wheatwine ale aged in Bourbon Barrels with Coconut, Hibiscus, Rose Hips and White Pepper

Label:
An invitation to join our Hoarders Society is the ultimate nod in how far you’ve come in your craft beer journey. Each year as a member, you get access to some of the most elusive and exclusive beers (such as this) and one-of-a-kind experiences, like going toe-to-toe with your peers in blending sessions exclusive to Hoarders.

This Cuvee is as dynamic as the members it competed against to gain top bragging rights in the Hoarders Cuvee blending tournament and be produced by Bruery Terreux in 2016. Designed by Hoarders Society members Kyle Landig, Paul Moore, Cory Townsend and Andy Williams, this Cuvee begins with one of the cornerstones of Bruery Terreux – our oak-aged sour blonde ale. We then premier a new ingredient in a packaged product for the first time in our company’s history: honey. Together with coconut, these two catapult the rich, barrel character found in our bourbon barrel-aged wheatwine ale, which is the second beer in the blend. Hibiscus, rose hips and white pepper balance the oaky, sweet and sour profile, adding a degree of spice and herbal characteristics to the dynamic blend.

==Introduction==

I obtained this beer from the Bruery Reserve as they were having a sale and happened to allow a Hoarders beer to be purchased. While I did try the Bruery’s version of the Cuvee, now I bring forth the Terreux version of the 2016 Cuvee. Amazingly, the Cuvee from the Bruery was far up there as being a one of the best I have ever had. I hope I can say the same for this one. Let’s take a look and see if it is worth seeking out, cheers!

Aromas:
Floral notes of hibiscus, rose notes, lavender, honey, tropical fruit, stone fruit, mild toasted coconut, wine grapes, biscuit bread, vanilla, toasted coconut, chocolate hints and bourbon oak.

Flavors:
Rich oak, Lemon peel, hibiscus, roses, floral hops, lavender, honey, Bourbon, toasted coconut, stone fruit peach apricot, lychee, biscuit bread, vanilla, cocada Mexican coconut candy notes, sweetened condensed milk, strawberries, kiwi, cherries, dragon fruit, passion fruit, lychee fruit, cane sugar, sour apples, wine grapes, Chardonnay, raspberries, white chocolate notes, oranges, tangerine hints, super lactic funk and white wine.

Aftertaste:
Finishes dry with floral notes, coconut, lemon peel, vanilla, oak, honey, oranges, hibiscus, strawberries and biscuit bread. No Alcohol in the taste, clear rose and golden body, crisp, refreshing and effervecent mouthfeel with a sipping drinkability.

Overall:
While it is exceptional and very delicious, I think the balance is the only thing that keeps it from being at the highest it could be. It is mainly tart and the sweetness is here and there but you can still tell there is a lot of complexity in this one. While I feel many who love sours will definitely enjoy this one, if you mainly love sours for its extreme sourness, then this one is an awesome one for you.

Anime Corner:
Aeris Gainsborough from Final Fantasy VII was chosen in this beer since I have yet to review a beer with Aeris but mainly since her colors fit well with the colors and ingredients of the beer. This beer is full of flowers and Aeris is a flower girl so I figure it was the most perfect pairing especially a beer such as this one, the golden cuvee.

Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/Z7iVoXe.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/76/d5/a1/76d5a1334bf885972c8dec13d4511e32.jpg
http://img2.yiihuu.com/860X860/upimg/courses/2016/04/19/1-1461034043-529785.jpg?auto=h
http://images.forwallpaper.com/files/images/6/6c04/6c049fbc/100568/aerith-gainsborough.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/93/b9/b7/93b9b7af4b08eab0082ac228b2d2a8b2.jpg

Peach Honey Wheat Ale by Brew Rebellion

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13029717_10103215772862370_1203381800709438048_o 13055942_10103215767523070_7648361268787291303_oRating: 4.25/5

Peach Honey Wheat Ale by Brew Rebellion is a 6.5% ABV American Pale Wheat Ale with Peaches and Honey.

Label:
No Description.

