Rating: 4.75/5
Citizens of the (Under) World by Concrete Jungle Brewing Project is a 6% American Wild Ale barrel aged with pinot grigio barrels, passion fruit and tart cherries.
Description:
Sour beer made from blend of a blonde ale barrel-aged with passion fruit, and a saison barrel-aged with tart cherries. After blending, the beer was aged an additional six months in Pinot Grigio barrels.
Ask not what a sour can do for you but what the you can do for a sour… Delicious!
Rating: 6/6
2017 Oak-Aged Vanilla World Wide Stout by Dogfish Head is a 16% ABV Imperial Stout brewed with Vanilla beans and aged in oak.
Label:
Stout aged in oak on vanilla beans
Commercial Description:
Brewed with a ridiculous amount of barley, we’ve now taken this Dogfish Head classic and aged it on oak with real vanilla beans! With a little tender love and care we foster this beer from smooth, sweet wort into the big, bad blackend stout it always longed to be. Its bold, port-like complexity goes great with (or as) dessert.
==Introduction==
Back in 2012, along with 120 minute IPA and Fort were some of the most strongest beers I have ever had. At the time, super strong beers were hard to come by and these 3 beers were insane to find. So much so, that I had not brought them back for a review until this year. The original World Wide Stout is still a miss for me and I have not found it again in bottle form. So when I saw the made a vanilla oak aged one, I definitely had to bring it to the site. While I have enjoyed many vanilla stouts and even spirit aged vanilla beers, I have not had a chance to try an original like this that was aged on vanilla and oak. Especially for that 16% ABV which at the time, the original, was 18%!Let’s have a go at this monster and see if you should seed out this special treasure, cheers!
Aromas:
Rich marshmallow, chocolate smores, fruit cake, oak, roasted coffee, dark chocolate, dark fruits, rum hints, toasted coconut, pecan pie, molasses, mint, Irish cream, Danish cream, flan, bananas foster, hazelnut nectar, and banana sundae.
Flavors:
Super rich vanilla, oak, smokey hints, roasted barley, dulce de leche caramel, flan, sweetened condensed milk, pecan ice cream, tiramasu, mocha, specialy coffee, hazelnut nectar, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, Belgian chocolate, German chocolate, Bakers chocolate, banana sundae, cookie dough ice cream, Irish cream, Danish cream, chocolate mousee, pecan pie, dark frui raisins, figs, plums, dark cherries, raspberry Chambord, blueberry notes, marshmallow smores, rocky road ice cream, bourbon hints, rum notes, toasted coconut, molasses, cinnamon, burnt sugar, Jericalla Jaliscan custard, Bananas foster, grilled plantains in powdered sugar over with raspberry syrup and crème brulee.
Aftertaste:
Finishing up with complex chocolate, banana sundae, vanilla, fruit cake, custards, mocha, dark fruit, caramels, crème brulee, flan, marshmallow, coconut, oak, burnt sugar and rum notes. Despite the 16% ABV, it is hard to find the alcohol. I am not even sure why, I should sense some type of slight booziness but all I taste is complex flavors. Pitch dark black full body, creamy, velvety, smooth and rich chewy mouthfeel along with a sipping drinkability.
Overall:
Fucking exceptional! It was only in March 2017 that I had tried the original on tap by a lucky find and now this?!?! Well this blows everything into high gear! Lots of rich oak, vanilla and so much complexity that even at the high level of ABV content, it sure is damn hard to see where the alcohol went to. Anyways, if you love specialty stouts, I highly recommend this one, if you can find it!
Anime Corner:
Cryska Bachernowa from the Muv-Luv Alternative Total Eclipse series was used in the original World Wide Stout when I first tried it years ago. So since I could not find another WWS to bring to the site, I settled with bringing her again to this beer and showcasing some colors what would fit with the original (and apparently, the new label as well) with the yellow. This is not a Russian stout but the extra roastiness and body of the beer makes it so and so aside from the colors, she is also Russian to boot! So there is much to complement with this type of pairing for sure!
Rating: 4.5/5
Rating: 5.25/6
Mélange No. 9 by The Bruery Terreux is a 7.8% ABV Wild Ale Hybrid of 83% Sour Ale Aged in Oak Barrels, 17% Ale aged in bourbon barrels with ginger and coconut added.
Label:
TROPICAL – OAKY – ISLAND
This sour ale was the winner of our Hoarders Society blending competition. A combination of our sour blonde, Sour in the Rye and White Oak Sap along with ginger and coconut.
Description:
Mélange #9 was created by your peers at a special blending competition held in November 2013 for our Hoarders Society members at the time. Each team was given access to a slew of our barrel aged beers and were allowed to bring in pretty much any ingredient of their own to add to the mix. The winning blend is a sour ale, using both our sour blonde ale and Sour in the Rye, with a hint of sweetness from White Oak Sap. Coconut and fresh ginger was added to the blend just a few days before packaging, generating a super fresh, tropical spice.
==Introduction==
Mélange #9 was finally released to the Reserve society at the Bruery. One the Melange series that I have not tried before. Many of the Melange series has always been about Cuvees of dark strong beers and very few about sours. Like I still have to try Melange #1. Yet, since I didn’t know when they would release Mélange #9 again, I figure I bring it to the site before the getting was good. This one is actually a sour. With the addition of the base being White Oak and Sour in the Rye makes for a beer that could be quite intriguing. Let’s have a look, cheers!
Aromas:
Stone fruit apricots, peaches, sour apples, lavender hibiscus, rose hips, ginger bread, oranges, lime, wine grapes, dragon fruit, rye bread, pineapple, lemon peel, oak, Chardonnay, bourbon hints, vanilla, and coconut notes.
Flavors:
Ginger bread, ginger cookies, ginger ale, funky grapes, toasted coconut, oranges, tangerines, passion fruit, dragon fruit, rye bread, cucumber, tart pineapple, lemon peel, oak, chardonnay, bourbon, vanilla, caramel, Mexican Cocada coconut candy, sweetened condensed milk hints, white wine, lactic funk wine grapes, farmhouse notes, hibiscus, lavender, rose hips, honey, stone fruit apricots, peaches and sour apples.
Aftertaste:
Finishes dry with floral notes, coconut, lemon peel, ginger bread, vanilla, oak, honey, oranges, hibiscus, and wine grapes. No Alcohol in the taste, clear golden body, crisp, refreshing and effervescent mouthfeel with a sipping drinkability.
Overall:
A slight smidge above perfect and this is definitely due to the fact that it is not a pure sour. The ginger, coconut and bourbon definitely cut the sour aspects by a lot and bring about a nice balance and complexity that makes this one more enjoyable with every sip. I think many that do not like sours will find this one appealing. Highly recommended.
Anime Corner:
Misty/Kasumi from Pokemon was brought to this beer to pair with the colors of the label and represent some of the tropics of the beer. While her thing is water and water type pokemon, I think she fit just right. Also, the fact that this is the first time I use her in a Bruery beer as well.
Sources:
https://images6.alphacoders.com/821/821146.png
http://www.fanpark.cc/data/0001/04/14892134587295.jpg
http://static.zerochan.net/Pokémon.full.1154124.jpg
Rating: 6/6
Four Legs Good by Sante Adairius Rustic Ales is a 9.9% Belgian Blonde Quadrupel aged in Oak Barrels.
Label:
What do a three-legged dog, a made-up beer style and a giant oak cask have to do with each other? One great beer. Four Legs Good, our Blond Quad, belies its sweet nature with a dry, full finish and sneaky strength. Fermented first in puncheons with extensive aging in oak foudres, Four Legs Good doesn’t care what you call it as long as she is along for the ride. Four Legs Good, three legs better. Sante!
==Introduction==
Been eyeing this one from the time I saw it. In fact, I kept passing it up even though it was a quadruple and I am a sucker for quadruples. The price was telling me not too but at some point I said, screw it, let’s see how it is. This is the first time I had a beer from Sante Adairius which focuses on Rustic Ales. Seeing as they called this one a Blonde quad, it does see, like it could be something different like the way the make Golden Stouts. But will this really be like a quadruple? I think that is the part that makes this one really exciting for me. So let’s have a go, cheers!
Aromas:
Stone fruit peaches, plums, apricots, sour apples, brettanomyces, peppercorns, tropical fruit passion fruit, mango, honey dew melon, honey, bananas, clove spice, Belgian candi sugars, musty funk, figs, pecan pie, lavender, grassy notes and biscuit bread.
Flavors:
Dates, White raisins, plums, figs, dulce de leche caramel, farmhouse funk, farmhouse hay, chardonnay, oak, vanilla, marshmallows, stone fruit peaches, apricots, sour apples, brettanomyces, peppercorns, Belgian candi sugar, cloves, banana hints, cane sugar, wild flower honey, citrus, lemon peel, grapefruit, passion fruit, mango, honey dew melon, cherry yogurt, pomegranates, strawberry notes, hibiscus, lavender, grassy notes, biscuit bread, piloncillo hints, lychee fruit and rye bread.
Aftertaste:
Finishing dry with some stone fruits, peppercorn, vanilla, oak, honey, white raisins, dulce de leche caramel and banana notes. No alcohol in the taste despite the ABV, Blonde and clear to hazy body, smooth, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel along with a moderate to sipping drinkability.
Overall:
A very exceptional brew! While this is more of a sour quad and closer to a farmhouse ale, there are many stone fruit flavors which you can find in a Belgian Quad and Tripel. It was very nice and enjoyable and while I think it was damn exceptional, the price is a bit up there. So yes I highly recommend it but maybe not at the price they sell it of $20+.
Anime Corner:
Krystal Fox from Star Fox and Colleen from Road Roavers we used in this pairing to represent the Fox and Hound in the label respectively. Yes, Colleen is not a hound and Krystal is not a red fox but they are both canines and represent the species in the label
Sources:
http://orig09.deviantart.net/a072/f/2015/246/a/3/krystal_pinup_by_sallyhot-d9873qx.jpg
http://img00.deviantart.net/85c0/i/2012/248/4/a/road_rovers_colleen_by_facreamytea-d5dqn7r.png
http://rainbowdash.net/file/noirbatch-20121104T074630-kbgcvhl.png
http://img09.deviantart.net/f5ec/i/2017/020/6/9/assault_suit_by_doomxwolf-daw3noh.png
http://2static.fjcdn.com/large/pictures/50/fd/50fd22_5818702.jpg
Rating: 6/6
2017 Tart of Darkness with Raspberry and Cacao by The Bruery Terreux is a 7.1% ABV American Sour Stout aged in oak with Raspberries, Cacao Nibs and Vanilla Beans.
Label:
VELVETY – Chocolatey – Ripe
==Introduction==
Released to Reserve and Preservation societies, the Bruery brings a new variant of the Tart of Darkness brew. Since the release of the original, this Sour Stout has been very good on its own but the variants seem elevated to new flavor heights. Like when they released the Cherry and vanilla one, it was way better than the original. While I personally loved the Jolly Pumpkin’s Sour Stout Madrugada Obscura more than the original Tart of Darkness, the variants from the Bruery I like those as much or a little more. Now with cacao and raspberries, this new variant seems very promising, especially since I’m a nut for raspberries. Let’s have a look at this one, cheers!
Aromas:
Earthy notes, musty sour funk, Chambord Raspberry Liqueur, dark chocolate, wine grapes, vanilla, dark fruits, milk chocolate, oak, pecan pie, coffee, flan, rye bread, piloncillo sugar cone, fruit cake, stone fruit apricots, plums and sweetened condensed milk.
Flavors:
Chocolate Raspberry Cordials, Tart wine grapes, Chocolate wine, dark fruit raisins, plums, prunes, currants, raspberries, dark cherries, pomegranates, stone fruit apricots, mango, vanilla, oak, fruit cake, raspberry pie, pecan pie, coffee, flan, earthy notes, musty sour funk, pepper notes, raspberry cheesecake, milk chocolate, rich dark chocolate, bakers chocolate, Belgian Chocolate, German chocolate, Sweetened condensed milk, raspberry yogurt, toasted coconut mild mocha notes, rocky road ice cream notes, Chambord Raspberry Liqueur, mint, rye bread and sour green grapes.
Aftertaste:
Finishing dry but with some very nice lingering flavors of tart wine grapes, oak, raspberry yogurt, vanilla, rich dark chocolate lingering, and earthy notes. No alcohol in the taste, murky dark crimson full body, soft, smooth and creamy mouthfeel and a sipping drinkability.
Overall:
A supreme sour of sorts. Chocolatey raspberry cordials if they were dipped in wine with some very nice tart fruit notes. Very complex and seems to cover the palates of those that love sweets and sour beers. It is not too sour and not too sweet and the twilight road presented is one full of amazement. I highly recommend this one!
Anime Corner:
Dementia/Demencia from the Villanous series created in Mexico, was chosen for this pairing as the aspect of Tart of Darkness can also be seen in the association of evil organization such as that in the series. The fact that she is a lovable and sweet character with her ruby red raspberry hair, she seemed liked the right fit for this beer.
Sources:
http://img03.deviantart.net/efa9/i/2017/138/9/d/villainous_by_binariox-db9nzha.jpg
http://68.media.tumblr.com/0ee4a73a3f32e2346968203fe1d5b1fe/tumblr_oqmru99YY01ufuhr9o1_500.jpg
http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/001/258/109/19f.png
http://orig14.deviantart.net/88b2/f/2017/140/e/5/render_demencia_by_asrielju-db9uw71.png
http://img11.deviantart.net/976b/i/2017/145/c/b/dementia___villainous_fanart_by_oppaihobby-dbafegm.jpg
http://orig01.deviantart.net/cda9/f/2017/141/3/4/dementia_by_ta_na-db9yobu.png
https://www.forosperu.net/galeria/demencia.87291/full?d=1495753736
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DAnNdqPWAAAv08I.jpg
Rating: 6/6
Beret with Peaches and Vanilla by The Bruery Terreux is an 8.9% ABV Imperial Wit ale brewed with spices and aged in oak with Raspberries, Peaches and Vanilla.
Label:
Peachy – Keen – Sweet
Commercial Description:
Beret has been a staple in our lineup since Bruery Terreux launched in 2015. While the classic release of our spiced, imperial sour witbier aged in oak with raspberries has an enduring and endearing sense of style, we felt it was time to start weaving in a few new threads. Peaches and vanilla provided a peachy keen sweetness to cast the fruity personality of the refreshing, piquant ale in an all new artistic light.
==Introduction==
Released to all Bruery Societies, this is the Beret Raspberry sour but with peaches and vanilla. Last year’s version was pretty awesome and it was a sour I haven’t had in a long time. While sours from the Bruery have been getting better as the years go by, I still have to try the sours before I get them. Unless it has some ingredients I really like, then I will get it but since this came with the Preservation package, it was a great way to gage the beer. You may actually get this one by purchasing on their online store www.thebruerystore.com while they still have it. Let’s take a look at this, cheers!
Aromas:
Stone fruit apricots, peaches, biscuit bread, raspberries, wheat bread, coriander, brettanomyces, funky fruit, musty grapes, mandarins, tangerines, mango, lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla, oak caramel and honey.
Flavors:
Rich Peach Cobbler, Fuzzy Navel, Peach and Raspberry smoothy, stone fruit apricots, wine grapes, vanilla, toffee, caramel, oak, raspberries, strawberries, Concorde grapes, currants, cranberries, floral notes of lavender, hibiscus, tart fruit skins, wheat bread, coriander, brettanomyces, funky fruit, clove spice, musty grapes, mandarins, tangerines, mango, waffle cone, marshmallow hints, peach and vanilla cheesecake, chardonnay, sweetened condensed milk, honey, peppercorns, bananas, yerba buena spearmint, old oranges, lemon zest, lemon juice and lemon candies.
Aftertaste:
Finishing dry with over layering stone fruit peach, raspberry, vanilla, whipped cream hints, white grapes and oak. No alcohol in the taste, hazy golden peach medium body, crisp, refreshing, mild creamy and smooth mouthfeel along with moderate drinkability.
Overall:
Liquid Tart Fuzzy Navel in a bottle! This sour was better than I expected and this is definitely the sour to get. While the sour aspects are overlying due to the fruit, the sweetness of that same fruit is what I love and the vanilla works with it super well. I am not sure if this will reach details but this one is a recommendation worth seeking.
Anime Corner:
Lina Inverse from Slayers was used in this pairing as she seems to fit greatly with the colors of the label and the beer overall. Lina is a character I have not used in a long time and a favorite of mine. Since I have done a lot of Bruery beers, doing the pairings with at least one Anime character that I know of or fits well is definitely an accomplishment.
