DR8 Infomercial

Billy Mays lives! Just as corny as that I am a Craft Brewer video, though this was meant to be corny.

San Francisco Brewoff 2009

I am gonna be there. Not as a homebrewer, but as a "judge." Anyone else?

Friends,

You are receiving this message because, as I know that you are skilled homebrew masters, I would like to invite you to participate in the first annual San Francisco Brewoff 2009. The competition will take place on 7 November in Dolores Park, San Francisco and participation is gratis. You will only be expected to bring a minimum of 9, 24 oz. bottles of your entry beer and whatever food you would like to bring. Currently the themed food is BBQ Ribs.

And what is in it for you??
Well, only a fantastic time in the park, good food, the opportunity to measure your beer up against other good beers in a thorough manner, bragging rights if you win and possibly another award for winning.

Why am I sending you this now for a party happening in November?
Since is will likely take about 6 weeks to brew your entry, you should start
preparing now.

What are the rules?
Since each beer must be measured by the same methods we have a couple of rules.

All brewers will brew the same beer. This time the beer will be CALIFORNIA COMMON!

All beers should be bottled instead of kegged and beer should arrive in standard 24 oz bottles. Bottles should not be labeled in any way. Of course, you will get all the bottles back after the event.

As I mentioned before, you should bring at least 9, 24 oz. bottles but feel free to bring more.

Teams are allowed

What do I do now?
Think about it, check your calendar and mark it appropriately. Write me back by 11 September to let me know that you will be participating and who is in your team if you have a team. Seek and find your favorite California Common recipe and get brewing.

Take a look at the website http://www.sfbrewoff.com

Invite other brewers you think would like to also participate.

Looking forward to hearing back from everyone.

Yours truly,
Pedro
PWCoats@sgh.com

Ok, I'm Back

And should be getting back in the swing of things. Tomorrow I start "daddy leave." That means more blogging or much less. Time will tell.

Mexico was fun. Beerwise, it was what you would expect. I mostly drank Negra Modelo. You can only drink so many margaritas. I had hoped to find my way to a legit supermarket or wine shoppe. But that never happened. I did find one beer I had not heard of:

Photo: http://vallartablog.com

Casta Oscura. This is now an entity of Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma, S.A. de C.V, but used to be part of a craftish brewery which has since closed. It was not very good.

Also, the Corona that was being poured at the pool bar was darker than anything I have ever seen in their bottles and it had a truer German Pilsener flavor (hop presence). It was good. Or maybe I was just sunburned and drunk.

Austin Beer Summit

Ok, one more little post before Mexico. Last night we had a bit of a beer summit. Mostly a bunch of twits getting together.



Ashley (The Beer Wench) and Chris from Beer Town Austin taping a tasting video. Taping, not tapping like you would a keg.



We had food. Thanks Jennie.

For real coverage and more info keep your eyes locked, maybe:

http://www.beertownaustin.com/
http://misohungrynow.blogspot.com/
htt://drinkwiththewench.com/
http://projectyine.com/

See You in a Week

Craft Austin is gonna be a little slow next week. We will be in Puerto Vallarta, but I'll try to throw a few things up when I get a chance. Stay tuned for a beer report from PV, Mex.

I am sure that will be fascinating.

Divine Reserve #8

Two weeks. Divine Reserve No. 8 will be released September 10.

I am being super lazy so just go here and read more for more on this beer.

Stone 13 - Austin

In Austin now.

NXNW Barton Kriek

NXNW Barton Kriek
Originally uploaded by aaronchamberlain

It was not really fair. I had a Cantillon Kriek earlier in the week. Still, this a really good beer. Do they use 100% real cherries? Taste a bit "faked." Best American Kriek I've had, but I have not had a lot.

NXNW 10th Anniversary DIPA

NXNW 10th Anniversary DIPA
Originally uploaded by aaronchamberlain

This is NXNW's 10th Anniversary double IPA. I've heard it contains 10 hop varieties. It's got a grassy wet hop aroma and flavor. Hardly bitter. Good balance. Worthy anniversary brew.

Just Booked My Flight

http://www.sfbrewoff.com/

Tomorrow Flying Saucer will be handing out Real Ale goblets, filled with their very drinkable Thirteenth Anniversary Ale.



Speaking of the Flying Saucer. They have this on right now (or they did this weekend) and it is awesome. I don't know if it was just my mood, but this was scratching me right where I itched.

Texas Best Burger - Part 2

Parkside for dinner. Good news, their beer selection has drastically improved. It could still use more work, but it's definitely better than before. I had a Affligem Blond with appetizers (oysters, crab salad, bone marrow with herb salad), and a Old Rasputin with my burger.



