(Homebrew Project#25) Frontier Tropics At Mirage Sunrise by Nubis Sanctum Ales

14379789_10103559179837040_7433726519403536685_oRating: 5/5 
 
Frontier Tropics At Mirage Sunrise by Nubis Sanctum Ales is an 11% ABV Tropical Double India Pale Ale Brewed with, Citra, Cascade and Summit hops, Toasted Coconut, Strawberries, Kiwis, Mangos, Oranges, Grapefruit, Limes and Coriander.
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Label:
Tropical Double India Pale Ale Brewed with, Citra, Cascade and Summit hops, Toasted Coconut, Strawberries, Kiwis, Mangos, Oranges, Grapefruit, Limes and Coriander.
 
Saving townsfolk comes at a high price. Even for the noble outlaw duo like Franco il Nero and Donne Anonime who’s good deeds don’t go without punishment. Like the lost oasis of indigenous lore, Licuados Alets, the duo has never been captured. Only fools waste their search on such legends. Although, tales told that during sunrise, while in search of the duo, off in the distance, the tropical oasis has been seen with the deceiving eyes of the dessert heat. An illusion of the cowgirls can be witnessed but even the thirstiest of pursuers will never reach them…Until today, the water from that lost oasis, was given by the sexy outlaws to the few. You are, but the few…
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==Introduction==
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Project #25 was technically a last minute creation for the end of spring 2016. You see, I cannot brew beer in the summer as the temperatures in my room are not viable for brewing. However, since my friend Richard Avila of Avila Ales gave me a birthday present, basically the ingredients to make a cascade and summit double IPA, I decided to take my own crazy and twisted approach to the base recipe and create something awesome. Since I always wanted to make a more tropical IPA ever since last year’s IPA I made, I decided to buy all sorts of fruits that would not only compliment the citrus and grapefruit flavors of cascade and summit but also the tropical fruits in citra which is the other set of hops I added. The origin of the name really came from the use of hops like Summit like in the mountains of the Frontier of the old west. While many are stuck in the dessert in the old west, they desire water and often would find an oasis in the distance only for it to be a mirage. Hence if they ever got to the oasis, it would be like reaching a tropical beach full of delights. The water would also trickle form the mountains into this paradise tropical oasis, hence the use of the cascade. So all and all, the name came to be, Frontier Tropics At Mirage Sunrise. The sunrise part is all the citrus added since it would also remind one of drinking orange juice for breakfast, Nevertheless, this beer came to be. There was a lot of trial and tribulations since I had not used toasted coconut before and so this would be my first attempt. So let’s take a look at the final beer that was made at the end of spring and ready to drink in the summer time, Cheers!
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Aromas:
Rich toasted coconut, piña colada, macaroons, Tropical fruit pineapple, kiwi, mango, dragon fruit, honey dew melon, vanilla, biscuit bread, agave nectar, honey, kiwi jelly, Oranges, orange juice, limes, lemon peel, tangerines, grapefruit, piney, grassy and herbal hops, coriander hints, strawberries and sweetened condensed milk.
14324298_10103559179717280_4878994497619442482_o
Flavors:
Rich Piña Colada, toasted coconut, macaroons, rum notes, tropical fruit kiwi, mango, dragon fruit, mild passion fruit, pineapple (even though there isn’t any added to the beer), strawberries, strawberry cream pie, sour hints of lemon peel, Oranges, orange juice, limes, tangerines, grapefruit, piney, grassy and herbal hops, hint of coriander spice, stone fruit peach, apricot, earthy hops, flan hints, sweetened condensed milk hints, caramel hints, vanilla, biscuit bread, agave nectar, honey notes, honey comb hints and kiwi preserves.
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Aftertaste:
Finishes with hints or strawberry, orange juice, toasted coconut, sour lemon, tart grapefruit hints, piña colada, macaroons and herbal hops. No alcohol in the taste despite the ABV, Golden Amber and brown medium to full body, crisp, refreshing, and smooth mouthfeel with a moderate drinkability
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Overall:
Damn perfect fruity and tropical IPA. My only gripes would be that since this is my first time toasting my own coconut, it changed the color of the beer to a brown color but other than that it was awesome. I think the fruit may have over taken some of the hops but the hops really did compliment the fruit and the bitterness is there with a hint of tart from the citrus fruits and kiwi but then rounded off by the delicious and pleasant coconut. Overall, I think it came out great but I think next time I would probably add more hops just because and buy already toasted coconut as toasting the coconut by baking it in the oven changed the color which then changed the color of the beer. This toasting though would work great for darker beers and even if it is a browner IPA, still taste perfect to me. One of my best!
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Anime Corner:
Franco iL Nero and Donne Anonime from Nitroplus series, Outlaw Django Tre Donne Crudeli were used in this pairing as I wanted to have not just the colors of the different ingredients complement as well as the flavors, but the theme of I was going for when I came up with the name revolved around the images of Franco and Donne at the beach which was pretty damn creative. Thus, the story beer complements the art, the other side of the pairing viewpoint!
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Sources:

