Rating: 5/5
Rating: 5/5
Hoptopia by Hermitage Brewing is an 8% ABV Imperial India Pale Ale
Description:
Hoptopia is Hermitage Brewing Company’s flagship IPA. This amber colored beer has a great aroma that is a mixture of piney, citrus, and floral hop notes. This hop forward beer has a piney hop flavor, mixed in with some grapefruit-like character, and balanced by a toasted malt flavor with hints of caramel. Hoptopia is a well balanced IPA that is remarkably approachable and easy drinking.
**This beer has no affiliation with Hoptopia.com or the Hoptopia iPhone and Android apps.**
Super hop freshy!!
Rating 6/6
Dig My Earth by Brouwerij West is an 8% ABV Vermont style Imperial India Pale Ale brewed with Mecca Grade Barley and Raw Wheat. Heavily hopped with Amarillo, Simcoe, and Centennial.
New England style, no easier to get than standing in line overnight camping for beer…. super orange juicy tropics…. yessssss!!
Rating: 6/6
2017 Doom by Founders brewing is a 12.4% ABV Imperial India Pale Ale aged in Bourbon Barrels.
Commercial Description:
Previously known as Hand of Doom.
Doom may be impending but that doesn’t mean you have to fear it. A collision of worlds, the intense hop character of our Imperial IPA mingles with the warm vanilla and oak notes imparted from the time spent in our favorite bourbon barrels. Like all good things, Doom comes to those who wait.
==Introduction==
The next installment in the Barrel Aged series of Founders Brewing is now available. This time, it is a barrel aged IPA/Barleywine. While many people might shun away from anything IPA aged, some barrel aged IPAs, when done well, can be amazing. You are literally drinking an American Barleywine. Essentially malty beverage goodness that is hopped up to hell to meet up with the hopheads. While I have loved many in the Founder’s series, it was this one I wanted to bring to the site. Let’s see how it is, cheers!
Aromas:
Piney, Grassy, grapefruit, danky grassy, grapefruit and oniony hops, bourbon, oak, vanilla, caramel, biscuit bread, rye bread, Danish cream, waffle cone, maple syrup hints, cane sugar, butterscotch, whiskey, smokey wood, honey, dark fruit raisins, prunes, banana, mango, raspberries, stone fruit peaches, tamarind, caramel, toffee, butterscotch and stone fruit peaches.
Flavors:
Super rich honey comb, rye bread, honey, waffle cone, maple syrup, Danish cream, vanilla, toasted coconut, oak, bourbon, whiskey, smokey wood, caramel, toffee, butterscotch, piney, herbal, floral, dank garlicky and oniony hops, funky wine and cheese party, dulce de leche caramel, flan, fruit cake, dark fruit raisins, prunes, banana, champagne, mango, raspberries, peaches, tamarind notes, tangerine gummies, kumquats, stone fruits, peaches, apricots, apples, herbal notes, earthy hop notes, white chocolate hints, peppercorn, pecan pie, hazelnut nectar, flan and 3 leches cake.
Aftertaste:
Finishes with lots of dark fruit, honey, waffle cone, super piney, grassy notes, oak, bananas, bourbon, caramel, vanilla, flan and champagne. Slight alcohol in the taste but not detracting from the great flavors. Amber honey clear boyd, smooth, crisp, velvety, refreshing and chewy mouthfeel along with a sipping drinkability.
Overall:
I must say, despite the fact that the purist say IPA cannot be aged, essentially, barrel aging gives way to a new beer. While I think it is mainly in the ranks of a barleywine that is bourbon barrel aged, the grassy, piney, grapefruit west coast style that still floats in these beers is what is still trying to pull forward as an IPA, yet, in the Barleywine or American Strong styles. Reminds me of the day when I finally got to try the Stone Ruination Barrel aged and realized it was awesome despite being an aged IPA. Yes, if you think about it in a sense of it really being an American aged barleywine, it is essentially what this is and I highly recommend you find it and try it.
Anime Corner:
YoRHa No.2 Type B/ 2B/ 2E “Executioner” from Nier: Automata was chosen in this pairing as I wanted to pair mainly with the colors of the beer label. The dark and yellow colors pair well with 2B. Also since 2B is an executioner, and she is representative of death, the name of the beer also works as she brings Doom to enemies she fights. This beer won’t kill you but the ABV will surely mess you up but that’s nice!
Sources:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C2c6n0EVQAEGy02.jpg
https://s5.postimg.org/m4hhq81ad/image.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/S5v4LE9.jpg
http://konachan.com/image/3d8695e759610cffdb03c19864df8796/Konachan.com%20-%20234402%20ass%20boots%20dress%20gloves%20gray_hair%20headband%20kinohara-kossuta%20nier%20nier%3A_automata%20panties%20robot%20short_hair%20sword%20underwear%20watermark%20weapon.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C8A2lcgW0AIWqb_.jpg
http://orig09.deviantart.net/cd4a/f/2017/164/a/4/2b_by_tsuaii-dbckcd6.jpg
Rating: 4.95/5
Stone Give Me IPA or Give Me Death collaboration by Stone Brewing in Virginia is a 8 % ABV Imperial India Pale Ale brewed with Raspberries & Blackberries from the commonwealth of Virginia
Label:
Virginia Commemorative Collaboration
An Imperial Tribute to Richmond & the rise of craft beer independence.