==Introduction==

Obtained this one through a trade with my friend Neal from work for some of my homebrew. This is one I have seen before but had not had a chance to try it. It is a fruit heffeweizen with honey but unlike mines which is made with Black Cherries, this is made with peaches. One of the first concerns that I had when I originally brewed the beer back in last year was when it tasted kind of tart. This year, it is expected. So the only thing I can tell from this is that this beer, especially since peaches are tart, is that this will be a tart sour heff. Let’s see what this one is about. Cheers!

Aromas:
Honey notes, Funky and tart stone fruit peach, apricots, floral notes, wheat bread, coriander spice, clove spice, wine grape hints, lemon and cane sugar.

Flavors:
Tart Stone fruit Peach, apricots, cane sugar, honey, coriander hints, biscuit bread, wheat bread, citrus, tangerine candy, pineapple hints, wine grape notes, funky floral hints, banana, clove spice, passion fruit, peach cobbler hints, lemon hints and waffle cone.

Aftertaste:
Finishes with tart stone fruit peach notes, honey, floral notes, wine grape hints, wheat bread but mainly dry finish. No alcohol in the taste, honey colored amber light to medium body, crisp, clean and refreshing mouthfeel and an easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A very tart wheat beer that definitely stands out to more of a Berliner weisse with peaches and honey than sweet peach. The honey gets more noticeable as the beer warms up which helps balance the beer. It is definitely nice for those that enjoy sours and this one is delightful. Thanks again to my friend Neal for hooking me up with this brew.

Anime Corner:
Princes Peach Toadstool from Mario Bros. And Samus Aran from Metroid were used in this pairing as I wanted to pair with the name of the beer. Peach being the peach and Samus the honey. The goal I was going with this is that I have used Samus and honey when I made a double IPA last year so trying to find a character that related to honey to go along with Peach was definitely a task. Overall, I like how this one paired up.

Sources:
http://wallpaperswa.com/Games/Mario/mario_samus_aran_solid_snake_peach_princess_peach_1280x1079_wallpaper_1755/download_1600x1200
http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/001/000/209/2d1.png

High Five by Smog City

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12657374_10103068365148610_7851480503901648652_o 12672035_10103068365732440_4725025429044766663_oRating: 4.75/5

High Five by Smog City is a 7% ABV American Amber/Red Ale brewed with 5 different types of honey.

==Introduction==

Got a growler fill at Smog City during the Infinite Wishes event. I was not intrigued at first since I didn’t know what this was made up but when I did the research on spot and verifying that it is made with 5 different kinds of honey, I had to bring it to the site. Definitely very unique as I have not seen a beer that uses variants of an ingredient. It would be like making a beer using different vanilla beans, which would make for a very delicious brew ofcourse. But even so, a 5 honey variant seems even more unique as I have not heard of over 5 different types of honey. Let’s see what this one is about, cheers!

Aromas:
Biscuit bread, vanilla, caramel, rye bread, floral, citrus and piney hops, wild flower honey, banana hints, coriander spice, grape hints, trail mix hints, dark fruit raisins, raspberries, cranberries, pomegranates, blackberries and brown sugar hints.

Flavors:
Wild Flower Honey, Orange Blossom honey, Eucalyptus, Agave nectar, Mezcal hints, biscuit bread, vanilla, caramel, rye bread, floral, citrus and piney hops, dark fruit raisins, raspberries, cranberries, pomegranates, blackberries, figs, dates, grapes, trail mix, granola bars, maple syrup, leathery notes, chardonnay, mead, coriander spice, banana hints, grape jam on biscuit bread, green tea hints and honey dew melon.

Aftertaste:
Finishes with dark fruit flavors raspberries, honey, agave nectar, rye bread, caramel, toffee and brown sugar. No alcohol in the taste. Clear Dark Crimson light body, smooth, crisp, refreshing and creamy mouthfeel with an easy drinkability.

Overall:
A very good and delicious Amber. There is something very different about this brew since you can sense the honey but it is so complex. I have tried like 2 or 3 different types of honey before but never 5 and some of the honeys used actually do give way to other flavors that were not part of the beer as the ingredients. With the blend, it gives birth to these crazy fruit and flowery flavors. A must try for sure!

Anime Corner:
Original bee girls and Suzumebachi from Bleach were used in this pairing to kind of give the sense of different bees produce different kinds of honey which is true. But also, different kinds of flowers produce different honey variants too. With the brew around the whole honey bee theme, I figured it worked very well especially since the colors of the artworks also show some of the colors of the fruits and flavors that this beer has.