Ukelele by The Buery Terreux

12345594_10102947554688740_7620153151450513538_n 12246946_10102947557977150_5830964252728187954_n 11219578_10102947558835430_5842383103956565071_nRating: 6/6

Ukelele by The Buery Terreux is a 13.5% ABV Tropical Sour Ale brewed with passion fruit, Thai Chilis, and Ginger spice aged in bourbon barrels

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Here’s a beer that will pluck on your heartstrings. Just close your eyes and say aloha to Kauai, where the idea for Ukulele began in the form of a Passion Chili Whiskey Fizz, made with bourbon, passion fruit, Thai chili and ginger ale. Ukulele’s tone and volume intensifies with each sip, dancing on the tongue with massive, tart tropical fruit flavors and ginger spice, crescendoing with the slow-timed release of heat from ghost chili peppers and warmth from bourbon barrel-aging. Ukulele is truly a gift or reward to share with friends.
==Introduction==

Obtained this brew as part of the Reserve Society membership. This brew was released to Reserve and Hoarders members of the Bruery. This brew is the Bruery’s take on a more tropical paradise kind of beer. One aged in bourbon barrels and as many of these beers go then to be pretty awesome. I have no idea how the chili and the tropical fruit will work with this beer but I have a feeling it maybe something like the Mexican chili candies. Let’s see if that is the case. Cheers!

Aromas:
Tamarind, bourbon, honey, piloncillo sugar, oak, bourbon, tropical fruits like pineapple, lychee fruit, honey dew melon, papayas, mangos, dragon fruit, passion fruit, kiwi, dark fruit cherries, raspberries, plums, blackberries, flan, Chili candy, stone fruit peaches, apricots, farmhouse hay, ginger spice and gummy bears.

Flavors:
Tropical fruit papayas, mangos, dragon fruit, passion fruit, kiwi, rich pineapple, honey dew melon, lychee fruit, caramel, vanilla, bourbon, oak, jalapeño pepper, ancho, marshmallows, coconut, ginger spice, fruit cake, tamarind, tejuino, tajin chili, dark fruit cherries, raspberries, plums, blackberries, Tejuino, oranges, tangerines, stone fruit peaches, apricots, farmhouse hay, Mexican mango or water melon chili candy, flan, cinnamon, ginger bread, rye bread, toffee, gummy bears, grilled bananas, brown sugar, honey, and pilloncillo sugar cone hints.

Aftertaste:
Mild heat lingers (for the chili experienced), lots of tropical goodness, Mexican Mango candy, dark fruits, stone fruits, oak bourbon, and coconut linger. No alcohol in the taste, golden amber full body, sweet, crisp, smooth and refreshing mouthfeel, oh yeah and did I mention how ridiculously easy it is to drink this? It is dangerous!!

Overall:
One of the more exceptional sours I have ever had. It reminded me of Mexican Mango candy. This tropical sour gave me goosebumps because the flavors were tangy tropical but also spicy. There was so much going on and really kept me active and drinking. I can tell this one is spicy but for those that may not have a chili tolerance, get ready. Either way, the sweetness of his beer really plays well with the spicy aspect and the focus of tropical and spicy with the complex bourbon action is what you really get while the alcoholic strength is still small but present overall. I highly recommend this one.

Anime Corner:
Starfire/Koriand’r from Teen Titans was the perfect pairing for this beer. She is so damn sweet and very innocent always open minded and caring but yet if you make her mad she has the strength and power to demolish cities! Yes, this is exactly how this beer feels. The flavor of sweetness and the heat since Starfire is ridiculous and smokingly hot explains the dominant aspects of the beer while the ABV or her demolishing power and strength take the way side mainly because you just can’t taste the alcohol. I really enjoyed this one wayyy too much. Now I have to some how get more bottles but I missed out as I only got one. If you want to try this one, head to the Bruery before it is gone this month (November 2015) or find a way to trade for it. I highly recommend it!

Sources:
http://orig08.deviantart.net/831a/f/2014/055/d/a/starfire__render__by_dafneyaneth-d77x87d.png
https://brewerianimelogs.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/d6dfb-shunyayamashitastarfirekotobukiya.jpg
http://i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/000/757/612/9a5.png

Delicious IPA by Stone Brewing

11893982_10102799623558910_761208573113086052_oRating: 4.75/5

Delicious IPA by Stone Brewing is a 7.7% ABV India Pale Ale brewed with Lemondrop and El Dorado hops.

