The Brü Revü – Adelbert’s Scratchin’ Hippo

Adelbert’s is another new brewery to the Austin area, and their Scratchin’ Hippo is their version of a Biere de Garde.  I had it on draft at Red’s Porch and it came in its own special glass, see photos below.  It was a reddish copper color with a Belgian yeast and dark fruit aroma.  The taste was sweet caramel malts, fruit and Belgian yeasts with a slight earthy tang.  It was more subtle than the Shlafly biere de garde but with enough complexity to keep me interested and coming back for more.  The Sctachin’ Hippo was great especially for a new brewery and puts Adelbert’s firmly on my radar.

Adelbert’s Scratchin’ Hippo

The Brü Revü – Schlafly Bière de Garde

On a recent trip to St. Louis I was fortunate enough to have dinner at the Bridge Tap house and try a few beers.   It's a great wine and beer bar with a plethora of brews on draft and in a bottle. I wanted to try something local so my first choice was a Shlafly Biere de Garde.  Shlafly is a local St. Louis brewery with several outstanding beers and a Biere de Garde is a French farmhouse style that is similar to a Belgian Saison.  It was on draft and arrived a deep reddish copper color.  It had a sour fruity aroma that gave way to a sweet maltiness on the first taste.  As it warmed the fruity esters and sweet malts balanced themselves excellently and I easily finished my beer.  I thoroughly enjoyed the Biere de Garde which was a great introduction to Shlafly and a perfect welcome to St. Louis.

Schlafly Bière de Garde

 
Photo of the bar at Bridge Tap House & Wine Bar
99 bottles of beer on the wall....