Tag Archives: scotch whiskey

Breakfast Beast by Clown Shoes

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Rating: 6/6

Breakfast Beast by Clown Shoes is a 10% ABV American Imperial Stout aged with Barrington Coffee Roasting and aged in bourbon barrels.

The beer is Breakfast Beast, a blend of Blaecorn Unidragon Russian imperial stout (12.5 percent ABV), Undead Party Crasher imperial stout (10 percent ABV) and an “experimental new stout” that was aged in bourbon barrels. In addition, cold brewed coffee sourced from Barrington Coffee Roasting Co. in Lee, Mass. was added to the beer before being bottled.

That type of beer you gotta wake up in the morning to. So damn good!! But the beast has always been awesome

Double Bastard Bigger Longer Uncut by Stone/Arrogant Brewing

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14882279_10103680142297300_1267793801230545727_oRating: 6.25/7

Double Bastard Bigger Longer Uncut by Stone/Arrogant Brewing is an 13% ABV American Strong Ale aged in Islay Scotch Whisky Barrels

Label:
Arrogance. Doubled, Barreled. Served Straight Up.

Weakness Is worn on the sleeves. Boldness Is within the heart. This intensified blend of barrel-aged Double Bastard Ale is all heart baby. The weak will find it to be a telltale heart. It knows of your fallibility. It smells your fear. The heart of this beer disdains you, as it disdains all things homogenized, wimpy and uncultured. You do know the truth of yourself, no? If you hesitated to answer that, if even for a split second, that in and of itself is telling. If you aren’t capable of knowing the reality of yourself, this beer can and will take the responsibility of informing you of what you should already know. (And it you’ve lost your way in this text already and no longer are clear about what I am saying, your reading pace has exceeded your comprehension pace. Go back, slow down and start over, bright eyes.)

Take a deep breath. Let it out slowly. Evenly. Give yourself some positive affirmations. Breathe deep again. There. Feel better? If you followed those instructions, then set this bottle down and back away immediately, you new age poseur. Fight or flight and I’d recommend the latter for you, tiger. Wet paper bags are more your speed.

==Introduction==
14918960_10103680142212470_7001141403346120945_o
My love for double bastard never ceased ever since that fateful day where I had the dream I would try it. Since then have had so many variants and now as I get close to making my own version of the delicious Midnight Brunch Double Bastard, Stone/Arrogant Brewing released a wild one from left field. I didn’t think much of it but when I saw it was made with Islay Scotch Whiskey, I definitely thought, this is a must try for sure. Of all the spirit aged beers that I have tried in the past, the Islay Scotch aged is one that is so rare, I last tried a Brew Dog Stout that had this a long time ago. So for stone to release this, this is a truly special occasion indeed and the name fits it perfectly. Cheers for many more from the true Kings of Beer, the Arrogant Bastards!!
14753299_10103680142227440_6355129203037211273_o
Aromas:
Lots of smokey peat, molasses, bacon, smoked oak, BBQ sauce, Scotch whiskey, bourbon, vanilla dulce de leche caramel, dark fruit raisins, dark cherries, cranberries, dates, raisins, roasted cherries, brown sugar, cinnamon, tobacco, toffee, rye bread, orange preserves, campfire and smoked marshmallow smores.

Flavors:
Rich Smoked oak, Rich smoked peat, BBQ sauce, bacon, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, maple, scotch whiskey, bourbon, marshmallow, campfire burnt chocolate smores, toasted coconut, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, toffee, rye bread, orange preserves, grapefruit preserves, honey, dark fruit raisins, dark cherries, cranberries, dates, raisins, tobacco, leather, Stone fruit peach, mango, butterscotch, sourdough bread, earthy, floral, and grassy hops, fruit cake, Key lime pie hints, brown sugar and roasted cherries.

