2016 Preservation Series Ride That Bear by The Bruery

April 9, 2016 by cloudx30 tagged Fate Stay Night, Hoppy beer, Imperial Brown Ale, Preservation Series, Preservation Society, Ride That Bear, Rin Tohsaka, The Bruery | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.8/5

2016 Preservation Series Ride That Bear by The Bruery is a 9.2% ABV Imperial Hoppy Brown Ale.

Label:
“GRIN ‘N BEAR IT!”

When you meet a bear in the woods, don’t run or play dead. Ride it! Ride That Bear is an imperial hoppy brown ale. With a sleek malt physique imparting warm, nutty and toasty layers, complemented by California yeast and a particularly excellent sense of smell from dry-hopping, this imperial brown ale is an oso hoppy romp through the California Republic.

==Introduction==

Released for the Preservation, Reserve and Hoarders Society and the public as well. This brown ale was made with bears and California in mind overall. I have tried other hoppy browns before but hoppy browns is usually not common as the browns I have tried typically stick with the English Brown approach as being more malty. Some Ambers are super hoppy to the point of being more of a Red IPA. So with that being said, the only thing that I think would come close is the Stone 18th anniversary Brown IPA which is very rare type of style. It is very delicious either way. With that being said, let’s see how the Bruery makes their attempt at a super hoppy brown ale. Let’s check it out, Cheers.

Aromas:
Caramel, Toffee, crème brulee, pecan pie, hazelnut, piney, grapefruit, grassy, garlicky, earthy, oniony and floral hops, rock candy, dark fruit cherry, currants, tangerine gummies, lemon peel, starburst candy, tropical fruit like pine apple, old mango and honey.

Flavors:
Piney, Grapefruit, grassy, garlicky, earthy, oniony and floral hops, Caramel, Toffee, crème brulee, pecan pie, almond joy, tropical fruit like pine apple, old mango, guava, honey dew melon, peanut butter hints, butter scotch, rye bread, tangerine gummies, lemon peel, starburst candy, orange, herbal spice, yerba buena, honey, hazelnut hints, rock candy, dark fruit cherry, currants and chocolate hints.

Aftertaste:
Finishes with a rush of herbal and tropic hops with caramel, butterscotch, citrus and pecan pie. No alcohol in the taste. Amber Brown medium body, crisp, refreshing and smooth mouthfeel with a moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A very delicious brown ale balancing the sweet and nutty brown ale characteristics with the herbal and tropical hop flavors. The ABV is just right as it increases the mouthfeel and improves the overall experience of trying this one. It reminds me of their Loakal Red but definitely more on the nutty side. Some of the notes do remind me of Stone’s Brown IPA but this one is not as hoppy as that one. I like this one though since there is a nice balance. If you like browns and especially hopped up browns, this is definitely worth the find. A definite recommend.

Anime Corner:
Rin Tohsaka from Fate Stay Night was used in this pairing as I wanted to go with the colors of the label mainly but her hair being brown goes well with the style of the beer. She is in no way a bear really but it is just another excuse to use another favorite character from an Anime series onto a Bruery beer which I have not tried.

Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/lQwPesO.jpg
http://blog-imgs-43-origin.fc2.com/p/s/p/pspnetkatuyou0224/20120123161321fde.jpg

Seven Kingdoms by Game of Thrones and Ommegang

April 9, 2016 by cloudx30 tagged Belgian Wheat Ale, Game of Thrones, Game of Thrones and Ommegang, Hoppy beer, Ommegang, Seven Kingdoms | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.25/5

Seven Kingdoms by Game of Thrones and Ommegang is a 6.9% ABV Hoppy Belgian Wheat Ale.

Label:
OF WESTEROS’ SEVEN KINGDOMS, SIX WERE CONQUERED AND ONE, INDOMITABLE, WAS BROUGHT IN, NOT BY WAR, BUT BY THE SACRED BLOOD TIES OF MARRIAGE.

THIS TRADITIONAL BELGIAN-STYLE WHEAT ALE IS HAPPILY WED TO CITRUSY, HERBAL AMERIC AN HOPS, YIELDING WHEATY MALTINESS AND MODERATE BITTERNESS, WITH ALLURING FRUIT AROMAS AND FULL HOP FLAVORS.

==Introduction==

Obtained this one at Sammy’s VIII Liquor in La Mirada California after visiting my friends Julio and Jeannette’s house. I knew of this beer’s eventual appearance but since I happened to find it, I figure I grab it before I forget. I have reviewed all the different beers in the series thus far and since my friend showed me some episodes of Game of Thrones recently too, I wanted to continue the series. That and the fact that Ommegang makes some of the best Belgian stuff too. This time, they made a hoppy Belgian Wheat to represent the 7 kingdoms. Let’s check this one out and see what it is about.

Aromas:
Banana, clove spice, peppercorns, lemon, floral notes, honey, grapefruit and grassy hops, biscuit bread, stone fruit hints and cane sugar.