Just as Patrick Henry once stood addressing the city of Richmond in 1775 to spur resistance against the tyrannical British Empire, 20 years ago we were stirred to join the cry for resistance against the tyrannical oppression of industrial beer. And now, the opening of our Richmond brewery is yet another shot in the salvo that has been fired on behalf of American brewing independence. If we wish to brew free, if we mean to retain our identity and preserve the privilege of access to independent craft beer, we must recognize it is a group effort. We do not stand alone. And so, on our new brewing grounds, we gathered with fellow craft breweries and “His Excellency,” Governor McAuliffe, to join together in force. A group cry of freedom & independence! Consider this aggressively hopped imperial IPA, jam-packed with Virginia raspberries and blackberries, a testament to our passion and unwillingness to settle or sell out! We think Patrick Henry would be proud, and hope you will be too.
Our Collaborators
Ardent Craft Ales
Hardywood Park Brewery
His Excellency Terry McAuliffe, Virginia Governor.
==Introduction==
The second release from Stone’s new brewery in Virginia in collaboration with local facilities and government. The first was the stout made with the same ingredients. This time, its an IPA. Fruited IPAs have varied responses in the communities. I personally love fruit IPAs but with one being made with the tribute of the state and Stone’s location is quite the honor. Even the name is rings history as I uses the quote used in Patrick Henry’s speech, “Give Me Liberty of Give Me Death” during the American Revolution. So with that being said, let us see how this beer is, cheers!
Aromas:
Tropical fruit papaya, kiwi, passion fruit hints, guava, floral, piney, citrus, grassy grapefruit and earthy hops, biscuit bread, vanilla, lemon peel, wild flower honey, biscuit bread, lychee fruit, honey dew melon, tangerine gummies and cherry notes.
Flavors:
Citrus, grapefruit, floral, grassy, piney and earthy dank hops, biscuit bread, lychee fruit, honey dew melon, tangerine gummies, tropical fruit papaya, kiwi, passion fruit hints, guava, starburst candy, wild flower honey, Raspberries, blackberries, cherry, pomegranate strawberries, pineapple, mango, stone fruit hints, kumquats, lemon peel and vanilla notes.
Aftertaste:
Finishing with Raspberries, blackberries, dank dry, citrus, grapefruit, oniony and earthy hops, tropical fruit, honey, stone fruit hints and lemon peel. No alcohol in the taste. Amber clear body, crisp, refreshing and smooth mouthfeel along with an easy to moderate drinkability.
Overall:
A very good IPA although the Raspberries and Blackberries are subtle. They shine more in the after taste it seems as the overall beer is more of a delicious IPA in general. While I feel this could have used more of the raspberry and blackberry flavor, it is subtle enough that it will not offend people that do not like fruited IPAs. In fact, in that aspect, this is a winner for sure. Worth trying for sure!
Anime Corner:
Jenny X-J9 Wakeman from MLAATR was chosen in this pairing as I wanted to pair mainly with the colors of the beer but also the aspect that makes the name of the beer, which is bravery. Being brave is what would make someone make a stand for what they believe in. Jenny is a very brave fighter and a hero. So while I did use other art pieces that I like with this one, the one where she is stopping the falling meteorites is very brave representing the name.
Sources:
http://orig09.deviantart.net/0181/f/2015/137/a/c/jenny_rocks_by_14_bis-d8triub.jpg
https://brewerianimelogs.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/86ff7-robotic_friends_by_ry_spirit-d5slsz0.jpg
http://2static.fjcdn.com/large/pictures/b6/7b/b67ba3_5988473.jpg
http://static1.fjcdn.com/comments/Dat+metal+_07d34f25e915e50a0d8d0e1325a5394e.jpg
Rating: 5.4/6
Stone Enjoy by 09.05.2016 Unfiltered IPA by Stone brewing is a 9.4% ABV Imperial India Pale Ale brewed.
Label:
Our all-important, hop-driven quest to deliver the most devastatingly fresh IPA on the planet facilitated a paradigm shift in 2012 with the launch of Stone Enjoy By IPA. Not only did we brew this beer with more than 10 different hops, we brewed it specifically NOT to last. For this version of Stone Enjoy By IPA, we thought: “We don’t always have to filter, so why should our beer?” By Skipping a step and letting this devastatingly fresh, golden-hued double IPA go unfiltered, the beer takes on a haze appearance and its peach and tropical fruit hop aromas are intensified. So though it may sound like it, this missed step was no misstep.
Acclaimed for its ground breakingly short shelf life, this intense double IPA brought forth a whole new concept of what constitutes “fresh”—guaranteeing fans the ultimate level of hoppiness. For Stone Enjoy By Tangerine IPA, we added the tangy zeal of a mandarin fruit’s juicy nectar. The result…freshness has never tasted as ripe for the picking as this does right now.