Sources:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b8/b2/b5/b8b2b5b347cd0542222f715aa316f6ba.jpg
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w408/a86680572/17/3139.jpg~original
https://img.fireden.net/a/image/1469/98/1469980206919.jpg
Rating: 6.35/7
Home Brew Project #30 Royal Succubinal’s Midnight Brunchy Bliss by Nubis Sanctum Ales is a 12% ABV American Strong Ale brewed with Black Hole Necromancer Remy Martin Cognac Barrel Aged Red Eye Unicorn Blood Espresso Coffee Beans, Maple Syrup and Oak aged in Maker’s Mark 46 Bourbon.
Label:
Royal Succubinal’s Midnight Brunchy Bliss
Many know the story of Dracula and the origin of vampires being from the very Vlad Țepeș (The Impaler), son of Vlad Dracul (The Dragon/Devil). While during his life, he had done many atrocities
like impaling people and drinking their blood. Even so, many did not know that he bore children.
Little is known about his daughter Lilith/Zaleska Dracula who also had a thirst for blood like her father. Although, killing was not her style and she chose to deal with this by creating a substitute. You see, in those days, where magic and alchemy were abundant, all she had to do was come up with the right incantation, ingredients and rituals. Of course, she had to pull a couple of favors to get the recipe just right and thankfully, she had perfected something that has survived the centuries. It was hidden in Dracula’s Castle in Transylvania, until today!
American Strong Ale brewed with Black Hole Necromancer Remy Martin Cognac Barrel Aged Red Eye Unicorn Blood Espresso Coffee Beans, Maple Syrup and Oak aged in Maker’s Mark 46 Bourbon
==Introduction==
Project #30 was inspired by One of the ultimate Double Bastard variants called “Arrogant Bastard’s Midnight Brunch”. Double Bastard has always been one of my favorite beers from stone since the first time I found it long after trying Arrogant bastard. In Midnight Brunch, they took the Double Bastard, American Strong ale, added espresso beans and aged in in maple syrup and bourbon barrels. It was definitely a huge beer that made me a fan of making my own.
One of the beers that was similar but not exact was the Highwater Sugaree which used similar ingredients but added pecans. So essentially, I did research for a Double Bastard recipe. Then, to add my own ingredients, I added a very special coffee. The Black Hole Necromancer Remy Martin Cognac Barrel Aged Red Eye Unicorn Blood Espresso Coffee Beans (What a mouthful!!) from Dark Matter Coffee was the ingredient that was created in collaboration with Three Floyd’s Cognac Barrel aged Dark Lord Imperial stout in 2015. They took the barrels that had that beer and cognac and aged their Unicorn Blood Coffee Beans into it. Essentially, this would add a special key set of flavors to my brew not found in any of the other beers. Putting all that together and into a secondary with maple syrup and Maker’s Mark 46 Bourbon and half a year later out comes something that was very different from even from that of the Midnight Brunch. Now that I brought it here to the website, let’s have a look at this creation, Cheers!
Aromas:
Lots of maple syrup, bourbon, vanilla, mocha, coffee, oak, Cadbury caramel and chocolate cream eggs, Irish cream, Danish cream, campfire smores, peppery notes, pecan pie, port wine, hazelnut nectar, tiramasu cake, jamoca ice cream, maple coffee cake, dulce de leche caramel, toffee, dark fruit raisins, cherry, figs, dates, currants, stone fruit old mango, candied orange notes, chambord raspberry, marshmallows, toasted coconut, earthy dark chocolate, Mexican chocolate, milk chocolate, pancakes and flan.
Flavors:
Rich oak, vanilla, mocha, roasted coffee, fancy coffee, Khalua Coffee, peanut butter notes, marzipan, mazapan, pecan pie, port wine, bourbon, cognac hints, maple syrup, dulce de leche caramel, toffee, dark fruit raisins, cherry, figs, dates, currants, stone fruit old mango, candied orange notes, chambord raspberry, marshmallows, toasted coconut, earthy dark chocolate, Mexican chocolate, milk chocolate, pancakes, crème brulee, Cadbury caramel and chocolate cream eggs, Irish cream, Danish cream, campfire smores, pepper notes, banana, earthy hop notes, sweetened condensed milk, flan, fruit cake, capirotada raisin bread pudding, figgy pudding, molasses, tiramasu cake, jamoca ice cream and maple coffee cake.
Aftertaste:
Finishing with maple syrup pancake notes, earthy chocolate, oak, marshmallows, vanilla, dark fruit, toffee, caramel, crème brulee, flan and fruit cake. No alcohol in the taste despite the high 12% ABV. Amber Crimson Full body, smooth, velvety creamy and syrupy mouthfeel along with a sipping drinkability.
Overall:
Absolutely phenomenal! This is indeed a brunch or breakfast beer, if your breakfast is late at night. It has almost everything I loved about the Midnight Bruch from Stone but with the addition of the coffee and my own ingredients, the beer became some other creature entirely. The coffee added some most inner depth that I did not find in even the depth charged or the Midnight Brunch. While I feel it is worthy of a bucket lister, it would not make sense since this is such a rarity not found anywhere. This right next to Sangrileche 2 are probably the best beers I have ever made. Yet, some of my other barrel aged and other experimental batches have been the best too. It is hard to decide, but this is definitely on another level even for the different craft beers I have had in the past.
Anime Corner:
Lilith Aensland from Capcom’s Darkstalkers was used in this pairing as I have used her in many of the Stone beers including many of the double bastard iterations. While I did use Etna from Disgaea for the Stone Midnight Brunch, I wanted to pay tribute in my own creation to Lilith for coming up with an inspired beer. While she along with Morrigan are some of my favorite characters from the Darkstalkers series, it was only fitting that I used a beer that fits the curriculum of vampires having their brunch after hours when there is no sun outside. Essentially, when the name of “Midnight Brunch” came about, I could only think of how vampires probably do their breakfast or brunch at Midnight. So the story was born!
Sources:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/f2/3b/c3/f23bc3f028786ed7269e74c157f80798.jpg
http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/wakusoku/imgs/a/2/a244a2bf.jpg
http://i.imgbox.com/dGLRkI0j.jpg
http://1.foto.radikal.ru/0601/b7bd5d5bf0ce.jpg
http://t03.deviantart.net/znLHcT5m7cFv_fuVEpYSgETCnV4=/fit-in/700×350/filters:fixed_height(100,100):origin()/pre04/4bd8/th/pre/i/2015/103/0/d/lilith_aensland_wallpaper_4k_by_jaksonstoker-d8plg0v.png
http://img05.deviantart.net/cb03/i/2014/266/a/e/lilith_aensland_wallpaper_by_jaksonstoker-d809i3x.png
http://static.zerochan.net/Lilith.Aensland.full.802428.jpg
http://static.zerochan.net/Lilith.Aensland.full.309888.jpg
https://brewerianimelogs.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/11d62-10cfd7fc39e678c7f9efc044037b16fe.jpg
Rating: 6.25/7
Home brew Project #29 SangriLeche Chapter: 2 – Hey You, Wanna Buy Some ChocoW00tCherries?!!? by Nubis Sanctum Ales is a 14% ABV Imperial Milk Stout brewed with Blood Lord Bourbon Barrel Aged Espresso Coffee Beans, Dark Chocolate, Cacao Nibs, Vanilla Beans, Sweet Cherry Puree, Gold Syrup and Pecans Oak aged in Maker’s Mark 46 Bourbon.
Label:
SangriLeche, Chapter: 2 Hey You, Wanna Buy Some ChocoW00tCherries?!!?
Damn it all! This is what I get for listening to pink haired broads trying to sell me some goods off the streets. When people used to tell me not to take candy from strangers, I should have listened. Heck, you too! How the hell else you get a hold of this damn cursed bottle. I was but a pawn to this girl’s seductions. Trying to sell me a bottle of some magical cherries and now, I am stuck here. Going on these dumbass, fucking space adventures.
I heed you warning though friend, do not make the same mistake I made. Drinking this will only summon that cherry choco cordial selling girl with no remorse and you will be a slave to this like I have. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya! Don’t drink this BEER!
Imperial Milk Stout brewed with Blood Lord Bourbon Barrel Aged Espresso Coffee Beans, Dark Chocolate, Cacao Nibs, Vanilla Beans, Sweet Cherry Puree, Gold Syrup and Pecans Oak aged in Maker’s Mark 46 Bourbon.
==Introduction==
Project #29 was inspired by everything that is awesome! Beer, Anime, Video Games and anything that celebrates geekdom. For the longest time, I always wanted to make a beer similar to the Bruery and Three Floyds Collaboration: Rue D’Floyd. An Imperial Porter aged in bourbon barrels with Vanilla, Cherries and Coffee. Since the days of Project #6 Oblivixen’s “Sangri-Leche” Maelstrom, I knew I wanted to make return to that beer. A beer that took a lot of experimentation, effort and time to essentially become, my first attempt at barrel/oak aging a beer. It was such a damn hit that it paved way for some of my other oak aged brews which I was very fond of and so were many of my friends. The return of the Sangrileche, however, was going to be different. Essentially, as I pondered about beer and geeky stuff, I remember how awesome and geeky Stone’s W00tStout was.
When I had heard that Wil Wheaton was awesome enough to share the recipe, I thought awesome I wanna brew that beer too. Then I thought, wait a second, What if I borrow some ideas from that W00tStout recipe and create my own new recipe . Essentially, it would not be a Belgian Stout, but many of the Sangrileche elements would make a return. Not in the way I imagined but very damn close. Heck, I wanted to make a W00Stout/Rue D’Floyd hybrid. Since Sangrileche already carried the vanilla, cherries and coffee like it did with Rue D’Floyd, why not, pay tribute and make it similar to that using some W00tstout inspirations of Pecans in place of peanut butter and add more dark chocolate and some sweeter cherries. What really put the “Cherry” on this dessert was when I brought the unholy grail of the Bourbon Barrel Blood Lord Coffee into the mix. Dark Matter’s Coffee beans, Unicorn’s Blood Coffee (Which were also used in the original Sangri Leche) aged in bourbon barrels that had “Three Floyds – Dark Lord Imperial Stout”. Yes, this coffee had a limited run but it was worth it to create this madness of a beer that would soon be the second coming of BloodyMilk (SangriLeche). So with that and a special Maker’s Mark 46 Bourbon (Unfortunately I ran out of Dragon’s Milk Bourbon) which was referred to me by my friend Oscar, this beer was finally born.
W00h! That’s a mess, TL:DR. Essentially, it took me several months of aging but this beer made it just in time to bring it to the website and give my thoughts on my crazy creation. Why does it have so much game influences? Go Read or Listen to the “Ready Player One”, which is also narrated by, you guessed it, Wil MuddaFuckin’ Wheaton himself! Yes, that book has so many references to the 80’s and 90’s lore just like this beer has so much going on making it in my mind, one of the best video game beers and also one of the best home brews I have ever brewed to date. With that says, today marks my birthday so this is essentially a treat to myself and fans alike. Cheers and thank you for your support!!
Aromas:
Chocolate Cherry Cordials, Dark chocolate, earthy chocolate, Chocolate abuelita, Carlos V Mexican chocolate, oak, bourbon, vanilla, toffee, caramel, mocha coffee, dark fruit raisins, prunes, currants, blackberries, raspberries, pecan pie, flan, crème brulee, banana split sundae, rocky road ice cream, Khalua coffee notes, coconut hints, walnuts, Irish cream, chocolate cherry cake, milk sugar, chocolate port wine, Nutella chocolate, oatmeal cookies, anise, tobacco and leather.
Flavors:
Super Rich Dark Chocolate, Chocolate abuelita, Carlos V Mexican chocolate, earthy chocolate, almost like a mole spice, Milk chocolate, German Chocolate, Bakers Chocolate, Chocolate Mousse, Vanilla, Dulce de leche caramel, toffee, butterscotch, dark fruit raisins, currants, raspberries, blackberries, prunes, dark cherries, sweet cherries, port wine, Nutella chocolate, Chocolate Cherry Cordials, Banana split Sundae, whipped cream, marzipan, mazapan, pecan pie, hazelnut nectar, walnuts, prailines, rocky road ice cream, almond joy chocolate, toasted coconut hints, flan, sweetened condensed milk, cocoa krispies, Kahlua coffee Liqueur, Irish cream notes, Cherry Chocolate cake, Tres Leches/ Three Milks cake, mocha, roasted coffee notes, fancy coffee notes, oak, bourbon, molasses, mint chocolate chip hints, oreo cookies and cream, raisin bread pudding, lactose milk sugar and chocolate cookie dough.
Aftertaste:
Finishing with Chocolates for days, Nutella, dark chocolates, Mexican chocolate, dark cherries, vanilla, caramel, earthy chocolate, oak, bourbon hints, mocha, pecan pie and banana split cherry sundae. For being my strongest beer to date at 14%, you can’t really any of the alcohol. The body is fully pitch black and abysmal like the previous iteration of Sangrileche. The mouthfeel is very smooth, not as chewey as the original sangrileche but velvety and syrupy. A major sipper for sure, but this brew was made to be sipped and taken with ease.
Overall:
Ridiculous. Really fucking ridiculous, oh did I mention, fucking ridiculous! While it is not as sweet as the original Sangrileche, its still a dessert though. Not cloying and very out there. The majority of the beer is like drinking chocolate syrup like some of the best choco vanilla barrel aged beers out there. The cherries really start to play when the beer warms up and more of the dark fruit flavors start to come out. While the beer does not have much head retention, it is expected at such a high 14% ABV. Now, the real question is, did I really succeed in making the ultimate hybrid geek beer. The answer is Yes and No. Yes because the flavors are similar to those on the Bruery and Three Floyds and W00tstout combined with some Dark Lord Imperial Stout. The No part really has to do with the fact that it is not those beers, its my own creation. It is something new but at the same time, it is a geek beer. I poured so much effort and fan splurging as I can possibly think of into this. Geekdoms are made by fans and Geek inspired home brews are made by fans as well. So yeah, it is a fucking Geek Beer in its own damn righr. A crazy one at that. Even so, as crazy as some of my other beer recipes have been in the past, this one truly takes the cake. Yes, how appropriate, cake for my birthday. Cheers!
Anime Corner:
Haruko Haruhara from FLCL/Fooly Cooly and many video game characters were all chosen in this pairing because for being an insane and really out there beer, I needed to bring an anime character from one of the most beloved franchises who is all about rock and is a space psycho. You really have to think, how crazy this beer is with all its ingredients, colors, strength, retro name and geekiness. Yes, recipe base of W00tstout inspired darkness is the embodiment of pure Beer and Geeky media! While Krystal Fox from Star Fox was the original mascot for this beer, I paid tribute to her as you can see from the label. Yes, I could think of no one better.
Sources:
https://ugc.kn3.net/i/origin/http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h476/santo969/501623.jpg?t=1298836348
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/5d/cb/5d/5dcb5ddbdf54b59cb498801cf17d272b.jpg
http://wallpapersonthe.net/wallpapers/l/haruko_haruharu_flcl_anime_vespa_haruko-8042.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I2yHaMXsWRs/WBU65zSeaMI/AAAAAAAADfI/jGUBAKYYpUsA2JD6ShTPtr76MBfEpIS6QCJoC/w426-h400/16%2B-%2B1
http://fanfics.frikitest.com/imagenes/foro/vD5hFVbG2taLxki.jpg
https://vamf.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/flcl-14.jpg
http://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.roosterteeth.com/uploads/images/2a699fb8-5fcb-433b-a439-2694a298c778/md/halo3paranod4b7cfec536a08.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/88/8d/03/888d035c3f1efdc54680b7d58c3868f5.jpg
Rating: 7/7
Derde Golf by The Bruery Terreux is a 12.3% ABV Belgian Sour Quadrupel Oak aged with Blackberries and Bourbon Barrel aged Old Ale with Portola Coffee Lab’s coffee beans.
Label:
It’s time for the third wave – a beer that awakens the senses from first sniff to first sip. This sour, blended ale folds our sour, oak-aged Belgian style quadrupel with blackberries into our malt-forward, bourbon barrel-aged old ale, and finishes with a Flemish good morning kiss, for an awakening, robust and sweet & sour twist. It’s complimented and balanced by the gentle, roasty character imparted from freshly roasted coffee from our friend’s at Portola Coffee Lab – a blend that was specifically selected for this complex, sour coffee ale, and a concept that was nearly a year in the making.
