The Brü Revü – Rahr & Sons Bucking Bock‏

The Rahr & Sons Bucking Bock is a German Style Spring Bock which is a Maibock or Heller Bock which are supposed to be heavy on the malt with little to no hop profile.  It poured a golden amber with a large white head and it was beautiful on this hot afternoon. The initial taste of the Bucking  Bock was bracingly bitter as I was expecting nothing but heavy malts.  As the beer warmed the bitterness faded but was still present. I am not sure if they were going for a hoppier Maibock but in terms of the style, the bitterness could be tamed. In the end the Bucking Bock was still an enjoyable beer although overly bitter for the style, and the higher than usual ABV made me forget all about the bitterness.

Rahr & Sons Bucking Bock‏

The Brü Revü – SKA Modus Hoperandi IPA

I know I have had the SKA Modus Hoperandi IPA before, but I don’t really remember. I have a loose memory of it at my birthday last year which would explain my lack of recollection. Moving on, another craft beer in a can which seems to be catching on like a fever or rash, but alas great tasting beer can come from any vessel.  The Modus Hoperandi was excellent.  I had it after a late evening run (it’s 90+ degrees here in Austin at 8 PM so you have to run late or die) and my initial taste blew my running socks off.  It was thirst quenchingly delicious and the initial grapefruit and citrus hop flavors made my mouth water.  As I began to cool down and the beer began to warm a more piney hop taste appeared on the back end coating my palate with hoppy deliciousness.  The Modus Hoperandi is a beautiful copper colored brew that is a fantastic IPA and proves that great craft beer can come from a can.

SKA Modus Hoperandi IPA

The Brü Revü – A’Chouffe Brewery Night at Gingerman

I was lucky enough to make it to the A’Chouffe Brewery night at the Gingerman recently.  As I have never tried the A’Chouffe beers and they are all highly rated Belgian beers I was looking forward to getting to try them.  The Gingerman had the La Chouffe and Mc Chouffe as the selections for the night and both of them were suberb.

La Chouffe  The La Chouffe was a strong Golden Ale in the vein of Duvel that came with a fluffy white head and plenty of belgian yeast notes in the aroma.  This was a great tasting beer that was herbal and spicy while being very well balanced and highly drinkable.  This is their flagship beer and it was very tasty.  I will need to revisit this one again.

Mc Chouffe  The McChouffe was touted as a Belgian Scotch Ale and was the obvious darker beer of the night.  It came with a fluffy tan head and more Belgian yeast notes in the aroma with some sweet malts as well.  It was much maltier than the La Chouffe with hints of toffee and dark fruits with the signature Belgian yeast notes as well.  Another well balanced and drinkable beer that I will need to try again.

In addition to the beers we got to take home the glasses, some cool Gnome hats, and keychains.  They also raffled off a A’Chouffe Gnome Statue....  and the beer gods must have been shining on me because I won.  Now I am the proud owner of an A’Chouffe Gnome.  Not sure what I am going to do with it yet, but my wife wants to make him a garden gnome. Maybe he can be the new Shelf Elf? 

The Brü Revü – Real Ale Fireman's #4

Real Ale’s Fireman’s #4 is quite the staple around Austin.  It’s available just about everywhere and is an easy drinking blonde ale that fits in well in our hot climate.  On draft this beer is smooth and creamy with a citrus, apricot flavor on the finish that is the perfect antidote to all the watered down domestic varieties available.  From a bottle the Fireman’s #4 doesn’t have the creaminess of the draft version, but is just as tasty.  I had this Fireman’s #4 on a late afternoon and it was just what I needed to tame the heat.  While some pilsners can be light and bright, I found this blonde to be bigger and bolder.  So, don’t let the light golden color fool you, the Fireman’s #4 is surprisingly deep and full on the palate.  This brew is a great Austin favorite and something you should look for when you are trapped in a bar with limited options.