Aftertaste:
Finishes very smokey bitter and full of complex flavors of vanilla, Scotch whisky, campfire wood, marshmallows, bacon hints, dark fruits and chocolate hints. No alcohol in the tasted despite the ABV, Crimson clear body, smooth, crisp, refreshing, velvety, creamy and mildy syrupy mouthfeel and a sipping drinkability.
14890573_10103680141948000_8734695102126698863_o
Overall:
A bit above exceptional! This is very damn special. A very unique Bastard indeed. Very different type of smokey goodness that definitely comes from the Islay Scotch. The Double Bastard is there but changed big time by the unique flavors presented in complexity of aging in the special spirit of the Islay Scotch. Definitely not for everyone and as Arrogant Tradition goes, many may or may not like it but if you are a fan, I say you will. Go get this Bastard!
14883458_10103680141962970_5192159597268780436_o
Anime Corner:
Lilith Aensland and the many Darkstalkers characters were used in this pairing as I wanted to go with a movie like theme and keep Lilith as the main character as she has been for the other Double Bastards. She even has somewhat of a director’s uniform. The theme of Doubles with Jedah and Morrigan have been a part of the theme since the original double bastard.
14853246_10103680141952990_3320170727401887692_o
Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/BXNSB6e.jpg
https://67.media.tumblr.com/e74961f3a62c151cbf93433deb58316b/tumblr_o0gzifAGzV1rs0zxko1_r1_1280.jpg
https://cdnb3.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/000/651/431/large/robert-porter-morrililly.jpg?1443930460
http://blog-imgs-44-origin.fc2.com/y/u/r/yuritrap/yr110191.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/rtuY1hq.jpg
http://xxgasm.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/darkstalkers_morriga-4830.jpg

Scotch Whisky Barrel Poterie (8th Anniversary Ale) by The Bruery

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12734123_10103093365772160_2771905136595990578_n 12768326_10103093366805090_8500962716608825671_oRating: 6.25/7

Scotch Whisky Barrel Poterie (8th Anniversary Ale) by The Bruery is a 14.8% ABV Old Ale aged in Scotch Whisky Barrels.

Label:
This sturdy beer marks our eighth year, and we are grateful for the outpouring of community. Together may our supporters, our brewery and this beer grow in complexity and refinement over the years.

Our eighth anniversary ale, loosely brewed in the English-style Old Ale tradition using our house Belgian yeast strain. This edition was 100% aged in oak barrels that previously held Scotch Whisky, imparting a subtle smoky complexity. Poterie (Pottery) will age gracefully for decades when cellared properly.

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Poterie is French for “pottery”, the traditional eight-year anniversary gift. Our eighth anniversary ale, Poterie, follows in the footsteps of our anniversary releases before it, which are loosely based on an English-style old ale and fermented with our house yeast strain. This edition was 100% aged in oak barrels that previously held Scotch, imparting a subtle smoky complexity to complement the robust flavors of toffee, caramel, dark fruit, vanilla and oak. Poterie will age gracefully for decades when cellared properly.

==Introduction==

An Anniversary beer this early in the year? What? And a variant no less. Poterie was originally released in January to Hoarders society members. Since they had some extras, it looks like they let Reserve society members have a crack at it. So since that was the case, I was able to bring it to the site. With limited releases of this variant, it would most likely need to be traded unless you buy it from an online site. Why this was released before the regular anniversary, I am not sure. However, it is what it is and I can’t wait to try this new spirit variant. Cheers!

Aromas:
Bananas, Clove spice, raspberry Chambord, maple syrup, graham crackers, brown sugar, Cadbury chocolate cream eggs, Dulce de leche caramel, raspberry Chambord, dark fruit raisins, plums, blueberries, smoked peat, piloncillo sugar cone, flan, marshmallows, fruit cake, pecan pie and sweet condensed milk.

Flavors:
Cadbury chocolate cream eggs, super rich dark fruit raisins, plums, blueberries, smoked peat, toasted coconut, bourbon, scotch whisky, rum notes, oak, chocolate truffle ice cream, Belgian candi sugars, burnt sugar, rich butterscotch, waffle cone, raspberry Chambord, maple syrup, graham crackers, brown sugars, bananas, plantains, molasses, chocolate mousee, capirotada raisin bread pudding, rye bread, port wine, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate cherry cordials, mocha hints, pecan pie, fruit cake, flan, marshmallows, toasted coconut, piloncillo sugar cone, burnt cane sugar, clove spice, nutmeg, hazelnut nectar, blueberry cheesecake and cookie dough ice cream.