==Introduction==
Released to Hoarders and Reserve society members. I did not think much about getting this one at first. Then I saw what it was made with. Essentially, they took their awesome Quadrupel Tonnellerie and Anniversary ale, combined it and added coffee. Ridiculousness! But I say that in an awesome epic way. Both base beers are already exceptional. Therefore, taking this to the next level is definitely what the Bruery does best. Now the question is, should one get this one? Well, that is where we come in to advise you, the reader, whether we think you should give this one a shot. Let’s do this, cheers!
Aromas:
Dark fruit currants, dark cherries, plums, raisins, figs, raspberries, wine grapes, blackberries, concorde grapes, fruit cake, oak, bourbon, dark candi sugar, bananas, clove spice, anise, tobacco notes, molasses, dark candi sugar, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, Cadbury caramel and chocolate cream eggs, hazelnut nectar, mocha, Khalua liqueur, java and sweetened condensed milk
Flavors:
Bourbon, oak, wine grapes, pan dulce, blackberry cobbler, fruit cake, concorde grapes, blueberry muffins, dark fruit currants, dark cherries, plums, raisins, figs, dark candi sugar, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, Cadbury caramel and chocolate cream eggs, lemon peel, red wine, toasted coconut, marshmallows smores, bananas, clove spice, anise, tobacco notes, molasses, leather, raspberry Chambord liquer, blackberry and blueberry cheesecake, rock candy, capirotada raisin bread pudding, figgy pudding, pecan pie, hazelnut nectar, mocha, Khalua liqueur, java, espresso, coffee cake, steamed milk, crème brulee, sweetened condensed milk, flan, chocolate cherry cordials and Tres Leches/Three Creams cake.
Aftertaste:
Finishes with rich dark fruits, of blackberries, dulce de leche caramel, toasted coconut, vanilla, clove space, bananas, dark candi sugar, rock candi, blackberry yogurt, toffee, dark chocolate, oak, and pecan pie. No alcohol in the taste, full dark amber body, effervescent, smooth and silky mouthfeel with a sipping drinkability.
Overall:
This is damn insane! This is indeed the best Belgian Sour Quad ever! The Blackberries and Coffee just raise it to those OVERKILL levels. Not in a bad way but of the deep and supremely luscious bliss kind of way. Heck even the fact that the base beers are already above exceptional, this just takes it to that bucket lister level. Definitely find a way to get this one. A lot of awesome stuff in this bottle.
Anime Corner:
Hsien-Ko/Lei Lei and Zabel/Lord Raptor (Midnight Bliss) were used in this pairing to go somewhat with the label but mainly the colors of the dark fruits and flavors of the beer. I have not used Hsien-ko in a beer for the Bruery before so I definitely thought this was the perfect opportunity. Zabel was merely there as you can think of the 2 beer fusion in coffee as represented by Hsien-Ko coming to Zabel from behind.
Sources:
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CsL6t_gXYAQAEGW.jpg
https://jr4rt.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/hsien_ko_small.jpg
https://brewerianimelogs.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/3d435-lei_lei_by_genzoman.jpg
http://blog-imgs-27-origin.fc2.com/m/o/u/moudamepo11/24(s).png
Rating: 6/6
Homebrewing Project #23 B by Nubis Sanctum Ales is a 10% ABV Belgian Trappist Apple Cider brewed with Burnt Dark Candy Sugar and Arizona Wild Flower Honey Oak Aged in Flor De Caña Gran Reserva 7 Rum.
Label:
Sangritinieblas De La CazaVampiros
“The Vampire Slayer’s BleeDarkness”
My Name is Miriam and I am a 3rd generation Vampire Slayer from La Legión De Los ManzArcángeles or “The Legion Of The Applarcangels” This… is my story… I come from a holy land of pure sauce, Cideraven; sent on a mission from God to destroy the Malum, or demon apples from Eden.
The Malum spread its evil across this world after the unveiling of the Garden of Eden. Draining purity and morale from the souls of the living like vampires ravenous for blood. Having trained for years under my master Claire Farron, I have taken it upon myself to destroy all Malum since her disappearance fighting Malum Ex Machina, the snake and leader of the Malum.
After many agonizing battles, I was blessed to find my master at last. Unfortunately the Malum still persist. I leave you this liquid made from the cleansed Malum to protect and purify your soul. Til we meet again…
Chapter 3 Ends.
Ingredients: Water, Apples, Burnt Dark Candi Sugar, Wild Flower Honey, French Oak, Flor De Caña RumGran Reserva 7 & Trappist Yeast
==Introduction==
Just in Time for HALLOWEEN!!!! Project #23 comes from an original recipe inspired by Crispin’s 15 Men Rum Aged Cider with Wild Flower honey and dark candi syrup. I reviewed the cider long ago and so loving that cider, I wanted to create my own. Coming up with a recipe which in the end, ended up being a partial mead/melomel and way darker than the one Crispin made got me thinking. If their cider came out clear and mines came out dark, did they really use Dark Candi sugar? It almost seems illogical to as I love Crispin’s ciders and that one was amazing. My recipe was first brewed in April 2016 and bottled in September 2016 after aging for 4 months. Although, the oak was sitting in Rum since February. I came to the conclusion today that what I actually had made was something very special and mines would be even more flavorful than that Crispin version I had tried. This I had to prove to myself so I had finally let it sit for about a month bottle conditioning now ready to present this beast I have created. Cheers!
Aromas:
Rich vanilla, oak, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, dulce leche caramel, dark fruit raisins, plums, prunes, sweet wine grapes, cherries, marshmallows, waffle cone, honey comb, chocolate smores hints, rocky road ice cream hints, molasses, hazelnut nectar, walnuts, almond joy notes, pecan pie, fruit cake, brown sugar, apple pie, rum hints, ginger ale and rich sangria.
Flavors:
Rich Vanilla, flan, crème brulee, oak, dulce de leche caramel, marshmallows, sweet caramel and candied apples, chocolate, honey, port wine, sangria, sweet wine grapes, dark fruit raisins, plums, prunes, black berries, cherries, currants, raspberries, Belgian dark candi sugar, coconut hints, Malibu rum hints, cinnamon, fruit cake, ginger ale, dark chocolate hints, milk chocolate hints, agave hints, peppery hints, coriander spice hints, bananas, clove spice hints, Concorde grape, Danish cream, Turkish delights, ambrosia, apple pie, rocky road ice cream hints, hazelnut nectar, brown sugar, walnuts, almond joy notes and pecan pie.
Aftertaste:
Finishes somewhat dry with the rich oak, rum, honey, dark fruits, chocolate, rock candy, fruit cake, cinnamon, port wine, flan, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, pecan pie, apple pie and rocky road hints. No alcohol in the taste, but that ABV sneaks up! Dark Crimson, blood red clear body, crisp, soft, smooth, velvety and syrupy mouthfeel with a sipping drinkability.
Overall:
Literally, the best cider I have ever made and to much of the ciders I have had, the best cider I have tried. I really think things start to kind of blend in with the wine and mead category but it blends so damn well into this dark oblivion and bringing in the rum and Belgian Candi Sugar just takes it to another level. The aging process changed this cider into something I would never have imagined. With a wine like appearance and taste that is so damn complex, especially for a cider, I really feel I made something really wonderful. Something that I think I will definitely try to make again.
Anime Corner:
Miriam, from “Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night” which is the new upcoming Kickstarter series by Koji Igarashi (Godfather of the Castlevania series). Based on the progress, artwork and tribute to the castlevania games, Miriam is literally a bad ass!! I know this game won’t be released until 2018 but I figured I wanted to pair her with this. She is damn perfect!! Just look at this cider. It is Rum aged and her outfit is similar to that of European royalty but also a captain of pirates. It is made with Flor de Caña or Cane Flower Rum. Essentially representing the roses that surround Miriam. The cider is dark crimson blood red so it fits the theme not only for a dark and bloody cider but also the Castlevania series and Koji’s vision of an awesome tribute game.
Sources:
http://40.media.tumblr.com/0b13732a8486fe83ea1e0c17240659cc/tumblr_no751qv3xO1s2ut1zo6_1280.png
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CE1G2sxWEAABEKc.jpg:large
http://orig10.deviantart.net/b7fe/f/2015/141/3/c/bloodstain12_by_phamoz-d8u6ybd.jpg
https://cdn3.patreon.com/1/patreon.posts/3493771155782837701.jpg?v=TvlqMZT9g_j78u6zUBvoddAO_Kx-CsMn-2eaeEye8ts%3D
Rating: 7/7
4 Fourth Anniversary by Figueroa Mountain is an 11% ABV Belgian Quadrupel brewed with figs and aged in oak barrels.
Label:
The number 4 is powerful and prevalent. For our fourth anniversary, it was apropos to brew a Belgian-style Abbey Quadrupel for the special occasion Crafted in the traditional style of Trappist monastery breweries. This massive dark ale was aged in oak barrels with figs an ancient and sacred fruit. We look forward to the infinite possibilities for Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company as the sensors pass and the phases of the moon come full circle.
==Introduction==
It has been a while I tried a Figueroa Mountain brewing beer. I do believe the last one I tried from them was their 2nd Anniversary Grand cru. That beer was very delicious but when I saw this one, I was very excited. They took a quadruple and aged it with figs in oak barrels. I was unable to find information to see if this one had oak sitting in a particular spirit. Anyway, quadrupels are some of my favorite types of beers. There is a special place in my heart for the style so anytime I see one, I have to try it at least and if I can, bring it to the website. I usually compare it to St. Bernardus 12abt, best quad ever! (To me). Fortunately, I was able to bring this one here but let’s see how this one does. Cheers!
Aromas:
Massive dark fruits figs, dates, plums, prunes, currants blackberries, pomegranates, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cranberries, bananas, clove spice, grilled plantains, port wine, sherry, rich fruit cake, stone fruit peach, apricots, mango, brown sugar, dark candi sugar, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, oak, bourbon hints, piloncillo sugar cone, flan, cinnamon, ginger bread, sweetened condensed milk with mixed berries and milk chocolate.
Flavors:
Super Rich Dark fruit raisins, figs, dates, plums, prunes, currants blackberries, pomegranates, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cranberries, dark candi sugar, rock candy, toasted bread with mixed berry preserves, Capirotada Mexican bread pudding, figgy pudding, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, chocolate raisinettes, cherry cordials, tangerine preserves, orange notes, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, oak, bourbon hints, piloncillo sugar cone, flan, cinnamon, ginger bread, coriander spice, sweetened condensed milk with mixed berries, Mixed Berry yogurt, rich mixed berry cheese cake, dulce de leche caramel, bananas, clove spice, grilled plantains, port wine, sherry, rich fruit cake, pecan pie, stone fruit peach, apricots and mango.
Aftertaste:
Finishes with super massive barrage of rich dark fruit and mixed fruit flavors, oak, bourbon vanilla, marshmallow smores, dark chocolate, earthy notes and rich dark candi sugar. No alcohol in the taste, bloody crimson body, smooth, cream, velvety and chewy mouthfeel along with a sipping drinkability.
Overall:
I have no fucking idea what makes this quad so damn exceptional ridiculous. This quad is probably the highest grade I have given a quadrupel if not for the St. Bernardus 12 ABT Apple Brandy oak aged. Essentially this Quadrupel is a super damn dark fruit in your face quad with so much variants of fruit and delicious caramels and vanilla I have not seen in a while since Mikkeller’s raspberry quad. I am sure enjoying the hell out of this brew for damn sure and definitely recommend you highly get this one.
Anime Corner:
Super Saiyan Son Bra from Dragon Ball Multiverse is the daughter of Vegito (Fusion of Goku and Vegeta) from the universe where Vegito never unfused. She was used in this pairing to go with colors of the label but also the dark fruits and supreme complexity that this beer provides. A quadruple to be reckon with only pairs some of the best characters and Son Bra was the best one to use in this instance.
Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/wQZySjx.jpg
Rating: 5.45/6
2016 Preservation series Quadrupel Tonnellerie by The Bruery Terreux is a 10.2% ABV Belgian Sour Quadrupel Oak aged with Blackberries.
Label:
Caramelized – Toasty – Fruity
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Our Tonnellerie series is the perfect showcase of our “wildly traditional bière”. French for “cooperage”, each beer in the series shares one core trait: they were all fermented in oak. Beyond that, the recipes and styles are as unique as the cues they take from nature. Quadrupel Tonnellerie, a barrel-fermented Belgian-style quadrupel with blackberries, is no exception. A style known for being at the more malty, complex and rich end of the Belgian strong ale spectrum, this quad revels in layers of sweet caramel, dark fruit and figgy flavors, and complimentary undercurrents of oak. The natural esters from the Belgian yeast compliment the rustic, earthy qualities derived from the barrels and piquant flavors from the fruit for a dynamic flavor profile and mouthfeel that will evolve over time.
==Introduction==
Released to All societies and the public, if I am not mistaken. From what I can tell, this technically would be the first time the Bruery attempts a sour Belgian Quadrupel. The sour Belgian Quadrupel is pretty damn rare. The first time I tried one was at Phantom Carriage in Carson California and the second, (although Brettanomyces on a Quadrupel is more of a funky brew) being the one I got from Texas from my friend Aaron Mendiola at BeerMetalDude.comwould be the Save The World Apocalypse. All delicious for sure but this one is made with Blackberries. I had the Raspberry Quad from Mikkeller recently as well but that one was not barrel-fermented so I am sure the barrel definitely plays a huge roll in the souring process. Let’s have a look at this one. Cheers!
Aromas:
Rich Dark fruits of blackberries, raisins, plums, currants, cherries, raspberry, figs, clove spice, bananas, tart Concorde grape skins, wine grapes, port wine, oak vanilla, caramel, blackberry yogurt, blackberry cobbler, fruit cake, earthy funk, caramel, dark candi sugar, leather and tobacco hints.
Flavors:
Wine grapes, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, oak, dark fruit raisins, plums, figs, cherries, rich tart blackberries, currants, vinous notes, dark candi sugar, dark chocolate, pecan pie, hazelnut hints, tart blackberry cheese cake, blackberry yogurt, sweetended condensed milk, port wine, raspberry Chambord hints, leather, molasses, tobacco notes, anise hints, clove spice, bananas, coffee notes, funky notes, lemon peel, red wine, earthy notes, cinnamon, blackberry cobbler, fruit cake, Concorde grape skins and blackberry muffins.
Aftertaste:
Finishes full of dark fruit with lots of tart blackberry notes, encompassing the vanilla, caramel, clove spice, banana, dark chocolate, blackberry yogurt, oak and vanilla. No alcohol in the taste, full dark amber body, effervescent, smooth and silky mouthfeel with a sipping drinkability.
Overall:
A definitely exceptional Quadrupel. While it is more of a sour than a quadrupel, the exemplification of tarts with the balance of sweet complexity from the Quad seems to balance out very nicely. You get a variety of dark fruits mostly tart than super sour and you dig around until you find the sweet hidden quadrupel inside. While I do not often get a chance to try sour quads, I have to say that this sour quadrupel is actually my favorite sour quadrupel. Definitely give this one a shot!
Anime Corner:
Ayeka Misaki Jurai from Tenchi Muyo was used in this pairing since I wanted to bring her into a review for the longest time. Ayeka being a character from the Tenchi series from the 90s and one that was one of my favorites along with Washu and Ryoko. While she is delicate and sweet in her demeanor as a princes, when she is mad as hell she can become extremely dangerous. This pairs well with her attitude of sweet and sour at times but he strength is hidden like the ABV of this beer. That and the fact that she is always wearing the kimono is as close to a monks attire so I figured this even best exemplifies the pairing.
Sources:
http://shuu-washuu.deviantart.com/art/Princess-Ayeka-571428833
http://media.animegalleries.net/albums/Tenchi%20Muyo/Ayeka/tm_ayeka014.jpg
http://strippin.deviantart.com/art/Ayeka-wallpapper-85801835
Rating: 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
Rating: 5/5
2016 Oude Tart with Cherries by The Bruery Terreux is an 8.4% ABV World Class Flanders/Flemish Red Ale aged in oak barrels with Cherries.
Label:
Plump-Leathery-Tangy
Commercial Description:
Oude Tart is a Flemish-Style Red Ale aged in red wine barrels for up to 18 months. This version has had cherries added for the final stages of barrel aging. It’s pleasantly sour with hints of leather, tangy dark fruit, plump cherries and toasty oak. While the base beer is one of the more classic styles that we make, it’s not a style that you can find too often in the United States. Originating in style from the Flanders region of Belgium, near the French border, this dark, sour ale has roots deep in brewing history and predates most of the ales that have become popular in contemporary culture. We’re doing our best to keep the tradition alive by brewing and aging this beer here on the West Coast.
