(Homebrew Project#25) Frontier Tropics At Mirage Sunrise by Nubis Sanctum Ales

14379789_10103559179837040_7433726519403536685_oRating: 5/5 
 
Frontier Tropics At Mirage Sunrise by Nubis Sanctum Ales is an 11% ABV Tropical Double India Pale Ale Brewed with, Citra, Cascade and Summit hops, Toasted Coconut, Strawberries, Kiwis, Mangos, Oranges, Grapefruit, Limes and Coriander.
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Label:
Tropical Double India Pale Ale Brewed with, Citra, Cascade and Summit hops, Toasted Coconut, Strawberries, Kiwis, Mangos, Oranges, Grapefruit, Limes and Coriander.
 
Saving townsfolk comes at a high price. Even for the noble outlaw duo like Franco il Nero and Donne Anonime who’s good deeds don’t go without punishment. Like the lost oasis of indigenous lore, Licuados Alets, the duo has never been captured. Only fools waste their search on such legends. Although, tales told that during sunrise, while in search of the duo, off in the distance, the tropical oasis has been seen with the deceiving eyes of the dessert heat. An illusion of the cowgirls can be witnessed but even the thirstiest of pursuers will never reach them…Until today, the water from that lost oasis, was given by the sexy outlaws to the few. You are, but the few…
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==Introduction==
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Project #25 was technically a last minute creation for the end of spring 2016. You see, I cannot brew beer in the summer as the temperatures in my room are not viable for brewing. However, since my friend Richard Avila of Avila Ales gave me a birthday present, basically the ingredients to make a cascade and summit double IPA, I decided to take my own crazy and twisted approach to the base recipe and create something awesome. Since I always wanted to make a more tropical IPA ever since last year’s IPA I made, I decided to buy all sorts of fruits that would not only compliment the citrus and grapefruit flavors of cascade and summit but also the tropical fruits in citra which is the other set of hops I added. The origin of the name really came from the use of hops like Summit like in the mountains of the Frontier of the old west. While many are stuck in the dessert in the old west, they desire water and often would find an oasis in the distance only for it to be a mirage. Hence if they ever got to the oasis, it would be like reaching a tropical beach full of delights. The water would also trickle form the mountains into this paradise tropical oasis, hence the use of the cascade. So all and all, the name came to be, Frontier Tropics At Mirage Sunrise. The sunrise part is all the citrus added since it would also remind one of drinking orange juice for breakfast, Nevertheless, this beer came to be. There was a lot of trial and tribulations since I had not used toasted coconut before and so this would be my first attempt. So let’s take a look at the final beer that was made at the end of spring and ready to drink in the summer time, Cheers!
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Aromas:
Rich toasted coconut, piña colada, macaroons, Tropical fruit pineapple, kiwi, mango, dragon fruit, honey dew melon, vanilla, biscuit bread, agave nectar, honey, kiwi jelly, Oranges, orange juice, limes, lemon peel, tangerines, grapefruit, piney, grassy and herbal hops, coriander hints, strawberries and sweetened condensed milk.
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Flavors:
Rich Piña Colada, toasted coconut, macaroons, rum notes, tropical fruit kiwi, mango, dragon fruit, mild passion fruit, pineapple (even though there isn’t any added to the beer), strawberries, strawberry cream pie, sour hints of lemon peel, Oranges, orange juice, limes, tangerines, grapefruit, piney, grassy and herbal hops, hint of coriander spice, stone fruit peach, apricot, earthy hops, flan hints, sweetened condensed milk hints, caramel hints, vanilla, biscuit bread, agave nectar, honey notes, honey comb hints and kiwi preserves.
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Aftertaste:
Finishes with hints or strawberry, orange juice, toasted coconut, sour lemon, tart grapefruit hints, piña colada, macaroons and herbal hops. No alcohol in the taste despite the ABV, Golden Amber and brown medium to full body, crisp, refreshing, and smooth mouthfeel with a moderate drinkability
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Overall:
Damn perfect fruity and tropical IPA. My only gripes would be that since this is my first time toasting my own coconut, it changed the color of the beer to a brown color but other than that it was awesome. I think the fruit may have over taken some of the hops but the hops really did compliment the fruit and the bitterness is there with a hint of tart from the citrus fruits and kiwi but then rounded off by the delicious and pleasant coconut. Overall, I think it came out great but I think next time I would probably add more hops just because and buy already toasted coconut as toasting the coconut by baking it in the oven changed the color which then changed the color of the beer. This toasting though would work great for darker beers and even if it is a browner IPA, still taste perfect to me. One of my best!
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Anime Corner:
Franco iL Nero and Donne Anonime from Nitroplus series, Outlaw Django Tre Donne Crudeli were used in this pairing as I wanted to have not just the colors of the different ingredients complement as well as the flavors, but the theme of I was going for when I came up with the name revolved around the images of Franco and Donne at the beach which was pretty damn creative. Thus, the story beer complements the art, the other side of the pairing viewpoint!
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Sources:

