Beer Bums Meeting – February 2017

The February theme was open to interpretation, but everyone seemed to stick to the Valentine’s love theme.  A great variety with the Hibiscus Saison a pleasant surprise.  It’s super pink! Nooner was a nice interpretation too.  A few bonus beers rounded out the meeting with the Pineapple Austin Eastciders and the Real Ale Black Quad.

Sierra Nevada Nooner Pilsner

Adelbert's Whimsical Hibiscus Saison

Karbach Love Street Kolsch

Lakewood Raspberry Temptress

Saint Arnold  Icon Blue Chocolate Weizenbock

Austin Eastciders Pineapple Cider

Next Month, March - The Madness of March

Beer Bums Meeting – January 2017

Our meeting can run from 100 degrees and sunny to snow.  January was freezing, with no snow, but one of our coldest meetings nonetheless. We always kick off the year with our favorite beers of the previous year.  Mine was the Saint Arnold Art Car IPA, but all the offerings were great.  The Elysian Space Dust was a favorite from our Holiday Party and nice to try it again with a fresh palate.

Real Ale Devil's Backbone

Saint Arnold Art Car IPA

Big Bend Brewing La Frontera IPA

Elysian Space Dust IPA

Stone Americano Stout

Next Month, February - February themed beers??

Beer Bums Meeting – June 2016

Summer’s here, time for Summer beers!  All refreshing summer beers to beat the Texas heat.

Founders Mosaic Promise

Uinta Hop Nosh Tangerine IPA

Brooklyn Summer Ale

Buffalo Bayou Summer's Wit

Saint Arnold 5 O'Clock Pils

New Belgium Heavy Melon

Next Month, July – Fridge Favs

Beer Bums Meeting – March 2016

March and Spring beers. Why not.  Definitely a wide range of styles and beers with most being light in color and not overbearing.  Are we done with stouts already?.

903 The Chosen One

New Belgium Citradelic IPA

New Belgium Sunshine Wheat

Saint Arnold Art Car IPA

Saint Arnold Spring Bock

Uncle Billy's Barton Springs Pale Ale

4th Tap Long Walk Grapefruit IPA

Next Month, April – April Fools Beers (High ABV)

Beer Bums Meeting – January 2014 – Favorites of 2013

Our favorite beers of 2013.  Not always our complete favorites, but our favorite in a 6 pack, or one we found ourselves drinking with regularity.  Obviously some excellent selections in this group.  The Bishop’s Barrel 5 was a bonus, and what a bonus it was.  A bourbon barrel aged scotch ale that was phenomenal.

Ballast Point Sculpin

Hops & Grain The One They Call Zoe

Founders Breakfast Stout

Ballast Point Longfin Lager

Saint Arnold Bishop's Barrel 5

Next Month, February – Adelbert’s Brewery Tour

The Brü Revü - Top 13 Albums & Beers of 2013, Part 3

Stone Brewing Espresso Imperial Russian Stout

Josh Ritter - The Beast in its Tracks

Classics that expand on the originals.  Another coffee Stout, sure, but take the impeccable Stone IRS and add espresso at the hands of Stone and you have pure gold.  I am not ashamed to admit I like Josh Ritter and The Beast in its Tracks is a return to form.  Classic Josh Ritter songs from a great songwriter.

(512) FIVE

Wavves - Afraid of Heights

Fruits of their labor.  The (512) FIVE Imperial Stout was the perfect culmination of their past 5 years.  It was deep and rich with layers of complex flavors.  Afraid of Heights shows Wavves ever increasing songwriting prowess as it pushes his skills further into well crafted garage & indie rock gems.  This album kicks ass and has stayed in rotation on my playlists since its release.  

Saint Arnold Divine Reserve #13 - Belgian Quad

Telekinesis - Dormarion

Comfortable.  The Saint Arnold Divine Reserve #13 was a Belgian Quad that was expertly done.  It hit all the right notes and is like putting on a good pair of slippers.  There is something about a Telekinesis album that sounds familiarly nostalgic for me.  While he experimented more with his sound on Dormarion it’s still a perfect fit for my ears.  Now I just need to put on my robe and slippers, crank Dormarion up to 11 and sip my Belgian Quad while I bob my head.

Sixpoint 3Beans

Deerhunter - Monomania

Outrageously sophisticated.  3Beans was a phenomenal brew that pulled together the coffee, cocoa & romano beans expertly.  Monomania was Deerhunters return to punky garage rock that sounds divisively different than their previous effort, but with all the well-thought out and deliberate moves underneath the noise.  Both were well done and well executed.

See Part 1 Here
See Part 2 Here

Beer Bums Meeting – April 2013 – Seasonal Beers

There were some exceptional beers this month not counting the (512) special.  The Red Chair from Deschutes was a nice surprise, but I was not disappointed in any of the selections.  Now, the (512) Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter was something special.  Whiskey on the nose and flavor and nothing short of exceptional.

