Tag Archives: Touhou Project

Candy Sours Series – Peach Ring by Valiant brewing

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Rating: 6/6

Candy Sours Series – Peach Ring by Valiant brewing is a 4% ABV American Wild Ale brewed with Peach Ring Candies

Label:
Candy Sour Beers! What else will we think of? Our team was let loose in the brewery and came up with a unique twist of combining a Wild Sour Ale with the sweet enjoyable flavors of candies that we call our “Candy Sours”.

In this limited series, Peach Ring Sour which is responsible for the original concept showcases a brite peach aroma followed by a sweet and juicy fruit flavor but finishes on the tart side.

==Introduction==

My first beer from valiant brewing. I had only recently heard of this series and with the news of Valiant brewing closing, I definitely wanted to bring one of these the site, especially since it has Willy Wonka on the cover. The sour series also has other brews that are candy based which makes me really believe that they are truly adding candy at some point in the process. Who could resist though? Going back to the days of being a kid and eating all sorts of awesome Willy Wonka candies is amazing. So implement that with the love of craft beer and we have pairing. Candy Beers! Let’s see what this one is about, cheers!

Aromas:
Fakey peach flavors (It’s literal Candy), peach jolly ranchers, apricots and wine grape hints.

Flavors:
Tart stone fruit peach, apricot, peach cobbler, super rich Trolli peach candies, grape hints and strawberry hints.

Aftertaste:
Finishing dry with slight notes of peach candy, biscuit bread and grape tartness. No alcohol in the taste, golden peach light body, crisp, refreshing and smooth moughfeel with a ridiculously easy drinkabaility.

Overall:
How can I say that I don’t like this, when I absolutely and ridiculously enjoy this. You see, this beer has very little complexity. I usually grade higher per complexity and over enjoyment. Complexity had nothing to do with this one. The fact is, you are drinking liquid Peach Sour Trolli rings. They did exactly and as cleanly as possible a beer that is exactly how is supposed to taste. Essentially they made a perfect beer. Granted, the label tells you exactly what this is supposed to be so don’t expect anything else. It literally is peach sour rings in a bottle. I highly recommend this without a doubt to any one that loves these candies! Beer lover or not! Now I only wish Valiant wasn’t leaving us!

Anime Corner:
Tenshi Hinanawi from Touhou was chosen in this pairing as I was going for a character that would pair well with the peaches but also Willy Wonka with the cane. Tenshi was the right choice as she wears a hat with peaches and the look she has in the art looks like a bad ass. So with that being said I also added some references to “peaches” as well.

Sources:
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CwNuLNqUAAAjbdP.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/c9/d1/83/c9d183f882dba6bcd09cfe5723138aa0.jpg
https://nijiero-ch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/nijich1486256401470241.jpg

PKL FKR by New Braunfels Brewing

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15128900_10103729927721910_5909407662739951759_oRating: 5/5
 
PKL FKR by New Braunfels Brewing is a 3.2% ABV Berliner Weisse refermented with Wild Yeast and Bacteria and blended with Pickle Juice.
 
Commercial Description:
Our lemon-lime Berliner Weisse gets a little star treatment.
Refermented 6 weeks to dry the beer and add a little funky notes to our normally crisply sour wheat beer.
After secondary fermentation, PKL FKR is blended with fresh pickle juice.
It’s a pucker party and you’re invited!
 
==Introduction==
15123456_10103729927736880_6475191049864814224_o
Pickle Fucker (Awesome Name) was sent to me thanks to my good friend and fellow beer reviewer, Aaron Mendiola of BeerMetalDude.com. This is a definitely unique beer. I have not really seen a beer made with pickles anywhere. My friend William told me about a brew he tried that was made with pickles in a tap room one time but I can kind of see why pickle juice would work with something like this. The closest thing I can think of with special sour beers is the Srichelada from Angel City. That beer was definitely made in the form of a Michelada. Essentially a sour and salty type of brew that is typically made with tomato and clam juice. So, would this be more of a Gose instead of a Berliner Weisse? Well, let’s have a look, cheers!
 
Aromas:
Lemons, Pickles, biscuit bread, sea salt, pilsner grain, grape hints, stone fruit hints, pepper corn, earthy notes, cane sugar and tejuino maize drink.
 
Flavors:
Lots of pickle and cucumber juice, lemon, limes, salt, tejuino maize, biscuit bread, wheat bread, pilsner grain, grape hints, cherry hints, peppercorn, stone fruit apricot hints, mango hints, citrus, herbal and earthy notes, funky vegetable notes and cane sugar hints.
 
Aftertaste:
Finishing dry with notes of pickles, lemon, salt and fruity hints. No alcohol in the taste, golden pale light body, crisp, clean, refreshing and effervescent mouthfeel along with a very easy drinkability.
 
Overall:
Damn session-ably delicious brew! I’ll be honest, this is pretty damn unique. I like my salty and lemon beers every not and again or even pickled foods like pickles, eggs or pigs feet. So let’s put it this way, if you do not like pickles or pickled anything, you probably will not like this. I definitely enjoyed this and would like to have it again. The perfect grading is mainly due to my own personal preference in the fact that I love umami like flavors, its uniqueness and the fact that this is exactly what they were going for, a pickle flavored beer.
15068886_10103729927726900_6792737206967806139_o
Anime Corner:
Nitori Kawashiro from Touhou Project was chosen in this pairing as she represents Kappas. Kappas are these turtle like humanoids from Japanese folklore and love pickles/cucumbers. So her colors as well as theme she brings go with this beer as it is all about pickles and cucumbers.
 
Sources:

À Tout Le Monde collaboration by Unibroue and MegaDeth

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14883415_10103680009368690_1907635724546794978_oRating: 4.5/5

À Tout Le Monde collaboration by Unibroue and MegaDeth is a 4.5% ABV Canadian Saison/ Farmhouse ale brewed with spices and Dry hopped.

Commercial Description:
A new beer from Unibroue born of the friendship between its Brewmaster Jerry Vietz and Dave Mustaine, legendary lead vocalist and founder of heavy metal group Megadeth, is officially launching today in the U.S. and Quebec. Named À TOUT LE MONDE as a nod to one of the band’s songs and one of their biggest hits in Quebec, this beer recalls the consonance of Unibroue’s flagship beer, La Fin du Monde.

Dave Mustaine became friends with Jerry Vietz during Megadeth tours in Quebec. During their time together, Dave and Jerry created À TOUT LE MONDE as a symbol of their friendship. “At Unibroue, we appreciate flavour – and we know Megadeth is anything but boring,” explains Jerry Vietz, Brewmaster at Unibroue. “To Megadeth’s delight and that of their fans and connoisseurs, we’re offering an uncompromising beer with rich hoppy aromas, created according to Dave’s personal tastes.”

“Our shared passion for excellence produced a one-of-a-kind saison beer,” added Dave Mustaine, Megadeth’s lead vocalist and founder. “I’m thrilled to present this new beer to my fans, and everyone who loves good beers with character.”

À TOUT LE MONDE ale is a flavorful Belgian style dry hopped golden saison with hoppy and spicy notes. Topped by an unctuous head, this beer will give fans a clean, fresh taste and a crisp dry finish inviting to take another sip.
14882116_10103680009228970_3108229184532765293_o
==Introduction==

À Tout Le Monde or “For all the world or everyone” is inspired by the actual song in MegaDeth’s 1994 album, Youthanasia. This is the first time MegaDeth joins the craft beer scene after several awesome bands like AC/DC, Iron Maiden and many others worked to release their own brews. This choice to release something light was chosen as it would appeal to the massed. Basically something you can drink a lot of and still enjoy. It seems like a great choice and now that the beer is here on the site, let’s see what this awesome stuff is about. Cheers!

