Hey, Careful Man, There’s A Beverage Here by Pipeworks brewing

February 25, 2015 by cloudx30 tagged Arcana Heart, Bowling, cacao beans, Careful Man, coffee, dark chocolate, Donny., Dudeness, Duderino, Fuck, Golden Stout, Hey, Imperial White Milk Stout, Lebowski beer, milk Chocolate, Nobody fucks with the Jesus, Parace L'sia, Pipeworks Brewing, Shut the fuck up, The Big LAbowski, The big Lebowski, The Dude, There's A Beverage Here, vanilla beans, White Chocolate, White Russian, White Russian Imperial Milk Stout | Leave a comment

Rating: 6/5

Hey, Careful Man, There’s A Beverage Here by Pipeworks brewing is a 10.5% ABV White Russian Imperial Milk (Golden) Stout brewed with lactose sugar with cacao, coffee and vanilla.

Label:
Way out west there’s this beer . . . beer I wanna tell ya’ about. Beer by the name Hey, Careful Man, There’s a Beverage Here. Beer inspired by a certain Dude’s favorite potable. This Imperial White Milk Stout is brewed with vanilla beans, an abideable amount of cacao nibs and cold-pressed coffee that really tied the beer together, did it not? It is the perfect oat soda for those days when you’re out of your element and all you can do is say, “F it, Dude, let’s go bowling.”

==Introduction==

This is it, the liquid ambrosia of the Big Lebowski. There are already a couple of breweries who emphasize stuff from the movie to even naming their brewery, “The Dudes”. Now Pipeworks has come out with the official lebowski drink, the White Russian in beer form. There isn’t much I have to say further but get on to the review for this one dude. The drink is getting cold, so cheers!

Aromas:
Rich caramel, Rich vanilla, Rich coffee, White chocolate, Dark Chocolate, Milk chocolate, German chocolate, Belgian chocolate notes, tres leches/3 milks cake, maple syrup, stone fruits like peaches and apricot, Mocha Khalua coffee liqueur, waffle cone, marshmallow smores, coconut hints, flan, dark fruits like raisins, plums, figs, Danish cookies, honey berry preserves, butterscotch and tootsie rolls.

Flavors:
Rich vanilla, Rich dulce de leche caramel, White chocolate, Milk chocolate, Dark chocolate, Khalua coffee liqueur notes, buttery toast, Belgian waffle notes, tootsie rolls, toffee, butterscotch, mocha, java coffee, espresso notes, flan, White Russian Chocolate, Capirotada raisins bread pudding, Irish cream, buttery pecan ice cream, mocha frappuccino Jericalla Mexican Custard, dark fruit raisins, plums, figs, rye bread, walnuts, Danish cookies, honey, berry preserves, tres leches/3 milks cake, maple syrup, stone fruit peaches and mild apricot notes.

Aftertaste:
White chocolate, dark chocolate, vanilla, coffee, fancy roasted coffee, dark fruit, honey, and earthy notes. Mild alcohol in the taste, light to medium golden body, syrupy, creamy yet smooth mouthfeel and a sipping drinkability.

Overall:
Top of the Top, this beer is exactly what the Dude ordered. This is pretty damn full forward white Russian but as a beer it employs a great amount of complexity that can only be found in beer. This was so damn good. I wish I had a secondary one. Pipeworks is pretty crazy brewery always innovating and seems to be more and more my favorite brewery in the Midwest next to the Three Floyds, Surly, Half Acre and others. It is a damn shame we can’t get this so easily here in California, but I would gladly buy more of the Pipeworks if I can see them more often. Highly recommended.

Anime Corner:
Parace L’sia from Arcana Heart is used in this pairing since I wanted to show something in relation the big lebowski and the white Russian. The colors of Parace are in relation to white and chocolate and coffee from the white Russian. Also, the bath robe and the way she has her drink about goes with the name of the beer to be careful not to spill it but as you can see in the background, this is no ordinary drink and is something more magical….Not a drop as spilled that day.

Sources:
http://blog-imgs-72.fc2.com/n/i/j/nijigenizumi/1501141037.jpg

Brunch Money by Armadillo Ale Works of Dallas Texas

February 16, 2015 by cloudx30 tagged Armadillo Ale Works, Armadillo Ale Works of Dallas Texas, breakfast, Breakfast Stout, Brunch Money, cacao nibs, Coffee Beans, Dallas Texas beers, dark chocolate, Imperial Golden Stout, Lactose, Maple Syrup, pancake beer, vanilla beans, White Chocolate | Leave a comment

Rating: 6/5

Brunch Money by Armadillo Ale Works of Dallas Texas is a 10% ABV Imperial Golden Stout brewed with coffee beans, cacao nibs, vanilla beans, lactose and maple syrup.

Label:
Rise and shine, over-sleepers. Breakfast has come and gone and it’s time to get your brunch on with this stout-inspired golden ale. This hearty brew, with sweet flavors of coffee, vanilla, and chocolate, will awaken your taste buds and make your late start a great start.

==Introduction==

Provided to me from my Texan friend, Aaron Mendiola of www.beermetaldude.com. This beer was something I really wanted to try out from the moment he showed me the bottle. I did not know what it entailed aside from the name it looked really good. Now that I have it, I was kind of blown away by how much goes into this one. I have never had anything from Armadillo Ale Works but I can only hope this is as awesome as it sounds. Let’s give it a try and see how it goes. Cheers!

Aromas:
Fancy coffee, mocha, Java coffee, frappuccino, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, maple syrup, white chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, three milks, flan, Irish Cream, Crème brulee, milk sugar, butterscotch, butter pecan ice cream, coconut hints, tapioca pudding, brown sugar, peanut butter hints, honey, all spice, bourbon notes, nut meg, raisin bread pudding, Danish cookies and marshmallow cream.

Flavors:
Maple syrup, sweetened condensed milk, mocha coffee, tres leche/3 milks, vanilla syrup, dulce de leche caramel, Irish cream, Creme brulee, toffee, milk sugar, white chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, butterscotch, butter pecan ice cream, pancakes, mocha frappuccino, anise hints, wooden box caramel, marshmallows, coconut hints, tapioca pudding, Jericalla Mexican custard, delicious choco flan, walnuts, buttery french toast, dark fruit raisins, plums, figs, rye bread with strawberry marmalade, Kahlua coffee liqueur, peanut butter hints, honey, all spice, bourbon notes, nutmeg, earthy notes, capirotada raisin bread pudding and Danish cookies.

Aftertaste:
Lots of sweet maple syrup, milk sugar, vanilla, caramel, dark fruit, white chocolate, fancy coffee, toffee, flan, chocolate notes, pancake bread, flan, and other rich sweets linger for a bit. No alcohol in the taste, syrupy, silky and creamy mouthfeel, moderate to sipping drinkability and an amber to golden honey body.

Overall:
This beer is a literal breakfast in a bottle. There is so much rich goodness going on with this white stout. Many of the White Stouts I have tried have been some of the best beers and I have yet to find one that I did not like. This one was on par with some of the best dessert beers I have ever had and really wish I could have it again. Texas has liquid gold with this one and is one of the best I have had from there. Definitely would like to try other Armadillow Alework beers.

Anime Corner:
Original character by Ninomoto was paired with this beer to go with the label as well as the variety of flavors that this beer has to provide. It goes with the description of waking up to have the morning breakfast. There is so much going on in this beer that the delicious dessert/breakfast artwork would go great with this one. It is so good that you can sleep on it and wake up the next morning to have it again.

Sources:
http://41.media.tumblr.com/510bb7576dbf811212ce4663f491b59f/tumblr_nf7tckoexZ1qz53a8o1_500.jpg

Voodoo Doughnut Lemon Chiffon Crueller Ale by Rogue Brewing

January 10, 2015 by cloudx30 tagged Ashikaga Yoshiteru, Fruit Beer, fruit beers, Lemon Chiffon Crueller, lemon vanilla, marshmallows, Rogue Ales, rogue brewing, Rogue Farms, Sengoku Hime, vanilla beans, Voodoo Doughnut, Voodoo Doughnut Lemon Chiffon Crueller Ale, Voodoo Doughnuts | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.75/5

Voodoo Doughnut Lemon Chiffon Crueller Ale by Rogue Brewing is a 6.9% ABV Fruit Ale brewed with lemon juice, vanilla beans and marshmallows.

Description:
Dedicated to Tres & Cat Daddy, The Rogues of Voodoo Doughnut

A Collision of Crazies.

Rogue Ales has again collided with Voodoo Doughnut to create Lemon Chiffon Crueller Ale! This unique artisan creation contains a baker’s dozen ingredients including lemon juice, vanilla bean, and marshmallows to match Voodoo’s Lemon Chiffon Crueller doughnut.

Food Pairing: Doughnuts, Desert

13 Ingredients:

Malts: 2-Row, Munich, & Rogue Farms Dare™ and Risk™

Hops: Perle, Sterling

Specialty: Lemon Juice, Lemon Extract, Vanilla Beans, Vanilla Extract, Marshmallows

Yeast & Water: Pacman Yeast & Free Range Coastal Water

Specs:

16 deg PLATO

20 IBU

78 AA

7 deg Lovibond

==Introduction==

The next installment of variants for Rogues Voodoo Doughnut beers. This time made in the form of a lemon chiffon crueller. I have no idea what a chiffon is but a quick google search talks about a pastry like a lemon cake. So I would assume this is supposed to be like a lemon merengue pie or lemon cake in a bottle. Of the other 3 variants, so far I really like the Chocolate raspberry pretzel and the Peanut buter banana ones. Lets see how this one plays out. Cheers!

Aromas:
Lemon cake, lemon merengue pie, marshmallow cream, vanilla, caramel, biwscuit bread, butterscotch, oranges, citrus, waffle cone, whipped cream, flan hints, doughnuts, banana notes, cookie dough, mint, lemon ice cream, orange creamcicle, piney hop notes and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Lemon candy, lemon drops, marshmallows, caramel, vanilla, lemon grass, biscuit bread, lemon merengue pie, orange preserves, orange peel, lemon and banana pound cake, pecan pie hints, piney hops, flan hints, marshmallow cream, whipped cream, banana hints, doughnut sugar, cookie dough, white grapes, peach, pears, mint, lemon peel and tangerines.

Aftertaste:
Sweet and tart lemon candy, marshmallow, vanilla, citrus and piney hops. No alcohol in the taste, clear gold body, creamy, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel and easy to drink.

Overall:
Very good ale to me but maybe off putting for some beer experts. They really nailed the whole lemon drop candy jelly doughnut aspect but maybe some of the sweetness may not be good for some and the lemon tartness may or may not be much. All in all I think this is worth the try and I personally like lemon and lemon candies but generally speaking, I like the raspberry pretzel chocolate and peanut butter banana ones better. Give it a try if you are willing.

Anime Corner:
Ashikaga Yoshiteru from Sengoku Hime was used in this pairing since I wanted to pair her with the colors of the beer mainly but also to show a small aspect of voodoo in relation to magic which can be seen by the mask she has. In Japanese lore, the flame next to the mask can be seen as one of the single flames from the pair of Will O’ Wisp which are known to follow the Yūrei which are like the equivalent of ghosts or spirits in Japan. In relation to the word Voodoo, that is almost in relation to the dead or bringing the dead back to life. It sort of fits although, Voodoo Doughnuts are merely magical since they are delicious.

Sources:
http://anime-pictures.net/pictures/get_image/234222-1280×720-sengoku+hime+4-long+hair-wide+image-blonde+hair-red+eyes-game+cg.png

(Brewerianimelogs Food Pairing) Chocolate Rain (2014 Release) by the Bruery with Chocolate Marble Cheese Cake.

January 1, 2015 by cloudx30 tagged best beers in the world, Black Tuesday, Bleach, Bourbon Barrel Aged, Brewerianimelogs Food Pairing, cheese cake, chocolate chip cookies, Chocolate Marble Cheesecake, Chocolate Rain, creme brulee, dessert, Dulce de leche, Food pairings, Good Food, Marble Cheese Cake, Tcho cocoa nibs, The Bruery, vanilla beans, Yoruichi Shihouin | Leave a comment

As a small addition to my usual reviews of beer tastings, I will now and again try to incorporate some food parings for some beers. Seeing as this is the start of the new year, I figured I write something small about a beer and dessert pairing. Not many people do this and some have way more experience than I do. However, with my knowledge of beer tasting I will try to figure out how the dynamics of adding foods to beers change the experience. Brewerianimelogs food pairings will only be a short segment though. Cheers!

Food Pairing:
Bringing in the new year, I had some cheese cake left over in the fridge and I thought to myself, how awesome would chocolate rain fit with a cheese cake. The results were very nice and surprising. The Chocolate Rain (2014 Release) by the Bruery is an 18.5% ABV Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels with TCHO Cacao Nibs and Vanilla Beans and was aged for about a year. Upon trying the Chocolate Marble Cheesecake, the strong bourbon characters become subtle allowing the rest of the complex flavors of the chocolate and vanilla to meld with the Chocolate and Cheesecake. The experience is much better than the beer alone and in some cases, it seems the age has made beer much stronger and cutting away some of the excess sweetness. So trying it with the cheese cake balances out the alcohol but provides some depth to the cheese cake and the beer that otherwise would not have been taken by themselves. It is pretty damn amazing and almost milk shake, flan, dulce de leche and tres leches rich but not super sweet. This beer definitely fits the category of dessert enhancer and would pair great with just about any dessert. January 1st also marks a special day for Yoruichi Shihouin, which is my mascot for this beer as shown in the original review below. Hope you enjoyed this small review, cheers!