==Introduction==
The review is late than when I first tried the beer which was back in August 6th 2016. Typically, I take notes on the beer as I try them and then compose my overall presentation at a later time. So as fresh as this beer was back when I tried it, it no longer is today according to Stone Freshness standards. Don’t worry though, there will be more releases of this one in the future. This release comes with the rise of an interesting trend in the East Coast where the “New England” or “Unfiltered” IPAs are setting a trend. Essentially those are the ones that are more tropical fruit forward than their west coast garlicky piney cousins. With the use of more modern hops and brewing processes, these beers have been like drinking juice. Let’s see how this one is, cheers!
Aromas:
Tropical fruits like papaya, mango, honey dew melon, dragon fruit, passion fruit, lychee, kiwi, citrus, grapefruit, floral, garlicky, oniony, herbal, piney and grassy hops biscuit bread, orange juice, honey, strawberry, cherry notes, oregano, stone fruit peaches, apricot, plums, kumquats, tangerines, citrus peels, grapefruit peels, lemon peel, starburst candy and sweetened condensed milk hints.
Flavors:
Rich dank hop flavors or citrus, grapefruit, floral, garlicky, oniony, herbal, piney and grassy hops, Rich tropical fruits like papaya, mango, honey dew melon, dragon fruit, passion fruit, lychee, coconut hints, stone fruit peaches, apricot, plums, kumquats, tangerines, citrus peels, grapefruit peels, lemon peel, starburst candy, sweetened condensed milk notes, honey, strawberry, cherry notes, oregano, basil, Italian herbs, orange juice, Mango tang, biscuit bread and kiwi hints.
Aftertaste:
Finishes with the dank oniony, floral, and garlicky hop notes tropical notes, stone fruits, honey, citrus and grapefruit peels linger. No alcohol in the taste, easy to drink despite the ABV, Golden hazy medium body, silky, crisp, clean and refreshing mouth feel.
Overall:
An exceptional brew. I am not sure if the appearance adds to the experience, but the flavors are definitely enhanced from the regular version. It seems more of the hop resins would appear keeping the beer more fulfilling than if it was filtered. This is true in homebrews as filtering processes for homebrew is difficult unless you are kegging but that yeast sediment will stay at the bottom of the bottle to carbonate. Professional brewers leaving the sediment to leave the beer cloud I feel actually makes it way better which in this case, it is what makes it damn delicious. Definitely pick it up when it comes out again.
Anime Corner:
Morrigan Aensland from Dark Stalkers Cosplaying as Cammy White from Street Fighter was used in this pairing as I have used Morrigan for past “Enjoy Bys.” However, this being a variant in terms of being unfiltered, I wanted to go with Morrigan being uncensored. Well, I need to keep it somewhat moderate so her being dressed up as Cammy exposes just a little more.
Sources:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/2f/ff/f9/2ffff948e57dbfd98c4cfafa8968cc0b.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cnk59iVVMAI5CYN.jpg
http://img09.deviantart.net/10c1/i/2010/110/a/4/morrigan_as_cammy__blue_sky__by_ziconviene.jpg
http://pds12.egloos.com/pmf/200808/31/45/f0000745_48bab16a1aa13.jpg
Rating: 5/5
Working For The Weekend by Spiteful Brewing is a 7.9% ABV Double India Pale Ale.
Label:
None
==Introduction==
Received this awesome brew from my friend Aaron Mendiola, webmaster at BeerMetalDude.com. The first time I saw this beer I thought to myself “Best…. Label…EVER!!” Then I find out Spiteful Brewing makes some very awesome label artwork. Hilarious stuff like the Selfie beer..LMFAO!!!! Aside from being hilarious and artistic, I have the privilege to try a beer from them and seeing how I am enjoying their artistic work, Let’s see how their beer is. Cheers!
Aromas:
Tropical fruits, dragon fruit, passion fruit, kiwi, guava, papaya, mango, citrus, piney, grapefruit, floral, herbal, grassy and piney hops, stone fruit peach notes, biscuit bread, vanilla, tangerine peels and lychee fruit.
Flavors:
Rich citrus, piney, grapefruit, floral, herbal, dank garlicky, grassy and juicy hops, tropical fruits like papaya, mango, pineapple, guava, kiwi, honey dew melon, prickly pear, dragon fruit, passion fruit, mint, stone fruit peach notes, apricot, sweetened condensed milk notes, vanilla, tangerine candy and starburst.
Aftertaste:
Finishing very hoppy with lots of tropical fruits, vanilla, stone fruit, grapefruits, citrus, and sweetened condensed milk. No alcohol in the taste, Golden light to medium body, smooth, creamy, crisp, clean and refreshing mouthfeel with an easy to moderate drinkability.
Overall:
A perfect Double IPA. So damn juicy, I could swear there is actual fruit in there. Reminding me a lot of the Pipeworks IPAs, Chicago is really really hitting it out of the park with their breweries. I was super stumped. Perfect Double IPA and an awesome artwork. You can’t ask for more from the art and tasting experience. Surely, this is hopefully one of many I will hopefully get to try in the future. Definitely recommended highly!