Sources:
http://blog-imgs-42.fc2.com/o/t/a/otakunanikki3/moe2019127620sample.jpg
http://rule34-data-009.paheal.net/_images/124e02ff31983a36be6818776db47153/988561%20-%20Bleach%20Suzumebachi.jpg

Limited Edition Shock Top Spiced Banana by Anheuser-Busch

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12628379_10103030124877420_6803492142093299791_oRating: 4/5

Limited Edition Shock Top Spiced Banana by Anheuser-Busch is a 5.5% ABV Belgian-Style Wheat Ale brewed with citrus peels, honey, spice and banana and With Artificial Flavor added.

Label:
None

==Introduction==

So often, crafty beer gets a bad rap for being produced by macrobreweries in order to take up shelf space at the supermarket in place of microbrews. While I do not often review these beers as I prefer local and microbreweries, sometimes I do get free stuff from friends at parties. This one, since I liked it, my friend gave me a bottle. I found this one to be, pretty tasty. Check it out!

Aromas:
Bananas, clove spice, vanilla, caramel, apple pie notes, biscuit bread, cereal grains, hazelnut hints, coriander spice, orange peel, peppercorn, cinnamon, honey, strawberry yogurt hints and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Bananas, coriander spice, orange peel, peppercorn, cinnamon, honey, strawberry yogurt hints, ginger, clove spice, vanilla, caramel, biscuit bread, cereal grains, hazelnut hints, brown sugar, apple pie, pecan pie hints, cane sugar and apples.

Aftertaste:
Finishes with Coriander spice, cinnamon, ginger, banana and strawberry hints. No alcohol in the taste, hazy honey colored body, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel with an easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A very good wheat beer. Despite this one being from a macro, they made a consistent product. The Banana and strawberry yogurt flavors are delicious on this one. I feel while it is a well-made beer, people may not want to try it since it is from a Macro. This one, like the ShockLate are some of my favorites even if they are from Macros. I don’t agree with what they do for the shelve space nor would I go out to buy it but when I like something, I am sure to put it here. So if you like wheat brews you may or may not like this one.

Anime Corner:
Tomoe Mami from Madoka Magica was used in this pairing since I wanted to find a piece of artwork that would go with the colors of the label but also the whole banana them of the beer mainly.

Sources:
http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/moebutasokuho/imgs/c/a/cae75065-s.jpg

Twin Pines Mall by Pipeworks with Emporium The Collaboration

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1658637_10102980547331220_1932392475076049959_o 12241249_10102980547480920_6431256538765047851_n 12391854_10102980547530820_7395160705434236104_n 1495304_10102980547590700_3909746972467944976_oRating: 5.25/6

Twin Pines Mall by Pipeworks with Emporium The Collaboration is an 8% ABV Imperial India Pale Ale brewed with Spruce Tips and Honey.

Label:
Get your DeLorean up to 88 MPH because Pipeworks and Emporium are taking you Back To The Brew-ture. For Twin Pines Mall we furled the Flux Capacitor with 1.21 Jigawatts of spruce tips and wild flower honey. The future is now so drink up before you’re OutaTime. Great Scott!

==Introduction==

Right on time for October 21st 2015 which was supposed to be the time Marty, Doc and Jennifer travelled to the future in Back to The Future II the movie. While the time has been long past, I have been fairly busy with life stuff and have not even had a chance to update the website so I can get the reviews on here. Well, now that it is closer to the end of the year and stuff has slowed down, I have more time! This beer from Pipeworks looks very promising as it is not your typical IPA. Using actual Spruce tips seems very intriguing as that come from Christmas Trees. Knowing almost everything I have had form Pipeworks has been ridiculously awesome, I hope this is as much hyped as the movie was. Cheers!

Aromas:
Lots of Spruce Christmas tree fragrance, stone fruit lychee, apricot, peaches, Starburst candy, lemon candy, lemon peel, lemon zest, tropical fruits like kiwi, guava, papaya, dragon fruit, passion fruit, prickly pear tuna, honey dew melon, raspberries, agave nectar, mangos, coconut hints, marshmallow, sweetened condensed milk, orange preserves, Wild flower honey and hibiscus hints.