Anime and Beer Review:
https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2014/01/20/chocolate-rain-2014-release-by-the-bruery/

(Brewerianimelogs On The Road) Caffè Della Vita (The Coffee of Life) by Monkish Brewing

December 17, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Anemone, anime artwork, Belgian Tripel, Brewerianimelogs On The Road, Caffè Della Vita, chocolate mocha coffee, Cinnamon, Coffee of Life, creamy vanilla, Etheopian Coffee beans, Ethiopian coffee, Eureka 7, flan, Kochere Coffee, Mocha, mocha coffee, monkish, monkish brewing, peaches and cream, Pistachio, Pistachio beer, pistachio nuts, Pistachio Seme Della Vita, Pistachios, Portola Coffee Lab, Seed of Life, Seme Della Vita, Tres Leches, Tripel, vanilla beans | 1 Comment

Rating: 5.25/5

Caffè Della Vita (The Coffee of Life) by Monkish Brewing is a 9.8% ABV Belgian Tripel brewed with Pistachios, Vanilla Beans and Portola Labs Ethiopian Kochere Coffee

==Introduction==

Recently on tap, Monkish created a variant of their Seme Della Vita which I had reviewed long ago. Seme Della Vita itself is probably my favorite beer yet from Monkish and is pretty much my goto when I am at their brewery. So you can only imagine how much I wanted to try their Coffee Variant and possibly bring it forth to the site. Now to this day, Seme Della Vita is the only Pistachio Belgian beer I have ever tried and has yet to see a bottle release. I am sure the day it does, people will definitelywant to get their hands on this. So this particular variant may or may not even see the light of public day but at least you know such existed. Either way, if you happen to be in the Torrance area, you have to try this one and try some of Monkish Belgian beers, they are pretty damn phenomenal. Thanks to my friend Oscar for joining me on a Friday (12/12/2014) to be able to get this picture of the beer.

Aromas:
Rich coffee, mocha, espresso, java coffee, Khalua cream, vanilla, pistachio ice cream hints, peppercorns, cinnamon, White chocolate notes, chocolate hints, biscuit bread, butterscotch, stone fruit apricots, peaches and cream, apples, flan, tres leches cake, hazelnut nectar, underlying citrus, coriander spice, clove spice and bananas.

Flavors:
Rich Vanilla, mocha coffee, roasted coffee, Java coffee, dulce de leche caramel, biscuit bread, maple syrup, frappuccino, almonds, pecan pie, hazelnut, stone fruit apricot, peaches, apples, butterscotch, Khalua hints, peppercorns, pistachio ice cream, Irish cream, tootsie rolls, strawberry hints, grape, white chocolate, Danish cookies, cake batter, Twinkies, Tres Leches cake notes, citrus, orange peel, coriander spice, phenolic notes, candi sugar, rock candy, flan, crème brulee hints, bananas and clove spice.

Aftertaste:
Coffee lingers along with rich nuttiness of pistachios, cinnamon, vanilla, and candi sugar hints then leavings dry. No alcohol in the taste, clear as day yet golden amber body, syrupy and creamy mouthfeel and sipping drinkability.

Overall:
Perfect and more! With the original Seme plus the introduction of the complex Ethiopian coffee brings out some extra richer notes that were typically not found in the original Seme. The fact that this is a light clear beer but drinks like dark Belgian coffee, is simply crazy. Almost reminds me of those golden stouts, but I digress. All I can say is that I am an even greater fan of this one for sure. If you love the original Pistachio Seme Della Vita and love coffee, well let’s just say this is damn bliss!

Anime Corner:
Anemone from Eureka 7 was used in this pairing as she resembles Eureka which I used in the first Seme Della Vita Pairing. As you can see, the darker colors and pinks represent the change of the beer into the strong dark coffee and more fruity like version of the original Seme Della Vita. This is a coffee dream indeed…

Sources:
http://www.zerochan.net/full/93656

Sourrento by the Bruery

December 16, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Blond Ale, brown sugar, Chrono Cross, Chrono Cross Kid, citrus lemon, green tea ice cream, Italy, key lime pie, Kid, lemon candy, lemon liqueur, lemon tart, lemon zest, Limoncello, oranges lemons, passion fruit, Sorrento, Sour Blonde Ale, Sourrento, tangy lemon, The Bruery, vanilla beans | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.8/5

Sourrento by the Bruery is a 7.7% ABV Sour Blonde Ale aged in oak barrels with Lemon Zest and Vanilla Beans.

Label:
MOLTO BENE

The flavors of this bright tart ale are inspired by limoncello, the famous lemon liqueur of Sorrento, Italy.

Sourrento ale is a play on a classic liqueur from Italy. Perfect as an after dinner digestif, but just as great as any time of day. Sourrento is best enjoyed fresh, but may develop pleasantly if cellared properly.
==Introduction==

This beer was released for the Reserve and Preservation Societies this December. According to the information, they were trying to make it close to limoncello, an Italian liquer which I never had. So going into this, I can only assume it would taste something like that. Nevertheless, with all reviews I do, I take it for what it is and dissect it as best I can for you. Cheers!

Aromas:
Lemon drop candy, rich vanilla, oak, biscuit bread, white wine grapes, green tea ice cream, tart lemons, lime, salt, grapefruit, passion fruit, Danish cream cookies, sweetened condensed milk hints, tamarind, brown sugar, piloncillo, peppercorns, herbs and spearmint.

Flavors:
Vanilla, Oak, Lemon, Lime, Salt, tart grapefruit, biscuit bread, passion fruit, white wine grapes, sugar cane, lemon drops, sweetened condensed sugar hints, brown sugar, tejuino, tamarind, hibiscus, piloncillo, peppercorn spices, herbs, green tea, lemonade, green tea ice cream hints, mint, spearmint, key lime pie notes and Danish cream cookies.

Aftertaste:
Vanilla, key lime pie, lemon tart, brown sugar notes, No alcohol in the taste, medium drinkability, light to medium body and moderate mouthfeel.

Overall:
Very good and unique. Best if you love sours, otherwise the sweet sour aspect may not really be your thing. I have never had limoncello but if it tastes anything like this, then awesome. I would like to compare this to a sour lemon or keylime pie in a bottle. Like I said, the whole, sweet and sour thing may not be for everyone so if you really like sours then definitely try this.

Anime Corner:
Kid from Chrono Cross was used in this beer pairing to pair with the colors of the label. In the game, Kid has a hard attitude even thought she looks sweet and innocent. She is a great fighter as well which is represented by the ABV of the beer. This coincides with the fact that this beer is sour but the sweetness and complexity go deep as you can see from the picture where dives into the deep. I have not done a Kid pairing in long time and the fact that her hair is also a lemon yellow works well too.

Sources:
http://www.zerochan.net/full/993410
http://www.zerochan.net/full/428212

Peanut Butter Cup Porter by Karl Strauss brewing

October 6, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged cocoa nibs, English Porter, Karl Strauss, Muv-Luv Alternative, peanut butter, Peanut Butter Cup Porter, San Diego beers, total eclipse, vanilla beans, Yui Takamura | 1 Comment

Rating: 5.25/5

Peanut Butter Cup Porter by Karl Strauss brewing is a 5.6% ABV English Porter brewed with Peanut butter, cocoa nibs and vanilla beans.

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Brewed for San Diego Beer Week 2012 An English-style Brown Porter brewed with organic peanut powder, cocoa nibs, and vanilla beans. The resulting brew is a beer’s answer to the peanut butter cup – a medium-bodied porter with smooth layers of peanut butter and milk chocolate. Stats: 5.6% ABV – 56 SRM – 30 IBU
___

On my trip to San Diego last weekend, my friends and I also stopped by Karl Strauss and tried several of their beers. While I liked a good majority of them and have tried many before, including this one, I was greatly pleased that they allowed this one to be growler filled. Since the first time I tried it long ago, I never really got a chance to do a review and at the time I did not think of doing reviews on the go like I am doing now. So with the opportunity to bring this one home and take my time to review it, here it is! Now, I had a couple of peanut butter cup beers before like the Belching Beaver Peanut Butter Milk Stout, the Terrapin Liquid Bless and even Mother Earth Sin Tax. This one on the other hand, though English and light, takes advantage of the cocoa nibs and vanilla beans. A combo that fares greatly with many beers. So without further a do, here is the Peanut Butter Cup Porter, Cheers!

Aromas:
Rich Peanut butter, Nutter Butter Cookies, oatmeal, banana hints, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, hint of dark fruit raisins, cocoa crispies, milk sugars, mild cherries, vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, dark cherries, cinnamon, mocha, vanilla, toffee, coconut and butterscotch.

Flavors:
Cocoa Crispies cereal, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, bakers chocolate, hazelnut, pecan pie hints, peanut butter chocolate Reece’s pieces, milk sugar, vanilla, caramel, oatmeal, Nutter Butter cookies, cinnamon hints, brown sugar, dark fruit raisins and mild cherries, roasted coffee notes, peanut shell bitterness, rye bread,mocha, toffee, toasted coconut, earthy notes and butterscotch hints.

Aftertaste:
chocolate peanut butter, dark chocolate, mocha hints, roasted coffee, vanilla, caramel, toasted coconut, ending with earthy notes dryness. No alcohol in the taste, easy to drink, creamy and buttery mouthfeel and medium to light body.

Overall:
Definitely exceeding my expectations a bit. Is this the better Peanut Butter Cup beer? Well, the addition of the cocoa nibs and vanilla beans can be sensed in the flavors and definitely does take the beer to the next level. I really can say I enjoyed this one a lot for what it is. There aren’t many peanut butter beers out there and this is a damn well represented one. All I hope is that one day they put this in bottle. Otherwise, if you are lucky, you can get this at the brewery.

Anime Corner:
Yui Takamura from Muv Luv Alternative/Total Eclipse was used for this pairing since her colors pair with the flavors of chocolate and peanut butter I have paired her with Liquid Bliss once so I wanted to bring her back to show a more chocolate perspective. While the strength is not on the beer per se, it surely is in the flavor. Surely that is explosive!

Sources:
http://gallery.minitokyo.net/view/590148

(Brewerianimelogs On The Road) So Happens It’s Tuesday Cherry & Vanilla by The Bruery

September 23, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged aged in Bourbon Barrels, American Imperial Stout, Black Tuesday, dark chocolate, Fate Night Stay, Fate Stay Night, Imperial Stout, Rider, Session beer, So Happens It's Tuesday, So Happens It's Tuesday Cherry & Vanilla, The Bruery, vanilla beans | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.45/5

So Happens It’s Tuesday Cherry & Vanilla by The Bruery is an 11.3% ABV American Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels with Cherries and Vanilla Beans.

The “Sessioned” version of the almighty ~20% ABV Black Tuesday will be released soon. Essentially, this is a lower alcohol content of their already awesome beer. As with some of their releases, The Bruery decided to make one with Cherry & Vanilla for a very limited time. If you happen to stop by their tasting room there may be a chance for you to try this. With me being a somewhat fanatic with the original Black Tuesday, I wanted to do a review on their variant beer while I was there. This is in a little segment I like to call, Brewerianimelogs On the Road. Cheers!

Aromas:
Milk and Dark Chocolate covered Cherries, Vanilla, Dulce de leche caramel, flan hints, brown sugar, dark fruits, coconut hints, crème brulee hints and raspberry hints.

Flavors:
Dark Cherries, Dark Chocolate, Cherry cordial hints, oak, bourbon, rich vanilla, marshmallow, flan, coconut hints, pecan pie, brown sugar, hints of banana, clove spice, hazelnut hints, raspberry, dark fruits, earthy notes, graham crackers, anise and molasses.

Aftertaste:
Dark chocolate, caramel, dark fruit hints, cherry and slight bourbon. No alcohol in the taste, a smooth mouthfeel beer, sipping drinkability and pitch black body.

Overall:
Still very epic! From what I can gather this beer was smoother than less syrupy in your face Black Tuesday. The crazy part, at 11.3%, this was still considered a “sessioned” Barrel Aged Beer. Which makes you wonder, and is something I always pondered myself, what league of beer is Black Tuesday on. For the many times I have tried it, it is still a winning champion. Even though the sessioned one is not as rich, it is still above the level of awesome beers I love for sure. I would highly seek it out if you want to try this at the tap room or you can wait for the regular one hopefully coming out soon. By the way, this beer is sold to the public! This one was my favorite of the variants.

Anime Corner:
Rider from Fate Stay Night was used in this pairing since I wanted to bring out the aspects of Vanilla and dark cherries along with dark fruits that are in this beer. The power of the Black Tuesday is there even at a minute level but the strength is still in complexity.