Anime Corner:
Sayaka-Chan by Gashi-Gashi was used in this pairing to represent the working dude on the label, office attire and all. I think that’s about it. As simple as it maybe I really like how the colors blend well with the individual colors of the label. Even the fruit flavors.
Sources:
http://i4.pixiv.net/c/1200×1200/img-master/img/2015/12/25/00/14/28/54214095_p4_master1200.jpg
Rating: 4.85/5
Beer #88 Ginormous by Gigantic brewing is an 8.8% ABV Imperial IPA.
Label:
Developed in a secret testing facility deep in S.E. Portland Ginormous is powered by Seven Mighty Hops. His Mission is simple; To deliver a massive hop punch to those in need.
==Introduction==
Mazinger!!!! Finally, an anime tribute beer. A tribute to the classic series Mazinger Z where the hero fights other aliens and robots using a super robot he commands from his ship that attaches to the head of the robot. Kinda how hops invade the brains of craftbeer lovers and make everyone hop heads. I see what ya did there Gigantic, Good Game… Good Game. Eitherway, I figure I bring it to the site being anime beer and all that. Let’s see what kind of beer this brew is exactly. Cheers!
Aromas:
Citrus, Oranges, caramel, toffee, tangerines, juicy fruit starburst, Grapefruit, piney, floral, citrus, herbal, grassy, hops, tropical hints of fruit kiwi, dragon fruit, passion fruit, lychee, guava, mango, biscuit bread, marzipan, cane sugar, wafflecone hints, stone fruit peach hints and brown sugar.
Flavors:
Grapefruit, piney, floral, citrus, herbal, grassy, hops, tangerines, juicy fruit starburst, tropical fruit notes of kiwi, dragon fruit, passion fruit, lychee, guava, mango, lemon grass, mandarin orange gummy bears, orange peel, raspberries, papaya, strawberries, honey, biscuit bread, marzipan, cane sugar, wafflecone hints, caramel, toffee, stone fruit peach hints and berry flavors.
Aftertaste:
Dank herbal, rich citrus, tangerines, coriander hints, tropical fruits, stone fruits and piney hop notes. No alcohol in the taste, Clear honey golden body, rich, crisp, refreshing and delicious mouthfeel with an easy to moderate drinkability.
Overall:
A very good IPA leaning more toward the citrucy caramel side than the super grassy or super tropics. A very enjoyable double IPA that pays tribute to anime. It is awesome to know how many craftbrewers come from a range of passions ranging from video games, comics, anime, sports, music, fishing and other hobbies leading to infuse their passion with other things. Kinda like this website . Anyway, This one is very good and definitely recommended if you love IPAs and Anime.
Anime Corner:
Ryuko Matoi from Kill La Kill and Mazinger Z were used in this pairing for the colors of the label but also the theme of the beer. Since this is a Mazinger beer, I wanted to with him but also since Ryuko has some colors to complement with Mazinger, I figured it was for the best. Ryuko’s design is based on old school anime, especially the hair. Frilly and psychedelic. Either way, a good tribute to the first cartoons of my childhood mixing with one of my favorite anime characters, Huzzah!!
Sources:
http://pre12.deviantart.net/0fef/th/pre/f/2014/279/f/8/kill_la_kill_wallpaper_edit_by_firezombiedude-d81v22q.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/6jkvIe5.jpg
http://img04.deviantart.net/1cdb/i/2012/154/b/4/mazinger_z_by_ieko2011-d52381e.jpg
Rating: 4.75/5
Sorry Not Sorry IPA collaboration by Stone brewing, 4 Hands brewing and Bale Breaker brewing is a 9.3% ABV Imperial India Pale Ale brewed with Peaches.
Label:
Unbashedly Unashamed of our obsession with hops
The idea for this bright and bitter beer was born during Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele’s annual hop-selection pilgrimage to Yakima, Washington. While touring Loftus Ranches (a farm owned and operated by the same family for generations which recently expanded to Include on-property craft brewery Bale Breaker Brewing Co.), Steele felt inspired…while power-huffing hops no doubt…to suggest a brewing collaboration with Stone and our good friends from St. Louis.4 Hands Brewing Co. A powerhouse within the midwest brewing sect, 4 Hands has been on our official “awesome brewers we gotta collaborate with” list for some time. When considering the direction they’d take, it was decided that since Loftus Ranches was the first hop farm to commercially grow beloved Simcoe variety, leading with that piney, stone fruit-like hop was a must. But collaborations are about uncharted territory. Thus, the trio decided that pureed peaches hold be added to ‘up’ the fruit factor, while experimental HBC 342 and HBC 344 hops were selected to introduce notes of berries, citrus, tropical fruit and grassiness to this IPA. Yes, we made another IPA. We’ll concede that it’s not surprising. Our love of hoppy beers runs like a deeply entrenched mutherlode (yes, we meant to spell it that way) of humulus lupulus coursing through our veins. Ditto 4 Hands and Bale Breaker. So for those who’d have preferred to see us craft a milk stout, ancient ale or barrel-aged offering, that’s okay…we’ve made all of those in the past few months too. But we are who we are: an unapologetic band of hopheads psyched to explore the ever-expanding network of nooks and crannies within the IPA universe. So happy to have you join us!