Flavors:
Rich Christmas tree spruce, pine cones, piney, grape fruit, dank, oniony, floral, grassy and herbal hops, Wild flower honey, hibiscus hints, tropical fruits like kiwi, guava, papaya, dragon fruit, passion fruit, prickly pear tuna, honey dew melon, raspberries, agave nectar, mangos, stone fruit lychee, apricot, peaches, Starburst candy, lemon candy, lemon peel, lemon zest, tangerine gummy bears, tres leches cake, mango flan, caramel hints, blue basil, coconut hints, marshmallow, sweetened condensed milk and orange preserves.

Aftertaste:
Rich Honey, Christmas Trees, rich tropical fruits, fruit juice, dank hops and sweet vanilla lingers. No alcohol in the taste, mildly hazy golden body, crisp, rich and refreshing mouthfeel with a very easy to drink.

Overall:
Woah, this is heavy! And excellently exceptional. This is a unique IPA in so many ways using a lot of what Pipeworks does best to make exceptional beers. However, with the addition of the Spruce Tips to give off the Christmas tree flavors, the beer is taken to another level that I honestly haven’t tried something like this before. Literal Pine Christmas flavors. A great beer that will definitely meet the needs of a Back to Future and IPA fan alike.

Anime Corner:
Several Anime shows and Characters with all referencing to Back to The Future in this one. I tried to find as many that would definitely fit with the label and the cover of the movies. Definitely glad I found some.

Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/biaB89K.jpg
http://i-7.vcimg.com/58bf373ea663d469c8177a57c184a173296263(600x)/thumb.jpg
http://41.media.tumblr.com/7fd4d44451bdd8d753bef15844adad98/tumblr_mk38c6T6Xj1qkqgkeo1_1280.jpg
http://storge.pic2.me/cm/1680×1050/670/55228a317cab7.jpg

Me So Honey by Belching Beaver

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1836657_10102512397582070_2028154457725020611_o 11150290_10102512402731750_8668501573297868587_nRating: 4.35/5

Me So Honey by Belching Beaver is a 5.5% Blonde Ale brewed with Honey.

Label:
Me So Honey. This Ale brewed with honey is an easy drinking anytime beer. Brewed with local wildflower honey, Me So Honey is smooth on the palate showing its wheat character up front with hints of flower and fruit on a clean, refreshing finish.

==Introduction==

Just in time for spring, although this is a year-round beer, I wanted to bring this forth this time around as I have not reviewed the beer here on the site in the past. The first time I tried this beer was when I was on my way to San Diego and stopped by Belching Beaver brewing. They had awesome beers like my favorite, the peanut butter milk stout, the horchata milk stout and their new one, coconut milk stout which I hope will one day be released to the public in bottles or even growlers. When I first tried it, I was amazed. They really got the rich honey flavors to pop and so when I saw it at the store, I said, screw it, I am bringing it to the site. So let’s take a close look at the bee knees here. Cheers!

Aromas:
Rich honey, biscuit bread, vanilla, floral and grassy hops, cream of what, coriander spice, caramel hints, graham crackers, hazelnut hints, citrus, oranges, stone fruit peach hints, cereal grains, wheat bread, orange peel and cane sugar hints.

Flavors:
Lots of rich honey flavors, vanilla, biscuit bread, floral notes, coriander spices, caramel notes, creamy of wheat, orange peel, pie crust, flan hints, hazelnut nectar hints, graham crackers, grassy and floral hops, stone fruit peach and apricot hints and very mild tropical notes.

Aftertaste:
Rich Honey lingers along with graham cracker notes, floral notes, vanilla, caramel hints and stone fruit hints. No alcohol in the taste, crisp, refreshing and smooth mouthfeel, very drinkable and light to hazy gold body.

Overall:
A very good ale with rich honey notes. Needless to say, it is not the best honey beer as I give that to the Belgian beer Bieken which I had long ago. However, it is the best specific honey flavored ale that is the most drinkable and was the riches specifically with honey. For that, I think it is very awesome and definitely would recommend the seek. It is not overwhelming and is very pleasing to many palates.

