February 27, 2014

The Brü Revü – Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. Superliner

I don’t know why I waited so long to get a growler because it allows me to take home some of the wonderful draft only beer available in Austin.  This time I chose the Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. Superliner IPA.  This is one of the few beers that eluded me on my recent trips to ABGB so it was a great choice to take home in the growler.  It poured a deep golden amber with a solid white head and good lacing.  The aroma was juicy citrus and tropical fruit hops with an underlying sweet malt.  My first taste was huge bitter grapefruit with citrus hops and a slight dry pine hop finish.  The sweet malt was present by subdued to allow the bitter hops to shine.  Like every beer at ABGB, the Superliner IPA was very well done and a great representation of the style.  You are doing yourself a disservice if you haven’t made it out to the ABGB: great beers, great pizza, and great atmosphere.

Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. Superliner





February 25, 2014

The Brü Revü – Brooklyn Blast!

Brooklyn Blast! mixes earthy English hops with bright citrusy American hops to create a different take on a Double IPA.  British Maris Otter and German Pilsner malts also give this brew a unique flavor profile from all the Double IPAs around.  The beer poured a clear golden amber with a significant white head.  The nose leans more on the American hops with a dank citrusy aroma with just a hint of the grassy undertones.   The taste starts with a grassy hops that immediately heads into the citrus tropical hops and ends with a piney resinous finish.  It’s quite a Blast of flavors that all seem to complement each other.  The bready malt body exerts itself more on the finish and the German Pilsner and British Maris Otter malts begin to shine.  The Blast is a well done Double IPA that superbly intermingles the traditional English hops and new American varieties to great success.  Cheers, and have a Blast!

Brooklyn Blast!



February 20, 2014

Odell Brewing Co. Coming to Texas


Next week is the official launch of Odell Brewing in Texas.  The roll-out will start on draft only in select cities with bottles coming in March/April. Adding the brewery from Fort Collins, Colorado to the selection in Texas is excellent news and I for one am looking forward to trying their beers.  With Firestone Walker, Founders, Southern Tier, and most recently Uinta & Elevation (just to name a few) coming to Texas over the past year along with our thriving local breweries our scene is exploding with world class craft beers.  Below are links to the events across the state during next weeks roll-out.  Get out and enjoy an Odell’s.  Cheers!


List of Events

And you have to see this!

February 18, 2014

The Brü Revü – (512) FOUR

It seemed fitting that I would christen my new Whole Foods growler with a beer from (512) Brewing.  They have to be my favorite local Austin brewery and since you can only get their beers on tap (save for very infrequent bottles of their FIVE and Whisky Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter) it was a perfect beer to get a fill.  My local Whole Foods had their FOUR which is an English Strong Ale and was their fourth anniversary beer and re-released seasonally.  It poured a hazy golden amber with a huge white head and great lacing.  The aroma was caramel sweet and biscuity with a hint of orange or grape but not from hops more from the sweetness.  The taste was a solid malt and toffee with more of the orange or grape fruitiness underneath.  The FOUR had a nice bitter hoppy finish that lingered on my palate and was a pleasant surprise given the more malt forward aroma and taste.  While I do not drink many English Strong Ales I found that I was really enjoying the FOUR.  I think it was the bitter hoppy finish that really rounded out the toasted malty sweetness that kept me coming back for more.  Another great beer from (512). 

(512) FOUR 




February 14, 2014

The Brü Revü – Austin Beerworks Heavy Machinery Black IPA

The Black IPA was supposed to be the first in the Heavy Machinery series to be canned, but due to the late arrival of said cans it didn’t quite make it.  Austin Beerworks decided to make up for it by releasing it now.  I had the Black IPA at a Brewery tour when it was first released and I have been eagerly anticipating its return.  This is one of my all time favorite Black IPAs and as the packaging says, this is just an IPA that happens to be black.  It poured a deep black with a good tan head which was as expected.  The aroma was tropical fruits and citrus hops with a slight hint of pine, and it was all IPA.  The taste was as exceptional as I remembered it.  This Black IPA was a monstrous mouthful of juicy citrus and tropical fruit hops that belittled its foreboding appearance.  The finish held a lingering pine bitterness and a slight roast that was the only hint of it’s ebony appearance.  The Black IPA was a fitting bookend to the fantastic Heavy Machinery IPA series and I hope they continue to release and re-brew these incredible IPAs.