“This project has been an amazing experience and we are truly grateful. Both Stone and the Bale Breaker team share our passion for the hops as well as experimentation.”
Kevin Lemp// Founder & President, 4 hands brewing co.
“We are honored to collaborate with the extremely talented and creative brewers at Stone and 4 Hands. ¡Viva la IPA!”
Kevin Smith//Head Brewer & Co-Owner, Bale Breaker Brewing Co.
“We are thrilled to join with the of the most exciting new hop-loving breweries in the country to make this unique and delicious IPA.”
Mitch Steele//Brewmaster, Stone Brewing Co.
==Introduction==
Obtained this one at my local store. Yet another IPA from Stone which is not that surprising as IPAs are a favorite of mine but also Stone brewing’s staple style. With that being said, I need to see how different this beer is in comparison to the many, many, many, MANY IPAs I have tried in the past. So with another beer out there, let’s see if they truly did mean to release another IPA variety. Cheers!
Aromas:
Stone fruit peaches, apricots, mango, lychee, kumquats, Floral, grassy, herbal, citrucy, oniony, dank grapefruit and earthy hop notes, Blue Basil, Italian herbs, oregano, weed, mint greens, yerba Buena, coriander spice, mint, tropical fruit notes of kiwi, papaya, pineapple, honey and biscuit bread.
Flavors:
Herbal, floral, citrus, grapefruit, garlicky, oniony, dank, earthy notes and a grassy hops, Rich Stone fruits like apricots, peaches, mango, lychee tart kumquats, orange peel, grapefruit peel, lemon peel, Blue Basil, Italian herbs, oregano, weed, mint greens, yerba buena, chamomile, coriander, tropical fruit pineapple, kiwi, dragon fruit, strawberry, honey, biscuit bread and gummy bears.
Aftertaste:
Finishes with a stone fruit sweetness, honey, with a variety herbal and spicy hop goodness. No alcohol in the taste, Golden honey clear color, crisp, refreshing and smooth mouth feel with an easy to moderate drinkability.
Overall:
A very good IPA that focuses on the more herbal and dank side of hops rather than the tropical. It is still a massive hop bite and punch for those that are hop head purist. While the peaches are apparent more as the beer warms up, the hop varieties are certainly a bit different giving a more of a various type of complex herbal hop aspect and it is what really drives the beer.
Anime Corner:
Yang Xiao Long from RWBY was used in this pairing as I wanted to pair with the colors of the beer but also the whole theme of not giving a damn about ones actions. A real thug. Essentially, this paired perfectly to me since in Episode 6 or RWBY Volume 3, she was attacked by her opponent after a match she had in a tournament. She ended up breaking the dude’s leg but in her defense it was self-defense. What the audience saw though was that she attacked the guy for no reason. So she was kicked out. The truth is it was all an illusion in her mind from the guy’s partner which manipulates the senses. Either way, while she may be sorry for what happened, she is not sorry since she knows the dude attacked her but the audience was manipulated to see her attacking for no reason. Bad Ass!
Sources:
http://i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/000/801/012/3ab.jpg
http://konachan.com/sample/7e7fe3cffc094920a21659e99b596762/Konachan.com%20-%20187341%20sample.jpg
Rating: 5.25/5
On the Wings of Armageddon by DC Brau Brewing is a 9.2% ABV World Class Imperial India Pale Ale.
Label:
And so it was written…….
According to Mayan and Hopi calendars the “transition from one world age to another” will happen on December 21, 2012. As an homage to the “transition” DC Brau has concocted an Imperial IPA named “On the Wings of Armageddon”.
==Introduction==
An awesome donation to the site, Aaron Mediola from www.beermetaldude.com came through for me by bringing this awesome piece forward. This is my first beer by DC Brau and it is one that I have been searching for a long time and kind of just let it slide me by. You can’t really find this beer in the west coast. Seeing as this was a very coveted beer, I was glad I finally had a chance to try this magnificent IPA and with a chance to bring it to the site, I am going all out!
Aromas:
Rich Citrus notes, piney, floral, herbal, grapefruit, piney, grassy and dank hops, orange and peels, rich tropical fruits like dragon fruit, passion fruit, strawberry, tangerine candy, papaya, honey dew melon, prickly pears, kiwi, raspberries, stone fruit peaches, sugar cane and floral notes.
Flavors:
Very rich Citrus, grapefruit, piney, floral, herbal, grassy and dank hops, sweetened condensed milk, oranges, orange peel, dragon fruit, passion fruit, strawberry, banana hints, honey dew melon, tropical flavors like pineapples, honey dew melon, papaya, tangerine candy, gummy bears, guava, plums, apples, raspberries, stone fruit peaches, apricots, mango, prickly pear, herbs, caramel, biscuit bread, sugar cane, rye bread with orange and tangerine preserves, kiwi, flower notes and cantaloupe.
