THE BRÜ: February 2015

February 25, 2015

The Brü Revü – Infamous Sweep the Leg

Sweep the Leg is a Peanut Butter Stout from Infamous Brewing here in Austin Texas. I love peanut butter and the idea of a peanut butter stout sounds magical. The name and label is an awesome homage to the Karate Kid and the evil Cobra Kai Dojo which makes this perfection from the start. The beer poured a deep dark black with a subtle tan head the receded quickly and left no lacing. I didn’t get the overwhelming peanut butter nose that I was expecting. It was more of a hint of peanut butter on a traditional roasted chocolate and malty aroma. Not a bad thing as it smelled like a good chocolaty stout, I was just expecting more peanuts. The taste is where the peanut butter kicks in. It comes on the front of the tongue and travels through your mouth to leave a lingering nutty taste on your palate once you have washed it down your throat. The Sweep the Leg has a nice smooth and creamy mouthfeel that I expected with the peanut butter. The base stout is a strong chocolate and roasted malt stout that complements the peanut butter well. While I was expecting a full on peanut butter assault I got a nicely made and subtle peanut butter stout that was a pleasant surprise and one I need to drink again. Strike First, Strike Hard, No Mercy. Sweep the Leg, Johnny!

Infamous Sweep the Leg

February 19, 2015

Beer Bums Meeting – February 2015 – ABGB Visit

For our February meeting we paid a visit to our local favorite brewpub the Austin Beer Garden Brewery, or The ABGB. The AGBG fits into its South Austin location perfectly with its laid back vibe and slightly off-kilter attitude.

They have a taplist that includes 5 “Always” beers and a list of “Sometimes” beers that included 5 additional selection on our visit. Their beers are always great and I have yet to have a bad time which helps when the weather is perfect.

We all had a few rounds with different beers represented. I had the excellent Train Jumper which was a birght and citrusy pale ale hopped with Mosaic and Meridian. Really tasty stuff.

This was followed by the Funhouse an American Farmhouse Ale that was tasty as well and a little different from their usual lineup.

There were a round of Capt. Ivan Drago’s the huge Russian Imperial Stout that will knock your socks off. A really well done Imperial Stout that is surprisingly easy to drink and all around outstanding. Get it while you can.

Next Month, March – SXSW themed beers, Music, Interactive, etc.

February 11, 2015

The Brü Revü – Hops and Grain Porter Culture

First off, this can is sexy. It took me a while to get this ravishing can in my beer fridge, but now my fridge is totally hip. A Baltic Porter from the great Hops and Grain brewery in Austin and once again they hit it out of the park. The beer poured a pitch black with a decent tan head that left generous lacing. The aroma was full on sweet malt with a slight roast and little to no hop presence. Sweet chocolate and coffee hits you right out of the gate that transitions into a roasted malt that leaves a lingering malty bitterness on your palate. I got hints of smoke deep in the roast, but this brew truly highlights the malts. The Porter Culture was another highly drinkable brew and a full flavored and deep bodied Baltic porter. Very clean and refined and everything you want out of a Texas porter. I will be keeping a few of these in my fridge from now on, even if its just to raise the level of sexy. With Zoe, the Greenhouse IPA series and now Porter Culture, Hops and Grain are on a roll.

Hops and Grain Porter Culture

February 4, 2015

The Brü Revü – Victory Hop Ranch

Victory’s Hop Ranch Double IPA is one of their winter seasonals, and what a great seasonal it is. With all the spiced this and overdone that I prefer a straight up knock your socks off double IPA like the Hop Ranch. The beer poured a crystal clear light straw with a decent white head that left good lacing. The aroma was sweet and juicy tropical fruits with some grassy almost pilsner qualities. The flavor is where the Hop Ranch takes over your palate. Bursting with big beautiful tropical fruits on the front end thanks to the Mosaic hops this is a beast out of the gate. The flavor slowly evolves into a floral earthy sharpness that mimics a Pilsner on the back end and coats your tongue with a wonderful bitterness. The tropical fruitiness of this brew made it for me and while I was quickly downing my glass I realized how well the abv was hidden. A great beer from top to bottom, the Victory Hop Ranch is one Winter seasonal I will seek every year.

Victory Hop Ranch