Gotlandsdricka

I've been chiming in about this beer on Facebook and Twitter for the last couple of weeks, so i figured it was time to actually do a blog on the stuff.  Gotlandsdricka translates roughly to "Drink of the Good Land," and comes to us courtesy of central Texas brewery Jester King.  Aside from having one of the most awesome and creepiest bottle labels to ever grace a craft brew, the beer is pretty damn tasty too.  A farmhouse ale, the beer is brewed with rye, juniper, smoked malt, and birchwood.  It's got a light sour flavor to it and feels like it would go great paired with variety of cheeses.  Definitely worth your time, if anything just to feel like a Viking for a little while.

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Brother Thelonious Belgian Style Abbey Ale

Always a fan of Belgian style beers, i was happy to try Brother Thelonious from North Coast Brewing.  Aside from the awesome association with jazz pianist Thelonious Monk, the brewer donates money to the Monk Institute of Jazz in support of Jazz education for every bottle sold...and the beer is pretty damn good too.  Dark, sweet, and strong, the brew drinks very smoothly with heavy caramel malts and some light hops. Like most abbey ales, this one is pretty rich, but it is ridiculously easy to drink one after the other.  Watch out though, as the 9.4% ABV can always pack a punch.  Something good finally came out of California.  Hayo!

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And, as a bonus, enjoy an old performance of "Epistrophy" below.

Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout

Although here in central Texas, our weather has been all over the map lately (25 degree low on Wednesday and a 72 degree high today), i'm giving myself over to my usual ilk of winter beers, that is to say, porters and stouts will be filling my belly for the upcoming months.  That being said, Colorado's Great Divide Brewing Co. has just thing soothe my craving for heavier libations, their delicious Yeti Imperial Stout.  The brew is dark, with a nice frothy head that dissipates quickly, but carries the aroma and flavor of cocoa or dark chocolate along with coffee and roasted malts.  The Yeti has a creamy taste with blends of the aforementioned chocolate and coffee, as well as some hints of toffee and caramel.  The sweetness combines well with the hops giving it a smooth and rich feel and taste.  And it's no slacker in the alcohol department either (9.5% ABV).  All in all, the beer is an excellent stout.  Kudos to the kids at Great Divide.

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Avery Samael's Oak Aged Ale

Now this is what i've been waiting for.  The good peeps and brew masters over at Avery Brewing Co. in Colorado have unleashed a series of "Demon Ales" upon an unsuspecting populace of beer drinkers.  And so we have Samael's Oak Aged Ale.  To start, this thing is over 15% ABV, so it packs a punch.  Taste wise, the first thing that hits the palette is a ton of caramel, followed by some hints of vanilla.  The malts take control of this beer, putting the hops in the backseat.  It's sweet, but not too sweet, as there seem to be some bittering agents in the mix to make the beer more complete.  All in all, it's a pretty tasty brew...and not to be trifled with.  The aroma is oak and pure alcohol.  It almost smells like caramel and scotch, and i wholeheartedly approve of that.

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Shiner Cheer

We're officially into the holiday season and i know this for a multitude of reasons.  Namely, Santa Claus is in a boatload of commercials and Shiner Cheer is now available at the grocery store.  We are known to drink the occasional "dessert beers" around here, and they're usually heavy, syrupy concoctions that taste delicious, but can lay you out for the rest of the evening.  Shiner Cheer is much lighter (5.4% ABV), a Dunkelweizen that's brewed with pecans and peaches.  The peach flavor is very noticeable, almost shockingly so at first, but eventually is backed by hints of pecan and caramel, and some decent hops to give it some bite and depth.  If you're not a peach fan, this brew is not for you, but if you like to shake things up a little with your beer choices, this one won't steer you wrong.  Have one in the kitchen with your family, or watching college football.  Cheers.

