Tag Archives: Wo-Class

Apple Pie Style Texas Honey Ale by Guadalupe Brewing

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13235163_10103279139395330_1939234816321157695_o 13308630_10103279163257510_1189046450869312272_oRating: 5.5/6

Apple Pie Style Texas Honey Ale by Guadalupe Brewing is an 8.5% ABV Fruit beer made with Apples, Spices and Texas Honey.

Label:
Bottled Date: 12.30.15
Using Our Texas Honey Ale as a base we added apples and spices to make this a crowd favorite

==Introduction==

A share from my friend Aaron Mendiola of BeerMetalDude.com, this brew seemed the best one to start the box my friend sent of sweet sweet Texas nectar. Based on what was used for this one and what it’s going for, it does seem like a delicious dessert in a bottle. I think having said this, there hasn’t been an apple pie beer made directly with the intention of tasting like apple pie so definitely is a unique one for sure. Let’s have a look.

Aromas:
Cinnamon, Pecan pie, Apple Pie, vanilla ice cream, honey, graham crackers, ginger bread, ginger spice, fruit cake notes, bananas, clove spice, dark fruit cherry, prunes, raisins, nutmeg and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Delicious Apple pie right off the bat, honey, pecan pie notes, hazelnut, all spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, graham crackers, ginger bread, ginger spice, fruit cake notes, bananas, clove spice, pumpkin spice, stone fruit apricot, marshmallows, vanilla, caramel, toffee, capirotada raisins bread pudding, dark fruit notes of plum, white raisins, cherry and white prunes.

Aftertaste:
Finishes with rich apple pie notes, cinnamon, graham crackers, nutmeg, pumpkin spice, ginger bread, vanilla, honey and bananas. No alcohol in the taste. Honey golden colored hazy body, crisp, smooth and refreshing mouthfeel with an easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
Damn exceptional brew. It really does taste like what they were going for, delicious apple pie and honey. I tend to lean towards beers that taste a lot like they said they should taste and as a result, these beers always get the best scores from me. I really like beers that taste like something specific and especially those who are so complex and rich with flavors. This beer proved to be many of those things so I would highly recommend it if you can find it.

Anime Corner:
Wo-Class from Kantai Collection (KanColle) and Q-Bee from Darkstalkers were used to pair with the label of the bees but also the colors of the honey and sweetness that is the beer. The complex colors they represent also represent some of the flavors of the beer like the apples and citrus for example.

Sources:
http://static.zerochan.net/Wo-Class.(Kantai.Collection).full.1619033.jpg
http://blog-imgs-79.fc2.com/s/e/i/seiroganmania/569cd591.jpg

Beer# 31 Ume Umai (Delicious Plum) by Gigantic brewing

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12091381_10102849579406990_3095887656506076660_o 12095233_10102849576343130_4444264306122364780_oRating: 4.35/5

Beer# 31 Ume Umai (Delicious Plum) by Gigantic brewing is a 7.5% ABV Specialty Grain Ale brewed with Plums and Black Rice.

Label:
“Party For Your Right To Fight.” – Chuck D

Inspireed by the Japanese flavor palette, we combined plums, black rice and pilsner to make a unique beer experience. Brewed “Dry” in the asian manner, Ume Umai is fruity yet earthy and above all, refreshing and delicious.
==Introduction==

Its been a long time for a Gigantic beer review. I don’t often get a chance to try their beers but they have been coming out more frequently however. Which hopefully I will be trying more if something intrigues my eyes. Ume Umai or Japanese for “Delicious Plum” is the beer I bring forth. With Plum and Black Rice or Forbidden rice which is mainly native to countries such as China, Thailand and Indonesia. An interesting ingredient at that and some forms of this rice comes in like a purple color.

Aromas:
Plum soda, Sake hints, Red bean ice cream mochi balls, peppercorn spice, caramel, vanilla, bubble gum, clove spice, bananas, oranges, Lychee fruit, Coriander spice, sakura cakes, ginger spice hints, grape skins, guava notes, lavender, sweet rice balls, cane sugar, apples, floral hops and cereal grain.

Flavors:
Oranges, Lychee fruit, Coriander spice, Rice pudding, stone fruit peaches, apricots, dark fruit plums, Red bean ice cream mochi balls, peppercorn spice, caramel, vanilla, bubble gum, clove spice, bananas, rice cakes, sakura cakes, ginger spice hints, grape skins, guava notes, sake notes, sweet rice balls, cane sugar, apples, floral hops, hibiscus, lavender hints, sweetened condensed milk, biscuit bread, plum sauce and cereal grain.

Aftertaste:
Leaving traces of dark fruits, stone fruits, hints of tropics, earthy notes, rice pudding, sakura cakes and coriander spice with oranges. No alcohol in the taste, cloudy full golden body, creamy, crispt, effervescent and full mouthfeel and a moderate drinkability.