Aromas:
Stone fruit peaches, apricots, pepper corn, Herbal, Floral, spicy, earthy and tropical hops, coriander hints, lavender, farmhouse hay, biscuit bread and honey.

Flavors:
Herbal, Floral, spicy, earthy and tropical hops, peppercorn spice, Stone fruit peaches, apricots, mango, farmhouse hay, lavender, banana notes, honey, biscuit bread, wheat, vanilla, lemon zest, clove spices, sour apple notes, cane sugar hints, coriander notes and cranberry hints.

Aftertaste:
Finishes semi dry rich with notes of Stone fruits, biscuit bread, herbal, floral and earthy hops. No alcohol in the taste, hazy pale yellow medium body, crisp, clean, refreshing and effervescent mouth feel along with a sipping drinkability.

Overall:
A very good saison that has many of the awesome flavors you would find from many of the great saisons out there. While I think it does not bring anything new that I haven’t had before, this one is still awesome and delicious. I would definitely say this one is a good gateway representative and definitely something many people will enjoy, especially since it is Megadeth after all. Find this one, especially if you are a fan.
14876459_10103680009223980_5531352409072110812_o
Anime Corner:
Sakuya Izayoi from Touhou Project and Vic Rattlehead from Megadeath were used in this pairing as I was definitely trying to search for Megadeth and anime. Long behold, I found these to be tagged with Megadeth on them. First, since Vic is in the label and second, Sakuya relates to it as she has the guitar and she stands in front of the lyrics “Never Walk Alone” and “Call to Arms”.
14876459_10103680009253920_2680722623067313019_o


Sources:
http://i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/155/816/00b6f66b4302028ff09a6b784c01bdcd.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/tjz9tjZ.jpg
http://i2.ruliweb.com/img/16/07/31/1563f74b4f646c91a.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/pq8bV3I.jpg

 

Palo Santo Marron by Dogfish Head

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12495229_10103093355452840_856366829534650952_nRating: 5.25/6

Palo Santo Marron by Dogfish Head is a 12% ABV Brown ale aged on Palo Santo Wood.

Label:
An unfiltered, unfettered, unprecedented brown ale aged in handmade wooden brewing vessels. The caramel and vanilla complexity unique to this beer comes from the exotic Paraguayan Palo Santo wood from which these tanks were crafted. At 10,000 gallons each, these are the largest wooden brewing vessels built in American since before Prohibition. It’s all very exciting. We have wood. Now you do too.

Palo Santo means “holy tree,” and its wood has been used in South American wine-making communities.

==Introduction==

I got this one at Mr. K’s Liquor next to the Bruery in Placentia California. For many of the Dogfish Head beers, especially the strong ABV ones, they have been very delicious. I especially like the ones that reach into the double digits like the Fort, Worldwide Stout and their recent 20th anniversary. Definitely in your face, best beers out there. I found this one for a couple of bucks. You don’t see that from other brews especially with double digit ABVs. Even if it is not a 22oz, still good price. So with this one, being one I had not tried before, I could not pass it up and bring it to the website. So here is the Palo Santo. Not sure why they call it Holy Trees since Palo in Spanish is actually “stick”. Anyways, cheers!

Aromas:
Dark fruit cherries, raisins, plums, figs, dates, blueberries, blackberries marshmallows, campfire smores, graham crackers, capirotada raisins bread pudding, flan, Belgian candy sugars, sweetened condensed milk notes and fruit cake.

Flavors:
Dulce de leche burnt caramel on wooden container, vanilla, cinnamon, pecan pie, hazelnut nectar, capirotada raisins bread pudding, flan, Belgian candy sugars, bananas, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, oak, toffee, molasses, clove spice, dark fruit raisins, plums, figs, dates, cherries, blueberries, blackberries, blueberry cobbler, sweetened condensed milk notes, fruit cake, marshmallows, strawberries, campfire smores and graham crackers.

Aftertaste:
Finishes very rich with caramel, dark fruits, oak, toffee, vanilla candi sugar, clove spice and bananas. No alcohol in the taste, pitch black dark full body, creamy, smooth and syrupy mouthfeel along with a sipping drinkability.

Overall:
An exceptional brew! Why I haven’t bothered to pick this up is beyond me but definitely something I wish I had sooner. At 12% ABV, the rich maltiness covers all! So rich and complex, I will definitely enjoyed this. The malt forward profile is what dominates the beer so if you love malty brews, this is king. Especially for the price, I recommend people get this one. If they sell it in packs of 4, I would definitely get it. A high ABV go to beer!

Anime Corner:
Shameimaru Aya from Touhou project was used in this pairing to mainly go with some of the colors of the autumn leaves, the trees and the feathers are similar to the indigenous cultures that make up a lot of the wine using this type of wood. The colors of the label, flavors and ingredients seem to complement the artwork as well too.

Sources:
http://mblogthumb4.phinf.naver.net/20150515_167/tomato2006_1431688981078eyOHu_JPEG/31067277.jpg?type=w2

Before-After by Rinkuškiai brewery of Lithuania

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12604897_10103044460917880_3285743516215706029_oRating: 4.5/5

Before-After by Rinkuškiai brewery of Lithuania is a 12% ABV Triple Bock.

Label:
Brewery Rinkuškiai was established in the year 1991 in Biržai region known as Beer Country in Lithuania. Rinkuškiai beer quality is the result of old traditions of Beer Country, experience of te past generations, and innovations of the modern days. That makes Rinkuškiai beer on of the most exclusive in Luthania. This beer is naturally fermented.

==Introduction==

I obtained this one at Total Wine and More. When I first saw it I didn’t think much of it but when I saw it again when I went with my friend Will last year, I had to get it. As it turned out, it was a very good and boozy beer. It was not like strong boozy but the sweet flavors provided that it was a strong beer and complexity convinced me to bring it to the website. Hence, I went for another. I have never tried anything from this brewery in Europe. They have other beers I have seen which I might take a look as I did enjoy this one. Onward to the review!

Aromas:
Rich toffee, caramel, honey, tropical and stone fruit hints like peaches, mango, passion fruit, citrus, oranges, banana, clove spice, dark fruit hints of grapes, raisins, figs, pilsner malts, rye bread, vanilla and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Honey, malty, rich caramel, toffee, biscuit bread, dark fruit raisins, dates, figs, pilsner malt, hazelnut, rye bread, bananas, clove spice, grapes, orange citrus, tropical notes of passion fruit, dragon fruit, cherries, oranges, candied apples, stone fruit peaches, mango hints, cinnamon, fruit cake, toasted rye bread with tangerine preserves.

Aftertaste:
Finishes really malty with caramel, dark fruit, hints of stone fruit, tropical fruit and rich caramel. Slight booziness in the taste. Golden light body, syrupy, vinous and creamy mouthfeel with a sipping drinkability.

Overall:
A very good beer! I think the fact that the sweetness does come from the caramelized alcohol is the best part. Some people will not like this simply since the beer is sweet and boozy but those that like that kind of stuff should give this a shot. They don’t make great tasting beers with high alcohol levels at cheap prices. They usually make strong nasty stuff for cheap but this is well made.

Anime Corner:
Fujiwara No Mokou and Onozuka Komachi from Touhou Project were used in this project as I wanted to pair something with the label that shows both sides. The before and after, the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the Ying and Yang… you get the picture. Essentially something that would pair with the label. I think the meaning of the label is to say, after a few of these, people will look different or you yourself will look different. A pun at getting wasted. Crazy potions!