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Rogue Pumpkin Patch Ale

So, i've just got to get in one more pumpkin beer before the season is officially over.  And what a way to go out.  The Pumpkin Patch Ale from Oregon's Rogue Brewery is one of the best pumpkin ales that i've ever had the fortune of imbibing.  The beer pours a dark amber with a decent, diminishing head on it.  The aroma is a nice mix of pumpkin, malts, and some floral hops, and the taste is a perfect blend of pumpkin spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, caramel, malts, and just enough hops to even the whole thing out.  To be honest, the flavor is what knocks this one out of the park.  The balance of all the ingredients is dead on, giving the brew a fantastic taste.  And it goes down smooth.  Chatoe Rogue?  Chatoe indeed.

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Real Ale Brewer's Cut Black Quadruple

Man, even typing out the name of this delicious beer makes me want to drink more of it.  The brilliant brew masters over at Real Ale Brewing Co. have really outdone themselves this time around with their Brewer's Cut Black Quadruple, a malty Belgian-style Quadruple.  The beer is very dark, but amazingly smooth to drink.  It starts out pretty sweet with all the hints of caramel and chocolate mixing very nicely with the malts and subtle hops.  One thing in particular that i really dig about this beer is that as you drink it, you can begin to taste an almost whiskey-like flavor that's not there at first.  Swirl the beer a bit like you would a wine, and you can smell the alcohol as well.  It gives the bottom of the glass a kind of oomph.  And at 10.8% ABV, it's the perfect end for a cold winter night.

If you are able to get a hold of some of this beer, i cannot recommend it enough.

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Rogness Gigantophis Imperial IPA

Since you can't throw a rock without hitting a new upstart brewing company here in the Austin area, i never seem to be at a lack for different local beers to try out.  One of the newest, Rogness Brewing Company, has released an excellent IPA called Gigantophis.  It's delicious.  Unlike most IPA's that i've tried, where the hoppy flavors punch you in the mouth from the get go and then subside, leaving hints of sweetness, Gigantophis starts out sweet at first taste, and then the bitter hops come charging afterwards like the Calvary.  The bitterness lasts to the end, but the initial sweet flavor added with the pine and caramel aromas make for a very drinkable 9% ABV double IPA.  Well done sirs.

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Saint Arnold's Pumpkinator

I love pumpkin beers.  I love stouts.  Do i love the pumpkin stout that is Saint Arnold's Pumpkinator?  You're damn right i do.  All i can say is that there is a reason this stuff sells out so quickly.  The pumpkin pie aroma is evident the second the cap is removed, and it only gets better from there.  The beer pours like a good solid stout with minimum head, and upon first taste is a lovely mix of roasted malt, followed by pumpkin spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and some hints of coffee, chocolate, and sweet, sweet molasses.  The brew weighs in at 10% ABV, but you wouldn't know it at first as it goes down smooth.  As the beer warms, the alcohol content becomes more evident (which is a good thing), and towards the end of the glass you can start to taste some subtle waves of oak and whiskey.  Bar none, this is probably the best pumpkin beer i've ever had, albeit a very difficult one to locate as i'm apparently not the only one who feels this way.  Houston finally does us right.

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Wells & Young's Banana Bread Beer

Nobody makes ales like the Brits make ales.  Wells & Young's Banana Bread Beer is no exception.  At first, it feels like it might be a little intense, but to that i say "Hogwash!"  The beer is a golden pale with a nice frothy head, and the aroma of banana bread is immediately evident upon pouring.  And, it's the first thing you taste too.  The first swig of beer is booming with banana flavor that becomes a little more subtle as you drink a little bit more.  After the initial "bananarama," the caramel flavors and the hints of spicy hops take hold to make it a more complete brew.  All in all, it's a wonderful change of pace from your usual ale, and definitely an Autumn brew.

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Deschutes Jubelale

So maybe it's not even Halloween yet, and maybe i'm getting too early of a head start on some of the winter beers that are beginning to pop up all over town, but what the hell?  It gets to be about 70 degrees around here, and people start wearing sweaters and scarves, so why not imbibe some holiday tonics?  Oregon's Deschutes Brewery never disappoints with their annual Jubelale, a robust malty and spicy winter ale.  The initial taste feels heavier than the actual brew, like a nice cocoa (sans the chocolate flavor), but then the subtle hops kick in around the malts, and the beer settles down into a nice, smooth ale.  You could probably drink this year round, but it goes best with a nip in the air.

