Rating: 7/7
2017 The Abyss Tequila by Deschutes Brewery is an 11.8% ABV
American Imperial Stout aged in Tequila barrels
Imperial stout brewed with black strap molasses, licorice with cherry bark and whole vanilla beans, 100% aged in tequila barrels for 10 months.
Barrel aged to hell and back.. This thing amazing… Some subtle cherry cordials and agave tequila… Love these types of beers
Rating: 6/6
Home brewing Project#18 La SanTequilisima Quadrinidad by Nubis Sanctum Ales is a 12% ABV Belgian Trappist Quadrupel brewed with Holy Water and Oak aged in Herradura Añejo Tequila.
Label:
Holy Trappist Belgian Quadruple brewed with Holy Water and Oak aged in Herradura Añejo Tequila.
A prophecy, only once told by the highest of religious leaders, has predicted The Four Nuns or Las
Quatro Monjas will return. Ancient manuscripts indicated that the Abbey Nun, The Buddhist Nun, The Shaolin Nun and the Celestial Space Nun will each bring the nectar of God as given to man once before.
This time, however, the nuns infuse the elements of Wind, Water, Fire and Earth to create a celestial nectar. Meanwhile, various religious leaders forbid that mankind ever lay their lips on the very oracle left by the nuns. Lucky for you, the nuns happen to enjoy visiting Nubis Sanctum Ales.
La SanTequilisima Quadrinidad, or The SancTequilified Quadrinity is stored in this very bottle.
Ingredients: Holy Water, Malts, Hops, Dark Belgian Candi Sugar, Turbinado Cane Sugar, French Oak, Herradura Añejo Tequila & Trappist Yeast.
==Introduction==
Project #18 came from the need to surpass my previous skills of the brewing arts. After successfully creating project #2, I wanted to create a barrel aged version of that special quadrupel that I held very close to my heart. So what did I do? I adjusted the recipe to add a bit more ingredients than before including one of them being a small sample of Holy land water. Yes, some people may think this is blasphemous, but in order to make a brew that was truly worthy of monks in Belgium and praise to the almighty God (depending on your beliefs) I added the vial to the brew at flame out. I am no priest but I did say a prayer for the brew to bring forth good fortune to those that drink it. LOL I just hope the beer doesn’t make my friend Aaron Mediola from BeerMetalDude.com catch fire (Just Kidding brother!). So the liquor I decided to use in this project was a Tequila. Why Tequila? Well, two reasons. First, tequila barrel aged brews rule and are to come by and second, after The Lost Abbey made Agave Maria which was their Tequila Barrel aged brew, I decided it was perfect. The beer was going to be about nuns and their worship to God. It was also a crazy idea I really wanted to do. Why is it Project# 18? Well, I had made this brew back in February 2016 and after a month, I put it on the Tequila oak for 6 months. The Tequila was sitting in oak since January 2016 so 2+6, that’s 8 months! Essentially, the 12% ABV was something unexpected but my working with Turbinado and Candi sugars probably had a lot to do with it. Regardless, I bottled it last month and now October 6, 2016 I bring it forth for a review. Yes, the brew will be published at a later date on my site but for perspective purposes and logging this masterpiece I want to get it right. So, for being a quadrupel aged in tequila, I hope is nothing short of amazing and knowing that I can definitely make an awesome brew, I will be pursuing more projects soon like this. Stay tuned, but for now, let’s take a look at this celestial nectar. Cheers!
Aromas:
Tequila notes, oak, Dark fruits of plums, raisins, figs, cherries, bubble gum notes, clove spice, raspberry Chambord hints, Stone fruits, Bananas, Brown sugar, Belgian Candi sugar, Chocolate, Sangria, rice pudding, tamarind, marshmallows, chocolate smores, lechugilla agave nectar, hazelnut nectar, pecan pie, Danish cream, port wine, fruit cake, leathery hints, apples and butterscotch.
Flavors:
Rich Dulce De Leche Caramel, Grilled Bananas, Deep Dark fruits, plums, raisins, figs, dark cherries, dates, clove spice, Belgian Candi sugar, bubble gum notes, capirotada Mexican raisin bread pudding, rice pudding, sweetened condensed milk, tamarind,Vanilla, Oak, Marshmallows, Tequila, Mezcal, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, Sangria Wine grapes, Mexican pan dulce, Danish cream, rock candy, port wine, leather notes, rye bread, pecan pie, hazelnut hints, pecan ice cream, brown sugar, dragon fruit notes, raspberry Chambord hints, Stone fruit peaches, golden apples, flan, funnel cake, waffle cone, mango notes and butterscotch.
Aftertaste:
Finishes with a Tequila and vanilla oak flavors with so much complexity lingering of the rich dark fruits, caramel, pecan pie, flan, sweetened condensed milk, sangria, agave, stone fruit, funnel cake and mild Danish cream. Slightly boozy in the aftertaste but diminishes as the beer gets warmer and does not detract from the flavors. Full bodied Honey Crimson Colored, Smooth, velvety, creamy, chewy and syrupy mouthfeel along with a sipping drinkability
Overall:
Nothing short of a miracle. I am very proud of these results. The Tequila takes this brew to another level. I do not give this one a 7/7 since it is not a beer you could find, but trust me when I say you could drink some of my brews. To me, it is my own personal bucket lister in the sense that I really feel I have achieved so much just from trying different beers and now trying to make my own different beers. This one is probably the best one I have ever made along with the Sangrileche Stout, Frontier Tropics and Diablita De Leche Banana Weizenbock. This beer screams some godly ambrosia. Some nectar that even I don’t understand. I can definitely feel proud that if those dudes at Westvleteren or St. Bernardus tried my beer, they would definitely find it indistinguishable from some of their greats!
Anime Corner:
Yoruichi Shihouin from Bleach, KOS-MOS from Xenosaga, Temari Sabakuno from Naruto and Ryuko Matoi from Kill La Kill make a return in this brew. Since I used them in my Project# 2, Las Quadtro Monjas, it was only fair to get them in the somewhat right attire for nuns they represent. They represent my passion for the work that I do. Reviewing and Brewing. These girls have been my favorite characters from the different anime series that I love for the longest time going way back to the year 2002. Being a big anime fan and the shows I like, complementing the beers I love with different characters doesn’t have the same effect as the way I complement using my top favorites. AS I mentioned in the last review of the original base beer, the name Las Quad-tro is a play on the Belgian word for Quadrupel and Cuatro which is 4. La SanTequilisima Quadrinidad is a play on the words for La Santisima Trinidad or The Holy Trinity. I had worked for a couple weeks not only finding the right combinations of artwork in photo-shop but the right backgrounds. Of course, all the artwork belongs to the perspective owner as I do not claim any art. As I mentioned before too, the 4 girls are the best and the ones I use as my mascots for my whole passion of anime and the best beers in this whole lost treasures of taste and experience. Cheers!
2015 F.U.N Series No. 012 Trigavé by Karbach brewing is a 10% ABV Belgian Tripel aged in pre-red wine aged Tequila Barrels.
Label:
What exactly is Trigavé? This elixir is unlike anything else you might have tried before. So unique that that real words simply cannot describe. Trigavé is what happens when the trinity of wine, ale and spirits collide.
This Belgian-style Tripel was aged for 6 months in Extra Añejo barrels which, prior to the spirit, held red wine from Napa Valley. Spicy phenolics from Belgian yeast meld together with a distinct Americna oak profile. Golden in color with aromatics of fruit, tequila and a touch of honey, this ale is a luxurious as it is complex. Enjoy in a tulip or snifter style glass at 45-50°F.”
==Introduction==
A special tequila barrel aged brew straight out of Texas. Thanks to my friend Aaron Mendiola of BeerMetalDude.com for sending me this one. The reason I get to bring you guys great beers from Texas breweries such as Karbach is because of him. I don’t think I have seen any of their stuff outside of Texas and every time I try their stuff, thanks to Aaron, it is always awesome. They really know how to make great beers. Especially their barrel aged ones. This one today is one that is aged using wine and tequila in different phases using a Belgian Tripel as its base. Using a combination of wine, spirits and ale usually brings out a very special summon of an alcohol beverage like none other. Let’s see how this one is. Cheers!
Aromas:
Citrus blossom honey, agave nectar, tequila, oak, chardonay, cherries, wine grapes, bananas, clove spice, tropical fruit guava, pineapple, papaya, lychee fruit, dragon fruit, passion fruit, cane sugar, stone fruit peach, apricot, mango, floral notes of lavender, hibiscus, chamomile, bubblegum, sweetened condensed milk, flan, biscuit bread, rich wafflecone, Belgian waffles, vanilla and caramel.
Flavors:
Rich honey, waffle cone, agave nectar, Sangria, wine grapes, stone fruit peach, apricot, mango, floral notes of lavender, hibiscus, bananas, clove spice, grilled plantains, phenolic notes, tropical fruit guava, pineapple, papaya, lychee fruit , dragon fruit, passion fruit, cane sugar, oak, tequila, mezcal, mazapan, oranges, tangerines, vanilla, bubblegum, sweetened condensed milk, flan, biscuit bread, raw as the sun orange juice, pears, sour apples, chamomile, dulce de leche caramel, rock candy, Belgian clear candi sugar, salty notes, limes, limeade, lemon peel, cherries, champagne, and concorde grapes,
Aftertaste:
Finishes with rich notes of agave, honey, waffle cone, tequila, wine, chardonay, stone fruit, honeysuckle, peppercorn, flowers, vanilla, caramel, oranges and tropical fruit. No alcohol in the taste despite the ABV strength, Golden light body, smooth, silky, creamy, velvety and refreshing mouthfeel with a moderate to sipping drinkability.