Flavors:
Belgian candy sugar, lemon, peppercorns, lemon peel, piney, floral, grapefruit and grassy hops, bananas, clove spice, stone fruit peaches, apricot, lavender, biscuit bread, honey, coriander, phenolic notes, grape hints, waffle cone, tangerine hints, cane sugar and pineapple hints.

Aftertaste:
Finishes with notes of peppercorns, hoppy notes, banana hints, honey, stone fruit and coriander hints.
No alcohol in the taste, clear golden body, crisp, clean, and refreshing mouthfeel and easy to drink.

Overall:
A very good beer that reminds me a lot of the hoppy Belgian Pale Ales I have had before. While it is delicious, there is still nothing too extraordinary that comes to mind. The fact that I love Belgians and Ommegang makes this one really good. Still, this one is nothing too crazy that you won’t find if you try another one of its style. The good thing they do here though is that it works well because it is meant for the newer beer drinkers. Something not too overwhelming is what helps merge the gap between the series and into the craft beer scene. Worth a try for sure.

Anime Corner:
7 Multiple Characters were used from the series Pixiv Fantasia were used to represent the 7 kingdoms. While not accurate to the characters and maybe the lore of Game of Thrones, it was merely a representative where each character would be representative of each of the kingdoms in the story.

Sources:
http://s4.pikabu.ru/post_img/big/2015/05/01/10/1430497744_954661167.jpeg

2014 Preservation Series Oaked Old Richland by The Bruery

December 26, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged American Barleywine, barley wine, Barleywine, dragon fruit, Final Fantasy IX, Freya Crescent, Hoppy beer, Oak aged, Oaked Old Richland, passion fruit, Preservation Society, The Bruery | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

2014 Preservation Series Oaked Old Richland by The Bruery is an 11.1% ABV Hoppy American Barley Wine aged in Wine Oak Barrels.

Label:
Our version of an American Barleywine, Old Richland is quite hoppy with a caramel-like malt base that finishes with a hint of woodiness. Best when consumed fresh as the hop character will dimminish with age.

==Introduction==

Obtained through the Preservation Society membership which is the one that sends 3 beers quarterly. Now since this is the last one of the year and only one sent per membership, I wanted to bring this one forward as this was the last one they released for the year in general. This one is a hoppy barley wine so I assume it will be nothing like the MASH series and more of it’s own beer. The fact that they used a variety of hops (Simcoe, Centennial and Sterling) may make this one super hoppy. The aging in thw ine oak barrels may bring out some of that hidden fruitiness though. We will see, come follow me and let’s take a close look, cheers!

Aromas:
Strong herbal, floral, citrus, piney, grassy and grapefruit hops, vanilla, oak, toffee, caramel, roasted peanuts, peanut butter roast hints, smokey oak, brown sugar, old mango, pineapple, peppercorns, marshmallow smore hints, wine grape hints, almond, pecans, stone fruit apricots, rye bread, leather, passion fruit, honey dew melon and dragon fruit.

Flavors:
Citrus, Piney, Grassy, Grapefruit and floral hops, vanilla, caramel, oak, toffee, apples, smoke hints, graham cracker smores, old mango, pine apple, dragon fruit, honey, stone fruit apricots, rye bread, lemon peel, almond, pecans, earthy hops, marshmallow hints, peppercorn, floral notes, herbs, peanut butter hints, roasty peanuts, wine grapes, orange preserves, honey dew melon and passion fruit hints.

Aftertaste:
Such a bitter and hoppy finish definitive of the barley wines, caramel, oak, toffee, peanuts, vanilla, earthy, piney and citrus hops linger for a bit. No Alcohol in the taste, clear to medium amber brown body, moderate to sipping drinkability and slightly syrupy yet smooth mouthfeel.

Overall:
True to that west coast style Barley wine. Drinks almost like a malty IPA but with lots of hoppy goodness going for it. Quite frankly, I think this is the most hoppy I have ever had from the Bruery and typically, they say no to IPAs or bitter beers. Despite the fact that the wine oak is subtle due to the HOP Super Presence. You still get notes of it.. Such a great beer and best fresh too as this is possible the freshest I have had from them (hop wise). If you would like this beer, I am unsure if you need to trade for it or if they will have extras like they did with Ignis Fatuus which hopefully they will. I can definitively recommend this one if you love close to IPA hopped Barleywines.

Anime Corner:
Freya Crescent from Final Fantasy 9 was brought back for this pairing with the Bruery since she is a favorite character of mine from the series. I this pairing I tried to pair with the colors of the label but also the flavors of the beer. Freya has the perfect colors of the beer as well as the sweet caramel flavors. She is ready for battle to decimate the flavors of the palate with a barrage of sweet and Bitter hops. You can see this from the greens of her clothing which represents the hops and the reds the caramel. The Oak as seen in the armored purple version of Freya brings forth the flavors of the wine and dark fruit like characters while the floating javelins represent the onslaught of hop madness inducing the taste buds all at once and yet being alleviated by the malty sweetness which is poured in like rain.

