Euro Beer #14 - Brussels Skatepark

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 Brussels:



Euro Beer #14 - Brussels Skatepark

Food and beer (and wine) was big part of our euro trip, but I also tried to squeeze in at least a few minutes of skateboarding in each city. Brussels has a skatepark pretty much in the dead center of town. It is small and not very interesting, but still fun. Before hitting the park we picked up some Jupilers and sandwich stuff. Jupiler ain't the best beer, but it is a good skate beer. Any maco beer in a tall can is a skate beer—basically, mostly water. And it washed down that crappy sandwich perfectly.

For more euro foodage and drinkage, go here.



Beer-n-sandwich-fueled mediocre skateboarding.



It was gloomy most of the time in Brussels, but it didn't bother us.

Twisted X Siesta

Keg collar label for Twisted X's Siesta just popped up on Beernews.org. I love a prickly pear, just hope this one is not going to be suupper sweet.

My worries apparently are for naught:

This is a new concept beer Tex Mex lager infused with real prickly pear - the color is definitely unique, but it's all beer with a light citrus back flavor (nothing sweet about this one) - coming soon !

Central Market Beer Sale

Stock up for July 4th and beyond.

Adelbert's Brewery Update

Adelbert's Brewery recently posted some new photos of their growing brewery. As always, follow the action here.





The bottling line.

Whip In Gets a Brewhouse

From Twisted X.

Circle Brewing's EPIC Open House

RSVP at their FB event page.

Beer and Skateboarding

Beer and Skateboarding are my two favorite things. I was gonna rip this off and do it myself, but then realized I probably can't do six tricks anymore. I got about three and I love em. Also, after two beers I couldn't ollie up a curb (maybe a small one). Ok before I lose you on this skate talk, watch this. Oh, and this is irresponsible drinking, but I'm ok with that. Sometimes:



I love Gravette.

The Texas Craft Brewers Festival

Happening Saturday, September 24, 2-9pm at Fiesta Gardens in Austin. The Texas Craft Brewers Guild is putting it on. No other details at this moment, feelers are out. Will post more info as it becomes available.

Maui Brewing Tap Takeover at Draught House

From DH:

This Friday 5 of our taps will be taken over by Maui Brewing Company . We will be pouring the Coconut Porter, Imperial Coconut Porter , Mana Wheat , Big Swell IPA , and Double Overhead IPA .Glasses will be available with some of their beers, and Maui Brewing Co. owner Garrett Marrero will be present from 6-9 pm to answer any questions abut his beers.

 

Duel of the Chefs (With Independence Brewing)

 

Happening this Sunday at Judges' Hill Restaurant:

Check this out..... Beer and Wild Game Pairing featuring Independence Brewing Co. and Broken Arrow Ranch. Chef Jonathan Gelman of The Driskill Grill vs. Chef Rob Snow of Judges' Hill Restaurant to benefit Sustainable Food Center!!! Guests decide the winner!!! 6 Courses - $55/ Person

Only a handful of tickets left.

Euro Beer #13 - Le Cap

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 Brussels:



Euro Beer #13 - Le Cap

After dinner and a few hours of wandering around, we hit up Le Cap for a night cap (ah, ah). Le Cap was a nice, clean, modern bar/restaurant. Not exactly my style, but a decent place to grab a beer before nodding off. Sofia had a Brugs Wit and I had a Grimbergen Blanche. Sofia's was better.

For more euro foodage and drinkage, go here.

Le Cap
Place de la Vieille Halle aux Blès, 28
Brussels




The next morning our host was kind enough to buy us croissants and brew us some coffee. It was not enough coffee and had to get more at Bar Espagnol Meres, a very odd, cool Spanish café. Pictures of bullfights and sidra drinking covered the old nicotine soaked walls. It was good to be on the mainland drinking real coffee again.

Hopfields

A new beer bar is in the works. It's called Hopfields and it is located at 3110 Guadalupe (kind of near Wheatsville Co-op). They are still in the construction phase and looking at a late-summer opening. The concept? This is how they break it down: "craft beer, French style street food, and savory drinks." Follow the action:

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Thirsty Planet Turns One, Plans Party

Happy Birthday TP! All the details here.