Easy As She Gose by El Borracho brewing

13340050_10103297378688640_7369461960603054572_o 13308193_10103297378748520_6795780931142989039_o 13308324_10103297378563890_6867895554117880324_oRating: 4.85/5

Easy As She Gose by El Borracho brewing is a 4.9% ABV Gose brewed with Oranges, Limes (Juice and Zest) oak aged in Herradura Resposado Tequila.

==Introduction==
Another awesome experiment by my friend William Carranza of El Borracho brewing. This time, he wanted to make a Gose as close to a Margarita as he could. The style while mainly German with salt is one that I think would work very well to make a Margarita kind of beer. So now that he has donated the beer to the site, let’s take a look.

Aromas:
Tejuino maize notes, limes, agave, stone fruit apricot, apples, Citrus, Lime peel, oranges, rich orange juice, grapefruit, banana, phenolic notes, coriander, honey, floral notes, sea salt, oak, tequila hints, clove and vanilla.

Flavors:
Citrus, Lime peel, oranges, rich orange juice, tangerines, peppercorn, Margarita notes, tequila hints, agave, oak, sea salt, grapefruits, lemon grass, floral notes, wild flower honey, tart grape, hibiscus notes, chamomile, lavender, stone fruit apricot, apples, pears, phenolic notes, bananas, coriander and clove spice, vanilla, flan hints and Tejuino maize notes.

Aftertaste:
Finishes with a mix of Salty, lemon lime with sweet orange notes, oak and tequila hints. No alcohol in the taste. Cloudy honey medium body, crisp, refreshing and smooth mouthfeel and easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A very delicious brew. One thing my friend did mention is that the Gose might be a bit saltier than what he wanted it to be. Funny thing is, I felt the Gose from the brewer was just as salty if not saltier. But even other Gose beers I have tried have been a bit like that. It might be for some but I was very pleased with it as I had explained to him that the base of the ingredients he used to make it such as the oranges and limes along with the tequila oak really did bring out some of those Margarita flavors almost to the point of the Mexican Cantaritos which have oranges, limes, grapefruit and tequila. So I would definitely want to see this one again!

Anime Corner:
Original Anime Girl, Homika from Pokemon, Asagi, Sakura and Yatsu from Taimanin Asagi were used in this pairing as I wanted to get the pairing as close as the Song “Steady, As She Goes” by the Raconteurs. So definitely a band was in mind. Also, Easy as She goes seems like something else along the lines of someone being easy? Maybe, but also the tropical aspects of the beer are depicted in the picture as well.

Sources:
http://76.72.168.19/images/2016-04-13-825139.jpeg
http://pds27.egloos.com/pds/201604/16/00/e0060200_57118e2476001.jpg

Rainbow Triplin’ by Stone brewing

12087063_10102848166942580_8481780066402221782_oRating: 5/5

Rainbow Triplin’ by Stone brewing is an 8.2% ABV Belgian Tripel brewed with Strawberries, Oranges, Lemons, Limes & Grapes.

==Introduction==

Obtained this on as a Crowler at Stone Company Store in Pasadena for their 3rd Anniversary party. Unfortunately, I did not know much about this beer as I went there to get the Reposado Tequila Cali-Belgique. However, first taste and I was completely mind fucked and taste fucked as well (is that even a saying?). Essentially, the name was not kidding. Something about the flavors of this beer make you trip flavor wise since there is so much going on and all pointing to Skittles and tasting the rainbow. The fruity flavors are super forward like Skittles candies. So, I was able to bring this one for the review but just trying this beer makes me wonder how to get a home brew to be like this? Time will tell, for now, let me tell you about this beer now that I was able to get a Crowler of this.