Sources:
https://anime-pictures.net/pictures/get_image/209542-1321×933-touhou-fujiwara+no+mokou-onozuka+komachi-red+eyes-multiple+girls-twintails.jpg

Peach Bexarliner by Freetail Brewing

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12507521_10103028606974310_8776022495670884390_nRating: 4.75/5

Peach Bexarliner by Freetail Brewing is a 6.5% ABV Berlinerweisse brewed with peaches.

Label:
As summer swelters on, we bring you this wistful twist on our tart seasonal Berliner Weisse. Brewed to a higher gravity and refermented on Texas peaches, this refreshing ale recalls the first blossom of spring and the fulfilled promise of the fruits of summer.

==Introduction==

Another awesome brew from my friend Aaron Mendiola of BeerMetaldude.com makes its way to the site. This time, a Berliner from Freetail with peaches. Typically, Berliners are tart to sour like light and refreshing brews. With the addition of peaches to this one, I would think it would enhance the stone fruit presence of the original beer. Freetail is one of my favorites so far from Texas and the fact that we have some of their beers on the site here is definitely an honor. Without further ado, let us analyze this brew. Cheers!

Aromas:
Stone fruits, lemon peel, waffle cone, biscuit bread, coriander spice, peppercorn, pilsnery malt, orange peels, wheat bread, biscuit bread, honey and grape notes.

Flavors:
Stone fruit Tart and rich peaches, apricots, mango hints, biscuit bread, wheat, coriander spice, orange peel, tart white grapes, cranberry hints, wheat bread, dough, honey, strawberry hints, tangerines, vanilla, cane sugar, passion fruit hints, lemon peel, sweet limes, waffle cone, peach cobbler and sweetened condensed milk hints

Aftertaste:
Finishing dry with some left over tartness from the stone fruits, wine grape notes, sweet biscuit bread
No alcohol in the taste. Hazy golden body, rich, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel and easy to drink.

Overall:
A Berliner that is jam packed full of peaches and still has delicious tartness to boot. I like how the edge of sweetness is balancing with the tartness reminding you this is still a tarty sour beer but still sweet. I think this would probably be the best Berliner I have had in a while and I give thanks to my friend Aaron for sending this my way. A definite recommend.

Anime Corner:
Tenshi Hinanawi from Touhou Project was brought back to a beer pairing with peaches as I like using her in reviews especially with peach beers. This time however, I was able to nail an artwork that best paired not only with the flavors of the beer but the nice colors of the label with the reds, blues, yellows and other colors. A sweet pairing overall.

Sources:
http://cdn.aixifan.com/dotnet/artemis/u/cms/www/201403/20191458uhcc.png

Cyanide & Hoppiness by Flat Tail brewing

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11885034_10102776716285270_7261195933923887677_o 11951666_10102776716644550_6130806354670477979_oRating: 5/5

Cyanide & Hoppiness by Flat Tail brewing is a 7.5% ABV American IPA brewed with Apricots.

Label:
*Does Not Include Actual Cyanide
You hold in your hands the perfect fusion between a beer and an internet cartoon. One half hops, barley, and a stainless steel, the other half digital comedy transmitted across the world via electric cables. As you take your first sip, you’ll be transported to a world of offensive stick figures and puns, hop cones, and golden waves of grain. Tasty beer meets tasteless comics, Hops meet Cyanide, Cyanide & Hoppiness.

Get it?

==Introduction==

Originally brewed for the San Diego Comic, this beer was a collaboration with Cyanide and Happiness Comics and Flat Tail Brewing. I was introduced to the comics when I first started my new job about a year ago. My fellow coworkers Anthony and Luna showed me these hilarious stick figure comics that reminded me so much of the Oatmeal. Who knew they would ever come out with an IPA? Which is really awesome because as different genres of entertainment and hobbies start to mix with the craftbeer, we get to see more and more pairings. I for one take stand at introducing the genre of anime and beers with my reviews, pairings and even my home brews. Hopefully one day I can bring about the genre close to those that really love both! Cheers!

Aromas:
Rich stone fruit apricot and peach aromas, pears, mango, pears, kiwi, apples, exotic dragon fruit, passion fruit, lychee fruit, grapefruit, citrus, tangerine, sweetened condensed milk hints, guava, tropical papaya, pineapple, tres leches/3 milks cream hints, vanilla, coconut hints, strawberry, raspberries, prickly pears, gummy bears, toffee, vanilla, biscuit bread, grassy, herbal, dank, floral and piney hops

Flavors:
Rich citrus, stone fruit peaches, apricots, pears, apple hints, mango, kiwi, guava, tropical papaya, pineapple, exotic dragon fruit, passion fruit, lychee fruit, grapefruit, citrus, tangerine, sweetened condensed milk hints, vanilla, biscuit bread, grassy, herbal, dank, floral and piney hops, strawberry notes, tres leches/3 milks cream hints, vanilla, coconut hints, raspberries, prickly pears, gummy bears, toffee and wild flowers.

Aftertaste:
Rich apricot, tropical notes, mango, grapefruit, grassy, piney and floral hops, gummy bears and oranges. No alcohol in the taste, hazy tang colored light to medium body, silky, syrupy, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel and a moderate drinkability.

Overall:
Hot Diggity damn, such a damn great IPA! So much of the tropical fruits that I love from an IPA are pushed more forward into the flavors than absolute hop bitterness but actually balances out. For a 7.5% ABV, it is not overpowering in some aspects. I feel even the most novice of craft beer enthusiast will have a special place for this one. You should definitely look for this one if you can find it.

Anime Corner:
Tenshi Hinanawi Touhou project was used in this beer pairing as I wanted to pair with the colors of the label but just the crazy amount of fruit flavors and freshness that are in this one. The summer is almost over but this one has been one of the top for the summer for sure. As a bonus, I wanted to through in a little tribute and do a pairing with Cyanide and Happiness and their anime comic they did. Perfect pairings!

Sources:
http://orig06.deviantart.net/9e25/f/2014/189/4/e/tensi______________by_peonymochi-d7pqrsg.jpg
http://explosm.net/comics/1355/

Chronology:12 by The Bruery

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11935173_10102772114043200_7490712532104656261_o 11856483_10102772113464360_8611407237539458462_oRating: 5.85/6

Chronology:12 by The Bruery is a 16.7% ABV English Old Ale Aged in Bourbon Barrels for 12 months.

Label:
TICK TOCK
12 months Oak Aged Ale
This English-Style Old Ale is the second in a chronologically aged series that will be released at 6 month intervals for a fascinating view of evolution.

Our Chronology series is an experiment with time. A single beer will aged in bourbon barrels and be released 6, 12, 18 and 24 month periods. Delicious while fresh, but existing to taste side by side upon each subsequent released as time moves forward.

==Introduction==

It has been another 6 months since the release of the original Chronology. Sold to members of the Reserve and Hoarders Societies of the Bruery. A this point, you can actually visit the Bruery and may get a taste if it is still available. So as stated before in my last review, the challenge of this beer is to figure out what has changed either for the better or for the worse. An interesting challenge they present. Lets take a look at the 12 month version shall we?

Aromas:
Rich dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, oak, bourbon, coconut, marshmallows, milk chocolate, almond joy chocolate, chocolate truffle ice cream, wine grapes, raspberry chambord, piloncillo sugar cone, waffle cone, Belgian Waffles, peanut butter, sweetened condensed milk, raspberry syrup, Danish cookies, dark fruit cherries, raspberries, black currants, plums, figs, raisins, honey, bananas, clove spice, waffle cone, port wine and almond joy chocolate.

