Saurer Axtman of the Stone Berlin Groundbreaking Collaboration Series #09 by Stone Brewing & Todd Haug (Ex-Surly brewing brewmaster)

Rating: 6/6

Saurer Axtman of the Stone Berlin Groundbreaking Collaboration Series #09 by Stone Brewing & Todd Haug (Ex-Surly brewing brewmaster) is a 9% ABV Überized Berliner Weisse brewed with Ginger Root & Citrus Hystrix Leaf

Label:

Have guitar, will travel. Check. Have mash paddle, will travel. Check. Have invitation to Berlin to brew, will travel. Hell yeah. Cue our friend Todd Haug. He checked all those boxes and joined us to make this inspired and unique creation. Our Stone Berlin Brewmaster Thomas Tyrell has spent many years studyingand brewing versions of the consummate Berlin style, the Berliner Weisse. Todd was intrigued with the idea of überizing (wasn’t a real word before, but it is now) the style and wantedto further überize (how quickly a new word can find its wayinto the lexicon) with the addition of ginger root and Citrus Hystrix leaf. They worked perfectly, as you’ll see. Todd, Thomasand Greg all agreed they’d never tasted anything quitelike it before, and that they all loved it. So now, it has traveled time and space to you. Check it!

Our dream to be the first American craft brewery to independently build, own and operate a brewery in Europe has become a reality. Located in a historic 1901 building, our state of the art brewhouse and destination restaurant in the Mariendorf neighborhood is a true thing of beauty! As promised, we invited some of our best friends in craft brewing to create an exceptional series of celebratory beers. We hope you enjoy the international camaraderie that went into making these fourteen truly groundbreaking collaborations!

MIT STOLZ GEBRAUT IN BERLIN

==Introduction==

In 2014, Stone was raising money to open a brewery in Berlin, Germany. It would be the first time an American craft brewery would open up a business in Europe. For Germany who has Bavarian laws on the beer making process, craft beer would no coincide with their laws. However, Stone being some crazy arrogant bastards were able to make their way into the market and were successful to open up shop. At the time, I had donated money on promised collaborations with different breweries. Mainly some of the ones I like such as Brew Dog, Lost Abbey, The Bruery, Surly and even Devil’s Gate/Will Wheaton. So, with the donations I made in that year, I was wondering if I would ever see a return on my investment. Long behold, Stone contacted me to inform that they were going to release the beers and so today I bring the Surly/Todd Haugg collaboration.

As of this writing, I think it is very fitting to not include the Surly name and just go with Todd. The cray thing is that he started working for Three Floyds who are also Heavy Metal as fuck!! So mainly, you can also say that this beer is Surly/3 Floyds/Stone collab. Crazy right? It doesn’t get more rockin’ than a beer that was made with a brewer who is also a musician from Speed Metal band, Powermad. It’s no surprised that even though this brew is not dark as fuck!, it goes to show that maybe something amazing can come from this German Imperial style. Let’s check it out, cheers!

Aromas:
Huge greapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, kumquats, sweet limes, green tea, agave nectar, lychees, stone fruit peaches, apricot, mango, mint, farmhouse hay, cant sugar, honey dew melon, salty tejuino maize drink, tamarind, pineapple, wine grapes, sage and coriander spice hints.

Flavors:
Rich grape fruits, manadarins, tangerines, oranges, sweet limes, lemons, limes, kumquats, passion fruit, pineapple, kiwi, Chardonay notes, farmhouse hay funky notes, coriander spice hints, salty tejuino maize drink, tamarind, Rich Stone fruits, Peach, apricots, lychees, mango, cane sugar, herbal green tea, Black tea, ginger spice, graham crackers, honey dew melon, cantaloupe, agave nectar, Lechugilla agave drink, jack fruit, banana notes, mild apples flavor and cane stalk.

Aftertaste:
Finishes in a huge rush of citrus and citrus complexities ranging from all the spectrum of sweet, bitter, sour, flavors: Ginger, grapefruit, salt, oranges, lemon, lime, agave, green tea, farmhouse funk, stone fruits, jack fruit, lychee, mandarin, tangerines, herbs, 
No alcohol in the taste, hazy full body pale golden body, smooth, crisp, refreshing and effervescent mouthfeel along with a sipping drinkability.

Overall:
Quite possibly, the best Berliner Weisse I have ever had, aside from the Freetail Cherry Berliner I once had from my friend Aaron Mendiola. So much complex fruit and spice and flavors almost leaning into the hazy IPA realm but its not even there. This is not an IPA, no this is very different! Only two demons or demon like creatures can come up with such forbidden epicness. I loved this one even since I first had it on the draft that it was one that was worth the praise. I love all the beers from this series so far but this one sure was damn worth it even if it was a light looking beer. Hell, even I had my prejudgement and ohhhh boy, was I wrong. It kicked my ass like I wasn’t expecting. I highly recommend this one!

