Tag Archives: Touhou

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Festina Pêche by Dogfish Head

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10362819_10102104310332190_3895381727780947490_oRating: 3.75/5

Festina Pêche by Dogfish Head is a 4.5% ABV Berliner Weissbier brewed with peach juice.

Label:
Festina Pêche is a neo-Berliner style Weisse. Unique, tart and refreshing, this brew is so down with the dog days of summer.
___

Loving the new label for the Dogfish Head beers, I decided to pick this up at Total Wine in Redondo Beach as they sell singles of beer. I have never tried this beer from Dogfish head, so the moment felt right and I said, screw it, why not. This is a seasonal only so it won’t be around for long but luckily it does come out every year. I have mixed feelings about Berliner Weisse beers as some strike very good to average for me. So, bias aside, let us see how this one goes.

Aromas:
Honey, peppercorn, lemon, stone fruit peach, apricot, apples, banana hints, wine funk, sour grape notes, tart notes, citrus oranges, guava notes, pears, coriander spice, wheat bread, vanilla and mild oak.

Flavors:
Stone fruit Peach, tart apricot, sour green apples, wheat bread, guava notes, coriander spice, wheat bread, banana hints, honey, vanilla hints, oak hints, wine grape hints, sour grapes, caramel hints, biscuit bread, tangerines, citrus, lemon peel, pears and guava hints.

Aftertaste:
Leaving with tart peach notes and honey but they quickly ends up very dry. No alcohol in the taste, easy to drink, light to medium mouthfeel, light to medium body as well as crisp and refreshing.

Overall:
This one is pretty good especially if you like tart and mildly sour beers. The tart apricot and peach is prominent along side the wheat and coriander like spices. It is worth a try, but while it is pretty good, I still enjoy Dogfish Heads other great offerings. If you are able to snag a bottle from somewhere, give it a shot, you may actually like it more than me.

Anime Corner:
Hinanawi Tenshi from Touhou series was used in this pairing to go with the colors of the label as well as the peaches as you can see she has a peach in her hair. The Evil glaring of the racoon match with her eyes and the sour like and tart flavors of the beers come from the sword and well, pretty much them saying, hands off that peach! Can you see anything else in this pairing that seems to work?

Sources:
http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=big&illust_id=46132430

Backwoods Bastard by Founders Brewing

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10450444_10101900867583090_5215587694190842325_nRating: 6/5

Backwoods Bastard by Founders Brewing is a 10.2% ABV World Class Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy aged in bourbon barrels.

Description:
Big and delicious for your ’perty mouth. Expect lovely, warm smells of single malt scotch, oaky bourbon barrels, smoke, sweet caramel and roasted malts. A bit of earthy spice and a scintilla of dark cherries. It’s a kick-back sipper made to excite the palate.
___

Thanks to my friend Aaron from www.beermetaldude.com for hooking me up with this awesome Wee Heavy. Rated as the 5th best Wee Heavy Scotch ale in the world, this is quite the honor. The Wee Heavy Style is one of my favorite styles of beer that is not often brewed or just not often seen by me. All the ones I have tried are just phenomenal, and yet I have not found a true bad Scotch Ale yet. So to Aaron, once again, cheers for donating this one to the site good sir! 

Aromas:
Lots of rich vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, dark and milk chocolate, very dark fruit raisins, figs, dark cherries, plums, rye bread, brown sugar, smoked peat, toasted coconut, bourbon, marshmallows, raisin bread pudding, pecan pie, choco flan, molasses, oak, scotch whiskey, port wine, almond joy, anise, licorice and marshmallows smores over campfire.

Flavors
Lots of oak, rye bread, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, marshmallows, bourbon, scotch and butterscotch, toasted coconut, macadamia nut nectar, pecan pie, hazelnut nectar, molasses, smoked peat, dark fruits like raisins, figs, plums, dark cherries, anise, choco flan, raisin bread pudding, prailines, milk and dark chocolate, espresso hints, rye bread, brown sugar, marshmallow smores, almond joy chocolate, licorice hints, port wine, ginger spice hints, earthy notes, brownie on vanilla ice cream and cookies and cream.