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Saint Arnold's Oktoberfest

Like i wasn't going to talk about an Oktoberfest brew before the month was up.  And so we have an offering from Houston's Saint Arnold Brewing Company that is pretty tasty.  Coppery in color, sweet in aroma, and at first taste, the sweet malts drown out the hops to give the beer a slight caramel flavor.  The hops are there though, just under the surface.  All in all, the Oktoberfest is a refreshing brew that's remarkably (dangerously) easy to drink.  I recommend pairing it with a sausage or two.

(That last sentence was in no way intended as a sexual pun...perverts.)

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Adelbert's Flyin' Monk

Oh Austin, and your penchant for local breweries.  So many have popped up over the last five years, and they continue to do so, and i hope that's a steady trend.  I've mentioned Adelbert's before, a brewery of interesting beers with interesting names (all based on a story told by the brew master's deceased brother).  I am a fan.  And my new favorite is the the Flyin' Monk, a dark Belgian-style quadruple ale that's fermented with oak rum chips.  Those chips make all the difference.  They give the beer a hint of hard alcohol aroma.  It's almost like a nice, smooth scotch.  At first taste, you get the feel of the liquor flavors, but they're paired with an easy sweetness that makes the beer far easier to drink than it should be.  It's delicious.  The Flyin' Monk is a perfect post-meal beer, although it would go great with a fruit or cheese plate, and with a 10.9% ABV, one bomber will do you.

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UFO Pumpkin Ale

Pumpkin ale is an acquired taste.  I must say that one i acquired it, i never looked back.  I can't get enough of the stuff.  It's the first sign that football season is beginning and that the temperature is finally gonna drop a few degrees.  And so we have UFO Pumpkin Ale from Massachusetts' Harpoon Brewery.  It's not my favorite (that distinction belongs to Buffalo Bills), but it will do in a pinch.  The malts give the beer a smooth, sweet flavor, while the hops give it just the right amount of beer bitterness.  Neither of these out does the pumpkin flavor.  Since the beer is unfiltered, the pumpkinny taste weighs pretty heavy over the brew, but combines nicely with the malts to give the beer almost a pumpkin pie taste.  All in all, an awesome Autumn drink.

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Live Oak Pilz

I was fortunate enough this weekend to get to hang out and party with a good group of friends.  Needless to say, a bevy of beers were consumed.  And so we have the Live Oak Pilz from Live Oak Brewery, made right here in Austin, Texas.  Rather than give you my own take on the beer, i'll paraphrase my old friend John (a fellow beer enthusiast), as he pretty much nailed it with his comments.  The brew started bitter, but ended with a sweetness, unlike many other pilsners that have a tendency to finish bitter, almost skunky even.  This made the Pilz really easy to drink.  It defines the way a good pilsner should taste.  He went on to add that it's the best pilsner style beer he's ever had.  I kind of have to agree with him there.  I'd pair it with anything, and it's great for all seasons.

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Rogue Rebel Hop

I'm afraid i didn't really get a chance to try any new beers this week, after having to head back to the salt mines after our trip to San Francisco.  But, i did get to try a number of beers while on my trip, and Rogue Brewery's Rebel Hop was easily one of my favorites.  It's an American style IPA that was smooth enough to down (quite) a few, but just hoppy enough to let you know what you're messing with.  Added with the hop flavor, i want to say was a hint of apricot that worked marvelously.  I want to drink this beer again, although unfortunately from what i understand, it was a one-off only served on draft, and only available on the West Coast (as Rogue is located in Oregon).  So, to any of my friends in the Pacific Northwest (you know who you are), grab a pint of the Rebel Hop before it's all gone.

And when in San Francisco, be sure to pop into the Rogue Ales Bar at the corner of Powell and Union.

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Drake's 1500 Pale

Okay California, give me what you got.  On my recent excursion to the Bay area, i was treated to Drake's 1500 Pale, a fantastic pale ale from Drake's Brewing out of San Leandro, California.  The beer was very smooth, hoppy and bitter at first taste, but then sweeter as i proceeded to drink.  All in all, as perfect a pale ale as i can think of.  Pair it with some seafood (or some Vietnamese Fusion as was the case with me), and you're looking at a great combo for dinner.