Anime Corner:
Lydia Deetz from the Beetlejuice series was chosen in this pairing mainly on the grounds that I needed a character that went way back to the rock days but also paid tribute to the other dark arts of the gothic and spooky scene. When I was a kid and even today, Beetlejuice and Lydia are still one of my favorite dynamic duos! I have not done many pairings with them and the pairing came from the special occasion of bringing the special Surly/Todd Haug collab with Stone.

Stone Berlin Groundbreaking Collaborations 07 Züper Magik w00tstout collaboration by Drew Curtis, Greg Koch and Wil Wheaton

Rating: 7/7

Stone Berlin Groundbreaking Collaborations 07 Züper Magik w00tstout collaboration by Drew Curtis, Greg Koch and Wil Wheaton is a 10.1% ABV Imperial Stout brewed with Hazelnuts, Pecans & Almonds and partially aged in Whiskey Barrels 

Label:
Series 7 of 14

==Introduction==
In 2014, Stone was raising money to open a brewery in Berlin, Germany. It would be the first time an American craft brewery would open up a business in Europe. For Germany who has Bavarian laws on the beer making process, craft beer would no coincide with their laws. However, Stone being some crazy arrogant bastards were able to make their way into the market and were successful to open up shop. At the time, I had donated money on promised collaborations with different breweries. Mainly some of the ones I like such as Brew Dog, Lost Abbey, The Bruery, Surly and even Devil’s Gate/Will Wheaton. So, with the donations I made in that year, I was wondering if I would ever see a return on my investment. Long behold, Stone contacted me to inform that they were going to release the beers and so today I bring Züper Magik w00tstout.

The magic that is the same magic, bloodstream of the universe that flows and keeps existence afloat has granted me a chance to bring this beer here to the site. Ever since Stone wanted to make special batch of w00tstout, I was all in. W00stout, like many of my favorite stouts, has inspired me to make a blend using their original recipe with a Dark Lord and original twist giving way to Sangrileche 2 which was a special homebrewed batch of oak aged amazing beer. One that to this day seems to develop more and more. Heck, even the original Belgian Stout Sangri leche 2 still sits aging into newer heights. This special super magical space aliens and leprechauns riding unicorns of a beer was definitely something I didn’t expect to be released this year. The addition of all sorts of nuts to the original recipe definitely swings towards the infinity part of special collaborations that I don’t even think they have literature, comics or even elder scrolls on. Doesn’t matter though, we’re about to dive in and experience the magic first hand. Visit a local Stone Liberty Station or the main local brewery for a chance at this one, cheers!

Aromas:
Ddark chocolate, milk chocolate, German chocolate, Belgian chocolate, oak, hazelnut necar, pecan pie, marzipan, almond joy coconut, rocky road ice cream notes, nutella, dark fruit cherries, raisins, currants, blue berries, raspberries, fruit cake, Khalua liquer, toffee, butterscotch, coconut, tiramasu, cherry corials, licorice, oreo cookies, flan, dark candi sugar, rock candy,blueberry muffins and ginger bread.

Flavors:
Super nutty chocolate bliss, nutter butter, Cocoa Krispies cereal, chocolate nutella, marzipan, mazapan, peanut butter, pecan pie, almond joy, cookie dough, chocolate chip cookies, hazelnut nectar, maple syrup, tiramasu, fancy coffee, banana split, dark fruit cherries, raisins, currants, blue berries, raspberries, raspberry Chambord, blue berry muffin, cherry cordials, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, German chocolate, Belgian chocolate, chocolate mousse, bourbon and whiskey notes, chocolate smores, sangria notes, licorice, molasses, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, flan, crème brulee, three milks/3 leches cake, stone fruit peach, old mango hints, earthy notes, Khalua liquer, toffee, butterscotch, coconut, rocky road ice cream, cinnamon notes, dates, Pancho Pantera chocomil, rye bread, oatmeal raisin cookies, oreo cookies and cream, smokey oak notes and dark candy sugars.
|

Aftertaste:
Finishing with rich notes of dark fruit, banana, super mixed nuts, almond butter, pecan pie, hazelnut nectar, cashew milk, dark chocolate, oak hints, whiskey notes, earthy notes, roasted barley notes, wine notes and much more! No alcohol in the taste despite the 10% ABV, pitch black darkness supreme body, smooth, silky, creamy, velvity, chewy and syrupy mouthfeel along with a sipping drinkability.

