Stay clear of HEB on NYE

HEB was a madhouse tonight, but I saw and passed up (for now) these new beers:

I can't wait to try this one.

Thoughts on this one?

They had Red Hook's new spring ale. I don't think it is their regular Copperhook, the label said it was a Nut Brown ale. But I can't remember the specific name. Investigate that for me, will yah?

NYE

A quiet evening (except when Santiago is screaming) with the wife and AleSmith's Grand Cru.

Happy New Year!

Jester King Brewery Plans

Ambitious. More info here.

Shiner 101 - Czech Style Pilsner

More info at Texas Beer

And like I say with all new Shiner beers: Please be good. Please be good. Please be good. Please be good.

Speaking of SS Buried Hatchet

From their website:

Hatchet's Here!!!!

The Buried Hatchet Stout cans have finally arrived and we are filling them as fast as possible. The first shipment is scheduled to go out later today (December 23) and should be hitting the shelves of one store by tomorrow. I can’t tell you what store that is, but suffice to say it is south of us at the major bunny store. Other bunny stores should be seeing this product mid next week, with wider distribution happening after the new year. Thanks for everyone’s patience with us concerning this beer. It took a while, but after many, many hurdles, it’s finally here!!!

FYI: Bunny Stores = SPECS!!!!!!

So I am drinking a 2009 Deschutes Abyss. It is good. Realllllllly good. And it is reminding me of another beer. Something local(ish).

That is right. As I drink the Abyss, SS Buried Hatchet keeps poppin into my mind. I've only had Buried Hatchet on draught, but the beers seem very "alike." I can't wait till BH comes out in cans. I plan on saving at least one to compare to my other bottle of Abyss next Thanksgiving.

Go Texas!

Brew Dog/Stone Bashah

Black. Belgian. Double. IPA.

Hittin Austin and beyond soon.

Eric's Ale to be Bottled

Have you had this on tap? It's good.

(Fort Collins, CO) – New Belgium Brewing will introduce two more beers in bottles next year (perhaps more) when they add Eric’s Ale, a previously draft-only product, and Belgian-style Blond Ale to the Lips of Faith bottle series. La Folie 2010 will also don a slightly different look.

Wow, I sure am happy that beernews.org exists...

Stone to Open Euro Brewery....

Stone to open a Brewery in Europe? from stonebrew on Vimeo.

See more here.

My Christmas Morning

Beered from Aaron Chamberlain on Vimeo.

Rumor Mill

Is a turning.....

Happy Christmas and All That

See you in a week or so. Maybe I'll post sporadically, but probably not.

(512) Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter!

Photo: (512)

From (512) Brewing:

Our first barrel project is in kegs and on it’s way to beer bars around Austin. This is a bigger, bolder version of our mainstay Pecan Porter, with a richer finish. Two months on recently emptied Jack Daniels select barrels imparted a wonderful vanilla character from the oak and a pleasant amount of whiskey nose and flavor. All in all, I’m really proud of the hard work and effort put into this beer. Our first attempt at brewing it and our first attempt at managing barrels has paid off for everyone! Seek out this beer, but don’t put it off. There is a very limited number of kegs available and it might go fast….

Saint Arnold Tours Back On

FIRST TOUR AT THE NEWERY THIS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19

Yes, we got the permit we needed at 4:59 PM this afternoon (Friday) so we are having our first tour of the new brewery tomorrow, Saturday, December 19.

At least for tomorrow and possibly the first few Saturdays, we are going to change up the format to make it an open house. We will open the doors and the taps at 10 AM. Admission will be $7 and will include the souvenir tasting glass. You will be limited to the same 4 samples. Although the space is larger, our official capacity is limited so we will be rotating people through all day so as many people can visit as possible. We have about as many tables as we did at the old place, and pretty much all of the same rules apply as before.

We will be allowing the last people to enter sometime between 1:30 and 2:00 PM. We will be kicking the last people out at around 3:30 PM.

If we reach capacity, people will have to wait outside until some people leave.

We having parking at the lot northwest of the brewery and after that it is street parking.

We will be feeling our way along on this so feel free to give us feedback. Ultimately, we want to make sure you have a great time visiting here.

I saw the review of Beer Cloud at Beertown Austin. I though, oh cool, I'll download that for my ipod touch. HA, not gonna happen. It only works on the iphone. Stupid ipod touch.



Yesterday we were over my cousin's house for a Christmas party. We made pizzas. And for Christmas she gave me sampler pack from Unibroue (THANKS!). What a great time to use Beer Cloud. I grabbed her iphone and downloaded the program. Looked up the four beers and discovered La Fin Du Monde is great with pizza. Beer Cloud was right, but I am sure all of the beers would have worked as well.

touch is weird word. Look at it. Strange.

Erect a Giant Stein?

Go for it. I am all for it. Why not?

Like me, Sierra Nevada is 30

What is this all about?

Find out here.

Chico, CA (12/14/09)—Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. will mark 2010 with a yearlong celebration of the trailblazing brewers who helped transform America into the world’s most exciting brewing nation. Next year is the 30th anniversary for the Chico-based brewery, and Sierra Nevada is teaming up with the founders of the movement to benefit select charities and beer drinkers across the country.

March of 2010 will see the first of four beers in a series of collaborative projects with America’s craft-brewing pioneers: Fritz Maytag of Anchor Brewing; Jack McAuliffe, founder of New Albion Brewery; and authors, homebrewers, and beer advocates Fred Eckhardt, and Charlie Papazian. Together, this group is credited as ‘the men who launched a thousand breweries;’ and without them, our current day craft-beer-renaissance might never have happened.