==Introduction==
Releases to all societies of the Bruery, this is the second time I try this beer. The first time I tried I had recalled all the delicious cherry flavors and how it definitely made a mark. To me it felt so much that I had to bring it back for another go. Now with much more released, you may get a chance to try it this time if you for the society membership. Let’s see how this new batch does.
Aromas:
Caramel, rye bread, dark cherries, dark fruit raisins, plums, currants, raspberries, oak mustiness, lemon, leather, brown sugar, vanilla, funky wine grapes, tart cherry juice, sour apples, cherry pie, pecan pie hints, cinnamon, oak, hazelnut and cherry cheesecake notes.
Flavors:
Dark Cherry forward, Black Cherry Yogurt, lemon peels, biscuit bread, dark fruit raisins, plums, currants, figs, vanilla, oak, leather, tobacco, cherry preserves on rye bread, crème brulee, toffee, red wine, wine grapes, cherry cobbler, caramel, cherry cheesecake, brown sugar, tropical fruit notes of pineapple, stone fruit apricots, mango, pecan pie, coconut hints, cherry cobbler, fruit cake, and Danish cookies.
Aftertaste:
Finishing with dry notes of caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, dark cherry yogurt, and wine oak notes. No alcohol in the taste, medium reddish brown body, creamy, effervescent, velvety mouthfeel and moderate to sipping drinkability.
Overall:
Very delicious and as always, love how the Cherries just go through the sourness and give more of like a sweet dark cherry tart yogurt flavor. The complexity is just as awesome as when I had it before and while I think the Cherries do change the dynamic of the original oude tart, it essentially makes it very appealing. Good thing now the preservation societies can enjoy this one as well and soon, the public. Highly recommended sours.
Anime Corner:
Ruby Rose and her sister Yang Xiao Long from RWBY were used in this pairing since I used Yang in the Oude Tar Pairing. In fact, they were used in the previous Oude Tart Cherries pairing. Because of the fact that they are sisters, putting them together is like adding the cherries to Oude Tart. Ruby Rose, ofcourse is the cherry here. They are an awesome team. I wanted to show how the beer tends to be a splash of fruity flavors as you can see Ruby jumping in to add that layer of complexity.
Sources:
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mc2rOFKCQXc/maxresdefault.jpg
http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140429113205/rwby/images/4/47/Blake_belladonna_clouds_moon_pool_ruby_rose_rwby_signed_sky_swimsuit_weiss_schnee_yang_xiao_long.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/CBJv02O.jpg
Rating: 5/5
2016 Les Ronces by the Bruery Terreux is a 6.0% ABV is an American Wild ale with Boysenberries aged in Oak Barrels.
Label:
JAMMY – PUCKERING – QUAFFABLE
Commercial description:
Loosely translated as “The Brambles”, Les Ronces is rooted in Southern California charm. The juicy fruit was commercially brought to life near Bruery Terreux at Knott’s farm in Buena Park, California in the early 1930s. Since their peak in popularity, the berries have become more scarce and elusive, and at the same time, an ideal cohort for our wildly traditional bière. In Les Ronces, the boysenberries impart a reddish-purple hue to the oak-aged ale, with their sweet-tart flavor profile complementing the sour blonde base in a light jammy, puckering and refreshing fashion.
==Introduction==
Released to 2016 Reserve and Hoarders, this sour was made with the Bruery trying to use a different variety of fruits for making their sours and beers. All in the name of experimentation. This one though, reminded me of the time I tried the Bramble Rye from Goose Island’s Bourbon County series. If they ever make something like that, I would definitely want to try it. So with this sour, you can say I was intrigued to give it a shot for sure and is the reason I got it and brought it to the site. Some sours are a hit or miss for me from the Bruery. While I like sours, I like maltier beers more. So when it is done right, I definitely enjoy them. Like Jolly Pumpkin for example. So let’s see about this one. Cheers!
Aromas:
Wine grapes, earthy funk, oak, stone fruit peaches, apricots, peppercorn hints, Dark fruit raspberries, boysenberries, toasted rye bread, strawberry jam, lemon peel, honey and caramel notes.
Flavors:
Dark fruit raspberries, boysenberries, raisin hints, tart berry skins, Concorde grapes, wine grapes, Boysenberry preserves on Toasted Rye bread, Strawberry Jam, citrus, lemon peel, cranberries, honey, caramel hints, guava hints, pineapple hints, fruit cake hints, stone fruit peaches, apricots, hibiscus flowers, lavender, brown sugar hints pecan pie hints, funky hay notes, earthy funk, oak and strawberry shortcake.
Aftertaste:
Finishes dry with hints of dark fruit, earthy funk, oak, wine grapes, lemons, citrus and toasted rye bread. No alcohol in the taste, Ruby Hot Pink clear body, effervescent, puckering, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel with a moderate drinkability.
Overall:
A very delicious and perfect sour showcasing the many tarty and sweet delicious fruits. While it is a sour, the body of the brew and characters of boysenberry preserves on toast do come out. Similarly, this reminds me similarly of what they did with Ruebarb/Windowsill and Gypsy Tart. Essentially, a dessert sour. While the sour and tart flavors are there to balance out the brew as a whole, it makes for one delicious brew if you are into sours. Definitely recommended.
Anime Corner:
Julie-su the Echidna from Sonic the Hedgehog Comics was used in this pairing to go with the label colors, the color of the beer as well as the boysenberries mainly. I have not used her in a Bruery or beer review in general and so I figured with all the colors following close to her colors I thought that this would be a very good fit for the pairing.
Sources:
http://img01.deviantart.net/4ea8/i/2011/338/2/f/julie_su_commission_by_one_dimensional_man-d4i62h1.jpg
http://img09.deviantart.net/ba38/i/2005/364/1/b/julie_su_coloured_by_tazi_san.jpg
Rating: 5/5
2015 Oude Tart with Boysenberries by the Bruery Terreux is an 8.3% ABV Flemish Red Ale aged in Oak barrels with boysenberries.
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Oude Tart is a Flemish-Style Red Ale aged in red wine barrels for up to 18 months. This version has had boysenberries added for the final stages of barrel-aging. In fact, there are over two gallons of boysenberry purée per barrel. The final compilation is pleasantly sour with hints of leather, dark fruit, tart boysenberries and toasty oak. While the Flemish-style red ale is one of the more classic beer styles that we make, it’s not a style that you can find too often in the United States. Originating in style from the Flanders region of Belgium, near the French border, this dark, sour ale has roots deep in brewing history and predates most of the ales that have become popular in contemporary culture. We’re doing our best to keep the tradition alive by brewing and aging this beer here on the west coast.
==Introduction==
Another brew that was part of the December released for the Bruery Preservation society was this one. A variant of the Oude Tart with Boysenberries. I have tried the one with cherries and it was damn phenomenal. Now with Boysenberries, I am hoping this one is just as awesome. Many of their sours are good especially when doing fruit variants. While Jolly Pumpkin sours have always been my favorites, the Bruery has surprised me with some of their sours as they are able to find a nice balance at times so it is not supremely sour. Let’s see how this one is. Cheers!
Aromas:
Dark fruit currants, raisins, boysenberries, blueberries, raspberries, Concorde grape skins, vanilla, caramel, toffee, rye bread, lemon peels, hibiscus, hazelnut hints, brown sugar, pecan pie, Danish hints, wine grapes, port wine, tobacco, blackberry yogurt, boysenberry preserves, leather hints, molasses and oak.
Flavors:
Rich tart Concorde grape skins, vanilla, caramel, toffee, rye bread, lemon peel, hibiscus flowers, Dark fruit currants, raisins, boysenberries, blueberries, raspberries, Leather, oak, molasses, earthy notes, Danish hints, wine grapes, port wine, tobacco, blackberry yogurt, boysenberry preserves, cheese cake notes, pecan pie, brown sugar and hazel nut notes.
Aftertaste:
Super dry finishing with dry notes of wine, earthy notes, dark fruit boysenberries, dark cherries, oak, and musty notes No alcohol in the taste, full rich crimson and magenta body with a creamy, effervescent and medium mouthfeel with a moderate drinkability.
Overall:
Just like the Oude Tart Cherries, I was amazed by this one. A nice variant to the original show casing other complex flavors that come from using the different fruit. I think that is the best thing about variants and using different ingredients, the change of ingredients enables other complex flavors to come to being. With that being said, if you are a fan of sours or Oude Tart in general, you maye want to grab this one or trade.
Anime Corner:
Yang Xiao Long and Blake Belladonna from RWBY were used in this pairing as I have used Yang for the original Oude Tart so since her friends compose of different colors that I think would pair with the variant, I chose Blake as the boysenberry variant. This is since boysenberries are dark and purple, similar to black berries. I have used Ruby Rose when they used the Cherries, so depending on what is next, I have more characters to pair.
Sources:
http://orig11.deviantart.net/b52d/f/2014/044/9/a/9a82b1f04bd29690ca3325b6ab20388a-d769v9r.png
http://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.roosterteeth.com/uploads/images/fb561c24-2cf9-4026-b748-d793cf2e541e/original/2027241-1442774116514-image.jpg
Rating: 5.25/6
Six Suits A-Hangin’ by Karl Strauss is an 8.5% ABV Imperial Belgian Brown aged on French Oak.
Label:
Winter in San Diego means surfers break out their fullsuits. And while you may not find many stockings hung by the chimney with care, you’re sure to see those wetsuits hung out to dry on plenty of balconies across the county. Six Suits A-Hangin’ is the 6th installment in our “Twelve Days” holiday series. This Imperial Belgian-style brown ale is brewed with caramel and brown malts for rich flavors of graham crackers, roasted nuts, and peppery Belgian spice. Aging on French oak adds a hint of vanilla. As for the finish? It’ll warm you from your head to your frozen toes.
==Introduction==
The 6th release if the 12 Christmas beers of San Diego is now available in time for the Holidays. Similar to the Bruery, the 12 Christmas beers of San Diego is Karl Strauss take on the song but with gifts in relation to San Diego. This one was released for a limited time for the holidays and may go quick. While I have tried a good amount of them, I have yet to try the 2nd (Two Tortugas) one which is the quad and one of my favorite styles. This year, they bring a Belgian Brown. It has been a while since I tried the Belgian brown style, not in sour form ofcourse. So seeing as this is Karl Strauss first (I’m assuming) Belgian Brown, let’s see what it has to offer.
Aromas:
Dark fruit raisins, figs, plums, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, sugar plums, figgy pudding, fruit cake, stone fruit peaches, apricots, peppercorn, bananas, clove spice, pecan pie, apple pie, caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, milk chocolate, Tamarind, Candi Sugar, Rock Candy, Oak, crème brulee, flan, Danish cream cookies, brown sugar, ginger bread cookies and capirotada raisins bread.
Flavors:
Rich Caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, milk chocolate, Tamarind, Candi Sugar, Rock Candy, Oak, dark fruit raisins, figs, plums, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, sugar plums, figgy pudding, fruit cake, stone fruit peaches, apricots, peppercorn, bananas, clove spice, pecan pie, apple pie, piloncillo sugar cone, brown sugar, ginger bread cookies, capirotada raisins bread, port wine notes, cinnamon toast crunch rye bread, crème brulee, flan notes, strawberry jam on shortbread cookies, Danish cream cookies and sweet potato hints.
Aftertaste:
Finishes with lots of dark fruit, caramel, candy sugar, fruit cake, vanilla, stone fruits, chocolate hints and spicy Christmas notes like cookies. No alcohol in the taste. Honey dark brown clear to hazy body. Creamy, smooth, slightly syrupy mouthfeel with a moderate drinkability.
Overall:
Exceptionally delicious. This one came from left field but at the same time, I was well pleased with this one. A Belgian brown ale that is super complex and fits right in with the while “Christmas Ale” theme. I am trying to figure out how a brown relates to suits but that does not matter. What you should really know is, this one is worth the take. I would say, take a couple!
Anime Corner:
Jigoku no Fubuki from One Punch Man was used in this pairing as I was trying to get a picture of people with suits but also a leader representing the overall theme. Jigoku seemed to fit the bill here. While I do not know much about Jigoku yet as she has not made much of an appearance in the anime, I am sure she will have something to do with Saitama, the main protagonist. Either way, this was a nice pairing a I felt.
Sources:
http://static.zerochan.net/One.Punch.Man.full.1683518.jpg
Rating: 5.25/6
Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter by (512) brewing is a 9.5% ABV Imperial Porter brewed with pecans and aged in oak Whiskey Barrels.
Label:
Who is (512)?
(512) Brewing Company is a microbrewery located in the heart of Austin using as many local, domestic and organic ingredients as possible. Although we’re primarily focused on draftbeer, we occasionally share some of our special creations in bottles with our friends around the state.
What’s Inside?
(512) Double Pecan Porter is a robust porter accented by organic Texas-grown roasted pecans and subtly enhanced by aging in recently emptied oak whiskey barrels for two months. Notes of chocolate, coffee and pecan marry with the subtle flavors of vanilla and whiskey to make this a wonderful warmer worth sharing and savoring. In this sixth ever bottling 500 cases were bottled. We sincerely hope you enjoy every sip.
==Introduction==
Double Pecan Porter sounds like the best thing in the world! I was really intrigued when my friend Aaron Mendiola from BeerMetalDude.com sent me this one. So far, many of the brews I try from 512 are very good. This one is a new style I try from (512) and a bourbon barrel aged brew at that. I always enjoy trying bourbon barrel aged brews. There is always room for new brews to exceed my expectations. Very few do but when there are those that don’t, it may not be worth it. Today, I have my hopes up for this one. A possible Pecan pie and chocolate beer? Bring it on!
Aromas:
Pecan pie, almond milk, almond joy chocolate, marshmallow hints, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, flan notes, blueberry tart cheesecake, rich oak, bourbon, whiskey, vanilla, caramel, dark fruit raisins, currants, blackberries, raspberries, tobacco, walnuts, pralines, hazelnut nectar, molasses, chocolate smores, banana notes, coffee cake and Khalua notes.
Flavors:
Rich oak, bourbon, whiskey, vanilla, caramel, dark fruit raisins, currants, blackberries, raspberries, Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, flan notes, blueberry tart cheesecake, blueberry yogurt notes, pecan pie, almond milk, almond joy chocolate, marshmallow hints, walnuts, pralines, hazelnut nectar, molasses, chocolate smores, banana notes, coffee cake, Kahlua notes, earthy notes, smokey notes, leather, tobacco, toasted rye bread with blackberry jelly, brown sugar, wine grapes and port wine.
Aftertaste:
Finishes with some nice oak, bourbon, tart hints of dark fruit berries, yogurt hints and pecan pie. No alcohol in the taste, crimson head with a pitch black dark body, silky, smooth and creamy mouthfeel and an easy to moderate drinkability.
Overall:
Exceptional brew but while I do think the brew maybe on the tart side, this addition to it makes more complex. It is more of a bourbon barrel aged sour blend than a pure malty bourbon brew. I have experienced something similar to this with the Oakshire Hellshire II and to be honest, this type of souring is quite welcome in my opinion. I think those that enjoy sours will take advantage of what this brew has to offer as it is not like other brews.
Anime Corner:
Cinder Fall from RWBY is the main antagonist of the series The reason I used her in this brew was because of the colors or the fall like red and brown for the pecans. She holds a hidden strength of fire and is also evil coinciding with the brew’s sour yet sweet complexity. The ABV is elusive in the taste the way she manipulates those around her to do her bidding and how she is able to trick good people into doing bad things. Crazy as it seems, this was definitely a beer with her name on it.
Sources:
http://konachan.com/sample/5f432a5d3cbe76f19115d586df945c25/Konachan.com%20-%20207655%20sample.jpg
Rating: 5/5
Imperial Cabinet collaboration by The Bruery Terreux and Jester King is an 8.3% ABV American Wild Ale brewed with spices and aged in oak barrels
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Many things can happen when collaborating breweries come together. Like us and Jester King. We both share a deep affinity for sour and wild beers. But rather than rest on our laurels, we challenged ourselves to brew a beer reminiscent of a nearly forgotten, early 20th century cocktail, the Ramos gin fizz, employing our wildly traditional methods to do so. We began with some of the cocktail’s signature ingredients – lemon, lime and orange citrus fruits, botanicals and sweeteners (sorry, no egg whites) – and then let our collaborative brewing process run wild. The result is laden with herbal and floral notes, bright lemon and lime zest, orange blossom honey, vanilla, warm oak and comforting spices. The Ramos gin fizz is a hard cocktail to find, and when you do, it takes 10 minutes to make. Our collaboration with Jester King will be similarly elusive; however, it took nearly a year in the making.