Overall:
I’m a sucker for Tequila barrel aged beers and this one went into another level with the barrels being previously aged in wine. You really want be careful not to drink the whole bottle on one chug. This one is so damn worthy though. So much honey, agave, sangria like notes, stone fruits, tequila, grapes and much much more. I feel despite its strength in terms of ABV and not its taste, I could drink this all day. Although I would be one very hammered person. Regardless to say, this one is a very huge recommendation from me if you can get it.
Anime Corner:
Celes Chere from Final Fantasy 6 (FF3 in the U.S.) was used in this pairing to get close to the colors of the label but also the colors of the Agave plant and the origin of Tequila. I have not used Celes in a beer for a while so the timing was damn right and I felt that this would be the right choice. Celes was a very important character that helped saved the world after Kefka dropped an entire continent back down onto earth almost killing the population. Celes was there to rise up to the challenge, searched for her friends and together they all defeated evil. It was a great story and this beer just being that awesome complements her in so many ways.
Sources:
http://pds26.egloos.com/pds/201508/27/61/d0052261_55decf644cd2c.jpg
http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=14354115
http://fdzeta.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/_data___celes_chere_final_fantasy_and_final_fantasy_vi_drawn_bb59076609d7f7a5080af75a56ee51ab0.jpg
Rating: 7/7
Mexican Speedway Stout by Alesmith brewing is a 12% ABV Imperial Stout brewed with Mexican Coffee, Chocolate and Cinnamon aged in Tequila Barrels.
Label:
==Introduction==
Alesmith has been releasing many great beers over the years and many great variants of their speedway stout ranging from Kopi Luwak coffee, Jamaican Coffee, special spirits and even collaborations. This year, they released something that immediately hit me. The Mexican Speedway Stout aged with the uncommon liquor for aging, Tequila. Tequila barrel aged beers are pretty uncommon unlike Bourbon. The inspiration of that aging process is what inspired me to make my Belgian Quadrupel aged in Oak Tequila. So basically, whenever I hear of great beers made Tequila, I go out of my way to try and get them even if I have to trade. The firs Tequila barrel aged beer was a Barley wine made from Cucapa brewing in Mexicali, Mexico. Since then I have not found that one beer again and definitely made it a form of a mission to try and find those brews that are Tequila aged. I never would of thought Alesmith would release one especially one done similarly to the Xocoveza from Stone. Let’s see how this one goes, cheers!
Aromas:
Cafe Con Leche, Roasted coffee notes, dark cherries, raspberries, currants, blackberries, Jaliscan Jerricalla, burnt sugar, pilloncillo sugar cone, Tequila, Mezcal, agave lechugilla nectar, oak, flan, crème brulee, 3 leche/ 3 Milks cake, coffee cake, mocha, java, steamed milk, milk sugar, marshmallows, toasted coconut, rocky road ice crea, dulce de leche, dulce de cabra envinada/ goat milk caramel, cajeta caramel, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, chocolate mousse, bakers chocolate, chocolate abuelita, German Chocolate, Belgian Cholate, mole, almonds, Marzipan, Danish cream and bananas.
Flavors:
Cafe Con Leche, fancy coffee, roasted coffee notes, mocha, java, steamed milk, milk sugar, marshmallows, toasted coconut, rocky road ice cream, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, chocolate mousse, bakers chocolate, chocolate abuelita, German Chocolate, Belgian Cholate, mole, cinnamon, cajeta caramel, dulce de leche, dulce de cabra envinada/ goat milk caramel in wine hints, flan, crème brulee, 3 leche/ 3 Milks cake, Jaliscan Jerricalla, burnt sugar, pilloncillo sugar cone, Tequila, Mezcal, agave lechugilla nectar, oak, Kahlua liqueur, dark fruit raisins, figs, prunes, dark cherries, raspberries, currants, molasses, anise, hazelnut nectar, pecan pie, campfire smokey hints, Danish cream, Irish cream, Marzipan, fruit cake, capirotada raisin bread pudding, Champurrado, bananas, clove spice, churros, ginger bread and Lechera sweetened condensed milk.
Aftertaste:
Finishes with rich notes of chocolate abuelita, Kahlua liquer, cinnamon, tequila oak, agave, dark fruit, rocky road ice cream, marshmallows, flan, toasted coconut, earthy notes and hazelnut. No alcohol in the taste despite the ABV, pitch black abyss body, creamy, velvety, silky, syrupy, chewy and viscous mouthfeel and easy to moderate drinkability.
Overall:
No doubt, a bucket lister. It’s like they took Xocoveza, Mole Ocho and Tequila Sombrero to a whole new level. The influence of the might that is Speedway Stout just works with it providing a diversly rich array of coffee, chocolate and sweet Mexican Tequila flavor. You kind of just lose yourself in its greatness. Speedway Stout has come out in so many great variants that this on sits right up there with Alesmith’s best. It sure is a beer that is a must get for fans of the Mexican Stouts and especially, Tequila Barrel aged beers.
Anime Corner:
Yoruichi Shihouin from Bleach was used in this pairing because she is one of my 4 favorite girls and I had remembered I did a special edit to a picture of hers for the World Cup back in 2006. What a surprise that 10 years later, it would make the perfect for this new beer to go with the Mexican Flag. Aside from the Jersey pairing well, Yoruichi has obtained 2 new powerful forms in the manga and now that I present her in a beer pairing, especially one of this caliber, I wanted to pair with those super forms. The Goddess of Thunder Yoruichi, though you be a cat, how you complement the Aztec Goddess Tlaloc who is Quetzalcoatl’s part ally in the skies almost resembling a dragon as well. Yup, Yoruichi is one bad ass character.
Sources:
http://arteemis.deviantart.com/art/God-Of-Thunder-590320394
http://img1.reactor.cc/pics/post/Shihouin-Yoruichi-Bleach-Anime-nanao-(mahaya)-3070867.jpeg
Rating: 6/6
Tequila Barrel Sombrero by Clown Shoes is an 11% ABV Mexican Chocolate Imperial Stout brewed with spices, vanilla and aged in Tequila Barrels.
Label:
We asked our resident Luchador to acquire some tequila barrels, but there was a miscommunication and he robbed the town of Tequila Mexico of all their tequila bottles. Luckily, we found some tequila barrels ourselves and brewed a batch of Chocolate Sombrero (complete with vanilla, cinnamon and ancho chiles) to age in them for 10 months. The pilfered liquor was promptly returned (sure it was). Salud!”
==Introduction==
A California exclusive, I obtained this one at one of my local beer shops (Ramirez Liquors) in Boyle Heights. I had always wanted Clown Shoes to release a Tequila variant of one of their strong beers. One time, they asked Californians on their Facebook page what kind of special spirit aged beer they would like to see for California. I posted that I wanted a Tequila one. Looks like my prayers were answered. Not only is a Tequila barrel aged beer rare, it is even rarer when one is released that is aged from a Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout. So far, I have only had the opportunity to three of them and all were ridiculously good. How good will this one be? Let’s find out. Cheers!
Aromas:
Dark Chocolate, milk chocolate, Chocolate Abuelita, cinnamon,piloncillo sugar cone, capirotada raisin bread pudding, champurrado maize drink, Agave, Mezcal, Tequila, Oak Vanilla, caramel, dark fruit raisins, prunes, currants, dark cherries, blueberries, rocky road ice cream, bananas, clove spice, ginger spice, flan, sweetened condensed milk and hints of chili peppers.
Flavors:
Rich, Agave, Mezcal, Tequila, Oak Vanilla, Dark Chocolate, milk chocolate, Chocolate Abuelita, cinnamon, dark fruit raisins, prunes, currants, dark cherries, blueberry yogurt, flan, sweetened condensed milk, mild ancho and guajillo chiles, rocky road ice cream, bananas, clove spice, ginger spice, piloncillo sugar cone, capirotada raisin bread pudding, champurrado maize drink in tequila, molè, pecan pie, molasses, crème brulee, coffee, waffle cone notes, Sangria vampiro hints, lechugilla agave juice hints, coconut, marshmallow smores, charred oak notes, Kahlua liqueur notes and pan dulce.
Aftertaste:
Finishes with Agave, Tequila notes, oak, Chocolate abuelita, mild chile spices, Khalua coffee notes and marsmallows. No alcohol in the taste, dark abyss full body, very smooth, creamy, silky, velvety and mildly syrupy and a drinkability that is ridiculously easy.
Overall:
An Exceptional beer! So much complexity of Mexican desserts and spices, it is awesome! One of the characters that does come more forward is the tequila and oak but it is not in the sense of strength but more of flavor so it does not burn. Even though this is the case, this beer will evolve wonderfully for years to come. If you have a way of getting this beer, then make sure you get it, I highly recommend it.
