#moon drinker (il)

[shining-gem34]

Farewell Longing Firmly For Reunion

||Personally, this is my spite writing regarding Dan Heng reaction about Cloud-Piercer breaking. Also Dan Heng and Cloud-Piercer in general.

Song Inspiration/Drabble Title: Ado エルフ, Gentle Hands (ENG Ver.)- Tomoyo Mitami

HSR 3.0 Spoilers

Years before Dan Heng joined the Astral Express, he once heard a glass artisan say, “Anything that has a form will eventually break. If there is a beginning, there is an end.”

Those words struck something within him. They tug his heartstrings and turn into threads. The holes left in his soul and mind are being patched up by the stirrings of his emotions. They're forcing him to remember memories that should've remained forgotten. The past that was supposed to be washed is a rock refusing to be swallowed up by the ancient sea.

The clinking of their cups meet as the party toasts to another victory. They toast to another reunion after a long battle. They toast for better days to come. Their happiness, however memorable, is as brief as the leaf blown away by the storm.

Something breaks, and someone screams.

The glass artisan words remained with Dan Heng even after joining the Astral Express. There are times he will forget it between maintaining the data bank and exploring new planets. It is only when he takes care of Cloud-Piercer it will return. His hands polishing the spear will pause to ponder.

When he was exiled, Cloud-Piercer became his companion through the best and worst of his lonely wanderings. He did his best to maintain his weapon. To polish and sharpen the spear, Dan Heng learned from blacksmiths who admired the craftsmanship of it. The familiar motions, and their inquiries of its creator, brings forth blurred memories. Indistinct faces and arrogant voices discussing Cloud-Piercer makes his heart ache.

He does not remember the name of the man who crafted his spear.

Yet a single truth is seared into his soul.

The moment Cloud-Piercer was placed in his hands, Dan Heng knew it belonged to him. This spear is his, and no one shall ever take it away from him.

But he forgets his beloved spear is linked to a past he denies.

Throughout the short journey with Jingliu, Dan Heng ignores the anxiety gnawing in his stomach.

She is not Kafka whose honeyed voice is dripping with poison. Jingliu speaks gently like a winter breeze brushing against the sleeping dragon. Coaxing him to awake before she strikes and drags his head to look at the crimson skies. To force him to confront the past as she reminds him he cannot escape no matter what. Even if he covers his ears, her voice still reaches out to the depths of his soul.

“Combat is like smelting — purging the impurities with burning flames and exposing a person's true nature.” Jingliu states, her tone carrying a bittersweet note of nostalgia.

Behind her blindfold, Dan Heng can feel her piercing gaze on him as she asks.

“Those are the words of the one who made Cloud-Piercer for you. Do you remember?”

Amongst the burning sea and destruction, the High Elder can only hear his human heart shatter once again.

If anything has a form, then the body is also considered one.

Every form will break under pressure, and Dan Feng can feel the cracks forming since returning to the Luofu.

No, they were always there- he simply never acknowledged it.

Now, they’re spreading faster than what he can keep track of. Before Dan Heng realizes it, everything collapses and the ground under his feet gives out. He falls between the cracks, but his body falls apart rapidly. His hand reaching out for solid ground breaks into pieces and are swept up by merciless waters.

He opens his mouth to scream, but not a single sound comes out.

When Dan Heng sits up in the Archives with a gasp, he turns to Cloud-Piercer. His spear rests against the nearby wall. He takes a deep breath before outstretching his hand and in a moment, Cloud-Piercer appears on top of his palm. He holds it against and closes his eyes. Their solid weight keeps him anchored to reality, a soothing balm to his heart after a nightmare.

As his thoughts start to drift away, he can hear the pluckings of guzheng strings echoing in his dreams. Shortly, the thunderous clapping of the drums joins. The both of them moving in tandem with a certain craftsman humming.

So quietly, Dan Heng falls asleep to their lullaby echoing in his mind.

In the heat of the battle, Dan Heng charges forward with Cloud-Piercer in his hand.

As he faces the unknown swordsman in Amphoreus, the archivist watches the events unfold in slow motion. With a smile, the swordsman swings the Trailblazer bat and parries his spear. His absurd strength or the timing of his strike, or both, are more than enough to break Cloud-Piercer in two.

Teal eyes widened in surprise as the blade stabbed into the ground behind him.

The uneasiness he felt for the past few weeks has accumulated for this moment. Every nightmare he had, he brushed it off and moved on with his day shoving it in the back of his mind. After all, Cloud-Piercer has lived for more than seven hundred years. With diligent maintenance to keep it in pristine condition, why should Dan Heng believe it would be destroyed so easily when it has existed for so long?

How ironic he chose to remember the glass artisan words shortly after his spear broke.

“Anything that has a form will eventually break. If there is a beginning, there is an end.”

Fortunately, Phainon kept true to his word and recommended a craftsman capable of repairing Cloud-Piercer.

Dan Heng is no expert appraiser or engineer.

By observation alone, he can't find any faults in his spear. There is not a single crack where the pieces are melded. The welding is smooth with the material showing no signs of color variation. He takes a step back to make room to test his spear.

It is easy to fall into a rhythm of swinging and twisting the spear in his hands. There are no changes in its weight as far as he can tell.

Satisfied, he lowers his spear and nods to Chartonus, “Thank you, Sir Chartonus. And to you as well, Phainon.”

The Trailblazer beams and claps their hands together, “That's great, Dan Heng! Cloud-Piercer and Cold Dragon Young duo are back in action! We are sooo back to the ass kicking. I can see it now: Galactic Baseballer and Cold Dragon Young rising from the ashes! If only our Ice Queen was here with us to make it a trio…”

“Please act normal.” Dan Heng said bluntly. He's used to the Trailblazer antics, but they shouldn't be weirding out their acquaintances.

Chartonus remains impassive as ever. In contrast, Phainon looks amused and comments, “You both are really energetic. The day never gets boring with you two around.”

“Oh, you would get along with our other friends just great, Phainon! I just know it!” The Trailblazer said proudly, placing their hands on their hips.

Phainon responds with a smile and a nod of his head. A hint of something unknown flickers in his crystal blue eyes.

Soon, the Trailblazer was distracted by a shiny object in the forge. Led by their curiosity and instinctive need to investigate, they walked further inside. They weren't alone because Chartonus was keeping an eye on them to make sure they didn't break anything. Dan Heng can't help but shake his head fondly at his companion.

“Dan Heng.” Phainon calls out, placing a hand over his chest. His expression becomes sheepish as he says, “Again. I am sorry for any offense I've caused during our first meeting.”

“Your course of action was understandable, Phainon. If I were in your shoes, I would've done the same thing. I assure you, I am not offended or upset.” Dan Heng reassures him, because he finds it ridiculous to hold a grudge over something out of their control.

Still, the archivist's sense of Phainon wasn't entirely convinced. He looks almost like a kicked puppy he can't help but want to tease. However, he refrains and says instead, “You already repaid the debt by keeping your word and had my weapon repaired. That's more than enough for me.”

Those same crystal blue eyes look over him. Whatever Phainon found, and hopefully it's his sincerity, he relaxes and smiles, “Thank you, Dan Heng. I'm glad to have mended things between us.”

“As I said, what happened was neither of our faults- only circumstances. Besides…” Dan Heng can't resist being a little cheeky and adds, “...I am open to revisit our first meeting with a rematch, Phainon. Without the element of a beautiful surprise.”

To his delight, Phainon turns sheepish once more. There is no mistake the swordsman is flustered by the pink blush dusting his cheeks. He coughs lightly and excuses himself to talk to Chartonus about something. 

Dan Heng, radiating smugness, watches him retreat into the forge to talk to the craftsman. 

With his friend and acquaintances occupied, he takes a moment to look at his spear again. There is not a single mark to indicate it was broken previously. He does not doubt Chartonus skills, but a single question comes to mind.

“What would he think if he saw this?”

If he closes his eyes, he can hear the indignation in Yingxing's voice. The craftsman steadily grows louder between scolding him and grumbling about another craftsman touching his spear. He would take Cloud-Piercer from his hands and inspect it thoroughly. His violet crimson eyes scrutinize every detail to make sure the repair is done to his impossible standards.

If not, Yingxing might undo it himself and fix it to his standards.

And what would Dan Heng Feng do?

He stands to the side and observes the craftsman work. The dedication to his craft is unmistakable, so focused to the point he is humming once more. A passion so hot it's as if he's engulfed by the very flames of the forge itself. He can't stand to look away or else in a blink of an eye, there will only be ashes after the flames.

When Yingxing is done, he’ll return Cloud-Piercer to him. An arrogant smile on his handsome face, callous fingers gliding on the sharp edge of the spear, and a playful reminder that rouses the vindictive side of him. 

But Dan Heng sees another man overlapping Yingxing. The hunter who chased him throughout the stars. The ghost of his past who refuses to let him forget their sins. His beastly eyes look straight at him. A maniacal smile splits his face in half as he grabs Cloud-Piercer by the Blade. Uncaring of the fact he’s injuring his own hand, blood spills from the cuts and stains the spear crimson.

“This spear is sharp enough to pierce dragon scales. Be careful, High Elder, lest you hurt yourself with it.”

Opening his eyes, the illusion of bittersweet memories disappears. 

Unlike before whenever the dream ends, the urge to dig his claws into his skin until it bleeds is barely present. The need to tear off his own face and hide in a corner is not as strong as before. If there is anything he feels, it is only the hollowness in his chest accompanied by a yearning so powerful it will move the moon, the stars, and the sun. 

Shaking his head, Dan Heng banishes the thoughts away. This isn’t the appropriate time or place to drift away into nostalgia. 

Still, while the others are busy some feet away, he allows himself a moment to observe Cloud-Piercer again. The metal shines under the torch fires nearby but once again,he is impressed how there is not a single crack where it broke. 

The urgency of the situation since arriving in Amphoreus left little time for Dan Heng to think or feel. Now, he recalls the shock he felt seeing Cloud-Piercer break. A brief few seconds of heart-wrenching grief for a treasured companion, a legacy of his journey, and the most precious gift of a beloved. But then, he had to push such emotions aside and reassured the Trailblazer he would be fine. 

And he meant it.

They had to move forward for the sake of their journey and explore Amphoreus, and then find a way to communicate with the Astral Express. After all, the signal to outside the planet is jammed leaving them unable to report the situation to Himeko and the others.

That’s not including the dilemma Amphoreus itself is experiencing presently. 

Yet amidst the chaos, Dan Heng lets out a sigh of relief knowing Cloud-Piercer is repaired.

He traces the character “Dan” engraved onto the spear. The glass artisan's words come and go in his head, but Dan Heng understands another perspective of his wisdom.

“Anything that has a form will eventually break. If there is a beginning, there is an end.” Dan Heng repeats quietly to himself. Wordlessly, he puts his spear away and grasps the traces of its blue light, “Likewise if there is an ending, there is also a new beginning.” 

“Dan Heng! Hurry up or I’m leaving you behind, slowpoke!” 

Upon being called by the Trailblazer, Dan Heng lowers his hand and moves to join his companion. Hopefully, it wasn’t too obvious he was smiling or else they’ll feel inclined to pry into the reason. Or worse, they’ll start taking pictures for March 7th and revel in the fact they caught him smiling. 

“If there is an ending, there is a new beginning. The form will never be the same again, but it will bear the scars and continue living.”

[teyvatians]

FINALLY updated the interest tracker after well over a year !!!

also gonna make a new tagging system while I got the ooc post up ! real tired of the old one .... been using it since my first first blog I think

[shining-gem34]

Casually picks up daughter with a water dragon. Now she is taller than almost everyone in the room.

At least she isn't the only short person here.

[kerubimcrepin]

20th Anniversary Map, with commentary by Kerubim Crepin and Joris Jurgen

The frustrating thing about this map, is that nobody who got it has decided to scan or transcribe it, for documentation's sake. So I had to complete this list of all the commentary using tweets and unboxing videos.

But, at the very least, we now have documentation of what this thing actually says.

Joris and Kerubim's text is colour-coded for your convenience, and this post includes both the French transcription, and English translations.

La carte du Monde des Douzes. par Joris Jurgen et Papycha

The map of the World of Twelve. by Joris Jurgen and Papycha

ASTRUB:

J: Chez Papycha ♡ / Papycha's home ♡

J: Les Araknes, c'est dégueu-monstrueu! / Arachnees are icky-creepy !

J: Je pari que la tour du Xélor fou est par ici. / I bet the Mad Xelor's tower is here.

K: Perdu, mon Jojo ! / You lost the bet, my Jojo!

SUFOKIA:

J: de lourds secrets sont enfouis dans ses profondeurs... / dark secrets lay buried deep within this place...

ILE DE MINOTOROR / MINOTOROR ISLAND:

K: Croyez-le ou non, le Minotoror est terriblement chou... / Believe it or not, but the Minotoror is awfully cute...