2014 White Chocolate by The Bruery

September 17, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged 2014 White Chocolate, Bourbon Barrel Aged, cacao nibs, Chocolate Rain, dulce de caramel, milk Chocolate, Naruto, orange, TCHO Cacao nibs, Temari, Temari Sabakuno, The Bruery, The Sun, tropical flavor, vanilla, vanilla beans, wheat wine, White Chocolate, White Oak | Leave a comment

Rating: 6/5

2014 White Chocolate by The Bruery is a 14.3% ABV Wheat Wine Ale aged in Bourbon Barrels with Cacao Nibs and Vanilla Beans.

Label:
OAKALATE

This sumptuous version of our barrel-aged wheat wine style ale has an addition of fresh vanilla beans and TCHO cacao nibs.

White Chocolate is best enjoyed fresh for peak flavor, but may evolve pleasantly over time if cellared properly.

Notes/Commercial Description: (per beeradvocate)
The primary component of our “White Oak” ale is a 100% barrel aged wheat wine that we affectionately refer to as “White Oak Sap.” Essentially a “summer” barley-wine style ale, but made with a wheat heavy grain base, White Oak Sap is aged in used bourbon barrels for nearly a year and comes out rich in flavors of coconut, honey, caramel and vanilla. To compliment the already rich flavors of the beer, we’ve added cacao nibs and vanilla beans to give this beer the delicate flavor of white chocolate…hence the name.
___

Available to Preservation and Reserve members this fall, they released this beer once again. Unfortunately, the 2013 version ended up getting sour if not consumed fresh. This year, they plan to redeem themselves and release it again. This decadent piece of liquid chocolate white has been on one of my top favorites of all time in terms of rare beers. Not counting my top favorite common ones. So I bring it forth once again, one of my all time favorites in my quest to seek the truest of the truest, White Chocolate! Cheers!

Aromas:
Velvet vanilla, white chocolate, flan, rich bananas, rich Lechera sweetened condensed milk, oak, toasted coconut, marzipan, rich hazelnut, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, tropical fruits like sweet pineapple, dragon fruit, mango, pears, apples, wine grapes, marshmallows, 3 leches, biscuit bread, dark butterscotch, stone fruit peaches, apricots,plums, white raisins, light butterscotch, biscuit bread with rich lechera, raisin bread pudding, crème brulee, Bavarian yeast phenolic notes, coriander spice, clove spice, capirotada raisin bread pudding, cinnamon, pecan pie, almond joy chocolate and more complexities!

Flavors:
White chocolate, milk chocolate, rich bananas, rich dulce de leche, Rich Lechera Nestle sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, bourbon, brown sugar, rich hazelnut, marshmallow, flan, mild citrus, marzipan , oak, toasted coconut, biscuit bread with creamy 3 leches spread (Three milks), pecan pie, almond joy, almond cream, tropical fruit like mild dragon fruit, sweet pineapple, mango hints, pears, apples, wine grapes, Stone fruits like peaches, apricots, plums, white raisins, butterscotch, coriander spice, clove spice, cinnamon, capirotada raisin bread pudding, Bavarian yeast phenols, dark butterscotch, piloncillo, crème brulee and more!

Aftertaste:
Lingering sweet condensed milk, white chocolate, vanilla, milk chocolate, bananas, clove spice
No alcohol in the taste despite the 14.3% ABV, sipping yet smooth drinkability, syrupy and velvety mouth feel, medium to full hazy body and supremely dangerous to drink in one sitting.

Overall:
Need I say more? Despite the fact that the 2013 version had its issues, 2014 comes back even stronger and more velvet and chocolatey sweet. They really brought it back in the right way, damn!! I really am mind blown and it comes as a damn reminder why I love this beer so much and hence the reason I always keep ordering at the Bruery when they have it on tap. I don’t even have to say it, I truly believe this is a bucket list beer along with Black Tuesday, Chocolate Rain the new Wineification and Grey Monday. Oh yeah, let us not forget the ultimate Melange 3!! Go try them all!….

Anime Corner:
Temari Sabaku from Naruto is no mystery to this beer. She has appeared in all the instances I try this beer and may do so for as long as I keep reviewing this beer. Temari is simply and awesome ninja as I stated in previous reviews. She represents the color of the beer blonde to gold as in the color of her hair. She represents a partial tropical aspect in terms of the White oak that is added which I refer to “Raw as The Sun” but subdued by the overall sweet chocolate and vanilla which are pretty intimate to me. Temari’s strength is also in the ABV and just like a ninja, will flow easy if you try to consume her in one sitting. White Chocolate Temari, I Love You Chiquita!!!

Sources:
http://www.hdwallpapersdesktop.com/Anime/Naruto/images/Naruto%20Wallpaper%20257.jpg
http://media.animevice.com/uploads/0/7354/579647-e2d0db9b48a8f67534fbec4c6e4ed11b.png

Cocoa Psycho by BrewDog

September 17, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Brew Dog, BrewDog, cocoa nibs, cocoa psycho, Coffee Beans, dark chocolate, Imperial Russian Stout, Imperial Stout, Ranma, Ranma 1/2, Russian Imperial Stout, Scotland, Shampoo, vanilla beans, vanilla pods, Xian pu | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.95/5

Cocoa Psycho by BrewDog is a 10% ABV Russian Imperial Stout brewed with cocoa nibs, coffee beans and vanilla pods.

Label:
Welcome to the world of Cocoa Psycho, a liquid dimension where pure indulgence reigns.

Originally brewed some 250 years ago to celebrate the Russian Royal Family, this 10% Imperial Russian stout borrows from the decadence of the time with its extravagantly smooth blend of crushed coffee beans, cocoa nibs and dark malts.

To fully unleash the aromas and bittersweet luxury of this stout, we recommend drinking it from a stemmed beer glass before taking a sledgehammer to a Faberge Egg.
___

So this beer had eluded me until I stumbled upon a random liquor store (the one in front of the Bruery) who surprisingly had a ton of rare craft in stock. When I saw this, I didn’t even think twice. This Cocoa Psycho isn’t going anywhere but for us here at brewerianimelogs.com. Therefore, I decided to bring this forth to you, the readers. Cheers!

Aromas:
Dark fruit raisins, prunes, dark cherries, Vanilla, oak, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, bakers chocolate, brown sugar, molasses, mocha, java coffee, maple and hints of rye.

Flavors:
Dark chocolate, bakers chocolate, dark fruit raisins, prune, dark cherry, caramel, oak, vanilla, earthy notes, coffee roast, java coffee, mocha, molasses, brown sugar, maple, smokey notes, maple and rye bread.

Aftertaste:
Coffee roast, dark chocolate, earthy notes, vanilla caramel and dark fruits quickly dry up. No alcohol in the taste, sipping drinkability, creamy mouthfeel, Dark full body with even a dark head that quickly dissipates into the darkness.

Overall:
The addition of the chocolate, vanilla and coffee definitely keep this at the level of perfect but without it, this may have been good to very good on the rating scale. The roasty notes and bittersweet chocolate are more present overall than the complex sweetness. That is okay though as what makes it perfect is that it still has some complexity to it. I think it seems to be at that Chocolate Oak Yeti. Would I recommend it? Only if they would lower the price In that aspect, I think you get way more from the Great Divide Chocolate Oak Yeti, Clown Shoes Vampire Slayer/Undead Party Crasher or hell, even Lost Abbey’s Serpent Stout. It is majorly worth trying thought I will give it that.

Anime Corner:
Shampoo/Xianpu from Ranma ½ was used in this pairing for several reasons having to do with the Ranma show, Shampoo herself, the color of the label and more. The color of the label is obvious as it pairs with Shampoo’s beautiful hair. The second is that she is literally obsessed with Ranma-kun and will literally kill anyone who dares stop her from having him. She gets into constant battles with Ranma-Chan (The Female version of Ranma-kun who was cursed and turns into a girl with cold water and back with hot water. Unfortunately for Shampoo, she cursed Ranma-chan with the kiss of death meaning she has to kill her but not want to kill Ranma-kun. Quite the complex scenario and just goes to show how far she can go. In the art, she kinda looks like a psycho with her obsession, but to be honest and fair, her intention may be a bit psycho but the cocoa or sweet aspect of her heart means she really is kind at heart. She knows she will not win in the end but at least she risks her life to help Ranma in many cases. Shampoo is awesome and one of a kind Amazon chick. Very sweet but powerful (ABV) due to her special teaching in the martial arts.

Sources:
http://www.zerochan.net/87677
https://cs.sankakucomplex.com/data/fe/62/fe624c62f9148b856836e61cdbcd4cde.jpg?3452269

Tart of Darkness Cherries & Vanilla by The Bruery

September 15, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged American Wild Ale, cherries, cherry vanilla, Claymore, dark chocolate, Fate Night, Fate Stay Night, Fate Zero, Madrugada Obscura, oak barrels, Saber Alter/Dark, sour ale, Stout, Tart of Darkness, Tart of Darkness Cherries & Vanilla, The Bruery, vanilla, vanilla beans, vanilla ice cream | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Tart of Darkness Cherries & Vanilla by The Bruery is a 7.1% ABV American Wild Stout aged in Oak Barrels with Cherries and Vanilla Beans.

Label:
SAUERSTAUT

With a roasty aroma and a tart finish, this sour black ale is a contortion of style and flavor, creating an unexpected delight.

Tart of Darkness with Cherries & Vanilla is best enjoyed fresh for bold spice and fruit character, but my pleasantly if cellared properly.
___

Released to the Preservation and Reserve Societies this fall. This beer is a variant to the publicly sold Tart of Darkness. I will be honest, while the tart of darkness is a very good sour, it does not compare to my favorite sour stout Madrugada Obscura by Jolly Pumpkin. The fact that they added the cherries and vanilla to this may actually make some kind of difference. I can only hope that this is the case. Let us see how this warrior fairs. Draw your puckeringly sour sword and get ready to take action!

Aromas:
Dark Cherry yogurt, Vanilla ice cream, caramel,Lavender, cotton candy, strawberry cheesecake, lemon peel, citrus, dark chocolate hints, blueberry skins, earthy notes, Cherry vanilla Dr. Pepper hints, molasses, anise, licorice, lemon peel, sour funky notes, citrus, port wine hints, blue berry muffin and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Blueberries, Vanilla cream, coconut, caramel, tart wine grapes, chocolate, lavender, dark cherry yogurt, strawberry cheese cake, brown sugar, blueberry muffin, lemon peel, Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper hints, dark fruits like prunes raisins, concord grape skins, port wine hints, oak, earthy notes and musty sour funky notes.

Aftertaste:
Tart wine grapes, oak, dark cherry yogurt hints, vanilla, coconut hints, and earthy notes finishing all fast and dry. No alcohol in the taste, a sipping beer, medium to full mouthfeel and with a murky amber brown full body.

Overall:
Way better than the original. I have no idea how the addition of the cherries and vanilla seem to suppress the overall ‘sour’ aspect of this beer making it more of a sweet tart. The original did not do as well as my favorite, Madrugada Obscura but tasting more sour than a balance of stout chocolate roastiness with sour aspects. This beer however, redeemed the original big time. While the chocolate aspect is there but hinted, the sweetness of cherry and vanilla change the aspect of the beer not just to make it fruity tart but also dessert like yet still puckeringly sour. Definitely recommended. So does it win against Madrugada Obscura? I guess it really depends on my mood. Chocolate coffee sour or Cherry Vanilla sour.

Anime Corner:
Saber Alter/Dark Saber from Fate/Stay Night/Hollow Ataraxia was used in this pairing since I used Jean from Claymore. Basically both represent the “Dark Knight” In the Tart of Darkness. You may not tell from the label, but a sword pierces through the cherry and in the original, there is a sword involved. The aspect of the warrior of darkness and the fact that I have used Saber in many Dark chocolate and cherry flavored beers just pushes my conviction that much further. The Dark Arts have to do with blasphemy against the church but the strange part, as holy as some organizations are, some hold deep dark secrets that the public never knows about. Tart of Darkness with Cherries and Vanilla brings that aspect of sour evil but yet sweet and forgiving aspects that are pretty damn Holy if you ask me. Think of it as the sweetness delivering the darkness of the beer from evil Either way, great beer and great pairing I think.

Sources:
https://omisyth.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/1217501555092.jpg
http://gallery.minitokyo.net/view/500829

Smokey and The Bois collaboration by The Bruery and The Rare Beer Club

August 26, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged 20th Anniversary, aged in Bourbon Barrels, anniversary ale, Ayeka Masaki Jurai, Black Tuesday, Black Tuesday Imperial Stout, bois, Bois Bourbon Barrel Aged, cacao nibs, Chocolate Rain, Grey Monday, Melange 3, Rare Beer Club, Rare Beers, Ryoko Hakubi, Smokey and The Bois, Smoking Wood, Tenchi Muyo, The Bruery, The Rare Beer Club, vanilla beans, Washu Hakubi, White Chocolate, Wineification, world class beers | Leave a comment

Rating: 7/5

Smokey and The Bois collaboration by The Bruery and The Rare Beer Club is a 16.2% ABV World Class American Strong Ale aged in Bourbon Barrels with Vanilla Beans & Cacao Nibs.
Label:

I”ll Have it Rare…
This dark rich brew is a special creation made for our friends at the Rare Beer Club. Three cheers to your past, present & future!