Anime Corner:
Taokaka from Blazblue was used in this pairing as I wanted to pair with the original version of the Chocolate Sombrero. So since I used her in the past, I wanted to bring her back for this round using an artwork that pairs with the colors of the beer but also agave. The background where she is at gives these colors. I also included Noel Vermillion as well as she pairs with the policeman that chases the luchador.
Sources:
http://taokakafanclub.deviantart.com/art/I-CAUGHT-NYA-Taokaka-575363349
http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131101160539/blazblue/images/f/fe/Taokaka_(Chronophantasma,_Arcade_Mode_Illustration,_3).png
Rating: 7/7
2014 Tequila Barrel Aged Mexican Cake by West Brook brewing is a 10.5% ABV World Class Imperial Stout aged in cocoa nibs, vanilla beans, cinnamon, habanero peppers and aged 12 months in Tequila Barrels
Label:
Bottled 8/15/2014
Way back in December 2011 , they brewed 1st Anniversary beer – a serious imperial stout aged on cocoa nibs, vanila beans, cinnamon sticks , and fresh habanero peppers. It was so delicious to bring it back once each year and age it for 12 months in oak barrels.
¡Salud!
==Introduction==
Been meaning to try this beer for ages! The original Mexican was soooo good but all of them were always over priced and to some degree over hyped. Maybe it was me but I really wanted to try this one. Long behold we reach 2015 and I was able to finally land one of these for a decent price. Needless to say, splurging on something like this would be ridiculous but since I wanted it and it was at the right price, I got it. This is the first time I try a beer from Westbrook as well so definitely an honor for sure. I have tried so few Tequila barrel aged beers and so few chocolate abuelita beers but the closest I’m sure comes close to this is the Xocoveza Extra Añejo. So without further ado, here it goes. Salud!
Aromas:
Mild habanero, ancho and guajillo chiles, roasted coffee, marshmallows, piloncillo sugar cone Tequila, Agave lechugilla, mezcal, sangria vampiro, dulce de leche caramel, toffee, hazelnut nectar, dark fruit raisins, prunes, currants, blackberries, blueberries, figs, dark cherries, dates, Khalua liqueur, waffle cone, mocha, molasses, Champurrado, Molé hints, pan dulce, milk sugar, ginger bread, crème brulee, flan, sweetened condensed milk, fruit cake, Dark and milk chocolate fudge cake.
Flavors:
Rich Chocolate Abuelita, Tequila, Agave lechugilla, mezcal, charred oak, Cinnamon, Capirodatada Raisin bread pudding, fruit cake, Dark and milk chocolate fudge cake, dark cherries, dark fruits like raisins, prunes, currants, blackberries, blueberries, figs, dates, ginger bread, crème brulee, flan, sweetened condensed milk, Khalua liqueur, waffle cone, mocha, molasses, Champurrado, earthy notes, clove spice, grilled platanitos/bananas, churros, sangria vampiro, dulce de leche caramel, toffee, hazelnut nectar, leche, mild habanero, ancho and guajillo chiles, roasted coffee, marshmallows, piloncillo sugar cone, pan dulce, milk sugar and Molé hints.
Aftertaste:
Rich Dark chocolate, cinnamon, pumpkin notes, mild pepper spice, chocolate abuelita, tequila, mezcal, agave, mocha, vanilla, oak, dulce de leche caramel, earthy raisin bread and coffee. No alcohol in the taste, dark abyss full body, very smooth, creamy, silky, velvety and mildly syrupy and a drinkability that is ridiculously easy. Careful not to finish the bottle in one sitting.
Overall:
It definitely feels like a bucket list kind of beer. As ridiculous as this is, I am really pleased I got this. Funny thing is, the spices are not in the heat but allow for a Mexican style that fits similar to how Molé is made with chile and chocolate. There are only a hand full of beers that really deserve the title a World Class and this rarity gets the one of the highest rating for it. My expectations were really blown away and maybe it is worth what the hype is about. I may have not tried the original but the Tequila variant to me especially a year aged is like a dream come true. So yes, I highly recommend this version especially since the Tequila barrel aging just adds that cherry on top of the already awesome cake to truly make, Mexican! Ahuevo Cabrones! Busquenlo!
Anime Corner:
Dia de Los Muertos Samus Aran from Metroid and Vocaloid Hatsune Miku were used in this pairing for several reasons. You can already see some aspects of Mexican themes like dia de los muertos. The Guns Samus carries would be like those Mexican revolvers, you know, to vary it up a bit. She is in the theme. Also, why did I choose Miku for this pairing? 2 reasons. The first being that I used the picture of Miku on her side with the plugsuit representing the first tequila barrel aged beer I tried from Cupaca (Tequila Barrel aged Barleywine back in 2010) and barrel aging process but second, since she played a well known Mexican song called La Bikina (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqIugY6pk0c) so I know already she will work. Also, she has so much of the blue agave colors which pair with what tequila is made but also the colors of the beer. So the singing then ties to the 3rd drawing where she has the acoustic guitar. So much tequila goodness and so much sweetness from art and flavor experiences!
Sources:
http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b580/qinchao1204/chuyin%2012/wwwafterschoolsyscom-938.jpg~original
http://fashionablygeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/dead_Upload.jpg
http://static.zerochan.net/Hatsune.Miku.full.1518790.jpg
Rating: 5.25/6
Stone Cali-Belgique aged in Reposado Tequila Barrels by Stone Brewing is a 9.3% ABV Belgian India Pale Ale aged in Reposado Tequila Barrels.
==Introduction==
Obtained at the Stone Company Store in Pasadena California, this beer along with other awesome beers were released to the public on tap. This one was the only barrel aged serving on tap eligible to take home in growler fill.
Aromas:
Vanilla, bubble gum hints, oak, tequila notes, agave, peppercorns, stone fruit apricots, peaches, flowers like lavender and chamomile, cane sugar, lemon, herbs, farmhouse hay, wine grape notes, banana hints, clove spice and minor tropical fruit hints.
Flavors:
Lechugilla Agave, Cane sugar, Mezcal, Tequila, oak, peppercorns, honey, oranges, herbal, floral, grapefruit, piney and grassy hops, clove spice, ginger spice, coriander spice, vanilla, bubblegum notes, Italian basil, lemon, mango, pineapple, stone fruit apricots, peaches, butterscotch hints, dragon fruit, passion fruit hints, funky notes, farmhouse hay, wine grapes, chardonay hints, mustard seed, bananas, cantaloupe, lavender, hibiscus and tamarind.
Aftertaste:
Finishes with some notes of tequila, peppercorns, stone fruits, grapefruit hops and clove spice. No alcohol in the taste, clear gold body, sipping drinkability, smooth, crisp, refreshing and moderate mouthfeel.
Overall:
A bit above exceptional. The beer originally was already delicious as I really loved the flavors of the Cali-Belgique as they reminded me of a border lining Belgian Pale Ale or Hopped Saison and mainly the Golden ale that was the As Follows by stillwater with its pungent orange and herbal flavors. Now with Tequila, especially reposado tequila give this beer a touch of something that not many beers of this style get to see. A European blend with not just west coast style but also a major Mexican influence. This beer was a great out come. Tequila barrel aged beers are rare and few in between so getting a chance to have one once and a while is an awesome feat since many breweries go with mainly bourbon now a days which also is extremely delicious as well. Each spirit adds something genuine to beers.
Anime Corner:
Jedah Dohma “Midnight Bliss” version from Darkstalkers/Vampire Savior was used in this pairing as with the last time I tried and reviewed the original brew, I used Jedah as well. This time, Jedah fermented in the dark recesses of Reposado tequila barrels represented by the mezcal and agave colors of the picture where she is with the deathly bird (Think of it as the Mexican Tequila influence and the Scythe being the harvester of Agave). I also brought back one of the original pics back too. Jedah for this stone beer represents the fancy tradition of European beers meeting the west coast. Meaning she has like a European Dracula like outfit but also blonde hair represents the aspect of the west coast style in terms of the blonde and clear colors that this beer has.
Sources:
http://orig11.deviantart.net/beaf/f/2009/072/8/e/udon_ds_contest__jedah_by_zelas.jpg
http://blog-imgs-41-origin.fc2.com/g/e/r/gerokan2/jeda.jpg
Rating: 5.65/6
Reserva Piña by Five Stones of Cibolo Texas is a 6.7% ABV Golden Ale hand crafted with fresh Pineapple and Roasted Jalapeño then aged in Tequila Oak chips.
Label:
An American Golden Ale handcrafted with fresh pineapple and hint of roasted jalapeño, then conditioned 45 days with tequila soaked oak chips.
==Introduction==
It has been a long time since my awesome friend Aaron and I traded for some good. We both were in very interesting points in our lives. Me busy learning home brewing and him getting experience at Busted Sandal and now working for Mad Pecker brewing of Texas. We have definitely come along way especially with the growth of our websites. Check my Aaron’s kick ass beer and metal pairings at www.beermetaldude.com. Some of the best inspirations in pairings that will definitely make you beer experience ever more awesome! I also want to thank his friends at Five Stones brewery out in Texas. Mahalo! guys once again as I was able to obtain the follow up beer to the Aloha Piña. I loved that beer and now this one with Tequila oak chips, MAN….. Well, enough imagining, let’s see how this one breaks into dimensions of taste. Cheers!