Anime Corner:
Q-Bee from Darkstalkers/Vampire Savior was used in this pairing to go with the name of the beer and flavors that come with being a sexy honey bee! She is very sexy and the way she looks at the viewer with the honey is very seductive and suggests that she really wants that honey and more! What a perfect and honey sweet pairing we have here.

Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/px18Dz0.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/ad/f6/08/adf608498def22881d899baed8bd03cd.jpg

Sure Bet by Pipeworks brewing

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10504987_10102414844688850_6179940178280750143_oRating: 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

Marionberry Braggot by Rogue brewing

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994441_10102341253356470_2325014001311510069_nRating: 5/5* As far as Braggots go.

Marionberry Braggot by Rogue brewing is an 11.42% ABV Braggot brewed with marionberries and honey.

Label:
We made this braggot with our own marionberries, hops, barley, and honey. Situated across from 40 acres of Rogue hops, 119 Colonies of bees were carefully kept, fed, and smoked and the honey was uncapped, extracted, filtered and finally infused into a refreshing Marionberry Braggot.

17 INGREDIENTS: Rogue Farms Honey & Wildflower Honey; Rogue Farms Dare™, Risk™, Dare™ R-1, Dare™ R-3, Risk™ R-1, Risk™ R-3, Risk™ R-7, Maier Munich & C120 Malts; Rogue Farms Flaked Rye; Rogue Farms Rebel Hops; Rogue Farms Marionberries & Marionberry Juice; Free Range Coastal Water & Pacman Yeast.

==Introduction==

A Braggot is a style of fermented drink brewed in the 12th century. Blending spices, herbs, mead (honey wine) and beer. This is the first time I try a Braggot and frankly I don’t know what to expect. It is much closer to a mead and a beer so I will take it as I can. I have never had marionberry either but they do look a lot like dark raspberries or a blackberry. I can only apply so much of my beer expertise to this one and since it is a hybrid of a mead and beer, I can only do as best I can. Lets dig into this one shall we? Cheers!

Aromas:
Marrionberries?, Dark fruits like raisins, plums, cherries, raspberries, blackberries, earthy notes, rye bread, vanilla, caramel, honey, ginger spice, herbal notes, flowers, lavender, pomegranates, brown sugar and pecan pie, and milk chocolate.

Flavors:
Rich dark fruits like raisins, figs, marionberries?, dark cherry, raspberries, blackberries, currants, pomegranate, spices, rye bread, earthy notes, green tea, honey, herbs, toffee, biscuit bread, vanilla caramel, slight hint of flan, ginger spice, cinnamon hints, flowers, lavender, wild flower nectar, pecan pie and almond joy chocolate.

Aftertaste:
Leaving with some herbal yet sweet honey and rich berry sweetness behind with caramel, vanilla and earthy notes. No alcohol in the taste regardless of the ABV, dark brown body, easy to moderate drinkability despite the ABV and creamy, smooth and mildly syrupy mouthfeel.

Overall:
Since I can’t judge a Braggot since since this type of drink is so rare, I can only say for being my first kind I really like it and I think it is perfect. The rich flavors are sweet but there are is a sense of herbs and some hidden spices that balances everything out so it is not like an ale in that sense. This reminds me of Dogfish Head Forte in a way. Also, the alcohol is not even present which is concerning since it is easy to drink. Not that I would have a problem with it but trying to drink the whole thing would be like a night capper. For being the first Braggot I try, I definitely recommend it if you like fruit like ales or meads. I would gladly get this again.

Anime Corner:
Asuka Langley Shikinami/Sohryu and Mari Illustrious from Evangelion were used in this pairing to pair with the colors of the bottle, the color of the ingredients of the beer such as the variety of berries and the honey ofcourse. With the mix of Mari’s Brown hair (Body color), pink plug suit(Marionberries) and Asuka’s caramel colored hair(caramel and honey), Red plugsuit (Cherries and other dark fruits), Green plugs, (hops) and the birds (like the beers around the honey) this was the greatest pairing I could find for this beer. I really enjoyed the colors overall and the 12% ABV is mainly due to the fact that these 2 ladies are very very deadly and complete badasses. They are smooth as they are sexy but once they get you, your are done for!