FOIRE DU TROOL / TROOL FAIR:

K: Ma meilleure partie de pêche aux koin-koins ! / My best quaquack fishing experience ever!

J: Lorko -> 🚶‍♂️

(personal note: i have no fucking idea what a Lorko is.)

ILE D'OTOMAÏ / OTOMAÏ ISLAND:

J: contacter en cas de besoin 👍 / contact him should the need arise 👍

BONTA:

J: Là où j'ai taqiné la boufballe avec le giga gran Khan Karkass!! / Here I playd boufball with the supa-duper cool Khan Karkass !!

(personal note: This means that Kerubim and Joris started work on this map while still living in Astrub, but kept working even after the movie. Cute.)

(personal note: A French person who helped me decipher this part, said that Joris makes quite a lot of spelling mistakes here. I'm sure there are more that I didn't catch in other parts of the post. He's very wonderful, very cute.)

ÎLE DE MOON / MOON ISLAND:

J: autochtones sympas. ne pas rester pour le dîner. / nice locals. don't stay for dinner.

K: Bashy, mon pote d'enfance, semait la terreur aux ces flots ! / Bashy, my childhood friend, sowed terror among these waves!

ILE DE NOWEL / KWISMAS ISLAND:

J: Les cadeau sont mortels! (vraiment!) / The gifts are deadly ! (really !)

FRIGOST:

J: Bienvenu chez le Yech'ti! / Welcome to Yech'ti's !

K: Passe-lui le bonjour de ma part ! / Say hello to him for me!

PANDALA:

J: commander de la chichala à zato / order chichala from zato

(Personal note: this suggests Joris might be just as heavy of a drinker as Kerubim. Or at least into very intense drinks, similarly to Keke. He's so real for this.)

ÎLE DES WABBITS / WABBIT ISLAND:

J: éviter le wa... / avoid the wa...

J: L'île de La Likrone... Par là d'apré la légende. / The Unikron Island... This way, acording to the legend.

K: T'es à l'ouest, mon Jojo ! / It's to the west, my Jojo!

(Personal note: Joris wrote "d'aprés" with a mistake. I'll try to translate his little mistakes, if I notice them, or can come up with a way to do that.)

K: Le réceptacle des Dofus / The Dofus Receptacle

X Traverser le pont / Cross the bridge X Parler au chaman / Talk to the shaman X Boire un coup / Have a drink

(personal note: this is a reference to the quest "The Dofus Receptacle". The bridge referenced here is the bridge to Pandala.)

K: Je suis sûr qu'Indie a pris ce bateau ... / I'm sure it's Indie, who's on that boat...

VULKANIA:

K: Contre Grozilla, je me suis dépensé sans compter ! / I gave it my all, while fighting Grozilla!

Dessinée à l'ancre de Kralamour. / Drawn using Kralove eenk.

Propriété de Joris © / Property of Joris ©

Ne pa toucher / Dont touch

(Surtou si vous vous apelé Lilotte) / (Espeshaly if you're name is Lilotte)

[hematomes]

who is more fuckable blade or il dan heng

moon drinker is a dragon so that means freaky stuff like size kink and claws and maybe multiple dicks

but blade is immortal and that means the most violent sex known to man. plus knife kink

so i genuinely can't answer but i need to take them both at the same time

[shining-gem34]

"There is nothing to forgive. I am merely surprised how friendly your cub is, even to strangers like me. He is well-loved by his owner."

❝Forgive him, he is rather... friendly.❞

@shining-gem34. o.

[shadowofdarkness22]

prompt;other ways ji-an and dong-hoon could have met?

Dear Anon. I apologize for taking forever, but let me be real and say that I literally take FOREVER. Hopefully you like it!! 

Also I posted this fic on Ao3 if anyone prefers to read it there!

Also this DOES have a keep reading if anyone wants to reblog. I promise I’m not trying to kill feeds with long posts. lol

–It was a particularly cold night and Ji An had to make a quick trip to the store before she could head home. She worked all morning straight into the night, doing various odd jobs and scrubbing dishes and floors. She tried applying for a few contract jobs, but her resume didn’t seem to catch anyone’s attention. Not that it bothered her much, contract jobs usually paid more especially at a good company, but it was also harder to work at said jobs. They had higher standards of course.

Ji An was paying for her groceries when she saw she just barely had enough for the tomatoes. She paused and stared at the packaging suddenly remembering the strange dream she had the night before. In her dream she was standing in this exact spot, she left the tomatoes behind and started to leave the store, but before she could leave a voice called out to her, causing her to turn and look at him. It was a man, taller than her wearing a thick coat and scarf, he was holding out her tomatoes, but before she could see his face she would wake up.

“Miss?” she looked up at the cashier and saw that the cashier was waiting and everyone behind her was staring. She took the tomatoes and left.  

-

The water was cold and her rubber gloves did little to help her as she was washing dishes. She scrubbed a bowl a little too hard and felt her fingers scream as she forced them to work despite the fact they were very broken. Ji An bared through the pain, much like any other pain in her life. Kawng Il was in a particularly bad mood today and of course when he’s in a bad mood he likes to come and take it out on her.

Ji An dropped a cup in the sink, shaking her head as flashes of Kawng Il kicking and punching her went through her mind. When he left, she was sitting outside, trying to get the strength to get up. All the while she was staring out into the street.

Her dream went exactly like this, but the change was that the mysterious man suddenly came up and stopped Kawng Il. They fought and eventually Gwang Il left leaving the faceless man to stay behind and help her. He was so gentle with her and his voice was so soothing that despite her cold heart refusing to believe there are good people left in the world, she found that he was someone she could fully trust.

But it was just a dream. Ji An had to get herself up and force herself to be ok. There was no such thing as that mysterious man. He wasn’t ever going to help her and her dreams needed to realize that because Ji An lost hope a long time ago.

–

Ji An walked down the same street every night. She would pass by a few late night drinkers or troublemakers, but they would never walk with her. She was always alone. But there was always that thought in the back of her mind of a dream she had of that same faceless man walking with her every night.

Whenever they walked together it was familiar and safe. Ji An didn’t understand these feelings or why she continued to have dreams that eluded to this man. But unlike those first meetings in her dreams… this one just seemed like they were familiar with each other. Like they had made a system and just enjoyed each other’s company.

How was she supposed to feel about this?

This fake man who somehow broke through her defenses and made her feel safe. A man she didn’t even know and yet through these dreams they were so familiar? Had she finally lost it? Was she going insane?

Not paying attention Ji An found herself bumping into someone head on. She stepped back, but tripped over an uneven part of the street and his hands quickly caught her shoulders before she could fall to the ground. “Are you alright?” a smooth familiar voice spoke sending shivers down her spine. Ji An looked up, wanting to see just who it was, but her eyes opened instead and she was in her room, staring at the ceiling.

Ji An wanted to scream.

–

The sound of the train rolling on the tracks was enough to lull her into a sleep. She kept herself awake so not to miss her stop or fall into the wall, but after pulling double shifts all day Ji An was exhausted. She paid a little more of her debt as well, but it didn’t seem to put even a dent in it no matter how much she paid. It just kept growing and growing and Ji An wondered if she was going to be paying for it even in death. The train stopped suddenly and Ji An felt herself falling sideways, unable to grasp onto the railing in time and before she hit the ground strong arms grabbed her.

Her mind whirled, part of her too tired to focus and the other part of her wondering if her falling was going to be a constant thing. When she was able to catch her bearings she realized that the strong arms have yet to let her go and being caught in them a few times already she knew exactly who it was. She wanted to look up, but she knew as soon as she did she would wake up and everything would be over. Surely this itself was another dream… but maybe it could also be real? Of course she looked up anyway because she wanted to know. She was desperate to understand why he was always there for her and wanted to know who her faceless man was.

Her eyes opened by the sound of the train using its brakes to slow down. The sound screeched a little louder than normal and Ji An’s mind whirled as she tried to pull herself from sleep. The disappointment she felt was expected and she stood from her seat (when did she sit down she wondered) and waited for her stop. The constant struggles between what was real and not real was starting to upset her and at this point she just wanted everything to just stop. The train came to a full stop and the voice above announced their destination. Ji An looked up and froze when she noticed a person standing by the door looking exactly like the man from her dreams. Everything from the coat to the bag matched the description perfectly and Ji An felt frozen on her feet.

The doors opened and Ji An watched as everyone left the train. Was this also a dream? Why was he walking away? Shouldn’t he be looking at her right now? Her feet moved forward; realization coming to her at full force. This was real. The man of her dreams was real and she was letting him walk away. She ran forward, her eyes on his back wanting so bad to catch up to him and finally see his face, but her foot got caught between the small gap of the train and the platform causing her to fall forward. Ji An nearly slammed her face into the ground, her palms screaming in pain for taking most of the fall and her ankle felt like fire. People around her quickly helped her up. One woman asked if she was ok, but Ji An pushed past all of them not saying a word of thanks. She limped up the stairs and looked around the busy street hoping to find where he went, but the man was nowhere to be found.

He was real, she repeated in her head like a mantra.

He was real.

–

It was weeks before she dreamed about the man again. Normally the pattern was that he would help her in some way, and before she saw his face she would wake up and start her day like normal. This time though, it was different. She was following him as he walked, presumably to go home. Snow was falling around them, gentle and slow, but Ji An didn’t notice it nor the cold. Suddenly the man stopped and Ji An stopped with him watching him carefully, not sure whether she should risk moving closer or if he would turn around and see her himself. Instead he seemed to sway like he was drunk and a sound that was so similar to a sob left his lips. The sound echoed into her ear like he was right next to her. Her heart clenched in her chest as she watched with wide eyes as he fell onto his back, staring up at the dark sky.

It got even worse when she realized he had fallen near train tracks. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t breathe. His breathing just echoed in her ears over and over again forcing her to watch, unable to do anything. It consumed her, forcing her vision to burn black like she herself were suffocating with him. His breathing got slower and Ji An wanted to fight, to scream, and punch to get to him. She had to get to him! “Get up!” she managed to scream, using every last ounce of willpower to convey her words.

Then, like breaking through the ocean’s surface Ji An woke up gasping for air. Her grandmother lay sleeping in the only bed and didn’t rouse from the noise Ji An made stumbling to get up and to her door. After a quick glance to make sure her grandma was still warm and sleeping Ji An ran out of the house forging her jacket and shoes. She ran into the night, running faster than she ever did in her life. All she could think was that the man was in trouble, he needed her help. She had to help him. She had grown so used to him being there, even if it all were dreams, that losing him now didn’t seem right. Whoever he was, she knew now that he wasn’t someone she should lose. She inhaled a sharp breath and willed her legs to run faster, determined to get to the destination.

She slowed to a stop when she finally saw sight of him. Her Ahjusshi lying on the ground, but before she could get closer he was already getting himself up. He brushed himself off, let out a large sigh, and shifted his bag higher onto his shoulder. Ji An watched as continued onto the path, as if he didn’t just let himself fall. She kept watching him until his figure disappeared into the distance. She didn’t follow. Her legs gave out on her and Ji An sat there for a long while, catching her breath and wishing she had tears left to cry.

–

The full moon was bright tonight and Ji An’s grandma wanted desperately to see the moon. Ji An’s body ached from head to toe, but who was she to deny her grandmother the simple pleasure? She stole a cart and a few items from the store, running as fast she could, ignoring the cuts that were still healing on her feet and she forced her way back home. Making sure her grandmother was covered in a warm blanket she walked them to a nice spot so her grandma can see the moon for a little while. Ji An took this time to stare at the moon herself, wondering what about it that made her grandma want to see it all the time. She never asked, and even if she did, she’s not sure her grandmother could really explain why.

Ji An looked at it sometimes too, wondering if the moon could hear her thoughts like they seem to hear her grandma’s. She looked down instead, thinking of her Ahjusshi, lying in the cold. The dreams continued normally after that day. They would keep meeting in small strange ways, and once she dreamed of him helping her bring her grandma to this very spot. She always tried hard not to look at him, just so the dream would last and she would stay by his side that much longer, but no matter if she looked or not, she would always wake up and they would never meet. She still didn’t understand the purpose of these dreams or why him in particular, but every day that she misses him is another day she wonders if this is her punishment.

Murderer.

Suddenly it felt like someone was standing next to her. Ji An was afraid to look because after everything she already knew who it was. “You’re a good person.” he said softly and Ji An froze. His words rung in her ears until that was all she heard. She turned rapidly, looking towards her right to find him, but it was no surprise that he wasn’t there. Her mind whirled as shock filled her. The pattern changed again. Just … how much did he know about her? Was it all in her head after all? Was he actually real? But she saw him… so then… are her dreams not him?

The sound of her grandma made her snap out of her thoughts and look at her. Her grandma signed, asking if she was okay. Ji An wasn’t sure if she was, but she nodded, telling her grandma it was time to go home. The words burned her ears as she tucked her grandma in bed and they continued to burn until she fell asleep, feeling something stir in her chest that was unfamiliar but warm.