Cheeseburger and fries. I actually split this with Sofia, since we had so many appetizers. Tasty for sure. A nice fresh ground meat flavor. The only complaint I have is the saltiness. I drank tons of water throughout dinner, but still felt dehydrated after having the burger and fries. Too far with the salt guys, take it down a notch.

On the Texas Monthly 50 Best Burgers of Texas list this is one notch above Black Sheep Lodge. The restaurants are much different. The burgers are both good, but I think I give the edge to the Black Sheep burger.

Brabant's Lil Brother

You remember Brabant, right? Avery continues their Barrel-Aged series with Sui Generis. More:

Sui Generis is a complex ale, aged and artfully blended from several types of oak barrels, and displays a delightful lactic sourness complimented by hints of brett, oak, and acetic. Intricate yet bold, deeply complex yet surprisingly refreshing, Sui Generis was crafted in the tradition of perennial Tap Room favorites De Vogelbekdieren and Voltron.

Via Beernews.org

NYT: Bowling For Brews

Best opening line ever:

Each time I’m buckling my 5-year-old into his car seat on the way to another of his peers’ birthday parties, I say a little prayer that there will be beer.

Read the rest here. Bacon Barleywine!

Speedy McFeely

Postman left a mysterious package at my door today.



Hidden inside were two brews: Long Trail Pollenator and Cantillon Kriek.



The Cantillon was bottled in October 2007, which is awesome, because we visited the brewery at the same time.

Proof:

Sierra Nevada + Dogfish Head = Most Likely Yummy

From Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada:

Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head to release 'Life & Limb' Collaboration

Chico, CA (08/12/09)-This fall independent craft brewers Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head, will release two collaborative beers. Limb & Life-a draft-only beer-will debut in October; with Life & Limb 24oz bottles and limited draft to follow in November.

The beers-Life & Limb, and Limb & Life-are dedicated to the family of beer drinkers and enthusiasts worldwide who continue to support the little guys, iconoclasts, entrepreneurs, and pioneers who risk life and limb to shape the vibrant craft-brewing community. Over the years, the two brewers-Ken Grossman and Sam Calagione-have become friends in the industry. They quickly realized how many similarities they share. Grossman's history as a craft-brewing pioneer and his radical approach to brewing are echoed some fifteen years later by Calagione-through his boundary-pushing innovation and tireless promotion for the cause of craft beer.

READ MORE...

(512) Anniversary Party

(512) Anniversary Party seen through the eyes of Beer Town Austin:



Want more? They have a bunch of words and sentences about the event. Just click here.

Beerday at the Statesman

Two beer items from the Statesman.


Photo: The Austin American-Statesman

A perfect day trip: San Antonio beer tour
Sick of the Austin beer scene? Head down to San Antonio. They got bottle caps.


Photo: The Austin American-Statesman

A six-pack of Austin convenience stores
Austin through the bullet proof glass.

Real Ale XII @ Draught House Now

Via Beer Town Austin (Twitterwise). Chris enjoyed the Anniversary Ale so much he went to the Draught House two sepearte times yesterday. Looks like I'll have to get lost on my ride home today.

New Rogue

Somer Orange Honey Ale and Capt. Sig's Northwestern Ale. They are in Houston. Hopefully here too.

Brooklyn EIPA (Cask) and DH Black Wheat

P1110308
Originally uploaded by aaronchamberlain

The Brooklyn EIPA cask was damn tasty. My favorite Firkin Friday yet. Draught House's Black Wheat was good as well, on the verge of being a weizenbock. It reminded me a lot of Saint Arnold's DR#7

August Beer Tasting at Ginger Man

"Classic Summer Styles"
Saturday, August 8th
Starts at 3 pm
Hosted by Debbie Cerda
$25 per person

More info at Liquid Austin.



Don't think I'll make it. I am just too damn cheap. Sounds pretty good though.

Coming Soon, Sort of, Possibly

According to Sam. I'll take it.

Firkin Friday @ Draught House: BEIPA

Yum:

Brooklyn IPA. An east coast IPA that has balanced maltiness. Made with
Williamette, Northdown, Amarillo and Centennial hops. Tapping @ 3pm.

Thirsty Thursday #27

Le Fleur, Misseur?
by New Belgium Brewing Co., Ft. Collins, CO
Style: Belgian Pale Ale
ABV: 6.5%

Never heard of this beer. Then one day I am cruising the aisles of Spec’s and this bottle jumped out at me. Maybe because it was sitting next to his brother, La Folie. My first gulp I thought, “(512) One” and then the brett hit me. The brett came across muted, which was nice. Tart, but not cheek pucker tart, just kind of tweek yr tongue tart.