Sources:
http://konachan.com/post/show?md5=9b816627b61bd4f0be82ec6d148452d5

Shock Top Honey Bourbon Cask Wheat by Anheuser-Busch

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10570285_10101997010412090_6529609995414045720_nRating: 1.75/5

Shock Top Honey Bourbon Cask Wheat by Anheuser-Busch is a 5.5% ABV Belgian-Style Wheat Ale brewed with honey spices and aged in bourbon cask staves.Label:
Ale brewed with Honey and Spices, aged on bourbon cask staves, with natural flavor.
___

Got this at a party and I wanted to give it a shot as I have tried the other shock tops before. The name was intriguing so I really wanted to see what this one was about. Some ‘Crafty’ beers are not that bad and I am always willing to try something new. If something sounds like it might be good I will give it a try. While Shock Top mainly falls between, well, mostly average, there are some that are really good like last winters Vanilla bean and Cocoa nib one. Either way, I pretty much like to take one for the team and basically show you if the crafty beer is worth your money and time or even just worth your time which in my case, I get freebies from friends. Cheers!

Aromas:
Lots of honey, definitely not artificial at least, maybe too overwhelming, caramel, wheat, grains, burnt sugar, very tiny hints of bourbon and cough syrup.

Flavors:
Honey comb, honey syrup, card board grains, coriander spice, cough syrup, wheat, caramel hints, hardly any to zero bourbon.

Aftertaste:
Honey, cardboard graininess but mostly dry. No alcohol in the taste, syrupy mouthfeel, easy to medium drinkability.

Overall:
Well, I should have expected this, but even all the other shocktops weren’t like this. This one I honestly think is the worst in the shocktop line so far. I really tried to give this one a shot and I really had hopes this would taste as good as the bourbon vanilla Project 12 they had which I had at a Super Bowl party earlier this year. Unfortunately this was not to be. The beer is no balanced. The honey is overwhelming and then quickly bait and switches for graininess. What surprises me most is that their Chocolate one from last winter was the best one of their series but this one truly is the worst. Although one good thing is that at least it is not Miller Fortune. Think about it before you actually try this, the sweetness might be too overwhelming. I won’t drain pour, at least I got to try it, but I will definitely not be getting this again.

Anime Corner:
Original bee girl was used in this pairing to basically represent the aspect of honey and the colors of the label. I wish the beer was better to do it more justice but the concept of bourbon honey beer is what really drives it.

Sources:
http://blog-imgs-42.fc2.com/a/y/u/ayutube/news4vip_1390037407_101s.png

 

 
 
 

 

Suede collaboration between 10 Barrel, Stone and Blue Jacket Breweries

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1381783_10101447276428400_669711275_n 1380276_10101447276488280_1337927881_n 1383718_10101447276558140_1166499879_nRating: 4.5/5

Suede collaboration between 10 Barrel, Stone and Blue Jacket Breweries is a 9.6% ABV Imperial Porter brewed with Calendula Flowers, Jasmine and Honey

Label: 
Due to our participation in at least a half a dozen collaborations each year, one might perceive Stone as the craft beer equivalent of a bee flitting indiscriminately from one brewery to the next, all the while drawing precious nectar-the expertise and creativity of those institution’ brewmasters. Another buzzy operation that gets the same rap is Bluejacket, a new, Washington, D.C.-based operation headed by industry veteran and constant collaborator Megan O’Leary Parisi. But make no mistake, Stone and Bluejacket are intensely selective about the contemporaries we invite into our brewhouses. We look for the same high level of passion and daringness to flip a beer style on its head that we employ on a baily basis. So, when Parisi and Stone brewmaster Mitch Steele decided to collaborate, it was essential that they tap a special individual to complete their triad of fermentation domination, and they found just that in Tonya Cornett, the brewmaster at Bend, Oregon’s 10 Barrel Brewing Company. Together, they decided on a sturdy yet velvety base of imperial porter and developed a plan to celebrate the bounty of the environs in which it was produced by harvesting avocado honey, jasmine and calendula flowers (some from our very own Stone Farms)and infusing them into the beer to create something complex and uniquely Southern Californian. Consider it craft cross-pollination at its finest.

