Euro Beer #26: Continental

In the fall of 2007 my wife and I traveled through Europe for 10 weeks. We ate a lot of food and drank of a lot of beer (and wine). Not enough food, not enough beer. In Paris:



We were frustrated and a bit tired (too much touristing). We did not want to go back to our host’s apartment yet. We decided to get a drink before heading back. Easier said than done. I hate looking for a bar in an unfamiliar country . . . it’s the worst. We settled at the Continental and in the end it was ok, I guess. I have no idea where it is, but don’t worry, there are better places in Paris to get a beer. I had a Kronenburg, which was refreshing. Sofia had a red wine, not a good choice. Always get bottled beer in weird bars.

We left happier.

For more euro foodage and drinkage, go here.



Sightseeing, look at that bird. What a capture!

Ahhhhh Shit

An abysmal failure:



I was able to snag a bottle of Abyss at the downtown Whole Foods during my lunch break. Dropped my bag and BOOM! Shit. There were only four left, it would have been wrong to go in and try to buy another bottle. Idiot.



There still might be some stout pouring down the Austin streets. Bring a sponge.

Saint Arnold Austin Scavenger Hunt

Ok, you have until Sunday to turn in your photos. Get on it. Actually don't, we want to win the kegerator. So don't go around drinking good beers and taking photos of yourself and get invited to a party with a chance to win a kegerator—let us handle it. More info here.

Euro Beer #25: Random Parisian Cafe and a German Beer

In the fall of 2007 my wife and I traveled through Europe for 10 weeks. We ate a lot of food and drank of a lot of beer (and wine). Not enough food, not enough beer. Finally out of Brussels and in Paris:



We loved Brussels. We loved Paris. Right off the train we met a friend (Greg), who was working in Paris, for a coffee and a chat. Our meeting spot was some random cafe. It did the trick.



I had a beer. A Warsteiner pilsner I guess. Whatever. Sofia and Greg had coffee. Sofia stole some of my beer. Greg entertained us with stories of his struggles to order a double espresso in French at his local cafe.

For more euro foodage and drinkage, go here.



Notre Dame later that night. Our host took us for a night driving tour of Paris after feeding us. Too nice.



ND Rose Window (this was actually a few days later).



The next day — spot checkin' at the Louvre. Where is Rowley?

Hopfields Opens Tomorrow, Softly

Cat is out of the bag. See you tomorrow. And this is what they will have on offer.

Saint Arnold Sailing Santa

Bombers coming soon. Like Monday.

Euro Beer #24 - Brasserie Cantillon Brouwerij

In the fall of 2007 my wife and I traveled through Europe for 10 weeks. We ate a lot of food and drank of a lot of beer (and wine). Not enough food, not enough beer. One more in Brussels:



Ok, I lied. I forgot about Cantillon. This was where we had our last beer in Brussels. We stopped by on the way to the train station for a tour and some tastings. Love this place.



Empty coolship.





Funkin.





Brasserie Cantillon Brouwerij
Rue Gheude 56
Brussels

Now off to Paris.

Bike pub crawling photos

Euro Beer #22 & 23: Cafe Rosasse and Host's Home

In the fall of 2007 my wife and I traveled through Europe for 10 weeks. We ate a lot of food and drank of a lot of beer (and wine). Not enough food, not enough beer. Let's just wrap up Brussels now:



But we did not want to be disappointed by some dumb tourist trap. Brussels has many of those. So the entire time we were there we searched and searched for a suitable spot. Our last night we in town we threw up our hands and decided we would stop into the next decent joint we saw. Cafe Rosasse was were we ended up. Not bad. Those are my frites.



We both had beers from Charles Quint (Blonde and Rouge). Nice enough.

Cafe Rosasse
Rue haute 1
Brussels



Later we had a Westmalle Dubbel (so good, a constant favorite) and Grimberden Dubbel (ok) at our host’s home. He had left for Argentina (I think) and was kind enough to let us stay on another night without him there. His hospitality was one our most favorite things about Brussels.