Aftertaste:
Lots of orange peel, grapefruit juice, complex tropics with citrus leading the pack, variety of hops and a variety of sweet goods. No alcohol in the taste, Hazy Orange amber full body, creamy, refreshing and crisp mouthfeel, and easy to moderate drinkability.
Overall:
A Damn great IPA just as great as it’s east coast companion, the Heady Topper. I think in some aspects, I really was missing out on a great IPA. This one was a great amount of tropical notes but coscuing on the citrus malty aspects and then trying to balance everything. Of the many IPAs I have had, I would highly recommend this one and gladly get it again!
Anime Corner:
Succubus character was used in this pairing to represent the Wings of Armageddon in terms of the label colors with the silver but also what Armageddon represents which is the end of times. That was basically what I was going for. There isn’t much to the label and it s pretty bare like the girl in this pairing but the thing is, there is so much inside. Some great flavors, you basically have to pick this one up for yourself to find out.
Sources:
https://i.warosu.org/data/tg/img/0356/25/1413736858944.jpg
Rating: 5.2/5
Enjoy by 12.05.14 by Stone brewing is a 9.4% ABV World Class Imperial India Pale Ale.
Label:
Devastatingly fresh
You have in your hands a devastatingly fresh double IPA. Freshness is a key component of many beers- especially big, hoppy IPAs – but we’ve taken it further, a lot further, within this one. We brewed this IPA specifically NOT to last. We’ve not only gone to extensive lengths to ensure that you get your hands on this beer within an extraordinarily short window, and we’ve sent a very clear message in the name of the beer itself that there is no better time than right NOW to enjoy this IPA!
____
Haven’t tried this beer in ages. Mainly since it was coming out so frequently I always tried to pass it up for other beers. I guess I decided screw it, I am doing another review of this one. Each release is the same I would think but the idea is to drink this one as fresh as possible without sacrificing the hop head theology of as fresh as possible. While me personally, I could care less about what hop heads think of freshness, but even a moderately fresh one, I will give it a round to see what flavors I can get from this. I think even at 9.4% ABV, freshness would get thrown out the window, but that is none of my business. Now let’s drink some of this tea. Cheers!
Aromas:
Citrus, grapefruit, floral, herbal, piney and grassy hops, Rich tropical fruits like mango, dragon fruit, papaya, guava, passion fruit, lychee, honey dew melon,blue basil, oregano, lemon peel, garlicky, oniony, dankness, stone fruit peaches, apricots, plums, honey dew melon, tangerines, oranges, hints of sweetened condensed milk and milk coconut.
Flavors:
Rich hop flavors or citrus, grapefruit, floral, herbal, piney and grassy hops, biscuit bread, lemon peel, tangerine, oranges, caramel hints, super dank oniony and garlicky notes, oregano, basil, Italian herbs, Rich tropical fruits like papaya, mango, honey dew melon, dragon fruit, passion fruit, lychee, coconut hints, stone fruit apricots, peaches, plums, sweetened condensed milk and honey.
Aftertaste:
Sweet tropical notes, honey, herbs, citrus and grapefruit hops, dank oniony and garlic notes linger
No alcohol in the taste, easy to drink despite the ABV, clear body, silky mouthfeel, crisp and refreshing.
Overall:
In comparison to when I had this over 2 years ago, they really perfected the freshness in this beer. This is super well balanced giving those tropical fruits I really love along with the hoppy, herbal and dank notes. So as to coming close to what I would think would be some of the best IPAs in the world like Pliny the Elder, Heady Topper and the new Power Plant, I would like to say, YES!! Ofcourse it is a player in the best IPAs. It is closer to Pliny in the herbal hoppy department but since it is balanced with tropical notes, It comes close to Power Plant too. Either way, maybe there is a reason they tell you to drink it fresh. Either way, great beer and a must have. Don’t worry, if you miss this one, they release it almost year round.
Anime Corner:
Morrigan Aensland from Dark Stalkers was used in this pairing long ago since she stands atop a stone gargoyle representing the Stone brewery. Her hair colors pair well with the label and those melons, I mean…. umm colors of the artwork represent the herbal and tropical complexities of of the beer flavors. Yes this beer is damn sexy and taste great!
Sources:
http://img1.ak.crunchyroll.com/i/spire4/1f1100e5ab84c8a3e2e8d7acb1bba84a1396195257_full.jpg
https://brewerianimelogs.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/4bc03-jmorriganaensland.jpg
Rating: 5/5
Double IPA by Hangar 24 is a 9% ABV Double/Imperial India Pale Ale.
Label:
Assertive and drinkable. Double IPA is California’s gift to beer lovers. Ours is brewed with four distinctly American hops: Centennial, Citra, Columbus and Simcoe, all beautifully balanced by five malts and generous additions of local orange blossom honey. An intense sensory experience — the fresh aroma of citrus, pine and grapefruit with the bold taste of hops and sweet honey.