Stone 15 - Stone Escondidian Imperial Black IPA

Releasing August 15.

Via beernews.org

Next Jester King and Mikkeller Collab Update

At it again. Last night JK posted of an update on their blog. I think they had told us before that they planned on brewing a TX version of Mikkeller’s Beer Geek Brunch, with smoked malts and chipotle peppers (lot of smokiness). But now they've given us an idea of when that would happen — November.

With all that smoke, it kind of kills the idea of beer geek brunch. Not that it won't be a good beer. I love smoked beers, especially with chipotle smoke and heat (Remember their Chipotle Porter ? Sooo good). Maybe they should figure out a way to make a Beer Geek Brunch with migas. There you go guys. Run with that.

Independence Photo Scavenger Hunt

Get off the computer, go hunting, get back on the computer and win stuff:

The Nitty

We will release 6 photo shots with accompanying clues. Find the spot and replicate the shot the best you can, except with your face in it. Clues will be released this Sunday and you have until next Sunday(19th 11:59pm) to submit your photos.

RULES(The gritty)

• All participants must 21+, verified at time of redemption


• All participants must take a picture in front of designated spots. No photoshopping! All images must be original images!


• Independence Brewing Co. reserves the right to use submitted photos for promotional purposes


• All photos should be taken on or between June 12th ,2011 and June 19th ,2011


• Photos should be submitted to via email to adam@independencebrewing.com , a link to flickr, photobucket etc. is highly preferred. Please name your album “Indy Hunt 8/11″.


• Submit Photos by June 19th, 2011, 11:59:59 PM CST


• Individual photos only! This will be a ton of fun to do in groups but each individual needs to submit 6 unique shots.


• Individual should be clearly identifiable (no masks!)


• No purchase necessary


• Independence brews are not required, though are highly recommended when at a bar, don’t drink in public.


• Completed entries will be invited to a Happy Hour Event Wednesday, June 22nd and entered in a chance to win ACL Live tickets(2)


• ACL Live tickets(2) not redeemable nor exchangeable


• ACL Live tickets(2)winner will be chosen at random from invited parties DO NOT HAVE TO BE PRESENT TO WIN! But we would love to hang out!

And the clues? They are here.

Austin Beer Guide Summer Issue Release Party

From our Facebook event listing:

Time: Wednesday, June 22 - 7:00pm - 10:00pm

Location: Draught House

We're celebrating the launch of the second issue of the Austin Beer Guide (www.austinbeerguide.com) this coming Wednesday at Draught House.

There will be brewers present, maybe some special beers, and NEW MUSTACHE GLASSES! Buy any beer from a brewery featured in the guide, and keep the mustache glass.

It will be lots of fun, come out.

That's right. It will be fun. And you should come out. Let us know if you are coming and we will save you a seat.

Brasserie de Rochefort Coming Back to TX

Hopefully. If they don't, don't blame me, blame You Stay Hoppy Austin.

Summer Lovin'

This is happening over at ABG.

Houston Beer Fester

Remember all those people complaining about the Great Austin Beer Festival? That was heaven compared to this:



Go here if video does not load.

H/T: Itzprad

Euro Beer #12 - Maison des Crêpes

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 Brussels:



Euro Beer #12 - Maison des Crêpes

Directly after leaving that crusty bar we headed towards Grand Place to look around. But we were hungry. We were always hungry. We set out to find a spot to eat. Most places around Grand Place seemed extremely touristic, so we kept walking. We stumbled upon Maison des Crêpes and it seemed adequate. It was more than adequate. Our crepes were fantastic, as was the beer. I had another Duvel and Sofia drank a Palm.



My crepe. It tasted much better than it looks. Judge my photo, not the crepe.

For more euro foodage and drinkage, go here.

Maison des Crêpes
Zuidstraat 13
Brussels



Wet Brussels street, the view from our table.

Draught House Anniversary Party AND Austin Beer Week!

Straight from Josh at Draught House (emphasis mine):

. . . we have set a date for our 43rd Anniversary party. It will be on Saturday October 22nd. This is also to 1st day of Austin Beer Week. Save your strength (and your liver) cause it's gonna be a long week.