Flavors:
Rich dulce de leche caramel, port wine hints, rich coconut, vanilla, coconut macaroons, oak, bourbon hints, marshmallow smores, flan, crème brulee, brown sugar, pecan pie, stone fruit peaches, apricot, apples, dark fruit cherries, raspberries, black currants, plums, figs, raisins, honey, bananas, clove spice, Danish cookies, cookie dough ice cream, maple syrup, capirotada bread pudding, sweet potato, milk chocolate, almond joy chocolate, chocolate truffle ice cream, wine grapes, raspberry chambord, piloncillo sugar cone, waffle cone, Belgian Waffles, peanut butter, sweetened condensed milk hints and raspberry syrup along and coriander hints.

Aftertaste:
Dark and Stone fruit forward, bourbon, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, piloncilo sugar cone, coconut hints, spicy notes, oak, and earthy notes. Mild alcohol in the taste, dark crimson full body, sipping drinkability, creamy, smooth and syrupy mouthfeel.

Overall:
Time has done this one well. It is definitely getting smoother and the flavors while still complex as ever, seem a little more complex but much of the same. Nothing too crazy has changed except the richness of them. Like some flavors are a little sweeter and overall, still a very rich and delicious little beer. You can’t go wrong with this one but maybe the best one will be in 18 months. We will see, until next time and cheers!

Anime Corner:
Sakuya Izayoi from the Touhou project was used in this pairing similar to Rosette but since I wanted to do a different character but similar to the theme of time and pairing with the beer, Sakuya was the good choice as the colors and the theme of time best pair with the beer. You can almost say she also represents aging too.

Sources:
http://konachan.com/image/db0f7c5190ed9968f5c198284ca025a4/Konachan.com%20-%20185051%20izayoi_sakuya%20touhou%20youyi.jpg
http://i2.pixiv.net/img-original/img/2014/02/07/04/04/57/41444965_p0.jpg

2015 The Stoic by Deschutes Brewing

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11142429_10102665592293640_5359375517951436326_oRating: 5.75/5

2015 The Stoic by Deschutes Brewing is a 10.9% ABV Belgian Quadrupel/Strong Dark Ale brewed with Pomegranates with 16.5% aged in oak wine barrels and 16.5% aged in Oak Rye Whiskey Barrels.

Label:
Four Nuanced Fermentations. Aged, Sequestered, in select wine casks. Ergo a stoically brewed quad, with the spell binding complexity of its medieval ancestors.

==Introduction==
Brewed every 4 years, there is a debate going on whether this is a Quadrupel or a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. Despite the debate, many brewers know that the key to great Belgians is in the Belgian Candy sugars. What I believe makes a good Belgian Strong as a home brewer is basically experimentation. The fact is, experimentation is the biggest form to brew a strong complex beer. The fact that you are using a Belgian strain of yeast in your experiment is what set it aside from a quad. Put it this way. If you intended to brew a basic quad, a great deal of different grains and and lots of Belgian candi sugars would go in your brew. If you add extras, it may deviate into a Belgian Strong. Even, then, this is is still a Quadrupel. You know why? The base beer is the start enforcing “Belgian Candi sugar sweetness” throughout its entirety. If that is the case, then a Belgian Strong goes beyond this type of sweetness possibly incorporating something else. The confusing part is when a basic quad starts to taste similar to a Belgian Strong. For that instance, you may also have to look at its stronger roots whether it deviates away from the Belgian Candi or not. It is a complicated matter but even beer should not be complicated, so cheers.

Aromas:
Rich dark fruits, pomegranates, bananas, clove spice, dragon fruit, passion fruit. Mango hints, leather, molasses, flan, phenolic notes, stone fruit peaches, apricots, pear, brown sugar, Belgian Candi Sugar, Rock Candy, citrus, maple syrup, walnuts, almond milk, rye bread, leather notes, waffle cone and honey.

Flavors:
Rich Stone fruit peaches, apricots, pears, lychee fruit mango hints, Rich dark fruit raisins, dark cherries, blueberries, c figs, flan, port wine notes, Rich dragon fruit, passion fruit, pomegranates, pomegranates, marshmallows, coconut, almond joy, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, bananas, clove spice, oak, whiskey hints, flan, molasses, brown sugar, rich Belgian Candi Sugar, Rock Candy, citrus, maple syrup, walnuts, almond milk, rye bread, leather notes, waffle cone, honey, lavender, floral notes, peppercorn and sweetened condensed milk.

Aftertaste:
Lots of rich dark fruits, oak, wine, bourbon, some stone fruit and exotic fruits, Belgian Tripel and Dubbel notes, floral notes, and pomegranate tartness. No alcohol in the taste despite the ABV, Crimson Clear body, smooth, creamy and crisp mouth feel, easy to moderate drinkability despite the ABV. What’s going on here?? Danger for sure.

Overall:
All and all, to me this is a quad because it started out as quad. The fact that it added the whole barrel aging aspect is the extra part which goes into the Belgian Strong Dark Ale area. The fact is, if the beer was already “super complex to begin with leaning away from Belgian Candi sugars” then this is your Belgian Dark Strong Ale. Trois Pistoles, for example, is not a quad since it already had those port wine notes even before anything else would be added which was not.

Anime Corner:
Tenshi Hinanawi from the Touhou project series was used in this pairing as I wanted to pair something similar like I did with Flandre Scarlet in the aspect of overlooking the planet as total bad assery. While the Stoic (unlike NOT the Stoic) reserves its place as not tainted by evil but still holy and powerful showcasing every aspect of delicious complexity with every sip. The colors pair those flavors in terms of the colors of the ingredients.

Sources:
http://images.forwallpaper.com/files/images/9/9236/9236690e/398113/above-gensokyo.jpg

Tiniebla by Cervezeria Insurgente

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11022607_10102504565497630_4183200257575646797_o (1) 11130467_10102504568980650_4962868208859475965_o 10865919_10102504569359890_3959658632376970303_oRating: 4.8/5

Tiniebla by Cervezeria Insurgente is a 5% ABV Witbier brewed with Citrus and Orangepeel.

Label:
¡Sé un Insurgente, toma Artesanal!
Tiniebla: Spanish for darkness…our little way of poking fun at the color of this beer. This witbier has a touch of orange peel and coriander, great with ceviche, seafood, or by itself. Salud!

==Introduction==

I was able to get this one at qualityliquorstore.com along with some of other beers. Insurgente from Tijuana Mexico has been showing up lately especially after their collaboration with Stone on the XocoVeza. I have yet to see them all the way here where I live but I am sure we will see them soon. He other Mexican brewery that I have tried was Cucapa where they made a Tequila aged Barley wine which was really awesome. Although I need to try and find it again. Anyways, Let’s see what Tiniebla is about especially since it is not a dark beer.

Aromas:
Honey, biscuit bread, vanilla, cane sugar, lemon candy, tangerines, banana hints, coriander spice, citrus, lemon peel, orange peel, pilsner grains, floral notes, lavender, Stone fruit peaches, apricots, pears, hints of grapefruit hops and tangerine preserves.

Flavors:
Rich citrus, honey, coriander spice, vanilla, cane sugar, lemon candy, tangerines, banana hints, waffle cone, biscuit bread, tangerine preserves, orange zest, orange and lemon peel, white grape hints, apricot, peaches, pilsner grains, floral notes, lavender, Stone fruit peaches, apricots, pears, hints of grapefruit hops, graham cracker hints, agave syrup, and flan hints.

Aftertaste:
Honey, biscuit bread, citrus, oranges, coriander, grassy and grapefruit hop hints. No alcohol in the taste, crisp, refreshing, effervescent and bubbly mouthfeel, easy to drink, Hazy white pale honey medium body.