For more euro foodage and drinkage, go here.

A Sunday Bike Ride with Craft Austin and BeerTown Austin

I'm really sick of those BTA guys. They keep getting me involved in shit. First it was the Austin Beer Guide. Now they keep roping me into events with them for Austin Beer Week. Dudes, I just want to enjoy the week and drink some beer. LEAVE ME ALONE.

But still, you should come bike with us (and these other things):

SUNDAY 10-23 THE ULTIMATE FANBOY BIKE PUB CRAWL OFF STRIKES MFin’ BACK

Yes, the most popular event (in our opinion) of Austin Beer Week 2010 returns with a lazy, last minute, procrastinatin’, lackadaisical MFin’ attitude. And by lazy, I mean that we’ve trimmed this crawl down to only three stops, yeah, lazy. Less bike, more pub for your money!

3ish PM FLYING SACUER > 4ISH PM DRAUGHT HOUSE (for the MFin’ Beer’ Olympics!) > 6ish PM BILLY’S ON BURNET (time to replenish those calories lost to biking with MFin’ COBRAS)

Bring cash, IDs, bikes, and bad attitudes!

ABG Fall Cover, Release Party Info

There it is. That is what you look for, starting next week.

The first release of this issue will occur a week from today. We are throwing a party at the Draught House. The party will also serve as the kick off for Hops & Grain, who will be pouring their beer for the first time that night. Buy a Hops & Grain beer and you get a free BeerTown Austin "Selleck" stache pint glass. We will also be giving away free swag we picked up at GABF. People love free stuff. See you on the 26th at 5pm.

Austin Beer Week event page

Recent Beers

Nothing wild. Been working a lot on fall Austin beer guide. Tons of Oktoberfest.

Draught House 43rd Anniversary Party - THE LIST

The party is happening Saturday 10/22 from 1-10 PM, kicking off Austin Beer Week (more on that later). Check out this good stuff from DH :

Our 43rd Anniversary Party with a nice selection of craft cellared, soured, barrel aged, cask and otherwise fun beers. Food from Sugar Shack BBQ. Music from the massive vinyl collection of DJ JBL.

[Partial List]

KEG
(512) Whiskey Double Pecan Porter
Brooklyn 2007 Monster
Brooklyn 2009 Black Chocolate Stout
Deschutes Jubel 2010
Deschutes Black Butte XXIII
Draught Folie - a sour we blended at New Belgium
Independence Oak Aged Anniversary Ale
Jester King Wine Barrel Commercial Suicide - gravity keg
Jester King Boxers Revenge Wild Provision Ale - gravity keg
Jester King Das Wunderkind! Wild Table Beer - gravity keg
Jester King Farmhouse Black Metal
Jester King Farmhouse Wytchmaker
Live Oak Old Treehugger
New Belgium Ooh La La
New Belgium Vrienden
Rahr La Grange Saison
Real Ale WT3F?!
Sierra Nevada Brewer's Reserve Grand Cru
Sierra Nevada Ovila Saison
Southern Star Double Dry Hopped Pro-Am Cascadian Dark Ale
Twisted X Senor Viejo
Victory Helios Saison

FIRKINS
(512) IPA dry "hopped" with apricots
Austin Beerworks Fire Eagle IPA
Bear Republic Pete Brown
Bear Republic Racer 5
Great Divide Yeti - with a twist
Green Flash Imperial IPA
Lagunitas Dogtown Pale Ale
Lagunitas Maximus
Left Hand Milk Stout - with a twist
Ranger Creek Jerky Mesquite Smoker Porter - made with real jerky!
Real Ale Lost Gold IPA

Euro Beer #21: A la Mort Subite (Again)

In the fall of 2007 my wife and I traveled through Europe for 10 weeks. We ate a lot of food and drank of a lot of beer (and wine). Not enough food, not enough beer. Still tripping around in Brussels:



Golly, still in Brussels? I thought we were done here. Nope, guess not. Back to A la Mort Subite. I love this place.