___
This is the second time I review this beer but possibly the 10th or more times I have had this beer since 2011. A favorite IPA among some of San Diego’s best beers by one of their best breweries. This Double IPA introduced me to a difference in herbal, caramel and tropical DIPAs. Back then, telling the difference between hoppy flavors was pretty much for the beginners tongue. After trying so many different IPAs, each IPA has a certain dominance. For this one I will try to do a better job of breaking it down than what I did with my first review post on Facebook long long ago (In terms of brewerianime logs, essentially it was one I uploaded in 2012 but was a Facebook post in 2011.)
Aromas:
Floral, piney, grapefruit, citrus, grassy and herbal hops, honey, biscuit bread, toffee hints, tropical fruits like mango, honey dew melon, pineapple hints, lemon peel, oranges, tangerines, orange peel, coriander spice, white grapes and rye bread.
Flavors:
Orange, citrus, grapefruit, piney, grassy and floral hops, mango, strawberry notes, grapes, biscuit bread, toffee, honey, white grapes, caramel hints, honey dew melon, dragon fruit, prickly pears, apricots, pineapple, lemon peel, coriander spice hints, fresh orange peel, orange preserves on rye bread, lychee fruit and papaya notes.
Aftertaste:
Grapefruits, rye bread, grape, tropical notes, floral, pine. No alcohol in the taste, smooth drinkability despite the ABV, medium body, light to medium mouth feel, crisp and refreshing.
Overall:
Another perfect example of the westcoast style integrating the 3 aspects of malty, tropical and grassy/herbal IPAs into a balance that most may find appealing. Just the fact that it is also very drinkable, to the point where some may consider this a session DIPA, was probably the reason I got to try this on tap at even Buffalo Wild Wings. I would definitely recommend this one as this was one of my favorites DIPAs while starting my journey into craft beer connoisseuring.
Anime Corner:
Terra/Tina Brandford as well as her Esper Form (Pink) from Final Fantasy III(US)/VI(JP) was used in this pairing since the first time I reviewed the beer long ago. I wanted to drive home the aspect of Double in Double IPA. Some of the colors pair with her but also the fact that in her esper form, Terra is very powerful but can also fly in the sky to where ever she wants. Kind of depicting the epicness of the plane on the label.
Sources:
http://e-shuushuu.net/images/2011-03-26-387307.jpeg
Rating: 5.25/5
Stone 18th Anniversary IPA by Stone Brewing is an 8.5% ABV Golden Brown Double India Pale Ale.
Label:
The Hoppiest Golden-Brown IPA on Earth
The 18-year milestone is a significant one, affording us a brilliant apex from which to employ crystal clear hindsight. Looking back to who we were when we embarked on this humble yet noble journey to the craft the finest of ales, we see a company that, while much , much smaller, was every bit the sincere, bullish, determined entity it remains today. Since Day one, we’ve fostered grand-scale aspirations while stalwartly maintaining long-sightedness firmly fixed on a bevy of goals. From brews extending the idea and definition of what beer can be through their intensity , outlandishness, decadence and refinement; to venues and facilities harnessing and celebrating Earth’s elemental resources; to helping awaken collective consciousness to the great worth of authentically, consciously well-crafted artisanal items; to playing a major tole in bringing together and cementing the bonds of peers within our industry; we have accomplished a great many objectives. But we’re far from done!
As we compose the text for this celebratory beer—a golden-brown India pale ale dry-hopped exclusively and abundantly with El Dorado hops—we stand ready to leap from the precipice of all we know into a new era for our company, our beers and, most importantly, our fans. It’s one that will see us exploring new territory, both geographically and creatively, as we evolve from pacesetters for the American craft brewing movement to cross-planetary champions of the worldwide cause of craft, hoisting our banner to proclaim artisanal beers’ vast superiority over stripped-down, business-driven, industrialized, fizzy, yellow mediocrity. We thank you for shadowing us for the first 18 years of our journey, and welcome you to join us for next leg and all that follows.
___
Congratulations to Stone on their 18 year success making a difference and sticking it to the man (tasteless macro beers) and just basically making some really great beers over the years. While some beers have been more unique than others, Stone has bee one of those breweries that is a favorite of mine. Arrogant bastard was one of my first strong gate way ales that lead me to try stronger and stronger beers. While other craft beers like Fat Tire form New Belgium were my gateway, Stone showed me what true beers can really taste like when they are truly potent. Nevertheless, thanks for making the craft community a powerful force that it is today. You along with many others have paved the way to the Beerevolution and the consistent drive to find more rare, lost treasures of taste and experience. Cheers!!
Aromas:
Peaches in pilloncillo sugar cone, Tangerine candy, Cotton candy, mandarin herbal spices, flan hints, dulce de leche caramel, citrus, grassy, piney, floral, herbal and earthy hops, lemon peel, lemon heads,pecan pie, tropical fruits like dragon fruit, mango, stone fruits like apricots, chocolate hints, rock candy, mint, coffee notes, brown sugar and toffee hints.