So it looks like Austin Beer Week will run Oct. 22-29. Right in time for the fall issue ABG!

By the way, have you seen the cover for the summer issue? No? Well, click here. Going to the printer this week.

Live Oak Roggenbier Release Party @ Draught House

Looking for something else to do tomorrow night besides the Saint Arnold cask? Well here you go. From Live Oak's FB page:

Announcing: Roggenbier Release Party! Wednesday, June 8, Draught House on Medical Parkway (where it's pint glass night - www.draughthouse.com), 5:30 - 8:30.

////

Roggenbier is mashed with a relatively high amount (25%) of German rye malt. It's characterized by a slight refreshing tartness, low hop bitterness, and a very slight fruitiness from the special German ale yeast. Roggenbier is extremely drinkable and is a great beer for the summer. 4.8% abv.

 

Saint Arnold Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout Cask @ Black Star Co-op

 

Black Star Co-op is cracking open a cask of Saint Arnold Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout tomorrow (June 8). Get there if you can. We had a pint at the Draught House last Friday and it was really good. Chris was picking up coconut notes and came to the conclusion that we must have got the Malibu Rum Aged Imperial Stout cask. I wasn't gettin' that.

Weedwacker Bottles

This is old news. Old news can still be good news. And this IS good news:

Weedwacker is now in bottles! It should start showing up on store shelves tomorrow. The label looks similar to Lawnmower except the yard has gone to seed. Oh, and the white sticky across the Lawnmower label that announces "Weedwacker". You will note its nice, hazy appearance, the result of both the fact that it is not filtered and that hefeweizen yeast is notorious for not flocking. We hope you enjoy this beer as much as we are!

Hops & Grain Tap Handles

 

Looking good. From Larry.

Look Inside Easy Tiger

Eater Austin gives us a sneak peak at the newest addition to the Austin beer scene: Easy Tiger Bake Shop & Beer Garden. More photos as well at their Facebook page.

Flying Saucer Fall Beer Festival Date Announced

Not sure how I missed this, but Flying Saucer tweeted last week that their annual Fall Beer Fest will be happening October 1. See you in four months.

Jester King Stuff

First, this past Friday JK brewed their latest session beer, a Berliner Weisse:

. . . a sour, very pale wheat beer, fermented with a combination of saccharomyces (standard beer yeast) and lactobacillus (souring bacteria).

Love that style. Can't wait to see how it turns out.



Then, today JK tweeted that they are bottling Drink'in the Sunbelt, their collaboration brew with Mikkeller.

Austin Beerworks Updates Website - Big Time

Have you seen the new Austin Beerworks website? It's live and wild. Lots to check out and seemingly much more to come. Some screen shots:








Don't make a wrong turn.



Don't know how beer is made? Let ABW show you the way.

Wikio Beer Blog Rankings - June

Here they are again, Wikio's BEST BEER BLOGS IN THE WORLD (actually just the USA)! And I moved into the top twenty, as did I Love Beer. Lee has been on a tear lately. I'm gonna make this a personal grudge match with him. You hear that Lee?! See you in next month's rankings. Maybe.

1	Beervana
2	Brookston Beer Bulletin
3	The New School
4	Brewpublic
5	A Good Beer Blog
6	Appellation Beer: Beer From a Good Home
7	The Stone Blog
8	Washington Beer Blog
9	The Daily Pull
10	Oakshire Brewing
11	Brewer's Log (Blog)
12	KC Beer Blog
13	I Love Beer
14	Seattle Beer News
15	The Not So Professional Beer Blog
16	The Brew Lounge
17	It's Pub Night
18	Craft Austin
19	The Session Beer Project™
20	Beer-Stained Letter
21	Seen Through a Glass
22	brewvana
23	Beer 47
24	Drink With The Wench
25	Portland Beer and Music
26	The Potable Curmudgeon
27	BetterBeerBlog
28	Musings Over a Pint
29	Brewed For Thought
30	Beeronomics

Ranking brewd by Wikio

FYI, this was a "sneak preview" sent to me from Wikio.