Overall:
This beer is very good and super drinkable. I feel I could drink several of these. It does remind me of the Belgian Whites when adding the oranges and the coriander. The crazy part about this cervezita is that because it is super drinkable, it is not filling like other beers and yet so complex and flavorful. Love how my roots are shining in the era of craft beer. This is super awesome and I highly recommend it if you can find it. Que Viva mi patria! Y La Cerveza Artesanal Mexicana!

Anime Corner:
Reiuji Utsuho from Touhou was used in this pairing to pair with the colors of the label but mainly by the meaning of Tinieblas or Darkness. Everyone has a darkside to them but the fact that this beer is actually a light beer goes to show that one should not judge a book by its cover. If someone appears light on the outside, they may be dark on the inside and vice versa. The characters in this artwork seem sweet on the outside as the beer appears to be sweet and light. However, the darkness that they have does not mean it is evil. In the beers case, it means it is super complex!

Sources:
http://www.zerochan.net/full/1338561
http://www.zerochan.net/full/436235

Endymion by Freetail Brewing

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10983555_10102420651886180_1051554185873177108_oRating: 5.35/5

Endymion by Freetail Brewing is an 8.2% ABV American Wild Ale aged in Wine Barrels.

Label:
In Greek mythology, Endymion was an astronomer who Pliney the Elder (the man, not the beer) credits as the first human to observe the movements of the moon. As the lover and companion of Selene, the goddess of the moon. Endymion was granted eternal sleep as to never age or die. In the same spirit we have created this wild ale, made from a pseudo-Solera process in which a barrel is never completely emptied, but rather topped off with fresh base beer whenever aged beer is extracted. While constantly evolving, the resulting blend is one that is granted in its own eternal sleep so it may live forever.

==Introduction==

Sent to me thanks to my friend Aaron Mendiola of www.beermetaldude.com. This is the second Wine barrel aged beer that I received from my friend along with Makaria. This one is not so much evil but emphasizes the ale to live forever. Freetail makes some really good beers from the many I have tried. Makaria was a similar beer to what this may turn out be. So let us see how different this one is. Cheers!

Aromas:
Lots of Dark fruits like dark cherries, raisins, prunes, strawberries, raspberries, musty wine grape notes, oak, hibiscus flowers, lavender, yogurt, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, pecan pie, blueberry muffins, flan hints, grape jelly, Guava hints, mango hints, molasses, leather and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Tart Dark Cherries, Rich Dark fruits like raisins, prunes, currants, dark chocolate notes, strawberries, slight wine grape notes, raspberries, vanilla, raspberry yogurt, oak, funky must hints, farmhouse hints, lemon peel, orange, hibiscus flowers, lavender, molasses, pecan pie, blueberry muffins, flan notes, guava notes, mango notes, grape jelly on rye bread, sourdough bread, concorde grapes, raspberry cheesecake, strawberry preserves, leather, brown sugar and candi sugar.

Aftertaste:
Lots of dark cherry, tart raspberries, earthy notes, flowers, oak, musty notes, wine grapes and tropical fruit hints. No alcohol in the taste, a dark body, moderate drinkability and moderate mouthfeel.

Overall:
A very delicious sour like Makaria but I think a slight nudge better since this one had more fruity flavors that worked well with the tart sour. While Makaria had a great amount of other complexities, this one has a fruitier complexity. They both have their own differences and the best part is trying to find out which one is better. You might like this one or the other better but either way, they are both great!

Anime Corner:
Remilia Scarlet from the Touhou Project was used in this pairing just like Makaria but as you can see, she is not the same person. Like the story of Endymion, Scarlet represents here the movement of the stars and moon (Seen on the wingd and the skeleton represents the death that never took place which granted Emdymion life eternal. The colors work well with the label and the representation of the dark fruits as well.

Sources:
http://anime-pictures.net/pictures/get_image/344783-1983×1000-touhou-remilia+scarlet-stari+%28artist%29-single-short+hair-wide+image.jpg

Makaria by Freetail Brewing

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1911202_10102418552792780_1817744933193795030_oRating: 5.25/5

Makaria by Freetail Brewing is a 5.7% ABV American Wild Ale aged in Wine Barrels.

Label:
Makaria is the daughter of Hades and represents a merciful death as opposed to one of misery and utter destruction. This black wild ale shares its genesis with#Ananke, a sour-mashed witbier left to evolve in a wooden tomb. This batch was brewed on Christmas Eve 2013 for release the following spring on Ananke Day 2014. Thank you all for your support of over the years and we look forward to the next step in our barrel program’s evolution at the new brewery.

==Introduction==

An awesome thank you for my friend Aaron Mendiola of www.beermetaldude.com for providing this my way for the site. Many of the Freetail beers I have had before have been super awesome an wonderful. From La Muerta to Old Bat Rastard. They are some of the best beers out there in Texas. This one along with Endymion were given to me to show on the website for review. Specifically for Makaria, I will later see how it compares to Endymion. Cheers!

Aromas:
Dark fruit raisins, figs, plums, plums, currants, tart raspberries, wine grapes, coffee, black tea, brettanomyces, stone fruit apricots, peach skins, tart cherries, funky must, rye bread, strawberry notes, oak, flowers, earthy notes, berry yogurt, vinegary notes, lemon peel, farmhouse hints, coriander, brown sugar, chocolate notes and lavender.

Flavors:
Tart raspberries, tart dark cherry skins, Dark fruit raisins, currants, plums, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, tart wine grapes, funky must, coriander, farmhouse, lots of the oak barrel, lemon peel, berry yogurt, rye bread, strawberry cheese cake, earthy notes, flowers, concorde grapes, lavender, port wine, molasses, dark chocolate, milk chocolate hints, strawberry notes, blueberry muffins and pecan pie hints.

Aftertaste:
Good amount of dark tart fruits, oak, musty notes, floral hints, hibiscus flowers and earthy notes. No alcohol in the taste, a dark body, moderate mouth feel and a moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A very deliciously awesome sour having a lot of tart notes and complexity than overall sweetness. This beer reminds me of a sour with lots of complexity like tart of darkness or in some cases, some of the Jolly Pumpkin beers. This one is definitely for the sour beer lovers for sure. If you like sours, this one is great!

Anime Corner:
Remilia Scarlet from the Touhou Project was used in this pairing since I wanted to fit something that defines the description in the label. Evil and tart, sour but delicious. The aspect of Hades, swift and merciful death instead of agonizing is one that is delivered in this case. The art pairs great with the bats, the colors of the flavor profiles and complexity of the beer. An in your face tart experience that is sweet and forgiving.

Sources:
http://media.animevice.com/uploads/3/39328/764098-touhou_remilia_scarlet_anime_wide.jpg

Frederick Berg by Five Stones

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11017662_10102416996556490_3250494592999786379_oRating: 4.85/5

Frederick Berg by Five Stones is a 6% ABV Fruit Ale handcrafted with fresh peaches.

Description:
Ale handcrafted with peaches.

==Introduction==

Thanks to Aaron Mendiola of www.beermetaldude.com for providing this awesome brew to the site. I have been fortunate to try a good variety of 5 Stones brews thanks to Aaron as well as other Texas goodies. This one is made with peaches. Definitely love me some peaches and peach beers are pretty damn awesome! Some peach beers I have tried in the past are tart or sweet. While there may not be much information about how this one is supposed to be, we can take a look at this one and see what can be found. Cheers!

Aromas:
Biscuit bread, Floral, herbal and citrus hops, Stone fruit peaches, apricot, Honey, peppercorn, banana hints, honey, peach preserves on toasted rye bread, bubble gum, phenolic bready notes, clove spice, farmhouse hay, floral, herbal, citrus and piney hops, vanilla, apples, brettanomyces hints and graham crackers.

