Rating: 6/6
Here Comes the Wolf by 18th Street Brewery is an 8.5% ABV Old Ale with Maris Otter malt and Nugget Hops
Another level of caramel and chocolate covered raisins… In fact I could swear there’s figs and flan in there
Tag Archives: Samurai Shodown
¡Viva La Beaver! By Belching Beaver
Rating: 6.5/7
¡Viva La Beaver! By Belching Beaver is a 7.5% ABV Sweet/Milk Stout brewed with Peanut Butter, and Mexican Chocolate.
Label:
We made this beer originally for the SD Tap Room in Pacific Beach as their 8th Anniversary beer. Marc Truex set it all up. It became our highest rated beer (until Pound Town). Thomas kept asking to make it again but we never ad tank space. Now that we opened the new Oceanside facility we can make many more styles. Troy said he wanted to start a Milk Stout series, we decided to start with this one. It’s Mexican Chocolate. It’s peanut butter. The Beaver has a cool mustache. What’s not to like? I wanted to call it “Livin La Beaver Loca”, but I was outvoted.
Cheers!
Tom
==Introduction==
When I first saw this beer, I literally went insane. I love the Peanut butter milk stout they make and overall peanut butter beers. I have had so many delicious Mexican Choco Stouts as well that have definitely blown me away. Now when I saw Belching Beaver decided to mix up the 2 and bottle it, it was a mind blow! I was able to get this one early as I purchased it at CraftShack.com but I know it will be around here locally soon. I just couldn’t wait to bring it to the site which is what made me so excited. So I am happy to present, the review to this awesome new entry from Belching Beaver. Salucita!
Aromas:
Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Chocolate abuelita, German Chocolate, Fudge Chocolate, Baker’s chocolate, Reese’s Peanut butter cups, marshmallows, Peanut Butter, Mazapan, pan dulce, capirotada raisin bread pudding, pecan pie, dark fruit raisins, prunes, currants, blackberry notes, hazelnut nectar, almond milk, almond milk, chocolate mousse, Champurrado Maize drink, chocolate bananas, , nutter butter cookies, toffee, roasted coffee notes, mocha and fruit cake.
Flavors:
Lots of rich Peanut Butter, Mazapan, Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Chocolate abuelita, German Chocolate, Fudge Chocolate, Baker’s chocolate, dulce de leche caramel, cajeta, flan, cinnamon, fruit cake, roasted peanuts with the shells, nutter butter cookies, toffee, roasted coffee notes, mocha, lactose milk sugar, buttered rye toasted bread, Reese’s Peanut butter cups, marshmallows, chocolate peanut butter smores, pan dulce, capirotada raisin bread pudding, pecan pie, dark fruit raisins, prunes, currants, blackberry notes, hazelnut nectar, almond milk, chocolate mousse, Champurrado Maize drink, Chocolate Atole and chocolate bananas.
Aftertaste:
Finishing with super rich Reese’s Chocolate Peanut butter cups if they were made with dark chocolate and abuelitas chocolate. Lots of hints of dulce de leche, mazapan, dark fruits, marshmallowss, champurrado and nutter butter cookies. No alcohol in the taste. Deep dark abyss body, rich, velvety, smooth, creamy and syrupy mouth feel with a moderate drinkability.
Overall:
Madre de Dios! Supremely exceptional. This is definitely one of the best if not the best Peanut Butter Milk Stout I have ever had. This one definitely reminds me of Ramuri’s Peanut butter stout from Tijuana. Although the Mexican Chocolate definitely brings it to a newer level and really compliments the beer overall. This is something I will definitely get again and stash several bottles of. So much so that I would suggest you do the same if you loved the original peanut butter milk stout. Highly recommended.
Anime Corner:
Original Mexican characters by Daniel Heron of Deviantart.com, Cham Cham from Samurai Showdown and Annet Myer from El Viento were all used in reference to the Mexican themed beer that we have here as well as all the colors to fit the label. Also, the anthropomorphic characters from the first picture and Cham Cham fit with the little Mexican beaver. The attire from Annet and the girl fit with old school indigenous and revolutionary gear wore in the pre modern eras.
Sources:
http://dan-heron.deviantart.com/art/Viva-Mexico-Cabron3s-22974143
http://i.imgur.com/uxRjVLa.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/dBJJNzH.png
http://ist2-1.filesor.com/pimpandhost.com/7/2/6/9/72699/1/m/O/t/1mOtx/huang-guan.328017.jpg
Blueberry Smoking Wood by The Bruery
Rating: 6/5
Blueberry Smoking Wood by The Bruery is a 12.8% ABV Smoked Imperial Rye Porter Aged in Bourbon barrels with Blueberries, Cacao Nibs and Maple Syrup.