Aftertaste:
Finishes with straight up darkfruits, caramels, smoked peat, blueberries, raspberries, vanilla, Scotch whisky hints, bourbon, fruit cake, marshmallow, coconut, and nutty aftertaste. Some alcohol in the aftertaste but not detracting from the rich flavors. Dark crimson brown medium to full body, silky, smooth and creamy mouthfeel and sipping drinkability.

Overall:
Supreme of Supremes!! I don’t know what it is about this brew that I like so much. The solera method they used over the years has seems to have created more complex flavors. It’s that or the fact that this is Scotch Whisky Barrel aged. Which I would assume it can only be the bourbon. I won’t know until I compare this to the regular bourbon anniversary one that comes out nearing May 2016. Either way, I am glad they decided to release this to Reserve Society members so I could bring it to the site and give you some information on it. Definitely highly recommended.

Anime Corner:
Samus Aran from Nintendo’s Metroid series was used in this review as I wanted to pair with the colors of the label. The blues and oranges seem to stand out very well. Also, since I have done a trend on these using characters in body suits, I figured it was perfect. The Poterie aspect in the name works well too as in one of the artworks, her armor is like the color of pottery so her being inside the suit is like the beer being inside a ceramic vase. Definitely creative that is for sure. The complexity and flavors just mimic her character as well as she is both strong and her story is very deep.

Sources:
http://favera.ru/img/2015/09/24/1062753_1443098138.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/7f/e9/fe/7fe9febe63bbaa4177af9f13b25e13ee.jpg

Iron Joe collaboration with Avoca Coffee Roasters and Rahr & Sons brewery

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12694700_10103065569166780_6352595915358263489_oRating: 6/6

Iron Joe collaboration with Avoca Coffee Roasters and Rahr & Sons brewery is an 8% ABV Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy Oak Whiskey Barrel aged with Avoca Noir Coffee

Label:
We take American oak barrels and fill them with our award winning Iron Thistle Strong Scotch Ale. Next we add fresh, locally brewed Avoca Noir Coffee to the mix and age it in our barrel room for three months. Iron Joe is the result of two locally owned and operated businesses getting together to make your beer dreams come true… Sweet dreams!

==Introduction==

Obtained this brew from my friend and fellow Beer reviewer, Aaron Mendiola of BeerMetalDude.com. I have tried brew from Rhar & sons before thanks to Aaron, which the one I tried was the Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer. That one was an extremely exceptional brew that was worthy of a ton of praise. So much so that I gave it a high rating. With high expectations, I will need to be more open minded with this one and see if even this one can compare to the greatness that was the winter warmer. Cheers!

Aromas:
Soy sauce, smoked peat, pecan pie, marshmallow, vanilla, oak, whiskey, dulce de leche caramel, dark fruit raisins, prunes, cherries, blueberries, Chocolate, mocha, toffee, coffee cake, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, Mexican chocolate, German chocolate, fudge chocolate, bakers chocolate, coffee flan, coffee cheese cake, Jamocca rocky road ice cream, almond milk, tobacco, leather, molasses and anise

Flavors:
Rich Chocolate, mocha, toffee, coffee cake, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, soy sauce, Mexican chocolate, German chocolate, fudge chocolate, bakers chocolate, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, flan, cinnamon, piloncillo sugar cone, dark fruit raisins, prunes, cherries, blueberries, oak, whiskey, marshmallow, coffee flan, coffee cheese cake, Jamocca rocky road ice cream, almond milk, tobacco, leather, molasses, anise, smoked peat, fruit cake, pecan pie, hazelnut nectar, walnuts, praline butter, toasted rye bread and mint.

Aftertaste:
Finishing with sweet vanilla, caramel, roasted coffee, whiskey notes, dark fruits, smoked peat and fruit cake notes. No alcohol in the taste. Dark Brown full body, sweet, creamy smooth and silky mouthfeel with a moderate drinkability.

Overall:
Super duper delicious Wee Heavy! This was one of the best Wee Heavy’s I have had especially due to the complexity that coffee and the whiskey barrel aging process did for it. I wish they made it into a bigger bottle but beggars can’t be choosers. All I know is that this one I really enjoyed sip after very delicious sip and would recommend that if you can find this one and try it, do it!