Overall:
Very good brew with some very Japanese like flavors especially the rice dessert flavors. With the plum combination, this turned out to be very sweet and interesting. Being a smooth and lagerish like beer full of a complex flavor that was definitely worthy of merits. While it was not super boastful in its flavors as it was not head on fruits but lightly noted, it definitely gave it some credit for being above refreshing. Worth a try and maybe more.

Anime Corner:
Wo-Class from Kancolle/Kantai Collection was used in this pairing since I wanted to pair a character that has an octopus or some kind of tentacle monster on their head and went well with the flavors and ingredients of the beer like the color of the dark fruits and plums as well as the rice patties from where the black rice came from. Simply put, pairing that works with the beer label and flavors and colors.

Sources:
http://file.blog.fc2.com/jingaidaisuki/dec71d57f928_134E4/sinnkai059.jpg
http://konachan.com/sample/24261575452244fa04602ce2e80ffb9c/Konachan.com%20-%20189426%20sample.jpg

Points Unknown IPA collaboration by Stone, Ecliptic and Wicked Weed brewing companies

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10842149_10102637064628310_7666711505277713039_oRating: 5.25/5

Points Unknown IPA collaboration by Stone, Ecliptic and Wicked Weed brewing companies is a 9.5% ABV Double India Pale Ale blended with a Belgian Tripel that was aged in barrels that had wine and then had tequila in them for 4 months.

Label:
In creating our latest collaboration beer, It wasn’t easy deciding how best to pool the resources of brewers from three spatially distant points within the brewing universe: Portland, Oregon brewing legend and Ecliptic Brewing founder John Danis, and Luke and Walt Dickinson, the hop-and-funk brewmaster duo behind Asheville, North Carolina’s Wicked Weed Brewing. It seemed no single beer could adequately convey all that they and Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele bring to the brewhouse. So, this veritable triad of power opted to brew TWO beers: a traditional Belgian-style tripel and a West Coast imperial IPA. Doing so allowed them to work within the parameters of all styles while taking things in interesting directions, adding a touch of Southern Califomia style and petting into the spirit! The tripel was transferred into barrels that originally housed red wine before finding a second life as vessels for aging tequila. Four months later,that beer was excavated, then blended at a one-fifth to four-fifths ratio with the freshly brewed double IPA to create the beer you now hold: a hind of the traditional and the new, presenting a variety of diverse flavors that coalesce into something more unique than any one beer our trio could have conceived. Its eventual flavors were a mystery to even the group of master brewers who created it, but now they await the palates of those thirsting to venture to points unknown within the rapidly expanding craft beer galaxy. In other words: You.

“It’s been sweet to work with these fine brewers and take this beer out of sight!”
John Harris // Founder & Brewmaster, Ecliptic Brewing Co.

“Creativity is at the core of how my brother and I approach craft beer John and Mitch have been laying this foundation for years, and getting the chance to work with them has been truly inspirational.”
Walt Dickinson // Co-Founder & Brewer, Wicked Weed Brewing

“What a great experience, combining two of my favorite beer styles while brewing with two of my favorite breweries!”
Mitch Steele // Brewmaster, Stone Brewing Co.

==Introduction==

Another interesting release that will see national distribution. Based on the information given, this is probably some IPA that came by to visit this reality from like the 9th dimension of craft beer existence. It really intrigued me especially since it is a Belgian Tripel IPA but also aged in wine and Tequila. Go figure the complexity. Either way, Lets hope we can make it back to this reality at hand as it seems this buzz trip is headed where no palates have gone before. It’s On! Cheers!

Aromas:
Citrus, phenolic, Belgian candi sugar, grapefruit, herbal, grassy and floral hops, Peppercorns, wine, tequila, mezcal hints, stone fruits like peaches, apricots, mango hints, exotic fruits like passion and dragon, oak , vanilla, caramel, strawberries, caramel, vanilla, lemon peel, pear, honey dew and Danish cream.

Flavors:
Citrus, grapefruit, herbal, grassy and floral hops, Peppercorns, Wine grapes, tequila mezcal hints, oak, Belgian Candi sugar, Stone fruit peaches, apricots, mango hints, dragon fruit, passion fruit, apples, starburst candy, caramel, vanilla, lemon peel, pear, peaches, banana notes, pineapple, honey dew melon, biscuit bread, honey, raspberries, strawberries, white grapes, Danish cream, bubble gum, rum hints, clove spice and tangerines.

Aftertaste:
Tequila mezcal, sangria hints, wine hints, citrus, stone fruit peaches, herbal and floral hops peppercorns and candi sugar linger. No alcohol in the taste, golden brown clear body, moderate to sipping drinkability, crisp, refreshing smooth yet creamy.