==Introduction==
Released for the Bruery’s Reserve and Hoarders Societies, this beer would bring one of Texas best breweries, Jester King, to birth a beer that would probably just as coveted as wen Three Floyds toured last year. My friend Aaron Mendiola of www.beermetaldude.com has sent me some very awesome stuff from Jester King and even had his wedding reception at the brewery. It is no joke that Jester King is one of the best when it comes to complex saisons and wild ales just like Jolly Pumpkin up in Michigan. So for this beer, I really want to see how The Bruery and Jester King minds bring forth something awesome. Let’s do this!
Aromas:
Funky notes, farmhouse hay hints, vinegar sour, black tea, lemonade hints, floral notes, hibiscus, roses, poppy, lavender, rich vanilla, oak, stone fruit apricots, mango, lemonade hints, biscuit bread, anise, coriander, gin hints, herbs, mint tea, yerba buena, salt, tejuino maize, peppercorns, Juniper berries, caramel, citrus, lemons, lime, Danish cream, candy sugar hints and brown sugar.
Flavors:
Lots of floral notes, hibiscus, roses, poppy, lavender, rich vanilla, oak, caramel, citrus, lemons, lime, salt, tejuino maize, peppercorns, Juniper berries, tart stone fruit apricots, honey, waffle cone, farmhouse hay hints, vinegar sour, black tea, lemonade hints, biscuit bread, anise, coriander, gin hints, herbs, mint tea, yerba buena, Danish cream, candy sugar hints, brown sugar hints and old mango.
Aftertaste:
Finishing dry with oak, vanilla, stone fruit, tart lemons and flowers. No alcohol in the taste, clear honey colored body, crisp, effervescent and refreshing mouthfeel and sipping drinkability.
Overall:
A Perfect sour. While the overall beer is a sour, some hints of fruity and floral notes do come through but just a touch to cleanse out the sourness. It was a damn fine collaboration and I feel that many people that love sours will find it’s strong herbal, vanilla and oak flavors to really pop with this one. I think some time would do wonders, cheers!
Anime Corner:
Kaguya Otsutsuki from Naruto was used in this pairing to represent what is inside the Imperial Cabinet. Reminiscent of Pandora’s Box, Kaguya was sealed long ago in the series and when the world was set into the infinite illusion of sleep by Madara Uchiha, he did not realize that he opened that very box (basically unsealed her) and thus Kaguya was back. The beer’s name and the complexity it represents goes along with the originator, Kaguya, who was basically the mother of all the Shinobi powers in the series. Sour and evil but the sweetness and complexity of the beer do showcase some of Kaguyas traits.
Sources:
https://hdwallpapers.cat/wallpaper_high_contrast/kaguya_ootsutsuki_fantasy_girl_hornes_art_high_contrast_hd-wallpaper-1823783.jpg
http://pre01.deviantart.net/ad47/th/pre/f/2014/175/9/e/kaguya_ootsutsuki_by_olggah-d7mr064.jpg
http://static.zerochan.net/NARUTO.full.1748450.jpg
Rating: 6/6 
Introduction:
The Arbre series as described by Patrick Rue, is a series of Imperial Stouts that have been aged in different types of oak barrels ranging from 45 second toast of the barrel all the way to completely charred. This series was released in August 2015 for the Reserve and Hoarders society. Today, I bring these forth to explain the story of each individual beer taking a whole lot of time and concentration trying to come up with what flavor experience hides within each one. This is the first time I do a triple review and well, I realize this will take me several hours to do. The thing is, this type of review took me a couple of days of trying a couple of sips at a time trying to recall each beer and how it was the same and what intricate parts were different. Essentially, this introduction is technically the last touches as the body of the review holds all my notes. It is not an easy task just to look at the most apparent flavors and try to find the complexity beneath each sip of these three beers but it was a task well endeavored. So let’s see what all these beers are all about, Cheers!
Arbre Light Toast
============
Arbre Light Toast by The Bruery is an 11.3% ABV Imperial Stout aged in light toasted oak barrels.
Label:
RAISE A TOAST!
The Arbre Series explores the flavors contributed by various levels of oak toast in barrels from out friends at Kelvin Cooperage in Louisville, KY.
The Arbre Series is an exploration of barrel toast. This lightest variation reveals young nutty notes of oak as well as raisins and a slight smoke.
Aromas:
Light smoke, BBQ hints, leather hints, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, light oak notes, leather, tobacco, dark fruit raisins, prunes, cherry, blue berries, wood plant, bourbon hints, coconut, almond joy chocolate and brown sugar.
Flavors:
Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, light oak notes, leather, tobacco, rye, light beachwood, light marshmallow notes, graham crackers, molasses, anise, bacon hints, BBQ, mild smoked wood, bourbon hints, coconut, brown sugar, almond joy chocolate dark fruit raisins, prunes, cherry, blueberries, wood plant, caramel, vanilla, minor hints of sweetened condensed milk, chocolate milk shake.
Aftertaste:
Dry oak, earthy notes, light toasted oak, rye bread, milk chocolate, BBQ hints, and wood plant like finish. No alcohol in the taste, Pitch black dark full body, creamy, smooth and velvety mouthfeel and a sipping drinkability.
Overall:
A very good toasty Imperial stout. The Wood is definitely young as it imparts a light plant like flavor with a dry oaky finish. A pretty good beer especially for this that do not like a lot of oak in their beer. Also, the alcohol level is well hidden and does not detract anything from the beer. Definitely worth the try for light smoke and oak lovers.
Arbre Medium Toast
================
Arbre Medium Toast by The Bruery is an 11.3% ABV Imperial Stout aged in medium toasted oak barrels.
Label:
RAISE A TOAST!
The Arbre Series explores the flavors contributed by various levels of oak toast in barrels from out friends at Kelvin Cooperage in Louisville, KY.
The Arbre Series is an exploration of barrel toast. This medium variation show cases a strong smokey depth and caramelization.
Aromas:
Dark fruit raisins, cherry hints, currants, anise, molasses, soy sauce, oak barrel, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, leather, rye bread, smokey hints, marshmallow smores, graham crackers, beachwood, brown sugar, toffee, bourbon hints, coconut, almond joy chocolate, pecan pie, chocolate brownie and plum sauce.
Flavors:
More caramel forward, soy sauce, and roasted marshmallow flavor than the original flavors, still some dark fruit cherry, raisins, molasses, anise, Milk chocolate, richer dark chocolate, oak notes, leather, tobacco, rye, beachwood, brown sugar, toffee, bourbon hints, coconut, almond joy chocolate, pecan pie, vanilla, marshmallow smores, whiskey notes, sweet potato pie, back wrapped dark chocolate and chocolate burnt brownie.
Aftertaste:
Semi dry finish with the BBQ, smoked notes, caramel, dark fruit, soy sauce, earthy notes, oak, rye bread and dark chocolate. No alcohol in the taste, Pitch black dark full body, creamy, smooth and velvety mouthfeel and a sipping drinkability.
Overall:
A very delicious beer that is better than the light one as the medium toast introduces some newer sweeter flavors of soy sauce, molasses and caramel but also enhances the original flavors of the light version of the beer. An enhanced smokey experience a slightly higher level of sweet and smokey levels make this one the next greater beer. The level of oak if a bit higher than before so if you do not like smoke or oaked beers, maybe this may not be for you.
Arbre Alligator Char
============
Arbre Alligator Char by The Bruery is an 11.3% ABV Imperial Stout aged in charred oak barrels.
Label:
RAISE A TOAST!
The Arbre Series explores the flavors contributed by various levels of oak toast in barrels from out friends at Kelvin Cooperage in Louisville, KY.
The Arbre Series is an exploration of barrel toast. This heaviest char variation reveals a heavy dose of smoke, vanilla and molasses.
Aromas:
Roasted coffee, smoke,leather, tobacco, rye, beachwood, brown sugar, toffee, bourbon hints, toasted coconut, dark chocolate, bakers chocolate, Abuelita chocolate brick, molasses, soy sauce, dark fruit cherry, raisin, blueberries, currants, port wine hints, hazelnut nectar, sweetened condensed milk, flan, clove spices, bananas, campfire wood, dark fruit cherry, raisins, blueberries, currants, raspberry, port wine hints, hazelnut nectar, almond joy chocolate and rocky road ice cream.
Flavors:
Smoked wood, campfire wood, rich dark chocolate, leather, tobacco, dark chocolate, bakers chocolate, Abuelita chocolate brick, vanilla, caramel, molasses anise, soy sauce, dark fruit cherry, raisins, blueberries, currants, raspberry, port wine hints, hazelnut nectar, almond joy chocolate, rocky road ice cream, leather, tobacco, rye, beachwood, brown sugar, toffee, bourbon hints, toasted coconut, smoking wood, brownie batter, butterscotch, sweetened condensed milk, flan, clove spices and bananas.
Aftertaste:
Syrupy burnt chocolate notes, smokey burnt oak, BBQ sauce hints, vanilla, dark fruits, earthy notes, hazelnut nectar, molasses and toffee lingers. No alcohol in the taste, Pitch black dark full body, creamy, smooth and velvety mouthfeel and a sipping drinkability.
Overall:
The exceptional charred oaked one releases even more complexity. I think of the 3, overall I really like this one. Trying each is almost like a build up beer. Something I don’t think I have ever done before nor have a taken a careful analysis of each to be able to do 3 at a time, side by side comparisons. While this one is the one I like the most, the more charred and oaked flavors may not be for everyone so if you love charred, oaked and smoked beers, this is a king type of beer. Cheers!
Anime Corner:
Raven from Teen Titans graces these three Bruery pairings with dark and hell delights. Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos! Are the words that grace each of the three beers, all unique and delicious. Since she was born half human, half demon it fits the beers in terms of her powers ranging from light being the more gentle human and sweet side as we can see in the beer pairing and the flavors but then you can see as she slowly goes higher in power, so does the fire. Burning with rage until reaching the third beer which is where she is in control of her full powers, we can see that at the Alligator charred stage, lots more burning more than oak flavors appear signifying that of a demon burning in hell or in this case, the beer. The aspect Arbre being that of trees fits with the night appearance of the beer as the Ravens linger in the night and so does Raven herself.
Rating: 4.5/5 Light Toast
Rating: 4.85/5 Medium Toast
Rating: 5.25/6 Alligator Char
Sources:
http://www.hdwallpapers.in/walls/raven-HD.jpg
http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20141201001048/ssb/images/thumb/5/59/Teen_Titans_Raven_.jpg/1280px-Teen_Titans_Raven_.jpg
http://www.zerochan.net/1055635#full
http://images-cdn.moviepilot.com/images/c_fill,h_995,w_640/t_mp_quality/u0jjzwntnjn2nkdomdu5/4-og-s-who-could-kill-mkx-shinnok-in-mortal-kombat-506228.jpg
Rating: 5/5
Tonnellerie Rue by The Bruery Terreux is an 8.5% ABV American Wild Farmhouse Ale/ Saison aged in oak barrels.
Commercial Description:
Our tonnellerie series is the perfect showcase of what we mean when we say that we make “wildly traditional bière”. Here we have taken our classic Saison Rue recipe, rich with rye malt, and allowed it to ferment spontaneously within extra large oak barrels that previously contained similarly wild beers. After enough time and plenty of wishful thinking, this brand new, earthy, complex, farmhouse ale developed into what was bottled up to enjoy. We find the rustic charm of fermenting a beer in this traditional method is mimicked in the flavor.
==Introduction==
Tonnellerie Rue or The Rue Cooper/Barrel-maker is what the beer name stands for. This beer brew was made for the Reserve and Hoarders society alike to be released August 2015. They released a warning stating that the beer should be in the fridge over 24 hours and poured over a sink as the pressure the yeast has built up is massive. So to prevent beer splatter all over your place or amongst friends, open this one with care over sink. So this one is a saison on oak and I want to see how different this is in comparison to their Saison Tonnellerie. Essentially, I think it is the same saison but with oak barrels and possibly brettanomyces. Let’s find out for sure. Cheers!
Aromas:
citrus, oranges, orange peel, grapefruit, tangerines, brettanomyces, wine grapes, farmhouse hay, Rich stone fruit, peaches, apricot, apples, pears, lemon, peppercorn, lychee fruit, dragon fruit, passion fruit, mango hints, waffle cone, biscuit bread, butterscotch, floral notes like lavender, oak, banana notes, clove spice, and musty grape notes.
Flavors:
Rich stone fruit, peaches, apricot, apples, pears, lychee fruit, dragon fruit, passion fruit, mango hints, brettanomyces, wine grapes, farmhouse hay, citrus, oranges, orange peel, grapefruit, tangerines, lemon, peel, lemon candy, rich oak, pineapple, bubble gum, banana notes, clove spice, vanilla, caramel, musty grape notes, good cheese, waffle cone, biscuit bread, butterscotch, floral notes like lavender, honey, coriander spice and candi sugar.
Aftertaste:
Stone fruits, brettanomyces, wine grapes, farmhouse hay, citrus, oranges, lemon, earthy notes, tropical fruit notes and rich oak. No alcohol in the taste, Hazy Golden full body, creamy, smooth, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel and moderate drinkability.
Overall:
Wow, a perfect farmhouse ale. It is so damn juicy and bretty. I lost partial amount of it due to the carbonation but it is expected with these bretty oak farmhouse ales. Lots of the sweet delicious flavors of the farmhouse hay, citrus, stone fruits vanilla, oak and much much more. It is one that is one of the best examples of the style and a must try if you can trade for it or if the Bruery sells it to the public.
Anime Corner:
Motoko Kusinagi from Ghost in the Shell was used for this pairing as to pair with the colors of the label but also to represent the fruity flavors and mainly represent a beer that has finished aging and maturing in the barrel. This is represented by her stepping up and getting disconnected from the machine she is on. Like this beer, she is ready to face the world.
2011 Daliesque by Oceanside Ale Works is a 6.2% ABV Lambic/Belgian Sour Blonde aged in oak barrels.
Label:
A Barrel Aged “Lambic Style” Sour Blonde. Daliesque: Conscientiously affecting the ostentatious, weird, or bizarre.
==Introduction==
I have been doing reviews for a while and have definitely loved doing what I do for a long time. I have also been fortunate enough to be able to find good friends who have helped me with trading beers like my friend Aaron Mendiola of beermetaldude.com so I can inform the public about great beer treasures.
As of recently, I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Mark Purciel, owner of Oceanside Ale Works in Oceanside California. After doing a review of the “Dude” Double IPA some time last year, Mark reached out to me asking if I would like to review Daliesque. In the back of my mind I was like, “Dude!!!!” Needless to say, I was awe struck and very excited. This is actually the first time I have been asked personally by a brewery, especially the owner, to try and review some beers. Usually, I try different beers and beers I have heard about. Some breweries like my work but this was an awesome opportunity to bring something for the public to take note. Daliesque has been rated the best lambic in the world (ratebeer.com) and also one of the best brews of 2014 according to (DraftMag.com).
I have been doing this since 2011, and well, for being an awesome request, I humbly give you my review on the 2011 Daliesque. Cheers!
Aromas:
Tart lemon peel, citrus, grapefruit peels, white wine grapes, musty oak, vanilla, farmhouse hay, peppercorn hints, field of flowers like lavender, hibiscus hints, tropical hints like passion fruit, dragon fruit, strawberries, white raisins, stone fruit apricots, peach notes, phenolic notes and sour green apples.
Flavors:
Citrus, orange peel, tart grapefruit, Stone fruit like peaches, apricots, mango hints, white wine grapes, farmhouse hints, lemon peel, lemon candy, tart peach, pineapple, lychee fruit, sour green apples, dragon fruit hints, passion fruit, vanilla, oak, biscuit bread, white raisins, ripened strawberries, tart raspberries, sugar cane hints, Belgian phenolic notes, banana, clove spice hints, coriander hints, floral notes like lavender and hibiscus.
Aftertaste:
Leaving off with some stone fruit note and very mild tropical hints, oak, vanilla, sour white grapes, oak and biscuit bread before going into a dry finish. No alcohol in the taste, smooth mouthfeel, easy to moderate drinkability. and light to hazy golden body. The hardly any carbonation but with these styles, its welcome.