Real Ale Fireman's #4

Saint Arnold Summer Pils

Saint Arnold Summer Pils is a nice light beer to beat our summer heat. The Houston based brewery can make some great brews and is the elder statesmen of the Texas craft breweries. I have recently reviewed a few of the best Pilsners and the Saint Arnold version may not be be at their level, but it holds it own. The Summer Pils has a bright, light taste and body that helped beat the hot afternoon. There was enough flavor to keep things interesting and bold but without weighing itself down. The summer pils is a good addition to the local brew summer selection.

Saint Arnold Summer Pils

The Brü Revü – Left Coast Voo Doo American Stout

I fondly remember the Left Coast Brewery from our trip to San Diego last summer and having a few of their beers at Oggi's Pizza our first night in town. Their beers have recently become available in Texas and it gives me a great opportunity to relive that great family vacation. The Voodoo Stout is touted as a unique "American" stout and it is definitely a different stout. This beer was big and robust that poured a deep black with a decent fluffy head. The taste was outstanding with loads of sweet malts and a big burnt chocolate, bitter dark chocolate flavor that sustained itself nicely. The full creamy mouthfeel kept this substantial brew thick and satisfying. The Voodoo Stout was a fantastic stout that truly delivered on its unique premise and is an experience everyone should enjoy.

Left Coast Voo Doo American Stout

The Brü Revü – Samuel Adams Boston Lager‏

It was the 4th of July and sitting in my beer fridge was a very patriotic bottle of Samuel Adams Boston Lager.  It was too perfect to pass up.  The Boston Lager is The flagship beer of one of the largest American owned breweries and one of the craft beer pioneers.  This was a good start to drinking only American brewed beer on our Independence Day.  The Boston Lager was a lot maltier than I remembered with a flavor that was heavy on the caramel malts with a bit of a nuttiness and a slight hops to keep it balanced.  A great, easy drinking lager and a good thirst quencher on a hot afternoon like this one. Definitely a great start to my patriotic filled day.

Samuel Adams Boston Lager

Beer Bums Meeting – July 2012 – 49 & 50 Beers

49 & 50 beers, or Beers from Hawaii and Alaska.  We ended up with beers from either Alaskan Brewing or Kona Brewing although there are a few others available from those two states.  The stand out for me was the Kona Koko Brown which is a brown ale brewed with toasted coconut.  Tasty.  Again, there were no stinkers in the bunch. 

Kona Koko Brown Ale
Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale
Alaskan Amber
Alaskan Summer Ale
Alaskan White Ale

Next Month, August– Dog Days of Summer

Jester King and Brewing in Texas

I don’t often like to post emails of what breweries send out, but I thought the recent blog post from Jester King was interesting in its presentation on the state of the beer industry in Texas.  It focuses on the outrageous fees (among other requirements) charged to brewers who want to do business in the state and how it inadvertently discourages small business/breweries.  Texas is definitely a big business state and this exemplifies the issue.  In the wave of support for small business in Texas and around the country, this area has been neglected to be addressed.  The good people at Open the Taps are doing their best to get these issues addressed and changed. This is not only good for all our local craft breweries, but for those outside of our state that want to take advantage of the large consumer base in Texas.  Here is the Jester King post with the aforementioned issues discussed towards the end.
Jester King Post

Pint Glass Nights - July 2012

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

Gingerman – Mondays, at 6 PM
July 02      Chimay
July 09      Houblon Chouffe
July 16      Blanche de Bruxelles
July 23      LaChouffe & McChouffe
July 30      Duvel Art Glass

The Tavern – Tuesdays
Check their facebook page for glass updates

Zax Pints and Plates – Wednesdays, at 6 PM
July 04      No glass night
July 11      Coney Island Mermaid Pilsner
July 18      9th Anniversary Customer Appreciation Party
July 25      Brooklyn Brewmaster’s Reserve

Flying Saucer  - Wednesdays, at 7 PM
July 04      Timmerman’s
July 11      Blanche de Bruxelles
July 16      Belgian Beer Week Kick off with Malheur 10 glass night
July 17      Bourgogne des Flanders
July 18      Maredsous
July 19      De Koninck
July 20      Ommegang Witte
July 21      Belgian Independence Glass & glass trader event.
July 25      Pot Luck Glass Sale

Draught House – Wednesdays
Check their twitter page for glass updates