Lil Citra by Pipeworks Brewing

August 2, 2016 by cloudx30 tagged Citra Hops, india pale ale, IPA, Koriand'r, Lil Citra, Pipeworks Brewing, Polly Esther, Pururun, Samurai Pizza Cats, Session IPA, Starfire, Teen titans | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.65/5

Lil Citra by Pipeworks Brewing is a 4.9% ABV Session India Pale Ale brewed with Citra Hops

Label:
None.

==Introduction==

When I first saw this can, I definitely wanted to bring it to the site. Pipeworks brewing has been brewing lots of awesome beers but have also been doing lots of great art work with their beers. So whenever I see something that catches my eye, I definitely want to bring it to the site. This brew while light, it packed full of citra hops. Let’s see what it has to offer.

Aromas:
Grapefruit, citrus, floral and grassy hops, Stone fruit peach, apricot, tropical fruit mango, prickly pear, papaya, dragon fruit, kiwi, passion fruit, lychee, kumquats, biscuit bread, tangerine gummies, orange peel, orange zest, lemon candy and starburst hints.

Flavors:
Lots of Oranges, orange zest, orange peel, tangerine, Grapefruit, floral and grassy hops, lychee, kumquats, tangerines, tropical fruit mango, prickly pear, papaya, dragon fruit, kiwi, passion fruit, biscuit bread, Stone fruit peach, apricot, crab apples, honey dew melon, starburst candy, tangerine gummies, lemon candy, strawberries, green tea ice cream and honey.

Aftertaste:
Finishing dry with lots of citrus and tropical fruit notes, herbal hops and stone fruit. No alcohol in the taste, Clear golden honey body, smooth, rich, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel along with being ridiculously easy to drink.

Overall:
A very delicious session IPA. Pungent Citrus juices with a mix of tropical medley from the Citra hop awesomeness. Not a lot of malt but as you drink a great deal of it, the hops and fruit flavors just seem to gush out but with the dry finish leaves you wanting more. It is definitely on the light side and people for a light beer palettes may like. A recommend if you can get this one.

Anime Corner:
Pururun/Polly Esther from Samurai Pizza Cats and Starfire/Koriand’r from Teen Titans were chosen in this beer pairing since I wanted to pair with the cat and the colors of the beer. The orange and greens pair with the flavors of the beer but also Starfire. Polly Esther, although a Samurai, she is still knowledgeable of the ninja arts and can pair well with the cat in the label.

Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/euR6nYY.jpg
http://img07.deviantart.net/3db4/i/2016/143/a/6/starfire_by_alex_malveda-da3i7xp.jpg

Rojzilla by Jolly Pumpkin

October 2, 2015 by cloudx30 tagged american oak barrels, Flanders, Flanders Red Ale, Godzilla, jolly pumpkin, La Roja, Michigan Sour Biere, oak barrels, Polly, Polly Ester, Polly Esther, Pururun, Rojzilla, Samurai Pizza Cats | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.25/6

Rojzilla by Jolly Pumpkin is a 7.4% ABV Michigan Sour Amber/Flanders Biere aged and oak barrels.

Label:

‘Twould Fill With Joy, and madness Stark

The Hoi Polloi!

That’s a quote – Can’t remember from whence at the moment.

==Introduction==

Finally, the king of all Flanders beer monsters has arrived. This beer is essentially La Roja but aged for a year-and-a-half in a 100-bbl oak foudre then split into regular oak barrels at varying ages which basically creates a mutated, radioactive giant red cat that’s pissed! Not the average Puss N’ Boots or the General Cat of La Roja Du Kriek. This is what happens when that very red cat is pumped full of catnip to levels over 9000! Seems legit to me and as a Godzilla tribute, Fuck YEAH! This beer was damn hard to find online until I found the K&L Wines that provided 1 per customer purchase. As much harder to find that La Roja or even the elusive Roja Du Kriek. Time to take on a beast decades in the making!

Aromas:

Stone fruit tart apricots, peaches, apples, mango hints, Rich oak caramel, toffee, dulce de leche caramel, rye bread, lemons, wine grapes, Chardonay, Cherry yogurt, Tart raspberries, cranberries, Strawberry Danish hints, Concorde grape hints, tejuino maize drink, tart orange peel, coriander, minor hints of tropics like dragon fruit, passion fruit, lychee and musty earthy notes.

Flavors:

Deep oak, vanilla hints, dulce de leche caramel hints, wine grapes, Cherry yogurt, Tart Raspberries, lemons, Strawberry Danish, floral notes of hibiscus, lavender, dark fruit raisins, plums, dark cherries, figs, cranberries, peppercorn, coriander spice, butterscotch hints, rye bread, rose petals, Stone fruit tart apricots, peaches, apples, mango hints, tejuino salted maize cocktail, rye bread, dragon fruit, passion fruit, lychee fruit, chamomile, musty earthy notes, puckering tart oranges, biscuit bread, toffee hints, ginger spice and honey dew melon hints.