Overall:
An exceptional lambic. While The base beer is supposed to be sour and the oak barrel lends a hand with the funkiness, the overall lambic through and through is actually more of a tart and sweet than it is sour giving way to some of the fruity notes but still maintaining composure as a sour lambic. Age has definitely done wonders to this one. When it comes to how I like my sours, I generally look past the sour aspect to find complexities during cold and warm temperatures. I think what makes this one an exceptional lambic has to do with balance of how you get the best of both worlds (Sweet/Sour) without the sourness getting the best of the lambic. That and the time aging has definitely had a great effect on it. As I have mentioned in my rating system, when I find something that goes beyond the base beer (typically aging can do this), I feel these beers deserve that extra credit push as not many perfect base beers can show their true potential unless it is take to a new level. In this case, it definitely exceeds it a bit. I highly recommend this one if you can find it and if you like tart and sweet beers.
I extend my thanks to Mark Purciel at Oceanside Ale Works for the opportunity of letting me try this awesome lambic, Cheers! Check out this interview with Mark on some of the origins of the Dude IPA and Oceanside Ale Works: http://www.thehopshighway.com/video/
Anime Corner:
Duality by tincek-marincek was used in this pairing as I wanted to find something that worked with the “Daliesque” artwork as made famous by Salvador Dali. While searching for many anime related artworks that would fit the ostentatious, weird, or bizarre. I found this artwork. This artwork represents the struggle of the beer as it tries to balance itself out. The beer itself is pretty balance giving great flavors of tart, sour and sweet. The lighter side of the duality represents the blonde and sweet flavor base of the lambic while the dark one represents the complexities brought on by the sour notes and the oak. As I mentioned before there is an aspect of this lambic that consist of a struggle for balance but eventually finding the middle ground (especially when the lambic warms up). Synonymous with human nature, everyone has a good and a bad side and we have to work together to balance ourselves out.
Sources:
http://tincek-marincek.deviantart.com/art/D-U-A-L-I-T-Y-312951498
Rating: 4.95/5
Kentucky Streetwalker by Naughty Brewing is a 10.2% ABV American Porter aged in Bourbon Barrels with Vanilla beans.
Label:
Brewed dark and aged for months in wood. Copious amounts of vanilla present themselves from both the beans and barrel. Kentucky Streetwalker is an Imperial Vanilla Porter aged until it was ready in premium bourbon barrels. It is dark, seductive and passionate… like your wildest dreams.
==Introduction==
This awesome beer I received thanks to my friend Aaron Mendiola at www.beermetaldude.com. This is the second beer I have tried from Naughty brewing and the theme they have going on I really like. It seems to go nicely with the beers I review here at the site. This time, we bring forth a Kentucky barrel aged porter brewed with vanilla beans. If that alone isn’t enough to get the sweet tooth aroused, maybe you can try something else. However, we like to try all sorts of beers and so let’s go and pick up this beer and see where the night takes us. Cheers!
Aromas:
Lots of oak, bourbon notes, brown sugar, vanilla, caramel, wine grapes, musty funk hints, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, smokey notes, earthy notes. Dark fruits like currants, raisins, plums, figs, pecan pie hints, licorice, honey and marshmallow smores.
Flavors:
Lots of oak, funky wine notes, wine grapes, vanilla, whiskey bourbon, smokey notes, caramel, dark chocolate, marshmallow, graham cracker smores, smores, dark fruit raisins, plums, figs, currants, blackberry skins, raspberry skins, pecan pie hints, earthy notes, leather, pipe tobacco, brown sugar campfire hints, molasses, honey, licorice, anise and oatmeal cookies.
Aftertaste:
Lots of oak, funky wood and musty wine grape notes, bourbon hints, vanilla, caramel, dark fruit, molasses, anise and smokey notes. Mild booziness in the taste, very dark body, slightly creamy and robust mouthfeel and sipping drinkability.
Overall:
This beer was very good. The most prominent aspect of this beer was definitely the oak. I am unsure if they were going with just a sweet beer or oaky but also tart hints. Which for this style, is very unique and welcomed to those that like a little bit of sour notes in their barrel aged. I liked it for sure and while it was not the best BBA beer I have ever had, it was still very good and worth the try.
Anime Corner:
Nibutani Shinka from Chuunibyou Demo Koi Ga Shitai! Was used in this pairing as I wanted to mainly pair with the label. It was a somewhat of a challenge as I wanted to get the girl with a vehicle just like it was on the car. I think this one was the best choice and while I am unable to say much about how this relates to the flavors of the beer, it definitely pairs with the theme and the label. Don’t Drink and Drive but if you do drive careful if you find an unsuspecting person that might seduce you like this beer.
Rating: 5.25/5
Makaria by Freetail Brewing is a 5.7% ABV American Wild Ale aged in Wine Barrels.
Label:
Makaria is the daughter of Hades and represents a merciful death as opposed to one of misery and utter destruction. This black wild ale shares its genesis with#Ananke, a sour-mashed witbier left to evolve in a wooden tomb. This batch was brewed on Christmas Eve 2013 for release the following spring on Ananke Day 2014. Thank you all for your support of over the years and we look forward to the next step in our barrel program’s evolution at the new brewery.
==Introduction==
An awesome thank you for my friend Aaron Mendiola of www.beermetaldude.com for providing this my way for the site. Many of the Freetail beers I have had before have been super awesome an wonderful. From La Muerta to Old Bat Rastard. They are some of the best beers out there in Texas. This one along with Endymion were given to me to show on the website for review. Specifically for Makaria, I will later see how it compares to Endymion. Cheers!
Aromas:
Dark fruit raisins, figs, plums, plums, currants, tart raspberries, wine grapes, coffee, black tea, brettanomyces, stone fruit apricots, peach skins, tart cherries, funky must, rye bread, strawberry notes, oak, flowers, earthy notes, berry yogurt, vinegary notes, lemon peel, farmhouse hints, coriander, brown sugar, chocolate notes and lavender.
Flavors:
Tart raspberries, tart dark cherry skins, Dark fruit raisins, currants, plums, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, tart wine grapes, funky must, coriander, farmhouse, lots of the oak barrel, lemon peel, berry yogurt, rye bread, strawberry cheese cake, earthy notes, flowers, concorde grapes, lavender, port wine, molasses, dark chocolate, milk chocolate hints, strawberry notes, blueberry muffins and pecan pie hints.
Aftertaste:
Good amount of dark tart fruits, oak, musty notes, floral hints, hibiscus flowers and earthy notes. No alcohol in the taste, a dark body, moderate mouth feel and a moderate drinkability.
Overall:
A very deliciously awesome sour having a lot of tart notes and complexity than overall sweetness. This beer reminds me of a sour with lots of complexity like tart of darkness or in some cases, some of the Jolly Pumpkin beers. This one is definitely for the sour beer lovers for sure. If you like sours, this one is great!
Anime Corner:
Remilia Scarlet from the Touhou Project was used in this pairing since I wanted to fit something that defines the description in the label. Evil and tart, sour but delicious. The aspect of Hades, swift and merciful death instead of agonizing is one that is delivered in this case. The art pairs great with the bats, the colors of the flavor profiles and complexity of the beer. An in your face tart experience that is sweet and forgiving.
Sources:
http://media.animevice.com/uploads/3/39328/764098-touhou_remilia_scarlet_anime_wide.jpg
Rating: 4.85/5
Friek by Odell brewing is a 6.9% ABV American Wild Ale brewed with cherries and raspberries aged in oak barrels.
Label:
FRIEK is an evolution, an imaginative amalgamation invented by our brewers. Multiple KRIEK Lambic style ales are fermented with WILD yeast and TART cherries and then moved into OAK BARRELS to age and sour taking on the CHERRY flavors. As the beer matures, FRAMBOISES (raspberries) from Schroyer Family Farms in Fort Collins are handpicked and readied for the beer. The fresh RASPBERRIES are added immediately prior to the final blending. The sweet and tart flavors MINGLE on the tongue with a sparkling dry finish.
==Introduction==
A special thanks to my friend Aaron Mendiola of www.beermetaldude.com for sending me this one. We do not see much of Odell brewing here on the west coast so to see this one for a review here on the site is an awesome opportunity. Odell makes some really delicious beers such as the Lugene, Fifty niner or tree shaker. I can definitely feel confident that this one was going to be great. Especially with raspberries and cherries. Yes Please!
Aromas:
Dark cherries, raspberries, vanilla, oak, wine grapes, dark fruit raisins, plums, prunes, currants, caramel, brown sugar, musty notes, rose petals, lavender, Jamaica hibiscus flower drink, sweetened condensed milk notes, molasses, chocolate notes, apricots, apples and cinnamon hints.
Flavors:
Tart Dark cherries, tart raspberries, vanilla, oak, wine grapes, dark fruit plums, prunes, currants, jamaica/hibiscus flower drink, concord grapes, cranberries, funky notes, red wine grapes, sangria, apples, apricots, brown sugar, caramel, musty notes, rose petals, lavender, molasses, chocolate hints, chardonnay, champagne and sweetened condensed milk hints.
Aftertaste:
Finishes sour with tart fruits of cherry, raspberries, dark fruit, wine grapes, oak, earthy notes, vanilla and caramel. No alcohol in the taste, sipping drinkability, clear crimson red body, silky and moderate mouthfeel.
Overall:
This one turned out to be a good tart and sour yet very sweet beer. Reminds me of tart of darkness with its sweet and sour notes fighting each other for balance but ultimately being a sweet tart. I would definitely like a sweeter than tart and sour but this one really does deliver not only the sweeter part but also complexity. The beer itself is recommendable if you are able to get Odell in your area and especially if you like tart and sour beers.
Anime Corner:
Ibara sisters and their mother Teresa Rose were used in this pairing to go with the colors or the label, the cherries, the raspberries and the sour tart aspect of the beer. In the game, Ibara, the sisters are actually bosses where their mother Teresa is the last boss. They may looks really sweet but they are sour evil. Sometimes, it’s not bad to dabble in the sour and evil side of beers as well.
Sources:
http://www.pelaajalehti.com/wordpress/wp-content/2009/04/ibaraiso.jpg
Rating: 5.25/5
Colour Five by Jester King is a 7.1% ABV World Class American Wild Ale aged in oak barrels and refermented with blueberries.
Label:
Texas blueberries were added to mature, barrel-aged sour beer and refermented to dryness. Unfiltered, unpasteurized, and 100% bottle-conditioned.
==Introduction==
Jester King in Texas is like the Bruery of Texas when it comes to pushing the limitations of experimentation in making some of the best beers in the country. While it is difficult to get beers like this one here in California, especially the more rare and exclusive hard to get ones, I am glad I have great friend like Aaron Mendiola at www.beermetaldude.com who has been hooking me up with some great brews for the last year and a half or so. The story about this one has to do with Jester King’s attempt at making a blueberry beer in 2013 but had difficulty as the batches had failed their quality control. It wasn’t until 2014 when they were finally able to able to make the blend they wanted and perfect it so that it wasn’t so sour but mainly fruity and tart. With that said, Let’s check this one out and see how it goes. Cheers!
Aromas:
Rich Blueberries, tart raspberries, wine grapes, dark fruit raisins, currants, plums, strawberries, lemon peel, biscuit bread, brown sugar, rye, rose petals, blueberry yogurt, rose petals, hibiscus flowers, farmhouse hay, banana hints, musty funk and peppercorn.
Flavors:
Rich Blueberries, Raspberries, tart cherry skins, wine grapes, strawberries, dark fruit currants, raisin, plum skins, oak, vanilla, lemon peel, biscuit bread, rye, graham cracker hints, sweetened condensed milk hints, flowers, peppercorn, hibiscus, rose petals, blueberry yogurt, cheesecake hints, farmhouse hay, banana notes, musty funk, mushroom hints, sea salt and brown sugar.
Aftertaste:
Finishes mildly dry with some nice tart dark fruits, oak, sweet vanilla, flowers and mild funky notes
No alcohol in the taste, magenta light to medium body, creamy and crisp mouthfeel and moderate drinkability.
Overall:
A very awesome beer they got here. This one was more tart than sour. There was a lot of elements of funkiness along with some rich fruity flavors to balance out the tartness. While I love sweeter beers, this one had a balanced that worked really well. Unless you don’t like sours or even tart beers, this may not be for you but I can definitely say I enjoyed this one a lot and recommend it!
Anime Corner:
Gu Jian Qi Tan by hiliuyun was used in this pairing since I wanted something that resembled the geometric shape that almost looks like a pentagram in the label. Since the beer took specific calculations and a lot of trial and error to get it just the way they wanted, it was fitting that the art pairing fit. The character here on top of the pentagram represents the aging process as the blue berry beer lays waiting to become perfect.
Sources:
http://www.deviantart.com/art/gu-jian-qi-tan-2-196966428
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
Rating: 5/5
Oude Tart with Cherries by The Bruery is an 8.4% ABV World Class Flanders/Flemish Red Ale aged in oak barrels with Cherries.
Label:
Cherry, OH!
Pleasantly sour with hints of leather, dark fruit, and toasty oak from extended aging in oak barrels along with plump cherries.
Oude Tart with Cherries is best enjoyed fresh for the full fruit flavor, but may develop pleasantly over time.
___
Obtained this one as part of the Reserve Society membership. This variant of the Oude Tart adds cherries. I have done a review of the previous Oude Tart which I found very good. Now with the cherries, this may actually bring something awesome to the table. This beer is typical of the Flanders Red style which sometimes end up being like a sour beer but other times is mainly a tart fruit cherry beer. So without further a do, on with the review, cheers!
Aromas:
Caramel, rye bread, dark cherries, dark fruit raisins, plums, currants, raspberries, oak mustiness, lemon, leather, brown sugar, vanilla, funky wine grapes, tart cherry juice, sour apples, cherry pie, pecan pie hints, cinnamon, oak, hazelnut and cherry cheesecake notes.
Flavors:
Wine grapes, oak, dark cherry yogurt, dark cherries, dark fruit raisins, plums, brown sugar, oak, lemon peel, leather, tobacco, rye bread, hints of coconut, caramel, vanilla, toffee, red wine, cherry cobbler, pecan, cherry preserves on biscuit bread, vanilla cream hints, hints or tropical fruits like old mango, pineapple hints, cherry and strawberry cheesecake.
Aftertaste:
Ending with a dark cherry yogurt, caramel and vanilla sweetness with left over wine like acidity into like a cinnamon and fruity dry taste. No alcohol in the taste, medium to sipping drinkability, medium body and medium mouthfeel.
Overall:
Amazing! Way better than the original as it seems like the cherry sweetness cuts down the sour aspect and makes this one more tart and sweet. I am not sure how the cherry adds more complexity but it really does. The flavors seems to meld really nice creating some nice complexities. As it warms up, the sweeter aspects of the beer tend to come out and play on the palate. I wish they released variants out to the public as these beers would give more selections to the originals. Either way, really awesome beer.
Anime Corner:
Yang Xiao Long and her sister Ruby Rose from RWBY were used in this pairing since I used Yang in the last pairing. Because of the fact that they are sisters, putting them together is like adding the cherries to Oude Tart. Ruby Rose, ofcourse is the cherry here. They are an awesome team. I wanted to show how the beer tends to be a splash of fruity flavors as you can see Ruby jumping in to add that layer of complexity.
Sources:
http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140429113205/rwby/images/4/47/Blake_belladonna_clouds_moon_pool_ruby_rose_rwby_signed_sky_swimsuit_weiss_schnee_yang_xiao_long.jpg
http://simg2.gelbooru.com/images/1797/0cb2c61ff14aaa9e73831fe2daceb3b3.jpeg?2008301
Rating: 5/5
Bière De Mars by Jolly Pumpkin is a 7% ABV French Style Stock Ale (Bière de Garde) aged in oak Barrels.
Label:
Brewed with two yeasts, mellowed in large oak casks, and refermented in the bottle, our Biere de Garde is a sustaining beer that is brewed to comfort in the gusty tides of March and welcome in a wealth of warmer weather.
“Beware the ides of March” Some guy to some other guy, a long time ago.
Please enjoy our beers in good health, Cheers & Mahalo plenty!
___
A grand return to an old Jolly Pumpkin beer I haven’t tried since 2011, or at least the grand reserve version. I posted the old review on this site in October 2012 thought when I finally started doing my reviews publicly. At the time, I was involved in a car accident which thankfully I came out alive. At the time, I had saved the reserve version of the beer to try it and I really wanted to give it a shot since I figured, a great life is worth living it for what you love to do. In the essence of that beer, I had to bring the original to the stage. While my flavor palate has matured, the original beer vs. the Grand Reserve may vary. So in essence, you be the judge of how you want your beer to be. Cheers!