Oh, and does drinking beer out of a wine glass make it classier?  No, but i'll admit i kind of liked it.

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Hops & Grain Brewery

 It seems that whenever a free Saturday comes my way, i venture out into the sunlight to visit one of Austin's numerous small breweries.  Last Saturday, i made the journey to Hops & Grain with my wife and my mom in tow.  Located right at the far end of East 6th St. once you run out of road, it's hard to miss.  The staff was friendly, the tap room was quaint, and the beers were flowing.  Aside from the always excellent Alt-eration Ale and Pale Dog, the brewery also offered up their last keg of Half Nelson IPA which was delicious.  Everyone should check this joint out when the chance arises, and seeing that Hops & Grain is also the only brewery around who offers an open tap room two days a week (Fri 2-6pm, Sat 12-4pm), you've got ample time to enjoy some good brews.

This is where magic happens.

 So, support your local breweries and drink all the wonderful beers they have to offer.

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Guadalupe Texas Honey Ale

After reading about the White House's home brewed honey ale, i found myself craving something i had never actually imbibed, and thus was pleasantly surprised while visiting Bangers (a new Austin sausage and beer garden) to discover the Guadalupe Texas Honey Ale from New Braunfels' Guadalupe Brewing.  I was impressed.  The beer is sweet, but not too sweet, combining the usual malt and caramel flavors of a good ale  with a touch of honey.  And i must say it went down smooth.  So honey ale...i am a fan.  Now if someone can get Obama to bottle his stuff and ship me a case.

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Thirsty Planet Buckethead IPA

I keep meaning to branch out into the wonderful world of beers that are not brewed in my city, but damn it, i seem to discover a new one i love every other day.  Thirsty Planet's Buckethead IPA is as perfect an example of that style of brew that i could possibly conceive of.  The aroma of spicy and bitter hops is there, but it's ultimately misleading, as the flavor of said hops is enough to pop you in the mouth.  The Buckethead does not mess around.  That being said, i'd recommend this for fans of the bitter, but for curious adventurists, there is enough added sweetness to round the whole thing out.  Yum.

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Real Ale Hans' Pils

I find myself waffling back and forth on what my favorite summertime brew is.  On the one hand, i love a good IPA, on the other, i dig the straight up pale ales, but i also find myself imbibing any number of rye ales, lagers, and specialty brews.  And yet i keep coming back to the good old pilsner.  Real Ale's latest Hans' Pils is a spicy, hoppy masterpiece just waiting for your consumption.  It's tasty, got a 5.3% ABV, and goes down like the best of backyard beers.  I love it.  And my mouth is starting to water just looking at the picture above.

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How can i get one of these?: White House Honey Ale

Not sure what we need to do in order to get our hands on one of these White House micro-brews, but i'll gladly give the President one of my (currently carbonating) home brewed rye summer ales for what he's got.

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Hops & Grain Pale Dog

It's that time of the summer where it becomes a trial to even walk outside to get to your car.  The time of summer where after 5 minutes, i'm sweating like i've been sitting in a sauna.  What could possibly put out that fire?  Austin's Hops & Grain Brewery and their Pale Dog Pale Ale is just the sort of libation one needs to beat this 100 degree heat.  At first sip, you get a lot of the bitter hops taste that then gradually turns a little bit sweet with some subtle grapefruit flavoring, and maybe even a hint of lemon.  And it goes down smooth.  All in all, the beer is super refreshing, and it comes in cans, so you can pretty much take it with you wherever you want to go (Note: we do not condone drinking and driving).

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Great Divide Rumble Oak Aged IPA

So, apparently yesterday (August 2nd) was IPA Day.  Who knew?  Certainly not me until i went to dinner at a local brew pub and was informed with a flight of 5 different IPA samplings.  And, while they were all great, the one that stuck out the most was the Rumble Oak Aged IPA from Colorado's Great Divide Brewing Co. For an IPA, it was a pretty mellow beer.  The hops were definitely there, but there was also slight vanilla and caramel flavor from aging in the oak barrels.  There was also an undertone of citrus.  All in all, quite a delicious beer, and a perfect pairing for bar food and a hot summer day.