Aromas:
Citrus, Papaya, Pineapple, Agave, oak hints, Stone fruit apricots, peaches, grapefruit hints, peppercorn, honey, lavender, hibiscus, mezcal, lemon, caramel, vanilla, jalapeño hints, cherries, strawberries and biscuit bread.
Flavors:
Lots or Rich pineapple, toasted oak, Tequila notes, mezcal, jalapeño at mild heat, agave notes, cane sugar, sangria hints, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, dragon fruit, oranges, mango, papaya, kiwi, lemon grass, honey, rye bread, vanilla, caramel hints, biscuit bread, herbs, spices, flower notes like hibiscus, chamomile hints and lavender, peppercorn, Stone fruit apricots, apples, agave lechugilla hints (Mexican Agave juice), white grape notes, coriander spices, banana notes, clove hints, honey comb and mild sweetened condensed milk.
Aftertaste:
The Jalapeño heat lingers mildly but the pineapple, cherries, strawberries and other tropical flavors soothe and then lots herbs, oak, stone fruit, tequila notes, mezcal, coriander and banana hints linger. No alcohol in the taste, Hazy peach color medium body, Crisp, refreshing and slightly smooth mouthfeel, as well as an easy to medium drinkability.
Overall:
All I have to say is, make sure you order a pizza to go with this beer. Especially a Hawaiian with Jalapeños and cherries if they have it. You would come close to the awesomeness of this beer. Reminding me so much of the Aloha as it is the base for this but the Tequila unleashes other flavors that make this beer much more complex and takes it another step further than it originally could. Thanks to my good friend Aaron for hooking me up with this delicious treat which I could definitely have way more of it. Highly recommended.
Anime Corner:
Nonon Jakuzure from Kill La Kill was used in this pairing as I wanted to pair mainly the skeleton of the label but also some of the tropical colors and the red colors that would come from sangria and the berry flavors which I think came about thanks to the special aging of the beer. Nonon is pretty much a rebel without a cause, jams to her own beat and compliments this beer as the breweries experiments are a masterpiece and music to the tastes buds.
Sources:
http://img.4plebs.org/boards/tg/image/1387/66/1387669796830.jpg
http://img0.joyreactor.cc/pics/post/Anime-Anime-Art-Kill-la-Kill-1931263.png
Rating: 7/7
2015 Quingenti Millimitre Series Batch No. 2 Xocoveza Mocha Stout Extra Añejo Collaboration by Chris Banker, Stone Brewing and Cerveceria Insurgente de Mexico is an 11.3% ABV World Class Milk/Sweet Stout brewed with cocoa, coffee, peppers, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg then aged in Red Wine & Tequila Barrels.
Label:
Pronuced (SHO-CO-VAY-ZA)
Brewed July 19 & November 11, 2014
The base beer is the recipe of 2014 Stone Homebrew Competition winner Chris Banker, an intensely flavorful milk stout brewed with coffee and spices to mimic the rich flavors of Mexican hot chocolate.
In The Mash
U.S. Pale, Maris Otter Pale, Crystal, Black Patent, Coffee Malt & Chocolate Malt
In The Boil
Challenger & East Kent Golding Hops.
Special Ingredients
Lactose, Flaked Oats, Coffee, Vanilla, Pasilla Peppers, Nutmeg, Cinnamon & Cocoa
AGED in French Oak Extra Añejo Tequila Barrels that previously held Bordeaux Wine
CELLAR NOTES: We were so smitten with the initial batch aged in extra añejo tequila barrels that we brought in more barrels and brewed more beer specifically to fill them. The barrels smelled amazing, with aromas of vanilla crème brulée, dulce de leche and tequila. The result is both satisfyingly expected and surprising at the same time: Sweet caramel-like flavors, black pepper, vanilla and tequila notes meld seamlessly with the spice, roasted coffee and chocolate flavors of the base beer for a richly intense experience.
==Introduction==
Standing in line for 3 hours sucks and getting a chance to get only 1 bottle since the beer sold out within the hour sucks even more. I will tell you this thought, even if I did not know it was going to sell out so damn quickly, I am fortunate to be able to bring this beer to the website as the beer was way more coveted than it should have been. That and the fact that if you wanna get more of this, you will need to trade or look for it online. It is sad that they only made so few of this and the fact that the Bourbon Barrel version sold out quicker than the Tequila version (Although I personally wanted this one way more than the other one) so now I will have to look for the bourbon/charred version. Either way, let’s take a look and see if this beer is really all that is cracked up to be. I can only say the original blew mountains away so I’m kinda scared but excited to see what this one does. Cheers!
Aromas:
Rich oak, Port wine, Agave syrup, Tequila notes, lechugilla agave juice hints, pan dulce, piloncillo sugar cone, capirotada raisin bread pudding, marshmallow smores, butterscotch, magey plant, mocha, roasted coffee notes, cafe con leche, Mexican vanilla, Wined Goat milk Caramel/Dulce De Leche de cabra Envinado, coconut hints, cocada mexican coconut candy hints, wine grapes, sangria vampiro, honey comb, Rich Chocolate Abuelita, Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Vanilla, Dulce De leche cajeta/caramel, Kahlua Liqueur, Ancho chile, pasilla chile, Molé, cinnamon, nutmeg, dark fruit raisins, dark cherry, Milk sugar, flan, sweetened condensed milk, tres leches cake, Champurrado, earthy notes, molasses, clove spice, grilled platanitos/bananas and Churros
Flavors:
Tequila, oak, Wine grapes, port wine, sangria vampiro, honey comb, Rich Chocolate Abuelita, Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Vanilla, Dulce De leche cajeta/caramel, Kahlua Liqueur, Ancho chile, pasilla chile spices but no heat, Molé, cinnamon, nutmeg, dark fruit raisins, dark cherry, Milk sugar, flan, sweetened condensed milk, tres leches cake, Champurrado, earthy notes, molasses, clove spice, grilled platanitos/bananas, Churros, agave necar, lechugilla agave juice hints, pan dulce, piloncillo sugar cone, capirotada raisin bread pudding, marshmallow smores, butterscotch, magey plant, mocha, roasted coffee notes, cafe con leche, Mexican vanilla, Wined Goat milk Caramel/Dulce De Leche de cabra Envinado, coconut hints and cocada mexican coconut candy hints.
Aftertaste:
Cinnamon, pumpkin notes, nutmeg, dark chocolate, chocolate abuelita, mezcal, tequila, oak, port wine hints, spicy chile notes, agave notes and earthy notes. No alcohol in the taste despite the richer ABV, ridiculously smooth drinkability, very creamy, velvety and smooth mouthfeel, and pitch black body just like the original.
Overall:
It’s hard to get more Mexican than this beer unless you pair it with some actual Mexican cuisine. Holy shit, one of the Best Tequila beers I have ever had considering the original was one of the best chocolate abuelita beers. It is so damn complex that I really wonder if the charred one is even necessary. Bourbon really isn’t a “Mexican” Spirit, but maybe good though. I still think this one would win over the bourbon one. Either way, I am thankful I was able to at least snag a bottle while it was painful for me to see the line behind miss out so much would have given them the bottle. However, I feel the fact that I present my findings here on the site maybe more beneficial as it could make you wanna find it online/ trade for yourself. Well, I damn sure recommend it as a bucket list beer for sure y que Viva Mexico y Las Cervezas Artesanales de mi patria…. AHUEVO!!
Anime Corner:
An original Adelita character by Genzoman and May from Backstreet Billiards for the PS1 were chosen in this beer to really bring out what made Xocoveza so damn special. Specifically, with the addition of Tequila along with the Mexican Hot chocolate flavors and Insurgente which were one of the 3 collaborators of this beer, I really wanted to show case an actual Mexican pairing with pride. Adelitas being women soldiers during Mexican revolution of 1910, along with the barrels behind her are like the Tequila barrels that were infused with the already awesome Xocoveza which I had brought May for that to show case the indigenous roots of the recipe as well. Solo lo mejor!
Sources:
http://genzoman.deviantart.com/art/Adelita-162831459
http://s27.postimg.org/ht9xex4cj/bsb_copy.jpg
Rating: 6.35/7
Proprietor’s Reserve 2013 No. 001 PNC (Publican National Committee) by Firestone Walker is a 13.7% ABV World Class Imperial Buckwheat Stout brewed with Agave Nectar aged in Tequila Barrels, Bourbon Barrels and retired Firestone Barrels.
Label:
This bold and deliciously complex beer is an Imperial Buckwheat Stout aged in Tequila barrels for 13 months. Only a collection of pioneering, well seasoned, extensively traveled and passionate pub owners could come up with such a notion. A massive grain bill consisting of Pale, Munich and toasted Canadian Buckwheat was blended with pearled drum-kilned barley from Chile, a generous amount of Wisconsin roasted wheat and a slug of British Crystal malts. A couple of lumps of Mexican Turbinado sugar were added for good measure while we loaded the kettle with Styrian Golding hops. This carefully calculated collision of flavors, concocted over copious amounts of Orval well into the night, was laid down in fresh Tequila barrels wrangled over our southern border by the beautiful Meg Gill. W simply call this beer “PNC” in honor of its collaborative creators – The gothic symphony of flavors speak for themselves.