–

The day was cloudy and Ji An took the train further into the city so she could try her luck again with higher paying companies. One of them was some construction company, but Ji An didn’t really care where she worked, as long as she was getting paid. She passed by a few small food places, her stomach growling loudly for food. She ignored it, standing at the edge of the sidewalk, watching traffic come to a stop at a stoplight. She watched the cars, giving her eyes something to do while she distracted herself from thinking of her hunger. A “Brother’s Cleaning” van stopped near her and she looked at it, noticing the paper attached to it covering up what the previous name was before.

Her gaze shifted to the window and her eyes met that of another. They stared at each other, the world around them seeming to freeze as if extending the long moment for as long as possible. There was something familiar about the man staring at her and he seemed to have this realization on his face as he looked at her too. The light turned green and Ji An watched the van go, standing there for a long moment once her mind suddenly realized what had just happened.

That was him. Her Ahjusshi.

–

She was sitting quietly at a table in a small restaurant. She didn’t order anything and looked to be waiting for someone. Not a minute later did someone come and stand by her table. He removed his scarf and coat, placing it on the chair next to him with his bag before sitting in front of her. Her eyes met his and they stared at each other for a long time. They spoke no words, instead drinking their beer in the strange silence that took over the room. Suddenly he raised his glass up and Ji An looked at him. “Let’s be happy.” he said and Ji An felt a wave of sorrow pass over her as she noticed how sad his eyes looked.

She clinked their glasses together and they both downed their drinks.

Ji An opened her eyes to find herself standing outside the restaurant. She didn’t remember walking here, but peering through the glass from a distance she saw a familiar handsome figure sitting inside, drinking alone with those sad eyes. She stepped forward, wanting to go inside and sit across from him, not giving a damn if he knew her or not, but she didn’t.

One day, she thought and made her way home.

–

She didn’t know where she was, but there was so much laughter in this one little place that it was almost infectious. There were a bunch of ahjusshi’s in one room, each holding a drink and talking loudly about their life. There was a beautiful woman with curly hair talking loudly and treating everyone to food and drinks. This must be her bar then Ji An wondered in awe, wondering how such a small place like this could be filled with so much warmth. It made her feel like she belonged and something inside her wished to stay.

“Dong Hoon! You’re here!” the beautiful woman said and the rest of the room greeted the new person kindly. He seemed to be the one everyone was waiting for. Her eyes stared at the drink the woman handed her instead, and she heard him come towards her at the bar where he stopped and looked at her.

“Who are you?” a familiar deep voices asks causing Ji An to lose her breath. She looks at him and sees her Ahjusshi staring right at her, a strange curiosity in his eyes.

“Lee Ji An.” she answered back, unsure of her own voice. He smiled and her heart pounded against her chest so fast against her chest she thought she might pass out.

Instead the sound of her phone ringing woke her up and Ji An answered it. “Hello Miss Lee Ji An? I just wanted to tell you that your resume has been selected at Saman E&C. Would you be able to start tomorrow?”

She breathed out.

“Yes.”

–

For some reason a ladybug was causing disorder at the office. Ji An ignored it as she typed up the receipts into the computer. She was almost done, and had a lot of other things to take care of before her shift was over. But suddenly the room became silent and she paused, wondering why no one was screaming anymore.

“Don’t move.” a voice spoke in her left ear and Ji An froze, recognizing that voice. She felt his hand on her arm and she glanced over to see that the ladybug that had landed on her arm suddenly take off and fly away. He sighed, looking disappointed and looked at her. She didn’t stop staring and neither did he as the rest of the room took off after the ladybug.

“Miss Lee Ji An.” he said politely and her heart pounded at his closeness, her fingers curling into her palms. This was real right? No more dreams right? “It’s good to have you on the team.” he said with a smile that made her heart skip a beat. He walked off and her gaze followed him and stayed there for the rest of the day. The day ended quickly and Lee Ji An walked out of the building, wondering when she was going to wake up. Manager Park Dong Hoon walked next to her and she followed him on the train, realizing after a while that he had the same stop as her. She could have laughed at that, but kept quiet.

He stepped out into the streets and Ji An spoke before her mind could catch up with her. “Buy me food.” she said and he paused, looking back at her. For a moment she thought he wasn’t going to answer, but finally he nodded and motioned for her to follow. She quickly followed after him, not wanting to lose sight of him incase she did wake up and this all was indeed another dream.

They walked together and after a moment he paused and looked at her. “Have we met before?” he asked suddenly, looking at her like he suddenly just realized something. She stood there for a moment, processing his question before looking at her Ahjusshi with a fond look.  

“Not at all.”

His face was unreadable, but he continued ahead anyway, seeming to relax the longer he was with her. They ate and drank and he made sure to take her home. “Get some sleep.” he said and walked off. She watched him as he left and hoped that when she woke up in the morning everything wasn’t a dream.

When she got off work the next day she waited for him and he looked at her. “Buy me food.” she said.

“Again?” he asked.

She smiled.

[isaiahrippinus]

The 50 Best Beers of 2019

At last estimate, there were more than 7,500 breweries operating in the U.S. in 2019. As more breweries open — introducing a never-ending stream of new beers to the marketplace — finding the best is near impossible. Luckily, we’ve spent a lot of time over the last year tasting them.

This, evidently, was the year of saison; our 2019 list concludes with an unprecedented number of Belgian-style farmhouse ales, which signals that yeast may be having its moment. Lower-alcohol, “better-for-you” beers are in the limelight, too, as more craft beer drinkers seek beers that fit healthier lifestyles, or simply want more sessionable options — and more breweries are figuring out how to make these delicious.

On the whole, we as a craft beer drinking society may not be pivoting away from IPA to craft lager just yet (at least, not statistically), but rest assured, plenty of both make the list.

This ranking was determined by members of the VinePair team. Hundreds of selections were considered and narrowed down to 50 with the following criteria: All beers must be available for retail in the U.S. in a can or bottle retail, or otherwise be a seasonal release or part of a rotating series we expect to see back in 2020. Placement is limited to one beer per brewery. The 50 best beers of 2019 ranking focuses on labels released within the year, although this is not a requirement. Selections from last year’s 50 best beers of 2018 were not considered.

Availability has an effect on ranking: In other words, if you have to travel, trade, or sacrifice your firstborn for a 4-ounce pour, recommending it in our top 10 is not helpful to a majority of beer drinkers. Now for the fun part!

These are VinePair’s 50 best beers of 2019.

50. Mother Earth 4Seasons Hazy IPA (With Fremont Brewing)

Nampa, ID ABV: 7.5%

Previously dubbed “The Four Seasons of Mother Earth,” this 4Seasons release debuted in summer 2019 in partnership with Seattle’s Fremont Brewing. The duo used “craft” malt from a farmer-owned co-op in Spokane to further share the local love. On the hop front, this beer showcases African Queen, a fruity, herbal, spicy variety from South Africa, along with Galaxy, Mosaic Cryo, and El Dorado hops. The result? Mango, passion fruit, and orange aromas; a grain-forward, almost savory malt flavor reminiscent of sage; and a fruity, herbal finish. Although a limited release, we look forward to tasting more “seasons.”

49. Lakefront Brewery Hazy Rabbit IPA

Milwaukee, WI ABV: 5.2%

Pouring bright gold and cloudy, a Camembert-esque cheesy aroma kicks off the nose on this hazy IPA, followed by orange, tangerine, passionfruit, and a melon cotton candy note. Low on bitterness, but less sweet than “traditional” hazy/juicy IPAs, it’s bright and balanced with soft carbonation and light malt character due to flaked oats.

48. Anchor Brewing Fog Breaker IPA 

San Francisco, CA ABV: 6.8%

San Francisco stalwart Anchor Brewing’s relatively new Fog Breaker, released in 2018, earned its fair share of loyal drinkers this year. It was especially a hit among classic IPA lovers, who lament the days of IPAs that tasted like pine, weren’t too bitter, and didn’t look like OJ. This IPA has some West Coast bitterness, a hint of fruitiness and a touch of haze (O.K., fog). It’s piney and crisp, and adds Cryo hops to its dry-hopping regimen, along with whole-cone Denali and Cascade.

47. Shiner Ruby Redbird 

Shiner, TX ABV: 4%

Spoetzl Brewery’s Shiner Beer updated its Ruby Redbird lager in 2019 with nutrition facts faux-dive bars will be fawning over: It contains 95 calories, 3.1 grams of carbs, and Texas-grown Ruby Red grapefruit juice. Grapefruit and ginger are present on the nose and palate, making this easy-drinking sipper with a kick perfect for sushi pairing.

46. Cascade Brewing Cuvée du Jongleur

Portland, OR ABV: 9.4%

Toward the tail end of 2018, Cascade re-released this oaky, complex, funky cuvée for the first time since 2008. A decade after its original release, the label did not disappoint: Berry and oak aromas are followed by a creamy mouthfeel and fruity tartness. When nursed in a tulip glass, it opens up nicely as it warms, releasing further fruit aromas such as cherry, plum, and hints of grapefruit and caramel.

45. Goose Island Bourbon County Double Barrel 

Chicago, IL ABV: 18%

In this 2019 variant of Goose Island’s infamous barrel-aged stout series, “double barrel” refers to the stout aging one year in 11-year-old Elijah Craig barrels, then afterward aging another year in (different) 12-year-old Elijah Craig barrels. Fruit, leather, chocolate, and yes, intense bourbon flavors swirl on the palate, with a whiskey-beer-hybrid warmth all the way down. Although this variant is very limited in quantity, several other Bourbon County stouts are out there. Forget the drama, they’re still delicious.

44. Hardywood Park Distorted Perception 

Richmond, VA ABV: 7%

A cornucopia of tropical fruit explodes on the nose of this NEIPA — tangerine, passionfruit, guava. With our eyes closed, we could swear this was actual juice. Mango-flavored bubble tea and tart, juicy smoothie flavors make this a little sweet, but it is lip-smackingly delicious.

43. Separatist Beer Project Spellbook Imperial Stout 

Easton, PA ABV: 13%

Maple syrup and cinnamon additions amplify this imperial stout’s sweet side, while roasted malt’s coffee and dark chocolate notes add bitterness to balance.

42. Wiley Roots Black Bart Monstah 

Greeley, CO ABV: 11%

Inspired by the Spanish-descended fried dough sopapilla (or more specifically, the sopapilla served at Mexican Restaurant Casa Bonita, which has a room named “Black Bart’s Cave”), this dark, velvety imperial stout brings chocolatey, roasty flavors rather than fresh fried dough. Cinnamon, burnt sugar, and honey are added for extra decadence, making this a sweet stout to sip on a cold, boozy afternoon.

41. Garage Brewing Peanut Butter Chocolate Milk Stout 

Temecula, CA ABV: 7.1%

This liquid Reese’s Pieces is rich, but not sticky; chocolatey, but not cloying; and full-bodied, yet feels lighter on the palate than its peanut-butter-chocolate-flavored 7.1 percent ABV might have you think. Our panel unanimously found this pastry stout daringly easy to drink.

40. WeldWerks PB&J Berliner 

Greeley, CO ABV: 4.6%

Considering that it was mostly its juicy IPAs, not wildly flavored kettle sours, that put this Colorado brewery on beercationers’ maps, a peanut butter and jelly-flavored Berliner weiss wasn’t what we expected to love most from WeldWerks this year. Yet, here we are. Berliner weiss and fruit are ancient companions, so perhaps it’s not surprising that strawberry puree would complement grain and tart flavors so well — add peanut powder to the mix, and the combination of flavors is unforgettable.

39. Reuben’s Brews Brettania (Series): Boysenberry and Blackberry

Seattle, WA ABV: 6.3%

Brettanomyces can make or break a beer. In the right hands, as at Reuben’s Brews, it really sings. In this mixed-culture saison aged for six months in oak puncheons, then aged with boysenberries and blackberries for an additional six months, and finally refermented in-bottle, it sings. Brettania: Boysenberry and Blackberry was the first release in Reuben’s Brews’ barrel-aged sour program, and it promptly began winning awards. Brettania: Guava and Brettania: Blackcurrant followed, and we’re anxious to taste what’s next.

38. Bell’s Brewery Official Hazy IPA 

Comstock, MI ABV: 6.4%

Released in March 2019, Bell’s Brewery’s “Official” marked the legendary beer pioneer’s entry into the hazy IPA category. Long celebrated for its Two Hearted IPA, a bracingly bitter, grapefruit-flavored exemplar of the more “old-school” IPAs style, this newcomer stands on its own with tropical fruit and citrus aromas, a palate that’s lighter than the style-defining NEIPAs of the Northeast, and an orange juice kick on the finish.