Sofia had the gueze and I ordered the biggest faro available. Sofia's looks bigger in this photo, but the faro (back) was actually much larger.

For more euro foodage and drinkage, go here.

A la Mort Subite
rue Montagne-aux-Herbes Potagères 7
Brussels



Sightseeing.

(512) Brewing 3rd Anniversary Open House

What: Fall Open House and release of (512) THREE. See below for tons of details.

When: Saturday, October 8, 1pm-5pm

Where: (512) Brewing Co., 407 Radam, F200

Much more info from (512):

Come taste the NEW (512) THREE Belgian Style Tripel

Get two free tastes. Buy a new Limited Edition (512) 3rd Anniversary Glass for $10 and we'll use your new glass as the tasting glass. Cash and checks only please.

Bring one non perishable items to benefit Bastrop county fire victims and receive one additional free beer ticket.

We will be projecting the TEXAS/OU Game

PARKING - PLEASE CARPOOL AND DESIGNATE A DRIVER!!! - PARKING
Please try and park in lots near the brewery before parking in the neighborhood across from the brewery. Suggested lots: Bender Bar (turn north just east of the brewery on Radam - EAT THERE AFTERWARDS! St John’s Lutheran Church (easiest access is from East bound Ben White Access Road) We will also be parking cars perpendicular to Radam in the grassy area near the entrance (see parking attendant). Please do not park illegally in the neighborhood, as cars will be TOWED Please observe our neighbor’s parking signs (this makes up 4 or 5 spots in total)

TAKE THE BUS!
Ride Capital Metro to the SOUTH CONGRESS TRANSIT CENTER and walk west on Radam
http://www.capmetro.org/planner/

Children are welcome, but they must be supervised at all times.

Texas Wins 4 Medals at GABF, 3 for Austin

GABF was fun. Duh, right? It was really fun for these guys:



Congratulations to NXNW, Austin Beerworks, Uncle Billy's and Humperdink's. Well deserved.

Small Gloat

Austin Monthly included Austin Beer Guide in October's HOT LIST! I think it's fitting we are in the "Beauty" Issue. I've never seen a more beautiful group of dudes.

More real blogging later. I promise.

TCBF - Special Brew Tapping Schedule

Tomorrow is the big day. The Texas Craft Brewers Festival! There will be plenty of beer to be had, but below is the limited, SPECIAL beer list and tapping times. Plan accordingly:

1:00 pm
Ranger Creek Brett-Barrel La Bestia Aimable
(Belgian-style dark strong ale)-Aged for 6 months in oak with 3 strains of Brettanomyces sp. giving characteristics of leather, fig, oak, tobacco, cherry, and subtle earthy horse blanket. 9.4%

1:30 pm
(512) Pale - Dry hopped with Apollo - cask-conditioned firkin - 5.8% ABV

2:00 pm
Real Ale Empire- IPA aged in American oak wine barrels for seven months - ABV 6.6%

2:30 pm
Jester King Black Metal Imperial Stout (whiskey/oak)
Pitch black with huge notes of chocolate, roast, coffee, burnt malt and alcohol balanced by aggressive hop bitterness. Cask-conditioned firkin with oak cubes soaked in Tennessee whiskey. 10.4% ABV

3:00 pm
Live Oak Wet Hop Oaktoberfest - cask-conditioned firkin - 5.8% ABV

3:30 pm
St. Arnold Divine Reserve No. 11 - Double IPA - cask-conditioned firkin - 8.9% ABV

4:00 pm
Austin Beerworks Mr. Falcon - Yipee, Ki, Yay. cask-conditioned firkin - 5.9% ABV

4:30 pm
Real Ale Morgul Ale- Another recent addition to the Mysterium Verum line. Our Porter (sans coffee) aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels for 7 months - ABV 5.6%

