Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Want some Westvleteren?



Who doesn't, right? I had one bottle of Westy 12 when I was in Belgium in 2007. Not sure why I only bought one. I should have bought ten and ten of the other varieties. There are various methods of obtaining this beer over the interweb. Now a new (cheaper?) way has emerged. Beernews.org fills us in.

Jester King - Construction Begins


More words, photos and video on their blog.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Bourbon Barrel-Aged Winter Stout - Ginger Man



Just in case you can't read the image:
Hey St. Arnold fans! Limited-release Bourbon Barrel-Aged Winter Stout being tapped tomorrow (3/31) at 6:00pm SHARP! Get it while it lasts!

More Info: Dogfish Head Off-Centered Film Festival



More info and ticket info here.
Alamo Drafthouse and Dogfish Head Brewery Present: The Dogfish Head Off-Centered Film Festival
Friday April 16th and Saturday April 17th
Portfolio Tasting on Friday is at 8:00pm; Shorts Screening on Saturday is at 7:30pm
Portfolio tasting on Friday is $60, Shorts screening on Saturday is $10

...

Friday’s tasting will include:

Aprihop
w/ Chicken, corn, and black bean fried mini burrito

Raison D’Etre
w/ Medjool Date stuffed with gorgonzola, Marcona almond and wrapped in bacon

Black & Blue
w/ Crab wonton with blueberry sauce

60 Minute IPA
w/ Full Quiver farms white cheddar

Burton Baton
w/ Proscuitto, melon, and lime

120 Minute IPA
w/ Blue cheese soufflé puff

Chateau Jiahu
w/ Pulled pork slider, with house pickled red onions, and spicy mustard

Pangaea
w/ BBQ Bison slider with cheddar

Punkin Ale
w/ Chorizo/ beef slider with avocado mayo, lettuce, and tomato

Indian Brown Ale
w/ House made smoked duck sausage

Palo Santo Marron
w/ Chorizo, jack, and cojita quesadilla with roasted tomato salsa

Immort
w/ Truffled parmesan cheese fries

Midas Touch
w/ Midas Baklava

Raison D’ Extra

Fort
w/ Fort Sherbert

Drinking Beer, Duh

Isn't that what this time of year is made for...



Red's Porch again. She had a Live Oak Hefeweizen. I had an Anchor Humming Ale.



See, it's glorious. Get out there.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Beer Movie



Can't understand a damn word, but I'd watch this any day over Beer Wars.

h/t: A Good Beer Blog

Friday, March 26, 2010

Happy Hour

Looking to have a good happy hour at the office? Apologies for those that don't have them. You should. Ingredients:



To warm them up.



To draw them in further.



To leave them happy.

Thursday, March 25, 2010



A secret source of mine said he found a bottle of this at Wheatsville Coop today. It was the last one though. Who else has seen it around town? Yeti is my favorite RIS. I NEED to try every version of this beer. The regular version is perfect, the oak aged is really good, the chocolate oak aged is hot and spicy, yet nice.....NEXT.

Left Hand's New Look

Left Hand is not my favorite brewery, not even in my top 5. But they do have some good stuff. Have you had their Russian Imperial Stout? It's stupendous. They've been rolling out their new labels lately. They sucked before. (Don't get me started on their website, blahhhh) They still are not great, but definitely an improvement. I saw these two yesterday at Central Market:





This beer is new to Austin, no? Who's had it? Thoughts?

These I have not yet spotted:



This is my favorite new label. Cows.




This I think is the worst. Good beer though.

h/t: beernews.org

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Got This Today



@ Central Market for $8.99. Piney at first. Then like sucking on a grapefruit rind. Good though. 20th anniversary worthy, hmmm, not for me. But good. BAers think otherwise.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Sierra Nevada is 30, Beer 1



This beer is out.
I got one at Central Market for $10. Like most special releases, the hype is hard to ignore. Can't fight the hype. Flame on.

www.sierra30.com

BJ/Stone Dinner - April 20 (Austin)



Thanks to Steve from All Good Beer for pointing this little jewel out to me. $30 - I think I just may go this one. Finally, a beer event just down the street from my new apartment. Oooo-eeee.