The week that the PNC rolled info Paso was one to remember , but more importantly, the PNC’s role in the Craft Beer Revolution should never be forgotten.
Cheers to the PNC!
Matt and the FW Crew
Ideal Aging Temperature: 45F
==Introduction==
It has been 2 years since the release of this beer and only at the actual brewery or through trading could this one become available. An elusive beer, yet the one that I really wanted to get my hands on. Thanks to some online sites like www.mybeercollectibles.com, this is a possibility. The one beer of their Proprietor’s Reserver series that was aged in Tequila and a component of the Firestone XVI Anniversary ale (considered on of the supreme best). Who knows if this beers was such a component that took that beer to the awesomeness it became but only here and now will I find that out. That and the fact that it has been sitting in condition for more than 2 years, well, that is just damn amazing. Cheers! To this beauty of a beer!
Aromas:
Tequila, oak, rich agave, sangria vampiro, dulce de leche caramel, rocky road ice cream, dark chocolate, mezcal, pancho pantera milk chocolate shake, bakers chocolate, German chocolate, roasted coffee,bourbon, toasted coconut, honey comb, sweetened condensed milk, capirotada raisin bread pudding, vanilla, mazapan, pecan pie, soy sauce, anise, port wine, dark fruit raisins, black cherries, currants, blackberries, tamarind, smokey marshmallows smores, graham crackers, lechugilla agave juice, sugar cone, cane sugar, rock candy, candi sugar, grilled banana hints, almond joy chocolate, buckwheat roasted, coffee notes, earthy notes, molasses, anise and licorice.
Flavors:
Deep Dark chocolate, mezcal, pancho pantera milk chocolate shake, bakers chocolate, German chocolate, roasted coffee,bourbon, oak, tequila, rich agave, sangria vampiro, dulce de leche caramel, rocky road ice cream, almond joy chocolate, buckwheat roasted, coffee notes, earthy notes, molasses, anise, licorice, dark fruit raisins, black cherries, currants, blackberries, tamarind, smokey marshmallows smores, graham crackers, lechugilla agave juice, brown sugar, aloe, floral hints, fruit cake, toasted coconut, honey comb, sweetened condensed milk, capirotada raisin bread pudding, vanilla, mazapan, pecan pie, soy sauce, anise, port wine, piloncillo sugar cone, cane sugar, rock candy, candi sugar, grilled banana hints and clove hints.
Aftertaste:
Smokey notes, cane sugar, agave, Sangria Vampiro, marshmallow smotes, rocky road ice cream, rich dark chocolate, roasted coffee, dark buckwheat roast, super dark fruits and rich dark rock candy. No alcohol in the taste despite the ridiculous ABV, Dark eternal full body, rich, smooth creamy, syrupy, velvety, mild bite to the mouthfeel and a sipping drinkability.
Overall:
Two years into the aging and I never thought how crazy good this beer could be. It is very rich in dark fruit, oak, mezcal, mild tequila, agave sweetness, licorice and a whole bunch of complex goodies. Distinguishing how much actually went into the Firestone XVI Anniversary is definitely hard but some of the individual flavors of this one are a major component of that one but also the flavors you see in Parabola and Velvet Merkin such as the Rock Road Ice cream flavors. I have no idea how you can get this beer as I don’t see this much anywhere which makes me hope they re-release this great beer again. For now, just hope you can trade for it or buy it if possible.
Anime Corner:
Ryoko Hakubi from the Tenchi Muyo series was used in this pairing as she is one of my favorite anime characters from when I was growing up during High School. A Bad ass girl with monstrous beauty and strength. Her hair resembles the Agave plants that are harvested for its creation in the world of Tequila. Her space pirate outfit works in conjunction with the dark colors of the stout while the other colors represent the other flavors and complexity such as the Sangria and Mezcal with her yes as gold as the rich honey and hazelnut sweetness. With the other beers from Firestone in terms of their reserve beers, I have always paired them with something that best represent the beers in terms of job class, like a fantasy game. Parabola= Knight, Stickee Monkee=Monk, Velvet Merkin=Sorceress, etc. Ryuko the Space Pirate represents somewhat of an organization acronym. In this case, an organization or Pirates!
Sources:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/58/b8/91/58b891d1e2d2d1652ef2a8f6aa8d0ad3.jpg
http://41.media.tumblr.com/d5f890c2a627a250e1ab60bff82aad7f/tumblr_nrgy7tOSn01s1mohso1_1280.png
http://img01.deviantart.net/13fe/i/2014/020/c/2/ryoko_with_lighthawk_wings_by_tr3s_sss-d730i4o.jpg
http://www.zerochan.net/full/468286
http://i.imgur.com/5R2AP8M.jpg
Rating: 5.25/5
Points Unknown IPA collaboration by Stone, Ecliptic and Wicked Weed brewing companies is a 9.5% ABV Double India Pale Ale blended with a Belgian Tripel that was aged in barrels that had wine and then had tequila in them for 4 months.
Label:
In creating our latest collaboration beer, It wasn’t easy deciding how best to pool the resources of brewers from three spatially distant points within the brewing universe: Portland, Oregon brewing legend and Ecliptic Brewing founder John Danis, and Luke and Walt Dickinson, the hop-and-funk brewmaster duo behind Asheville, North Carolina’s Wicked Weed Brewing. It seemed no single beer could adequately convey all that they and Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele bring to the brewhouse. So, this veritable triad of power opted to brew TWO beers: a traditional Belgian-style tripel and a West Coast imperial IPA. Doing so allowed them to work within the parameters of all styles while taking things in interesting directions, adding a touch of Southern Califomia style and petting into the spirit! The tripel was transferred into barrels that originally housed red wine before finding a second life as vessels for aging tequila. Four months later,that beer was excavated, then blended at a one-fifth to four-fifths ratio with the freshly brewed double IPA to create the beer you now hold: a hind of the traditional and the new, presenting a variety of diverse flavors that coalesce into something more unique than any one beer our trio could have conceived. Its eventual flavors were a mystery to even the group of master brewers who created it, but now they await the palates of those thirsting to venture to points unknown within the rapidly expanding craft beer galaxy. In other words: You.
“It’s been sweet to work with these fine brewers and take this beer out of sight!”
John Harris // Founder & Brewmaster, Ecliptic Brewing Co.
“Creativity is at the core of how my brother and I approach craft beer John and Mitch have been laying this foundation for years, and getting the chance to work with them has been truly inspirational.”
Walt Dickinson // Co-Founder & Brewer, Wicked Weed Brewing
“What a great experience, combining two of my favorite beer styles while brewing with two of my favorite breweries!”
Mitch Steele // Brewmaster, Stone Brewing Co.
==Introduction==
Another interesting release that will see national distribution. Based on the information given, this is probably some IPA that came by to visit this reality from like the 9th dimension of craft beer existence. It really intrigued me especially since it is a Belgian Tripel IPA but also aged in wine and Tequila. Go figure the complexity. Either way, Lets hope we can make it back to this reality at hand as it seems this buzz trip is headed where no palates have gone before. It’s On! Cheers!
Aromas:
Citrus, phenolic, Belgian candi sugar, grapefruit, herbal, grassy and floral hops, Peppercorns, wine, tequila, mezcal hints, stone fruits like peaches, apricots, mango hints, exotic fruits like passion and dragon, oak , vanilla, caramel, strawberries, caramel, vanilla, lemon peel, pear, honey dew and Danish cream.
Flavors:
Citrus, grapefruit, herbal, grassy and floral hops, Peppercorns, Wine grapes, tequila mezcal hints, oak, Belgian Candi sugar, Stone fruit peaches, apricots, mango hints, dragon fruit, passion fruit, apples, starburst candy, caramel, vanilla, lemon peel, pear, peaches, banana notes, pineapple, honey dew melon, biscuit bread, honey, raspberries, strawberries, white grapes, Danish cream, bubble gum, rum hints, clove spice and tangerines.
Aftertaste:
Tequila mezcal, sangria hints, wine hints, citrus, stone fruit peaches, herbal and floral hops peppercorns and candi sugar linger. No alcohol in the taste, golden brown clear body, moderate to sipping drinkability, crisp, refreshing smooth yet creamy.
Overall:
An exceptional IPA that pretty much takes what you believe an IPA should be (Hoppy) and turns it into so many different flavors that it is all over the and yet supremely enjoyable and reminding you that the hops it does have are different for sure. It seems to be more of a tripel than it is an IPA but still an IPA and the Tequila and Wine…. damn it was a mission to cover this beer. Very enjoyable and something beyond a regular IPA. Find this one!
Anime Corner:
Hikoujouki, Senkanseiki and Wo-Class from Kancolle/ Kantai Collection were used in this pairing as the points unknown as not only represent three freaky creatures but also the colors work with the beer artwork. First, the girl on the left is Ecliptic as her hair curves with the phases of the moon. Stone in the back with the girl having horns is synonymous of Stone’s gargoyle and finally, Wicked Weed on the right having a big bug. Bugs live in weeds. Anyways, they are wicked (As in Awesome). Yeah they totally look like they aren’t of this world, complimenting the beer perfectly.