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Visit Black Star Co-op (the aforementioned local brew pub).

MIkkeller Monk's Brew

There's something awesome in Denmark.  The Mikkeller Brewery is a Danish beer maker and server that travels the world like a band of brewing gypsies, slinging their libations at those fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time.  Currently, the gallivanting brew masters have taken up with local Austin brewery Jester King to create and collaborate on some great beers.  The Monk's Brew is a dark ale, bustling with a high alcohol content and the sweet flavors of caramel and toffee.  There's a little bit of spice along with the sweet, but the sugary feeling prevails.  Enjoy this one post-meal (maybe as a desert).  While it's probably not the most summery of brews, keep a bottle handy for when the fall finally rolls around.

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Alaskan Birch Bock

And so, a good buddy saw fit to send good tidings my way from the Northwest in the form of the Alaskan Birch Bock, a Doppelbock brewed with Alaska birch syrup from the Alaskan Brewing Company.  I love their beers, but see as i live in Texas, my options are limited, and i certainly don't have access to a limited edition brew.  So thanks John.  I owe you one.

As for the beer itself, welcome to desert.  The added syrup makes this a really sweet number.  You can taste the malts and caramel and honey flavors throughout.  I imagine the beer would be fantastic with a piece of cake and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  Yeah.  That would hit the spot.  Be wary though, as the 8.5% ABV can hit you if you're not careful.

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Testing Testing Pale Ale, or How i learned to stop worrying and love my own brew

My own delicious creation

After a brief hiatus due to some technical difficulties, we are back, and drinking beer like always.  This time around, i thought i would do something a little different, and write about my first foray into home brewing.  And so, i bring you the Testing Testing Pale Ale.  My wife and i had a lot of nervousness going in to this.  I was positive it would be awful.  I was wrong.  The beer was (we drank it all) pretty damn tasty, if i do say so myself.  Pouring the brew out of a 22 Oz. bottle, the first pint was super crisp and hoppy, pretty much what you'd expect from a pale ale.  Working our way through the bottle though, the second half seemed to get a little murkier (seeing as it's a home brewed, unfiltered concoction, there was nothing to worry about).  This second half was sweeter and not as hop flavored, but still good.

So, all in all, way to go us.  I highly encourage anyone with an interest in beer to give home brewing a try.  It was like doing a science experiment.  A lot of fun, and the end result is delicious.

Since there's no brewery to visit, check out Austin Homebrew Supply for everything you'll need.

512 IPA

Who doesn't enjoy some spicy hops during the long summer days?  Quite a few people from what i've deduced.  The kick in the palette that can come with an IPA can sometimes be a bit much.  That being said...i am a fan of kicks in the palette.  And so we have Austin's 512 Brewing Company and their fantastic 512 IPA.  As far as the India Pale Ale goes, this one's actually pretty smooth.  The hops are there, but they're not overpowering, and there's an added citrus punch to the brew that makes the beer go down way easier than it probably should.  It's the perfect compliment to pretty much any kind of food pairing you can think of.  I had two with my dinner tonight, and my only real regret was not ordering a third.  It doesn't come in the bottle though, so it's off to the bars with you.

I may bitch about Californian transplants in Austin, but these cats have done alright.

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Brewery tour: Jester King

 I work most Saturdays during the year (because i'm a sucker), but every now and then, i manage to squeeze a full weekend off, and when i do, i inevitably end up at a brewery imbibing the local wares.  And so, two days ago, i made my way to one of my favorite Austin brewers, Jester King.

To begin, we could not have gotten a better day for it.  It was warm, but overcast, so it was pretty comfortable out at the ranch/farm that is Jester King Brewery.  There were some people out, but plenty of picnic tables, a live band, three tours of the facility, and six different brews to taste.

Barrels and barrels of deliciousness.