More info (other cities). The lineup:


SA Sampler Packs!



From their latest newsletter:
We're contemplating putting out a Saint Arnold sampler six pack or twelve pack in the future with each of our year-round beers and the current seasonal. We haven't decided which size to make it yet, but our bigger question is what to call it. If you have a name suggestion, feel free to email it to us!


Sweet action!

I Love This Beer



And I can not wait to try it from the bottle. And hold on to a few for a few (months at least).

I remember reading a critique of Thrasher Magazine a while back. The writer was complaining about the overall design of the magazine. But after picking it apart, he came to the conclusion that Thrasher does not really give a shit about design, it's about the content, the skateboarding. And that is how I try to think about beer. I complain a lot about labels and packaging. Many breweries have a good handle on their design, but I would say the majority have boring to downright gross labels/packaging. But ultimately it comes down to what is in the bottle, the content, the beer. Real Ale has got it goin' on with what's in the bottle, but their lables/packaging have always made my eyes hurt. They are the Thrasher of breweries.

And as you can see by the delicious design of this site, I am just the douchebag to be nitpicking about design.

h/t BTATWITTERWISE

Desperation or Diversification?




Images from here.


Probably both. Still, interesting.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

SXSWhat or Blame Game



I'm blamin the slow down on SXSW, Brooklyn Tallboys, my impending cold, being now in Brownsville for the weekend and finally, work. Standby.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

slainte ole

UPDATE:
Freetail has got some green beer for us:
Danny Mijo is on tap, we've got NATURAL green beer in Spirulina Wit (don't drink artificially colored crap beer!
NXNW too!
...authentic Irish cuisine, live music by Jeremy Steding & the Irish Curse & green beer!



I am gonna be the first beer blogger to embrace drinking green beer. Hey, it's only one day of the year. Let's all get down from our high beer horses and mix in with the rest of the crowd of philistines, tourists, troglodytes and jocks. If you can't commit all the way, just pinch a few drops of green food coloring into yr IPA and get loose.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Circle C Found a Home



Circle C just announced that they have found a location for their budding brewery. North Austin, nice. Spreading out the new brewers all over Austin. I approve. Photos of new place also at their blog.

Cool Kegs



It's a copy and paste kind of morning. So enjoy this bit of news from Sam at Flying Saucer:
We got some cool kegs in the cooler and its time to let em fly. I just tapped Mikkeller Tomahawk Single Hop IPA to kick off our new Burley Beer Monday. These beers will NOT be on our Pint Nite Special, but 50+ other brews will be! We also have Avery Czar being poured through a Randall with Espresso Beans this Thursday 3-18.

Upcoming Monday tappings:
3-15 Mikkeller Tomahawk Single Hop IPA
3-22 Mikkeller Amarillo Single Hop IPA
3-29 Bear Republic Apex IPA
4-5 Stone/Brewdog Bashah
4-12 Deschutes Jubel 2010 (Had it a Draught House already, and it was quite tasty)
4-19 Avery Collaboration not Litigation
4-26 Stone Oak Aged Bastard 09

Monday, March 15, 2010

BrewDog Tasting at Draught House



Draught House is hosting a tasting with BrewDog. Details at Beer Town Austin.

This Is Old



Last Sunday was Man Up Texas' Gettin' Sauced event.



40 sauces to taste. That is a lot of sauces. We did not like most, but maybe they would have been better slathered on some brisket or pork. A few were very tasty.



Free beer too from Saint Arnold. Win!

If you have not listened to it yet, check out BTA's Knockin' Em Back. I give a thorough and delicious wrap up of the event.