Deschutes Red Chair Northwest Pale Ale

Widmer Brothers Columbia Common

Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale

Samuel Adams Alpine Spring

Saint Arnold Spring Bock

(512) Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter

Next Month, April – Austin Beerworks Tour

The Brü Revü – Saint Arnold Divine Reserve #13

I normally don’t succumb to the beer phenomena that is the Saint Arnold Divine Reserve Series as it is usually gone before I get any.  With #13 Saint Arnold took on a Belgian Quad and with my fondness for Belgian Brews I decided to try a little harder.  I was lucky enough to walk into my local HEB and there it was, Divine.  The beer poured a very dark ruby brown with a slight tan head.  The aroma was a perfect Belgian quad with deep dark fruits and a bit of sweet Belgian yeast.  The taste was an excellent with Belgian yeast, sweet dark fruits, a bit of the chocolate malt and a slight warming from the alcohol.  All in all a great take on a Belgian quad and a great beer in general. It’s a shame it will be gone before I can get more and before more people get a chance to enjoy it, but the Divine Series is just that:  A Divine take on a single batch of beer. I can only hope Saint Arnold's will make beautiful brew available again similar to the Pumpkinator and Endeavour that got their start as a Divine Reserve.

Saint Arnold Divine Reserve #13

The Brü Revü – Saint Arnold Elissa IPA

The Saint Arnold Elissa IPA has to be my favorite Saint Arnold brew from their year round line-up.  It poured a nice golden amber with lots of floating sediment which seemed a little strange, but it did not detract from the brew.  The Elissa had a bitter hoppy flavor that was diligently balanced by a strong malt body.  It was a nicely balanced beer that didn’t try to overwhelm me with hops, but struck a delicate balance.  This is an easy drinking and thirst quenching IPA and a great introductory beer to the Saint Arnold Brewery.

Saint Arnold Elissa IPA‏

Beer Bums Meeting – February 2013 – Mardi Gras Beers

Mardi Gras beers allowed for a little creativity in the interpretation at least for some.  There are some obvious choices in the group too.   A fun month and the bonus Left Hand Wake Up Dead was exceptional.

Saint Arnold Santo
Victory Hop Devil
Dixie Beer
Abita Mardi Gras Bock
Left Hand Wake Up Dead Imperial Stout

Next Month, March – Pisces Beers

The Brü Revü – Saint Arnold Pumpkinator‏

The Saint Arnold Pumpkinator is sort of a mythical beer in Texas. It's supposed to be one of the best Texas brewed beers and the best beer by Saint Arnold, but it can be almost impossible to find. Basically the beer sells out almost the same day it is released so you can imagine how difficult it can be to find. I was somehow lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time as it was sitting on the shelves at my HEB so I had to grab one. I chose the weekend after Thanksgiving to crack it open since it was a pumpkin brew and seemed to fit the season. The Pumpkinator started as a Saint Arnold Divine Reserve #9 and is different than most pumpkin beers as it is an Imperial Stout as the base beer. It poured an opaque black with very little tan head. The aroma had a distinct spiciness over a sweet maltiness that reminded me of the liqueur BnB. There were hints of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg that were straight up pumpkin pie. The taste had those same spices but much more subdued and well balanced by the dark malty imperial stout. This was definitely a unique beer and the best Pumpkin beer and best Saint Arnold brew I have had. I'm happy I had this when I did as it fits the season well. I will definitely purchase the Pumpkinator in the future if I am lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time again. 

Saint Arnold Pumpkinator‏

Saint Arnold Summer Pils

Saint Arnold Summer Pils is a nice light beer to beat our summer heat. The Houston based brewery can make some great brews and is the elder statesmen of the Texas craft breweries. I have recently reviewed a few of the best Pilsners and the Saint Arnold version may not be be at their level, but it holds it own. The Summer Pils has a bright, light taste and body that helped beat the hot afternoon. There was enough flavor to keep things interesting and bold but without weighing itself down. The summer pils is a good addition to the local brew summer selection.

Saint Arnold Summer Pils

Beer Bums Meeting – June 2012 – Texas beers

I saw on some other blogs that they were taking a challenge for June to drink nothing but beers from their state.  I thought that was a good idea so our meeting was all Texas beers with bonus points for bringing and Austin beer.  The Texas craft beer scene just keeps getting better and this is a theme we will need to revisit. All good beers in this line-up with the Real Ale Devil’s Backbone always a favorite of mine.  Speaking of, looks like someone got a new label?  I brought the Hops and Grain Alt for the lone Austin representative.  Bonus points for me I suppose.

Real Ale Devil's Backbone
Rahr & Sons Bucking Bock
Hops & Grain Alt-eration Ale
Saint Arnold Elissa IPA
Saint Arnold Summer Pils

 










Next Month, July– 49 & 50 Beers  (Beers from Hawaii and Alaska)