The Brü Revü – (512) IPA

Oh the (512) IPA!  I can’t believe I have taken this long to review this beer as it is easily my go to draft beer around Austin. Most bars and restaurants carry this beer and it is easily one of the best Austin beers if not the best Austin brewed IPA. I could be wrong, but it seems that they tweaked the recipe a bit recently as I remember it being a bit cloudier and having a much more prominent grapefruit hop flavor.  Either way it is still excellent.  It pours a golden amber with plenty of hops on the nose.  The taste veers more towards the citrusy hops, which could be why I like it so much. The (512) IPA  starts with strong hops which gives way to a slightly sweet bready maltiness and ends with a good hop bitterness.  It is a very smooth and well balanced IPA with a deep profile that makes this a highly drinkable brew.  

(512) IPA

I had this one at the East Side Showroom served in a mason jar.  Very cool.

The Brü Revü – Lagunitas Hop Stoopid

Hop Stoopid is another hoppy addition from Lagunitas. Its a Double IPA with hops galore that are not shy or timid. It pours an orange gold with a decent white head and a hop explosion as it hits the glass. There is no doubt what you are in for with this beer and the initial taste was of juicy grapefruit with a slight bitter citrus that has a sweet malt body to keep it balanced. The Hop Stoopid is surprisingly easy to drink and leaves a wonderful hoppy coating on your palate. This is a great IIPA and delivers a hop bomb while keeping the beer balanced and drinkable. The Hop Stoopid is widely available in 22oz bombers for $5 which is a steal!

Lagunitas Hop Stoopid 

The Brü Revü – Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA

Since the Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA began my hoppy love affair, I had to try its bigger sister the 90 minute Imperial IPA. I have heard that this is one of the best IIPAs on the market and I love most of Dogfish Head beers so this was a must have beer for me. The hops come out to greet you as soon as you finish pouring, with a distinct grapefruit citrus punch and a beautiful amber color. The taste was exceptional. It follows the 60 minute’s malty backbone with a strong malt flavor that help balance the enormous hops. This IIPA was very thick and chewy with plenty of hops on the front end that gave way to a smooth vanilla malt finish. This was an outstanding beer and right up there with one of the best of the style. This gave the Alesmith Yulesmith a run for it’s money, and it’s always available here in Texas. This is a must try beer for any hophead and one that is easy to enjoy.


Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA

Beer Bums Meeting – April 2012 – Friday the 13th beers

We are back to our Old School meeting for this month and in honor of meeting on Friday the 13th, we all brought a beer having to do with the unlucky and superstitious date. Most of the beers were for good luck with the exception of the Dark Rain and Hop Rising. You gotta love the Lucky Beer Happy Buddha bottle and the Hop Rising was very good. All in all a good group of beers. Back to the “new” format next month.

Breckenridge Lucky U IPA
Bridgeport Dark Rain Black Ale
Lefthand Good Juju Ginger
Lucky Beer (Lucky Buddha)
Murphy's Irish Red
Squatters Hop Rising Double India Pale Ale

Next Month, May – Black Star Co-op tour and tasting?

The Brü Revü – Ommegang Abbey Ale

Another Ommegang beer, this time their excellent Abbey Ale. I love the Belgian Style beers and the dubbels can be a tricky style to get right. Ommegang has done the style well with their Abbey Ale. It poured a dark ruby brown with a substantial head that remained throughout my tasting. The aroma was full of Belgian yeast notes, cherries, and dark fruits that emanated from my glass as I allowed the beer to warm. There is a lot going on in this one and many different flavors revealed themselves with each taste. Hints of cherries, chocolate, dark fruits and caramel along with a slight Belgian yeast flavor melded themselves with a smooth creamy mouthfeel to create a magnificent tasting experience. This may be the be the best Ommegang beer that shows a depth and character in their brewing that is evident in all of their brews.

Ommegang Abbey Ale

Weihenstephaner Korbinian

The Korbinian was my second foray into the Weihenstephaner lineup and again I was blown away by their version of the classic German doppelbock. It poured a dark brown with a thick tan head that smelled of heavy malts and coffee. The first taste was heavy on the burnt malts and chocolate, and definitely stood apart from the doppelbocks I was familiar. The slightly sweet malts and coffee flavors come through on this nicely balanced beer. The Korbinian was deep and rich with a thick mouthfeel that stuck with the heavy bready brew. This is not a beer you drink quickly, but rather one you sit back and allow to consume you. The Korbinian was one of the best doppelbocks I have ever had and one you should seek out for yourself.

Weihenstephaner Korbinian

The Brü Revü – Ommegang Gnomegang

The Gnomegang is the final beer from my Christmas gift pack. It’s a collaboration beer between Ommegang and Brasserie d’Achouffe. I still have yet to try a d’Achouffe beer so this was my first, although not technically fully theirs. The Gnomegang was a Belgian Golden Ale in the same vein as Duvel. It poured a golden color with a generous fizzy head. There was plenty of sweet malts in the aroma balance by their trademark yeasts. The taste was bright and sweet with a hint of honey and plenty of that farmhouse flavor. I was really digging this one and was taking it down quickly. It hides its high alcohol content well and maintains its excellence as it warms. The Gnomegang may have been the best beer of the bunch and that is saying a lot. All of the Ommegang beers set very high standards and should be highly sought after.

Ommegang Gnomegang

 

 

 

Pint Glass Nights - April 2012

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


Gingerman – Mondays, at 6 PM
Apr. 02 Widmer Spiced IPA
Apr. 09 Brooklyn Brewmasters Reserve
Apr. 16 Kona Koko Brown
Apr. 23 Adelbert’s Scratchin Hippo
Apr. 30 De Koninck


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
Apr. 04 New Belgium Shift
Apr. 11 Alaskan Brewing
Apr. 18 St. Arnold Spring Bock
Apr. 25 TBD


Flying Saucer - Wednesdays, at 7 PM
Apr. 04 Adelbert’s Brewery
Apr. 11 Harpoon
Apr. 18 420 glass night w/ Sierra Nevada Torpedo
Apr. 25 La Chouffe


Draught House – Wednesdays
Check their twitter page for glass updates

The Brü Revü – Unibroue Trois Pistoles

Ah Unibroue. A great brewery from Canada that signifies itself by bottle refermenting all of their ales in the true Belgian Trappist style. While I haven't tried all of their brews I have yet to be disappointed by any of them and the Trois Pistoles is no exception. It is a Belgian Style Strong Ale that pours a dark opaque brown with aromas of Belgian yeast and dark fruits. This is a beer you have to allow to warm a bit for all of the complex flavors and aromas to completely reveal themselves. Once it warms its deep rich dark fruit and roasted malt flavors come through the Belgian yeast tones. The very smooth and mellow flavors mask the high alcohol content and make this an easily quaffable brew. The Trois Pistoles is a great example of the Unibroue quality and an excellent beer.

Unibroue Trois Pistoles