Friday, March 12, 2010

H&G



Some news and info from Hops & Grain via a press release (chopped up by me):

The brewery plans to occupy an industrial warehouse space in East Austin. …. With an initial maximum production capacity of 3,000 barrels, Hops and Grain plans to add equipment as necessary to increase production and meet demand with emphasis on controlled growth. Initial plans are to produce one ale that will be available in 12 oz. cans, and other ales and lagers available on draft and in seasonal 22 oz glass bottles. …. Monthly events will be held at the brewery with complimentary tastings and tours.

…. Providing craft beer in cans follows along with the brewery’s concern for our environmental impact and fits in with Austin’s environmentally conscious attitude. …. Cans provide countless benefits over glass and Hops and Grain is excited to provide our craft ales in cans. “With less waste and reduced shipping weight we minimize our carbon footprint and further our devotion to our core mission to provide a truly unique experience with the consumption of our craft products.”


With a relatively low start-­‐up cost and a large market of craft beer enthusiasts in Austin, Hops and Grain plans for a consistent return to each of its owner/investors. A passion for becoming a more sustainable business and innovative marketing and sales strategies will allow Hops and Grain to realize extensive growth in both the local and regional markets. Hops and Grain is seeking $250,000 in investment capital with $70,000 currently committed. …. Interested investors can request an investment offering packet from Josh Hare at
josh@hopsandgrain.com.


…. Each beer that is brewed and each batch of dog treats baked is made with sustainability in mind. In every aspect of production Hops and Grain is finding ways to make this craft friendlier to the environment. From recycling steam to using spent barley malt for dog treats, Hops and Grain understands the impact that each of us makes daily and makes business decisions with the environment in mind.

Come on people. Invest. I need and want more beer to drink.

Firkin Friday @ Draught House



The cask of dry hopped Mighty Arrow starts flowin' at 3pm today. Heard it here first.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Freetail Brewing @ CNN Money



In a story about the strength of craft beer (moneywise) on CNN Money's website, Freetail Brewing gets some good coverage and a pretty photo of their La Muerta to boot.
"There's an overall trend in the U.S. for people to speak out for better quality stuff in general -- foods, wine, beer, clothes, produce -- and more local products," agreed Metzger. "That's typically what's embodied by the craft brewery."

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Inedit in Austin



You know the story behind this beer. Remember, I wrote about it last year:
“The idea was to make a beer to drink with food, from a wineglass”
Hello, the Belgians have been doing that for centuries. How can such a genius chef say such a dumb thing. Seriously. This guy is the top of the top. Is he really oblivious to the world of good beer? Or did he just want something unique for his restaurant?

The review on BeerAdvocate are mixed. I think that is a good thing. Still, an average beer, for what has been the "world's best restaurant" for years.

(shaking my head)
Wow, my blog was way better last year. Anway, just wanted to let you all know, if you did not know already, that it has finally arrived in Austin. Saw it at Specs's on Brodie today.

15th Annual Yarddog Throwdown At SXSW





Beer art and 60 Minute IPA, ok, sounds good. I've moved on since the ole days of skate art and 40 ounces of anything cold. Actually, that still sounds pretty awesome.

SXSW Six Pack




Original content for yah. Patrick Beach and friends sample some of the finer things in life. A rundown of their blind taste test:

The SXSW six-pack

• Lone Star: 'Real light, thin finish. Hints of regret and sadness.'

• Busch: 'The head looks like my kid's tub water when they sneak shampoo in to make a bubble bath. Sweet as rock candy from Lammes. Miller Lite?'

• Budweiser: 'Tastes like horrible . Day after = worst gas ever.'

• Pabst Blue Ribbon: 'A little body. But skunky, too. Miller High Life.'

• Miller High Life: 'No distinct flavor ... Tastes like a three-day weekend on the beach in high school.'

• Coors Light: 'Astringent. Would rather drink some really bad promo cocktail… Old Milwaukee?'