Overall:
An exceptional IPA that pretty much takes what you believe an IPA should be (Hoppy) and turns it into so many different flavors that it is all over the and yet supremely enjoyable and reminding you that the hops it does have are different for sure. It seems to be more of a tripel than it is an IPA but still an IPA and the Tequila and Wine…. damn it was a mission to cover this beer. Very enjoyable and something beyond a regular IPA. Find this one!

Anime Corner:
Hikoujouki, Senkanseiki and Wo-Class from Kancolle/ Kantai Collection were used in this pairing as the points unknown as not only represent three freaky creatures but also the colors work with the beer artwork. First, the girl on the left is Ecliptic as her hair curves with the phases of the moon. Stone in the back with the girl having horns is synonymous of Stone’s gargoyle and finally, Wicked Weed on the right having a big bug. Bugs live in weeds. Anyways, they are wicked (As in Awesome). Yeah they totally look like they aren’t of this world, complimenting the beer perfectly.

Sources:
http://e-shuushuu.net/image/?image_id=621596

No. 19 Barrel Aged Series Rufus Corvus by Avery brewing

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10433107_10102152760827010_5207325096843776489_nRating: 5.45/5

No. 19 Barrel Aged Series Rufus Corvus by Avery brewing is a 6.83% ABV World Class American Wild Ale with 65% aged in Cabernet Savignon barrels, 9% Ale aged in chardonnay barrels and 6% Zinfandel barrels.

Label:
The Sour Trinity
Pediococcus
Brettanomyces
Lactobasillicus

No. 19 An artful and massively acidic blend of two major projects and further enhanced with several orphan barrels from the corners of our barrel aging cellar. All Ale involved was barrel aged for a minimum of 8 months and a maximum of 24 months.

Pucker up, buttercup!

Bottled: April 7 2014
Production: 858 Cases
___

Avery Barrel Aged series definitely sells out quick here in California to the point that sometimes I miss out on such great beers. Aaron from www.beermetaldude.com introduced me to this beer. A sour using the vast variety of souring bacteria used in sour beers but then taken to another level using a variety of oak wine barrels. This was truly an honor just like that of the 5 monks. I cannot wait to try this monster and see how it goes…. wish me luck!

Aromas:
Wine grapes, port wine, funky oak, earthy notes, vinegar notes, wine and cheese party, dark fruits like plum, raisins, currants, berry skins, caramel, vanilla, lemon peel, lime, salt, dark cherry, plum sauce, port wine, chardonay, raspberries, rye bread, brown sugar hints, pecan hints and hazelnut.

Flavors:
Dark fruit raisins, plum, wine grapes, salt, lemon, lime peel, dark cherries, plum sauce, Concorde grapes, vanilla, port wine, chardonay, wine grapes, caramel, rye bread, stone fruit peach, pear, apples, funky, earthy notes, good cheese and wine, raspberry vinaigrette, hazelnut, smoked wood, leather, tobacco, berry yogurt, raw berry seeds, mild cheesecake notes in the back, brown sugar, pecan pie dryness, and very mild flan.

Aftertaste:
Ridiculously dry leaving only some sour notes, caramel, dark fruit skins and earthy funk. No alcohol in the taste, a puckeringly mouth feel, sipping beer, pitch brown bordering the black and purple abyss of a body.

Overall:
Very Rich and complex sour. Possibly the ultimate complex and balanced sour. Only the truest sours can be appreciated by palates with an achieved open level of taste. This is sour but it is rich beyond comprehension. Sours are only a handful of my favorites but this takes it a certain level I have not experienced before. It is like the Cardinal Poles of tasting. You have your extreme Smokey, Extreme Sweet, Extreme Bitter and Extreme sour but at the same times, the poles blend and while one pole is the most dominant, in this case the Sour pole, the other sides are so balanced that that they make the sourness be very complex. I would highly recommend this one if you love sours, especially puckering and sweet complex ones.

Anime Corner:
Battleship-Symbiotic Hime and Wo-class from Kantai Collection were used in this pairing to represent the dark void of the sours and the creatures you typically don’t see. The 2 characters and the monster in the background represent the 3 bacteria: Lactobasiliccus,Pediococcus and Brettanomyces. The colors also represent some aspects of the dark fruit and complex flavors as well. While Doing this review, I could only think of Caius Ballad’s theme (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8vXYBEvSow) from Final Fantasy XIII-2 and Lightning Returns. As the characters stumble deeper and deeper into the chaos and mainly this character being the embodiment of Chaos, it is synonymous with exploring deeper and deeper into the sour world of super complex sour beers like this one presents.

Sources:
http://www.wallpaperup.com/uploads/wallpapers/2013/12/02/182227/d837c3da88727616dae561894aed45ee.jpg