Flavors:
Peaches in pilloncillo sugar cone, Citrus, grapefruit, grassy, floral, herbal, piney and mild earthy hops, dulce de leche caramel hints, cotton candy, pecan pie, hazelnut hints, Tangerine candy, mandarin herbal spice, orange, strawberry, rock candy, tropical fruits like mango, dragon fruit, passion fruit, honey dew melon, hints of papaya, pineapple, stone fruits like plum, apricot, clove spice, garlic, onion, lemon, rye bread, mint, flan hints, chocolate notes, lemon heads, honey, coffee, butterscotch hints, brown sugar hints and toffee hints.
Aftertaste:
Cotton candy, Tangerine and lemon candy, strawberry,hazelnut, citrus, grapefruit and lots of herbal dank notes linger. No alcohol in the aftertaste, easy to drink, crisp and refreshing, and light to medium golden-brown to amber body.
Overall:
A perfectly delicious and unique IPA. Seems like stone keeps pushing the way toward IPA and hop monsters that truly can be unique in many aspects aside from just being bitter and Arrogant. This is still an IPA while still introducing some sweet unique flavors that are not just tropical or citrus caramel but more nutty, chocolatey, coffee and other fruity varieties. You definitively cannot age this and recommend getting this one for sure. I highly recommend it!
Anime Corner:
Yoshihime from Sengoku Saga by Yamada Rokkaku was used for the Stone 18th Anniversary since I wanted to show several aspects of stone. Let’s start with the label. You have the blue and grey colors that pair well with the the artwork. Second, the gargoyle has always been represented by either a devil like creature or demon but in this case not evil but mainly used to ward off bad flavors of beer. The third is the shogun/general attire. While I have shown Arrogant bastard as being a bushido code samurai and the fact that Stone is a revolutionary, I have given the general attire to many pictures in the past. If you look closely, Asmodeus and Astoroth have similar general attire. While although revealing, the sexyness is only a distraction because what lies within the sweetness is pretty deadly but awesome while taken responsibly of course. This Iron Maiden can be a formidable ally to fighting the war of great flavors but she can also be a double edge sword if taken lightly and not responsibly. Remember that….
Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/mohWL.jpg
Rating: 4.5/5
MechaHopzilla by Nola brewing is an 8.8% ABV Imperial India Pale Ale.
Label:
This “Hop Monster” is an American Imperial IPA boasting Bravo, Columbus, Centennial and Citra Hops. Beware of MechaHopzilla’s powerful flavor and it’s attack of half pound per barrel dry-hop aroma. Not for the faint of heart or palate. Hop heads, this one’s for you! Brewed with love, brewed in New Orleans.
___
I love Godzilla and all the other Kaiju monsters! This one is probably my favorite label from the beers I have received thus far in this package from my friend Aaron Mendiola of www.beermetaldude.com. I have heard of a Hopzilla beer and even tried the Dogzilla beer long ago. However, a MechaHopzilla beer, this is freaking awesome! I have no idea what to expect from this beer but since it is an IPA, I can only hope it is a monster of a hoppy beer. Thanks again Aaron and cheers brother!
Aromas:
Grassy, Piney, floral and grapefruit hops, caramel, biscuit bread, tangerine, oranges, lemon peel, tropical fruit hints like mango, papaya, prickly pears, dragon fruit, brown sugar, toffee, orange gummy bears and rye bread.
Flavors:
Grassy, piney, grapefruit, floral and citrus hops, caramel, tangerine, orange preserves on biscuit bread, tropical fruits like guava, papaya, dragon fruit, prickly pear, mango, brown sugar, toffee, orange gummy bears, bubble gum hints, lemon peel, rye bread, peach, apricot and butterscotch hints.
Aftertaste:
Caramel, grassy, pine, grapefruit and tropical hops linger. No alcohol in the taste, a moderate to sipping drinkability, medium body, medium mouth feel as well as crisp and refreshing.
Overall:
This IPA is very good. Aside from the Godzilla and Mecha Godzilla reference, this one truly does work with the caramel and malty aspect of IPAs. The balance of this works while still maintaining a caramel sweetness, the hop complexities definitely make for one really good and hoppy IPA. If you do not like malty and hoppy IPAs, then this one may not be for you. Personally, I enjoy these myself so I recommend it.
Anime Corner:
Akane Yashiro, Titanosaurus and Mecha Godzilla were used in this pairing for the obvious Mecha Godzilla reference. I tried to find something that also pairs with MechaHopzilla’s colors and in this case, it was the Mecha Gozilla III’s shoulder cannons. The fact that it comes in can also helps the pairing out so well. The bitterness is definitely represented by Mecha Gozilla’s onslaught.
Speaking of which, it turns out that Toho had sued Nola over this beer. I hope they can still use the reference because honestly, this is one bad ass monster of a beer!
http://www.fox8live.com/story/23392839/toho-sues-nola-brewing-over-mechahopzilla-beer
Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/CLTMzsY.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/bVrKySg.jpg
Brewerianimelogs (Anime and Beer Lore) 