Overall:
Heilige Scheiße!!! This is crazy crazy crazy. It has the original in spirit for sure but the mixing of all sorts of nuts into the beer makes for one extremely nutty brew that is on that level of nutella and more. Maybe it is just the wait I had to go through but this beer sure seems to be casting spells not just on the current verse of existence but even the theoretical verse of the quantum, essentially, the veil above reality. Crazy nuts makes anyone nuts. But I’m sure it would be welcomed by the masses who love the original w00tstout.

Anime Corner:
Mari Illustrious, Rei Ayanami and Asuka Sohryu Langley/Shikinami from Neon Genesis Evangelion were used for this iteration of W00tstout just like I have used them before in the past. This time around though, I wanted to show some extravagant to complement not only some of the German side like when they dressed up in the green synonymous with Oktoberfest but also some superstitious art like with them on what appears to be a tarot cart. I have used them in man iterations of W00tstout but this time, some of these are a bit different and out there. Kind of what I wanted in terms of showing what is so Zuper and Magikal!

 

 

Sticks N’ Stones of the Stone Berlin Groundbreaking Collaboration Series #4 by Stone Brewing & The Lost Abbey

Rating: 6/6

Sticks N’ Stones of the Stone Berlin Groundbreaking Collaboration Series #4 by Stone Brewing & The Lost Abbey is an 8.3% ABV Dark Imperial Pilsner Finished on wood chips and granite

Label:
Series 4 of 14

Before the meaning of the name is revealed for that “ah-ha” moment, we must elaborate on the significance of the collaboration. Three key Stone brewers gathered together with long-time friend and Lost Abbey brewmaster Tomme Arthur in Berlin. There they collaborated on a beer representative of our presence in Germany and the craft beer crusade we have been on and never lost sight of despite all of the words of criticism. Too aggressive, too many hops, too expensive, too impossible to break into centuries of German tradition…all of that was just words. It didn’t break us. And here we are, two decades later with a foothold in Berlin and our fingertips on the international craft beer moment. In honor of that we brewed a dark imperial lager with a German yeast strain and partially aged it with wooden chips “sticks” in stone granite barrels. Ah-ha.

STYLE Dark Imperial Pilsner
ALC/VOL 8.3%
SPECIAL INGREDIENTS German yeast. Partially aged with wood chips in granite barrels

Tasting Notes:
An explosion of Dark toast followed by oaky vanilla and clove. Crisp and earthy.

Aroma:
Roast earthy and sweet oak, aromatics as a handful of Black Forest

Pairings:
Humboldt Fog cheese-stuffed medjool dates, balsamic glazed pork tenderloins, baklava, mushroom sesame udon

Our dream to be the first American craft brewery to independently build, own and operate a brewery in Europe has become a reality. Located in a historic 1901 building, our state of the art brewhouse and destination restaurant in the Mariendorf neighborhood is a true thing of beauty! As promised, we invited some of our best friends in craft brewing to create an exceptional series of celebratory beers. We hope you enjoy the international camaraderie that went into making these fourteen truly groundbreaking collaborations!

MIT STOLZ GEBRAUT IN BERLIN

==Introduction==

In 2014, Stone was raising money to open a brewery in Berlin, Germany. It would be the first time an American craft brewery would open up a business in Europe. For Germany who has Bavarian laws on the beer making process, craft beer would no coincide with their laws. However, Stone being some crazy arrogant bastards were able to make their way into the market and were successful to open up shop. At the time, I had donated money on promised collaborations with different breweries. Mainly some of the ones I like such as Brew Dog, Lost Abbey, The Bruery, Surly and even Devil’s Gate/Will Wheaton. So, with the donations I made in that year, I was wondering if I would ever see a return on my investment. Long behold, Stone contacted me to inform that they were going to release the beers and so today I bring Sticks N’ Stones.

A Lost Abbey Collaboration? What? Lost Abbey has been a brewery that got me into the artwork of beer labels and was there in the beginning of my craft beer adventures but so was Stone. The fact that they collaborated, which I believe is a first, is simply awesome. So when I first heard they were in on the Stone Berlin Project, I had to get this beer and bring it to the site. While I did not know what they would brew together, I was surprised it was a Dark Imperial Pilsner. It does seem like a rare style but also I had my slight doubts. This was only because pilsners, while very delicious, don’t always appeal to the esoteric beer drinkers so I was wondering if this would actually work. To my surprised, it was very good when I had a sample of it when I visited Stone Pasadena to get my bottle. Here’s the breakdown, cheers!