Anime Corner:
Original Character was used in this pairing as I wanted to pair something with the woods but mainly the colors of coffee, dark Wee Heavy and dark fruits. The simulation of falling is the synonymous to how heavy the beer is in terms the strength and the complexity of the flavors.

Sources:
https://kazasou.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/konachan-com-175141-brown_eyes-brown_hair-christmas-itoucon-original-ribbons-short_hair-thighhighs-twintails.jpg

Flight Of The Angry Beast by Clown Shoes

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12525224_10103028521590420_3691132951949207996_o 12622023_10103028522563470_7450857629756014706_oRating: 6/6

Flight Of The Angry Beast by Clown Shoes is a 10.75% ABV American Strong Ale consisting of an Smoked Imperial Stout brewed with Holy water aged in bourbon barrels, a Scotch Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout and an English Style Barley Wine aged in Scotch. Another Cuvee of dreams!

Label:
For the fourth installment in our “Beast” series, Sir Walter Scott has finally tamed the creature, who was about to attack a group of innocent unicorns. To celebrate, we blended 1/3 Undead Party Crasher aged in bourbon barrels, 1/3 Blaecorn Unidragon aged in scotch barrels and 1/3 Billionaire aged in scotch barrels. Hooray!

==Introduction==

Another year, another incarnation of the Unidragon beast. This time, they combined the Imperial and Russian stouts with their English Style Barley wine. Each time I try these beast beers, there is always something different and unique about them. Some brews have been made specifically for certain states and are variants of the Unidragon. While I have had the opportunity to try these one offs, I am glad some really complex beasts still come about every now and again. The flight of the Angry Beast seems so cool so without further ado, let’s see what this one is about. Cheers!

Aromas:
Smoked Peat, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, dark fruit raisins, plums, currants, earthy notes, butterscotch, Scotch bourbon, whiskey bourbon, oak, Bananas, clove spice, sweetened condensed milk, toffee, figgy pudding, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, German Chocolate, bakers chocolate, molasses, anise, mint, rocky road ice cream, toasted coconuts, macadamia nuts, pecan pie, doughnuts, oreo cookies and smokey notes.

Flavors:
Scotch bourbon, whiskey bourbon, oak, Bananas, clove spice, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, German Chocolate, bakers chocolate, oreo cookies, smokey notes, almond joy chocolate, smoked peat, dark fruit raisins, plums, currants, earthy notes, butterscotch, molasses, mint, anise, rye bread, caramelized sugars, waffle cone, marshmallows, chocolate smores, rocky road ice cream, toasted coconuts, macadamia nuts, pecan pie, doughnuts, cookie dough ice cream, hazel nut nectar, sweetened condensed milk, toffee, figgy pudding, tobacco, leather, tres leche cake, fudge chocolate cake and crème brulee.

Aftertaste:
Good mix of Scotch and Bourbon oak in the finish along with some lingering flavors of banana, dark fruit, chocolate notes, smokey notes, marshmallow, vanilla and caramel. Slight alcohol in the taste but this does not take away from the rich complexity. Dark pitch black body, smooth, velvety and creamy mouthfeel and a sipping drinkability.

Overall:
No surprise how every year, the Cuvee of different beers really brings about the really extreme and special of what Clown Shoes has to offer. The velvety flavors and spirits collide with a complex array of deliciousness. There is much that can be said when spirits get together like this and create an exceptional beer that, for me, tends to break the rating scale. Highly Recommended.

Anime Corner:
Tia Harribel, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck and Yoruichi Shihouin from Bleach have always represented some aspect of the clown shoes beers in my past reviews. Tia is the Undead Party Crasher/Vampire Slayer. Nelliel has always been the original Unidragon and Yoruichi would be added for good measures since the Porcine Unidragon came out. The blend of each beer together and the unleash of the Extremely Angry beast can be best represented when all three together are looking like bad asses powering up to team up against great foes. The strength and complexity has come together very epically that I could not think of any other pairing artwork that would be the best representative of this beer.