The story behind the name:

Produced for New Belgium coworkers to celebrate our 15th anniversary, Le Fleur has roots in the earliest days of our history. In 1988 founder Jeff Lebesch sat weary on the side of a Belgian road when a young lad passing by picked a delicate yellow flower and offered it to Jeff.

“Le Fleur, Misseur?” Jeff misspelled the boy’s comment in his journal as he accepted the offering. A treasured memory, a beer to treasure.

Craft Beer Radio: Texas

My favorite beer podcast, Craft Beer Radio, just posted show 142. And it's all about Texas craft beer! Here is the rundown:

Southern Star Bombshell Blonde
Southern Star Pine Belt Pale Ale
Saint Arnold Divine Reserve #7
Saint Arnold Divine Reserve #6
Real Ale Brewing Company Sisyphus (2007, 2008)


www.craftbeerradio.com

Santiago has good taste.

First Oktoberfest Sighting!

Widmer Okto, available now at HEB Hancock. Maybe I should actually try this one this year.

Texas Best Burger - Part 1

Stopped in Black Sheep Lodge last Friday. No more free beer, but it’s still worth a visit. I am slowly making my way through Texas Monthly’s list of 50 best burgers in Texas. Very slowly, since this is the first one I have had from the list.

We split two burgers. That’s a pound of burger, plenty for three people. The regular one (Black Sheep Burger) and the buffalo (Black Buffalo Burger) one (the actual burger that made the list). Every joint in Austin seems to have a buffalo/blue cheese burger, which is fine with me. I love ‘em. Both were indeed good, the Buffalo was my favorite.

The fries were tasty too. I prefer regular fries, but the sweet potato fries were enjoyable.

Now, onto the beer. The most important factor. That’s why you are here, right? They had a decent selection. Far better than most burger joints. I had a Brooklyn Lager. If every burger place had only Brooklyn Lager on tap, I’d be happy. But a nice selection is always appreciated.

My wife and sister also liked the Buffalo burger the best. And Santiago pretty much slept the whole time and was only groped by four drunk women. He is good bar baby.

1 down, 49 to go.

http://www.blacksheeplodge.com/

See ya lata

New Smokestack series release, via Facebook:

The first batch of our new fall Smokestack Series Seasonal, Seeyoulator Doppelbock, is bottling this morning. A Doppelbock aged on cedar, it will be released along with Bob’s ‘47 Oktoberfest near the end of August.

Medium amber in color, Seeyoulator offers a heady, estery banana aroma. A luscious maltiness predominates, with balancing notes from Hallertau hops. Cedar aging lends just a hint of spice to the finish.

I'm guessing it will be better than Shiner 100.

Over a Pint: Episode 2

Via Beer Town Austin.

Featuring Nate from (512) Brewing.

Skip to the Good Part: FREE BEER

via MisoHungry Makes it with Moonshine

Mikkeller

Word is, Mikkeller is coming to Texas. Alright. That's fine. Over-hyped euro craft beer if you asked me, como Brew Dog.

http://www.mikkeller.dk/

Mostly Good

Sunday some local BeerAdvocates got together for our monthly tasting. The Flying Saucer was kind enough to host us this month. Some notable appearances:



3 year old Duvel. The crispness of a fresh bottle was long gone. What was left was fruity and musty. Muted. Interesting.



Midnight Sun Descent Imperial Abbey Ale. WTF, imperial abbey ale? Hogwash. Marketing. Still, pretty tasty. For almost 9 percent, it “drank good.”



Schlafly Reserve Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. This one reminded me a lot of the Goose Island Bourbon County Stout, but better. Others did not agree. But come on, who are you going to believe? Me, right? Bourbn-y, obviously.



Cantillon Saint Lamvinus. Cantillon never misses with me. I’m a Cantillon whore.



Allagash Victor. This is on my list cause I brought it. That’s it. It was good though.

Bell’s Third Coast Old Ale. Wow, this was my favorite. Not sure which vintage it was. It did have some age on it for sure. Delicious. Smooth, butterscotch-y, dark fruits. I want more.

Beer Town Austin: Clementine

BTA visits Clementine for a beer tasting and won't stop bragging about it.

Speaking of Austin beerish events that I missed: How was the (512) Brewing First Anniversary party? I had family in town and did not feel like draggin them down south to stand in the sun.