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Bourbon Smoking Wood aged on Blueberries and cacao nibs with maple syrup.
==Introduction==
Only at the Bruery for a limited time growler fill. Thanks to my friend Richard Avila for hooking me up with this one. We tried it at our visit to the Bruery and thought this beer was pretty damn delicious. I was glad I agreed to take a small growler home with me so I could bring this one forth to the site. I don’t know if this variant will ever see a bottle release but for now, if you are in the area and visit the brewery, here is what you can expect. Cheers!
Aromas:
Rich Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, whiskey, rye bread, blueberries, oak, smokey notes, campfire marshmallow smores, graham crackers, anise, bacon, toasted coconut hints, Milk chocolate, German Chocolate, Bakers chocolate, dark fruit raisins, blackberries, cherries, currants, figs, molasses, cinnamon, crème brulee, pecan pie, hazelnut nectar, brown sugar, BBQ honey glazed jerky and blueberry fudge cake.
Flavors:
Rich Dark fruits forward of blueberries, blackberries, currants, raisins, figs, raspberries, dark cherries, dulce de lechec carame, vanilla, oak, campfire smoke, bourbon, maple syrup, molasses, anise, bacon, toasted coconut, marshmallow smores, burnt sugar, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, German Chocolate, Belgian Chocolate, bakers chocolate, cinnamon, flan, Mexican Custard/Jericalla, beachwood oak, pecan pie, hazelnut nectar, rye and sourdough bread, BBQ honey glazed ribs, crème brulee, Blueberry fudge cake, coffee cake and Irish cream.
Aftertaste:
Rich dark fruit blueberries, maple, vanilla caramel, dark chocolate, smoked oak, BBQ hints, marshmallow sugars, flan and bourbon. No alcohol in the taste, A sipping beer with a full mouthfeel, Pitch black body and yet very smooth. Syrupy and creamy mouthfeel.
Overall:
Raising the original to a newer level of flavor, the Blueberries, chocolate and maple really raise the levels of awesomeness of the beer. You still get the same flavors of the Smoking Wood Bourbon Barrel Aged, but the blueberries drag it into some rich dark fruit world of sweet goodness. So much going on here but like I said before, if you are around the area, surely, give this a try. Cheers!
Anime Corner:
Rera from Samurai Showdown/Spirits was used in this pairing since I wanted to get an aspect of the smoking wood and the forest or campfire smoke like I have done in the Whiskey Rye and the Bourbon barrel version of these beers. Essentially that covers the smoking wood part but the blueberries are all her with the colors she wears of the blue and the red pendant she wears being a cherry. Rera is a ninja, she is pretty damn sweet looking which represents the sweet and smooth flavors but her attack comes from the alcohol she brings along with her wolf Shikuru.
Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/wFSvW9E.jpg
http://blog-imgs-61.fc2.com/a/d/a/adasokuniji/3VfCdydp0oh6HPc7e23be79.jpg
Aloha B’ak’tun by Maui brewing
Rating: 4.45/5
Aloha B’ak’tun by Maui brewing is a 7%ABV Belgian Stout brewed with chocolate, cinnamon and chipotle.
Label:
Change is the only constant in life; and this year has been marked with exiting changes. Staff moving on, new staff joining our team and construction plans for the new brewery (Yes, still on Maui). Our final limited release of the year celebrates change and bids aloha to our friends new and old.
This Belgian stout is brewed with chocolate, cinnamon, and chipotle. It pours deep black with ruby highlights. Layered with roasted malt character hints of bittersweet dark chocolate, clove, cinnamon and subtle peppery notes in the nose.
The year is ending, the world is not. Raise your hand and toast with us to all the great things to come. Look forward to four new limited releases in 2013.
Mahalo Nui Loa.
