The Brü Revü – Hops and Grain Greenhouse IPA, June

This months iteration of the Greenhouse IPA highlights a state of mind rather than a particular hop variety.  According to the Greenhouse IPA site we are invited on a camping trip to the mountains of Colorado. Hops & Grain use a blend of 33% Amarillo, 33% Mosaic, 21% Chinook and 13% Perle hops to give us aromas of pine, earth and woodiness and deliver a bold and complex experience.  As always the beer pours and looks almost identical each month with a deep golden amber and fluffy white head. The aroma was earthy and piney with only   slight woodiness and I got hints of mango as well.  The taste was bitter hops right out of the gate with no single hop dominating.  At one moment I could taste the pine and the next a deep earth tone followed by a floral woodiness all in the same sip.  My palate was coated with a pine bitterness that lingered and teased me until my next sip.  It was definitely bold and complex and was an interesting experience akin to the mountains of Colorado. Well done once again and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next month. 

Hops and Grain Greenhouse IPA

The Brü Revü – Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout

I'm finally having a Bourbon County Brand Stout beer and the Coffee nonetheless.  I have heard nothing but greatness about these beers and having Goose Island in Texas is paying off.  Of course this was the first year of Bourbon County in Texas so it was obviously difficult to procure.  I got one Coffee thanks to a buddy of mine as I never saw it myself.  Hopefully this year things will be different as this was a phenomenal beer.  It poured a deep brown to black with a slight to no tan head.  The aroma hit me straight out of the bottle of coffee, heavy stout and bourbon.  The taste was otherworldly.  A perfect blend of the base stout that exuded bittersweet chocolate and a deep roasty flavor with the coffee and the bourbon barrel characteristics.  As it warmed the bourbon booziness came out as well as a stronger coffee tone that was akin to espresso.  Hints of vanilla and charred oak emerged and really capped off a world class beer.  This was a perfect introduction to Bourbon County Brand Stouts and I only hope I can get my hands on more this year!

Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout

The Brü Revü – Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier

I made a decision to try as many of the traditional German Hefeweissbiers as I could this summer, and I started off with one of the best in Weihenstephaner.  The beer poured a hazy straw yellow with a significant fluffy white head that just kept going and going which hinted at bottle conditioning.  The aroma was classic hefe with the clove spice and banana yeast.  The taste followed with the full bodied banana yeast and spices floating on top of a grainy wheat base.  There was practically no perceptible bitterness to be found just Hefe heaven.  The mouthfeel had a perfect amount of body and thickness to be a substantial and satisfying drink.  Despite the fullness I found the beer to be refreshing while not sacrificing the full flavor of the hefeweizen.  The Weihenstephaner really nails the style.  A perfect Hefe.

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier

The Brü Revü – Lagunitas NightTime

The latest beer from Lagunitas is their NightTime Black IPA.  I love everything from Lagunitas so picking up this new confection in a 22 oz bomber for less than $5 is a no brainer.  The beer poured a deep brown to black with slight ruby highlights and loads of fluffy tan head.  The nose is very hop forward with grapefruit rind being the predominant aroma with slight hints of pine and mango.  There was very little roast on the nose and it only revealed itself as it warmed.  If I wasn’t looking at this dark as night brew I would swear it was an IPA on aroma alone.  The taste followed with strong grapefruit rind and a little more of the pine and mango notes than the aroma.  As it warmed the dark roasted malts came through at the end and mingled with the hops to create a beautiful bitterness on my palate.  This was an outstanding Black IPA and Lagunitas handled the hops expertly.  I expect nothing less from a Lagunitas brew.

Lagunitas NightTime

The Brü Revü – Infamous IPA

I have had the Infamous Brewing IPA on draft several times in the past and always enjoyed it.  When I finally saw a sixer of 3 day old cans I had to grab one.  The can states that its Tomahawk and Warrior hops battling it out on a base of malted barley.  While I am not as familiar with those particular hops (I have since discovered that Tomahawk and Columbus hops are one in the same) I do appreciate the results.  The beer poured a golden amber with a huge fluffy white head that left significant lacing.  The nose was herbal and dank with a slight tropical fruit sweetness.  The initial taste was bracingly bitter that continued to infiltrate all corners of my tongue with its sharp bitter herbal pine that finished dry and bitter..  As it warmed the additional hop characteristics shone through with the deep dank and bits of tropical fruit peaking their head out of the blanket of malt. It was great to finally have this in the can and to have another excellent local IPA option.  I will look forward to trying the other Infamous beers in the near future. 

Infamous IPA

Beer Bums Meeting – June 2014 – Ciders

Ciders have been on our list of themes for a while, especially with the influx of new ciders on the market.  With the heat of June we thought ciders would be perfect.  Definitely an excellent and varied group of ciders.  The Original Sin Cherry tree was a nice treat and the locals Austin Eastciders impressed.

Austin Eastciders Original Dry Ciders

Square Mile Spur & Vine Hopped Apple Cider

Crispin Browns Lane Imported English Cider

Harpoon Craft Cider

Original Sin Cherry Tree Cider

Next Month, July – Live Oak Brewing Tour

The Brü Revü – Hops and Grain Greenhouse IPA, May

Wakatu, Wakatu, Wakatu.  This New Zealand hop variety is the focus of the May version of Hops and Grain’s Greenhouse IPA.  According to the Greenhouse IPA site this hop has notes of orange, lime zest and some floral goodness. As usual the beer pours and looks almost identical each month with a deep golden amber and fluffy white head. The aroma was full of sweet orange and lime citrus notes with only a slight tinge of floral aromas.  The taste had the sweet orange citrus and lime rind flavors dominant on the forefront.  The floral hops held off until the finish where they peeked through the citrus veil to leave a lasting impression on my palate. As with all the Greenhouse IPAs so far this brew was a pleasure to drink.  I look forward to this every month and it has been the local beer highlight of the year.

Hops and Grain Greenhouse IPA

Pint Glass Nights - June 2014

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

Gingerman – Mondays, at 6 PM

June 02 Breckendridge Agave Wheat

June 09 Samuel Adams Summer

June 16   Firestone Walker Pivo Hoppy Pilsner

June 23 Rahr Summertime Wheat

June 30 Franconia Trippel Dunkel

Zax Pints and Plates – Wednesdays, at 6 PM

June 04  St. Feuillien Saison

June 11 Breckenridge 471 Small Batch IPA

June 18   Brasserie D'Achouffe

June 25 Staropramen

Flying Saucer  - Wednesdays, at 7 PM

June 04  Ayinger

June 11 Father’s Day Glass (Konig Pilsner)

June 18   Kostritzer

June 25 Bitburger

Draught House – Wednesdays

Check their twitter page for glass updates

Red's Porch – Thursdays, at 6 PM, Check their events page for glass updates

June 05   Alaskan Hopothermia

June 12   Deep Ellum Dreamcrusher