Rating: 5/5
La Jornada del Escorpion en Fuego Hacia la casa del Chupacabra muerto (99 Scorpions) (The Path of the Fiery Scorpion through the House of the Dead Chupacabra) by The Unknown Brewing is a 10.1% ABV Imperial Mexican Lager aged on Tequila Oak Staves, Brewed with Agave Nectar, Serrano Peppers & (99) Ninety Nine Scorpions.
Label:
UBC Bottle No. 2
Warning: Contains Crustaceans
Online Descriptions and Blurbs:
(http://beerstreetjournal.com/unknown-brewing-escorpion-en-fuego/)
When asked if these scorpions would affect the flavor, head brewer and owner Brad Shell responded “I’m not sure, that’s not the point. The point is this beer needs scorpions. Some things just have to happen”.
==Introduction==
Released for El Dia De Los Muertos in November, this beer is pretty damn ridiculous. Even for the name and the ingredients this was made from. This is my first beer from The Unknown brewing and is one that . All hope was lost last month when there was no way I could get this beer due to it being extremely limited. I pondered about how nice it would have been to have it here on the site. Long behold, I wake up on Black Friday at 4am to a message from my good friend Aaron Mendiola at www.beermetaldude.com only to find that he found a website called www.bruisin-ales.com which had exactly what we were looking for. He sent me that Mexican wrestler pic where the dude is asking for a tag in as he needed some assistance to get these and I was like…oh shit!! I jumped out of bed, placed the order and the rest is history. A sort of victory for the Beer Pairing Duo and a review you will soon see on my friends page. I didn’t really care at that time when I saw the beer on the site, I really wanted to get this beer despite the ingredients. Despite what anyone thinks about gimmicks or nasty and gross ingredients for beer, this was something I was super open minded to have. I have had crickets before and those have like a grassy and earthy taste. Some people say Scorpions are tasty like eating shrimp. That and the fact that scorpions are high in protein and good for you. So let’s take a sip at this one and hope you are able to get your own scorpion beer. Saludito!
Aromas:
Honey, Toffee, Agave, caramel, coriander spice, peppercorns, chile pepper spices, tequila hints, pineapple, stone fruit peaches, Serrano pepper spices, mild oak, tequila hints, caramel, toffee, butterscotch, biscuit bread and brown sugar.
Flavors:
Rich Agave Nectar, Tequila, Mezcal, sangria, grapes, oak, citrus, honey, lemon, caramel, vanilla, oak, graham cracker, herbs, coriander, oranges, grassy earthy taste (scorpions?), toffee, salt, mild seafood hints, Serrano chile spice hints, peppercorns, pineapple, grapefruit, basil, lime peel, lemon zest, mild coffee, green tea, dragon fruit, stone fruit peaches, mild jerky notes, biscuit bread, rye bread, butterscotch and piloncillo.
Aftertaste:
Leaving with a honey and agave aftertaste that lingers and finishing with like a musty, herbal, grassy, earthy and bitter aftertaste. Must be the scorpions. No alcohol in the taste yet feels stronger than what it is. Syrupy and creamy mouthfeel, Clear Golden Body, moderate to sipping drinkabaility.
Overall:
I got 99 Scorpions while other beers have none! Way too unique for words really. I think the previous blurbs have done this one justice. I do recall my experience with the crickets back then so there is a minor hints of that grassy, musty and earthy like flavor that I remember from long ago. Not bad at all. The Serrano heat is there for the flavor but masked by the sweetness so it’s not a ‘Stone Punishment’. I really love it but don’t worry since the other ingredients do mask that extremely well providing it’s own array of complexity. This one was made in Tequila barrels so there’s yet another reason why it is extremely unique as well. As a lager, possibly the best and possible the most unique I have ever had. It is a great beer despite the fact that it could be off putting to others and if you really want to find it, get it before it truly disappears for good!
Anime Corner:
Evelynn from League of Legends and Dia De Los Muertos by SanctusDesign of Deviant art were pretty much the best pairings I could find for this beer. Almost everything about the beer including Dia De Los Muertos and Even the very name of the beer pairs way too well that it even surprised me. Using Evelynn as she chases the reptile beast, we look at the name of the beer, La Jornada del Escorpion en Fuego hacia la casa del Chupacabra muerto. In English this means ‘The Path of the Fiery Scorpion through the House of the Dead Chupacabra’. As you can clearly see, Evelynn is the fiery scorpion and is chasing the dead Chupacabra(which back then people thought it was a lizard creature). Even the cloak the lizard beast wears along with the skeleton hands signifies it is death, so a Chupacabra of death or dead Chupacabra. The journey is basically Evelynn’s journey to catch that beast as fire spews from her finger tips. Think of this as a Scorpion trying to catch its prey and sting it to death. She also looks like the dead chick in the dia de los muertos. That’s where the next pairing comes in. Visually, the dia de los muertos chick looks very damn close to the label. What is surrounding her face is curvy plants that with the colors and shapes, kind of represents the 99 scorpions found in this great beer.
Sources:
http://stuffpoint.com/league-of-legends/image/190512-league-of-legends-eve-dia-de-los-muertos-halloween.jpg
http://sanctusdesign.deviantart.com/art/Dia-De-Los-Muertos-Da-368996612
Rating: 4.85/5
Señor Viejo by Twisted X brewing is an 8.8% ABV Schwarzbier/Imperial Black Lager Aged in Tequila Oak Barrels
Description:
This Schwarzbier has been “imperialized” (alcohol content increased) and then left to age in tequila barrels (used Jack Daniels barrels which are then used by Republic Tequila to age there tequila to Repasado or Anejo styles). Aging this unique beer in tequila barrels adds subtle flavors of vanilla and oak while the tequila adds a mild citrus/agave sweetness. At 8.2% alcohol by volume Senor Viejo is our strongest, most seasoned beer. About the name: Senor Viejo meaning “very old man” or “the old one”. Schwarzbier, or “black beer”, is a German dark lager beer. It has an opaque, black color and a full, chocolaty or coffee flavor. Although they share some similar flavors they are milder tasting and less bitter than British stouts or porters, owing to the use of lager rather than ale yeast and no roasted barley.
About the name:
Señor Viejo meaning “very old man” or “the old one” or “Veteran”. Schwarzbier, or “black beer”, is a German dark lager beer. It has an opaque, black color and a full, chocolaty or coffee flavor. Although they share some similar flavors they are milder tasting and less bitter than British stouts or porters, owing to the use of Mexican lager rather than ale yeast and no roasted barley.
___
Now this is very interesting… A Tequila Oak aged Black Lager. First of all, Tequila barrel aged beers are far few in between and to be able to have a lager one, that is is amazing. Thanks to my friend Aaron Mendiola at www.beermetaldude.com for hooking me up with this little bit of Texas gold. Now we can have one here on the site to share with the world. Many of the Tequila barrel aged beers have been, well, exceeding my expectations or just great. With this, I will see how it stands in comparison, but then again, this one seem more of the kind I would like to drink several of. We shall see, for now, Salud!
Aromas:
Roasted notes, mild earthy notes, dark chocolate, anise, molasses, oak hints, tequila, agave, dark fruit hints like raisins, figs and cherries, caramel, vanilla, smokey hints, brown sugar, rye bread, oatmeal cookies and mild tobacco.
Flavors:
Dark chocolate, spiced chocolate, milk chocolate, oak, tequila, mezcal, agave, vanilla, caramel, roasted notes, smokey notes, earthy notes, citrus, oatmeal cookies, leather, tobacco, molasses, rye bread, anise, walnuts, pecan pie, herbs, earthy hops, brown sugar, dark fruit raisins, figs and cherries.
Aftertaste:
Leaving some pecan pie, roasted notes, earthy dark chocolate, oak, tequila hints, agave and dark fruit hints. No alcohol in the taste. Brown full body, creamy and smooth mouthfeel, medium to sipping drinkability.
Overall:
Very delicious. This beer is pretty close to a Baltic Porter in the use of lager yeast. The complexities are there from Baltic Porters but the addition of Tequila aging adds some very special flavors to it and also the slight smokey flavors keeps this one interesting as well reminding you of the oak. There aren’t many lagers that make it high in the ratings since they are lagers and mainly low in alcohol but this beer is special just like some of the awesome lagers I have had in the past. The much stronger ABV ones ofcourse. Seek this one out!
Anime Corner:
Skeleton Angel original character was used in this pairing to signify mortality, Mexican tradition of dia de los muertos and to pair with the label. It goes to show, like Señor Viejo, everyone grows old and will eventually meet their own demise but not before enjoying your life and living for what it is worth. The golden hair represents the oak and tequila as well as the label. Great stuff.
Sources:
http://hqwallbase.com/images/big/skeleton_angel-1509823.jpg
Rating: 6/5
2014 Roble Blanco by The Bruery is a 15% ABV Wheat Wine/Sour Ale Aged in Tequila Barrels with Lime Juice, Lime Zest and Salt.
Label:
¡Que Delicioso!
This tangy, Mexican inspired ale has an agave-like sweetness, balanced with zesty limes and just a hint of salt.