Texas Best Burger - Part 3

Remember when I said I am going to eat my way through all of Texas Monthly’s 50 BEST HAMBURGERS IN TEXAS? Well I am still working on it. It's been awhile, but I am back at it.

It is my pleasure to introduce you to Burger Tex II's Bulgogi Burger. She's sure aint pretty, but she's damn tasty. Ok, damn tasty is a bit much, she's tasty. And spicy. I had them make it a 2 out of 3, spicewise. From Texas Monthly:

The tender beef has been audaciously marinated in soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil, but what really makes it unique is that it’s thinly sliced rather than ground...The bulgogi sauce is a hot, coral-colored blend featuring roasted garlic and onions.

Sofia couldn't handle the spice and got a normal burger. Boring. The Bulgogi burger is good, but it is not what I am looking for in a burger. Sofia's boring burger was actually much better. And she made it better with the addition of avocado. That girl is a genius! Even though the Bulgogi did not deliver for me, the korean spiciness was nice. I can't believe this was so high on the list (#14). The search continues....

As far as I know, Burger Tex does not serve beer. Luckily I had Chris' spicy Holiday homebrew to sip on. It didn't really go well with the burger (I think the spices were clashing), but it made a nice dessert.

Avery Black Tot

http://beernews.org/2009/12/avery-black-tot-release-details/

Flying Saucer Christmas Party - this Thursday

5 SPECIAL KEGS, what a tease. I will most definitely certainly possibly be there.

Hops & Grain Tasting

I was not there, Beertown Austin was. Check, check, check it out.

Brooklyn Black What!

Speculation abounds... and I like it.

Hops & Grain Tasting Tonight - Reminder

More Boulevard, Seriously

These guys are going at full-tilt these days. From beernews.org:

Boulevard Brewing is planning to release the Imperial Pilsner it brewed in collaboration with Jean Marie Rock, Orval Brewmaster, early next year. Hayden has been told it will be in January.

The beer is part of the Boulevard Smokestack Series line available in 750 mL’s. No word yet on how widely available this beer will be. 8% ABV.

Who ain't startin' a brewery in Austin(ish)?

Well, there is me and my wife. Other than that everyone seems to be all in. Pedernales Brewing Co. is percolating out there somewhere. The above labels are all I've seen or heard of from them. As always, good luck to them. I am glad for anyone that throws there hat into the brewing ring.



UPDATE: Wort's Going On Here? pointed this out.

Shiner Frost

This could be interesting.

Flying Now at the Saucer - Life and Limb

They got one keg and they are tapping it today, Saturday.

Also happening at the Saucer coming up next week(copied from calender):

BARLEYWINE

Beer Dinner

$35 for members

$40 for non members

Monday @7pm

Top 25 Beers of 2009 from Wine Enthusiast

Ok, Wine Enthusiast, we'll check it out. See full list here.

Now this is happening

The reviews look good. Truthfully, I've never been a huge fan of wheat wines, but with Boulevard's track record, I gotta give it a shot.

Shiner 100 Bottle Salute

Hops & Grain Brewery (and Biscuit Bakers) - Austin

They want to make you beer and make your dog biscuits.

They are having a tasting next week:



Hat tip: jsprad

These are here too

Screw you beer budget! Yr killing me.



I saw this at Whole Foods for $12 (for 750ml I think). I would not mind trying it, but will never spend that much for a Blue Moon product.

Life and Limb

Should be hitting Austin this week. At least that is what the Brodie Spec's is spittin. I believe 'em.

http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/collaborations/life-limb.htm

Flix Brewhouse coming to Round Rock

Another reason we should not being moving to South Austin come February. Oh well. Set to open summer 2010, the plan is to have six movie screens and six taps of house brewed beer (32 taps total). Sounds go0d to me.

http://flixbrewhouse.com

DR9 Day, Part Dos

BeerAdvocate Reviews

Rate Beer Reviews

Liquid Austin Review

DR9 Day

Photo from @saintarnold.

I picked up two sixers during my lunch break. Looking forward to popping one open this afternoon.

I'll link to the reviews as they come in. Lee from I Love Beer is loving it.

Saint Arnold DR#9

Tomorrow is the big day for number nine in the SA Divine Reserve series. I am really excited about this one. Get em quick! A few hints from Frank:

While the usual fine beer stores will be getting the Divine Reserve #9 this week-Spec's, CMkt's, Whip, Whole Foods, Grapevine, etc., here's a few spots you might not check as well as a few new ones that will get some this week:

Spec's Bee Caves/71-they are open now!
Spec's-Bastrop
HEB Brodie
HEB on Hwy 79 in RRk
Oak Hill Liquor
Live Oak Market
Twin Liquor-Hancock
Hyde Park Mini Mart
Wiggy's on 6th
Farm to Market-S. Congress

Good Luck and be nice out there!
(on tap-Dig Pub, Saucer, Draught House, Gman, Whip In)

Happy Thanksgiving aka Boca Baby

I am here in Boca Raton visiting family, so the blogging will be a little slow for the next few days. But you shouldn't be reading the internets anyway, go carve the turkey!

This is what I picked up yesterday at Total Wine:

That dude (JLC) is my great, great uncle (or something like that).

NXNW Sour

NXNW Sour
Originally uploaded by aaronchamberlain

NXNW's current sour ale. I know nothing of it. It was tasty though. Not as good as their Barton Kriek, but still quite solid.

A Good Beer Blog: The 2009 Yule Beer Blog Photo Contest

One of my favorite beer blogs is starting up its yearly photo contest. Have you entered ye? I have.