The Brü Revü – Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout

BREAKING NEWS: There has been a Yeti sighting, and it was delicious!  There is a lot of hype surrounding the Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout and now I know why.  In full disclosure, my sample had aged for about 18 months. The Yeti poured a deep opaque brown with minimal dark tan head. The aroma was straight up semi-sweet chocolate, just like the Nestle morsels.  The initial tastes were a bit bitter as it was still cold, but as it warmed the Yeti turned into a deep semi-sweet chocolate wonderland.  This brew definitely benefited from a warming drinking temperature.  Underneath the chocolate notes were hints of a roasted coffee and a smokey nuttiness that finished with a caramel and toffee sweetness. I believe the hype!  The Yeti is an incredible stout and a fantastic drinking experience.

Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout

The Brü Revü – Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest

The Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest is one of the highest rated traditional German Oktoberfest and for good reason. While the Spaten Oktoberfest holds a spot for me the Hacker-Pschorr may be the complete German Oktoberfest.  It poured a clear deep amber with a full white head.  The aroma was malt and malt only with caramel malt as the dominant aroma.  The taste followed suit with a perfect sweet malt that was fully committed to the nutty caramel malt profile with little to no hop presence.  It’s was a fully malt embraced beer that makes me want to be in the big tents in Munich hoisting a stein.  Hacker-Pschorr is excellent Oktoberfest that is a signature of the season.

Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest

The Brü Revü – Spaten Oktoberfest

The Spaten Oktoberfest is THE Oktoberfest beer for me.  On top of it signifying the classic Oktoberfest beer profile it was a gateway beer for me as well.  I started on the malty side of things and this Oktoberfest is a classic malt fest that sprang my taste buds into the wider world of beer.  So, the Spaten Oktoberfest holds a special place in my beer heart and I still love it to this day.  It poured a dark amber with a subtle off white head.  The aroma was all caramel malt with slight roasted malt, but definitely little to no hop presence.  The taste was an obvious malt forward profile with caramel malt and some nutty roastiness as well.  There was a slight spicy bitterness on the finish that keeps your attention.  While I’ll admit there is nothing over the top spectacular about this lager, it hits my taste buds in all the right spots.  It’s easy to drink with enough flavor to distinguish itself from a league of lagers and keeps me looking forward to Oktoberfest every year.

Spaten Oktoberfest

The Brü Revü – SKA Autumnal Mole Stout

The Ska Autumnal Mole Stout was a gift from my dad that has been sitting in the fridge for almost a year now.  I have no excuse as to why I let it sit that long, but now that it’s the season again I decided to have it.  This is an interesting sounding brew: A stout brewed with cocoa nibs, spices and three kinds of chile peppers.  The beer poured an opaque brown with a decent amount of sediment and little to no head.  The aroma was of sweet caramel malt and cocoa that did not fully represent the flavors to come.  The taste was slightly sweet and malty with less cocoa on than the aroma, but what the aroma did not represent was the spice.  There were flavors of cinnamon and cardamom with a slight hint of clove which was all very autumn appropriate.  While I didn’t detect much heat from the chile peppers I did detect a bit of their bitter presence.  The flavor did leave the lingering presence of Mole on my palate which is an obvious target.  Definitely an interesting brew and probably with more heat fresh but good nonetheless.

SKA Autumnal Mole Stout

The Brü Revü – Austin Beerworks Heavy Machinery Belgian IPA

Another Austin Beerworks Heavy Machinery IPA, another masterpiece.  The Belgian IPA may be my favorite of the series so far.  At least it’s up there with the Double IPA.  At first blush it was like a hopped up Belgian Trippel which is right in my wheelhouse.  It was very similar to the Green Flash Le Freak which I loved so it’s easy to see my love for this beer.  On to the formal review:  It poured a light golden yellow with a pillowy white head.  The fruity Belgian yeast notes are apparent on the aroma along with floral and grassy hops.  The taste was pure bliss.  Fresh fruity Belgian trippel tones were quickly followed by citrus and slight pine hops that added a flavorful bitterness while not totally overpowering the Belgian trippel notes.  The Belgian IPA was a well crafted beer with the differing flavors playing off each other perfectly without one overwhelming the other while maintaining a full flavor experience.  This is one phenomenal brew.

Austin Beerworks Heavy Machinery Belgian IPA

The Brü Revü – Green Flash Green Bullet

I love just about anything Green Flash puts out.  While they may not have as huge a cult following in Texas, I still think all of their offerings are high quality brews.  The Green Bullet is their Triple India Pale Ale, and while Founder’s has their Devil Dancer and Dogfish Head has their 120 minute I have yet to try one.  The brew poured a clear amber with a small white head that instantly gave off the aroma of tropical fruit and dank hops with a hint of pine underneath that gave it some spice.  The first taste had citrus rind hops with more of the dank tropical fruits and a spicy pine finish. The hops were appropriately aggressive and leave you with a strong bitterness on your tongue.  The malt did give the Green Bullet a somewhat sweet finish, but the overload of hops definitely kept it in the background.  The brew was easily one of the hoppier beers out there and the huge hops keeps the high alcohol at bay.  If you want an assault on your palate the Green Bullet will definitely leave you in hoppy happiness.  I can’t compare it to other Triple IPAs, but it is definitely a top tier IPA for me.

Green Flash Green Bullet

Beer Bums Meeting – November 2013 – Red Ales

We have been wanting to have a Red Ale theme for a while so why not in November.  I missed this meeting so I look forward to trying them all.  I know the Green Flash Hop Head Red is good but there are other good one in this bunch.

Green Flash Hop Head Red

Rahr & Sons Texas Red

Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale

North Coast Brewing Ruedrich's Red Seal Ale

Murphy's Irish Red

Next Month, December – Christmas Party!

Pint Glass Nights - November 2013

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

Gingerman – Mondays, at 6 PM

Nov 04          Sam Adams Winter Lager

Nov 11         Shiner Holiday Cheer

Nov 18          Kona Pipeline Porter

Nov 25         Ballast Point Sculpin

Zax Pints and Plates – Wednesdays, at 6 PM

Nov 06          St. Arnold Pumpkinator

Nov 13         Rahr & Sons

Nov 20          Adelbert’s/Celis Collaboration Gypsy Belgian IPA

Nov 27         Guinness Stout

Flying Saucer  - Wednesdays, at 7 PM

Nov 06          Firestone Walker Wooky Jack

Nov 13         Victory Prima Pils

Nov 20          Flying Saucer Turkey of the Year

Nov 27         TBD

Draught House – Wednesdays

Check their twitter page for glass updates

Red's Porch – Thursdays, at 5 PM, Check their events page for glass updates