The Brü Revü – Alesmith IPA

The Alesmith IPA is another San Diego beer I had smuggled back from our vacation that I was looking forward to trying.  I have read a lot about the Alesmith brewery and how great all of their beers are, and their IPA lived up to all the hype.  Alesmith’s IPA is bottle conditioned which poured a hazy golden copper with a great fruity aroma.  What a great hoppy beer flavor without being too extreme.  It has some malt in the background to give it a good balance and keeping it easy to drink. The Alesmith IPA gives the Ballast Point a run for its money as my favorite IPA period and I would consider them #1 and 1A.  I hope it makes its way to Texas soon, as I need another one!

Alesmith IPA

 

The Brü Revü – Rahr & Sons Oktoberfest

This is the second Rahr & Sons beer I have tried and now I am really impressed.  The Gravel Road and now their Oktoberfest have been solid and consistent beers that are making me pay more attention to Rahr & Sons.  Their Oktoberfest was part of our Bums Meeting and I remember it being a standout in that group, and it was even better when I returned to it.  The Oktoberfest pours a dark amber with a nice tan head and all the trademark sweet malt aromas of the style.  The taste is a good sweet maltiness with a slight hop and even a bit of Chocolate.  For a darker beer it was light on the palate and very clean and drinkable.  The Rahr & Sons Oktoberfest was an outstanding Texas Oktoberfest that I will eagerly await every fall.

Rahr & Sons Oktoberfest

 

Jester King Sues TABC over Beer and Consumer Freedom

I was going to post another beer review, but thought this was much more interesting.  Jester King is suing the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission!  See the full article here: Jester King Takes on "The Man".

They are suing for a variety of reasons: the ability to tell consumers where your beer is available, inaccurate beer labeling required by the state, the ability to sell beer directly to the public, and licensing of foreign breweries to sell beer in Texas.  These are several issues that greatly restrict the growth of the craft beer industry in Texas as well as keeping some world class beers out of Texas completely.  Most of these restrictions have been lifted for Texas wineries and the breweries and brew pubs are only looking for a fair shake.

If you are interested in this issue be sure to support and follow Open The Taps, a grassroots, non-profit consumer advocacy group representing craft beer enthusiasts in Texas. Their goal is to change laws and regulations surrounding the craft beer industry in our state.

The Brü Revü – De Struise Black Damnation IV – Coffee Club

The preface: My dad was lucky enough on a trip to Belgium to visit the De Struise brewery and get a private tour from the brewer himself as well as a few samples of their great beers.  He brought me back a few of their beers and of course a “proper” glass.  

The Black Damnation series of beers was something my dad couldn’t stop telling me about how great they were.  He brought me the Black Damnation IV – Coffee Club which is an Imperial Stout that has been aged for 6 months in old Rum barrels.  I love rum so I was already sold, and this beer exceeded all my expectations.  It poured a deep opaque black with a strong chocolate and coffee aroma.  The taste was sublime.  It had a very deep and smooth coffee and chocolate flavor with hints of vanilla almost like drinking chocolate syrup.  I was in heaven! The very high alcohol was almost imperceptible as I savored every sip.  The only downside is I may never get to try this one again as you cannot get it in Texas.  Maybe it’s time for a trip to Belgium!

De Struise Black Damnation IV - Coffee Club

Full Disclosure:  this is not my photo as I have somehow lost my photos of this fantastic beer.

Jester King Funk’n Sour Gravity Fest

Saturday, October 29^th, 1 – 6 PM.

More Info here: http://jesterkingbrewery.com/funk-n-sour-fest-at-jester-king

From Jester King: 

On Saturday, October 29th from 1pm to 6pm we’ll close out Austin Beer Week 2011 with our first ever Funk’n Sour Gravity Fest at Jester King.  Advance, online tickets are now available. Due to concerns over parking and having a fun, relaxed, family friendly atmosphere at beautiful Ceres Park Ranch, home of Jester King Craft Brewery, we’re limiting sales to 300 tickets.

Advance tickets for the event are $10, which includes admission to the brewery grounds, parking, a tour of the brewery and a souvenir glass (picture of glass). If the event sells out prior to 10/29, no day of event tickets will be available. If available, day of event tickets are $12 at the door. Kids are allowed in free.

You can purchase advance, online tickets at the following link:
ADVANCE, ONLINE TICKET PURCHASE
Just remember to bring a printed copy of your ticket with you on the 29th along with a valid, photo ID. The name on the ticket must match the name on the ID.