37. Oskar Blues Can-O-Bliss Hazy IPA 

Fort Collins, CO ABV: 7.2%

Can-O-Bliss “Hazy,” part of a rotating IPA series (“Tropical” and “Citrus” are others), serves up OJ, pineapple juice, and a hint of cheesy funk on the nose, followed by a fruity, herbal, spicy potpourri of hop-driven flavors on the palate. (Strata, Cashmere, Enigma, Hallertau Blanc, and Eureka hops are all used in this brew.) It’s surprisingly light in color and body, though, with crisp carbonation to balance its pungent hoppiness.

36. Springdale Beer Pearly Wit 

Framingham, MA ABV: 4.8%

Springdale Beer, of Jack’s Abby, debuted this wispy witbier last year, but in 2019 we started to see it on a lot more tap lists — and rightfully so. It’s the definition of a sessionable wheat beer: pillowy soft, crisp and coriander-flavored, with a hint of tangy citrus to keep things interesting.

35. Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest (2019)

Chico, CA and Asheville, NC ABV: 6%

Sierra Nevada’s Oktoberfest got so much love this year, people married it (or at least, got married with it. At Oktoberfest. In Germany.) As for us, we appreciated the 2019 version of this annual classic as a bubbly aperitif. Brewed in collaboration with Germany’s Bitburger Brewery, it combines the smooth flavors of Caramel, Munich, and Pilsner malt with a bitter punch, perhaps from Bitburger’s Siegelhopfen — that’s German for “sealed hops,” or the brewer’s “secret” hop blend.

34. Equilibrium Moon of Vega

Middleton, NY ABV: 8.7%

Brewed in collaboration with Florida’s J. Wakefield Brewing, this double IPA is made with more than copious amounts of Citra, Galaxy, and Mosaic hops, vanilla, and lactose (milk sugar), pouring creamy and sweet, aroma-dosed with mango, and just a hint tart on the finish. It’s the ridiculousness of a milkshake IPA in an obscenely delicious package.

33. Pure Project Rain

San Diego, CA ABV: 5.3%

Unfiltered, yet clear and golden as a summer sky, topped with a fluffy white cloud of foam, Rain is a subtle eruption: pilsner malt’s telltale biscuity aroma is amplified by its single-malt, organic producer; lemongrass follows, from Hallertau Mittelfruh hops’ herbal, citrus nudge. German ingredients and an American craft brewer’s hand make this bitter little pilsner exactly what to look for at the end of — or start of — a long day.

32. Brouwerij West Picnic Lightning

San Pedro, CA ABV: 6.8%

Picnic Lightning proves West Coast breweries can do New England-style IPAs well — and even add their own touch. Lemongrass, grapefruit, and a hint of tropical fruit blend on the nose as well as on the palate, creating a slightly sweet, herbal-citrus mix with a bitter kick. Along with malted barley, this beer uses oats and raw spelt, allowing a soft mouthfeel. Juicy, earthy, and memorable, this one is on tap at the brewery at press time — nab yourself a pour if you happen to be in L.A.

31. West Kill Kaaterskill IPA

West Kill, N.Y. ABV: 6%

Teetering on the edge of dialed-in juicy IPA and new-American pale ale, this farm-brewed New beer from New York’s Catskill Mountain region is modern and rustic at once. Modern, with its dry-hopping regimen of Azaaca, Columbus, Mosaic, and Citra hops. Rustic, in that it’s crafted on a farm in the mountains. Though not as available as other IPAs on this list, this beer is worth the hike. Mountain or specialty beer shop, a word to the wise: a 4-pack is never enough.

30. Avery Bon-Bon Cerise

Boulder, CO ABV: 14.6%

Stout lovers won’t know what’s coming until sipping this bourbon-barrel-aged imperial stout aged with cherries, cacao nibs, and vanilla beans. Sounds like standard fare for a barrel-aged pastry stout, but it’s anything but: Yes, it’s boozy and laced with bourbon-barrel character, but what stood out to our tasters was its powdered chocolate note and cooked fruit flavor, akin to cherry pie. Like the dessert, Bon Bon Cerise has layers to enjoy.

29. Left Hand Raspberry Milk Stout 

Longmont, CO ABV: 5.7%

Launched in 2019, this sister to Left Hand’s category-defining milk stout has raspberry on the nose and palate, balanced with roasty notes and a touch of sweetness. Bitter chocolate and cherry on the finish wrap it all up in a smooth, dessert-friendly (or dessert-replacing) package.

28. Monday Night Ante Meridiem Blend No. 1 (2018)

Atlanta, GA ABV: 13.5%

Several Monday Night beers were considered for this list, but its “imperial brown ale” — fair enough, it’s 13.5 percent ABV, aged in locally sourced bourbon barrels, and dosed with locally roasted coffee, Ugandan vanilla beans, and maple syrup — is a testament to the Atlanta brewery’s relentless experimentation. Firstly, it brings the noise for brown ale (even if it’s hyperbolizing the usually subtly roasty style). In a similar conundrum, It smells like vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup, and tastes creamy and sweet. But warm bourbon and coffee bean prevent it from becoming cloying. The body has excellent texture, rich but drinkable, with just enough carbonation to give a crisp edge, lifting it safely out of the barrel-aged-syrup-beer danger zone. No single part overpowers another, making this a rare treat. (It’s available seasonally on draft and in 500-milliliter bottles in Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama.)

27. Lamplighter Major Tom 

Boston, MA ABV: 6.8%

This space-themed, true New England-Style IPA brewed by Boston’s Lamplighter, a brewery, coffee purveyor and soon-to-be-distillery, is, like its maker, bold. Floating in this tin can* are Australian Galaxy hops, imparting tropical-fruit juicy flavors, but also a bitter bite hiding in the haze. *The can is aluminum.

26. Saint Archer Mexican Lager

San Diego, CA ABV: 4.8%

Saint Archer Brewery debuted its Mexican-style lager in March 2019, and it rose up our ranks for its many juxtapositions: sweet and herbal; cooked corn tortilla and fresh herbs; and, philosophically, a San Diego-brewed, Mexican-style beer owned by the very North American MillerCoors. Maybe it’s not that crazy. You would, however, be crazy to pass this up if you’re a fan of Mexican lagers like we are. Pair with chicken enchiladas, tortilla chips with salsa verde, or a lime wedge.

25. Athletic Brewing Co. Run Wild NA IPA

Stratford, CT ABV: < 0.5%

This isn’t the first time we’re praising Athletic Brewing’s flagship IPA, but it is the first time a non-alcoholic beer has made it to the top 50 beers of the year list. This says a lot, not only about the quality of this particular brew — which is made with all-organic grains, and five hop varieties from the Northwest U.S. — but it speaks to the market’s move (if inching, even) toward no- and low-ABV, as well as lower-calorie (this one’s 70), options. This beer is flavorful and balanced, featuring an herbal, citrus kick over a mild malt backbone. It became a regular purchase for some panelists over the course of the year. We’ve bought out in the wild on several semi-sober occasions. For us, this one isn’t about abstaining, it’s about sustaining — through the day and night with friends, can in hand.

24. J. Wakefield 24th Street Brown Ale

Miami, FL ABV: 6.5%

Don’t let this beer’s street-smart exterior dark, murky interior fool you. On the inside, from the first sip, it’s sweet chocolate malt balls, smooth toffee flavor, and roasty, dialed-back bitterness (think cold-brewed coffee compared to burnt iced coffee). 24th Street Brown Ale is named for the brewery’s Miami address, and with the recent remodeling of that taproom, we felt it was owed another look and a new appreciation in 2019.

23. Coronado Set West

Coronado, CA ABV: 7%

This West Coast IPA from California stalwart Coronado Brewing dials back the style’s bitterness with biscuity, freshly baked bread and fresh-squeezed orange juice on the nose. It’s dry on the palate, with a bitterness that lingers just the right amount, allowing the beer to be refreshing, rather than weigh down the palate. A hallmark West Coast IPA.

22. Two Roads Area Two Table Terroir 

Stratford, CT ABV: 3.7%

Connecticut-grown malts, hops, and yeast so local it was captured in the brewery’s own hop yard put the “terroir” in Table Terroir, a food-pairing companion and conversation starter that’s as fascinating as it is tasty. Delicate and complex, with fruity and spicy notes, it’s one we wish we could find more often — but, like this beer’s ingredients, you’ll have to go to the brewery for that.

21. Gueuzerie Tilquin Oude Pinot Noir Tilquin à L’Ancienne

Rebecq, Belgium ABV: 8.2%

“Finesse” comes to mind when attempting to describe this spontaneously-fermented lambic, which gets its fruit not from the traditional cherries (kriek) or raspberries (framboise), but from Pinot Noir grapes (260 grams of Pinot Noir grapes per liter of lambic, according to Gueuzerie Tilquin). The first version of this lambic, made to mark the 10th anniversary of legendary Belgian beer bar Moeder Lambic, used hand-harvested grapes from Valentin Zusslin Estate’s biodynamic Bollenberg vineyard. This new version uses organic grapes from a family farm in Steinseltz, France.

20. Cerebral Forbidden Idol: Mai Tai (Tiki Sour IPA Series) 

Denver, CO ABV: 7%

Kicking off the year with a tiki sour IPA series is a bold move. For Cerebral Brewing, which we already love for its show-stopping IPAs and interesting forays into categories like wood-aged lager, Forbidden Idol’s pineapple, lime, and passionfruit-flavored tiki cocktail-inspired release was an awakening. Our panel agreed this one actually tasted like a Mai Tai, proving that tiki cocktails can translate into IPA forms — and that sour IPAs, at their best, beautifully emulate cocktails. We were hooked from the start, but Cerebral Brewing has released this beer in Mai Tai, Singapore Sling, Castaway, Zombie and Painkiller versions. (And, by the way, Mai Tais are better than you think.)

19. Finback Rolling in Clouds

Queens, NY ABV: 7.1%

When we think of an ideal juicy, hazy IPA, this is it. It’s not too sweet, not too boozy, and has a smooth mouthfeel. Fruity without being super sweet and gooey, it’s just right.

18. Tired Hands Shambolic 

Ardmore, PA ABV: 6.5%

Shambolic, a saison brewed with malted spelt and raw wheat, rested in oak foudres, and dry-hopped with what is likely a lavish amount of Nelson Sauvin and Simcoe hops, is a lot to take in. Tropical fruit, lemony citrus, and floral notes create an intense perfume and palate, while fermentation with Tired Hands’ house saison yeast (and maybe microflora from the foudres) adds a tart, citric kick on the finish.

17. Grimm Artisanal Ales Awoogah IPA

Brooklyn, N.Y. ABV: 6.4%

At this point, seeing an IPA below 7 percent ABV is a godsend. Fruity and floral aromas give way to a soft palate, with spicy hop character and a hint of tangerine tartness coming from a combination of Columbus, Galaxy, Hallertau Blanc, and Simcoe hops. It’s refreshing and balanced, with certain parts pleasantly exaggerated — citrus zest, for example — without going even a molecule too far. Truly hazy and juicy, without being too bitter or sweet, this is a perfect IPA.

16. pFriem Family Brewers Pilsner

Hood River, OR ABV: 4.9%

Available in cans starting in 2019, this crystal-clear, golden pilsner is reminiscent of springtime. A fresh floral aroma, soft carbonation, and suite of unusual herbal hops varietals like Perle and Saphir make this both palate cleanser and a center-stage sipper. Whether thoughtfully or thoughtlessly, enjoy this on a porch, in a backyard, at a barbecue, or basically anywhere, anytime.

15. The Referend Bier Blendery Le Mur (2018)

Pennington/Hopewell Township, N.J. ABV: 6%

“Blackberry spontaneously fermented golden ale” is a mouthful of a beer description, but it only begins to scratch the surface of how this exquisite vintage is made. Released in July 2019, Le Mur is a blend of one- and two-year-old beer, the younger re-fermented with southern New Jersey blackberries in French oak, and the older with northern New Jersey blackberries in stainless steel. It pours a dusty garnet with a fluffy ruby head. Tart cherry, raspberry, and blackberry aromas are pungent from first whiff. Up close, nose to glass, it’s all citrus — fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, acidic orange, and a hint of lemon and lime. A brioche scent wafts in, creating a tart berry-pie aroma. The palate is tart, concentrated fruit, sharp but balanced with jammy berry flavors — it is not puckeringly sour like so many unoaked, kettle-soured beers tend to be. Oak puncheons, and perhaps more so, time, have softened its edges. Depth, complexity, and excitement.

14. Perennial Artisan Ales Prism: Mosaic

St. Louis, MO ABV: 5.5%

Showcasing the multi-faceted, New-World Mosaic hop in a classic saison would be a terrible idea if you were anyone but Perennial. But saisons and farmhouse-style ales are among this small St. Louis brewery’s specialty, and this particular release in its “Prism” series did the best job at convincing us the result can be delicious. Maybe it’s the magic of Mosaic meeting a saison yeast strain, but this saison is better than the sum of its parts.