Aromas:
Super rich fruits, Starburst candy, Skittles, Floral Fabuloso Lavender, dark cherries, strawberries, tart cranberries, pomegranate, pink lemonade, lemon drop candies, peaches, limes, grapes, peppercorns, vanilla, gummy bears, oranges and all sorts of tropical fruit.

Flavors:
Lots of Skittles flavors, Mango, tangerine, lemons, pink lemonade, lemon drop candies, peaches, limes, grapes, grapefruit, pineapple, dark cherries, strawberries, tart cranberries, pomegranate, blue berries, oranges, honey dew melon, papaya, kiwi, passion fruit, dragon fruit, biscuit bread, herbal and floral hops, hibiscus, lavender, sour apples, white raisins, peppercorns, Belgian candy sugar, ginger spice, lychee, gummy bears, gummy works and mint.

Aftertaste:
Finish somewhat dry with lots of citrus and berry flavors forward including Tart cherries, lemon, lime, grapes, Oranges and grapefruit. No alcohol in the taste, light to medium pink and gold body, crisp, clean, smooth and refreshing mouthfeel with a super easy drinkaility.

Overall:
There is a reason why this beer is a real trip as you get punched in the face with a lot of tropical fruits. A perfect tropical, and more importantly, skittles Tripel. Essentially trying to figure out all the fruit flavors in this beer is a real trip as well. Wonder how they were able to get so much fruit flavor from this beer. It is pretty crazy. If you ever get to see this on tap, you definitely want to do yourself a flavor and taste that damn rainbow!

Anime Corner:
Vocaloid Hatsune Miku was used in this pairing as I wanted to find a picture that related rainbows with a “trippy” piece of art. As she rides the rainbow, it is like saying, she rides the rainbow across your taste buds is like music to the taste budal ear. Super fresh, super fruity, super trippy!!

Sources:
https://data.archive.moe/board/a/image/1410/57/1410572235897.jpg

Lightning Bug by Five Stones of Cibolo, Texas

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Rating: 4.85/5

Lightning Bug by Five Stones of Cibolo, Texas is a 6.6% ABV Cascadian Dark Ale handcrafted with fresh lemons, limes and oranges.

Description:
Cascadian Dark Ale brewed hand zested and juiced Lemon, Lime and Mandarine Orange.

==Introduction==

Aaron Mendiola from www.beermetaldude.com brings us forth another awesome release from Five Stones. This time a Cascadian Dark Ale with lots of citrus. I can only assume that this would be something on par with some of the awesome black IPAs that are closer to the IPAs than the dark malty IPAs. Let us seek this one forth and see what this one has to offer. Cheers!

Aromas:
Dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla, caramel, lemon peel, oranges, tropical fruit notes of pineapple, mango, tangerines, dragon fruit, lemon candy, lemon zest, grassy, grapefruit piney, herbal, floral and earthy hops, roasted barley, honey, hazelnut nectar and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, bakers chocolate, vanilla, caramel, coffee, lemon peel, oranges, pineapple hints, mango hints, dragon fruit, roasted barley, dark fruit raisins, molasses, anise, hazelnut nectar, honey, herbal, grassy, piney and earthy hop notes, citrus, coriander, lemon candy, oatmeal, raisin bread, cookies, smokey notes, tangerines, lemon zest, orange zest and brown sugar.

Aftertaste:
Orange peel, lemon peel, Earthy notes linger, smokey notes, roasted coffee, milk chocolate and dark chocolate in the finish. No alcohol in the taste, dark full body, moderate drinkability, smooth and silky mouth feel.

Overall:
A very good Cascadian Ale. Pretty much on the lines of American Black Ale or Black IPA. This ale is pretty damn good with a very solid Black IPA and then pushes it’s boundaries to relish in the true citrus. Think of the light in the dark or the lightning bug on a summer night. The beers focuses on both the dark toasty malty flavors as well as the tropical and citrus flavors like that of an IPA. This beer has good balance and is fairly smooth. A well done and recommendable beer.

Anime Corner:
Original Insect girl by Elsevilla was used in this pairing to show the flavors of the beer in terms of the colors like the honey, citrus, hops, dark as well as pair with the label colors. The dark yet tropical aspects of this beer can be seen in the girls psychotic stare and appearance. This beer is dark but has lots of rich tropical flavors.

Sources:
http://anime-pictures.net/pictures/get_image/121785-1696×1000-elsevilla-short+hair-wide+image-blue+eyes-green+eyes-blue+hair.jpg