“Suede evokes thoughts of richness, color and, most of all, a soft, seductive texture-everything we wanted for this beer.”
Tonya Cornett//Brewmaster, 10 Barrel Brewing Company

“There’s always something to learn from someone and vice versa. You can talk about brewing all the time, but it’s not until brewers put their heads together that they really learn how the other thinks.”
Megan O’Leary Parisi//Brewmaster, Bluejacket

“I normally don’t think of brewing imperial porters outside of the winter season, but the addition of local honey and jasmine will make this beer an all-season wonder.”
Mitch Steele//Brewmaster, Stone Brewing Co.
___

Recently released and soon to hit all Stone Brewery markets, this is the latest collaboration beer release from Stone brewing. This years releases have beer some of the best. Coffee IPA and Wheaton Woot Stout being some of best ever. Let us check this one out and see how it goes. Looking at the ingredients, this one will probably be another porter, or something completely different.

Aromas are of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, mocha, black and blue berries, honey, vanilla, caramel, flowery notes, molasses, jasmine, perfume and anise

Flavors are of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, blueberries, blackberries, grape preserves, honey, flowers, raisins, plum notes, vanilla, molasses, earthy hops, espresso, marshmallows, mocha, caramel, chocolate cake with raisins and pecans

The aftertaste is of bitter espresso, dark chocolate, berries and and some earthy flowery notes. The mouthfeel is silky. Little alcohol presence but definitely a sipper

Overall it a very good beer. Lots of sweetness but also decent bitterness. Although the bitterness started to leave as the beer got warmer. This made the beer super pleasant. It was very enjoyable after I let it warm up. Definitely recommend this one and definitely take your time with it.

The Zombies Take Manhattan Imperial Zombie Killer by B. Nektar Meadery

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1235139_10101385075025510_1873119161_n 601378_10101385076163230_1171027814_n 598511_10101385077340870_357269747_nRating: 5.25/5 *Mead Rating

The Zombies Take Manhattan Imperial Zombie Killer by B. Nektar Meadery is a 12%ABV Imperial Mead fermented with Apple, honey and cherries added then aged in rye whiskey barrels

Label: 
We thought we had them under control. The antidote was working. But life, or even death, finds a way. After a year of successful treatments, their bodies stopped responding and grew nearly twice their normal size. Now they’ve overrun the city. I fear it’s too late for mankind. They’re coming… B. Afraid
___

Thus begins, the second chapter in the story of the zombie killers. Equipped with a sweeter and stronger tasting arsenal, I am sure will be awesome. This is the second Mead I get to try and the barrel aged version of the one I had reviewed which was very delicious. Check out the first chapter here: https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2013/09/12/zombie-killer-cherry-cyser-by-b-nektar-meadery/

Aromas are of vanilla, strong cinnamon, apples, cherries, raspberries, rye bread notes, whiskey, green tea, chamomile, hibiscus, caramel, mint, flowers, brown sugar and oak

The flavors are of rye bread, rye whiskey (not over powering at all but delicious), apples, dark cherry and raspberry yogurt, cherry cobbler, vanilla, cinnamon, mint, chamomile, hibiscus, butterscotch, slight smokey from the oak, pine tree, spices, brown sugar and flowers.

The after taste is of oak, cinnamon, apples, cherry and rye taste. No alcohol presence in the taste, going down, Nothing!! This is way to easy too drink, way too easy for it’s own good. I said it’s own good, not mine. If were to drink 6 of these I would become a zombie and I wouldn’t even know it

Overall, it went past the original. The insane part of this mead is that the whiskey is very hidden. So hidden that it is kind of dangerous as it is very smooth. No alcohol burn no nothing. The only part that is strong is the rich and delicious flavors. The second and possibly the last chapter in the zombie series for B. Nektar brings forth some really undead and unbelievable tale of a mead. Let’s just put it this way, for 12%ABV, I get slighter alcohol strength to some degree in like let’s say barrel aged beers. For those I don’t, they did an awesome job with their complex blend. This may not be super complex like a special Barrel aged stout for example, but it becomes champion of fooling the population. No wonder the zombies took over. 