Sources:
http://img01.deviantart.net/2276/i/2010/054/8/1/hot_battle___commission_by_toppera_tpr.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5FJtEATaK3M/VTAYgyGwShI/AAAAAAAABOk/qVd6HEd1Nts/w850-h703/Yoruichi%25252C%252520Halibel%252520%252526%252520Nel.jpg

2014 The Off Label Series – Perpetual Peace by No Label Brewing

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10903973_10102417201650480_8765580057153125771_o 11024667_10102417202054670_3198865878370204929_oRating: 5.85/5

2014 The Off Label Series – Perpetual Peace by No Label Brewing is an 11.62% ABV Wee Heavy/Scotch Ale aged in Bourbon Barrels.

Label:
Wee-Heavy
Aged in Bourbon Barres, The Tannins complement the malty sweetness of the beer, while adding vanilla notes. Fans of Bourbon will love this beer.

==Introduction==

Straight out of Katy Texas, a special thanks to my friend Aaron Mendiola from www.beermetaldude.com who sends me this awesome little gem, a bourbon barrel aged wee-heavy. The Scotch Ale or Wee Heavy is a style of beer that is not common but the many I have tried, there is yet to be one that I don’t like. It is an uncommon style but very delicious and one that is bourbon barrel aged is even more uncommon. So when I saw this, I was super stoked to try it. This is my first label from No Label Brewing and hope it is not the last as this one seems super promising. So let us see what some of Texas finest have to offer. Cheers!

Aromas:
Rich dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, banana notes, clove spice, bourbon, oak, marshmallows, smores, flan, smoked peat, dark fruit raisins, figs, dark cherries, raisin bread pudding, pecan pie, molasses, scotch whiskey, anise, almond joy, cookie dough, cookies and cream, brown sugar, toasted coconut and macaroons.

Flavors:
Bananas, clove spice, dark fruits like raisins, figs, plums, cherries, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, espresso, raisin bread pudding, scotch whiskey, bourbon, oak, hazelnut nectar, macadamia nuts, pecan pie, rocky road ice cream, toasted coconuts, macaroons, cookies and cream, vanilla, fudge brownies, earthy notes, smoked peat, butterscotch, molasses, anise, licorice hints, choco flan, brown sugare, marshmallows smores, rye bread, espresso hints, graham crackers, cinnamon hints and almond joy chocolate.

Aftertaste:
Banana notes, scotch whiskey, marshmallows, caramel, vanilla, anise, clove spice, dark fruits, toasted coconut, oak and earthy notes. No alcohol in the taste despite the ABV, Smooth and creamy mouthfeel, easy to drink despite the ABV and a dark coffee full body.

Overall:
I enjoyed the hell out of this one. This beer to me was ridiculously drinkable and very complex. Lots of the bourbon and oak along with the chocolate and all the sweet dark fruit and scotch flavors. I would probably drink this all the time if I could find it but then I wouldn’t be very sober now would I. Totally worth the find and recommendation if you can find it.

Anime Corner:
Motoko Kusanagi from Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex was used in this pairing to go with the label colors as well as the different colors of the flavors and ingredients I could detect in this beer. No label brewing works with Motoko Kusanagi as she is an augmented-cybernetic human and most likely didn’t have a name in the beginning. Also, the perpetual peace has to do with the struggle not only to keep the peace as a member of the Public Security Section 9 but also to come to terms with who and what she is. The beer is strong and smooth which represents her abilities as a tactician and intelligence but also the sweet flavors represents how much of a sweet heart she is even is she seems like a cold robot mainly.

Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/PGP6Ptk.jpg
http://superherowallpapers10.net/wp-content/uploads/images/2c/ghost-in-the-shell-4.jpg

Ride The Lion by Clown Shoes brewing

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10357506_10102006113918590_2348774164646493040_nRating: 5.75/5

Ride The Lion by Clown Shoes brewing is an 11% ABV Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy aged in bourbon barrels.

Label:
Descended from a notorious clan of Scottish lore, head brewer Dan Lipke channeled the Tartan tapestry encoded in his DNA to create a formidable Wee Heavy. The beer has been aged 100% in fresh bourbon barrels. Ask yourself, “Who needs to ride the lion?”
___

This beer is finally coming around this area. Clown Shoes has been making some crazy amazing beers not only in the artistic label fashion but the mind blowing flavor aspects too. Their beers are some of my favorites from the east coast. I am really glad they have been able to distribute some goodies in many places. The Wee Heavy/Scotish Ale style is one that has never let me down. I have yet to try a scotch ale that doesn’t disappoint. Therefore, I definitely look forward to this one.