13. Holy Mountain Witchfinder

Seattle, WA ABV: 6.1% ABV

Golden, frothy, and skunky (in a good way), this pungently-scented saison is all earthy funk on the nose, followed by floral and citrus flavors and a lingering pithy finish. It’s one of many excellent saisons from this Seattle brewery, and solidifies our suspicion that we’ll grab a bottle any time we see one — if the beer budget allows.

12. Threes Brewing The Dictator Is The People

Brooklyn, N.Y. ABV: 6%

Pungent, peppery spice, and tart apricot aromas are a precursor to this oak-aged saison’s delectable journey. Lightly fruity, dry, Champagne-sparkling, it’s a saison worth celebrating with — or celebrating, period. Next in rotation of mixed-culture, oak-aged wheat beers is Bad Faith.

11. Transmitter Brewing S9 

Brooklyn, N.Y. ABV: 5.8%

After moving from a very small space in Queens to one of Brooklyn’s biggest commercial centers, Transmitter released S9, a saison that rivals its smaller-scale days, and, dare we say, its Belgian inspirations. This iteration is pale and can be perceived as light on the palate, but it has hidden complexities: earthy, fruity notes derived from yeast and hops complement cereal grain flavors, with lively carbonation and bitterness hitting at the finish.

10. Trillium Crown and Crate

Boston, MA ABV: 8.6%

Massachusetts hives provide the nectar for this double IPA with raw wildflower honey, which, along with lactose, give the beer its ultra-creamy mouthfeel, and supple, smoothie-sweet decadence. Named for the queen bee (the “crown”) and the milk crate her worker bees use to create their hive, its abundance of tropical fruit flavors invoke the plenitudes of spring, royalty, and indulgence.

9. Harpoon Rec League

Boston, MA and Windsor, VT ABV: 3.8%

Is there anything more exciting than a 3.8-percent-ABV hoppy beer? It’d be hard to convince us while sipping Rec League. Harpoon is officially back in the game with this refreshing, light-bodied, lightly bitter and light-everything low-ABV refresher. Hints of pineapple and tropical fruit on the nose, and clementine and tangerine on the palate, yet dry as a bone, it’s a standout of the year.

8. Lagunitas Daytime Ale

Petaluma, CA ABV: 4%

Whether you’re into the low-alcohol, low-calorie phase of your beer-drinking career or not, it’s important to know that brewing a beer that’s light and tastes good is no easy feat. As the can perhaps suggests, Daytime Ale nails it. It’s citrusy and herbal, light and flavorful, and barbecue-friendly in every way. Coors Light chicks and hazebros can unite over this hoppy yet thirst-quenching summer sipper.

7. Sixpoint Citrus Jammer

Brooklyn, N.Y. ABV: 4%

We tasted every Jammer variety time and time again this summer, and while our favoritism fluctuated between the original and tropical fruit flavors, we ultimately landed on Citrus Jammer. It has the salty, spicy gose flavor we’re looking for, but is slightly subdued (compared to American goses that overdo it). Added to that are candied orange aromas, Sprite-like lemon-lime, and a lingering, lemony tang, and we found its bright and bitter finish was more refreshing than the original. Soft coriander on the finish.

6. New Belgium Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza (With Primus Cervecería)

Fort Collins, CO; Asheville, NC; and Mexico City, Mexico ABV: 4%

Mural Agua Fresca got its start via test batches brewed by New Belgium and Primus at the Mexico City cerveceria. In 2019, the agua-fresca-inspired ale is available in all 50 U.S. states (and, coming soon, more flavors). It’s refreshing all around — Mural gets its red-pink color and tart essence from hibiscus, its thirst-quenching flavor from watermelon, zippy refreshment from lime, and a touch of sweetness from agave. Get out there and try this “cerveza” before it’s rebranded as spiked seltzer.

5. Funkwerks Passion Fruit Provincial (Series)

Fort Collins, CO ABV: 4.2%

If sour ales can be sessionable, Funkwerks is one of the few breweries that can accomplish it — and lucky for us, the Colorado farmhouse-style brand added New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Kentucky, Chicagoland, and, finally, Kansas to its distribution network this year. Passion Fruit Provincial is a memorable bottled ecosystem of passionfruit’s interaction with soft malt and saison yeast. Tart, tropical, and refreshing, it’s one that has us looking out for more “Provincial” variants — raspberry, “rhuberry” (strawberry and rhubarb), and pineapple guava are among them.

4. Rodenbach Classic 

Rosalare, Belgium ABV: 5.2%

Nationally available as of 2019, Rodenbach Classic in cans — cans! —is what brought this classic brand to the top of our list this year. Rodenbach, a nearly-200-year-old Belgian brewery that defines the Flemish red beer style, launched its Rodenbach Classic label statewide in the U.S. in cans. The sleek, elegant take on a tallboy puts one of the best beers of all time in a pedestrian package, signaling that centuries-old tradition and the mastery of foeder-aging (courtesy living legend Rudi Ghequire), actually can be enjoyed anytime. No longer do we have to hoard our Rodenbach for Christmas dinner… unless it’s a vintage. As for the classic, it’s a blend of young and aged beer, the latter part of the blend aged for two years in giant oak foeders. It’s fruity and tart, pairs perfectly with rich foods, and is surprisingly sessionable on its own, too. Also in 2019, Rodenbach announced its first-ever beer collaboration with American craft beer pioneer Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.

3. SweetWater 420 Chocolope Stout

Atlanta, GA ABV: 6.4%

Chocolate stouts have been brewed many times over, but none have tasted like this. SweetWater’s 420 Strain, a series of cannabis-inspired beers, can be gimmicky, but this one wowed us every time we reached for it. It’s brewed with three types of roasted malt (Pale Chocolate, Chocolate, and Roasted Barley), a pair of herbal hops (Bravo, Willamette), and what the brewery refers to as “strain-specific terpenes and natural hemp-type flavors” — the latter being the “X”-factor. It’s insanely aromatic, like a sticky nug of weed, but roasty, too, and somehow, actual chocolate completes the package (Dutch chocolate, naturally). Insert weed joke here.

2. Cigar City Guayabera Citra Pale Ale 

Tampa, FL ABV: 5.5%

Guayabera pours frothy, fruity, and intensely aromatic. Using only Citra hops, known for their citrusy profile of grapefruit and tropical fruit, this American pale ale is juicy and refreshing, balancing citrusy bitterness, soft, bready malt character, and endlessly quaffable aroma. It also makes a great shower beer.

1. Allagash River Trip

Portland, ME ABV: 4.8 %

2019 was all about easy-drinking refreshment, and Allagash nails it with River Trip — most importantly, the pioneering brewery does so without sacrificing its style. While craft brewers clamor to diversify with light lagers and hard seltzers, this Belgian-style session ale is easy-drinking with an edge. Spiced with coriander like a traditional Belgian witbier, and fermented with Allagash’s house yeast, it adds bright, bitter, grassy notes to its table beer base. Yes, Allagash excels at beautifully executed mixed-fermentation sour beers, but it was River Trip we kept coming back to this year, again and again.

The article The 50 Best Beers of 2019 appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/best-beers-2019/ source https://vinology1.tumblr.com/post/189627528744

[shining-gem34]

Pawsona Valentine Quiz

[johnboothus]

The 50 Best Beers of 2019

At last estimate, there were more than 7,500 breweries operating in the U.S. in 2019. As more breweries open — introducing a never-ending stream of new beers to the marketplace — finding the best is near impossible. Luckily, we’ve spent a lot of time over the last year tasting them.

This, evidently, was the year of saison; our 2019 list concludes with an unprecedented number of Belgian-style farmhouse ales, which signals that yeast may be having its moment. Lower-alcohol, “better-for-you” beers are in the limelight, too, as more craft beer drinkers seek beers that fit healthier lifestyles, or simply want more sessionable options — and more breweries are figuring out how to make these delicious.

On the whole, we as a craft beer drinking society may not be pivoting away from IPA to craft lager just yet (at least, not statistically), but rest assured, plenty of both make the list.

This ranking was determined by members of the VinePair team. Hundreds of selections were considered and narrowed down to 50 with the following criteria: All beers must be available for retail in the U.S. in a can or bottle retail, or otherwise be a seasonal release or part of a rotating series we expect to see back in 2020. Placement is limited to one beer per brewery. The 50 best beers of 2019 ranking focuses on labels released within the year, although this is not a requirement. Selections from last year’s 50 best beers of 2018 were not considered.

Availability has an effect on ranking: In other words, if you have to travel, trade, or sacrifice your firstborn for a 4-ounce pour, recommending it in our top 10 is not helpful to a majority of beer drinkers. Now for the fun part!

These are VinePair’s 50 best beers of 2019.

50. Mother Earth 4Seasons Hazy IPA (With Fremont Brewing)

Nampa, ID ABV: 7.5%

Previously dubbed “The Four Seasons of Mother Earth,” this 4Seasons release debuted in summer 2019 in partnership with Seattle’s Fremont Brewing. The duo used “craft” malt from a farmer-owned co-op in Spokane to further share the local love. On the hop front, this beer showcases African Queen, a fruity, herbal, spicy variety from South Africa, along with Galaxy, Mosaic Cryo, and El Dorado hops. The result? Mango, passion fruit, and orange aromas; a grain-forward, almost savory malt flavor reminiscent of sage; and a fruity, herbal finish. Although a limited release, we look forward to tasting more “seasons.”

49. Lakefront Brewery Hazy Rabbit IPA

Milwaukee, WI ABV: 5.2%

Pouring bright gold and cloudy, a Camembert-esque cheesy aroma kicks off the nose on this hazy IPA, followed by orange, tangerine, passionfruit, and a melon cotton candy note. Low on bitterness, but less sweet than “traditional” hazy/juicy IPAs, it’s bright and balanced with soft carbonation and light malt character due to flaked oats.

48. Anchor Brewing Fog Breaker IPA 

San Francisco, CA ABV: 6.8%

San Francisco stalwart Anchor Brewing’s relatively new Fog Breaker, released in 2018, earned its fair share of loyal drinkers this year. It was especially a hit among classic IPA lovers, who lament the days of IPAs that tasted like pine, weren’t too bitter, and didn’t look like OJ. This IPA has some West Coast bitterness, a hint of fruitiness and a touch of haze (O.K., fog). It’s piney and crisp, and adds Cryo hops to its dry-hopping regimen, along with whole-cone Denali and Cascade.

47. Shiner Ruby Redbird 

Shiner, TX ABV: 4%

Spoetzl Brewery’s Shiner Beer updated its Ruby Redbird lager in 2019 with nutrition facts faux-dive bars will be fawning over: It contains 95 calories, 3.1 grams of carbs, and Texas-grown Ruby Red grapefruit juice. Grapefruit and ginger are present on the nose and palate, making this easy-drinking sipper with a kick perfect for sushi pairing.

46. Cascade Brewing Cuvée du Jongleur

Portland, OR ABV: 9.4%

Toward the tail end of 2018, Cascade re-released this oaky, complex, funky cuvée for the first time since 2008. A decade after its original release, the label did not disappoint: Berry and oak aromas are followed by a creamy mouthfeel and fruity tartness. When nursed in a tulip glass, it opens up nicely as it warms, releasing further fruit aromas such as cherry, plum, and hints of grapefruit and caramel.

45. Goose Island Bourbon County Double Barrel 

Chicago, IL ABV: 18%

In this 2019 variant of Goose Island’s infamous barrel-aged stout series, “double barrel” refers to the stout aging one year in 11-year-old Elijah Craig barrels, then afterward aging another year in (different) 12-year-old Elijah Craig barrels. Fruit, leather, chocolate, and yes, intense bourbon flavors swirl on the palate, with a whiskey-beer-hybrid warmth all the way down. Although this variant is very limited in quantity, several other Bourbon County stouts are out there. Forget the drama, they’re still delicious.

44. Hardywood Park Distorted Perception 

Richmond, VA ABV: 7%

A cornucopia of tropical fruit explodes on the nose of this NEIPA — tangerine, passionfruit, guava. With our eyes closed, we could swear this was actual juice. Mango-flavored bubble tea and tart, juicy smoothie flavors make this a little sweet, but it is lip-smackingly delicious.

43. Separatist Beer Project Spellbook Imperial Stout 

Easton, PA ABV: 13%

Maple syrup and cinnamon additions amplify this imperial stout’s sweet side, while roasted malt’s coffee and dark chocolate notes add bitterness to balance.

42. Wiley Roots Black Bart Monstah 

Greeley, CO ABV: 11%

Inspired by the Spanish-descended fried dough sopapilla (or more specifically, the sopapilla served at Mexican Restaurant Casa Bonita, which has a room named “Black Bart’s Cave”), this dark, velvety imperial stout brings chocolatey, roasty flavors rather than fresh fried dough. Cinnamon, burnt sugar, and honey are added for extra decadence, making this a sweet stout to sip on a cold, boozy afternoon.