Zombie Killer Cherry Cyser by B. Nektar Meadery

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1235004_10101384039914880_1366539685_n 1238924_10101384041107490_727514236_n 1185353_10101384044974740_812140037_nRating: 5/5 *Mead Rating

Zombie Killer Cherry Cyser by B. Nektar Meadery is a 5.5% ABV Mead made with apples, honey and cherry juice

Label:
Dedicated to the freaks and geeks! What started as a top-secret experiment with Michigan honey, cherries and apple cider became a viral epidemic. It won’t be easy to service, so grab your weapons and don’t forget this bottle for backup! Serve cold…. zombies hate the cold…. B. Ware GrrrHaarrhUrrgh…
___

So here is my first attempt a reviewing a Mead. A Mead (according to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mead) is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey and water. Honey and water can also be added to a grain mash then strained after fermentation. Some people add spices, fruits and other ingredients to create different types of meads. So in the list of different type of Alcoholic beverages, this is basically a honey wine. Sweet stuff, expect it that way

Aromas are of apple jacks, cinnamon, cherry, flowers, vanilla, honey, hibiscus, chamomile, grapes, raspberries, cranberries, light biscuit notes and mint

Flavors are of rich tart black cherry yogurt, apples, cinnamon, vanilla notes, honey, Jamaica (Hibiscus Flowers drink), chamomile tea notes, elderflower notes, biscuit bread notes, raspberries and cherry cobbler at the end.

Aftertaste is quite sweet with honey lingering and tart cherry presence. Very easy drinking, sweet but not ultra sweet. The honey and spices give it a nice mellow flavor which doesn’t over power with too much sweetness. The level of sweetness actually seems very natural

Overall, this is a very amazing, what can I say. I could drink this all the time. It is almost like borderline cider and wine but rich in honey. Find this in time for the apocalypse before it is over and they are all gone. The Zombies have taken over Manhattan is the next chapter in this crazy episode of Mead releases of the apocalypse. Don’t Miss it, it will be awesome!!!

Chateau Jiahu by Dogfish Head

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934894_10101169744225160_939094302_nRating: 4.45/5

Chateau Jiahu by Dogfish Head is a 10%ABV Herbed Ale brewed with honey and hawthorn fruit and fermented with grape juice.

Label: 
9,000 year old Chateau Jiahu stands apart as the most ancient, chemically-attested alcoholic beverage in the world.”; “Its re-creation is based on painstaking excavation by Chinese archaeologists of Jiahu in the Yellow River basin, state-of-the-art microanalysis of pottery residues by American laboratories, and the inspired “Neolithic” brewing of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. Chateau Jiahu, then as now, opens a window into the world of our ancestors
___

It has been ages since I first had this beer. Back then when I bought it in 2011, I was fairly new to beer reviews and such. It has been almost exactly 2 years since my last review so I decided to get this one to give it another go.

Aromas of this beer are of honey, white grapes, biscuit bread, flowers, peach, pear, champagne, apples, very slight estery banana cloves, slight pilsner sugars and peppercorn. The flavors are white grapes, pears, apples, apple cider, champagne, lots of honey sweetness, pilsner sugars, pomegranite, slight cloves, slight coriander, slight peppercorn, flowers, vanilla and biscuit bread. To be honest, this is closer to a dessert white wine. It is fantastic and delicious, yet the pilsnery effect makes it where it is reminicent of a lager but very very nice and amped. First of all, for being 10%ABV, there is no sense of alcohol and because of it’s drinkability, it would taste awesome to anyone who is not really into craft beer. This is a magnificent beer and one I would introduce to people who are new into craft beers. Definitely a recommend for many to try. Just be careful since at 10%ABV, the beer is so good, one could easily finish it the bottle

 

2011 Review:
A rare piece of beer here. Smells of fruit and honey. The bitterness and alcohol are very masked by the honey and grape sweetness. Some what of a earthy after taste, Highly recommended if found . The beer itself has a history(Beeradvocate.com) “Inspired by a beverage found in clay posts in China around 9000 years ago. In keeping with historic evidence, Dogfish brewers used pre-gelatinized rice flakes, Wildflower honey, Muscat grapes, barley malt, hawthorn fruit, and Chrysanthemum flowers. The rice and barley malt were added together to make the mash for starch conversion and degradation. The resulting sweet wort was then run into the kettle. The honey, grapes, Hawthorn fruit, and Chrysanthemum flowers were then added. The entire mixture was boiled for 45 minutes, and then cooled. The resulting sweet liquid was pitched with a fresh culture of Sake yeast and allowed to ferment a month before the transfer into a chilled secondary tank.”