Aromas:
Lots of good oaked bourbon, vanilla, caramel, dark fruits, marshmallows, graham crackers, earthy and smoked peat, blue berry cheese cake, flan, port wine hints, dark fruits like raisins, currants, plums, prunes, boysenberries, black berries, grapes, anise, licorice, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, bananas, clove spice, mild coconut, butterscotch, brown sugar, cinnamon, scotch, stone fruit hints like peach and apricot.

Flavors:
Dulce de leche caramel, Bourbon, vanilla, oak, scotch whiskey, rich earthy and smoked peat, dark fruits like cherries, raisins, currants, plums, boysenberries, blackberies, anise, licorice, port wine hints, marshmallow, rye bread, wine and cheese party, flan hints, butterscotch, cinnamon, brown sugar, musty notes, clove spice, banana flavors when it warms up, tobacco, leather notes, flan, blueberry cheesecake, stone fruit peaches, apricots and lychee.

Aftertaste:
Smokey and earthy peat, rye bread, oak, bourbon, caramel, vanilla, dark fruit, tobacco and leather notes. Slight alcohol burn in the taste but nothing detracting from the flavor, smooth drinkability despite the ABV, medium mouth feel and medium to full body.

Overall:
Definitely exceeding expectations for sure. This beer reminds me more of how Stone Brewing does Bourbon Barrel aging with the whole wine and cheese party thing going on. Basically, that is the way I describe oak wine like and earthy cheese flavor. Definitely not in a bad way but I guess the way some beers pair great with certain cheeses, that is all. The beer has a lot of great complex flavors going on here. I would definitely recommend getting this one. Give it a shot, there really isn’t that many wee heavies out there and this one is bourbon barrel aged. Yes it works!

Anime Corner:
Saber Alter/Dark Saber and Arthur The Lion from Fate/Stay Night/Hollow Ataraxia was used in this pairing not just to pair the label with the lion and the warrior girl but the aspects of the lion is what not just represents awesomeness but the bourbon barrel aging itself. As you can see, if Saber is a bad ass Wee Heavy by herself, then the lion brings forth her ultimate strength which brings out the complexities of her. They represent the dark fruits and cherry notes as well as the other complex flavors. Ride the Lion is synonymous with how smooth both of them work together and go down damn well despite their united strength!

Sources:
http://konachan.com/post/show/8124

Soroboruo by The Bruery

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10378307_10101822127394060_5934336538667097250_n 1010074_10101822127628590_7370317982538466049_nRating: 5.75/5

Soroboruo by The Bruery is a 12% ABV Sour Wee Heavy aged in Scotch and Bourbon barrels with heather flowers.

Label:
WEE SOUR
Rich malt, sour funk, notes of oak and a floral balance. Unlike any Wee Heavy you’ve ever had.

Soroboruo is a backwards take on a Scotch Ale. Typically known for big toffee-like malt and subdued yeast flavors. Soroboruo allows our wild yeast and bacteria to shine full-heartedly, adding a delightful tartness, balanced by the soft floral notes of the heather flowers. Soroboruo is best enjoyed fresh, but may pleasantly evolve over time if cellared properly. Best stored and cellared around 55 °F (13 °C) in a dark place.
___

Released by the Bruery as part of their Reserve Society releases. This beer was a surprise since it was one that was not listed and was one that was listed shortly after their release of Sucre. If you want to get your hands on this one, you may have to go ahead and trade for it. Unless the Bruery makes it available for release to the masses. I have never had a Sour Wee Heavy before and Wee Heavy Scottish ales are always awesome.

Aromas:
Dark fruit raisins, figs, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, proliferation of Sour wine grapes, funky musk, coconut, marshmallows, butterscotch, toffee, scotch whiskey, bourbon, marshmallows, coconut hints, leather, herbs, hibiscus flowers, honey, currants, smoked peat, tart cranberries, cherries, raspberries, chocolate notes, port wine, brown sugar, maple bar and black berry yogurt.