41. Garage Brewing Peanut Butter Chocolate Milk Stout 

Temecula, CA ABV: 7.1%

This liquid Reese’s Pieces is rich, but not sticky; chocolatey, but not cloying; and full-bodied, yet feels lighter on the palate than its peanut-butter-chocolate-flavored 7.1 percent ABV might have you think. Our panel unanimously found this pastry stout daringly easy to drink.

40. WeldWerks PB&J Berliner 

Greeley, CO ABV: 4.6%

Considering that it was mostly its juicy IPAs, not wildly flavored kettle sours, that put this Colorado brewery on beercationers’ maps, a peanut butter and jelly-flavored Berliner weiss wasn’t what we expected to love most from WeldWerks this year. Yet, here we are. Berliner weiss and fruit are ancient companions, so perhaps it’s not surprising that strawberry puree would complement grain and tart flavors so well — add peanut powder to the mix, and the combination of flavors is unforgettable.

39. Reuben’s Brews Brettania (Series): Boysenberry and Blackberry

Seattle, WA ABV: 6.3%

Brettanomyces can make or break a beer. In the right hands, as at Reuben’s Brews, it really sings. In this mixed-culture saison aged for six months in oak puncheons, then aged with boysenberries and blackberries for an additional six months, and finally refermented in-bottle, it sings. Brettania: Boysenberry and Blackberry was the first release in Reuben’s Brews’ barrel-aged sour program, and it promptly began winning awards. Brettania: Guava and Brettania: Blackcurrant followed, and we’re anxious to taste what’s next.

38. Bell’s Brewery Official Hazy IPA 

Comstock, MI ABV: 6.4%

Released in March 2019, Bell’s Brewery’s “Official” marked the legendary beer pioneer’s entry into the hazy IPA category. Long celebrated for its Two Hearted IPA, a bracingly bitter, grapefruit-flavored exemplar of the more “old-school” IPAs style, this newcomer stands on its own with tropical fruit and citrus aromas, a palate that’s lighter than the style-defining NEIPAs of the Northeast, and an orange juice kick on the finish.

37. Oskar Blues Can-O-Bliss Hazy IPA 

Fort Collins, CO ABV: 7.2%

Can-O-Bliss “Hazy,” part of a rotating IPA series (“Tropical” and “Citrus” are others), serves up OJ, pineapple juice, and a hint of cheesy funk on the nose, followed by a fruity, herbal, spicy potpourri of hop-driven flavors on the palate. (Strata, Cashmere, Enigma, Hallertau Blanc, and Eureka hops are all used in this brew.) It’s surprisingly light in color and body, though, with crisp carbonation to balance its pungent hoppiness.

36. Springdale Beer Pearly Wit 

Framingham, MA ABV: 4.8%

Springdale Beer, of Jack’s Abby, debuted this wispy witbier last year, but in 2019 we started to see it on a lot more tap lists — and rightfully so. It’s the definition of a sessionable wheat beer: pillowy soft, crisp and coriander-flavored, with a hint of tangy citrus to keep things interesting.

35. Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest (2019)

Chico, CA and Asheville, NC ABV: 6%

Sierra Nevada’s Oktoberfest got so much love this year, people married it (or at least, got married with it. At Oktoberfest. In Germany.) As for us, we appreciated the 2019 version of this annual classic as a bubbly aperitif. Brewed in collaboration with Germany’s Bitburger Brewery, it combines the smooth flavors of Caramel, Munich, and Pilsner malt with a bitter punch, perhaps from Bitburger’s Siegelhopfen — that’s German for “sealed hops,” or the brewer’s “secret” hop blend.

34. Equilibrium Moon of Vega

Middleton, NY ABV: 8.7%

Brewed in collaboration with Florida’s J. Wakefield Brewing, this double IPA is made with more than copious amounts of Citra, Galaxy, and Mosaic hops, vanilla, and lactose (milk sugar), pouring creamy and sweet, aroma-dosed with mango, and just a hint tart on the finish. It’s the ridiculousness of a milkshake IPA in an obscenely delicious package.

33. Pure Project Rain

San Diego, CA ABV: 5.3%

Unfiltered, yet clear and golden as a summer sky, topped with a fluffy white cloud of foam, Rain is a subtle eruption: pilsner malt’s telltale biscuity aroma is amplified by its single-malt, organic producer; lemongrass follows, from Hallertau Mittelfruh hops’ herbal, citrus nudge. German ingredients and an American craft brewer’s hand make this bitter little pilsner exactly what to look for at the end of — or start of — a long day.

32. Brouwerij West Picnic Lightning

San Pedro, CA ABV: 6.8%

Picnic Lightning proves West Coast breweries can do New England-style IPAs well — and even add their own touch. Lemongrass, grapefruit, and a hint of tropical fruit blend on the nose as well as on the palate, creating a slightly sweet, herbal-citrus mix with a bitter kick. Along with malted barley, this beer uses oats and raw spelt, allowing a soft mouthfeel. Juicy, earthy, and memorable, this one is on tap at the brewery at press time — nab yourself a pour if you happen to be in L.A.

31. West Kill Kaaterskill IPA

West Kill, N.Y. ABV: 6%

Teetering on the edge of dialed-in juicy IPA and new-American pale ale, this farm-brewed New beer from New York’s Catskill Mountain region is modern and rustic at once. Modern, with its dry-hopping regimen of Azaaca, Columbus, Mosaic, and Citra hops. Rustic, in that it’s crafted on a farm in the mountains. Though not as available as other IPAs on this list, this beer is worth the hike. Mountain or specialty beer shop, a word to the wise: a 4-pack is never enough.

30. Avery Bon-Bon Cerise

Boulder, CO ABV: 14.6%

Stout lovers won’t know what’s coming until sipping this bourbon-barrel-aged imperial stout aged with cherries, cacao nibs, and vanilla beans. Sounds like standard fare for a barrel-aged pastry stout, but it’s anything but: Yes, it’s boozy and laced with bourbon-barrel character, but what stood out to our tasters was its powdered chocolate note and cooked fruit flavor, akin to cherry pie. Like the dessert, Bon Bon Cerise has layers to enjoy.

29. Left Hand Raspberry Milk Stout 

Longmont, CO ABV: 5.7%

Launched in 2019, this sister to Left Hand’s category-defining milk stout has raspberry on the nose and palate, balanced with roasty notes and a touch of sweetness. Bitter chocolate and cherry on the finish wrap it all up in a smooth, dessert-friendly (or dessert-replacing) package.

28. Monday Night Ante Meridiem Blend No. 1 (2018)

Atlanta, GA ABV: 13.5%

Several Monday Night beers were considered for this list, but its “imperial brown ale” — fair enough, it’s 13.5 percent ABV, aged in locally sourced bourbon barrels, and dosed with locally roasted coffee, Ugandan vanilla beans, and maple syrup — is a testament to the Atlanta brewery’s relentless experimentation. Firstly, it brings the noise for brown ale (even if it’s hyperbolizing the usually subtly roasty style). In a similar conundrum, It smells like vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup, and tastes creamy and sweet. But warm bourbon and coffee bean prevent it from becoming cloying. The body has excellent texture, rich but drinkable, with just enough carbonation to give a crisp edge, lifting it safely out of the barrel-aged-syrup-beer danger zone. No single part overpowers another, making this a rare treat. (It’s available seasonally on draft and in 500-milliliter bottles in Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama.)

27. Lamplighter Major Tom 

Boston, MA ABV: 6.8%

This space-themed, true New England-Style IPA brewed by Boston’s Lamplighter, a brewery, coffee purveyor and soon-to-be-distillery, is, like its maker, bold. Floating in this tin can* are Australian Galaxy hops, imparting tropical-fruit juicy flavors, but also a bitter bite hiding in the haze. *The can is aluminum.

26. Saint Archer Mexican Lager

San Diego, CA ABV: 4.8%

Saint Archer Brewery debuted its Mexican-style lager in March 2019, and it rose up our ranks for its many juxtapositions: sweet and herbal; cooked corn tortilla and fresh herbs; and, philosophically, a San Diego-brewed, Mexican-style beer owned by the very North American MillerCoors. Maybe it’s not that crazy. You would, however, be crazy to pass this up if you’re a fan of Mexican lagers like we are. Pair with chicken enchiladas, tortilla chips with salsa verde, or a lime wedge.

25. Athletic Brewing Co. Run Wild NA IPA

Stratford, CT ABV: < 0.5%

This isn’t the first time we’re praising Athletic Brewing’s flagship IPA, but it is the first time a non-alcoholic beer has made it to the top 50 beers of the year list. This says a lot, not only about the quality of this particular brew — which is made with all-organic grains, and five hop varieties from the Northwest U.S. — but it speaks to the market’s move (if inching, even) toward no- and low-ABV, as well as lower-calorie (this one’s 70), options. This beer is flavorful and balanced, featuring an herbal, citrus kick over a mild malt backbone. It became a regular purchase for some panelists over the course of the year. We’ve bought out in the wild on several semi-sober occasions. For us, this one isn’t about abstaining, it’s about sustaining — through the day and night with friends, can in hand.

24. J. Wakefield 24th Street Brown Ale

Miami, FL ABV: 6.5%

Don’t let this beer’s street-smart exterior dark, murky interior fool you. On the inside, from the first sip, it’s sweet chocolate malt balls, smooth toffee flavor, and roasty, dialed-back bitterness (think cold-brewed coffee compared to burnt iced coffee). 24th Street Brown Ale is named for the brewery’s Miami address, and with the recent remodeling of that taproom, we felt it was owed another look and a new appreciation in 2019.

23. Coronado Set West

Coronado, CA ABV: 7%

This West Coast IPA from California stalwart Coronado Brewing dials back the style’s bitterness with biscuity, freshly baked bread and fresh-squeezed orange juice on the nose. It’s dry on the palate, with a bitterness that lingers just the right amount, allowing the beer to be refreshing, rather than weigh down the palate. A hallmark West Coast IPA.

22. Two Roads Area Two Table Terroir 

Stratford, CT ABV: 3.7%

Connecticut-grown malts, hops, and yeast so local it was captured in the brewery’s own hop yard put the “terroir” in Table Terroir, a food-pairing companion and conversation starter that’s as fascinating as it is tasty. Delicate and complex, with fruity and spicy notes, it’s one we wish we could find more often — but, like this beer’s ingredients, you’ll have to go to the brewery for that.

21. Gueuzerie Tilquin Oude Pinot Noir Tilquin à L’Ancienne

Rebecq, Belgium ABV: 8.2%

“Finesse” comes to mind when attempting to describe this spontaneously-fermented lambic, which gets its fruit not from the traditional cherries (kriek) or raspberries (framboise), but from Pinot Noir grapes (260 grams of Pinot Noir grapes per liter of lambic, according to Gueuzerie Tilquin). The first version of this lambic, made to mark the 10th anniversary of legendary Belgian beer bar Moeder Lambic, used hand-harvested grapes from Valentin Zusslin Estate’s biodynamic Bollenberg vineyard. This new version uses organic grapes from a family farm in Steinseltz, France.

20. Cerebral Forbidden Idol: Mai Tai (Tiki Sour IPA Series) 

Denver, CO ABV: 7%

Kicking off the year with a tiki sour IPA series is a bold move. For Cerebral Brewing, which we already love for its show-stopping IPAs and interesting forays into categories like wood-aged lager, Forbidden Idol’s pineapple, lime, and passionfruit-flavored tiki cocktail-inspired release was an awakening. Our panel agreed this one actually tasted like a Mai Tai, proving that tiki cocktails can translate into IPA forms — and that sour IPAs, at their best, beautifully emulate cocktails. We were hooked from the start, but Cerebral Brewing has released this beer in Mai Tai, Singapore Sling, Castaway, Zombie and Painkiller versions. (And, by the way, Mai Tais are better than you think.)

19. Finback Rolling in Clouds

Queens, NY ABV: 7.1%

When we think of an ideal juicy, hazy IPA, this is it. It’s not too sweet, not too boozy, and has a smooth mouthfeel. Fruity without being super sweet and gooey, it’s just right.

18. Tired Hands Shambolic 

Ardmore, PA ABV: 6.5%

Shambolic, a saison brewed with malted spelt and raw wheat, rested in oak foudres, and dry-hopped with what is likely a lavish amount of Nelson Sauvin and Simcoe hops, is a lot to take in. Tropical fruit, lemony citrus, and floral notes create an intense perfume and palate, while fermentation with Tired Hands’ house saison yeast (and maybe microflora from the foudres) adds a tart, citric kick on the finish.