Flavors:
Peach preserves, biscuit bread, honey, stone fruit peaches, apricots, nectarines, plums mango hints, peppercorn, clove spice, banana notes, bubble gum, phenolic hints, grapes, brettanomyces hints, farmhouse hay, floral, herbal and citrus hops, apples, lemon peel, vanilla and graham crackers.

Aftertaste:
Tart peach notes, biscuit bread, flowers, peppercorns, phenolic notes, bananas and clove spice with some citrus hop hints finishing dry. No alcohol in the taste, light to medium body, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel, moderate drinkability.

Overall:
Very good and very peachy ale. Having a lot of bready and Belgian like character to it. The peaches and fruitiness are very present in this one. The tartness is calmed by the breadiness of the beer and sweet flavors. I highly recommend this one if you like a sweeter peach yet tart ale. This one is only in Texas though, so hope to see more of this in the future. 5 Stones really is an awesome brewery.

Anime Corner:
Tenshi Hinanawi from the Touhou project series was used to represent the peaches as well as the label in this brew. Tenshi has been used for a lot of the peach beers I used but this one with her laying back and relaxing was the perfect one. Laying back, relaxing and having a beer is an awesome pass time. This is what this one was made for. Enjoying!

Sources:
http://static.wixstatic.com/media/a77589_fc872376b5174627ba8e9a9b673de33c.jpg_srz_1000_707_85_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srz

Rosabi by Dogfish Head brewing

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1620651_10102245349308950_3380873172692238478_nRating: 4.5/5

Rosabi by Dogfish Head brewing is an 8% ABV Imperial American Pale Ale brewed with Wasabi.

Label:
The vivid rose hue of this imperial Pale Ale comes from a combination of Munich and Caramel malts and a touch of red rice from Louisiana, birthplace of musician and collaborator Julianna Barwick. Citrusy Simcoe and Centennial feed Julianna’s love of hops, and the star of the show is her go-to ingredient: wasabi. What’s hoppy? … Wasabi. The Japanese root adds bittering and herbal notes similar to hops, with its subtle heat creeping in after the kick of carbonation. It’s expansive from start to finish. So go ahead, take a sip, toss your head back, and howl at the red Rosabi moon.

==Introduction==

Now this is a Dogfish Head beer that really intrigued me. After seeing this one at Luekensliquor.com, and the fact that I am a Sushi and Wasabi fanatic, It didn’t take me long to just go on ahead and get this beer. The only unfortunate part is, they only allow you to purchase 1 bottle from the site. This was devastating since I know some good friends who would probably enjoy this beer. I really hope they release this one to all states that sell Dogfish Head. Not sure if this is a gimmick or not but I have never tried a Wasabi beer and this is definitely a great way to explore the vast world of the Lost treasure of beer experience. Cheers!

Aromas:
Rich caramel malt forward, wasabi notes, citrus and grapefruit hops, mango, grapes, hazelnut, rye bread, butterscotch, toffee, dragon fruit, brown sugar, cherries, chocolate hints, coriander spice, toffee, peanut brittle, hibiscus flowers, pineapple and rice cakes.

Flavors:
Subtle but not burning green Wasabi, citrus and grapefruit hops, caramel, grapes, hazelnut, rye bread, peanut brittle, toffee, oranges, mango, peaches, pineapple, chocolate notes, dragon fruit, coriander spice, mild wasabi spice as the beer warms up, apples, brown sugar, rice, cherries, hibiscus flowers, biscuit bread, toasted coconut and vanilla.

Aftertaste:
Lots of Caramel, citrus and grapefruit hops, wasabi notes in the backbone, sweet toffee rye, peanut brittle, hazelnut and mainly malty finish. No alcohol in the taste, crimson ruby rose medium body, moderate drinkability with a silky mouthfeel.

Overall:
Drinking more like an Amber Ale, this beer is really very good. There is no heat but if you know the subtle taste of wasabi, it is there but mild enough to be very enjoyable. It starts with the Wasabi flavor and then moves into a world of sweetness and hoppy goodness. There seems to be more sweetness than hoppy though which could be attributed to the malty sweetness cutting the Wasabi extreme heat. I can only hope that this beer and Sushi would be the ultimate combination which makes me want to have another bottle. I can only recommend this one if you would like a more maltier Pale Ale. There isn’t nothing wrong with that and I generally enjoy sweeter beers more, but I love me some super bitter hops too. So there you have it, Wasabi with some hop bitterness and drinks more like an Amber. Maybe not quite what you’d expect but still a very good beer.

Anime Corner:
Flandre Scarlet from Touhou Project was used in this pairing since I wanted to pair the label of the ruby red moon as well as the green colors of wasabi which you can see by the diamonds. Since this beer is more on the sweeter side than what I had expected, the apple Scarlet is chewing on represent this as well as the fact that this beer is more of an Amber ale than a Pale Ale. However, despite the fact that Wasabi is extreme, maybe how it worked with this beer, it cut all the other bitter hops and cancelled its own spiciness to get to this. This is why Scarlet looks innocent but her burning eyes state another story.

Sources:
http://anime-pictures.net/pictures/get_image/361397-2560×1440-touhou-flandre+scarlet-ankh+%28ankh+05%29-single-short+hair-wide+image.jpg

Sriracha Hot Stout Beer by Rogue brewing

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10440244_10102230774437110_1379089818809890092_nRating: 3.85/5

Sriracha Hot Stout Beer by Rogue brewing is a 5.7% ABV American Stout brewed with Sriracha Huy Fong hot chili sauce and ripened Rogue Farms ingredients.

Label:
Rogue Rooster Sauce
#SrirachaStout

I Put Sriracha in my Rogue
Dedicated to the Rooster

Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout Beer, made from Huy Fong hot chili sauce and ripened Rogue Farms ingredients, is ready to drink with soup, sauces, pasta, pizza, hotdogs, hamburgers, chow mein, or anything you’d like to wash down with a spicy kick.

15° Plato
55 IBU
77AA
118°L

==Introduction==

Yes, another weird beer. AS if the last beer (99 Scorpions) wasn’t already taking it to the upper most limits of just plain damn weird. This beer will be seeing distribution soon but I could not wait and got this from Rogue’s main site. Just like the time I tried the Beard yeast beer or the Chocolate Raspberry Pretzel. Although beard yeast beer was delicious for as weird as it was and so was 99 Scorpions. People love Sriracha and I think bringing the review out just in the nick of time to the masses so they can see if this is good or not was just the right occasion. So get your best Chinese plate out or any food you love this Sriracha on and see if the beer works better with or without food.

Aromas:
Sriracha, garlic, clove spice, dark chocolate, coffee, herbs, soy sauce, tomato sauce, szechuan peppercorns, biscuit bread, clove spice, red tree dried chilies, red bean paste and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Sriracha chili, dark chocolate, roasted coffee notes, herbs, spices, red tree dried chilies, red bean paste, garlic, clove spice, rye bread, tomato sauce, biscuit bread, caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, soy sauce, dark fruit hints, szechuan peppercorns, guajillo peppers, tobacco, roasted peanuts and toffee.

Aftertaste:
Rye, Sriracha sauce, earthy notes, vanilla, coffee, and dark chocolate hints. No alcohol in the taste, creamy mouth feel, sipping drinkiability due to the delicious yet overwhelming flavors and a dark crimson full body.

Overall:
As a Stout, this is very good. With the Sriracha, it is an interesting experiment but nothing too mind blowing. I gave it props on the stout flavors and the fact that this really tastes like a Sriracha bottle. While I love Sriracha, this beer is better drank as a food pairing. The heat is not as intense as other chili beers but after a while, the Sriracha heat will get to you and linger in the back of the throat. The balance of the beer is very good as the stout flavors tries its best to compliment the spiciness of the Sriracha. I think this is worth a try but if you have had Sriracha with food and drank and rich delicious stout, then you pretty much have had this beer. Whether gimmick or not, it really seems more of a novelty item than anything. I would only recommend this if you like Sriracha and Stouts.