Flavors:
Sour funk notes, dark fruit raisins, figs, dates, wine grapes, funky notes, scotch whiskey, bourbon, wine grapes, tart cranberries, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, oak, butterscotch, leather, marshmallows, coconut, honey, currants, smoked peat, flowers, hibiscus, dark chocolate, herbs, port wine, maple, black berry cheese cake, berry yogurt, hazelnut, pecan pie hints, citrus and molasses.

Aftertaste:
Dark fruit raisins, tart wine grapes and cranberries, toffee, rich caramel, vanilla, oak, molasses and earthy notes. Hints of alcohol in the taste but I think it is mainly the whiskey and wine like characters. A sipping beer for sure with a medium body.

Overall:
Let his one warm up, the flowers, scotch, bourbon and Wee Heavy aspect take over the tart sourness to make it awesomely balanced. This beer is quite the different one. I have never had a Wee Heavy and I really thought this one deserved some major credit. It is not all sour, you can tell there is a barrel aged wee heavy there. The sourness is only there enough to remind you that this beer is kind of evil but not. Overall delicious and recommended!

Anime Corner:
Reiko Mikami from the Ghost Sweeper Mikami Series was used in this beer to maintain the aspect of the beer that is still sacred, which is the Wee Heavy aspect you see, Mikami is a paranormal investigator and the demon Soroboruo is a Wee Heavy that went backwards on its style. It was possessed by wild yeast and is not longer the same. In other words tainted by evil. One can honestly say that maybe in truth, Soroboruo is a reflection of Reiko Mikami herself. While she fights her own inner demons. Like the fact that she is money hungry…lol! Regardless though, Reiko is one bad ass chick that no one fucks with and a bad ass Ghost Buster/Sweeper. Mikami is one of my first Anime favorite characters since back in the 90’s, so to bring her forth into this beer was a delicious move. She may seem a little sour on the outside but inside, she is all sweet and caring. The colors of the label and the flowers fit her perfectly. Let’s be honest too, Soroboruo looks like a Talisman and somewhat paranormal. That and the purple of her dress being the dark fruit aspect and the ABV her passion she has for what she does in her life.

Sucré (6th Anniversary Ale) by The Bruery

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

10325783_10101794053589190_8325086212594929788_n 10273408_10101794059287770_3567939251729981352_n 10176211_10101794063519290_2435616246150236451_n 10339642_10101794065909500_8669160934897296742_nRating: 6/5

Sucré (6th Anniversary Ale) by The Bruery is a 16.9% ABV Old Ale aged in Bourbon Barrels

Label:
This sturdy beer marks our sixth year, and we are grateful for the outpouring of community. Together may our supporters, our brewery and this beer grow in complexity and refinement over the years.

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION (ratebeer.com)
Sucré is our sixth anniversary ale, loosely brewed in the English-style Old Ale tradition using our house Belgian yeast strain and then blended using the solera method.

A portion of each of our anniversary ales is saved in our barrels and blended in with the next year’s production, providing more complexity and depth of character that comes with aged. Layered with complex flavors of dark fruit, vanilla, oak, and burnt sugar, Sucré is a robust ale, surely the perfect beer to mark this major milestone.
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Sucré or Sugar in French, in the traditional sense of the wedding anniversary gifts, refers to the 6th year in which Iron or sugar are given. The beer will be released in May and will be available to the public and many places where the Bruery beers are sold. Every year’s addition of the first ale to the new batch gives it another great layer complexity as you the the original ale that is 6 years old and the new young batch all together using the Solera method as explained in the description. Every year since Fruet, their 4rd Anniversary when I first tried their beers, I have anticipated each release anxiously. It is with great pleasure that I show you, the newest batch and the newest review of the Bruery’s Anniversary beer. Cheers!!

Aromas:
Exquisite dulce de leche caramel on bananas, flan, rich dark cherries, pecan pie, dark fruits like raisins, plums, figs, dates, wine grapes, apples, sweetened condenced milk, pilloncillo, crème brulee, toffee, roasted coconut, bourbon, oak, dark and milk chocolate, burnt sugar, candy sugar, brown sugar, marshmallow, graham crackers, rum notes, raspberry chambord, molasses, mousse, scotch whiskey, maple syrup, waffle cone and chocolate truffle ice cream.