Created and brewed exclusively for the Rare Beer Club to commemorate the 20 year anniversary of MonthlyClubs.com. Smokey And The Bois is a delightful melange of our favorite bourbon barrel aged beer flavors. Rich malt, burnt toffee, a hint of smoke and toasty oak along with fresh vanilla and raw cacao. This rarity will be a joy to drink now or many years down the road…at the next anniversary!

___

The rare beer club and The Bruery collaborated to make this awesome and monstrous creation. Only way to get this was to be a member of the Rare Beer Club or the Bruery’s Reserve/Hoarders Society. Meaning you will have to trade to get this. That is why it is rare. This beer is a blend of Black Tuesday Imperial Stout, Bois Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Ale and Smoking Wood imperial rye porter brewed with beech- and cherrywood smoked malt and all that with Vanilla Beans and Ecuadorian Nacional Cacao Nibs. Basically, this would be an equivalent of Melange 3 except with Smoking Wood replacing White Oak/White Chocolate. Pretty damn insane… Well, if you happen to find it, hopefully my review here will help you figure out what to expect. Thank you for reading and cheers! 🙂

Aromas:

Rich dark chocolate, sweet, milk chocolate, Rich bananas, whiskey, vanilla bourbon, coconut, dulce de leche caramel, dark fruit raisins, dark cherries, plums, dates, figs, BBQ, pecan pie, hazelnut, creme brulee, flan, candi sugar, graham crackers, marshmallow smores, wine grapes, tres leches/Three milks, Irish cream, brandy, rye bread, oak, apples, Leche Nestle sweetened condenced milk, molasses, port wine, campfire, bacon, burnt sugar, honey, toffee and brown sugar.

Flavors:

Rich Dark, sweet, bakers and milk chocolate syrup, campfire smoke, BBQ, Whiskey Bourbon, Vanilla, rocky road ice cream, Rich bananas, dulce de leche caramel, dark fruit raisins, plums, dark cherries, choco flan, tres leches/three milks cake notes, leche nestle sweetened condenced milk, raisin bread pudding, hazelnut, pecan pie, chocolate marshmallow smores, candi sugars, oak, apples, crème brulee, brown sugar, molasses, anise, wine grapes, brandy, rye bread, honey, toffee, port wine, almond joy chocolate, coconut, sherry, burnt sugar, macaroons and more!

Aftertaste:

Rich Smoked marshmallow, graham cracker with almond joy dipped in caramel, earthy notes, whiskey vanilla and BBQ hints linger. Alcohol is very subtle despite the ABV. Smooth yet you need to sip drinkability, pitch black appearance and rich full body with a syrupy mouth feel.

Overall:

This is not a beer, this a sugar bottle full of rich syrupy goodness ladies and gentlemen. This little bottle of Diabetes was able to ascend the level of favorite next to the Melange 3. Trying to figure out how this beer worked was a crazy task. As the beer warmed but the flavors kept evolving into a sweet Chocolate Oblivion. As much as I love Chocolate Rain, White Chocolate, Wineification and Black Tuesday or even Grey Monday, this beer seems to have it all. Its like a blend of all those beers plus smoked. Think of a liquid chocolate marshmallow smored, ambered in deep caramel and smoked to perfection. While I believe that each of those favorite beers are damn unique in their own way, this one combines it all to holy hell and back. This one is definitely out there and should be take with extreme caution. While extremely delicious, this can back fire if not taken lightly. Highly Recommended? How about add this to the bucket list.

Anime Corner:

Ryoko Hakubi, Ayeka Masaki Jurai, Washu Hakubi and the Rest of the Tenchi Muyo! Gang were used in this pairing to pair with everything that this beer is all about. Back in the 90s, this was one of my favorite shows and these 3 girls were my favorite characters in the show. While Melange 3 had 3 of the 4 of my favorite girls now, these 3 were freaking awesome. Since this is a melange of flavor complexity the whole gang of Tenchi Muyo was added and Ryoko represents Black Tuesday, Ayeka is the Bois and Washu the Smoking Wood blend. All of them representing a huge component that pair with everything this beer represents from the colors of the label, the beer flavors the aspect of team work, collaboration, love, passion, power and more! See you can find many distinctions here as there are so many I could break down but at this point the review would be tl;dr.

Sources:

http://e-shuushuu.net/images/2009-09-02-194405.jpeg
http://zargon-yokoshima.deviantart.com/art/Ryoko-the-Loner-343856058
http://tr3s-sss.deviantart.com/art/Ayeka-and-Ryo-okhi-428323055
http://e-shuushuu.net/images/2007-06-05-57778.jpeg

Blackwater Series Crème Brûlée by Southern Tier

August 19, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged blackwater series, creme brulee, flan, Imperial Milk Stout, Konoko, Mai Hasegawa, Milk Stout, Oni, Southern Tier, vanilla beans | Leave a comment

Rating: 6/5

Blackwater Series Crème Brûlée by Southern Tier is a 9.5% ABV Imperial Milk Stout brewed with Vanilla Beans.

Label:
The British founders of burnt cream & from Spain, crema catalana, both stand byt heir creative originality & we respect that. But it was the French crème brulee that survived history.

A Stout of Great Contention

How would a brewery determine a likeness to hard-coated custard? Our response is simple resilience & finesse. Pour Creme Brulee into a glass. The incredibly dark & opaque beer reveals a thick head. Aroma leaps forward; sweet, creamy & uncannily true to the namesake dessert. Enjoy with – or as – your favorite after-dinner treat.
___

This one is a rare treat in these parts of Southern California. I was lucky to find a bottle of this magical treasure at Ramirez Liquor Warehouse in Boyle Heights. I have seen this beer in many reviews like my friend Aaron’s page www.beermetaldude.com and some other sites but I never seen it around here before. So yeah, I definitely decided to get it. I figured, Chocoklat was one of the best chocolate beers out there, this one must be just as delicious. In fact, many of the Southern Tier beers are just phenomenal for sure. So here we go, I finally bring this beer to a review at the place where anime and beer meet up. Cheers!

Aromas:
Vanilla syrup, Dark chocolate, maple syrup, super rich butterscotch, crème brulee, custard, dulce de leche caramel flan, Jericalla Mexican custard, Tapioca pudding, Milk chocolate shake, hints of anise, dark fruit raisin bread pudding, pecan pie,Tres Leches, sweetened condensed milk, hazelnut nectar, vanilla pudding chocolate pudding, mocha coffee, Kahlua coffee and Irish cream.

Flavors:
Tres Leches, sweetened condensed milk, Vanilla syrup, Irish Cream, Creme Brulee, Dark chocolate, Dark fruit raisins and figs, marshmallows, coconut, maple syrup, rich butterscotch, toffee, pecan pie, Tapioca pudding, Vanilla and chocolate pudding, Jericalla Mexican custard, dulce de leche caramel from the wooden box, anise hints, earthy dark roast coffee notes, pecan and raisin bread pudding, walnuts, peanut butter hints, honey bourbon hints, Kahlua coffee, mocha frappuccino, Chocolate Milk shake, Mild all spice, nutmeg and burnt sugar caramel flan.

Aftertaste:
Butterscotch, pecan pie, vanilla, flan, crème brulee, dark fruit, Irish cream,Mild earthy and roasted bitterness. No alcohol in the taste, syrupy and creamy mouth feel, Pitch Black sludgy full body, moderate to sipping drinkability. Despite the ABV, there is a level of smoothness that simply works way too well at hiding that alcohol that you probably start to think you can drink several of these.

Overall:
Oh My God!! This is way different of a dessert beer. Unlike many of the beers that are generally complex due to some form of aging in certain spirits, this is just added with vanilla beans and lactose and it totally changes the whole aspect of the beer. This proves that aide from the awesome love of chocolate and caramel, there is a level of vanilla that is on a league of its own. This beer is so ridiculously good I have to add it to that bucket list of beers that people should definitely try if you are lucky to find it for sure. Just like their Chokolat, an absolute favorite for me now.

Anime Corner:
Mai Hasegawa (Konoko) from Oni was used in this pairing because I wanted to show the potency of this beer with respects to flavor complexity, ABV strength, colors and cow of the label. To start, the dark purple hair on Motoko as well as her being represent the dark fruit aspects, flan, caramel, maple syrup and crème brullee of the flavors as well as other complexities. Her sexyness and artillery represent her strength in keeping everything hidden in terms of ABV, smooth and delicious but then dangerous since you would want to drink several of these beers. The tattered clothes in different sections of the body are like the spots of a cow. Yes, she gives the milk . Sorry… what was I saying? Yes, and finally, colors of her gear and her pair well with the colors of the label. So yeah I think in my crazy crazy mind, I made it work some how. Still though, get this beer!!

Sources:
http://i2.imageban.ru/out/2013/10/25/aa432aef7c3b9e72c7b2fa7cf33e6d72.jpg

Vanilla Noir by Prairie Artisan Ales

August 17, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged american whiskey, Barrel Aged, Imperial Stout, oak barrels, Omoto Mitsuki, Prairie Artisan Ales, Tsukumo no Kanade, vanilla beans, Vanilla Noir, whiskey barrels | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.45/5

Vanilla Noir by Prairie Artisan Ales is a 11.5% ABV Imperial Stout aged in oak whiskey barrels with vanilla beans.

Label:
Made by people who truly care from Oklahoma with love.
___

This is the first ever, Prairie beer I have ever had. To top off the greatness too, my friend Aaron from www.beermetaldude.com, was kind enough to donate for us a nice batch of their special beer for the site. Oak aged Whiskey with Vanilla beans will be the first I try and the Noir will be the next in line for sure. For now, let us check this one out!

Aromas:
Dark chocolate, campfire smoke, whiskey, marshmallow smores, sour wine grapes, strong oak, pecan pie, dark fruit raisins, vanilla, caramel, toffee, flan hints, brown sugar, BBQ glazed ham, leather, tobacco and oatmeal cookies.

Flavors:
Campfire smoke, dark chocolate, vanilla, rich oak, sour wine grape hints, marshmallow, graham cracker smores, dark fruit raisins, rye bread, tobacco, leather, brown sugar, BBQ hone glazed ham, flan, caramel, pecan pie, hazelnut hint, roasted coffee grain hints, oatmeal cookies, molasses, licorice and anise.

Aftertaste:
Rich oak, vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, earthy notes, bourbon character, campfire smoke
Partial amount of alcohol in the taste but does not detract from the flavor. Sipping drinkability, pitch black appearance, full mouth feel almost syrupy.

Overall:
A truly smokey exceptional take on the style. Lots of oak and smokey goodness border-lining an sour stout like the great Madrugada Obscura. The Whiskey and vanilla beans keep everything in place so it doesn’t feel like a rauchbier and still maintaining a whiskey barrel character. In fact, the flavors actually compliment the whiskey very well. Feels right at home for this one. I am not sure what kind of oak was used in this but the oak was very different in flavor. Really complex and delicious stuff and highly recommended find.

Anime Corner:
Omoto Mitsuki from Tsukumo no Kanade was paired with Vanilla Noir because I wanted to showcase the monster in the label attacking the chicken. In this case, Omoto is the monster and her unleashing the demons is the vanilla, oak and dark fruit flavors onto your palate. The sourness and oak that comes from the beer is represented by her evil twisted gaze but the sweet side of the beer is how innocent she looks. Looks can be deceiving though as her power are at 11% ABV. Take care with this one.

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

Couverteur by the Bruery

June 10, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged Belgian Chocolate, Belgian Chocolates, Belgian Dubbel, cacao nibs, cherries, Couverteur, Dark Belgian Candi, Dark Cherries, Disgaea, Etna, milk Chocolate, Preservation Society, Seme De La Vita Tripel, The Bruery, tootsie pops, Tootsie Rolls, vanilla beans | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.25/5*
*NOTE: Please be advised that this beer was removed from production due to lactobasillicus found in the beer. This review rating was set at the time beer was fresh!

Couverteur by the Bruery is an 8% ABV Belgian Dubbel brewed with Cacao Nibs and Vanilla Beans.

Label:
Couverteur is a Belgian-style dubbel that has been fermented with cacao nibs and vanilla beans adding a layer of chocolatey complexity to the malt rich ale. Couverteur is best enjoyed fresh. Please store in a cool, dry place. The ideal serving temperature is 50° F (7° C). Best served in a tulip or wine glass.
___

The name I believe is in reference to Belgian Chocolates, a type of Belgian Chocolate brand or something that is Coveted. I could not find much information on the name but this information I found definitely seems to find the description. As part of the preserve or reserve society too, this beer can be obtained from the Bruery’s online store. This would the be time to sign up if you want to try out this beer. A Belgian Dubbel with cacao nibs and vanilla? Starting to remind me of Seme De La Vita Tripel, except that one has pistachio and vanilla beans. Either way, let us see just how sweet this beer can be.

Aromas:
Belgian Chocolate, Chocolate Yoohoo, Milk chocolate powder, dark fruits like raisins and prunes, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, cherries, candi sugars, toffee, pecan pie, tootsie rolls, bananas, clove spice, biscuit bread, peanut butter, brown sugar and cinnamon.