Aftertaste:

Super Dry finish with lots of oak, cherry notes, wine grapes, earthy notes and vanilla. No alcohol in the taste, smooth and creamy mouthfeel, Amber medium body and a moderate drinkability.

Overall:

Damn crazy sour amber with a variety of super complex flavors that I think many who love sours will come to appreciate. While La Roja is a strong component in this beer, the complex oak by using different barrels makes this one pretty crazy. I do not think I have ever seen that done for any beer really. It makes this one unique and well definitely worth a pick up if you love sours, but only if you love sours really. Love me some sours and those that do, go get this one!

Anime Corner:

Pururun/Polly Esther from Samurai Pizza Cats returns here for this pairing as I wanted to represent how La Roja went even more wild than before to the point that it became a beast as Polly unleashes! As a Tribute to Godzilla, I added the Female personification of the raged nuclear Godzilla and also the Samurai Armored/Gundam version of Polly as it represent the other love for robots! The pairings pair with the label mainly but also the Gian 100BBL barrel that they had used to ferment this great beer.

Sources:

http://i.imgur.com/mmPpgnK.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/7HFT2hc.png

http://img09.deviantart.net/9801/i/2014/172/2/5/burning_godzilla_by_gamerag3-d7nao3z.jpg

La Roja Du Kriek by Jolly Pumpkin

July 15, 2015 by cloudx30 tagged Belgian Kriek, cherry juice, Flanders, Flanders Red Ale, jolly pumpkin, Kriek, La Roja Du Krie, oak barrels, Polly Ester, Polly Esther, Pururun, Puss N' Boots, Samurai Pizza Cats, Sour Amber Ale | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.25/5

La Roja Du Kriek by Jolly Pumpkin is a 7.5% ABV Sour Amber Ale brewed with Cherry Juice and aged and oak barrels.

Label:
3,100 gallons of 2013 La Roja meets 50 gallons of Michigan tart cherry juice to combine in a melliflous melody of sour and tart Joie De Vivre! Sip, Savor, Enjoy!

==Introduction==

The Tale of Puss N’ Boots returns! From the original La Roja and La Roja reserve which I tried oh so many years ago. The Puss has come back to bestow some honor to the original showing what it truly means to be the bearer of the cherry goodness. It is hard to explain exactly how this works but I am here to bring this forth and see how the cherry juice and aging the beer again can really change it into something more of a true honorable warrior. Cheers!

Aromas:
Rich pungent and funky cherries, lavender, hibiscus, rose petals, Sakura cake, cherry ice cream, dark fruit raisins, plums, figs, stone fruit peaches, apricots, apples, rye bread, dragon fruit, passion fruit, lychee fruit, Oak, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, Black Cherry yogurt, Cherry cobbler, Tart Raspberries, chocolate hints, Cherry cordials, wine grapes, Strawberry Danish, Rye bread with cherry preserves, biscuit bread, and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Tart Cherries, Cherry ice cream, Lemon peel, lemon juice, Oak, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, Black Cherry yogurt, Cherry cobbler, Tart Raspberries, chocolate hints, Cherry cordials, wine grapes, dark fruit raisins, plums, figs, stone fruit peaches, apricots, apples, rye bread, dragon fruit, passion fruit, lychee fruit, coriander spice, lavender, hibiscus flowers, rose petals, Sakura cake, oatmeal cookies, Irish cream, Strawberry Danish, Rye bread with cherry preserves, biscuit bread, raspberry Chambord liqueur and Belgian Candi Sugar.

Aftertaste:
Tart cherry yogurt, wine grapes, dark fruits, stone fruits, oak, cherry and strawberry cream, vanilla, caramel, lemon peel and hazelnut. No alcohol in the taste, smooth, creamy, Crimson Amber medium body and a moderate drinkability. It is meant to be enjoyed.

Overall:
Wow, the whole Kriek aspect with La Roja elevates the original so much. A sweet fruit and wine tart combines and explores into realms that I have not seen with this one before. Realms that the Flanders beers of Belgium and even Kriek fusions into that cherry balance that some do better than others. I love the sweeter aspects but some of the sour aspects too of those Belgian beers. This one has learned to gracefully land on it’s feet of balance and carry both the sweet and tart while still showcasing so much. A must try for sour beer, flanders and kriek lovers alike!

Anime Corner:
Pururun/Polly Esther from Samurai Pizza Cats was used in this pairing since I wanted to pair with the noble return of the great Red Cat Puss N’ Boots. Polly being Red and an awesome and powerful character at that was the best to show case this beer and pair. The best part was the awesome Japanese art that so closely fits with the style of the Jolly Pumpkin art that I was blown away and had to take a step back at such a melding masterpiece. You would think that there was nothing Japanese about the label as the Cat has a general coat in like a French setting and yet you look at the pink leaves floating around. Pink Leaves? More like Sakura leaves… Puss N Boots is an honorable french knight, musketeer and samurai. An honorable beer for an honorable cat just like Polly!

Sources:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/71/35/9b/71359bf3498a09dc5124e4f972f8672d.jpg
http://livedoor.4.blogimg.jp/jin115/imgs/1/6/161f18e2.jpg