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Growlers Now Available at Whip In



Kind of pricey, no? I thought TX was supposed to be cheaper than NYC. What are the prices like around town? Draught House, Uncle Billy's, NXNW, etc.?

http://whipin.com/growlers.htm

Monday, March 8, 2010

(512) Brewing Spring Open House

Just received this from (512):



Unfortunately I'll be sipping on micheladas in Brownsville that weekend.

Shock and Awe! aka Flying Dog Events at SXSW 2010

Beer Town Austin just put this up as well. I almost said forget it, they put it up first, but you know what, NO. Don't they know copy and posting newsletters is my gig. And I think that is what this falls under. There you go folks. A good 'ole fashion blog war.

And I copied this bit straight from them:

JT from Flying Dog just put this out there.

Looks fun.

I’m looking forward to the Raging Bitch. Supposed to be a Belgian style IPA. I like those.

See you there.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

FS 200

So I finally reached 200 beers at Flying Saucer.



Plate on the wall. Free-ish advertisement.



They made me stand on the bar which was embarrassing, but anything for a $100 tab.



Us.



We did most of the work. Next stop = 400.

Stone Skips Across the Pond | Full version

For your weekend viewing pleasure, Stone Skips Across the Pond:

Stone Skips Across the Pond | Full version from stonebrew on Vimeo.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Beer Flashback #2

This flashback come from before I had any blogs: October 2004. Our visit to Brooklyn Brewery.



I am going to say this, but I am not sure if I am correct: Brooklyn Brewery was my first ever brewery visit, unless you count Anheuser Busch at the Busch Gardens in Tampa. These pictures suck.



Sofia pullin' the ol' drinking from the fermenter gag.



The Brooklyn Brewery tour is basically: walk into one room, this is this, this is that, now go have a beer. At least, that is how i remember it. The Brooklyn Brown Ale was good as ever. You are supposed to get one beer, but you can pretty much continue walking up and getting more (back then).

Firkin Friday @ Draught House



Tappin' it today at 3pm sharp. And it might be oak aged....



They also have a cask of this.

What's yr excuse for not being there?

Thursday, March 4, 2010

AUSTIN HOMEBREW SUPPLY Reopening Party



Austin Homebrew Supply
moved to a larger space. I don't homebrew, but still like to browse their store once in awhile. I hope they have a better sign.

Yeah, yeah, hat tip to these guys.

Thirsty Planet Fixin' to Unleash

Thirsty Planet popped up out of nowhere. They have a nice website. That is all I can tell you. But thanks to Liquid Austin and Beer Town Austin, we now have much more info on our newest purveyor of our favorite beverage.



From Liquid Austin:
They’ve done such a good job of keeping things quiet that they’re maybe three weeks away from brewing their first batches, with getting beer out the door in maybe six. Expect a draft-only operation for the first 60-90 days, with bottles to follow. The first beers to roll out with be Yellow Armadillo Wheat, Buckethead IPA and Thirsty Goat Amber.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking, that those don’t sound terribly adventurous — and adventurous is exactly what we need more of? I asked them about that. Brian notes that the IPA will have 75 International Bittering Units, enough to satisfy any hophead, his wife included. “I like IPAs that take the enamel off my teeth,” Tammy says. Brian also has intriguing ideas about brewing with chipotles and Hatch chiles.



From Beer Town Austin:
Currently, they own a very large brewery with room to expand into bottling very soon. And besides the first three beers, Brian plans to utilize their large and hostpitable tasting room as a laboratory for various experimental brews he plans to churn out on his 5 barrel pilot system. He mentioned trying some more exotic styles including smoked porters, double IPAs, fruit beers, beers with brettanomyces, and various local ingredients. He hopes to cultivate a brewpub type atmosphere at the tasting room to share beers and receive feedback. In addition to the large tasting room, they plan to develop an outside bier garten for outside drinking, local music, and cyclist recouping (this place will be an excellent biking destination). Brian mentioned he’d like to keep the tasting room open multiple times a week to encourage more of a brewer/drinker relationship.