June 25, 2015

The Brü Revü - Independence Brewing Red Bud

The Red Bud is Independence Brewing’s Berliner Weisse that has been getting rave reviews around Austin and now I can verify it’s great.  We are sorely lacking a good sour beer in a can, although the numbers have been increasing of late.  The Red Bud is Independence’s summer seasonal and a perfect beer for the Texas heat.  The beer poured an opaque straw yellow with a huge fluffy head that dissipated quickly.  The aroma was tart and bready with more of a musky wheat aroma with an added lemon wedge.  The taste had an assertive lemony tartness from the get go that allowed the bready wheat to peak through at mid palate and then only to return at the dry finish. The yeasty breadiness left it’s impression on my palate between sips but was immediately erased with each return quaff by the the acidic tartness.  I found Red Bud to be very light and the tart sourness to be very refreshing in the growing Texas heat.  An easy drinker that is a welcome addition to my beach and pool beer rotation. Although it seems to disappear from the stores quickly, it is nice to have a locally canned readily available Berliner Weisse.  Cheers to Independence!

Independence Brewing Red Bud



June 18, 2015

The Brü Revü - Lagunitas Equinox

Another new-ish beer from Lagunitas and of course I grabbed one.  The Equinox is a pale oat ale brewed with Equinox and Simcoe hops and with load of hoppy goodness as Lagunitas consistently brings.  Equinox hops are not a variety I am fully familiar with but I saw the notes of Eucalyptus and I was intrigued.  The brew poured a golden orange with a full and fluffy white head.  The aroma was spicy and hoppy with notes of fruity pine and spruce tips which was a different take than most hop heavy brews.  The first taste had a much milder hop bite than expected although is more fitting with the Pale Ale designation.  The hops emerge after the initial intake as the flavors encircle your tongue with resinous pine and some citrus fruit like hop undertones. The malt profile adds a touch of sweetness to this more subtle yet still hop forward pale ale.  The oats lend a fullness to the mouthfeel that is otherwise very medium bodied.  While not an overall hop overload its a wonderful beer and another great one from Lagunitas, who can do no wrong. Slightly sweet with a complementary woodsy spicy and piney hop bite that makes this another great one from Lagunitas.

Lagunitas Equinox



June 10, 2015

The Brü Revü - Stone Ruination Double IPA 2.0

When Stone announced they were retiring the original Ruination Double IPA it left many a hop head hanging. The Ruination for many was their introduction to heavy handed hop Heaven with its palate blistering hop overload that defined the style for years. With the ongoing development in the use of hops and the introduction of newer hop varieties Stone felt it was time to update its classic Double IPA to take advantage of new techniques such as hop bursting. The beer poured a deep golden amber with a full white head that left great lacing in its wake.  It was a great smelling beer with an aroma full of juicy tropical fruits and citrus with a little bit of dank thrown in that easily lean to the more modern takes on the style. The taste followed suit with loads of dank tropical fruits and citrus and a bit of pine that followed with the trademark aggressive hop punch that quickly took over my palate. It was great that the familiar mouth pummeling bitter hop overload was still present as that was what got all us hop heads hooked on the Ruination. The Ruination 2.0 definitely has a more updated hop profile while maintaining its trademark bracingly bitter and aggressive attitude.  A perfect update by Stone to classic beer. Having it in 6 packs is a huge plus as well as I will be picking this up on a regular basis.

Stone Ruination Double IPA 2.0



June 3, 2015

The Brü Revü - Karbach Hop Delusion

Karbach’s Double IPA Hop Delusion has grown quite a reputation in it’s native Houston, and now it is available as a summer seasonal in 4 pack cans.  With their increase distribution that includes Austin I was easily able to pick up some of this legendary brew. Coming in at over 100 IBU’s and dry hopped with an insane amount of Mosaic and Simcoe hops, the Hop Delusion packs a hoppy punch. The beer poured a deep orange amber with a significant white head that left decent lacing.  The aroma was deep and dank that was full of an oily resinous tropical fruity wonderland.  The taste followed with an onslaught of hops that began with a bracingly bitter assault on my palate that quickly became a dank and tropical fruit hop paradise.  The juicy tropical fruit tone gave way to a slight piney bitterness that coated my palate.  I found the Hop Delusion was tantalizingly delicious that kept me coming back for more bitter hoppy punishment.  Thank you sir may I have another! I have long been a Karbach fan and have always looked forward to having a few on my frequent visits to Houston.  The Hop Delusion has become my favorite in their lineup and it is easily on par with the top Double IPA’s in the region. A great local Double IPA is always a good thing and I look forward to picking this up all summer long.

Karbach Hop Delusion



June 1, 2015

Pint Glass Nights - June 2015

Misc. pint glass nights around Austin for June.  Buy the beer, keep the glass.
Gingerman – Mondays, at 6 PM
June 01  Rahr Summertime Wheat
June 08 Shiner Prickly Pear
June 15 Guinness Blonde
June 29 Brooklyn Summer Ale


Zax Pints and Plates – Wednesdays, at 6 PM
June 03  Hofbrau Hefeweizen
June 17 Independence Red Bud
June 24 Uinta Brewing
Flying Saucer  - Wednesdays, at 7 PM
June 03  Alaskan White Polar Bear Glass
June 10 Victory Summer Can GLass
June 17 Father’s Day Glass
June 24 TBD
Draught House – Wednesdays
Check their twitter page for glass updates
Red's Porch – Thursdays, at 6 PM, Check their events page for glass updates