Aftertaste:
Leaving with dark and mil chocolate, vanilla, caramel, scotch, toasted coconut, dark cherry, dark fruit raisins and anise. Well hidden alcohol, a sipping but very smooth drinkability with a medium mouth feel.

Overall:
Definitely one of the highest candidates. This beer is truly exceptionally world class. The way it is done with balance, smoothness and lots of complex and rich flavors is just up there with some of the greats! Probably the best Wee Heavy I have ever tried. Highly Recommended! Thanks again Aaron, and cheers!!

Anime Corner:
Kawashiro Nitori and Kurodani Yamame from the Touhou were chosen in this pairing represent the label and the overall name of what it really means to be a Backwoods Bastard!! Yes they fight over a cooked fish at camp grounds but that does not mean they should not share. That doesn’t meant you shouldn’t share this one as it comes in a 4 pack. My friend was awesome for passing this along to me and knows what it is like to share the wealth when it comes to searching for the lost beer treasures. I had only heard a little bit about this beer and now that I know, I wish to seek it out again one day. The woods and mountains is where Nitori is from and Yamame was probably lost since she is from the underworld. Just goes to show, how much of a Bastard Yamame may be. Oh well.

Sources:
http://www.zerochan.net/1241174

Tree Shaker by Odell Brewing

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10421605_10101879191267600_6904168163296953928_n 10417659_10101879191487160_3006276460666070116_nRating: 5/5

Tree Shaker by Odell Brewing is a 10.1% ABV Imperial Peach India Pale Ale.

Label:
Colorado…we really love your peaches, wanna shake your tree! Tree Shaker Imperial IPA was brewed with 3000 pounds of pureed Colorado peaches. The bright citrus hop character and subtle fruity sweetness will get your feet tapping and your taste buds dancing. 9.7% to 10.1%.
___

Another special shout to my good friend Aaron in Texas, beer connoisseur at www.beermetaldude.com, for hooking me up with another awesome beer. This time it is a Double IPA brewed with peaches. I would believe the peach flavors would be something seen in like a Belgian style. I have had many IPAs but I think this the very first time I had one with peaches. Let’s check it out!

Aromas:
Rich Peach aromas, flowers, grassy, floral, and piney hops are subtled by the tropical fruits of apricot, mango, pineapple, plums, tangerines, grapefruits, oranges, coriander, biscuit bread, strawberries, blueberries, honey, hints of peppercorns, honeydew melon, waffle cone, vanilla and caramel.

Flavors:
Rich peaches, apricots, plums, stone fruits, flowers, grapefruits, citrus, grassy, piney and floral hops, tropical fruits like pineapple, tangerines, mango, honeydew melons, strawberries, blueberries, vanilla, caramel, honey, coriander spice, peppercorn hints, honey, waffle cone, grapes, apples and dank herbal hops hints as well.

Aftertaste:
Peach, stone fruit, citrus, tropics, grapefruit hops and vanilla linger in the finish. No alcohol in the taste despite the ABV. A sipping yet smooth, refreshing and crisp beer with like an almost syrupy mouth feel.

Overall:
Hot damn! What a great beer. This beer drinks more to the Belgian Pale Ale than an IPA. However, there are many aspects especially the middle of the mouth hop presence that keeps reminding you, it is an IPA. I guess in terms of a Belgian IPA, it is not full bodied so it wouldn’t count there. I like fruit beers and this one was freaking amazing. Odell is a rarity here in California and there is no way in hell I would have known about this awesome beer’s existence. Thanks again Aaron, you really come through for me brother, cheers!

Anime Corner:
Hinanawi Tenshi from the Touhou series was used in this pairing to represent the tree shaker. She carries peaches on head which probably fell from the tree. She represents the peach and berry tropics that this beer brings to the table.