Anime Corner:
Inubashiri Momiji from Touhou Series was used in this pairing to pair with the Sriracha beer in many aspects. When I think of heat, I think of fire and dragons. Inubashiri here looks like she has the sauce splattered all over. The heat is represented by her rage. I am not sure what she is possibly killing here but you can assume it is like the heat she spends trying to take down the your tastebuds. Her outfit and the Chinese symbols represents the origin of the great Hot Sauces of China and all their awesome glory. There are so many awesome sauces that some ferment for years and are very expensive. I am sure the basic Sriracha from China is way better than what we typically get everywhere here, but I digress. AS the dragons in the background drip from their mouths looks like blood is like Sriracha dripping as the sauce is HOT! Just like the beer after a while.

Sources:
http://www.zerochan.net/full/1369493

Peach Sour by (512) brewing

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10363426_10102186519434490_8258502545453540937_nRating: 4.75/5

Peach Sour by (512) brewing is a 6% ABV American Wild Ale brewed with peaches and aged in oak barrels.

Label:
We produced Peach Sour using a sour mash technique. We encouraged the naturally occurring wild yeast and bacteria that come in with the organic barley and wheat to spontaneously ferment at warm temperatures over a three day period. Fermentation was completed in stainless and racked to a 1,000 gallon Feeder (large oak barrel) for aging. After being on the wood for two months, we added 200 pounds of fresh peaches and allowed it to age another 12 months before packaging it for you. We hope you enjoy!
___

Special thanks to Aaron Mendiola at www.beermetaldude.com for hooking me up with this local treat from Texas. This is also my first (512) brewing beer as well. So definitely an honor to try something from these guys. I see they make a variety of styles including some nice Belgian ones as well. Since this is also my first peach sour, I am kind of excited as peaches are an awesome fruit. Sweet mainly but also tart at times. So let’s try this one and see how it goes. Thanks to (512) and Aaron for this one, Cheers!

Aromas:
Rich peaches, funky oak, wine grapes, apricots, green apples, raspberry hints, lemon peel, farmhouse hay, sour musty funk, flowers, hibiscus, earthy must, dragon fruit, tangerine, rye bread, grapefruit, strawberries, pineapple, dragon fruit hints and honey.

Flavors:
Rich Stone fruit peaches, tart apricots, oranges, strawberries, lemon peel, grapefruit, wine grapes, funky oak, vanilla, honey, sour funk, acidic notes, flowers, hibiscus, orange peel, tangerine peel, green apples, rye bread, raspberry skins, teguacan (Mexican Lime and Seltzer water with spices), pineapple and hints of dragon fruit.

Aftertaste:
On the dry side with some nice peach and tart apricot notes, oak and vanilla. No alcohol in the taste, light to medium body, medium drinkability, smooth and crisp mouthfeel.

Overall:
Now that is a very good tart sour! The peaches and tart apricot comes through well over the sour. While it is not super duper sour, it is still tart and sweet to some extent and somewhat tropical. I really don’t think I have ever tried a peach sour before but this one was very good. If you like sours, and live in Texas, give this one a shot!

Anime Corner:
Tenshi Hinanawi from the Touhou project series was used in this pairing since she carries the peaches in her hat. In this picture, she represents the souring and fermentation process that makes the beer a bit stronger. The evil look and fire makes the beer brew as you can see in the background, the bacteria seeps into her making become more and more evil. But evil is just as sweet if not sour.

Sources:
http://www.zerochan.net/full/944406

Lips of Faith series Gruit by New Belgium

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1982016_10102186512693000_2330903094663739918_nRating: 3.85/5

Lips of Faith series Gruit by New Belgium is a 6.66% ABV Scottish Gruit/Ancient Herbed Ale brewed with Bog Myrtle, Horehound, Yarrow, wormwood and Elderflowers added.

Label:
Experimentation doesn’t mean new. With our Gruit, the latest Lips of Faith release, it’s all about revisiting the ancient craft of bittering with herb mixtures, not hops. In here horehound, bog myrtle, yarrow, wormwood and elderflowers get together with rich malts to create a bitter, dry, velvet-like sweetness worth revering.
___

The one Lips of Faith series I had missed this year, now we have it here for the review. Lips of faith series ranges from delicious to very good. There hasn’t been one from this series I truly hated except maybe Pluot, but I can’t really as maybe it was a bad bottle or my taste buds were not feeling it. This style is something I have never tried and it is interesting to see this as they use ancient bittering techniques of using flowers and herbs instead of hops. Really intriguing I should say. Let’s get this one going and see how it plays out.

Aromas:
Lots of herbs, honey, biscuit bread, vanilla, green tea, yerbabuena/peppermint, peppercorns, berries, apples, clove spice, banana hints, lemon peel, citrus, grassy and grapefuit hops, chamomile, hibiscus, lavender and barnyard hay.

Flavors:
Flowers, coriander spice, yerbabuena/peppermint, peppercorns, biscuit bread, chamomile, hibiscus, lavender, bananas, clove spice, phenolic notes, herbal tea, green tea, vanilla, honey, citrus, grassy and grapefruit hops, barnyard hay, lemon peel, oak hints, Golden ale notes, apples and mild berry notes.

Aftertaste:
Peppercorn, flowers, spices, honey, peppermint, herbs, green tea and grassy hop notes. No alcohol in the taste, crisp and refreshing, easy to moderate drinkability, watery yet smooth mouthfeel and clear yellow body.

Overall:
While this beer was very good, I couldn’t help but notice how close this beer is to a Belgian Golden Ale but more herbed. I think the herbs really worked to bitter out some of the beer flavors but maybe it was a little too herbed for my taste. A very good beer but for some reason the herbs were a bit much but it was great to try this one for sure. I’d say give it a try even if once.

Anime Corner:
Yasaka Kanako from the Touhou Project series was used in this pairing to show the power of herbs. In ancient times, they were used as magic to heal the sick and even to this day, natural remedies are used to do miracles. Something about the plants have the power to bring life and make people better. As seen in this art pairing I really wanted to make a point to state that about the herbal sweetness of this beer.

Sources:
http://www.zerochan.net/full/1371952

Small Batch Series No. 9 Blackberry Sour by Ranger Creek

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10649635_10102152759499670_1029941060262848680_nRating: 4.9/5

Small Batch Series No. 9 Blackberry Sour by Ranger Creek is a 6.7% ABV American Wild Ale brewed with Blackberries.

Label:
Our Small Batch Series is a line of seasonal single batch brews designed to be unique, interesting, and often experimental. Each one is made in small quantities and with a completely different recipe. The unique color, number, and QR code on each label identifies each batch, the details of which can be referenced on our website or by scanning the QR code with a smart phone. Small Batch Series releases are meant to age well over time, so drink a bottle now and save others to enjoy later. They will cellar best in a dark place around 50 degrees. Each batch is brewed and bottled by hand and undergoes a secondary fermentation in the bottle. Pour carefully so as not to rouse the yeast.