Label: (Not from this picture but from the actual bottle)
From the beginning, Stone has been obsessed with the mission of providing people access to high-quality craft beer. After all, great beer is for everyone and anyone with the good taste to recognize it, not just a niche group like us uber beer geeks. So, when we developed this pleasantly bitter, deliciously citrusy, hop-driven IPA, we took it as an opportunity to go a step further and do something we’d spent over a year researching and perfecting: creating a beer that makes it possible for nearly everyone to experience our aggressive, no-holds-barred approach to craft brewing. It’s a flavorful, cutting-edge, modern-day IPA for everyone. Lemondrop and El Dorado hops provide plenty of fruit citrus character and a burst of hop zing that sings on the palate. We’re proud to present it to those who already know us for our IPA prowess and to those who, so far, have only heard legends.

==Introduction==

So this is one of those Stone beers that has been out for a while and while I have neglected to bring this one for a review as I overlooked it (it happens when you are busy homebrewing) I decided to get a growler of this beer and give a shot. The first time I tried this beer as at the Bruery Cooperversary and I can say it was a tasty brew. Now that I have a whole growler, I will take my time to analyze it and see what it has to offer. Come join me and see. This beer is readily available at many of the stores that sell Stone beers. Cheers!

Aromas:
Lemon drop candies, grapefruit, citrus, lemon peel, peppercorn, minty hints, Stone fruit peaches, mango hints, tangerines, lychee fruit hints, floral lavender hints, lemon verbana, Citrus, lemon, grapefruit, herbal, piney, grassy, floral and tropical hops, Oranges, tangerine, Tropical fruits like guava, passion fruit, dragon fruit, guava, prickly pear tuna, peppery notes and strawberries.

Flavors:
Citrus, lemon, grapefruit, herbal, piney, grassy, floral and tropical hops. There are many tropical but special herbally aspects to this one. Lots of lemon candy, Oranges, tangerine, guava, passion fruit, dragon fruit, guava, prickly pear tuna, peppery notes, strawberries, raspberries, toffee, caramel, vanilla hints, mint notes, sweetened condensed milk, Stone fruit peaches, mango hints, tangerines, lychee fruit hints, floral lavender hints, lemon verbana and blackberries.

Aftertaste:
Leaving some dank resonance of the herbal and tropical fruit notes while some other fruits like the strawberry, raspberry, lemon candy, starburst, sweetened condensed milk and dank hop dryness remains. No alcohol in the taste, clear golden body, rich, refreshing and crisp mouthfeel with an easy to moderate drinkability

Overall:
Well, what can be said about this beer that isn’t already on the label. It is very good and delicious. Not to the extreme complexity of their Enjoy By but these new flavors you don’t find typically in some of their other IPAs makes this very good. I consider this one a more moderate palate IPA. Especially for those that may not typically like hoppy grassy IPAs, this one is more on the tropical side so it helps out for sure. A definite try for IPA lovers and Hop Heads alike.

Anime Corner:
Leona Heidern from the King of Fighters Series was used in this pairing mainly since I have not used Leona in a long time, I haven’t paired her with a Stone beer and yet, she belongs for many different reasons. The colors she wears complement the colors of the normal green label but the camo she wears represents the hidden alcohol and the rich tropical flavors are that of the tropical scenes and jungles she can fit in. Her Blue Ocean teal surge of hair represents the berries and extravagant other sweet flavors that come from this beer. A sweet yet still strong beer for sure.

Sources:
http://orig09.deviantart.net/6b91/f/2011/162/c/f/hb_to_my_cousin_by_gh18-d3incrz.jpg

Sure Bet by Pipeworks brewing

10504987_10102414844688850_6179940178280750143_oRating: 6/5

Sure Bet by Pipeworks brewing is a 9.5% ABV World Class Double India Pale Ale brewed with honey and mango puree.

Label:
Just the mere thought of the talk of a Citra and Mosaic hopped IIIPA brewed with honey and mango fills the Unicorn with too much joy and happiness for one horn to handle. The closest The Unicorn has come to this level of joy was when once, while skipping over rainbows, he encountered a cloud shaped like a rainbow! The Unicorns #1 favorite food is sunlight, but his #2 and #3 are honey and mangos respectively, and this brew has ’em both! The only thing that The Unicorn loves more than keeing something for himself, is sharing! So pour yourself a glass, because this beer’s a SURE BET!

==Introduction==

I obtained this beer through my online resources. I was unable to find this at any online shop. Seeing as this was a rarity and a highly rated beer, I really wanted to try it and bring it to the site. This is an IPA that can compare with some of the best IPAs out there and the fact that it has mango puree and honey. Well that just speaks tropical heaven to me. Let us see what this beer has to offer and see if this one is worth the buzz. Cheers!