Sources:
http://anime-pictures.net/pictures/get_image/335403-1144×1600-touhou-hinanawi+tenshi-rayxray-long+hair-single-tall+image.jpg
http://www.zerochan.net/468447

NOT the Stoic by Deschutes brewing

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10169241_10101820426093480_4885748839780131857_nRating: 5.95/5

NOT the Stoic by Deschutes brewing is a 12% Belgian Quad brewed with pomegranate molasses and aged 11 months in 15% Pinot Noir oak wine barrels and 15% Rye Whiskey Barrels.

Label:
A prized, Potent, Belgian-Styled Quad of Stirring depth & complexity.
A Virtuous return. Aged and sequestered in select oak casks. The result – A contemplatively brewed quad, created in homage to all those who doubted the original. This unrepentant rendition is definitely, NOT THE STOIC.

Malt: Pilsner, Special B, Crystal Rye
Hops: Czech Saaz
Other: Pomegranate Molasses
Barrel-Aging: 11 months in 15% Pinot Noir and 15% Rye Whiskey Barrels
___

Been waiting for this sucker for a very long time. I have never tried the original as I have never been lucky enough to find it before they stopped making it. With this release, I was not gonna miss this one up. Quadruples and Dark Belgian beers are some of my favorites and it really takes a lot to make a really bad quad, well, bad. This is highly coveted for its rarity and increasing popularity, although very limited. Get this one if you can.

Aromas:
Lots of dark fruits like dark cherries, figs, plums, cranberries, pomegranates, oak, port wine, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, marshmallows, smores, flan, pecan pie, hazelnut, walnuts, bananas, clove spice, burnt sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, molasses, chocolate notes, rye, lots of wine grapes, coconut hints, peaches and cream, apricots and apples.

Flavors:
Rich Dark cherries, dark fruits, raisins, plums, figs, currants, pomegranate, cranberry, wine grapes, oak, leather, port wine, rye bread, rye whiskey, coconut, dulce de leche caramel, burnt sugar, vanilla, maple syrup, molasses, flan, brown sugar, chocolate notes, hazelnut, pecan pie, walnut cream, bananas, clove spice, oak, peaches, apricots, apples, marshmallows, smores, molasses and cinnamon.

Aftertaste:
Lingering maple, wine grapes, pecan pie, caramel, vanilla, oak, dark fruits and molasses linger. A silky mouthfeel with no alcohol in the taste, a sipping beer still even it is pretty damn smooth. 

Overall:
One of the 5th strongest ABV quads I have ever had, Strongest being the Forgotten Island Quad (15%) and maybe Sede Vacante to some extent. A quad definitely exceeding a lot of my expectations! The blend of the whiskey barrel and wine oak barrels reminding me of what would happen scenario if we took St. Bernardus and Trois Pistoles and we aged them in Wine and Whiskey Barrels. That beer would be even crazier but for now, the possibility of such a thing is highly exemplified in NOT the Stoic. This is not your typical quadruple that is damn sure. I highly recommended!!

Anime Corner:
Flandre Scarlet from the Touhou series was used in this pairing to exemplify the craziness of the character as it relates to the beer. For fans of the character, yes, I do mean with the whole U.N. Owen was Her Name which is her theme in that crazy game. This beer is no longer the stoic. It has been tainted, corrupted and demented in darkness and complexity that it will never be the same. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s increase in complexity with its increase in ABV make it very dangerous as this drinks rather easily. That is the dangerous part. Just like Flandre Scarlet. Enjoy at your own damn risk, cuz trust me, you won’t want to finish her in one sitting!

Firebird by Gigantic brewing

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10150639_10101820424855960_8816744483120056967_nRating: 4.65/5

Firebird by Gigantic brewing is a 6.1% ABV Smoked Hefeweizen.

Label:
Beer# 18 in the endless series of limited edition artist and artisan beers.
Firebird Smoked Hefeweizen
A refreshingly complex wheat beer. Aromas of clove and banana intermingle with the light smoke imparted from German malt kilned over beechwood fires.

“Flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss”
-Douglas Adams
___

A smoked hefeweizen? Never had such a thing but it sure does sound tasty. I got this one online on the bringonthebeer.com site. I have had Gigantic beers in the past and they really have some nice labels that pair awesomely with some of the anime art work. They do this in the name of beer and the arts, so to that, I say cheers!! Now let us see what this one is like.