17. Grimm Artisanal Ales Awoogah IPA

Brooklyn, N.Y. ABV: 6.4%

At this point, seeing an IPA below 7 percent ABV is a godsend. Fruity and floral aromas give way to a soft palate, with spicy hop character and a hint of tangerine tartness coming from a combination of Columbus, Galaxy, Hallertau Blanc, and Simcoe hops. It’s refreshing and balanced, with certain parts pleasantly exaggerated — citrus zest, for example — without going even a molecule too far. Truly hazy and juicy, without being too bitter or sweet, this is a perfect IPA.

16. pFriem Family Brewers Pilsner

Hood River, OR ABV: 4.9%

Available in cans starting in 2019, this crystal-clear, golden pilsner is reminiscent of springtime. A fresh floral aroma, soft carbonation, and suite of unusual herbal hops varietals like Perle and Saphir make this both palate cleanser and a center-stage sipper. Whether thoughtfully or thoughtlessly, enjoy this on a porch, in a backyard, at a barbecue, or basically anywhere, anytime.

15. The Referend Bier Blendery Le Mur (2018)

Pennington/Hopewell Township, N.J. ABV: 6%

“Blackberry spontaneously fermented golden ale” is a mouthful of a beer description, but it only begins to scratch the surface of how this exquisite vintage is made. Released in July 2019, Le Mur is a blend of one- and two-year-old beer, the younger re-fermented with southern New Jersey blackberries in French oak, and the older with northern New Jersey blackberries in stainless steel. It pours a dusty garnet with a fluffy ruby head. Tart cherry, raspberry, and blackberry aromas are pungent from first whiff. Up close, nose to glass, it’s all citrus — fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, acidic orange, and a hint of lemon and lime. A brioche scent wafts in, creating a tart berry-pie aroma. The palate is tart, concentrated fruit, sharp but balanced with jammy berry flavors — it is not puckeringly sour like so many unoaked, kettle-soured beers tend to be. Oak puncheons, and perhaps more so, time, have softened its edges. Depth, complexity, and excitement.

14. Perennial Artisan Ales Prism: Mosaic

St. Louis, MO ABV: 5.5%

Showcasing the multi-faceted, New-World Mosaic hop in a classic saison would be a terrible idea if you were anyone but Perennial. But saisons and farmhouse-style ales are among this small St. Louis brewery’s specialty, and this particular release in its “Prism” series did the best job at convincing us the result can be delicious. Maybe it’s the magic of Mosaic meeting a saison yeast strain, but this saison is better than the sum of its parts.

13. Holy Mountain Witchfinder

Seattle, WA ABV: 6.1% ABV

Golden, frothy, and skunky (in a good way), this pungently-scented saison is all earthy funk on the nose, followed by floral and citrus flavors and a lingering pithy finish. It’s one of many excellent saisons from this Seattle brewery, and solidifies our suspicion that we’ll grab a bottle any time we see one — if the beer budget allows.

12. Threes Brewing The Dictator Is The People

Brooklyn, N.Y. ABV: 6%

Pungent, peppery spice, and tart apricot aromas are a precursor to this oak-aged saison’s delectable journey. Lightly fruity, dry, Champagne-sparkling, it’s a saison worth celebrating with — or celebrating, period. Next in rotation of mixed-culture, oak-aged wheat beers is Bad Faith.

11. Transmitter Brewing S9 

Brooklyn, N.Y. ABV: 5.8%

After moving from a very small space in Queens to one of Brooklyn’s biggest commercial centers, Transmitter released S9, a saison that rivals its smaller-scale days, and, dare we say, its Belgian inspirations. This iteration is pale and can be perceived as light on the palate, but it has hidden complexities: earthy, fruity notes derived from yeast and hops complement cereal grain flavors, with lively carbonation and bitterness hitting at the finish.

10. Trillium Crown and Crate

Boston, MA ABV: 8.6%

Massachusetts hives provide the nectar for this double IPA with raw wildflower honey, which, along with lactose, give the beer its ultra-creamy mouthfeel, and supple, smoothie-sweet decadence. Named for the queen bee (the “crown”) and the milk crate her worker bees use to create their hive, its abundance of tropical fruit flavors invoke the plenitudes of spring, royalty, and indulgence.

9. Harpoon Rec League

Boston, MA and Windsor, VT ABV: 3.8%

Is there anything more exciting than a 3.8-percent-ABV hoppy beer? It’d be hard to convince us while sipping Rec League. Harpoon is officially back in the game with this refreshing, light-bodied, lightly bitter and light-everything low-ABV refresher. Hints of pineapple and tropical fruit on the nose, and clementine and tangerine on the palate, yet dry as a bone, it’s a standout of the year.

8. Lagunitas Daytime Ale

Petaluma, CA ABV: 4%

Whether you’re into the low-alcohol, low-calorie phase of your beer-drinking career or not, it’s important to know that brewing a beer that’s light and tastes good is no easy feat. As the can perhaps suggests, Daytime Ale nails it. It’s citrusy and herbal, light and flavorful, and barbecue-friendly in every way. Coors Light chicks and hazebros can unite over this hoppy yet thirst-quenching summer sipper.

7. Sixpoint Citrus Jammer

Brooklyn, N.Y. ABV: 4%

We tasted every Jammer variety time and time again this summer, and while our favoritism fluctuated between the original and tropical fruit flavors, we ultimately landed on Citrus Jammer. It has the salty, spicy gose flavor we’re looking for, but is slightly subdued (compared to American goses that overdo it). Added to that are candied orange aromas, Sprite-like lemon-lime, and a lingering, lemony tang, and we found its bright and bitter finish was more refreshing than the original. Soft coriander on the finish.

6. New Belgium Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza (With Primus Cervecería)

Fort Collins, CO; Asheville, NC; and Mexico City, Mexico ABV: 4%

Mural Agua Fresca got its start via test batches brewed by New Belgium and Primus at the Mexico City cerveceria. In 2019, the agua-fresca-inspired ale is available in all 50 U.S. states (and, coming soon, more flavors). It’s refreshing all around — Mural gets its red-pink color and tart essence from hibiscus, its thirst-quenching flavor from watermelon, zippy refreshment from lime, and a touch of sweetness from agave. Get out there and try this “cerveza” before it’s rebranded as spiked seltzer.

5. Funkwerks Passion Fruit Provincial (Series)

Fort Collins, CO ABV: 4.2%

If sour ales can be sessionable, Funkwerks is one of the few breweries that can accomplish it — and lucky for us, the Colorado farmhouse-style brand added New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Kentucky, Chicagoland, and, finally, Kansas to its distribution network this year. Passion Fruit Provincial is a memorable bottled ecosystem of passionfruit’s interaction with soft malt and saison yeast. Tart, tropical, and refreshing, it’s one that has us looking out for more “Provincial” variants — raspberry, “rhuberry” (strawberry and rhubarb), and pineapple guava are among them.

4. Rodenbach Classic 

Rosalare, Belgium ABV: 5.2%

Nationally available as of 2019, Rodenbach Classic in cans — cans! —is what brought this classic brand to the top of our list this year. Rodenbach, a nearly-200-year-old Belgian brewery that defines the Flemish red beer style, launched its Rodenbach Classic label statewide in the U.S. in cans. The sleek, elegant take on a tallboy puts one of the best beers of all time in a pedestrian package, signaling that centuries-old tradition and the mastery of foeder-aging (courtesy living legend Rudi Ghequire), actually can be enjoyed anytime. No longer do we have to hoard our Rodenbach for Christmas dinner… unless it’s a vintage. As for the classic, it’s a blend of young and aged beer, the latter part of the blend aged for two years in giant oak foeders. It’s fruity and tart, pairs perfectly with rich foods, and is surprisingly sessionable on its own, too. Also in 2019, Rodenbach announced its first-ever beer collaboration with American craft beer pioneer Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.

3. SweetWater 420 Chocolope Stout

Atlanta, GA ABV: 6.4%

Chocolate stouts have been brewed many times over, but none have tasted like this. SweetWater’s 420 Strain, a series of cannabis-inspired beers, can be gimmicky, but this one wowed us every time we reached for it. It’s brewed with three types of roasted malt (Pale Chocolate, Chocolate, and Roasted Barley), a pair of herbal hops (Bravo, Willamette), and what the brewery refers to as “strain-specific terpenes and natural hemp-type flavors” — the latter being the “X”-factor. It’s insanely aromatic, like a sticky nug of weed, but roasty, too, and somehow, actual chocolate completes the package (Dutch chocolate, naturally). Insert weed joke here.

2. Cigar City Guayabera Citra Pale Ale 

Tampa, FL ABV: 5.5%

Guayabera pours frothy, fruity, and intensely aromatic. Using only Citra hops, known for their citrusy profile of grapefruit and tropical fruit, this American pale ale is juicy and refreshing, balancing citrusy bitterness, soft, bready malt character, and endlessly quaffable aroma. It also makes a great shower beer.

1. Allagash River Trip

Portland, ME ABV: 4.8 %

2019 was all about easy-drinking refreshment, and Allagash nails it with River Trip — most importantly, the pioneering brewery does so without sacrificing its style. While craft brewers clamor to diversify with light lagers and hard seltzers, this Belgian-style session ale is easy-drinking with an edge. Spiced with coriander like a traditional Belgian witbier, and fermented with Allagash’s house yeast, it adds bright, bitter, grassy notes to its table beer base. Yes, Allagash excels at beautifully executed mixed-fermentation sour beers, but it was River Trip we kept coming back to this year, again and again.

The article The 50 Best Beers of 2019 appeared first on VinePair.

Via https://vinepair.com/articles/best-beers-2019/

source https://vinology1.weebly.com/blog/the-50-best-beers-of-2019

[starlingsrps]

bea walker char. dev.

ORIGINS & FAMILY:

Name: beatrice anne walker

Nickname: bea, bee

Birthday: january 31

Age: twenty five

Gender: female

Place of birth: evanston, il

Places lived since: chicago

Parents: jacob walker, 55, provost; hillary walker, 55, fundraiser

Siblings: samantha walker, 29

Relationship with family: bea made her bones as the rebel of the family when she forged a permission note to get her ears pierced at a claire's at the tender age of seven. though she never wound up in juvie or getting expelled, her inability to let anything go meant that she was in the principal's office plenty. she wasn't a bad kid, per se, just willing to push their parents buttons in a way samantha wasn't interested in. she and her mother fought like cats and dogs when she was a teenager but with age calming bea the eff down and her mother accepting that bea is never going to be samantha, they get along much better. she's always been something of a daddy's girl so they're cool but he's the last person she ever wants to disappoint. as for sam...well, they're a work in progress. they've had a lot of ups and downs over the years and they're finally starting to see each other as humans rather than annoying younger sister/bossy older sister.

Children of her own?: sweet god no.

PHYSICAL

Height: 5'8

Build: average/athletic

Complexion: fair

Distinguishing features: The Hair.

Hair color: red

Usual hair style: long - it's her security blanket and only she is allowed to complain about it. 

Eye color: brown

Glasses? Contacts?: reading glasses

Style of dress/typical outfit(s): bea's a skirt/dress kind of girl and likes vintage. classic with a modcloth twist, if you please.

Typical style of shoes: whatever she feels like 

Health: good!

Grooming: fairly neat and tidy with a magpie attraction to lipstick that she never wears. she's addicted to dry shampoo because she washes her hair once a week because it's a goddamn production.

Jewelry? Tattoos? Piercings?: pierced ears, formerly pierced nose. she took it out for college graduation at her mother's request and never put it back in.

Accent?: nah

Unique mannerisms/physical habits: nah

Athletic?: more or less - gym gives her something to do outside of the apartment.

INTELLECT

Level of education: ba in english from northwestern; half an m.lis.

Level of self esteem: good!

Gifts/talents: bea is a big personality - she's outgoing and charming and a crusader for friends, family, and lost causes. she's smart, a voracious reader and devourer of all things literary from the classics to young adult. she's also a great dancer.

Shortcomings: bea is a stubborn, stubborn piece of work and a mouthy little shit. she never met a fight she doesn't want to get involved in. 

Style of speech: feminine and bright.

Artistic?: ish - she painted some in high school and college but it's gone by the wayside.

Mathematical?: enough to function.

Makes decisions based mostly on emotions, or on logic?: emotions

Neuroses: she has to have a hardcopy of a book if she has it on her kindle, just in case. 

Religious stance: catholic if she has to put something down on a survey

Cautious or daring?: daring

Most sensitive about/vulnerable to: criticism - she's still young and hasn't gotten used to it.

Optimist or pessimist?: optimist

Extrovert or introvert?: extrovert

Level of comfort with technology: damn good and damn attached - catch bea rolling with a laptop, tablet, cell phone, and kindle. if there's no wifi, she gets a little worried.

RELATIONSHIPS

Current marital/relationship status: single. uncomfortable crush on her sister's fiance. it's fine.

Sexual orientation: heterosexual

Past relationships: a handful here and there but she's been single since starting her master's.