Austin Beerworks Heavy Machinery Black IPA



February 6, 2014

Beer Bums Meeting – February 2014 – Adelbert’s Brewery

We are always trying to keep it fresh, so we made the trek to Adelbert’s Brewery for our February meeting.  On Saturday’s they are open from 1-4 with tours every 45 min.  For $13 you get a nice branded tulip glass and 6 sample pours, with some of the stronger beers taking two marks you could get anywhere from 4-6 samples. Adelbert’s specializes in Belgian style beers which I really enjoy so I have been looking forward to visiting the brewery for some time.  


The brewery tasting area was set up well with plenty of places to hang out and even two dart boards for fun.  The tour was informative and to the point which is all you want while you are sampling beers, and the servers handled the crowds diligently.  The brewery is named after the head brewer’s brother, Adelbert, who passed away in his prime.  Each beer is inspired by his many adventures and with names like the Naked Nun and Scratchin’ Hippo there are great stories behind each one.  


Adelbert’s has all the usual  Belgian styles with a Wit, Saison, Bier de Garde, Dubbel, Tripel and a Quad.  In addition they had a Black Ale and a beer they brew for Naughty Brewing that was a smoked Saison.  I enjoyed everything I tried and wish I could have sampled some of the beer they had been barrel aging.  That will be for another trip!

Their version of a Saison with citrus spicy notes and some fruit.  It had a bit of a bitter finish that faded as it warmed. It was a little heavier on the palate than I would want in a Saison, but it was still a great rendition of the style.


The daunting Dubbel had a good fruity nose with dark fruits and a malty sweetness. The taste had the same dark fruits and malt with a slight bitter finish that again faded as it warmed.  While it was a deep amber in color it was a little light and clear for the style.  In the end this was a damn delectable Dubbel.

Now we are moving on to the heavy hitters.  A tripel was right in my wheelhouse and the Tripel B fit the bill.  Right away the color and look of the beer was spot on as well as the aroma that held the Belgian yeast, coriander and spice elements.  The flavor was light and zesty while the mouthfeel held just the right amount of heft for the style.  This was a great locally brewed Tripel.

Finally the best of the bunch in my opinion was the Flyin’ Monks Quad.  They tout it as a richer version of the Dancin’ Monks Dubbel that is conditioned on oak cubes used to age Pecan Street Rum.  It was a deep dark amber brown that had a more intense dark fruit and slight oak nose.  The flavor again followed with the deep dark fruits with heavy sweet dates all with a hint of oak on the finish that perfectly balanced the brew.  The Flyin’ Monks was well done and well balanced.


February 2, 2014

Pint Glass Nights - February 2014

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

Gingerman – Mondays, at 6 PM
Feb 03          Samuel Adams Rebel IPA
Feb 10          Rahr & Sons Iron Thistle
Feb 17          Brooklyn Dry Irish Stout
Feb 24          Youngs Double Chocolate Stout

Zax Pints and Plates – Wednesdays, at 6 PM
Feb 05          Assorted Belgian Glasses
Feb 12          Uinta Brewing
Feb 19          Victory Brewing
Feb 26          Rahr & Sons

Flying Saucer  - Wednesdays, at 7 PM
Feb 05          Full Sail Sessions
Feb 12          Valentine’s Day Glass
Feb 19          Boulevard Chocolate
Feb 26          Ommegang Abbey

Draught House – Wednesdays
Check their twitter page for glass updates

Red's Porch – Thursdays, at 5 PM, Check their events page for glass updates
Feb 06          Grapevine Craft Brewing
Feb 13          Victory Brewing