Aromas:
Burnt sugar, grilled bananas, smokey campfire but doesn’t overwhelm the hefeweizen, sugar cream, oranges, citrus, coriander spice, brown sugar, waffle cone, biscuit bread, honey glazed ham, old orange, peppercorn and clove spice.

Flavors:
Smoked ham, grilled bananas, burnt sugar, clove spice, coriander spice, smokey campfire notes, old oranges, citrus, biscuit bread, brown sugar, honey, graham crackers, toffee, caramel, vanilla, oak, bubblegum and BBQ.

Aftertaste:
Ending pretty dry at the end with a small bit of the smokey oak, banana and clove spice fading. No alcohol in the taste. Easy to moderate drinkability with a light to moderate mouthfeel.

Overall:
A very good hefeweizen if you enjoy hefeweizens and the smoked beer styles. If not, then this one you may not like. However, the way this is done, not one style over powers the other. It is pretty well balanced keeping the beer smoke and the sweetness in line. Definitely recommended if you can find it.

Anime Corner:
Youmu Konpaku from the Touhou series was used in reference to the beer label and the ashy smokey aspect of the beer that blends well with the hefeweizen style. The feather in the back of her sword suggests that she is the firebird referenced in the beer label itself. Any other things you can find from this beer that seem awesome?

Black Robusto by Drake’s Brewing

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10157116_10101791717745240_8718270430407511292_nRating: 4.85/5

Black Robusto by Drake’s Brewing is a 6.3% ABV American Porter.

Label:
Drake’s Black Robusto Porter is a deep, dark “Robust Porter,” a beer style known for being darker, fuller-bodied, and higher in alcohol by volume than a standard Brown Porter. Our Black Robusto goes down smoothly with flavors of bittersweet chocolate an slight roast from Crystal and Chocolate malt. A touch of spicy, herbal hop character from Willamette hops balance out the finish. Enjoy a pint with dark, lingering satisfaction.
___

A new beer from Drake’s Brewing in San Leandro California. Picked this one up at Ramirez Liquor Warehouse in Los Angeles. Some of the beers I have tried from Drake’s are very good. This is the third one I have tried from the. The Robust aspect of this beer intrigued me as I wanted to see how robust at 6.3% ABV this would be. We’ll, let us find out.

Aromas:
Deep coffee roast, espresso, dark chocolate, caramel, Irish cream, mocha, fudge, milk chocolate, earthy hops, mild campfire smoke, coffee cake, hints of cinnamon, brown sugar and marshmallows.

Flavors:
Rich Coffee, earthy hop notes, dark chocolate, caramel, Irish cream, lactose sugar notes, milk chocolate, mild campfire smoke, coffee cake, espresso, mocha, brown sugar, molasses, frappuccino, marshmallows, graham crackers, coconuts notes, hazelnuts, vanilla and mild BBQ notes.

Aftertaste:
Earthy hops, coffee grains, Irish cream hints, caramel and mild dark chocolate. No alcohol in the taste, moderate drinkability with some smoothness and medium mouthfeel.

Overall:
Very good and very impressed despite the low ABV. This is pretty on point in terms of a robust and smokey, sweet coffee roast. You would expect some extended flavors from a beer with higher ABV like the other complex sweets I mentioned, but this one hits some really good notes. You would be surprised how well this drinks and hence the reason I recommend it as you can most likely find this one wherever they sell Drake beers.

Anime Corner:
Aya Shameimaru from Touhou was used in this pairing to show case not only the colors of the label but the robust flavor of the beer. Aya is the type of character who tries to do her job very well and is also way to strong for her own good. I guess you can say, she is very Robust and it is this Roboust aspect that pairs with the deliciousness of this beer also the fact that she unexpectedly tends to win all her fights accidentally. Not to say that the beer is an accident but how often do you see a beer with low ABV be so full of flavors? And that is why she was chosen as the pairing!