Aromas:
Belgian candy sugar, piloncillo sugar cone, Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, German chocolate, rye bread, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, oak, marshmallow cream, toasted coconut hints, bananas, clove spice, trail mix, Neapolitan ice cream hints, dark cherries, earthy and herbal hops and fruit cake.

Flavors:
Neapolitan Ice Cream! Or at least the complexity makes it seem, Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, German chocolate, rye bread, dulce de leche caramel, dark fruit raisins, cherries, strawberries, currants, figs, figgy pudding, dates, vanilla, oak, marshmallow cream, toasted coconut hints, bananas, clove spice, Belgian candy sugar, piloncillo sugar cone, capirotada raisins bread pudding, fruit cake, butterscotch notes, sweetened condensed milk, crème brulee, cinnamon, flan, ginger bread pudding, tapioca pudding, trail mix, dark cherry yogurt, rock candy, earthy and herbal hops.

Aftertaste:
Finishes with nice flavors caramel, oak, vanilla dark fruits, caramel, butterscotch, crème brulee and Neapolitan Ice cream. No alcohol in the taste, smooth, creamy, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel along with an easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A supremely exceptional pilsner. Even though to be honest, its more like a German Doppelbock but that’s the best part. I love Doppelbocks as they always have the dark fruit flavors. This oak imperial dark pilsner is very similar and with the oak whatever process they did to make it taste kind of like Neapolitan was what I definitely loved from this one. Very complex and well worth waiting several years for. Highly recommended if you can get this one!

Anime Corner:
Neopolitan from RWBY was used in this pairing since that was the flavor I essentially got when I first had this beer off the tap when picking up the stone collab, Neapolitan Ice cream! The name Stick N Stones is reminiscent of the quote “sticks n stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me”. For this pairing, that is why I got Neo with a skull, in relations to bones. In addition, Neo is deaf she she cannot really say anything to the effect of names to make fun of any one. I realized this pairing wen’t beyond just the flavor profile, so Neo was perfect for this.

Sources:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C8uzi06UwAIVcp2.png
http://68.media.tumblr.com/8a605ffa2baa9c950918f7786a27e2ae/tumblr_ogpw1dNLgp1r2x2amo1_1280.jpg
http://2static2.fjcdn.com/comments/You+and+i+seem+to+think+alike+i+cant+wait+_7fb9f1208b30ff669851f09755955448.jpg
http://76.72.168.19/images/2016-12-24-879722.jpeg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/81/42/cc/8142cc7a94133ada0ce455ee4df1eeaf.jpg

Super Bashah (Black As Sin Hoppy As Hell) of the Stone Berlin Groundbreaking Collaboration Series #3 by Stone & Brew Dog

Rating: 6/6
16836365_10104035771473580_5968143543537428998_o
Super Bashah (Black As Sin Hoppy As Hell) of the Stone Berlin Groundbreaking Collaboration Series #3 by Stone & Brew Dog is a 10% ABV Black Belgian Double India Pale Ale.

Label:
Series 3 of 14

Glorious mayhem always ensues when Stone Brewing and BrewDog team up to brew a beer. Mix a lifelong metalhead known for having an occasionally aggressive attitude toward the panel with self-professed punks notorious for brewing hardcore beers and pushing the boundaries at full-throttle pace…and this hopped-up headbanger was a no-brainer. Part imperial stout, part Belgian abbey ale and all IPA, this style-smashing hybrid is a supercharged version of the BrewDog / Stone bashah original from 2009. BASHAH: Black As Sin. Hoppy As Hell. This Berlin mash-up will no doubt suffice in satiating those who crave intensity and a pummeling of flavor. Any ringing in your ears from the cacophony should subside within a few days. Probably.

SPECIAL INGREDIENTS
Chocolate Malt & Belgian Yeast

Tasting Notes: Paradoxical in style, roasted malts dominate until the herculian hops and sweet Belgian yeast takes over.

Aroma: Funky dark fermented fruits muddled with citrus and some sweetness.

BBQ duck tacos, bacon-wrapped figs, shiitake mushroom risotto, baklava

Our dream to be the first American craft brewery to independently build, own and operate a brewery in Europe has become a reality. Located in a historic 1901 building, our state of the art brewhouse and destination restaurant in the Mariendorf neighborhood is a true thing of beauty! As promised, we invited some of our best friends in craft brewing to create an exceptional series of celebratory beers. We hope you enjoy the international camaraderie that went inot making these fourteen truly groundbreaking collaborations!