2011 Grand Reserve Review (https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2012/10/17/biere-de-mars-grand-reserve-by-jolly-pumpkin/)
Aromas:
Stone fruits like peach, mango, apricots, dark cherries, strawberry, plums, pears, green apples, musty wild yeast, wine grapes, sour notes, bananas, caramel, butterscotch,rye bread, hints of hazelnut, dark fruit raisins, fig hints, oak, vanilla, brown sugar, floral notes, farm house hay, tobacco and leather.
Flavors:
Dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, oak , dark cherry yogurt, rich strawberries, stone fruits like apricots, mango, plums, peaches and cream, pear, hazelnut hints, rye bread, coriander spice, citrus, lemon peel, apple cider, tart grapefruit, butterscotch, bananas, clove spice hints, coriander spice hints, musty wild yeast, peppercorns, tobacco, leather, wine grapes, floral notes, farmhouse hay, chocolate hints, brown sugar, white grapes, dark fruit raisins and figs.
Aftertaste:
Caramel, peaches, sweet bread, dark cherry yogurt hints, rye bread, oak, vanilla, lemon peel, citrus and apple cider. No alcohol in the taste, a sipping beer, fully body and full mouthfeel.
Overall:
A great example of a Biere de Garde done right. This is very delicious. Sour notes mainly turn into tart but sweet notes while maintaining a backlog of sourness to remind you. This why when you are a brewery that only concentrates at the Sour ales you are good at, you can truly make magic. There aren;t a lot of sour breweries or breweries in general that make beer this good. Even I have a rough time with some of the Bruery sours admittedly sometimes. Needless to say, this beer brings me back to the days I would always get Jolly Pumpkin beers and remind me of where my sour tasting roots came from. I definitely recommend this one without a doubt. Even some people that do not like sours may tolerate or even fully enjoy this one for sure.
Anime Corner:
Vocaloid Hatsune Miku in her art design by subaru01rins was used in this pairing because I wanted to pair something similar to the original artwork I used for the grand reserve long ago. When I stumbled upon the T-Shirt at Anime Expo which was made by WeLoveFine (http://www.welovefine.com/6946-i-am-your-melody.html#.U9hlYfldVuN) I had to buy it. After looking at the artwork, it was very bad ass and made me realize why I chose the tron evil looking being with the red eyes back then. It had to do with the fact that in the label, the wind blowing the ship represented the the blowing the light of hope. While Miku looks evil here, either way, by her saying ‘I AM YOUR MELODY’ it plays at the whole aspect of evil blowing in the wind. Not to say that she is evil, but more like say that while you may have a good side, you also have a bad side that tries to balance who you are. Biere de Mars (Especially because of my birthday) represents a lot and in the sense of importance. It goes to show that even in the most sourest of states, the sweetness will be there to balance things out. Just like the beer. Oh yeah and also, the fruits like the sweet strawberries, are represented by the crimson eyes of Miku. Green is the color of the sour apples.
Sources:
http://subaru01rins.deviantart.com/art/I-AM-YOUR-MELODY-wallpaper-413872921
Rating: 5/5
RU55 by Jester King is a 7.3% ABV Flanders Red Ale aged in oak barrels.
Label:
For generations, the farms of West Flanders have been tended to by large, anthropomorphic automations. In recent years, many of these farms have been taken over by large, multinational corporations, and their automations replaced by shiny new electronic robots. Scattered about the countryside, however, there are still a few intrepid farmers who insist on doing things the old-fashioned way.
___
Gotta give a great thanks to my friend Aaron at http://www.beermetaldude.com for hooking me up with this hard to find/brewery/Texas only exclusive beer. Jester King has been on the rise as one of Texas best breweries when it comes to sour ales and saisons. They make some very amazing beers. I have only been lucky to try a handful until recently since my friend has been hooking me up. A great donation to the site and vise versa. Thank you once again brother !
Aromas:
Sour wine grapes, dark fruits, oak, musty funky barnyard hay, caramel, cherries, biscuit bready, rye, brown sugar, hints of chocolate, toffee, sour apples and berries
Flavors:
Lots of oak, sour wine grapes, dark fruit raisins, biscuit bread, chocolate hints, dark cherry yogurt, caramel, toffee, musty and funky yeast notes, tart sour apples, oak, brown sugar notes, rye, berries, tart currants and plums.
Aftertaste:
Puckering tart dark fruits, caramel, biscuit, berries, wine grapes, sour funk and oak. No alcohol in the taste and a sipping beer with full mouth feel.
Overall:
There is something I love about amber ales since the first one I tried which was the Fat Tire Ale. This beer reminds me of the malty, biscuity and caramel ambers that I love with some very nice sour flavors. It is well balanced. I especially like how these characteristics really show as the beer warms up. It is a perfectly well made Flanders Red Ale and I highly recommend it.
Anime Corner:
Maria from Ghost Sweeper Mikami was used in this pairing to pair with the robot used in this beer as well as the variety of flavors in this beer. Berries and Cherry oak with souring grapes and malty caramel and the vest of dark fruit carry this one while Maria still packs a crazy sour punch but her sweetness is undeniable under that metallic structure of hers. She is a bad ass android and was the best choice for this paring!
Rating: 3.45/5
Lips of Faith Series Cigar City and New Belgium Collaboration is an 8.5% ABV Chile beer brewed with Anaheim and Marash Chiles aged in Spanish Cedar
Label:
We’re about to light up Florida with this Cigar City collaborative brew. Our Belgian yeast tangos with Anaheim and Marash peppers along with loads of citrusy hops to create an ale full of spice. Aged on Spanish cedar to salute our mutual love for wood!
___
The beer with literally no name, other than the fact that it was collaborated with New Belgium and the awesome Cigar City. Lips of faith series is a good series and has been a hit or miss in some instances. The beers have ranged from Good to Very good and some even Great in the past years. I am not sure if there one I truly disliked or found average (Pluot lol) they came together to brew a beer made with chiles.
Aromas:
Sweet Honey dew melon, kiwi, apricot, mango hints, mild pepper notes, lemon, oranges, grapefruit and citrus hops, pear, hints of cedar, caramel and biscuit bread
Flavors:
Apricot, pepper notes but no heat, citrus, grapefruit hops,hone dew notes, orange peels, biscuit bread, lemon, grapefruit peel, mild spiciness, tangerine notes, butterscotch, pears, cedar wood and light plum hints
Aftertaste:
This beer finishes off with lots of grapefruit skins, citrus, grassy bitterness and a bit of pepper notes. No alcohol present in the taste with a moderate drinkability.
Overall:
A good beer but nothing super intensive. It is more on the hoppy, bitter and a bit fruitier side than anything. The least heat intensive chile beer I have ever tried. The balance to bitterness and what would like to be chili heat doesn’t seem to meld well. On a good note, the aromas are much better than the flavors. Could have been more but hey, at least is a good beer. I feel it is better than Pluot for sure.
Anime Corner:
Sakura Haruno and Kushina Uzumaki from the Naruto series are used in this pairing to represent a pairing of 2 hot heads unleashing the rage which is supposed to be the peppers used in this beer. While the beer may not be hot at all, the intent for the artwork and for what it was supposed to represent was at least done creatively. Sakura has a bad temper at times and has this crazy super strength that comes from her inner being. Kushina on the other hand, nicked named the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero, would become an actually deadly beast. Even before she had the 9 tailed fox embedded in here, she was still a demon in disguise. That crazy attitude, mother of Naruto, is most likely the where the guts to never give up comes from. Some of the colors of the artwork match the label a bit but the nick name and the tempers they have was the intent for a collaboration Chile beer, Sakura being New Belgium and Kushina Cigar city.
Rating: 5.2/5
Samael’s Oak Aged Ale (Batch #9) by Avery Brewing is a 16.9% ABV English Barleywine aged in Oak Barrels
Label:
Samael is the prince of demons, the angel of death, accuser and destroyer. Filled with enmity towards man, he planted the vine, the forbidden tree of paradise. Behold his venom and vengeance, both sweet and tempting, enticing you, his spellbound victim, within his wings.
Samael’s Ale is a super-caramelly, oak aged English-style strong ale. Perhaps the least hoppy (sacrilege here at Avery!!) beer we’ve brewed, to accentuate the malt. The oak is very apparent in this rich and high gravity ale, adding additional depth and complexity with a woody and cask-like nose and a pronounced vanilla flavor on the palate. This potent ale is the second installment, along with The Beast, of our “Demons of Ale Series”.
Brewed with Rocky Mountain water, malted barley, turbinado sugar, hops, yeast, and American oak chips.
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The third and possibly the last of the Demons of Ale series from Avery that I have tried. I apparently missed out on this one some time early this year. I was able to find this at the Liquor Mart in Whittier California. While it is not often I find beers I want to try that may or may not be listed in my Wanted list, it was a reasonable price for a review. At 16.9%, that is one insane Barleywine
Aromas:
Lots or caramel, toffee, burnt sugars, brown sugar, raisin hints, black berry marmalade notes, herbs, oak, vanilla, orange notes, bourbon and rum notes.
Flavors:
Rich Oak wood, earthy notes, rich leather, rich caramel, orange and blackberry preserves, raisins, toffee, burnt sugars, flan, coconut, vanilla, maple, rich rye bread, butterscotch, cereal, french toast, flan, rum, light bourbon, brandy, rich fruit cake, chocolate cereal notes, brown sugar, and rich honey.
Aftertaste:
The finish wants to end dry but there is a maple, leather, dark fruit and rich oak aftertaste with this one. A definite sipper with some boozy notes but nothing detracting from the sweet flavors.
Overall:
Exceptionally delicious beer. Strong but full of flavor. The only thing about this beer that seems to be a strong consistent theme is the oak and partial dryness it comes with. I love that part but it is kind of dangerous as you want to keep sipping more. If you love oak aged beers and Barleywines, have at this master piece.
Anime Corner:
This is a Fallen Angel designed by cushart.deviatart.com To go along with the Samael or Samuel Archangel story, this was the perfect pairing. The hair, the wings fit the label. Also, bursting from the magma shows the oak aged and burnt wood part. The fact that the beer is sweet and ends partially dry, makes one try to drink the whole bottle. It is strong and evil, just like Samael.
Rating: 5/5
Duck-Duck-Gooze by The Lost Abbey is a 7% ABV World Class American Wild Ale
Label:
There’s an art to corralling a bunch of ducklings A nip to turn Suzy this way or a nudge to launch little Johnny towards the water and suddenly they are all lined up ready to follow along. Or are they? This isn’t something they teach you at Mother Gooze School. You see, there always seems to be that one duckling (or two) who has an agenda all their own. At that point, all bets are of. Then mama goose loses control and her inner Devil comes out.
Blending Oak Barrels can be a lot like corralling little ducklings. Each barrel has its own personality. Some, like good little ducklings, get in line from the very beginning. Others are quite more problematic and need more nurturing. Duck Duck Gooze is made from all sorts of barrels. Some were great from the beginning while others needed more attention. Duck Duck Gooze was three years in the making. We hope you find it worth the wait
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Only released exclusively at the Lost Abbey every 3 years since 2009, this beer ha made a return this year. Last year They could not do it as they had to make way for the Ultimate Box set which was released in 2012. This beer will be slated to release in 2016 again. The beer is made with 3 sets of barrels each aging 1, 2 and 3 years apart and then blended together. I was only lucky enough to get a single bottle eligible for review here at the site. Being probably the best sour ale ever released, I will do my best to review in as much detail as my ability will allow.
Aromas are very citrusy, lemon, lime, biscuit bread, funky bitter grapes, oak, peach, pears, hints of dragon fruit, earthy must, barnyard hay, floral notes, chamomile and roses
The flavors are musty, and citrusy but some very nice sweetness and oakiness lurks. Lemon, oranges, roses, hay, biscuit bread, chamomile, sour apple, apricot, sour lemon candy, teguacan (Mexican Lime and seltzer water with spices), pineapple, musty grapes and spices.
The aftertaste leaves like lemon on a sour fruit with oak. Basically, it leaves sour but then fades into like a fruity and hay finish. Clear body, but you definitely have to take your time with it
Overall this is puckeringly Awesome. It starts off sour but as you go on and it warms up, it gets good giving some really nice fruity, citrusy and oaky taste. You really have to enjoy sours to like this one, otherwise this beer may not be for you. I think this is one of the reasons it was made this way. Having an open taste to sour helps finding good flavors in them. Jolly Pumpkin helped out for many years to find it. The good thing is that this one is more tart than pure sour. Clearly some sours may be pure vinegar taste but some beers when done very well, are exceptionally awesome, like this one.
Rating: 5.35/5
Alaska’s Most Wanted Series: Berserker by Midnight Sun Brewing is a 12.7% ABV World Class Imperial Stout brewed with maple syrup & molasses all aged in oak bourbon barrels
Label:
Vicious and viscous, this menacing brew pours opaque black with a creamy maduro-colored head. Its aroma offers seductive whiskey, chewy red wine, dark fruit and lavish tobacco. Berserker Imperial Stout invades your taste buds with in-your-face flavor. Weighing in at almost 13% alcohol by volume, Berserker is completely out-of-control. Give it a good fight.
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This is the first time I try this very epic beer. I heard great things about this beer and long behold, Ramirez Liquor had this in stock for review. Depending as to how this turns out, I think I will grab another bottle although I doubt there will be anymore left. Regardless, if you are able to find this beer just get it.
Aromas are of strong dark chocolate, milk chocolate, mocha, dark fruits, raisins, plums, strong with pecan and hazelnut notes, marshmallow, almonds, toasted coconut hints, flan, forward bourbon, rich caramel, toffee, maple syrup, oak, vanilla, molasses, licorice, anise, fudge cake and brownies
Flavors are of rich velvety maple syrup oak, bourbon, vanilla, dark chocolate, molasses, raisins, dark cherries, black berries, wine grapes, port wine, caramel, marshmallows, toasted coconut, roasted coffee notes, pecans, hazel nut, campfire oak and a banana notes.
The after taste leaves with a bit of bourbon, roasted notes, berry notes, maple sweetness and roasted coffee bitterness. Definite sipper and has a moderately boozy alcohol presence but does not detract from the flavors. In fact it seems to be what adds the extra complexity to this beer. Although the bitterness may also take a little bit from it.
Over this is pretty kick ass and awesome. This beer is lovely and syrupy focusing a lot on the bourbon, oak, maple and berry flavors but also focuses on roasted bitterness. It is not bad but some people that may want more sweetness or super duper complexity will be left wanting more as the bitterness may get in the way. I like bitterness on this though. It surely does not disappoint. It does exceed my expectation points and gets some extra credit, but not the chocolate level of supreme that I enjoy in these types of beers. Still a freaking great beer.
Rating: 4.5/5
Oude Tart by the Bruery is a 7% ABV Flanders/Flemish Red ale aged in oak barrels.
Label:
Oude Tart is a Flemish-Style Red Ale aged in red wine barrels for 18 months. Pleasantly sour with hints of leather, dark fruit and toasty oak. Oude Tart is suitable for aging up to five years when cellared properly
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Of the many sour releases by the Bruery, I have not tried this one. This is readily available around the Fall season. There are a few Flanders Red ales that I have tried. The ones that I like are La Roja by Jolly Pumpkin and the Rodenbach Grand Cru. Let us give this one a shot and see how it goes.
Aromas are of caramel, funky wine grapes, tart cherries, red wine, raisins, lots of wood oak, leather, lemon, cellar mustiness, brown sugar and vanilla bread
The flavors are of toffee, caramel, vanilla, oak, wine grapes, tart cherries, cranberries, red wine, leather, raisins, lemons, raspberries, sour apples, tart raspberries and slight biscuit bread flavors
The aftertaste leaves with a tart cherry, leather and caramel flavors. The drinkability is definitely sipping and alcohol is hidden
Overall the beer is very good. More tart than sour. I think what allows for such is the fact that it is aged for a while in the oak but also the rich ingredients also counter some of the sourness. So while it is still a sour, it is more of a tart beer. This beer reminds me of La Roja by Jolly pumpkin but with more oak and less wine flavors. Definitely a good try if you love sours.
Rating: 6/5
Capricho Oscuro Batch 5 by Cigar City Brewing is a ??% ABV World Class American Strong Ale
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION (Ratebeer.com)
This beer is a blend of at least five different beers, including Hot Blooded Foreign Stout, Puppy’s Breath Robust Porter, and several vintages of Warmer Winter Winter Warmer. These beers were aged in some cognac and brandy barrels before being blended together.