Flavors:
Milk shake Chocolate, dark cherry, dark fruit raisins, prunes, vanilla, rocky road ice cream, marshmallow, cinnamon, peanut butter hints, dulce de leche caramel, candi sugar, pecan pie, toffee, tootsie rolls, bananas, clove spice, biscuit bread, brown sugar, nutmeg, all spice and wafflecone.

Aftertaste:
Chocolate Vanilla, caramel, dark fruit hints and biscuit bread with a somewhat dry finish. Easy to moderate drinkability, no alcohol in the taste and medium mouthfeel.

Overall:
Simply amazing!! Definitely getting that extra credit with the whole tasting closer to chocolate aspect as it goes. The Dubbel is there but the chocolate and vanilla does lend the extra hand to remind you that yes, this is a chocolate dubbel. The beer is very good and I have to say I like it because of the chocolate. If you do not like chocolate or at least more natural chocolate flavors, then this beer may not be the one for you and you want to try a different dubbel. For those that love chocolate and dubbels, this is a real treat!!

Anime Corner:
Etna from Disgaea makes a return into the beer pairings because I wanted to do something for her in terms of pairing her with a Bruery beer and also to the fact that she fits the bill in terms of the label and the overall sweetness of chocolate and vanilla that the beer has to offer. While the ABV is not over the top or super duper complex, it is still very rich for what it is and as the picture shows, Etna, quite like Couverteur explodes with rich flavors.

Sources:
http://cdn.myanimelist.net/images/characters/11/33671.jpg
http://s3-ak.bebo.com/image/4234498863a12957633498l.jpg

(Brewerianimelogs On The Road) Barrel Aged Vanilla Bean Wreck Alley by by Karl Strauss

May 19, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged bakers chocolate, Barrel Aged, Barrel Aged Wreck Alley, blueberry cheese cake, bourbon barrels, Brewerianimelogs On The Road, cacao nibs, chocolate coffee, cocoa nibs, Coffee Beans, Disgaea, Etheopian Coffee beans, Etna, Imperial Stout, Karl Strauss, Tcho cocoa nibs, vanilla beans, wreck alley | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.75/5

Barrel Aged Vanilla Bean Wreck Alley by by Karl Strauss is a 12.4%ABV Imperial Stout brewed with Cocoa Nibs, Coffee Beans, Vanilla Beans and aged in Bourbon Oak Barrels.

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Like previous versions of Wreck Alley, this batch has additions of cocoa nibs and locally roasted Ethiopian coffee beans. But this time we didn’t stop there. Our brewers split whole vanilla beans from Papua New Guinea, added them to the beer, and left it to age in American oak barrels for an entire year. The result? All of the dark chocolate and espresso-like roast you expect from Wreck Alley, plus exotic vanilla undertones.
____

So I had this crazy idea that since I am always out and about trying different beers, why not try to do some quick reviews for some beers that may or may not make it to bottles and may be draft only. I did something like this long ago (https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2013/08/24/seme-della-vita-the-seed-of-life-by-monkish-brewing/) but never really took off with the idea. This time around I tried a beer at the local Uncle Henry’s Deli near my town which was really damn good. This beer was essentially the same beer I about a year ago (https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/barrel-aged-wreck-alley-by-karl-strauss/) but with the addition of vanilla beans. Well now, that just added some damn good level of complexity. So basically I liked it so much that I wanted to do a review for it. I also recently heard that this beer may be released in bottles, so if that is the case, I will be sure to review that one too. I will definitely try to do more “on the road” reviews for sure.

Aromas:
Dark, milk, bakers and sweet chocolate, coconut, rich vanilla, oak, coffee, mocha, bourbon, rocky road ice cream, flan, dark fruits like raisins, plums, caramel, toffee, tobacco, brown sugar, anise and berries and cream.

Flavors:
Definitely rich in Dark, milk, bakers and sweet chocolate and vanilla with the mocha coffee coming through very nicely. It is not as light funky as the previous one BA version was which I am sure is where the vanilla comes in. Lots of flavors of caramel, frappuccino, flan, coconut,bourbon, rocky road ice cream, marshmallows, anise, brown sugar, tobacco, toffee, berries and cream, Irish cream notes, dark fruits like raisins, plums, figs and currants.

Aftertaste:
Caramel, vanilla, rich chocolate, coffee, dark fruits, mild coconut lingers. Very well hidden alcohol despite the big ABV. It sure does not drink like a 12% ABV beer. A sipping beer but is very smooth and silky. It is pretty dangerous stuff as I can see finishing off a couple of glasses and then it would not be good for me.

Overall:
Way better than the original and the first Barrel Aged version. I like sweeter beers so this one was sweeter than the original and the BA one so definitely a lot of extra credit there. I would highly recommend this one if you can find it on tap of even on the bottle which I am sure I will definitely try to get to maybe add some more pictures or make a comparison. Either way, definitely get your hands on a couple of drinks of this, with responsibility of course.

Anime Corner:
Etna from the Disgaea series has been a consistent character I have used for the Wreck Alley series ever since the first one I did where it shows her by a slab of concrete that was destroyed. Shes a crazy machine. Then in the second one, it shows her huge like Godzilla sitting next to some buildings. Yep. In this instance, the addition of vanilla to the barrel is like her sitting on a Prinny (the blue penguin aka her minion). So the heightened amount of flavors is like her letting her minions do all the work for her where she can just relax!

Rue D’Floyd Collaboration by The Bruery and Three Floyds

April 29, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged aged in Bourbon Barrels, beer collaboration, Black Lord, Black Tuesday, Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Porter, cherries, Coffee Beans, Dark Lord, FLCL, Floyd D'Rue, Haruko Haruhara, Imperial Porter, Naota Nandaba, Rue D'Floyd, The Bruery, Three Floyds, vanilla beans | Leave a comment

Rating: 6/5* Rating given at the time of tasting (4/28/2014)

Rue D’Floyd Collaboration by The Bruery and Three Floyds is a 14.4% ABV Imperial Porter brewed with Coffee and Vanilla beans and aged in Bourbon Barrels with Cherries

Label:
Black Lord

This collaboration brew was made in the spirit of experimentation…. and then condemned to barrels for one year. We hope you enjoy!

Rue D’Floyd is the complement Floyd D’ Rue and was brewed with our good friends from 3 Floyds in Indiana. This invigoration ale will age gracefully if cellared properly, but the spice flavors will be the most prominent when consumed fresh.
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Obtained as part of the Bruery’s reserve society, this beer was made with high expectations as it was collaborated with 3 Floyds. The label on the beer advises “Drink by 6/30/14” and “May contaqin Lactobacillus”. The Bruery does advise this was not on purpose but the odds of such a great beer to be a ticking time bomb, basically consume it before it sours, is such a damn shame. If you can get this before the time runs out, definitely get it. I also, like how this is called “Black Lord” as if Black Tuesday and Dark Lord had a…..oh!??

Aromas:
Chocolate covered cherries in mocha coffee, bourbon, oak, vanilla, coconut, flan, dark, milk, German, Belgian, sweet, bitter, bakers, and fudge chocolate, Kahlua liqueur, flan, dulce de leche caramel, marshmallows, rocky road ice cream, dark fruits like raisins, figs, Irish cream, kopi luwak, hazelnut nectar, pecan pie, cherry cobbler, cookies and cream, almond joy, molasses, anise and brown sugar, crème brulee, waffle cone and coffee cake.

Flavors:
Dark Cherry yogurt, dark chocolate, milk, Belgian, German, sweet, fudge, bakers and bitter chocolate, dark fruit raisins, figs, plums, currants, mocha coffee, espresso, flan, cinnamon, oak, bourbon, vanilla, apples, marshmallows, coconut, coffee cake, cherry cobbler, crème brulee, brown sugar, molasses almond joys, cherry cordial, pecan pie, hazelnut nectar, Bailey’s Irish cream, rocky road ice cream, cookies and cream, kopi luwak coffee, chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal, Chambord raspberry liqueur, fudge cherries with chocolate mousse and frappuccino.

Aftertaste:
Cherry Cordial, coffee, mocha, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, Kahlua liqueur, earthy, mild tart and spicy notes linger. This is dangerous as the ABV alcohol can be detected in the taste, it has a smoothness and drinkability is moderate with a syrupy mouthfeel.

Overall:
Exceeding my expectations even when trying to find some of the flaws. This is damn delicious and way too easy to drink that is very dangerous as you can be done for the night if you even try to drink the whole bottle. Definitely and highly recommended if you can trade or find this one online as it will go bad with time unfortunately. It is really sad indeed since it almost feels like attaining the most awesome-st thing in the world then watch it disappear forever. We cannot see how the future will taste for this beer unless they make it again. So yeah, while this still exist, get this as soon as possible! This beer almost reminds of “Life is Like…” but with coffee.

Anime Corner:
Haruko Haruhara and Naota Nandaba from FLCL (Fooley Cooley) were used in this pairing to show case the colors of the label, the flavors, the collaboration, the ticking time bomb aspect and just the insane aspect that this collaboration brings. Aside from the colors of the label. Haruko represent the cherries and the coffee as well as the very dangerous aspect of the beer. The smoothness of the beer can be seen in the cuteness of her demeanor but don’t ever let that fool you. This woman is demented and insane. Cute on the outside, monster on the inside. Naota Nandaba, is the admirer which you can think of him providing the extra flavors as being the main character of the series. Now the ticking time bomb has to do with the short temper that Haruko has and the short time that these 2 have together. I won’t spoil the story, but c’mon, it is such a great series…. for only being 6 episodes long!! There, you have no excuse not to watch FLCL… now just like I said before… Go get this beer, find the show and watch it! You will be in for a ride!

Embargo by Black Market Brewing

April 29, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged american whiskey, Barrel Aged, Black Market, Black Market Brewing, cocoa nibs, Embargo, Ghost in the Shell, Imperial Brown Ale, Motoko Kusinagi, vanilla beans, whiskey bourbon | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.8/5

Embargo by Black Market Brewing is a 9.8% ABV Imperial Brown Ale brewed with Vanilla & Cocoa Nibs aged in whiskey barrels.

Label:
Embargo is an elegant, barrel-aged Imperial Brown Ale, based on a high gravity version of our popular Shakedown Brown. Embargo is aged in used whiskey barrels with cocoa nibs and vanilla beans to create and amazingly well layered taste sensation. Enjoy Embargo on special occasions with special friends.
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Picked up a bottle at Ramirez Liquor store. I was going to pass this up but the colors got to me and just the fact that I never had an Imperial Barrel aged brown ale, I had no choice but to break the Bavarian law, lol, and try to ship this to my experience of flavors as well as show may why it is called Embargo. It could be that this beer has something to hide, something dark that the government doesn’t want you to try or even know about. However, we here at brewerianimelogs would like to show you otherwise.

Aromas:
Lot’s of rich berries and dark fruits, black berries, blue berries, boysenberries, currants, raisins, strawberry jam, rich plantain bananas, dark chocolate, vanilla, oak, bourbon, coconut, coffee notes, marshmallows, clove spice, old bananas, brown sugar, dulce de leche caramel, flan, chocolate abuelita, whiskey, rye bread, sugar cone, cinnamon, molasses, mint and anise.

Flavors:
Rich Plantain bananas (Platano Macho), chocolate abuelita, oak, bourbon, coconut, dark chocolate, earthy hop notes, vanilla, milk chocolate, dulce de leche caramel, rich dark fruits like blackberries, boysenberries, blueberries, currants, raisins, plum notes, strawberries, grape marmalade of rye toast bread,clove spice, molasses, mint, anise, brown sugar, pillocillo sugar cone, cinnamon, marshmallows smores, mocha, coffee, flan, coconut and crème brulee hints.

Aftertaste:
Lingering berry flavors, whiskey, bourbon notes, caramel,flan, plantain, earthy hop bitterness, vanilla and oak. No alcohol in the taste, a sipping beer, full bodied mouth feel but very delicious that you may want to finish the bottle trying to find more of what makes this one good.

Overall:
I have no fucking idea what it is about barrel aging a brown ale but this took flavors to a whole other profile of complexity that I haven’t tried from a barrel aged beer in the past. That is also attributed to the vanilla beans and cocoa nibs for that matter. This is damn good, Black Market must have pulled a page from the Bruery book and decided to take it into a direction that I am sure not many have traversed. Imperial Brown ales aged in bourbon are very uncommon and one made with vanilla and cocoa nibs, its over!

Anime Corner:
Motoko Kusanagi from Ghost in the Shell was used in this pairing to pair with different aspect. We start with the label which pairs with Motoko’s hair color, and apparel. Next we look at the the aspect of the label that involved Embargo, the government’s intervention of stopping imports at the heart of the ports. Ghost in the Shell has nothing to do with ports really, but Motoko does work for an organization of Public Safety which connects to the government which connects to the public’s safety in terms of the access to international goods. This beer represents the hidden goodness, maybe not by the government, but something that has yet been discovered that maybe the public is not ready for. I feel that this is way to knew and the good folks at Black Market brewery know a little bit too much. Motoko, while maybe being a public safety agent, she still exposes the source for good. Meaning she can be a double agent nd bring some of those really good berry, oak, plaintain, bourbon and more complexities over to us that the Black Market has. Hey, even in the show, even though she was a mission to do, she does show her caring side even if she does the right thing when it comes to going against the system. Then again, who knows, and that is where the beer’s mystery lies in.

