Second Anniversary Special Edition by Four Sons

15675733_10103856779889150_7709802276410309988_oRating: 6/6

Second Anniversary Special Edition by Four Sons is a 13.9% ABV Imperial Sour Blonde brewed with Passion Fruit and Hibiscus.

Label:
QTY Bottled: 1,222

What? Second Anniversary? Wow that’s amazing! It shows how fast time can fly when you’re doing something you love with the people that you love! Our family is thankful for all the support we’ve received in our first two years, and we’re proud to share a unique beer to commemorate this occacion. We started out with an invitation to “Join Our Family” and we’re happy that so many of you have! Thanks and cheers from the Dufresne family.

==Introduction==

Holy shit, after reading the ABV and the amount of beers bottled for this I couldn’t believe it. How amazing that my friend Will Carranza was able to get his hands on this special brew. Nevertheless, gift me this special Christmas present. I am still in awe. Even so, 13.9% for a sour? That is like, Bruery status there. Regardless, this is the second time I am able to bring a 4 sons brew to the site. I am still looking to bring “The Coco” one day to the site so I can advise how awesome that beer was. However, this unique beer I really have to thank my homebrew brother Will for. For as many a sessions we had tasting beers, I could not have had the opportunity to share great brew and homebrew knowledge with a great friend. Cheers brother and Cheers to Four Sons! I hope to bring more of your brews to the site in the future.

Aromas:
Rich Guayabate Membrillo/ Guava Quince cheese, Tangerines Gummies, bananas, flowers, hibiscus, peppercorns, tropical fruit passion fruit, dragon fruit, kiwi, mango, strawberries, raspberries, lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit, stone fruit peaches, apricots, apples, biscuit bread, vanilla, caramel and wild flower honey.

Flavors:
Hibiscus, lavender, wild flower honey, rich guavas, Guayabate Membrillo/ Guava Quince Cheese/ Guava preserves, lemon, lime, grapefruit, tangerines, oranges, kumquats, lychees, tropical fruit passion fruit, dragon fruit, honey dew melon, pineapple, mango, kiwi, strawberries, pomegranates, raspberries, grapes, dark fruit currants, stone fruit peaches, apricots, apples, biscuit bread, vanilla, caramel, peppercorns, Danish cream, herbal tea, tangy dark cherry skins, blueberries and blackberries.

Aftertaste:
Finishes semi dry with rich guava, passion fruit, floral hibiscus, dark fruits, stone fruit, gummies and tropical fruit. No alcohol in the taste despite the 14% ABV. Huge points for that. Crimson light haze body, smooth, crisp, effervescent, refreshing and creamy mouthfeel along with an easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
Liquid Guava preserves. Ridiculously tangy and sweet awesomeness. Super fruits loaded into this beer and the craziest part was I had to stop myself from drinking this entire beer in one sitting. It drinks way too easy, it’s unique and complex profile makes it closer to the Guava marmalade/preserves which I have not seen how the correlation of hibiscus and passion fruit at this ABV can do. It really is unique and a special brew. I am not sure what the likely hood of getting another one of these as only 1,222 bottles of this stuff was released. I highly damn recommend you can find this one or at least hope they can release it once again. Amazing!!

Anime Corner:
Original character by Bai Yemeng was used in this pairing as I needed a character that would make a great fit to the label, the ingredients of the beer, beer color, flavors and overall celebration of bad assery. This could only was in the form of a hibiscus blood red head with a sword and a yellow passion fruit stare that can kill with a high ABV. Sexy smooth but you will never know what hit!
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Sources:
https://anime-pictures.net/pictures/get_image/504877-1000×1118-original-bai+yemeng-single-tall+image-looking+at+viewer-red+hair.jpg

Select Monk 2 by Monkish Brewing

1900138_10101714121299140_939680222_n 1902861_10101714122167400_1771643167_nRating: 4.5/5

Select Monk 2 by Monkish Brewing is an 8.7% ABV Belgian Dubbel brewed with Figs.

Celebrating Monkish Brewing 2nd year brewing Belgian inspired beers, this was sold at the brewery and at the Select Beer Store in Redondo Beach. It isn’t often that Monkish is bottling their beers, but I figured I spread the word a bit by picking this up and doing a review for the fans. I have reviewed some of their other beers, especially the Seme De La Vita and others as well.

Aromas:
Dark fruits, raisins, plums, prunes, figs, cherry hints, dates, dulce de leche caramel, clove spice, stone fruits like apricot, peach, mild roasty coffee, mild banana, mild chocolate notes and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Peaches, apricots, figs, dates, raisins, caramel, mild cherry notes, plums, bananas, clove spice, mild roasted barley, tart berry, mild pecans, hazelnut, raisin bread pudding and earthy notes

Aftertaste:
Figs, earthy notes, raisins, tart berry and a bit of caramel. No alcohol in the taste with a moderate to sipping drinkability.

Overall:
A very good beer but best drunk at warm temperatures. I will admit, while this is delicious, I have tried other dubbels that were up to par or better. Nevertheless, this one I feel is definitely worth trying because it is what a very good example of this style is like. Delicious and sweet.

Anime Corner:
Pain (Animal Path) from the Naruto series was chosen for this pairing to compliment the colors of the beer but mainly the flavors and the monk like robe as well. She is a very powerful summer along with the other 5 paths of Pain. She can unleash many types of giants and indestructible entities. Like this beer which delivers a great amount of flavors. Her eyes tell the stories of the darkest and delicious fruits while her hair is spice of life. She is representative of the ever growing greatness that is Monkish and Belgian inspired beers and many more years to come. Cheers to Monkish!

Second Anniversary Grand Cru by Figueroa Mountain Brewing

524681_10101129754165560_1250385001_nRating: 5/5

Second Anniversary Grand Cru by Figueroa Mountain Brewing is a 10.7% ABV Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Label: 
Hand picked – imported – specialty malts, and a yeast strain from the Brasserie de Rochefort gives this Belgian-style strong ale aromas of dried stone fruit, raisins and dates atop caramel and toffee. Rich and malty-sweet but with a dry, warming finish.
___

Looking back at the first time I tried this beer in Pasadena’s own King’s Row Gastro Pub, I remember I had to order this one like 3 times. What can I say I realized it was an amazing beer. I only recently was able to get one of these for review. Aromas are of delicious Belgian beer goodness. Dark fruits like plums, cherries, raisins, dates, figs, dulce de leche caramel, whole cane unprocessed sugar cones, sweet bread, biscuit, like a port wine reminiscent of Trois Pistoles, grapes and some minor chocolate. The flavors is where it’s at. The flavors are close to the Cherry and Belgian bread from Three Philosophers but lighter in terms of mouth feel. You get raisins, cherries, toffee, dulde de leche caramel, dates, apples, plums, minor banana esters and cloves, grapes, brown sugar, honey biscuit and Belgian bread dipped in a light port wine. This beer is great since it allows the great complexity of some Belgian beers but drinkable level. It is not a quad, but it is close to the Trappists as it is using Rochefort yeast. Overall, this is definitely a must try. Now I need to go back to Pasadena and get some more on tap. This little bottle was kind of pricey but very worth it. Just supporting local breweries here in California 😛