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Hard to come by, looked and looked for this piece of barrel aged treasure all over. Hard to get. Impossibly rare? Maybe, not as much as other but still it was hard to come by. This beer seems very good but very evil and mysterious. Without an ABV to gauge it, I am pretty much lost in the dark as to how strong this one is that it is kind of scary. Perfect art pairing with Majora from Legend of Zelda Majora’s Mask. Anyway, if you manage to find this one, choose wisely.
Aromas are of rich dark fruits like raisins, prunes, figs, dates, dark cherries, raspberries, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, toasted hazelnuts, pecans, coconuts, vanilla, cognac, brandy, notes of Hunnapu like the spiciness of it, caramel flan, chocolate cake, dessert wine, port wine, rocky road ice cream, almond joy and maple
The flavors are of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, brandy, cognac, dark cherries, raisins, figs, prunes, toasted coconut, hazelnuts, pecan pie, flan, port wine, rocky road ice cream notes, almond joy notes, caramel, vanilla, toffee, raspberries, maple, molasses, anise, slight smokiness, leather, tobacco, bourbon, Cordial Cherries and chocolate covered raspberries
The aftertaste is pretty complex leaving trails of sweet caramel, chocolate, oak, brandy, cognac, dark fruits and a bit of port wine. This beer is a definite sipper. The alcohol is noticeable but very pleasant and warming. The alcohol only brings the rich flavors above and it is nothing harsh.
Overall this is an amazingly delicious beer, exceeding exceptions. I cannot guess the ABV from the taste which is scary but also good that it comes in a small bottle to sample. Definitely like some of the best beers in the world. Close to Melange 3, close to Black Tuesday, Grey Monday and even some of the other Bruery anniversary ales. What can I say about CCB, other than it is “The Bruery of the East Coast” making some of the best beers in the world possible like many champions. If you can find this, definitely get it.
Rating: 4/5
Paardebloem Lips of Faith series collaboration by New Belgium and Red Rock brewery is a 9% ABV Belgian Strong Pale Ale brewed with Peach juice, Grains of Paradise and dandelion greens blended with wood aged beer
Label:
Using dandelion greens to bitter a Belgian-style ale blossomed from our brewers collaborating with Red Rock Brewing. This being our sixth interpretation together since 2008, expect a wonderfully complex ale fermented with wild Belgian yeast and blended with just a touch of wood-aged beer. Bitterness imparted from dandelion greens and grains of paradise will have you blowing wishes for sips.
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Got this one as an extra to go when buying beers. I have not tried this one nor the other one (Pluot) which were the summer releases for the Lips of faith series. The ones from spring were pretty good. This one is made with fruits and flowers so I am hoping it will be good.
Aromas are of honey, peach, grapes, pineapple, apricot, light biscuit bread, light flower scent, citrus scent, peppercorns, coriander spice, a touch of a caramel and wine notes
Flavors are of grapes, honey, peach, white wine, apples, pears, pineapple juice, plums, biscuit bread, waffle cone, orange juice, coriander spice, light oak notes, caramel, floral bitterness and slight tart nectarine.
The aftertaste is sweet and tangy but finishes dry. The alcohol is somewhat hidden but comes out sweet. This one can be drank easy to moderately
Overall the beer turned out to be very good but nothing too new or mind blowing, simply very good. Reminded me of the Fejoia but more orange juice, floral notes and a bit of oak. For the price I would go with another beer that is just as good or better. This is actually worth trying at least once to get a good feel for it. Also, I apologize about the label, seems like the label paint was peeling from the bottle. I had noticed it after the first pour. As long as the main part of the label is still good.
Rating: 5.09/5
Grand Cru by Rodenbach of Steenhuffel Belgium is a 6% ABV World Class Flanders Red Ale aged in oak vats. Composed of 33% “young” ale and 67% ale matured for two years
Label:
Rodenbach Grand Cru is an exceptional Belgian ale known as Flemish Red Brown Ale. It enjoys a special status in Belgium as a “Traditional Regional” product. A mixed fermentation ale, Rodenbach is matured in oak vats, giving this ale a signature sweet-sour taste and intense bouquet with a very long after taste like a Grand Cru wine. Rodenbach Grand Cru is a blend of “young” ale (33%) and ale that has matured for two years (67%).
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While looking for the old Lips of Faith New Belgium Grand Cru, I was recommended to get this one instead as it was highly recommended by one of the personnel at the store. I have had may experiences with Grand Crus and those have become a progressing favorite style of mine as I try more. When I read this was a Flanders ale or Flemish Red brown I was was kind of surprised. At first I thought, well, most grand crus are red or brown in color but a lot of Belgian Strong Dark Ales or even Quadruples. At that point I realized, this I had to see. To my surprise, this was not a sour beer at all, it was more delightful
Aromas are of wine grapes close to funky beer, but then I got a rush of greater dark cherry yogurt fragrances as well as dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, toffee, apples, pears, buttery biscuit, butterscotch, raspberries, cherry cobbler, cherry pie, figs, raisins and brown sugar.
The flavors was definitely not what I has presumed. You don’t get much sour notes, but instead more tangy cherry notes and more fruit driven flavors like apples, apricots, raisins, figs, wine grapes, raspberries, tart cranberries, currants and black berries. You also get dulce de caramel, vanilla, cherry cobbler, cherry pie notes, oak wood, light lemon dash, earthy spices, and Black cherry yogurt.
The aftertaste is caramel sweet and cherry tart with some nice light acidic and bready notes. Not your typical sour at all. Dark crimson blood body yet pleasing to drink.
Over all, I was highly impressed. This is the first time I try a Flanders that was not more tart to sour flavored. This is the sour noted beer that many of those people that love fruity beers but don’t like sours would absolutely love. Now I see why its simply amazing. Leave it to Belgium to create the best beers in the world. If they can take a lighty funky beer and make it compete with the quads and dark strongs as “Grand Crus”, that has got to be Godly.
Rating: 4.5/5
Salt Lick (Censored) by Jester King and The Salt Lick BBQ collaboration is a 6.7% Pecan Wood Smoked Saison/Farmhouse ale barrel-aged in wild yeast.
Label:
First came the witches, and soon after there were vampires. They came in droves and each time one popped up it seems to be better looking then the last., each polished to a blinding luster. For a brief moment even werewolves even had there moment in the spotlight, plucked and preened to studio perfection. Then, to our astonishment, monsters comprised of nothing more than smoke joined this pop phenomenon – and that we couldn’t resist.
Notes:
Crafted in the once commonplace, Old World tradition of bière de coupage, young, dry hopped ale is blended with old, barrel-aged sour beer fermented with native yeast. A portion of the malt was smoked over pecan wood at The Salt Lick BBQ (Censored) in Driftwood, Texas. Unfiltered, unpasteurized and naturally conditioned.
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Last year, this beer used to be called Salt Lick but per Texas law below, they had to change it:
Update: Our original label application for Salt Lick Pecan Wood Smoked Saison was rejected by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), after having been approved by the Federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau (TTB). We have renamed this beer “Censored” for sale in Texas.
Here is the original label: http://beerpulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Jester-King-Salt-Lick-Pecan-Wood-Smoked-Saison.png
Along with Das Wunderkind!, I was able to get this one online as well. Jester King makes some of the finest Saisons out there. Goes to show that each Brewery does not have to brew a particular variety of styles but when focused a certain style can go into depths that no other beer can. Yes I am looking at those breweries like Jolly Pumpkin (Sours), Stillwater Artisanal (Gypsy Saisons), The Bruery (Belgian Styles) and many more . I will definitely try to get more amazing JK reviews going . So far I have 5 beers. Check out my other reviews .
One thing to not about this beer, when I opened it, sat it down on the table to take pictures. The beer came to life . Unlike my previous experience with Fantome Boo! Where the beer came gushing out to no ends, this one slowly but surely started to rise, little by little as it came out the bottle and surprised me about a minute later. Now I understand what the label meant about the paranormal :S
Aromas of this beer are quite intriguing. Very Smokey, campfire oak, honey glazed ham, pineapple, peppercorns, tart citrus, musty grapes, minor flower notes, herbs, rotting wood, hidden spices, peaches, apples, salt, hay, lemon juice, tobacco and BBQ pit with spices.
The flavors are of lemon, citrus, salt, smokey honey glazed ham, biscuit bread, Tejuino (Mexican fermented corn drink with lime, sugar and salt), tamarind, hazalenut, over matured orange, sourdough wheat bread, coriander, lemon pepper spice, white peppercorns, barn yard hay, very oaky, musty grapes, a touch of apricot, apples, butter, apple cider vinegar notes, black pepper, sage and other earthy spices.
The aftertaste is somewhere between, salty, smokey, tart, slight sour, fruity and spicy. Quite the combination and smooth and moderately refreshing in fact. This seems way too good to be true. Like drinking this around late august, early September is like perfect because you get nice refreshing notes and that campfire warmth feel you would get as the times approach the fall.
Amazingly this is the first time I have had a beer that is both strictly smokey and slightly sour. Reminds me a lot of Tejuino which is a Mexican fermented corn drink with lime, sugar and salt and sometimes chile added. Very Unique, very interesting, and very delicious. You probably will bee to have an acquired taste for sours or even smoked beers to greatly enjoy this one. Although to me, the balances with the saison is not too overwhelmingly smokey or sour. It fits perfectly in both sides of the universe. Excellent stuff and very awesome if you can find it .
Rating: 4.75/5
Das Wunderkind! by Jester King is a 4.5% ABV Organic Saison/Farmhouse Ale aged in oak wine and whiskey barrels with wild yeast.
Label:
There are many among us who, in spite of their best efforts, just never quite seem to fit in. It’s only a rare few, however, who, very early in life, develop the self-asurance and presence of mind to be neither conformists nor rebels, instead carving their own paths and following their own dreams, regardless of what anyone else might happen to think. Take flight, mein Wunderkind, don’t ever let gravity hold you back!
Description: (jesterking.com)
Mature beer, re-fermented in oak barrels with wild yeast and souring bacteria is blended with fresh, dry-hopped beer prior to bottle-conditioning. Dry and lightly tart, with notes of citrus, barnyard, and tropical fruit.
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Been looking for this little prize long ago. Since last year actually. I was finally able to find one online. Soon as I saw it, I had to get it and do a review. I paired this beer with a piece of artwork that best presents it. Flight of Das Wunderkind! Or “The Wonder Kid” in German.
Aromas are those nice floral spices, peppercorn, sourdough bread notes I really enjoy in saisons. As an added treat, there are also notes of oak, grapefruit, citrus, hay, apricots, lemon, apples, dandelions, roses, sweet caramel, light whiskey notes, grapes and earthy notes
Flavors are of peppercorns, sourdough bread, wine grapes, caramel, oak, light whiskey notes, lemon peel, green apples, slight funky notes but not too sour, grapefruit, apricot, peach, hint of strawberry, flowery spices, hay, earthy hops, coriander and light vanilla notes.
The aftertaste is mildly funky with citrus, lemon , oak and wine taste but shortly sour. More like flowers and peppery spices.
Overall the beer is awesome is you love saisons that have nice funky notes which are not too sour but pleasantly tart. The added wine and whiskey barrels give it some character but do not overwhelm much of the beer. The spices, flowers and fruity flavors along with the tart and oak flavors take care of that.
Rating: 4.65/5
Filmishmish (في المشمش) by The Bruery is a 5.8% ABV Sour Blonde Ale aged in Oak with Apricots
Label:
Tart and Fruity with notes of oak and grandma’s homemade jam.
Description:
Filmishmish, an Arabic term for “when the apricots bloom”, is a barrel aged sour blonde ale to which apricots have been added. The beer’s already fruity esters are enhanced by the hint of fresh apricot jam and wood shavings. Filmishmish is a well balanced beer, keeping the apricot and oak character present, but putting the flavor of the well formed sour ale at the forefront.
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First the Strawberries, then come the apricots. The aromas of this beer are of apricots, peaches, sout grapes, oak, citrus, lemon, apples, honey, sweet peach preserves, almost like wine funkyness. The flavors are of sour apricots, vanilla, stone fruits like plum and cherry, brown sugar, melted whole sugar cone, mushroom notes like the Fantome beers, lemon citrus, apples, peaches, honey notes, wine grapes, oak, floral spices, apricot or peach preserves on biscuit bread. Aftertaste leaves with apricots and honey alone with some dry sour grape and lemon notes. This was pretty good. Very balanced and not just pure sour. Almost like a Jolly Pumpkin or a Fantome beer. This beer is sour overall but has enough fruity tartness to not make displeasing. If you are still not into sours, this will probably be good to try. It really is good and not overpowering with sourness.
Rating: 5.45/5
Samuel Smith’s Yorkshire Stingo is a 9%ABV English Strong Ale aged in oak casks
Label:
Some of the oak casks at Samuel Smith’s date back more than a century with the individual oak staves being replaced by the Old Brewery coopers over the years. Gradually the casks soak in more & more of the character of the ale fermented in stone Yorkshire squares. Yorkshire Stingo is aged for at least a year, matured in these well-used oak casks in the brewery’s underground cellars deriving fruit, raisin, treacle toffee, Christmas pudding and slight oaky flavours, before being further naturally conditioned in bottle. Allow time for east to settle before opening then pour gently.
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This is probably considered England’s best strong ale in the world. It definitely showed it as I have never seen a barrel aged English beer at something as high as 9%ABV. The aromas are amazing. It is the very same English malt aroma but now with that bourbon, vanilla, caramel, oak, chocolate and coconut fragrance. Wow is what I would describe the scent of this beer. Other aromas of dark fruits like raisins, black and blue berries, biscuit bread, honey, apples and somewhat like barley wine. The flavors are of oak, vanilla, caramel, chocolate, strong marshmallow creme, slight coffee, slight coconut, slight flan, slight bourbon, apples, dark fruits like plums, black berries, blue berries, raisins, cookies and cream, sweet raisin and pecan bread pudding, cinnamon, flan, some what creme brulee, walnut and hazel nut creme. It is an over the top, exceptional beer. I think if it was found often, I would definitely pick it up over and over again. You can’t beat this as it goes in par with some of the best barrel aged beers out there. This beer along with organic chocolate, oatmeal stout and winter welcome are some of my favorites from this brewery along with Goblin King from Wychwood are my favorites from England. Brewdog I won’t include in the Great Britain mix as they are another Scottish story all together 😉
Rating: 5/5
Bran Reserva by Birrificio Grado Plato Montigioco of Italy is a 8.5%ABV English Porter aged in Barbera Wine Barrels to become a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. They take their Bran Raven ale and age it for several months
Description:
Produced a Bran aging for 10 months in barrels (ex Barbera Bigolla Walter Massa). In the glass is black, impenetrable, with foam cappuccino color, the nose coexist roasting (with a scent reminiscent of cocoa paste) and notes derived from aging in wood (reminiscent of balsamic vinegar). In the mouth it is very divided: on one side the obvious toasty, cocoa, soy sauce, and secondly the acidity. Long in the mouth, the tannins in the finish shows the wood and a slight astringency of roasting. Beer very complex, difficult, for lovers of strong emotions. Serving suggestions: hard to match, recommended after a meal, maybe (if you want) with a big cigar.
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I don’t smoke so the Cigar might be a no go here ;). .The flavors are of vanilla, wine grapes, banana, dulce de leche bread, possibly a flan, sweetened condenced milk (Leche Nestle), raisins, butterscotch, lemon, cherries, blackberries, sour apples, peach. minor tart, vinegary and Jolly pumpkin style funky notes, oak wood, The after taste is like raisinettes, those chocolate covered raisins and coffee. Despite being somewhat tart and somewhat funky, this is pretty amazing. Lots of sweeter and rich flavors verlap the sourness. The little bit of sourness does not last and disappears soon and leaves some awesome sweet flavors. This is the Third beer I try from Italy’s Birrificio Montegioco. None of their beers have disappointed me at all and possibly this one and the Draco are my favorites from the 3. This is a must try if you can find it. It is the type of beer that steps into the realms of the Wine and becomes Neo from the Matrix…quote the raven…Forevermore…
Finding this in a specialty shop or online and is also considered to one of the 100 beers to try before kicking the bucket: http://www.complex.com/city-guide/2012/12/100-beers-to-try-before-you-die/grado-plato-montegioco-bran-reserva
Brewerianimelogs (Anime and Beer Lore) 