5:00 pm
(512) Double IPA - cask-conditioned firkin - 9% ABV

5:30 pm
Jester King Wytchmaker Rye IPA (whiskey/oak) -Wytchmaker Rye IPA cask-conditioned firkin with oak cubes soaked in Tennessee whiskey - 7.0% ABV

Euro Beer #20: Westvleteren 12

In the fall of 2007 my wife and I traveled through Europe for 10 weeks. We ate a lot of food and drank of a lot of beer (and wine). Not enough food, not enough beer. Still tripping around in Brussels:



Beer has come a long way (even since 2007). Westvleteren 12 was back then, and even now mostly, considered the best beer in the world. I bought one in Brussels. I should have bought more. But again, we were still being cheap; it was still early in our trip.



We drank it at our host's apartment. It was good. The photo, not so good.

Here is some other stuff we did the following day:



Coffee and croissants at Gusti D'Italia. It was quite pleasant until a delivery truck came up and idled by us for 5 minutes. That was not so pleasant.



Then we went walking in the forest. I was the tour guide.



On our walk we scarfed some of our Pierre Marcolini chocolates (do not click this link unless you want an insane web experience). So fancy.



Then Oups for soups. This place is awesome. Definitely go here if you are ever in Brussels.



My soup. I got a big bowl. Sofia got two small bowls. I win.

Cheap Beer at CM

You know the deal. It's your favorite local beer deal. This seems to pop up more and more. But it probably doesn't. Go stock up.

BEER SALE!

10% Off Beer Purchases $5.00-$9.99
20% Off Beer Purchases $10.00-$24.99
25% Off Beer Purchases $25 and Up

Brewtopia at Central Market: WESTGATE

As promised, below are the Brewtopia events happening at the Westgate Central Market:

Wednesday, September 14, 2011
4 – 7 p.m. Breckenridge Brewery, Sampling in the Beer Department
Todd Usry, Brew Master
Cost: Free

Thursday, September 15, 2011
4 – 7 p.m. Woodchuck Cider, Sampling in the Beer Department
Regional Representative
Cost: Free

Pyramid & Magic Hat Brewery, Sampling in the Beer Department
Regional Representative
Cost: Free

Boston Beer Company, Sampling in the Beer Department
Local Representative
Cost: Free

Friday, September 16, 2011
4 – 7 p.m. Real Ale Brewing Company, Sampling in the Beer Department
Local Representative
Cost: Free

Saturday, September 17, 2011
1 – 4 p.m. Brewery Ommegang, Sampling in the Beer Department
Representative
Cost: Free

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Sampling in the Beer Department
Local Representative Cost: Free

Sunday, September 18, 2011
1 – 4 p.m. Rahr & Sons Brewing Company, Sampling in the Beer Department
Fritz Rahr, Owner and Brew Master
Cost: Free

Tuesday, September 20, 2011
4 – 7 p.m. New Belgium Brewing, Sampling in the Beer Department
Local Representative
Cost: Free

Wednesday, September 21, 2011
4 – 7 p.m. Lagunitas Brewing Company, Sampling in the Beer Department
Regional Representative
Cost: Free

Thursday, September 22, 2011
4 – 6 p.m. Alamo Beer Company, Sampling in the Beer Department
Eugene Simor, Founder and Owner
Cost: Free

4 – 7 p.m. Original Sin Cider, Sampling in the Beer Department
Gidon Coll, Owner
Cost: Free

Friday, September 23, 2011
4 – 6 p.m. Brooklyn Brewery, Sampling in the Beer Department
Regional Representative
Cost: Free

4 – 7 p.m. Original Sin Cider, Sampling in the Beer Department
Gidon Coll, Owner
Cost: Free

Saturday, September 24, 2011
4 – 7 p.m. Harpoon Brewery, Sampling in the Beer Department
Local Representative
Cost: Free

Napa Smith Brewery, Sampling in the Beer Department
Don Barkley, Brew Master
Cost: Free