Chocolate Rain (2014 Release) by the Bruery

January 20, 2014 by cloudx30 tagged best beers in the world, Bleach, Bourbon Barrel Aged, chocolate chip cookies, Chocolate Rain, creme brulee, Dulce de leche, The Bruery, vanilla beans, Yoruichi Shihouin | 1 Comment

Rating: 6/5* Just as good as ever

Chocolate Rain (2014 Release) by the Bruery is an 18.5% ABV Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels with TCHO Cacao Nibs and Vanilla Beans.

Label:
MAKE IT RAIN
This decadent version of Black Tuesday is proudly brewed with TCHO cacao nibs.

Chocolate Rain began as a single cask of beer at our very first release event for Black Tuesday back in 2009 and now has a storied history of its own. This ale will age gracefully if cellared properly but will be the most prominent when consumed fresh.
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Walking 1000 miles, over 1000 life times and yet, the ultimate (diabetes in a bottle) dessert beer will always be one of my most favorite of rare beers out there. Right next to Melange3, Black Tuesday, White Chocolate, Trois Pistoles, St Bernardus 12 and Three Philosophers. This beer is released by the Bruery for their reserve society and preserve society too. There isn’t much about this beer I cannot stress enough because it really is one of my favorites, yet difficult to obtain. So anyways, here is to the review!

Aromas:
All the fragrances of the chocolate rainbow, dark, white, Belgian, German, sweet, bitter, milk, fudge and baker’s. I may have missed a couple others. Bourbon, Dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, toasted coconut, choco flan, crème brulee, hazel nuts, pecan pie, dark fruits, raisins, figs, plums, raspberries, cherries, almond joy, rocky road, leche nestle sweetened condenced milk, fudge cake, coffee, mocha, Rocky road Ice cream, oreo and chocolate chip cookies, molasses, oak, earthy notes and brown sugar.

Flavors:
The utter definition of CHOCOLATE! Sweet, Belgian, dark, white, German, milk, fudge, bakers, bourbon whiskey, oak, vanilla, choco flan, dulce de leche caramel, crème brulee, toasted coconut, chocolate covered cherries, dark fruits, raisins, figs, plums, raspberries, almond joy, hazelnuts, pecan pie, tobacco, leather, fudge brownies, raisins, rocky road ice cream, mocha, coffee, brown sugar, oreo cookie, chocolate chips, oatmeal, Kahlua, chocolate covered funnel cake, milk shake, black currants, roasted cashews, tootsie roll candy, “Willy Wonka ain’t got nothing on this Chocolate Rain” flavors!…I ran out of things to describe this epicness…

Aftertaste:
Lingering chocolate, vanilla, caramel, dark fruits, brown sugar, bourbon, white fudge, chocolate fudge and more and more sugar! The alcohol is very little in the taste, but for all its worth, it doesn’t detract from any of the flavors at all and since it is 19-20% alcohol, It is in no way harsh. Sure it is a sipping beer, a dangerously sipping beer because it also has elements of smoothness. It does feel warm going down too. JEEZUUZ YES!!!. Very syrupy mouth feel, like I had mentioned in my previous review of this, boozy chocolate syrup.

Overall:
One of the top best sugary boozy chocolate syrups, I mean beers. Ever! Like I said before, there is nothing I can say about this beer but utter heaven! It could be overkill if placed in ice cream but hey, if you want Dat Dia-bee-tus! Watch out now. No joke, it is pretty sugary and utter bliss. DO NOT DRINK THIS BOTTLE IN ONE SITTNG!!, if you enjoy beers, even if it is the only one you will drink for the rest of the night, don’t do yourself the dissatisfaction. This is really a great beer and should be enjoyed a few sips at a time. Chocolate Rain!! Some stay sober, while other feel the bliss….

Anime Corner:
Yoruichi Shihouin from Bleach was used in this pairing, even from the last time I tried Chocolate Rain for many reasons, aside from the fact that she is one of my favorite anime characters of all time. For starters, in the original Chocolate Rain pictures for my last review, I wanted to describe that Yoruichi as the bringer of the rain since was given a Native American outfit and she was doing a dance to make it rain, rain chocolate!! Her attitude is very caring for her friends but at the same time feisty and very seductive (Lucius Chocolate Rainbow and Vanilla added). She is one of the fastest and strongest characters in Bleach (alcohol due to Bourbon). She is a Princess but was aldo the leader of Onmitsukidō, the Secret Mobile Unit/Corps, Special Forces or Covert Ops. In other words, bad ass ninja! (Alcohol undetected, hidden, hits ya hard later on). In fact, she is so bad ass she took down several ninjas in a matter of seconds. She also has Flash speed (Shunpo) and Shunko or Flash cry (Lightning based attacks)! Which describes Chocolate Rain’s aspect of smooth drinking and you can’t have Rain without lightning. Her sexy and seductive properties can all be described above in the aromas and overall flavors of the beer. Even her outfit and being show the dark fruit flavors, the chocolate, the vanilla, the caramel, the nutty, way more. There is so much more I can go on and on about Yoruichi being the perfect pairing for this beer it ain’t even funny…

Shock Top Chocolate Wheat and Choc’ Top by Anheuser-Busch

December 30, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged Chocolate and vanilla, Shock Top beer, vanilla beans, wheat ale | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.5/5 *Chocolate Wheat

Rating: 4.6/5 *Choc’ Top

Shock Top Chocolate Wheat by Anheuser-Busch is a 4.3% ABV Belgian-Style Wheat Ale brewed with spices, cocoa nibs and vanilla beans

Label:
Belgian style wheat ale brewed with spice, aged on cocoa and vanilla beans, and with natural flavors.
Pour down side of glass until 1/2″ is left in bottle. Swirl &pour remaining brew to properly blend spices & release the aroma & flavor. Enjoy!
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There is 2 beers to review here. The chocolate Wheat on its own and the “Black & Tan” version or Choc’ Top which includes pouring a portion of the Chocolate wheat and topping it off with the regular shock top. These beers come in a 6 pack with 3 being chocolate and 3 being shock top. In this review I will talk mainly about the chocolate wheat on its own but also describe how the addition of regular shock top may make or break the beer as it becomes, Choc’ Top

Aromas:
Impressive milk stout qualities, dark chocolate, vanilla, waffle cone, mild rocky road ice cream, caramel, marshmallow notes, earthy spice, brown sugar and peanut butter

Flavors:
Chocolate and vanilla are there and they do seem to mask some of the graininess. The wheat combination works great as the flavors come out like waffle cone, marshmallow, peanut butter hints and rocky road ice cream. It also has flavors of caramel, toffee, brown sugar, coriander spice and earthy grainy bitterness.

Aftertaste:
Finishes a bit dry but some of the vanilla, chocolate and waffle cone character linger slightly. Easy to drink, no alcohol in the taste but the mouthfeel is watery at times.

Overall:
Probably the best Shock Top beer I have ever had and that is swaying a lot since normally they are average but this one is very good

Anime Corner:
I chose Muramas from Full Metal Daemon to represent the chocolate and vanilla aspects of the beer but also show the winter and Christmas aspect of the new release. It is very good. As for the Choc’ Top I chose and original artwork from artist sigma99 which shows the chocolate embracing the original shock top flavors but the final outcome being a chocolate and orange infusion as shown in the last artwork which the character and the artist are unknown as I was unable to find an original source other than http://anime-pictures.net/pictures/view_post/133565?lang=en

Choc’ Top:
This is what you make when you do a Black and Tan with the regular Shock Top and the Chocolate Wheat. The only difference in the Aromas and flavors is that you increase the wheat and coriander making it taste more like chocolate covered oranges. It makes it slightly better but does take away more from the vanilla and chocolate. So either way, good stuff

Smoked Porter with Vanilla Bean by Stone Brewing

December 29, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged American Porter, Hera, Puzzles and Dragons, Smoked Porter, Stone Brewing, Stone Smoked Porter, Vanilla Bean, vanilla beans | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.9/5

Smoked Porter with Vanilla Bean by Stone Brewing is a 5.9% ABV American Porter brewed with Vanilla Beans

Label:
In 2006, almost exactly 10 years after we first released Stone Smoked Porter, Stone Small Batch Brewer Laura Ulrich had a brilliant idea: What if she added whole Madagascar vanilla beans to a small batch of the finished beer? And voilá, Stone Smoked Porter with Vanilla Bean was born! It was an instant hit, as the resulting flavor combinations – rich vanilla melding with the malty, chocolatey, coffee-like characteristics of the beer-were practically made for each other. Originally available only as an occasional growler fill or on tap all-too-briefly at special events or in our restaurant, this exquisite creation was released in a single bottle run for the first time in 2012, much to the delight of its many fans… who instantly began clamoring for more. Your voices have been heard.
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This is the latest release from Stone Brewing for the 2013 winter season. This is the second time I try and review this beer as the last time I tried it was was in a 12 ounce bottle. Back then, this one was very good. So I hope this one is just as awesome. This will see national distribution wherever stone beer is located.

Aromas:
Roasted coffee notes, rich vanilla cream, mocha, dark chocolate, notes of campfire smoke, dulce de leche caramel, oak, molasses, brown sugar and earthy hops.

Flavors:
Roasted coffee, campfire smoke, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, subtle vanilla, caramel, molasses, hints of anise, brown sugar, earthy hops, licorice and hints of marshmallow

Aftertaste:
Smoke, earthy hops, roasted coffee grains, vanilla and dark chocolate. No alcohol in the taste with easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
This is a very good beer. While it hit a lot of good notes, for some reason, the vanilla wasn’t as strong as the one I got last year. It does not take away from the deliciousness of the beer. Expect a great porter but don’t expect overwhelming vanilla bean. Some people may like the fact that it is close to a milk stout with that extra vanilla goodness but others will definitely like the smokey aspect.

Anime Corner:
Hera from Puzzle and Dragons is a demon character in that series. My reason for pairing her with the Stone Smoked Porter with Vanilla Beans is due to the fact that the artwork compliments the label colors of the beer but also represents the Stone Gargoyle protecting the good flavors and eliminating impurities. Hera’s hair is crimson red representing the fire that is used to roast the malts which gives it the smokey flavors but she also a bit of yellow on some of her hair bangs not to mention that she is alluring which brings the vanilla sweet flavors into play. Alluring drinkers who expect full vanilla but then see the smokey aspect first if not brought to the proper temperature.

Brothers’ Reserve series Vanilla Brrrbon ’13 by Widmer Brothers

December 29, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged American Barleywine, Bourbon Barrel Aged, bourbon barrels, Brothers' Reserve, Caramel, Panty, Panty & Stocking, Panty Anarchy, Panty and Stocking, vanilla beans, Vanilla Brrrbon '13, Widmer Brothers, Winter Warmer | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.5/5

Brothers’ Reserve series Vanilla Brrrbon ’13 by Widmer Brothers is a 10.7% ABV Winter Warmer brewed 90% with vanilla beans and aged in bourbon barrels with the last 10% being regular winter warmer ale.

Label:
Our brewers added fresh whole vanilla beans to a few select barrels of our Barrel-Aged Brrrbon ’13, an imperial version of our Brrr Seasonal Ale aged in Kentucky Bourbon barrels, for this limited edition brew. The addition of vanilla beans heightens the vanilla character imparted by the barrels, and adds a delicious layer of complexity to the beer’s oak and caramel character, making for a smooth warmer perfect for the season.

MALTS: Pale, Caramel, Carapils, Dark Chocolate
HOPS: Alchemy, Simcoe, Cascade
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Definitely wanted to try this beer as soon as I saw it. I have not tried the Brrrbon series but with vanilla beans? This I had to get it. I have only tried a few Widmer beers and have enjoyed some of them. Lets see how this one turns out

Aromas:
Vanilla, slight bourbon character, figgy, earthy and piney hops, caramel, hint of dark fruits, cinnamon and ginger bread. Not big on the aromas but that is okay

Flavors:
Flavors are of bourbon, coriander spice, citrus, grapefruit hops, vanilla, oak, rye bread, caramel, orange creamsicle, ginger bread, barleywine notes, tropical fruit hints, oak, some dark fruits and cinnamon

Aftertaste:
Citrus, caramel, vanilla, earthy hops and a bit of ginger bread. Alcohol is partially present in the taste but nothing detracting too much. A sipper at that though

Overall:
A very good beer but a different beer for sure. I am not sure because I was expecting a very caramel and vanilla beer but it is actually that and some notes that seems like IPA notes. Very peculiar but definitely not a bad beer by any means. It was inviting at that but it is interesting how the vanilla plays with the bourbon and the citrus. More like a barley wine than anything

Anime Corner:
Panty Anarchy from the Panty and Stocking series I used in this one to pair the beer label colors and vanilla flavors. Panty can be crude many times and is often getting into a lot of trouble (representing the hoppy barleywine like aspect). She is strong fighter but also loves to be very flirtatious (Strong ABV and Vanilla)

White Chocolate Moo-Hoo by Terrapin Brewing

December 6, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged Bleach, cheese cake, cocoa nibs, cow suit, Danish bread, Danish pastry, dark chocolate, flan, Milk Stout, Moo-Hoo, Naruto, Temari Sabakuno, Terrapin Brewing, Tres Leches, vanilla beans, White Chocolate, White Chocolate Moo-Hoo, Ying Yang, Yoruichi Shihouin | Leave a comment

Rating: 6/5

White Chocolate Moo-Hoo by Terrapin Brewing is a 6.1% ABV Milk/Sweet Stout brewed with White Chocolate and cocoa nibs

Label:
If cocoa nibs from Olive & Sinclair in our Moo-Hoo “Chocolate Milk Stout” wasn’t enough, then how about adding white chocolate to the mix just for good measure? The Terrapin “White Chocolate Moo-Hoo” combines the Yin and Yang of the chocolate world into one decadent beer. All the original flavor of Moo-Hoo you remember, all the new flavor of white chocolate you’ll never forget.