Living in Southern California, we’re huge fans of both Mexican cuisine and, of course, Mexican cocktails. This is a tribute to our favorite blended fiesta beverage
___
Obtained as part of the Reserve Society membership, this beer was released as one of the mystery beers that was on the list for October. This beer is essentially a sour wheat ale that was aged in tequila to try and mimic the flavors of a margarita. I don’t know what to expect from this one. My only hope is that it is not too sweet or too sour but just right. I tend to gear more toward a balance when it comes to sours.
Aromas:
Lime candy, Bananas, plantains, Honey comb, sangria, mezal, tequila, oak, dulce de leche caramel, agave syrup, white raisins, honey dew melon, margarita, salt, grapefruit, coriander, orange, cinnamon hints, white wine, musty notes, leather and pecans.
Flavors:
Plantain, tequila, salt, agave syrup, white raisins, plums, apricot, margarita, lime candy, lime peel, rye, orange, grapefruit, blonde roasted barley, wheat grains, biscuit bread, sangria, mezcal, tejuino, bananas, oak, vanilla, dulde de leche caramel, honey, white wine, musty notes, raspberry skins, currants skints, dragon fruit peels, honey dew melon, cucumbers, mild coconut hints, leather notes, Danish pastry hints, capirotada raisin bread pudding, pecans, almonds, leche nestle condensed sweetened milk hints and apples.
Aftertaste:
Caramel, Lemon, Salt, Margarita, oak, honey comb, agave, tejuino and tequila finish. No alcohol in the taste, medium gold body, syrupy mouthfeel yet smooth and very drinkable for some damn reason making this one very dangerous drinking in one sitting.
Overall:
Such a damn resemblance to the salty lime tequila margarita it ain’t even funny. You really have to like that drink in order to understand how this one works. However, the only thing is that it is not overly sweet and the salt and lime clash for the balance to salty, sweet and sour. This cause the beer to be more balanced than a true sour. I had to stop drinking this for a while because it was way to damn drinkable for my own good and it was so delicious. Also that part of me that loves lemon and salt kicked into high gear so I may sound bias in my review but this one one hit certain sectors of flavors that were really awesome. I highly recommend it if you can find this one and you really like tequila, lime, salt and a ton of complexity.
Anime Corner:
Annet Myer/Futatabi from El Viento series was used in this pairing to go with the colors of the label but also the name as the work Roble means strong but also the act of aging which coincide with oak and tequila barrels. The rustling of lime trees to the wind or El Viento also link to the beer but also Annet herself since she has the colors of a margarita, she is the Roble Blanco or strong White and she is from Peru meaning Latina. She may not be Mexican, but she is bad ass and her magic abilities (Complex flavors) and strength (ABV) as well as the fact that she is fast as El Viento/TheWind (Smoothness) is enough to mess you up if you dare take her on!
Sources:
http://nidavellirstudios.deviantart.com/art/El-Viento-Annet-Myer-376359191
Rating: 6/5
Tequila Barrel Aged Sucré (6th Anniversary Ale) by The Bruery is a 15% ABV Old Ale aged in Tequila Barrels.
Label:
100% Ale aged in Tequila Barrels
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.
___
They had to go there didn’t they?! A Tequila Barrel Aged variant of their Anniversary beer was released with extreme exclusivity to the Reserve and Hoarders Society. Tequila barrel aged beers is something that is not common. In fact it is not likely to happen again. When it comes to Tequila Barrel aged beers, I have only tried Cucapa’s Tequila Barrel Aged Barley Wine, Cigar City’s Murcielago, The Lost Abbey Agave Maria, Golden Road’s El Hefe Añejo, Mikkeler Mexas Ranger Tequila, and a small percentage of Firestone’s PNC which was included in their awesome Anniversary Ales. So as you can see, the struggle is real in terms of luck of getting to try these. So if you are lucky to get an exclusive bottle, good luck!
Aromas:
Sangria Vampiro, Mezcal hints, Tequila, Rich dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, oak, bananas, plantains, dark cherries, dark fruit plums, brown sugar, milk and dark chocolate, cinnamon, apples, peaches apricot, raspberry chambord, agave nectar, pilloncillo sugar cone, apples, peaches, apricot, wine grapes, pecan pie, marshmallow, toasted coconut, waffle cone, chocolate cake, molasses, whiskey notes, maple syrup, toffee, candi sugars, Lechugilla Juice, raisin bread pudding, rye, burn sugars, fruit cake, butterscotch, crème brulee, rum notes, clove spice, floral notes and aloe.
Flavors:
Dark Fruits like raisins, figs, Sangria Vampiro, Mezcal, Tequila, rich dulce de leche caramel, camote sweet potato, vanilla cinnamon, oak, bananas, plantains, clove spice, milk and dark chocolate apples, apricots, peaches, raspberry chambord, agave nectar, chocolate cake, pilloncillo sugar cone, whiskey notes, peaches, peach cobbler, pecan pie, French Vanilla pecan pie, Lechugilla, tamarind,molasses, maple syrup, raisin bread pudding, rye, burnt sugars, butterscotch, brown sugar, crème brulee, rum notes, clove spice, toasted coconut, fruit cake, aloe, floral notes, dark cherries, plums, hazelnut, molasses, maple syrup, toffee, Tamarindo tequila and wine grapes.
Aftertaste:
Chocolate, caramel, agave, mezcal, sangria hints, oak, vanilla, tequila and vanilla linger. A small amount of alcohol in the taste but mainly covered by the sweet sugar, smooth but sipping kind of beer. Quite dangerous like the other variants, so delicious with a full mouth beer.
Overall:
Exceptionally ridiculicious!! The notes of tequila help the Sucré differentiate itself from some of the other BBA Sucrés I have tried including those at the Bruery and the Tawny Porter. Like I said, Tequila Barrel aged beers are so far few and in between but everyone I have had so far I just love big time. This is no exception and makes me wish they made more Tequila Barrel Aged beers in the craft world. Bourbon Barrels are awesome in their own right but as we see more and more spirits variations, the use of them could make for an even greater variation of beer world complexity. This variant of Sucré is probably my favorite of all of them so far. The Sangria, Tequila and Tamarind notes really characterize Sucré into more of a spanish Azucar!! Definitely recommended no doubt if you can find this variant.
Anime Corner:
Asuka Langley Shikinami/Sohryu and Mari Illustrious from Evangelion were used in this pairing mainly because Mari I had originally chosen for the original Sucré. The addition of Asuka as opposed to what I had used in the Tawny Port Wine Barrel edition of Sucré where the port wine represented Mari unleashing a berserk mode, Asuka brought forth the Tequila and Agave Sugar. Long ago I did an Agave nectar Bruery beer called Cuádruple in which Asuka was the pairing. Asuka was used in the Bruery’s Fruet and I mentioned how Fruet was the price of a bottle of Patron Tequila. Yes, expensive indeed. So in relation how Mari’s Berserk mode meeting Asuka’s Tequila references, thus this pairing was born!! That and the fact that there is a lot of Asuka and Mari artwork for the new Eva 3.0, but that is besides the point!
Sources:
http://konachan.com/post/show?md5=3dc636e953de1fbdd580f4728afccf98
http://i6.minus.com/ibhc6SlHJ3mzrs.jpg
Rating: 6/5
Agave Maria by The Lost Abbey is a 13.5% ABV American Strong Ale brewed with Agave syrup and aged in Tequila barrels.
Label:
It was an oppressively hellish day in dusty Jalisco when I first encountered Margarita Mary. The locals preferred a more sacred name and simply called her Agave Maria. Painted on a courtyard mural over a century ago. Maria stood like a mother watching over her children protecting them as their divine inspiration.
She blessed every child birth in the village and acted as the refuge during feverish outbreak that threatened the workers. But most importantly each and every day employees dropped to their knees in prayer asking her to provide safety to the jimadors in the fields and the distilleries in the factory. Maria was simply everything to everyone.
All of the agave piñas harvested from the fields passed beneath her outstretched arms as if she was bearing witness to the liquid they would weep while the candles at her feet flickered, never being allowed to extinguish. Because we love the spirit she blesses so very much, we have released this beer in her honor. We hope that you too will find some room in your life for Agave Maria.
___
A seasonal by the Lost Abbey and I am sure I would gladly pick up more as I go. I was pretty surprised that the Lost Abbey decided to use the virgin Mary for their label. While none of it seems to be pocking fun at religion, I am sure there maybe the conservatives that may see this as blasphemous. I am a Catholic and I for one like what they have to say about this beer as it is made to honor her name, even if the name is a little different but her not is not said in vain and that is what is important. Aside from that, this beer as Tequila Barrel aged so just the thought of trying a Tequila barrel aged beer made by the Lost Abbey especially, there was no way I wouldn’t try this.
Aromas:
Wow! It smells like Mezcal, tequila, agave nectar and rich dark fruit raisins, brown sugar, dulce de leche caramel and more. It also has oak notes, pepper, plums, bananas, candi sugar, pan dulce, capirotada, walnuts, pecans, plantains, dark chocolate, flan, crème brulee, coconut, sangria, prunes, marshmallows and toffee. Lot’s going on here.
