Megaman ZX | Brewerianimelogs (Anime and Beer Lore)

Rating:5/5

No Ka Òï collaboration by Jolly Pumpkin and Anchorage is a 6.3% ABV American Farm House ale brewed Michigan hops, raspberry puree and lime peel.

Label:
A birthday is just another today.
Today will be just like yesterday, tomorrow.
Tomorrow will be the same as today, just completely different.
I brewed this special beer for my friend Gabe’s 40th birthday on the suggestion of his wife Jacenda. Two finer people the likes of which I have never known.

Òhana

==Introduction==

No Ka Òï, in reference to Anchorage, means “is the best!” In this case, Anchorage is the best! I obtained this beer at Mr. K’s Liquor store in Placentia California. It has been a long time since I had a Jolly Pumpkin beer but since I saw this one, the label artwork really stood out to me with the crazy cat skeleton carrying the pumpkin and the animals that follow. The other thing that really caught my eye was the use of raspberries and lime peel and this was so damn unique I wanted to bring it to the site. So let’s have a look at this one, cheers!

Aromas:
Stone fruit mango, peach, tart apricot, sour apple, flowers, hibiscus, roses, Raspberries, Lime peel, Lime zest, funky oak notes, wine grapes, tropical fruit dragon fruit, passion fruit, kiwi, strawberry, honey dew melon, brettanomyces, grapefruit, honey, herbal, grapefruit and grassy hop notes.

Flavors:
Rich flowers, hibiscus, roses, Raspberries, Lime peel, Lime zest, Lime juice, biscuit bread, stone fruit mango, peach, tart apricot, sour apple, tropical fruit dragon fruit, passion fruit, kiwi, strawberry, honey dew melon, funky grapes, mushrooms, farmhouse hay, banana hints, citrus, orange peel, grassy, piney and earthy hops, white wine notes, tomato hints, pink peppercorns, wild flower honey, brettanomyces and grapefruit juice.

Aftertaste:
Finishing dry with stone fruit, tropical fruit notes, lemon, lime, floral notes, peppercorns, funky notes, farmhouse hay and rich raspberries. No alcohol in the taste, hazy pale medium body. Crisp, refreshing, effervescent and smooth mouthfeel along with a moderate drinkability.

Overall:
Jolly Pumpkin always makes some of the best and flavorful sours and this one is damn perfect. That and I am a sucker for raspberry beers. While it is tarter than anything, the fruit sweetness is minimal but still balances well with the overall brew. I think my favorite thing over all is the ingredients like the hops though as they actually come through in the beer where as some sours this typically is easier said than done. You can definitely do no wrong with this one. Highly recommended

Anime Corner:
Aile from Megaman ZX was used in this pairing as I found a really nice art piece that shows Aile with pumpkins and the colors fit so well with the colors of the label and the ingredients as well. The pinks, reds and oranges are the ones that stood out so overall it was the colors that won the pairing for me.

Sources:
http://orig10.deviantart.net/dea9/f/2009/347/0/4/trick_or_treat_by_just_spectator.jpg
http://img02.deviantart.net/7090/i/2013/137/f/8/blue_summer_by_tomycase-d65kfp6.png
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/f4/b0/a7/f4b0a79f475569a659c628bac84f6aa2.jpg

Rating: 5.35/5

BOCK BOCK by Shmaltz Brewing is a 9.2% ABV Imperial American Bock Aged in Bourbon Barrels.

Label:
Batch No. 001/ Cases 1269
Bottling 4/24/2015

What is the Trinity of SHMALTZ Brewing?
1. “Shmaltz” Meants chicken fat, in Yidish. And no, there’s none in the brewing.
BOCK BOCK – craft beer comfort food for a new generation
2. Sentimental, often irreverent sense of humor. See also: Mel Brooks, Henny Youngman, Rodney Dangerfield, Seinfeld. Add your own shtick and enjoy.
3. The central ingredient in any true handcrafted beer: Malt

Rendered for your drinking pleasure – L’Chaim! To Life!
Jeremy Cowan, proprietor

Malts: 2-Row, Munich, Vienna, Wheat, Pale Crystal, Crystal, Dark Crystal, Rye Chocolate, Flaked Oats
Hops: Warriot, Fuggle, Northern Brewer, Cascade, Crystal.

==Introduction==

Obtained this one through my local shop. When I first saw this I remembered about how Shmaltz used to have their Coney Island Lager brand. They once made a Barrel Aged Bourbon Bock which was called Barrel Aged Block Head. So yeah, you see how this reminded me of that special lager I reviewed back in 2012. I was definitely excited to bring this one here for a review as I wanted to see if this entice what I used to try when they had their lager series. So bottoms up with this one and cheers!

Aromas:
Rich dark fruits like cherries, raspberries, raisins, prunes, sweetened condensed milk, Bourbon, Caramel, vanilla, oak, marshmallow smores, bourbon notes, rye bread, flan, cocada Mexican coconut candy, maple syrup, pecan pie, hazelnut nectar, brown sugar and mocha hints.

Flavors:
Bourbon, toasted coconut, caramel, flan, dark fruit cherries, raspberries, raisins, prunes, sweetened condensed milk, oak, marshmallow smores, leather, tobacco hints, brown sugar, cocada Mexican coconut candy, maple syrup, pecan pie, hazelnut nectar, mocha coffee hints, butterscotch, toffee, almond joy chocolate, red apples, cinnamon, apple pie crust, toasted rye bread, Marzipan with almond fillings, Stone fruit peaches and apricot preserves.

Aftertaste:
Lots of caramel, toasted coconut, vanilla, toffee, dark fruit hints, marshmallow, dulce de leche, sweetened condensed milk and marzipan notes leave along with nice bourbon notes. Slightly boozy heat coming from the bourbon. Most likely as this beer can use some aging. Crimson Brown Clear body, Smooth, silky, mouthfeel, and moderate to sipping drinkability.

Overall:
An Exceptional bourbon barrel aged beer. It definitely did remind me of the Bourbon Barrel Aged Block head but definitely more alcohol heat. The bourbon heat is forward while colder and mellows out as you sip this one through. After a long time of drinking this one, it finally hit that level I was looking for from the past. I really will say, there are not enough Barrel Aged Bocks out there but for the ones that do exist, they are supreme and as such, highly recommended like this one.

Anime Corner:
Ashe and Vent from Megaman ZX Advent were used in this pairing since I wanted to get the whole aspect of the 2 chicks or chickens. Similarly in colors and representing the flavors of the ingredients used in this beer, both Ashe and Vent trend the similar attire. I also threw that sweet dulce de leche caramel confrontation like it shows similarly in the label. The passion of caramel and rich flavors.

Sources:
http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/041/1/f/ZXA_Tunes_Mousepad_by_comartinb.jpg
http://sigehiro.whitesnow.jp/pic/080303.jpg