MIT STOLZ GEBRAUT IN BERLIN

==Introduction==
16905067_10104035771383760_4286639222361156680_o
In 2014, Stone was raising money to open a brewery in Berlin, Germany. It would be the first time an American craft brewery would open up a business in Europe. For Germany who has Bavarian laws on the beer making process, craft beer would no coincide with their laws. However, Stone being some crazy arrogant bastards were able to make their way into the market and were successful to open up shop. At the time, I had donated money on promised collaborations with different breweries. Mainly some of the ones I like such as Brew Dog, Lost Abbey, The Bruery, Surly and even Devil’s Gate/Will Wheaton. So, with the donations I made in that year, I was wondering if I would ever see a return on my investment. Long behold, Stone contacted me to inform that they were going to release the beers and so today I bring Super Bashah.
16836248_10104035771234060_1172985753826937719_o
Super Bashah was based on BASHAH which Stone did a collaboration with Brew Dog years ago and it was a memorable beer. That is why when I heard they were doing a collaboration again for the tribute of the new brewery I wanted to bring this one to the site, new and improved, super BASHAH. So thankfully, here it is. Now, these beers will be available at Stone Stores but I do not know if they will see distribution. That is why I suggest possibly visiting Stone or trade for one, as they will be sold to the public. Let’s have a look at Super BASHAH!

Aromas:
Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, smokey oak, roasted coffee, espresso roast, leather, tobacco, bananas, clove spice, anise, molasses, Citrus, grapefruit, piney, floral, herbal, dank garlicky hops, vanilla, biscuit bread, stone fruit peach, apricot, Belgian candy sugar, rock candy, burnt sugar, piloncillo sugar cone, funky farmhouse, Dulce de leche caramel and lots of dark fruit.
16903365_10104035771249030_2188464280690890585_o
Flavors:
Citrus, grapefruit, piney, floral, herbal, dank garlicky hops, vanilla, biscuit bread, Tropical dragon fruit, passion fruit, kiwi, guava, papaya, strawberry, Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, smokey oak, roasted coffee, espresso roast, coffee cake, charred malt, Dark fruit raisins, plums, figs, currants, blackberries, raspberries, prunes, port wine, leather, tobacco, Dulce de leche caramel, bananas, clove spice, anise, molasses, flan, crème brulee, stone fruit peach, apricot, Belgian candy sugar, rock candy, burnt sugar, piloncillo sugar cone, mushrooms, funky farmhouse hay and phenolics.
16835875_10104035771278970_3842596414626487126_o
Aftertaste:
Finishing with dark chocolate, tropical fruit, dark fruit, stone fruit, caramel, roasted barley, dank fruity and earthy hops. No alcohol in the taste, Pitch black, 5th dimensional dark abysmal body, super smooth, creamy, refreshing, crisp and velvety mouthfeel along with a very easy drinkability despite the ABV.
17016042_10104035770939650_3570840569409046431_o
Overall:
Ridiculous! Bashah! How is this beer possible? Ridiculous smoothness, ridiculously easy to drink and super well done. I think the complexity and the Belgian Dark helps this one be hoppy but not super bitter. This was a very well made beer and worth my investment in the sponsorship of the Berlin Brewery. Of the new ones that have come from Berlin, I love them all so far but this one I love even more. Reminded me so much of Stillwater’s Folklore to another level. I definitely and highly recommend this one to those who love Black IPAs and Dark Belgians.
16903485_10104035770914700_9221141553096626379_o
Anime Corner:
Rukia Kuchiki from Bleach as a devil/succubus was originally used on the original beer of BASHAH so naturally, she would make a return for Super BASHAH. The original reason to use this version of Rukia was to go well with the gargoyle of Stone. Since that time, Rukia has gone through many epic changes in the series and has gotten stronger. So displaying many of her different changes including BANKAI and the Chinese Kunfu Martial artists, I felt worked great for this special occasion of a pairing.
16836272_10104035770954620_7840643366006117597_o
Sources:
http://img13.deviantart.net/5462/i/2009/297/3/9/devil_rukia_by_gray_fullbuster.jpg
https://secure.static.tumblr.com/9f8bc91c0564907fa4475f421e00aaef/ixaiiuk/68ro4hkc6/tumblr_static_tumblr_static_3yucn8jlqa68gk8o8gggs0csc_640.jpg
http://img04.deviantart.net/12dd/i/2011/283/e/9/rukia_kuchiki_by_makiilu-d4cgr5y.png
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/e6/56/83/e65683423c8c79d756a12284884c5efe.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CV7-g3rUkAMD6Os.jpg
http://static4.fjcdn.com/comments/3092012+_ad09936c9f232b886c3cafbd768cc4ed.png
http://img15.deviantart.net/ef21/i/2013/011/9/8/halloween_rukia_by_escarter-d5r5ko4.png
http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/4213/249937769.13f/0_19c10e_768cd38_XL