Flavors:
Very rich agave nectar, mezcal, sangria, dark fruits like raisins, plums, bananas, dulce de leche caramel, capirotada raisins bread pudding, pepper, oak, tequila, flan, cinnamon, chocolate covered plantains, leche nestle condenced sweetend milk, coconut, rich vanilla, molasses, grape jelly on rye toast, currrants, cherries, chocolate cake, marshmallow, rocky road ice cream notes,wine notes, toffee, leather notes, molasses, anise, prunes and honey.
Aftertaste:
Lingering Tequila, mezcal sangria, raisins, dulce de leche caramel, toffee, bananas, . While the may seem slightly present, it does not detract from the taste nor is it harsh. A sipping yet very smooth beer. Full mouth feel but syrupy in a way as well.
Overall:
No denying it, the best Tequila barrel aged beer I have ever had and that’s a lot since there is hardly many Tequila barrel aged beers out there and of the few I have had this one, is damn amazing. Right next to the Barley wine they made (Sede Vacante), this is the next best one. So much going on here. It is almost like a Belgian quad meets Mexican tequila barrels and creates a truly heavenly beer. I am glad they are releasing this more often as many will want to try it and I am sure many will definitely be intrigued. Go get this bottle of holy!
Anime Corner:
What goes good with Agave Maria? Well, I wanted to keep this pairing very special but also wanted to be awe inspiring and artistic so I paired with it with Mary/Madonna and Child by ninebreaker of deviantart.com. Sure it may note be all the way anime, but some artistic aspects of this piece are both honoring and anime. It pairs very well with the colors of the label but also the story in the label advising about how Maria took care of her children. This is one pairing I definitely loved. Let me know what you think.
Rating: 5.8/5 * This version has been aged for 1 year since it’s release
Firestone XVI Sixteenth Anniversary Ale by Firestone Walker is a 13% ABV American Strong Ale combining several blends of beers all into this fine master piece. I had saved an extra bottle from last year to present during the time that the 17th anniversary was to be released. It was stowed away for the entire year. I will not go into much detail about the label or the strategy guide as I literally wrote a book on reviewing this beer last year. This year the 17th anniversary is around the corner and will be heading to many stores all over. Therefore, I will try and pick up a bottle to bring forth a review. Hopefully better or as good as last year’s review which you can check out on the link below.
Link the last year’s Review: https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2012/11/21/firestone-xvi-sixteenth-anniversary-ale-by-firestone-walker/
Today, I want to go over the evolution and differences that I will try and pick up from last year to see what may have changed or reviewed from last years. First thing I can already tell is that it feels boozier from last year. Could have possibly grown to a 14 or 15% ABV. The difficulty in this review is trying to get the development from last years and how the strategy guide is useless here as I cannot tell which of the individual blends has developed more as the complexity has gone beyond my understanding. Either way, cheers and wish me luck.
Developed Aromas are of more dark fruits, more chocolate covered raisins, dulce de leche caramel, rich vanilla, coffee, smokey undertone, dark cherries, agave nectar, rocky road ice cream, ferro rocher chocolate pecan pie, bigger amounts of oak, bourbon, tequila, coconut, a wine grape character, chunky munky banana and cherry ice cream and kahlua coffee
Flavors have developed into more of rich rock road icecream with pecans, coconut, marshmallows, whiskey, agave tequila, wine hints, agave nectar, dark cherry yogurt undertone, raisins, dark and lighter fruits like peach and mango, caramel, kahlua chocolate, almond joy chocolate, banana chunky munky, smokey oak, vanilla, mocha frappuccino notes, more danish cookies, more leche nestle, maple, pecan pie and other complex flavors.
Aftertaste is of dark fruit, chocolate, roasted coffee beans and distinct liquor booziness. Nothing that is overwhelming or burning. In fact, it almost feels like the beer has mellowed out and gotten a bit smoother too. A definite sipper still though, this is a heavy ABV beer.
Overall:
More spectacular than before. You will get more enhanced flavors like stronger dark fruit and chocolate flavors along with a bigger booziness that plays well with others. You can tell there is a difference in the liquors as well, like the tequila and bourbon. I would definitely recommend it if you missed out on last years as this one was made with PNC. This year’s is made with Velvet Merkin, so I will definitely try my best to bring that beer forward here. Definitely a pick up if you can get it.
Anime Corner:
This is Shiba’i Chuutatsu from the Battle Vixens Series is the main Spoiler Alert Villain, goes by Kentei Spoiler Ends. This character, while deceiving others to be handicap, has no remorse towards others, much less her own comrades in the series. The dragon tatoos on her arms glow as she powers up her chi. She is actually very powerful when she unleashes her dragon stage. Oh yeah, she can play guitar too, go figure.
In the last beer review, I posted most of the cast of Battle Vixens “Ikki Tousen” but I also posted one of Sonsaku Hakufu, the protagonist of the series who also has the spirit of the Dragon. I have only seen he first half of the series but I understand it is her destiny to stop the villain. In both pictures here I wanted to show 2 abstracts. In the first picture I wanted to show how some of the colors of the label fit Hakufu in the picture. The cast of the series is supposed to represent the different beer blends that go into making this beer. In this beer review, we can see how they have “developed” or most of them. The colors of Shiba’i’s outfit were perfect for the label but in contrast with the development of the beer’s dark fruit, chocolate and dark cherry flavors, I wanted to show how the powerful this character was. Also, her hair is pink so that’s another fruit like cherry. You be the judge
Rating: 4.8/5
Cuádruple 2011 edition by The Bruery is a 10% ABV Provision Series Belgian Quadruple brewed with Agave
Label:
Cuádruple is our spin on the classic Belgian-style quadruple, brewed with a heaping amount of dark agave nectar. It will age gracefully for several years.
Description (beeradvocate):
Cuádruple combines elements of Belgium with elements of Mexico, hence the name, meaning “quadruple” in Spanish. We blended a classic Belgian quad recipe by removing the standard Belgian candi sugars and replacing them with dark agave syrup. The resulting beer is a luxurious tribute to two very different parts of the world.
___
Was able to find this bottle at the Bruery tasting room for a decent amount. Interesting for them to sell a beer that has not been seen for several years. Oh well, when the opportunity rises. This beer has been aging for 2 years so I wanted to get a review going. There are not of agave beers out there or Tequila barrel aged beers for this matter. This one is unique since it is one of my favorite styles but made with agave instead. I have had agave juice by itself on several occasions as many of the local Mexican super markets sell the little bags of juice. As a kid, this was my version of Hi-C
Aromas of this beer are of agave juice,lots of candi sugar, dulce de leche caramel on pecan pie, a sweet potato like fragrance, raisin bread pudding, plums, dates, rich figs, toffee, cinnamon, brown sugar and molasses.
The flavors are of definitely of a quadruple with the dulce de caramel, raisins, figs, plums, candi sugars, dates, ripe banana notes and spicy cloves followed by agave juice, dark chocolate, vanilla, dried apricots, sweet potato pie, pecans, walnuts, molasses and Tequila notes.
The flavors stay consistent through and through always bringing out rich quad notes with agave sweetness. After taste stays sweet with apricot bitterness and raisin sweetness. The beer hides the 10% ABV well making it of decent drinkability. An amazing beer with great flavors. Belgian beer lovers will find this one a bit different. The agave nectar really does the job taking the Belgian quad into more of a Mexican approach on delicious flavor.
Rating: 4.8/5
Mexas Ranger (Tequila Barrel Aged) by Mikkeller is a 6.6% ABV Chile beer brewed with spices, almond milk, cocoa, chiles, black beans, avocado leaves and aged in tequila barrels.
This beer has no description hardly and if I were to guess what it might taste like, it would be close to the complexity I got in El Murcielago (https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2012/10/30/el-murcielago-by-cigar-city/)
I have had other Tequila barrel aged beers like Firestone 16th (https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2012/11/21/firestone-xvi-sixteenth-anniversary-ale-by-firestone-walker/) which adds tequila barrel aged PNC and the Cupapa Tequila Barrel aged beer(https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2012/10/25/tequila-barrel-aged-ale-by-cerveceria-cucapa-of-mexicali/)
The aromas are very complex. Just like that which I remember of El Murcielago. Like having a Chicken Lime dinner plate with fragrance of avocado, lemon, tequila, chocolate, chile spices, Chile Tapatio, slight mole, frijoles, slight almond or pecan, slight tortilla, limes, tomato and oysters . The flavors are of tapatio and raw chiles if they were sweeter and a lot of less heat, tomatoes, onions, tequila, Abuelita’s dark bitter chocolate, almond joy coconut and chocolate, hazelnut, special spices, slight bitter avocado peel, lime, mole, beans, vanilla, raisins, caramel, some bitter or salty oyster like notes, herbal hops, garlic, soy sauce, agave, oak, wine grape sourness some biscuit bread and corn tortillas. I don’t know whether the label is racist or not. I don’t really care though. I am Mexican and I find this beer very intriguing. The label maybe controversial, but the beer is not controversial at all. This was similar to El Murcielago in many ways. It is still a very complex style of beer that is close to some Mexican spices as possible but still carrying the overall bitterness and chocolate with it. It is weird but deliciously awesome. A must get if you can find the Tequila version.
Brewerianimelogs (Anime and Beer Lore) 