Independence 7 year Anniversary Party

Saturday, October 22^nd, 4 – 8 PM
 

Independence Brewing

 

From Independence Brewing:

“Alright, folks.... brace yourself. The Independence 7 year Anniversary Party is happening Saturday, October 22nd from 4:00pm - 8:00pm at the brewery. The seventh anniversary party is open to the public with no admission charge. Each adult over the age of 21 will get a wristband that is redeemable for three beer samples. Commemorative anniversary glassware will be available for purchase for $12. Food and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase from Boommerang’s Australian meat pies. The anniversary event will feature year-round favorites like Austin Amber and Stash IPA as well as rare edition beers, including the limited Seventh Anniversary English-style oak-aged IPA, 2010 Jasperilla Old Ale, and Brewluminati brews that include Thinkers Ale, an English dark ale; Gold Deluxe, an IPA brewed with Sorachi Ace hops; All Seeing Eye(PA), a double IPA; Braggot, an ale brewed with Texas honey; and Epanoui, a Saison brewed with hibiscus flowers. Music and entertainment will be provided by Austin Rockabilly group, Deuce Coupe. We will also be doing special beer tapping’s every 30 minutes during the festivities! Lets just say... this is gonna be one party you won’t want to miss.

Special Beer tappings every 30 minutes as follows:
4:15 Brewluminati All Seeing Eye(PA)
4:45 Brewluminati Braggot
5:15 Brewluminati Epanoui
5:45 2010 Jasperilla Old Ale
6:15 Brewluminati Thinker’s Ale
6:45 Brewluminati Gold Deluxe

Austin Beer Week – October 22–30, 2011

Tons of Austin Beer related events going on all week!

Check out the website for more info: Austin Beer Week

And here’s the calendar to see all the events:  Calendar

Looks like plenty of options to check out our fantastic local breweries and our growing Austin beer scene.

The Brü Revü – New Belgium Hoptober Golden Ale

I have always been a fan of New Belgium beers and as a larger craft brewery they make consistantly high quality beers.  The Hoptober is a newer beer for New Belgium and while it comes out in the fall with the other Oktoberfest beers it is not an Oktoberfest style but rather a hoppy Golden Ale.  Given the name you would expect its strong hop aroma and golden color.  It has a bright and clean body with a good hop taste and a hint of sweet malt for a good balance.  Overall the Hoptober is an easy drinking and sessionable beer that gives a nice contrasting option to the Oktoberfest styles available during the season.  The Hoptober is another fine offering from New Belgium.

New Belgium Hoptober Golden Ale

The Brü Revü – Dogfish Head Squall IPA

I look forward to trying a new Dogfish Head beer, and I was eagerly anticipating the Squall IPA. What an outstanding beer!  As a double IPA I was expecting a lot and this one delivered right off the bat.  As a bottle conditioned IIPA it poured a nice hazy copper with a sharp fruity herbal aroma that you could smell as soon as I opened the bottle.  It may be an IIPA, but this one was more in the realm of a Barley Wine with a thick syrupy mouthfeel and complex taste.  The Squall had fat chewy hops with a good balance of biscuity malts that helped keep everything balanced.  It was a very impressive beer that I will be sure to grab again.

Dogfish Head Squall IPA

Beer Bums Meeting – October 2011 – Oktoberfest Beers

Ahhhh, nothing says fall like a good Oktoberfest.  It’s starting to feel like fall, if only in the morning.  Another great group of beers from our Bums meeting.  My favorites were the Brooklyn, Hofbrau, and the Rahr & Sons which was the best of the bunch.  Hassenpfeffer?!?  And of course: Welcome back Shawn!

Brooklyn Oktoberfest

Shiner Oktoberfest

Rahr & Sons Oktoberfest

Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest Märzen

Indian Wells Märzen Madness

Hofbräu München Oktoberfestbier

Hassenpfeffer Octoberfest

Next Month, November – Sam Adams Beers

The Brü Revü – Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA

The Union Jack was another beer I brought back from my trip to San Diego and another that is not available in Texas at this point.  When you are on the West Coast and want a beer you don’t grab a pilsner or a lager, you get an IPA!   There is no shortage of fantastic IPA’s from the West Coast and the Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA is no exception.  It pours a light amber color with a fluffy white head and a crisp hoppy aroma.  The taste has a strong fresh hop flavor with a good bitterness lingering on the palate that is all carefully balanced with a slightly sweet maltiness.  All in all it makes for a very tasty well balanced IPA that hits all the right IPA notes without overwhelming your senses.  Now, if we can just get this in Texas!

Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA

Pint Glass Nights - October

Misc. pint glass nights around Austin for October.  Buy the beer, keep the glass.

Gingerman – Mondays, at 6 PM

Oct. 3         Real Ale Oktoberfest

Oct. 10       St. Arnold Oktoberfest

Oct. 17       TBD

Oct. 24       Independence ESB

Oct. 31       Breckenridge Vanilla Porter

Draft Pick – Tuesdays, at 6:30 PM

Check their calendar for glass updates

The Tavern – Tuesdays

Check their facebook page for glass updates

Zax Pints and Plates – Wednesdays,  at 6 PM

Oct. 5         Assorted Glassware Pint Night

Oct. 12       Stone Brewery

Oct. 19       St. Arnold

Oct. 26       TBD

Flying Saucer  - Wednesdays, at 7 PM

Oct. 5         John Lennon Glass Night

Oct. 12       Lefthand Chainsaw

Oct. 19       Lagunitas

Oct. 26       Breckenridge Vanilla Porter

Draught House – Wednesdays

Check their twitter page for glass updates

Send me a link to any other places in town with Pint Glass Nights and I will gladly add them to the list.