Cheers!
Spike & John
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White Chocolate

Aromas:
Lots of White chocolate candy, Danish Cream, milk chocolate, yoo hoo, dark fruits, mild coffee notes, flan, rich vanilla, caramel, rich white chocolate dessert, tres leches/Three milks, sweetened condensed milk and more!!

Flavors:
Flan, vanilla, caramel, Rich buttery White chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, cheese cake, red velvet, chocolate cake, earthy hops, dark fruits, yoo hoo chocolate drink, chocolate shake, Danish cream, crème brulee, tres leches cake, sugary cream, Danish cream and pecan pie.

Aftertaste:
Lots of buttery, silky white and dark chocolate cream, mild coffee and earthy hop bitterness but then dissipates leaving only the sugar sweetness. Very drinkable, very smooth, very delicious, no alcohol but I would still take my time with it. It is very unique and takes time to appreciate this

Overall:
Right next to the Bruery’s White chocolate, this is ridiculously good. As I mentioned in a past, usually sweet beers or any beer that exceeds expectations usually gets extra credit. This includes chocolate beers. Simply knowing that this beer has both the Ying and Yang of chocolate. The flavors are very different from the Bruery’s white chocolate focusing more on the milk chocolate candy of dark and white chocolates. This new flavor of a beer is very different and very unique to the white chocolate style of beer. A rarity among beers and should be highly sought out. WOW!!!

Anime Corner:
Temari and Yoruichi from Naruto and Bleach prospectively are both ninjas and two of my most favorite anime characters ever alongside with KOS-MOS of Xenosaga. I used this art work to pair the White and Dark Chocolate aspects of the beer. The Ying and Yang if you will. You also see this in my reviews for Chocolate Rain and Bruery’s White Chocolate as well. Not only using them because they fit, but mainly because they are my favorite characters and paired with my favorite beers. You may find that a lot throughout my reviews, especially the 6/5 or even the Melange 7/5 rating. Either way, the artwork fits. Temari and her summon, Katamari, the weasel I used to represent the separate aspect. This is a White Chocolate beer and she has a while weasel that is Black and white. The cow pictures I used are mainly to represent the cow suit the Terrapin mascot wears in the label. Seeing as this is a Milk Sweet Stout. The last one with the purple cow is used to represent the flavors of the beer are like all the colors of the rainbow and she looks bad ass too. So it fits in my perspective of creativity.

California Creamin’ by Mother Earth Brew Company

December 5, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged California, California Beers, California Creamin', cream ale, cream soda, Hatsune Miku, hippies, Los Angeles, Matryoshka, Matryoshka Hatsune Miku, mother earth Brew company, Or Xata, Ramirez Liquor, Rice, Scooby Doo, vanilla beans | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.9/5

California Creamin’ by Mother Earth Brew Company is a 5.2% ABV Cream Ale

Label:
One of our most popular beers ever, this light cream ale has a malty backbone thanks to some flaked corn and honey malt. A medium bodied cult classic, it is sure to woo the ladies, but also flavorful enough to satisfy the dudes. You’ll swear you were drinking a cream soda…but tricks are for kids.
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This is the first time I try Mother Earth Brewing and first time reviewing the cream ale style. I have tried cream ale in the past when I tried the Sam Adams cream ale in Iowa which was pretty good. Since then, I have not tried another one. This one is made with vanilla so I would assume it would be similar to cream soda as stated in the label. Well, let us see what this one is like. You may find this one at Ramirez Liquor in Boyle Heights California.

Aromas:
Reminiscent of Or Xata, Rich vanilla beans, cream soda, sweet milk, rice, citrus hops, honey biscuit bread, maize, hints of cinnamon and graham crackers

Flavors:
Similar to Or xata again but not as sweet, citrus hops, cream soda notes, vanilla, butterscotch, honey, graham crackers, citrus hops, maize, some cereal grain and somewhat pilsner component as well.

Aftertaste:
Leaves off with like a buttery vanilla taste, citrus hops lingering, honey and biscuit. The beer is easy to drink with no alcohol presence in the taste. Light, Crisp and refreshing and would be good if it was for the summer

Overall:
This beer is very good. Do not be afraid if it says using corn malt. This is NOT A LAGER. This is actually good. Some people may find it more appealing than others. I would really like to say that this would be a good gateway beer for someone getting into craft beer. It has a good amount of noticeable vanilla and taste very similar to a Cream soda. Good stuff and yes, I would recommend trying one, two, or even three of these.

Anime Corner:
Matryoshka Hatsune Miku was used for this pairing as I was trying to mimic something that had to do with California Dreamin’ like the song. The picture in a sense fits as it shows Miku wondering and kind of looks like day dreaming. When people think of California, they sometimes think of Los Angeles and the city. So the fact that the city comes out of her head may symbolize her day dreaming about California/Los Angeles. Also, the label colors fit with her hair. Matryoshka Miku is actually a version of her that was done in a video in 2010 that could be interpreted as sadden or insane as nothing in the video or the lyrics made sense and is open for interpretation. Sources here:http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/matryoshka. The mere fact that the “Scooby doo” hippy van is there just adds to the whole day dreaming, tripping or even getting high off of drugs aspect of the pairing. So in a sense, there is so much that can be depicted that pairs really well with this piece of artwork and the beer. Can you find any more details about this pairing?

White Chocolate (2013 Release) by The Bruery

October 31, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged Bourbon Barrel Aged, cacao nibs, Chocolate Rain, dulce de caramel, milk Chocolate, Naruto, orange, TCHO Cacao nibs, Temari, Temari Sabakuno, The Bruery, The Sun, tropical flavor, vanilla, vanilla beans, wheat wine, White Chocolate, White Oak, White Oak Sap | Leave a comment

Rating: 6/5* This years is same score as the last

White Chocolate (2013 Release) by The Bruery is a 14.75% ABV Wheat Wine Ale aged in Bourbon Barrels with Cacao Nibs and Vanilla Beans.

Label:
OAKALATE
This sumptuous version of our barrel-aged wheat wine style ale has an addition of fresh vanilla beans and TCHO cacao nibs.
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Last year, I reviewed white chocolate, essentially the Polar opposite of the Chocolate Rain which can be aged up to 5 years. This year, I wanted to give it another shot as it was released more frequently but to California. If you are able to get your hands on this one, definitely give it a shot. One of my top favorites

Aromas are of vanilla, milk chocolate, white chocolate, oak, dulce de leche caramel, oak, coconut. Citrus, banana, orange, bourbon, tropical fruit, hazelnut, pecans, cinnamon, marzipan, almond, butterscotch, wine grapes, pears, raisins and apricots

The flavors are of white chocolate, vanilla, chocolate, orange, coriander, bourbon , coconut, pears, peaches, wine grapes, cinnamon, pecans, hazelnut, brown sugar, oak, marzipan, almonds, raisins, tart apples, pineapple, tropical fruit, dulce de leche caramel and butterscotch

The aftertaste leaves off with that nice oak and white chocolate goodness with some nice tart and citrus flavors. Definitely a sipper who’s alcohol becomes more and more hidden as it warms up

Overall, still one of my most favorite top Bruery beers. This year’s though, definitely shines more on the white oak and citrus side, at first. Temari plays hard to get second round (2013), so let it warm up and as it goes, you bet damn right you get the white chocolate. Highly recommended if you love Barrel aged beers no doubt.

Anime Corner: Temari Sabakuno from the Naruto series is one bad ass female ninja. One of my favorite all time Anime characters. She is from the Sand Clan of the ninja world, sister to their leader Gaara, Naruto’s close friend. Temari can seem rude and tomboyish on the outside and very cold hearted at times. Sometimes without a care in the world except when it comes to her family and friends. She takes charge and doesn’t hesitate to risk it all. This beer is a representative of her, not just in the colors of the label, the even if she may be harsh in the beginning (tart flavors) she has been known to open up and show her true side of compassion for others (White Chocolate, Vanilla, Cacao) especially her friend Shikamaru, the smart ninja from the Leaf Village (Naruto’s Clan). The part of the tropical and sunny citrus flavors are in terms of her hair (Pineapple, Tropical, wheat wine) and the dessert (Orange, Sunny, citrus, oak). So if you experience her sharp and tart at first, let her warm up to you, you will find the true White Chocolate you’ve been waiting for.

Vanilla Oatis by Ninkasi Brewing

October 27, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged Chocolate, milk Chocolate, Nia Teppelin, Ninkasi, Ninkasi Brewing, oatmeal cookies, Oatmeal Stout, pecans, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, vanilla, vanilla beans, Vanilla Oatis | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.45/5

Vanilla Oatis by Ninkasi Brewing is a 7.2% ABV Oatmeal Stout brewed with Vanilla Beans

Label:
A delicious Oatmeal Stout with just enough hops to balance the copious quantities of dark roasted malts, oatmeal for a creamy smooth drinkability, and whole vanilla beans for a rich complexity. To achieve this higher level of decadence, we added whole vanilla beans to the final stage of fermentation – the same process we use to dry hop a beer.
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Ninkasi brewing has been popping up in California really recently. They have been releasing some nice beers worth trying. So far, this is the second beer I try. I will pick up more as I can but so far everything is going pretty good.

Aromas are of Milk Chocolate, caramel, mocha, hints or raisins and dark fruits, earthy hops, oatmeal cookie notes, coffee, roasted barley and oats, pecans, dark cherry notes and walnuts

Flavors are of Vanilla, roasted oats, milk and dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans, earthy hops, hints if dark cherry and raisins, notes of nutty pecans and and walnuts, caramel, mocha, roasted oats and notes of oatmeal cookies

The after taste is roasty and bitter with just enough vanilla beans to maintain and balanced finish. Moderate drinkability with no alcohol presence

Overall, the beer is very good. Without the Vanilla beans to keep everything in check, the roasted notes and earthy hops would most likely over power the beer. If not for the Vanilla, it be a decent stout but the vanilla beans just make it way more delicious. Worth trying once.

Anime Corner: This is Nia Teppelin from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagan. In the show, she had not revealed her this true form to her friends and this was because this form (Anti-Spiral) of hers was hidden dormant until the second half of the series. In this form, she was brainwashed and had to do everything the anti-spiral threat told her to do including lead the world to destruction. The beer comparison is complemented not just the label to her colors in the artwork, but the Vanilla it self. Just like the vanilla is used to keep stuff in check for the rest of the roasted character of the beer, Her will and love (Vanilla) for the main character Simon, allowed her to break control of the anti-Spirals hold and regain her consciousness back keeping her self balanced and in full control. At that point, she went back to her friends to help fight off the anti-Spiral threat

Cacaonut by The Bruery

October 14, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged almond joy, American Strong Ale, Barrel Aged, cacao nibs, Cacaonut, coconut, coconut fruit, coconut milk, dark chocolate, milk Chocolate, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, The Bruery, tropical fruit flavors, vanilla beans, Yoko, Yoko Littner | Leave a comment

Rating: 6/5*

Cacaonut by The Bruery is a 15.6% ABV American Strong Ale brewed with Coconut, Vanilla Beans & Cacao Nibs and aged in Oak Barrels.

Label:
Nuttin’ Better
A Unique blend of several of our barrel aged ales with toasted coconut, cacao nibs and vanilla beans. Cacaonut is bursting with flavors of spice, cocoa, rich toffee, and tropical notes.

The unique blend was inspired by a favorite dessert of ours, the chocolate dipped coconut macaroon. Cacaonut is suitable for aging for up to three years. Best stored and cellared around 55F (13C) in a dark place.
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Secret recipe huh? Well, I did some research and found the blends may be White Oak Sap, Barrel Aged 5 Golden Rings and some of the Anniversary Ales. The Bruery has made some of the most exceedingly unexpected delicious barrel aged dessert beers I have ever tried. After trying several ones like Black Tuesday, Chocolate Rain, White Chocolate, Melange 3 and others, I was not expecting such beers to exceed my expectations this much. In fact, this is the reason I started to give greater than 5/5 ratings for beers that I feel truly deserve that “exceeding expectations” category. Not to mention the fact that anything that taste closest to chocolate is where I go bonkers over the beer. Just to be fair though, I will try to brake this complex monster as best I can. All I will say now before I start is this…. Almond Joy Chocolate while drinking blended tropical juices

Aromas are of rich milk chocolate, dark chocolate, super rich vanilla, rich coconut, dulce de leche caramel, sweetened condensed milk (Lechera), coconut milk, vanilla, bourbon, oak, flan, crème brulee, tootsie roll, almond joy chocolate, brown sugar, maple, dark fruits, plums, raisins, boozy sweet aromas, port wine, pecans, hazelnut and much more.