Monday, September 26, 2011
1 – 4 p.m. Real Ale Brewing Company, Sampling in the Beer Department
Brad Farbstein, Owner and Brew Master
Cost: Free

Brewtopia 2011: NORTH LAMAR

Brewtopia is back at Central Market, well it will be next week. September 14-27. Nothing mind melting for beer nerds, but some solid events lined up. Obviously geared towards the average CM shopper. Duh. Still, worth checking out. Below are the events happening at the North Lamar location. Get yr calender out and make your plans. I'll post Westgate events later:

Wednesday, September 14, 2011
4 – 7 p.m. Woodchuck Cider, Sampling in the Beer Department
Regional Representative
Cost: Free

Pyramid & Magic Hat Brewery, Sampling in the Beer Department
Regional Representative
Cost: Free

Thursday, September 15, 2011
4 – 7 p.m. Breckenridge Brewery, Sampling in the Beer Department
Todd Usry, Brew Master
Cost: Free

Boston Beer Company, Sampling in the Beer Department
Local Representative
Cost: Free

Friday, September 16, 2011
4 – 7 p.m. North Coast Brewing Company, Beer & Cheese pairing in the Beer Department
Tom Allen, Founder and Vice President
Cost: Free

6:30 – 9 p.m. A Night in Germany: Featuring Traditional Recipes Paired with Beers and Ales, Cooking Class in the Cooking School
Cindy Haenel, CM Cooking School Instructor
Cost: $45

Saturday, September 17, 2011
1 – 4 p.m. Rahr & Sons Brewing Company, Sampling in the Beer Department
Fritz Rahr, Owner and Brew Master
Cost: Free

Sunday, September 18, 2011
1 – 4 p.m. Brewery Ommegang, Sampling in the Beer Department
Representative
Cost: Free

Mendocino & Butte Creek Brewing, Sampling in the Beer Department
Local Representative
Cost: Free

11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Smoke & Beer, Cooking Class in the Cooking School
Amanda Wright, CM Cooking School Instructor
Jeremy Wright, Grillmaster
Cost: $50


Monday, September 19, 2011
4 – 7 p.m. New Belgium Brewing, Sampling in the Beer Department
Local Representative
Cost: Free

Tuesday, September 20, 2011
4 – 7 p.m. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Sampling in the Beer Department
Terence Sullivan, Brew Master
Cost: Free

Wednesday, September 21, 2011
4 – 7 p.m. Lagunitas Brewing Company, Sampling in the Beer Department
Regional Representative
Cost: Free

Thursday, September 22, 2011
4 – 6 p.m. Brooklyn Brewery, Sampling in the Beer Department
Regional Representative
Cost: Free

4 – 7 p.m. Original Sin Cider, Sampling in the Beer Department
Gidon Coll, Owner
Cost: Free

Friday, September 23, 2011
4 – 7 p.m. Harpoon Brewery, Sampling in the Beer Department
Local Representative
Cost: Free

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Sampling in the Beer Department
Local Representative
Cost: Free

6:30 – 9 p.m. Easy Indian Favorites Paired with Ales & Beers, Cooking Class in the Cooking School
Chaya Rao, Vegetarian Chef & Food Blogger
Cost: $50

Saturday, September 24, 2011
1 – 4 p.m. Real Ale Brewing Company, Sampling in the Beer Department
Brad Farbstein, Owner and Brew Master
Cost: Free

6:30 – 9 p.m. Brewtopia with Real Ale, Cooking Class in the Cooking School
Scot Loranc, CM Cooking School Instructor
Cost: $50

Monday, September 26, 2011
6:30 – 9 p.m. Cooking with Beer, Cooking Class in the Cooking School
Christina Lee and Amanda Wright, CM Cooking School Instructors
Cost: $45

GABF Pep Rally

I'm going to the Great American Beer Festival at the end of this month. To get the masses excited, we have been running a series of short interviews over at Austin Beer Guide. We are calling it GABF Pep Rally. Check it out. More to come throughout the month.