‘Okole Maluna,
Garrett
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Belgian Stouts are some of my favorites. So when I found this one I had to get it. The fragrances are are roasted coffee, bakers and dark chocolate, bready notes, raisins, slight peppercorns, mild pepper, tobacco, molasses and slight caramel. The flavors are mainly of coffee, dark chocolate, slight tobacco, smokey (in the glass), dulce de leche caramel (mainly when in the can), bready notes, raisins, slight chocolate covered cherries, slight peppery notes of chipotle but hardly enough to detect heat at all. I tried it both out of the glass and the can. Frankly, it taste better out of the can than in the glass. I guess like heady topper, certain things taste better when out of certain containers. Although after letting it sit for a while in the glass, the flavors like that of the can were there. All and all, an awesome beer, very good Belgian stout but kind of not as full flavor impacting like Thirteenth Hour or Buffalo Stout. Still, great pick up and one I would try again 🙂
Artisanal Reserve The Saint by Crispin Cider
Rating: 5/5 *Cider wise, cant really compare to a beer rating other wise it would be lower, yet, delicious and actually bit of complexity to it 😀
Artisanal Reserve The Saint by Crispin Cider Company is a 6.9%ABV Natural Hard Apple Cider made with Belgian Trappist Yeast and Organic Maple Syrup.
Label:
Experience a sweetly floral to herbal aromatic bouquet and an elegant yeasty flavor with a sustained mouth-feel that develops complexity on the palate. Naturally fermented with Belgian Trappist yeasts using a premium apple juice blend, not from concentrate, with no added malt, spirit or grape alcohol. The Saint’s artisanal Cloudy Filtration style uses racked unfiltered apple wine smoothed with pure organic maple syrup, a touch of apple juice, no added sugar, colorants or sorbate or benzoate preservatives, and is filtered cold for bold, crisp refreshment.
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So, I don’t often review ciders. The last time I did it was by the same company. Which was fantastic!! Even if it was made under registration Tenth and Blake Beer Co. – MillerCoors. I guess when it comes to ciders, it is in a whole different category. I have had some pretty awesome ciders in the past and got to review maybe 2. This is the third although the first one I need to pick it up agai to pair it with some nice anime artwork :). One of the best ciders I had long ago was the Black Currant Cider by Fox Barrel Ciders although they don’t make that anymore. They make a cinnamon and black currant once so I’ll probably review that one. Anyway, on to the review :). Fragrance coming off the cider is that of champagne or like a warm sake, some bread, cinnamon apple crisp and honey. The flavors are pretty good. Craft beers use basic ingredients to create flavors that make you guess. This actually uses the apple cider with the Belgian yeast to do something similar and extravagant. The immediate flavor I get is apple pie full of brown sugar crisp, caramel, raisin, alittle bit of banana esters (yes, that’s the Heavenly hand of God here [Trappist yeast at work]), maple, wood, candi sugars and overall just a apple pie aftertaste. Damn, this must be what it’s like to have an apple pie in a bottle. Just really good. You won’t have to look for awesome flavors here, it is easier to find them, although, complexity in other flavors will show up as you go along…lol not really craft beer but a craft cider to make it just that more enjoyable for the overall population. Belgian Trappist yeast inspired…hard to go wrong there.
Robert Johnson’s Hellhound on my Ale by Dogfish Head
Rating: 4.75/5
Robert Johnson’s Hellhound on my Ale by Dogfish Head is 10% ABV Double India Pale Ale Brewed with Lemons
Label:
2011 marks the 100th birthday of Mississippi Delta bluesman Robert Johnson who, according to legend, sold his soul down at the crossroads in a midnight bargain and changed music forever. Dogfish Head pays tribute to this blues legend by gettin’ the hellhounds off his trail and into this finely-crafted ale.
Hellhound is a super-hoppy ale that hits 100 IBUs in the brewhouse, 10.0 ABV, 10.0 SRM in color, and dry-hopped with 100% centennial hops at a rate of 100 kilos per 100 barrel brew-length. To accentuate and magnify the citrusy notes of the centennial hops (and as a shout out to Robert Johnson’s mentor Blind Lemon Jefferson) we add dried lemon peel and flesh to the whirlpool. To read more about Robert Johnson go to www.robertjohnsonhellhoundale.com
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Been searching far and wide for this one. I gave up on the search a while back until I had happened to find a bottle of this bottle recently. The fragrance of the beer is more floral and maltier than super hoppy and piney. Citrus is there but it is quite light. More caramel and breadiness in the smell . The flavors of this beer are of caramel, lemon, grape, orange, mango, bready, oak wood, some earthy and piney notes which provide the bitterness. Although it seems like the malts hide the bitterness of the 100 IBU flavors. While this is still a great ale, do not expect a lot of bitterness and hoppy flavors.
Brewerianimelogs (Anime and Beer Lore) 