Aromas:
A bouquet of rich tropical fruit fills the nose reminiscent of Power Plant and other awesome Tropical IPAs I have had before. Mango, Guava, Passion Fruit, Dragon Fruit Lychee, Papaya, Pineapples, Apricots, Strawberries, Prickly pears, raspberries, cherries, tangerines, tuna fruit, peaches, creamy vanilla, agave nectar, piney grassy, grapefruit, floral, herbal and dank garlicky hops, Sweetened condensed milk, tres leches cake, flan, caramel, gummy bears, citrus, orange and mango preserves, coconut hints and marshmallows.

Flavors:
Ridiculous amount of tropical fruits from all over the spectrum such as oranges, grapefruit, lychee, apricots, mangos, guava, papaya, dragon fruit, passion fruit, honey dew melon, strawberries, prickly pear, tuna fruit, raspberries, cherries tangerines, apples, peaches and cream, agave nectar, piney, grassy, herbal, floral, earthy, dank oniony, garlicky and grapefruit hops, sweetened condensed milk, tres leches cake, mango flan, caramel, gummy bears, citrus and mango preserves and orange preserves on rye bread, toffee, butterscotch, blue basil, peppercorn hints, lemon candy, coconut hints and marshmallows.

Aftertaste:
Very rich tropical fruits, variety of citrus fruit, rich mango, honey, dank piney, garlicky oniony, grassy, floral, earthy and herbal hops linger. No alcohol in the taste, golden medium body, creamy, crips, refreshing and silky mouthfeel and an easy to drink beer despite the ABV.

Overall:
Talk about rare GEMS no one knows about. Supremely righteous of tropical gods! This Double IPA blew me away into the stratosphere. I have to agree that addition of mango and honey dynamically changes the beer from its highest potential on its own. This is why Power Plant by El Segundo brewing can be the best triple IPA in the world to me, but this one is beyond that with the addition of the ingredients that take it to the next level. Holy Shit! This beer is like the absolute Trifecta of the IPAs. Meaning, you get a huge balance of the herbal, the orange malty and the rich tropical aspect found in many IPAs. If I find the right recipe for this, I will have to make this one for sure! For now, you better make DAMN SURE BET that I will recommend this to the masses! The Pliny and Heady killer of the midwest.

Anime Corner:
Twighlight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash from MLP were used in this pairing to pair two of the best sides of an IPA. The malty sweet side represented by Twilight sparkle and the citrus and tropical fruit flavors represented by Rainbow Dash. Since this beer has a unicorn and has so many colors representing the flavor spectrum of the delights that is this beer, the ponies were the right choice to compliment the beer and label. That and this is the most bad ass I could find these characters.

Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/EW4mNmZ.jpg
http://nyuuchandiannepie.deviantart.com/art/Rainbow-Auditore-da-Firenze-303474835
http://nyuuchandiannepie.deviantart.com/art/Diablo-3-Twilight-304708395

Dawn of the Red by Ninkasi

999277_10101641995889040_228833755_nRating: 3.4/5

Dawn of the Red by Ninkasi is a 7% ABV Imperial Amber/Red Ale.

Label:
An IRA bursting with notes of mango, papaya and pineapple, this beer finishes juicy with a subtle malty backbone. It doesn’t take brains to know hoppy, tropical IRAs are a great way to welcome warmer months ahead!
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Picked this one up at Ramirez. Loved the label and the Dawn of the Dead movie. It may be a gimmick maybe but it as an inexpensive gimmick I could afford and bring forth. So I will do my best to give this one a good go. Hunt for the Zombies, Fuck Yeah!

Aromas:
Grassy and grapefruit hops, mango, citrus, caramel, biscuit bread and other mild tropics.

Flavors:
Biscuit bread, grassy and grapefruit hops, caramel, apple notes, cereal grains, mango, caramel and toffee, papaya, orange notes, peanuts and almonds.

Aftertaste:
Leaving with some very mild tropical fruit but mainly grassy and earthy hoppiness with some cereal grains. No alcohol in the taste, easy to drink and very refreshing.

Overall:
A very decent amber but nothing too explosive. It gets better as it warms up but I can only recommend it if you love the label which is bad ass! This goes to show, labels aren’t always everything. Still, a good beer none the less if you still decide to get it just don’t expect overwhelming tropical fruit.

Anime Corner:
A.B.A from Guilty Gear was used in this pairing as with most of the other zombie beers I have tried, this one fits the Bill perfect to show case the “Red” aspect and the Dawn of the Dead movie reference. Some can say the “giant key” she carries is the sun rising, hence, dawn of the red. It is a stretch but still a good pairing. Also, how the beer is bitter, she has that bitter face.