Sources:
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g289/Aevitas7/Final%20Fantasy/freya_thief.png
http://oi59.tinypic.com/veci2g.jpg

RuinTen a.k.a Ruination Tenth Anniversary (re-release) by Stone Brewing

June 20, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged DIPA, Double Imperial Pale Ale, Double India Pale Ale, food, hop, hop aroma, hop bitterness, hop flavors, Hop Heads, Hop Monster, Hopmaterasu, Hoppy, Hoppy beer, Hops, IIPA, india pale ale, IPA, Ruination tenth, RuinTen, Stone, Stone Brewing, stone brewing co, Stone Ruination, Stone Ruination IPA | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.25/5 *A triumphant fresh return to the golden standard.

RuinTen a.k.a Ruination Tenth Anniversary (re-release) by Stone Brewing is 10.8% ABV 110 IBU World Class Double India Pale Ale

Label:
Back in 2002, we first released out notoriously mega-hopped Double IPA, Stone Ruination PA, and in 2012 we celebrated its 10th anniversary with the release of a very special version that was even bigger and incredibly, even hoppier than the original. If Stone Ruination IPA is “A Liquid Poem to the Glory of the Hop,” then Stone Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA was a “Stage dive into a mosh pit of hops.” Luckily for us, our fans love loud and aggressive brews, specifically when copious amounts of humulus lupulus are involved. The original release of this beer was so instantly beloved by those who dared try it [particularly us] that there was no way we could relegate in one-hit-wonder status. You are holding in your hands a veritable hop monster. We dropped the word “Tenth” but the decidedly indelicate recipe is the same as the one first unleashed in 2012. This belligerently delicious ale has the substantial malt backbone needed to stand up to the whopping five pounds of hops packed into each barrel. If all the hyperbole hasn’t frightened you away by now, we know you’ll love this audacious gem of hoppy splendor just as much as we do. Crank it up!
___

The IPA Gold standard is back with a vengeance. One release was not awesome enough. The second is enough to cause havoc with irreparable damage to the palette and I am sure you will love it. AS I remember correctly from last years beer, this not only was so bitter that it lingered, it actually started burning. Maybe not like a chile heat, but like a real hop plant bitter trip to Hell.

Aromas are just like I remember, a lot of hoppy aromas ranging from grassy, pine needles, grapefruit, herbal, dank, hop oil, tropics to the brim like mango, pineapple, papaya, passion fruit, dragon fruit, citrus, lemon peel, oranges, tangerines and peaches. The flavor are in your face bitter with straight burning hop character, pine needles, dank hop oils, grapefruit, lemon grass, herbs and slight floral notes, some nice biscuit and caramel along with the in between tropics of the citrus, tangerine, peach, mango, pineapple, passion fruit, dragon fruit, kiwis, papaya, lychees and some nice peppery notes. The After taste just lingers in Hopmaterasu ([Unquenshable Black Flames]Naruto reference) burning to the untrained palette. However, if you are willing to continue drinking, on top of those green hellish flames will lie some nice tropical residue to keep you from fading into the oblivion (Leave that part to the alcohol ). Very nice thing those hops do , ain’t that sweet of them. This beer is awesome. It is so awesome that I think it makes it the prime reason why they may only be able to release it one more time. Maybe even release it every year if not. I think that if they were to release it as a yearly, it may or may not detract from the original Ruination. However, it if they did do that, it would be nice to have a variety or Ruination to choose from. You know, Hard mode versus Expert mode sort of thing. Get this beer while you still can. Stop Reading this and go buy this beer before it is gone. As for the Brewery–exclusive-Camp-out-all-night-Black-Friday-style-for-only-enjoy-3-pints-Pliny-the-Younger…. eat it!!!!!!

Still need more convincing about the greatness of this beer? Read my past review

2012 Original Review:
https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2012/10/26/stone-ruination-tenth-anniversary-ipa/

A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ by Lagunitas

May 13, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’, American Pale Wheat Ale, Bleach, flavors, hidden alcohol, Hoppy beer, IPA, Lagunitas, Pale Wheat, Rukia, Rukia Kuchiki, tropical flavor, wheat ale, wheat beer | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.8/5

A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ by Lagunitas is a 7.5% ABV American Pale Wheat Ale

Label:
So, we’re all on collective disability. That’s cool. Let’s put some ice on it and keep ourselves elevated for a while. So, what’s on the tube..? Honey..? Get me a beer from the fridge… Will ya..? Sweetie..? Pleeease..?”
___

I had this beer a couple of times in the past. Haven’t had a chance to review it until as I was able to snag some left over bottles from my friend’s house, he wanted me to keep them.

First aromas you get right off the bat are piney, grassy, herbal and grapefruit hops, honey, pineapple, biscuit bread, apricot, wheat, citrus and a touch of mango.

The flavors are of honey, grassy, herbal, floral, piney and grapefruit hops, caramel, pineapple, wheat, biscuit bread, orange juice, coriander spice, lemon, apricot, mango, candi sugars and some papaya notes.

This is not a very common style, however, with the flavors similar to an IPA but with a lot of tropics and moving into the realms of wheat beer, I say this has got a lot of good tropical stuff going on. It is a very nice beer with well hidden alcohol and great tropical flavor.