Flavors:
Lots of rich Dulce de leche caramel, bananas, clove spice, dark cherries, rum notes, bourbon, vanilla, brown sugar, plantains, pilloncillo sugar cone, apples, peaches, apricot, pecan pie, whipped cream, marshmallow, toasted coconut, oak, milk chocolate, raspberry chambord, wine grapes, waffle cone, chocolate mousse, molasses, scotch whiskey, maple syrup, graham crackers, toffee, candy sugar, chocolate truffle ice cream, raisin bread pudding, rye, burnt sugar, butterscotch and fruit cake.

Aftertaste:
Caramel, dark fruit raisins, cherries, lingering scotch bourbon, vanilla, marshmallows,
A bit of alcohol in the taste but nothing detracting, sipping drinkability with a bit of a medium silky mouth feel.

Overall:
Something about this year’s version has stronger hints of cherry, flan, bananas, caramel and sugars. It is hard to tell but the beer is phenomenal and exceeds my expectations even more than Bois did. I wish I could compare the vertical so far and see maybe where this one lies in comparison to the rest. Makes me wonder what will happen maybe 10 years from now and how amazing that will taste. Either way, as I have said it before with these annual releases, there is not much I don’t have to say, just go get the beer and see for yourself how this one goes. You are in for a treat!

Anime Corner:
Mari Illustrious Mikinami from Neon Genesis Evangelion was chosen for this release like Asuka and Rei were chosen for the previous 2. I wanted to show case not just the next release as following them but also how she relates to the beer. Mari has the colors or pink and gray which represent the Sugar and Iron. This is by pink relating to the delicious cherry which is pretty much sweet like sugar. The caramel aspect is the velvety brown locks of hair. Her glasses represent the maturity of the beer which has evolved from 15% from last years to a now 16.7% ABV. She is very very suductive, like this beer is so sweet that you may want to keep on drinking it, but don’t finish her off or you not only will regret it, she will knock you out, literally. Her strength and complexity can be shown in her skills as a pilot of the Evangelion mechs in the show. You would probably have to see the show for it to make sense, but just like you can’t see how good this beer just by looking at it, you will have to experience the beer for yourself and decide!

Imperial Loakal Red by the Bruery

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1069842_10101279480832120_86644223_n 999369_10101279483451870_1707428513_nRating: 5.5/5

Imperial Loakal Red by the Bruery is a 12%ABV Imperial Amber/Red Ale hybrid made with 75% Red Ale and 25% Red Ale aged in oak Barrels

Label: 
We took our hoppy American red ale, delightfully citrusy and full of flavor from new American Oak – and made it bigger, bolder and more exceptional. Imperial Loakal Red is best enjoyed fresh. Please store in a cool, dry place. The ideal serving temperature is 50 deg Fahrenheit (7 deg Celsius). Best served in a tulip or wine glass.
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When I first had the chance to try their Loakal Red, I was very impressed. The beer was along the lines of Troeggs Nugget Nectar and My Bloody Valentine. I was recommended to actually try the Imperial version of it. After opening the bottle the aromas were very rich. Hype aside, I would consider this to an even higher amber status than Nugget nectar and the Valentine which are harder to get.

Aromas are of very rich caramel, toffee, oak, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans, citrus, grapefruit, grassy and herbal hops, honey, vanilla, coffee notes, french toast, brown sugar, cherries, mango, maple syrup, scotch, apricots, dragon fruit, coconut and pecan pie.

The flavors are close to a Barleywine, its crazy. You get lots of rich caramel flavors, vanilla, toffee, oak, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecan pie, french toast covered in maple syrup, brown sugar, citrus, grapefruit, grassy, herbal and floral hops, honey, cherries, mango, peaches, pineapple, scotch whiskey notes, slight coconut and tangerines.

The alcohol is present but the beer hides it well. You don’t feel it until alittle bit later. Quite the flavorful rich beer. The after taste keeps lingering with sweet caramel and hop bitterness. It is very pleasant. Will definitely need to get this again. This has become my new favorite amber ale. It is not often I get to try ambers but this one fits the bill perfectly as to what awesome ambers should be.