The Flavors are epic chocolate coconut bliss. I’m done!! That’s its. Just kidding. There a very distinct rich toasted coconut flavor coming from this. This is super close to what the had in mind of chocolate macaroons. Dark Chocolate, maple syrup, vanilla, flan, bourbon, plums raisins, almond joy chocolate, toffee, brown sugar, pecans, hazelnut and walnuts. There are also tropical flavors here as well of hidden citrus, coriander, pineapple, caramelized mango, chocolate bananas, dragon fruit, dark cherries, blue berries and clove spice.

The aftertaste is very toasty coconut milk, vanilla, chocolate, bourbon and almost like a Queso Fresco quezadilla toasted note taste. Pretty interesting but I really think it is the bready coconut in action here. A definite sipper, boozy but nothing to get in the way of ultimate complexity.

*Overall, this one is exquisitely delicious and amazing. These are the beers I wish I could drink everyday. It is beers like these that defy what beers are and what beers truly be!! (At least the dessert ones). I am fanatic of chocolate beers and pairing the coconut here gives it some very complex flavors to the already complex barrel aged blend selection as I mentioned above. I apologize if this sounds too snobby, it is not my intention. But I would like for you to take this with a grain of salt and if you get a chance to try it (and you love coconut, chocolate and tropical fruits) you will most likely love it. Unless you do not like complexity and strength in beers then you best off with something lighter. Also, as with all “Diabetes in a bottle” beers, drink and enjoy in small amounts please!!

Yoko Littner For the Win!!

Seme Della Vita (The Seed of Life) by Monkish Brewing

August 24, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged anime artwork, Belgian Tripel, Cinnamon, creamy vanilla, Eureka, Eureka 7, flan, monkish, monkish brewing, peaches and cream, Pistachio, Pistachio beer, pistachio nuts, Pistachios, Seed of Life, Seme Della Vita, Tres Leches, Tripel, vanilla beans | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Seme Della Vita (The Seed of Life) by Monkish Brewing is a 9.8% ABV Belgian Tripel brewed with pistachios and vanilla beans

Description:
Luxurious, nutty, creamy, vanilla, fruity and complex
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First time hearing about this beer I was surprised since I have never heard of a beer that is brewed using pistachio nuts. Monkish Brewing happens to be very close to where I work so I figured I could not miss out an opportunity for this. Normally I do not do reviews for on-draft brews. Mainly because I have not found one that required me to pair it with an Anime artwork like I usually do for other beers on this site. I usually like how labels compliment the artwork but also mainly how the beer does in terms of flavor, smell, history artwork and such. I had heard that this beer would never leave the brewery as it was highly coveted. There are no growler pours to take home, they do not distribute kegs of this nor do they plan to ever bottle this one. Funny things happen when something gets really loved. Beers become very limited and only few batches made. I had asked them to keep making it at least as this had become my new favorite of from all the different beers I have tried from Monkish so far. Hopefully, one day they will change their mind and distribute more, even bottle it. That way everyone can try this nice piece of lost treasure of art and taste.

Aromas of this beer are phenomenal! Biscuit bread, rich vanilla, caramel, pistachio and hazelnut notes, cake, cinnamon, peaches, peppery notes, apples and notes of chocolate reminiscent of a light “White Chocolate” beer from “The Bruery” but without the bourbon and deeper chocolate. There are also some nice notes of citrus and flan.

Flavors are of very rich vanilla, caramel, pistachio nuts, almonds, cinnamon, hazelnuts, coconut notes, apple notes, cake batter, vanilla Twinky, Tres Leches cake notes, flan, peppercorn hints, peaches and cream notes and bananas

As the beer gets warmer, the the vanilla starts to give off notes of chocolate and candi sugar. I almost thought I was drinking the White Chocolate beer.

Aftertaste leaves off sweet and going into the pistachios nutty notes, cinnamon and vanilla.

Overall this beer is awesome, but it is definitely a sipper. While the alcohol is hidden in the flavor, it still felt as you go. Even for a clear body of a beer like this, it was crazy how much complexity they were able to get with this. A very unique beer with some uncommon ingredients. Should be sought if you are ever in the Los Angeles area. Hopefully one day they will make enough of this for all to try :3 . Like the art work implies, this is a beer lover’s dream, get lost in it!

Or Xata (Horchata) by the Bruery

August 21, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged agua fresca, Belgian Blonde, blonde, blonde ale, Bruery, caramel brown, churros, Cinnamon, dulce leche, Eureka, Fuu, Horchata, mexican cuisine, Naruto, Or Xata, OrXata, Rice, rice pudding, The Bruery, vanilla beans | Leave a comment

Rating: 6/5*

Or Xata (Horchata) by the Bruery is a 7% ABV Blonde ale brewed with Rice, Cinnamon and Vanilla Beans

Label:
¡Que Rico!

Living in Latin American influenced California, horchata is one of our favorite drinks. Our take on the traditional agua fresca incorporates rice and lactose along with spices for that sweet, creamy character that we’ve come to love. Or Xata is best enjoyed fresh. Please store in a cool, dry place. The ideal serving temperature is 50 degress Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius). Best served in a tulip or wine glass
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First tried this in Restaurant “Cinco” near LAX when the Bruery first poured for the public. Back then I had this with some tacos de azada, to my surprise, it was a perfect pairing. The Bruery would eventually release this too the public. So now many can try this exotic creation which to me was mind blowing.

Aromas are of rich cinnamon, vanilla, bread, brown sugar, rice pudding with dulce de leche caramel and spices.

Flavors are pretty dead on like liquid churros and horchata. Lots of vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, brown sugar, rice pudding, pan dulce, leche nestle (sweetened condensed milk), clove spice and banana notes.

The aftertaste also leaves sweet but not too sweet, more cinnamon really. Perfect. The alcohol is hidden well and will hit you later on as you sip more.

Just like I remembered it a month and a half ago. Simply amazing dessert beer here. It really is perfect. All the flavors are exactly what are set out to be. Definitely spot on. When pairing with taquitos or any Mexican cuisine, awesome!!!

Try to get your hands on this if possible. If you live in California, the Bruery will send you a bottle . Cheers!! (http://www.thebruerystore.com/p-99-or-xata.aspx )

*Exceed my expectations several times, it is not too overwhelming with alcohol , it is overwhelming with awesome horchata and liquid churro flavors.

Aphrodite (Aphrodisiac or Aphrodisiaque) by Brasserie Dieu du Ciel

April 8, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged American Stout, Aphrodisiac, Aphrodisiaque, Aphrodite, brasserie dieu du ciel, Caballeros Del Zodiaco, Canadian Stout, dieu du ciel, in Saiya, Saint Seiya, Stout, sweet milk chocolate, vanilla beans | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.5/5

Aphrodite (Aphrodisiac or Aphrodisiaque) by Brasserie Dieu du Ciel is a 6.5%ABV Canadian Stout brewed with real cocoa and vanilla beans

Label:
Aphrodite is a black ale expressing aromas and flavours of vanilla, dark chocolate, and roasted malt. The vanilla and cocoa marry nicely, without out-competing each other, to produce a surprisingly well balanced beer. This beer is mildly hoppy, but the cocoa introduces a touch of bitterness. Never too sweet, this highly appreciated dessert beer is brewed with first rate cocoa and vanilla beans
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It has been a long time since I tried this little bottle, I almost forgot how good it was. It is considered a world class beer as it balances the sweetness of vanilla and chocolate but has a very nice complexity. Aromas are of rich Dark and sweet milk chocolate, vanilla, caramel, earthy roasted coffee fragrance, and some slight dark fruit and berry notes. The flavors remind me a lot of the Samuel Smith organic chocolate or the Odell’s milk chocolate. Chocolate is a win for me so that’s another point for being world class. You can the the rich chocolate and vanilla cream flavor but not a whole mess to overwhelm. It is not Chocolate rain but still has those flavors I love so much. Some slight oak and bourbon barrel flavors are they but slight. Rich caramel, a bit of mocha sweetness with coffee bitterness, and a slight dark fruit taste but very minor. Not sure if this is a nectar to raise sexual arousal, but it sure is arousing the taste buds. It really is good stuff and a definite recommend for stout lovers

2011 review:
Aphrodite or Aphrodisiac (as seen in some bottles) is a delicious stout made with vanilla, dark chocolate, roasted malts, mild hops,bourbon and cocoa. The sweetness of the Vanilla is balanced well with the bitterness of the cocoa. You can tell a lot of the flavors like the bourbon, coffee, chocolate and vanilla are very well present and pleasant to the taste buds. A great dessert beer to have right before having a desert in bed with a partner….oh did I just say that out loud D: …lmao!!..Regardless, a great beer to try and one you wont regret taking home with you 😛

Chocolate Rain by The Bruery

October 31, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged Black Tuesday, Bleach, bourbon barrels, Bruery, Chocolate Rain, cocoa nibs, TCHO, The Bruery, vanilla beans, Yoruichi, Yoruichi Shihouin | Leave a comment

Rating: 6/5 *This may have just become my favorite beer ever…

HEY EVERYONE…WHO WANTS DIABETES IN A BOTTLE?? LOL just kidding…Actually only partially kidding ….. >.>
This is Chocolate Rain, by The Bruery. It is Whoopin’ 19.5%ABV Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon barrels with cocoa nibs and vanilla beans. Well.. I don’t even know if it should be categorized as an imperial stout, more like a very complex boozy chocolate syrup drink with some major major chocolate infusion going on. Literally, the most chocolate rich beer I have ever had. The strongest beer I have ever had aside from Tactical Nuclear Penguin at 32% ABV. To me, maybe I just set this as my all time favorite. Choosing Trois Pistoles and St. Bernardus mixed in high amounts of chocolate may make something similar to this…..maybe.

As soon as I opened this bottle I realized the beer was too extreme for me. It smells like hazel and pecan pie with Chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate and did I mention chocolate drizzled all over that pie with whip crème and cherries on top. That was just the smell. The taste was a maelstrom of rich complex chocolate, dark chocolate mocha, pecans, almonds, dipped in dulce de leche, vanilla, browney batter, bourbon, raisins, cherries, raspberries, Leche Nestle, Epitome of Sugar dimension times 10….. This is the ULTIMATE dessert beer. Adding ice cream may actually put you in a comma. Either that or drinking the whole bottle. BE VERY CAREFUL!!! As delicious as this is, one could get carried away. A beer designed to age for many many decades…

Brewerianimelogs (Anime and Beer Lore)

Tag Archives: vanilla beans

Hey, Careful Man, There’s A Beverage Here by Pipeworks brewing

Brunch Money by Armadillo Ale Works of Dallas Texas

Voodoo Doughnut Lemon Chiffon Crueller Ale by Rogue Brewing

(Brewerianimelogs Food Pairing) Chocolate Rain (2014 Release) by the Bruery with Chocolate Marble Cheese Cake.

(Brewerianimelogs On The Road) Caffè Della Vita (The Coffee of Life) by Monkish Brewing

Sourrento by the Bruery

Peanut Butter Cup Porter by Karl Strauss brewing

(Brewerianimelogs On The Road) So Happens It’s Tuesday Cherry & Vanilla by The Bruery

2014 White Chocolate by The Bruery

Cocoa Psycho by BrewDog

Tart of Darkness Cherries & Vanilla by The Bruery

Smokey and The Bois collaboration by The Bruery and The Rare Beer Club

Blackwater Series Crème Brûlée by Southern Tier

Vanilla Noir by Prairie Artisan Ales

Couverteur by the Bruery

(Brewerianimelogs On The Road) Barrel Aged Vanilla Bean Wreck Alley by by Karl Strauss

Rue D’Floyd Collaboration by The Bruery and Three Floyds

Embargo by Black Market Brewing

Chocolate Rain (2014 Release) by the Bruery

Shock Top Chocolate Wheat and Choc’ Top by Anheuser-Busch

Smoked Porter with Vanilla Bean by Stone Brewing

Brothers’ Reserve series Vanilla Brrrbon ’13 by Widmer Brothers

White Chocolate Moo-Hoo by Terrapin Brewing

California Creamin’ by Mother Earth Brew Company

White Chocolate (2013 Release) by The Bruery

Vanilla Oatis by Ninkasi Brewing

Cacaonut by The Bruery

Seme Della Vita (The Seed of Life) by Monkish Brewing

Or Xata (Horchata) by the Bruery

Aphrodite (Aphrodisiac or Aphrodisiaque) by Brasserie Dieu du Ciel

Chocolate Rain by The Bruery