The Brü Revü – Sierra Nevada Hoptimum

The Hoptimum is Sierra Nevada’s attempt at taking whole cone hop brewing to the extreme and this Double IPA is definitely aggressively hopped.  The aroma was of freshly cut grapefruit with a bit of honey lingering in the fringes. The taste was a relentless hop explosion that seeped into every square inch of my mouth.  It started with a clean bright citrusy hop that melded with a sweet malt honey flavor and ended with a resinous pine bitterness that lingered on my palate and would not let go.  The flavors mellowed a bit as it warmed and created quite the hop thrill ride. The mouthfeel was syrupy and substantial and the high ABV creeped up on me even after one glass.  The Hoptimum was an intense hop  experience that was worth the ride and my palate will never be the same.

Sierra Nevada Hoptimum

The Brü Revü – Squatters Hop Rising Double India Pale Ale

The Squatters Hop Rising came from a recent Beer Bums meeting and I remember it being one of my favorites. It's a double IPA from Squatters Brewery (Pub) which may be new to Austin as I have never seen them before. It poured a hazy orange with a little bit of sediment or something floating around with an aroma of hops and some sweet toffee malts. The taste had an initial strong vanilla and toffee malt with grapefruit hops that gives way to some piney resinous hops on the back end.  The piney hops lingered on my palate but was mellowed and smoothed out by the sweet malts. The Hop Rising was a wonderful introduction to Squatters and an overall excellent beer with a good creamy mouthfeel and dynamic flavor profile.

Squatters Hop Rising Double India Pale Ale

The Brü Revü – Deschutes Hop Henge Experimental IPA

I do not have a lot of experience with Deschutes Brewery, so I decided to try the Hop Henge on a whim and I am happy I followed the instinct. It poured an orange gold with a decent head and loads of citrusy hops in the aroma. The taste began with a grapefruit hop profile with sweet vanilla malt tones and a slightly piney finish that lingered on the palate.  There malty spine kept the Hop Henge from becoming completely overwhelming and gave it the perfect balance to make this a fantastic IIPA. There was a medium to full body on that made the brew satisfying and well rounded.  The Hop Henge is Deschutes’ attempt at making a truly hoptastic brew and they have definitely succeeded.

Deschutes Hop Henge Experimental IPA

The Brü Revü – Ommegang Belgian Style Pale Ale (BPA)

I have been having lots of Ommegang beers lately and that is not a bad thing. Ommegang has a great lineup of beers and I am continually impressed. Their Belgian Pale Ale is very similar to all of these Belgian IPAs that have been coming out in the past few years with the signature Belgian yeast and plenty of hops. The BPA poured a golden color with a robust head that lingered the entire sitting. The taste was light and peppy with plenty of bright carbonation that kept it easy to drink. The hops hit my tongue first with citrusy notes and the Belgian yeast flavors of cloves lingered on my palate. The BPA was a brilliantly balanced brew that kept things light while cleverly concealing its complexities.

Ommegang Belgian Style Pale Ale

Pint Glass Nights - May 2012

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

Gingerman – Mondays, at 6 PM
May 07       DeKoninck Amber
May 14      Rahr
May 21      Victory
May 28      Sam Adams

Draft Pick – Tuesdays, at 6:30 PM
Check their calendar for glass updates

The Tavern – Tuesdays
Check their facebook page for glass updates

Zax Pints and Plates – Wednesdays, at 6 PM
May 02       Franziskaner Hefe Weisse
May 09       Red Hook ESB
May 16       Independence Brewing
May 23      New Belgium
May 30         TBD

Flying Saucer  - Wednesdays, at 7 PM
May 02       Holy Grail
May 09       Young’s Double Chocolate Stout
May 16       Hob Gobblin
May 23      Beerknurd glass night
May 30         Estrella Damn