Description:
The 9th edition of our rare, experimental small batch releases is a Blackberry Sour. It’s a light bodied ale with juicy blackberry characteristics throughout and a distinct but pleasant tartness attributed to the lactobacillus yeast. Small Batch Series No. 9 matured in oak barrels for a year before the addition of fresh blackberries from our friends at Oak Hill Farms in Poteet, Texas. Enjoy one now and save a few to cellar for years to come as this beer will continue to mature in the bottle. Pour with care, as this beer contains live yeast from refermentation in the bottle. Cheers!
___

Special Thanks to Aaron at www.beermetaldude.com for providing me this beer. Ranger Creek beers have been pretty good so far and this one is definitely tempting. The last reserve one I had was a sweet potato stout. Now this one being a Blackberry Sour ale, I hope it will be just as good as the stout or better. I like sours so I am definitely open to searching what beers like this one are all about. The best part is that it is all Texas ingredients so having a beer from another state that uses local ingredients is always a bonus.

Aromas:
Funky earthy must, dark fruits like blueberries, currants, blackberries, plums, dark cherries, caramel, vanilla, oak, tart wine grapes, berry yogurt hints, rye bread, strawberry cheesecake, hints, earthy notes,, flowers, lavender, Concorde grapes and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Lots of oak, lavender, flowers, dark cherries, caramel, tart wine grapes, lemon peels, dark fruit currants, plums, black berries, blueberry skins, Concorde grapes, blackberry yogurt, caramel, rye bread, vanilla cream, strawberry cheesecake hints, port wine hints, earthy and musty sour notes, brown sugar, blueberry muffins, underlying flan hints and pecan pie.

Aftertaste:
Caramel, Flan like hints, oak, earthy notes, tart lemon peel, multiple type of berry skins, banana bread. No alcohol in the taste, Very smooth mouthfeel and easy to drink despite being a sour. Hazy Hazel full body.

Overall:
Very good sour that is very smooth. You can really take your time with this without feeling the overpuckeringly sourness of other wild ales. There is great balance of sweet and sour as well which made me realize how kick ass this was. I really enjoy the sweet aspects of it but the sourness here is definitely keeping everything in line. I have had many sours which some were too sour and others just right. This falls into the just right category for me and should definitely be tried.

Anime Corner:
Konpaku Youmu from Touhou Series was used to represent the colors of the label and colors of the flavors such as the dark fruits, the lavender, the spices and sweetness. Her running represents how smooth the beer is and how well is drinks. Such a great pairing for this one.

Sources:
http://www.zerochan.net/full/1599665

Les Fleurs Du Mal by New Braunfels brewing

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10670257_10102150692966020_884461022825229363_nRating: 4.8/5

Les Fleurs Du Mal by New Braunfels brewing of Texas is a 5.7% ABV Sour Hefeweizen aged on lemon grass and bottle conditioned with Texas Wildflower Honey.

Label:
The Flowers of Evil
Sans Cesse a mes cotes s’agite le demon

Good cannot exist without a little evil to define it. Right lives astride wrong destruction. Destruction creates rebirth. This beer started life as a sweet, refreshing hefeweizen last winter. After a hot open fermentation and cold winter’s breath of evil, this beautiful saur creature has bloomed to life.
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A special gem comes our way straight out of Texas from the special dark chapters of beer lore as provided by Aaron of www.beermetaldude.com. A sweet donation especially since there was only 11 cases of this beer released out to the public. New Braunfels brewing focuses on a variety of German inspired styles from what I have seen so far and the Shiva’s Tears I tried was very awesome. Now with this one, I really wanna see what this is about especially since it is a Heffeweizen that is aged as a sour, something that I have not experienced before. So let us try out and see what we can find.

Aromas:
Funky notes, lemon grass, sage spice, wine grapes, old mango, peppercorns, farmhouse hay, biscuit bread, vanilla, oak, honey, earthy notes, phenolic notes and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Lemon grass, flowers, lemon peel, biscuit bread, wine grapes, vanilla, citrus, oranges, peppercorns, funky farmhouse hay, earthy notes, old mango, pineapple, honey, oak, stone fruit tart apricots, hibiscus, toasted wheat bread, lavender, phenolic notes, mild bubble gum hints and clove spice.

Aftertaste:
Funky lemon grass, tart pineapple, earthy notes, wet hay, wheat and stone fruit apricots. No alcohol in the taste, a sipping beer despite the low ABV, medium to full honey colored body and medium mouthfeel.

Overall:
This beer is very good if you enjoy sours and farmhouse ales as it borderlines that tart and biscuity area that hovers over the likes of the nice French Saisons. This beer reminds me of the Carnivale Ale from The Lost Abbey as it has some notes of that but this one takes it a different direction of flavor as it is technically still a hefeweizen. I have never tried anything like it but just the ability to move a heffeweizen into other territories of style is just and amazing feat. Highly recommending this one and thanks to New Braunfels Brewing Company for making this one.

Anime Corner:
Remilia Scarlet from the Touhou Project series was used in this pairing to pair with the skulls and the flowers and how the representation of evil flowers can be seen in the form that they look pretty but when you taste them like this beer can be really deadly. Dare to take a sip?

Sources:
http://www.imgbase.info/images/safe-wallpapers/anime/touhou/7468_touhou.jpg

Funky Gold Mosaic by Prairie Artisan Ales

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1012623_10102148430230560_888258388784361221_nRating: 5/5

Funky Gold Mosaic by Prairie Artisan Ales is a 6.5% ABV American Wild Ale dry hopped in Mosaic hops.

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
A dry hopped sour ale. Funky Gold Mosaic is a dry-hopped sour ale. We took Prairie Gold and dry-hopped it with a huge amount of Mosaic hops. The end results are tropical, sour, and an all around new beer drinking experience! This beer is great fresh, but will continue to develop as the wild yeast continues to work in the beer.
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Prairie Artisan Ales are far and few from what we get a chance to see here in California. Lucky for me, it pays to have good friends closer to the source of some of the best craft beers in the country. Aaron from www.beermetaldude.com sent me this my way and now we have this nice beer to present to the site. The closest thing I can think of a hopped sour or hopped farmhouse ale is a beer I had before from The Bruery and Smog City called Kangarue. I would wish I had that one to compare to this but let us see what I can gather from this one.

Aromas:
Rich Lemon, Grapefruit, lemon candy, floral and piney hops, farmhouse hay, musty oak, vanilla, white grapes, peppercorn, leather notes, tangerines, oranges, brettanomyces, hibiscus flowers, tropical notes like pineapple, dragon fruit, hibiscus flowers, lavender and honey.

Flavors:
Grapefruit, fresh garden lemons, lemon peel, lemon candy, white grapes, lemonade hints, piney, grassy and floral hops, vanilla, biscuit bread, Farmhouse hay, musty oak, orange, tangerines, tart apricot, sour apple, flowers, pineapple, dragon fruit peel, sage spice and peppercorns.

Aftertaste:
Lingering farmhouse hay, flowers, rich citrus grapefruit, lemon and sage spice. No alcohol in the taste, moderate drinkability, medium mouthfeel, hazy yellow body, crisp and refreshing.

Overall:
This is damn perfect beer. It is a sour that is more of a tart fruit beer with very rich citrus hitting different spectrums of lemon to grapefruit to orange and more. Definitely similar to the Kangarue but plays off more on that lemon peel candy than the citrus orange sweetness. For that reason, it does differentiate to the palate. This was just as great and just as perfect as the Kangarue and I would highly recommend it if you can find this one. Prarie Artisan keeps making some awesome beers.

Anime Corner:
Several characters from the Touhou Project series were used in this pairing to pair similarly to the label where they are pretty much rummaging and browsing through items much like the people in the label are browsing through the internet. The point I think they were trying to make with the is even though sour beers maybe ignored by some people but hop heads enjoy their IPAs, this beer will make both sides, definitely want to explore and explore more the curiosity of how the flavors give to your taste experience especially since you get the best of both worlds here, the sour and the hoppy and how they are in perfect harmony.

Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/Hcld67b.jpg