Most comfortable around: kevin, every dog she meets

Oldest friend: sam sometimes, otherwise her best friend from high school

VOCATION

Profession: graduate student, library attendant

Past occupations: student, waitress

Attitude towards current job: well she hopes it's going to get her somewhere, that's for damn sure.

Attitude towards current coworkers, bosses, employees: she makes a concentrated effort to get along with everyone in the chicago public library system because #goals

SECRETS

Dreams: library domination, a grown up life that her parents aren't helping foot the bill for, dog ownership.

Greatest fears: failure, being alone in a bad way.

Hobbies: reading, going out, dogspotting.

Past sexual transgressions: no but she's damn close to committing one HAHAHAH

Crimes committed: nooooope.

What she most wants to change about her current life: she's sosososo close to graduating and being thrust into the real world that she's sick of waiting.

What she most wants to change about her physical appearance: nah. she should probably get a haircut but nah.

DETAILS/QUIRKS

Daily routine: it's a mish mash of class, gym, work, class work, and hanging out. she tries to make time to relax every day because otherwise she'll snap. 

Night owl or early bird?: night owl

Light or heavy sleeper?: heavy

Favorite food: brownies

Favorite book: jane eyre

Favorite movie: atonement

Favorite song: "shut up and dance" by walk the moon

Coffee or tea?: coffee

Type of car she drives: nope

Lefty or righty?: righty

Favorite color: green

Cusser?: occasionally

Smoker? Drinker? Drug user?: nope/wine aunt/nope

Pets?: none yet but she falls in love with every single dog.

[shining-gem34]

"It is good to see you as well, Caelorum Venti." Dan Feng greets, returning the bow with a short one of his own.

Standing up straight, he couldn't help let his eyes wander to the scenery around him. The Yaoqing in his memories are rather vague as it has been years since his last visit. He looks at Bái Yuán Yún and responds politely if not with some mirth.

"Considering it is you who has welcomed me into your home, I will say my experience is already memorable itself." Dan Feng ponders if he can get rid of his entourage with their prying ears and eyes always on the high elders.

He pulls something underneath his sleeves. A bottle of fine wine from his collection, "A token of good-will. The finest wine brewed in the Luofu as ironically named: drinker of the moon."

❝Imbibitor, how lovely it is to see you.❞

Offering a deep bow before straightening back out, hands folding together as a soft smile appears on his features. It was always a joy to see the other elders. To be able to show them his home and their people he was so proud of.

❝I hope you are enjoying your visit so far.❞

@shining-gem34. sc.

[shining-gem34]

Dan Feng/Dan Heng and the Aeons (1)

Note: This is all HC of what I think their opinions regarding the Aeons of Long, Lan, and Yaoshi until otherwise revealed.

"The Vidydhara, as a whole, do not forget our origins. The hatchlings of the present are not as devout as their seniors, but we cannot forget. Long existence is like a code etched deeply into our souls- A cycle we cannot escape from. Their gift...is both a blessing and a curse." -Dan Feng.

In general, Dan Feng respects Long and understands their importance to the Vidyadhara as a whole. As High Elder, he is required to partake in committees discussing his clan celebrations and give the final word where the planning is directed. In any important rituals, the leading role naturally falls to the High Elder to make sure it goes off without a hitch. Otherwise, in private, Dan Feng very little practices his faith. He holds Long, their Creator close to his heart. But, not so close he considers himself a devout worshipper compared to the other Vidyadhara. However, with the ongoing problem of the Vidyadhara species in slow decline and his personal issues- Dan Feng can't help resent Long just a little bit. After all, their blessing is starting to become more of a curse at this point. But how can he, a mortal, judge an Aeon? Not just any Aeon, but the Aeon of Permanence who given birth to the Vidyadhara. To reject Long, even deceased, is considered blasphemy.

"I do not share the Vidyadhara faith in Long. The reason...Well, I'm sure you understand why by now. Unfortunately, I am that man reincarnation. As long as I hold this power, my encounters with the Vidyadhara will not end here." -Dan Heng

Dan Heng has no love or hate towards Long. He acknowledges their existence, their importance to the Vidyadhara, and their relevance to him. He does not love Long, because he does not worship them- respect them, yes. He does not hate Long, because the ones who hurt him are their children. Besides, what reason does he have to hate an Aeon who ihas long passed away? Despite the Preceptors best efforts to educate him, Dan Heng obviously does not practice their faith in Long. If he must, it will be after the events in Xianzhou Luofu where he's learning more about their culture including the Vidyadhara. Something he never got to do during his imprisonment. Everything he learns and research will go into the databank. But also, it's helping Dan Heng understand more about a place he never saw as a home. Slowly, it may also help him gain a deeper understanding of his past incarnations knowledge and Long.

"The Reignbow Arbiter, unless summoned, has no reason to appear before us. We are their warriors, raising our weapons, and vowed to eliminate every last one of Yaoshi abominations. Yet, what honor can be gained for losing your life in this eternal war?" -Dan Feng

While Dan Feng is closer to Long than Lan, he respects them no less. The Reignbow Arbiter eternal pursuit against Yaoshi inspired the Xianzhou to take arms and follow them. Their beliefs aligned with Lan determination to eliminate the Abominations of Yaoshi and that hasn't changed even in the present.

Dan Feng is the High Elder of the Vidyadhara. Naturally, his first priority are his clan and the Xianzhou natives second. There are times when it is difficult to make a decision: to find a compromise. Because he is not only Vidyadhara, but he is also a soldier who spoke his vows to the Hunt as many others had done. The war he joins and fight is for the sake of his people AND the Xianzhou.

Is it conflicting when he follows Long and Lan? The simple answer is no, because there is no point in trying to understand what the Aeons are thinking (especially since Long has long passed.)

Dan Feng knows his priorities. It's in the present where his people rely on him for safety and guidance. It's where his friends/families, and his lovers (or fiances/spouse) matter the most to him.

He is the High Elder of the Vidyadhara Luofu, a member of the HCQ, a friend to a selected few, and...a lover to the most amazing people (Yingxing and Jing Yuan) in his life.

Dan Feng is never described as a person with feelings. But his heart, his human bleeds, seeing the loss in the endless war against the Abundance.

That's why he can never understand why so many see it as an honor to die fightning for their homeland. Not when they still have people waiting for them to return home.

And a part of him that he kept locked away resents Lan [Aeons] for this.

But again, Aeons are beyond mortal understanding. What does his opinion matter?

"Before I met Himeko, I was a wanderer. I followed the Hunt, because I felt like I was required to in order to redeem myself. Wherever I went, battles follow and I had to fight to survive. If an abomination of Abundance appeared...I felt compelled to fight and eliminate them. " -Dan Heng

Initially, Dan Heng believed if he followed the path of the The Hunt, then it would distance himself further away from Dan Feng. Not only that, but it would enforce his identity as "Dan Heng". The crimes of his past self had committed should've been absolved after he reincarnated. Yet, it didn't matter in the end as Dan Heng is punished for his past incarnation crimes. As for his opinion of Lan, Dan Heng will admit he is biased. He knows the consequences for seeking immortality; a monster. He agrees with Lan end goal- to kill Yaoshi. By extension, he also agrees with the Xianzhou cause as well. Dan Heng respects Lan and their ideals, but he does not walk the same path as their followers do. Because Dan Heng is an exile, marked as a criminal for a sin his past incarnation had done. But that's alright, because Dan Heng found his place in the universe as a Nameless on the Astral Express.

"Do not heed the words of Yaoshi worshippers. The Plague Authors mercy is a curse in disguise of a blessing. Their "love" is sweet on the tongue, but they're vile. A disease festering in your core. A parasite slowly eating away your life and sanity as your body rots." -Dan Feng

Dan Feng absolutely abhors Yaoshi, but more than that he hates himself for resorting to use a flesh of an Emanator of Abundance. But he believed at the time he was doing the right thing for the right cause. In the aftermath, within his prison, he feels only regrets and defeat...

"I do not agree with the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus. There's a reason why Yaoshi existence does more harm than good. They bring life, but they also sow discord and suffering. Dan Feng knew that, so why did he...?" -Dan Heng

Dan Heng is absolutely confused why his past incarnation committed one of the Unpardonable Sins. He abhors Yaoshi, any of their children are dead on sight.

[shining-gem34]

||Not me looking up about Chinese dragons and their relationships with the "pearl" associated with it to better understand DF/DH weapons, and it's significance to High Elders.

🤔 If the Orb of Abysm and the Transmutation Arcanum are received upon becoming a High Elder...

Somewhat I do think Transmutation Arcanum is related to why High Elders can transform into full dragons, and it's also why they can transfer their powers to their next successor. There is also the possibility (as said in DHIL story quest) that the Transmutation Arcanum can do more such creating new life. I do think the Preceptors (the assholes) gave DF the right info BUT they didn't tell him the entire information and omitted a few things to give DF his own assumptions. Hence DF did botch up while trying to resurrect Baiheng during the ritual and the dragon heart (if not the Transmutation Arcanum itself, it might be the key ingredient to the ritual) is missing. Witbout the dragon heart, the Preceptors can't move in the next step in their plan thus one of the main reasons why they still needed him alive.

So while DH and Bailu are able to exhibit Dan Feng (High Elder) powers, I do think it's not the full strength either because of how fragmented it is. While Bailu powers are sealed and we don't know the full extent of what she can do without it, DH (in my opinion) is still inexperienced and learning how far he can go. Yes he can part the seas and summon water dragons, but he has yet to show he can transform full dragon yet (this might change later if hyv shows DH can transform into a full dragon and I think 3.0 will bite my ass on that just a gut feeling). So what is missing with DH? The missing Transmutation Arcanum (dragon heart?) maybe.

Now about the Orb of Absym, I think it's the equivalent of a dragon pearl. The dragons pearl being a symbol of wisdom, spiritual energy, and power. What does it mean for High Elders?

Well. I used to view it as a catalyst weapon for High Elders to channel their powers through considering they are representations of Long. Not exactly Emanator but close enough to be a rise above the general Vidydhara in terms of power alone. Maybe I still do but it has become more symbolic now because it's one of the two treasures passed down from one High Elder to the next.

Brain starting to lag here BUT if the Orb of Absym and Transmutation Arcanum are a set together...What if both are needed to trigger a full dragon transformation? Yes I know the Orb of Absym alone is already powerful enough to help DH summon water dragons and manipualte their size. But in Chinese culture, especially dragon dancing, the dragons are always chasing the pearl. And DH attacks,he yeets the pearl and has water dragons chase after it (aka attack enemies), an imitation of the dragon dance.

The Orb of Absym is a pearl, a guidance needed for High Elders to follow and trigger a full drgaon transformation without losing control. And of course overextended use of being full dragon increases greater chances of going on a rampage (DHIL story of how DF lost control during the battle against Shuhu).

Annnddd what about Cloud Piercer? Where Yingxing crafted that weapon exclusively for DF? Where there's a slot for the same orb to be put in?

🤔 They're gay and married your honor I do have my HC's about Yingxing weapon where he basically built it as a computer that only he (the craftsman who made it) and DF (the owner) have the password to it aka Yingxing made it sentient. DF being the true wielder who can use Cloud-Piercer to their full capabilities as Cloud Piercer acknowledges DF as their one and only master. For what purpose is the slot for the orb? It could be to the key of activating Cloud- piercer or further enhance DF abilities using it.

If I do want to go with the Orb of Absym is an old spirit living in a pearl...Let's say, old spirit has a home now.

Hence why no one else can use Cloud-Piercer or else it would reject them BAD. They can seal it away and separate it from their owner but for how long? It's part of DF, and now DH (who is essentially DF).

[shining-gem34]

♡ gimme all of the boys ty

Muse Attraction || Accepting @lovesfolly

LOW | ●●●●● | HIGH

About Rook & Eros:

●●●●○ | ATTRACTION

●●●●○ | AFFECTION

●●●●● | INTEREST

●●●●● | LOYALTY

●●●○○ | TRUST

About Dan Feng & Shoi-Ming:

●●●●● l ATTRACTION

●●●●● | AFFECTION

●●●●● | INTEREST

●●●●● | LOYALTY

●●●●● | TRUST

About Dan Feng & Eros (Abundance):

●●●●● | ATTRACTION

●●●●● | AFFECTION

●●●●● | INTEREST

●●●●● | LOYALTY

●●●●● | TRUST

About Dan Heng & Eros:

●●●●○ | ATTRACTION

●●●●● | AFFECTION

●●●○○ | INTEREST

●●●●● | LOYALTY

●●●●○ | TRUST

[shining-gem34]

About [Bai Heng]. / For Dan Feng.

Voicelines || Always Accepting @memovia

About Bai Heng: "True to her reputation, Bai Heng starskiff tends to crash when she's piloting. That's how our first meeting went; she literally came crashing into my life and never left since then. Almost like a shooting star falling from the sky- *Sigh* I still scolded her for her recklessness up to this day."