 Here are the beers we tried (as described by the loving brewers themselves):

- Le Petit Prince (Organic Farmhouse Table Beer) - A clear and simple expression of the delicate interplay between noble hops and farmhouse yeast.  Throughout Northern Europe, light-bodied, well-hopped, low alcohol table beers were often the beverage of choice with all meals at times and in places where the water wasn't always safe to drink.  2.9% ABV

- Noble King (Organic Hoppy Farmhouse Ale) - Medium strength, dry, golden ale brewed with our farmhouse yeast, and , as its name suggests, an abundance of noble, European hops.  Thoroughly hoppy, yet elegant, dry, balanced, and drinkable.  5.9% ABV

- Drink'In The Sunbelt (Organic Hoppy Wheat Beer) - This collaboration with Mikkeller (a travelling European brew master) is a flavorful citrussy-hoppy wheat beer partially inspired by one he previously brewed in Europe called Drink'In The Sun.  3.9% ABV

- Boxer's Revenge (Organic Wild Ale) - Full-flavored, dry, champagne-like farmhouse ale, matured in oak whiskey and wine barrels with naturally occurring wild yeast and bacteria from the Texas Hill Country.  Look for lots of tropical fruit and funk, with a tart, earthy edge.  9.4% ABV

- Weasel Rodeo (Imperial Oatmeal Stout) - The second collaboration with Mikkeller is brewed with smoked malt, chipotle pepper, and the infamous Kopi Luwak coffee (you'll have to look up why it's infamous).  Despite the broad range of ingredients, one should find a balance in the subtle complexities of rich earthy flavors and aromas.  10.1% ABV

- Haandbryggeriet (Norwegian Wood Smoked Ale) - Once, every farm in Norway was required by law to brew its own ale.  All of that ale had a naturally smoky taste because the malt was kilned by fire, and most of it was spiced with juniper berries.  Norwegian Wood, a recreation of that traditional style, is made by the "Hand Brewery," four guys brewing in their spare time, on an absurdly small scale.  6.5% ABV

Look at him...He loves it.

 While i enjoyed all the different beers, my top three were the Drink'In The Sunbelt, the Weasel Rodeo, and the Haandbryggeriet (Norwegian Wood).  I can't wait to go back (the beer lineup changes every week).

What an awesome Saturday.

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Hops & Grain Alt-eration Ale

So many local beers to try.  I swear it's like they multiply daily.  Looking for some good German-style brew to quench the thirst during these long summer months?  Look no further than the Alt-eration Ale from Austin's Hops & Grain Brewery.  It's a really crisp and malty brew, bitter in all the right ways, and it just tastes classic (for lack of a better term).  Think about when you were a teenager, and you had this preconceived notion of what beer was supposed to taste like.  A notion that would then be shattered after shot-gunning your first can of Keystone Light.  And you thought, "Hmm, this wasn't what i was expecting, but at least it gets me drunk."  Remember that?  Well, had we been exposed to the Alt-eration instead, our notions and expectations would have been met.  And it would have been wonderful.  This is beer.  Well done.

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Jester King Mad Meg Farmhouse Provision Ale

I swear, half the fun of drinking a beer from Austin's Jester King Brewery is the awesome label art (see Black Metal Stout).  Another, at least for their latest edition, the Mad Meg Farmhouse Provision Ale, is the stellar alcohol content, in this case, a whopping 9.5% ABV.  The name "Mad Meg" comes from Flemish folklore.  She was a peasant woman who lead an army of fellow women to pillage hell.  That's awesome.  As far as the taste goes, it's got a traditional feel of spicy hops and some humbling malts to settle the whole thing together.  But be warned, this beer tastes strong...because it is.  And it's oh so lovely.

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Widmer Brothers Kill Devil Brown Ale

Every now and then, i try a new beer that lets me know from the get go, that it will knock me on my ass if i'm not careful.  And so we have the 9.5% ABV Kill Devil Brown Ale, the 6th limited edition beer in the Widmer Brothers Brewery's Reserve series.  It's got that dark roasted flavor and aroma that you get from aging beer in a barrel, and almost feels like you're drinking a sweet, light, carbonated Scotch.  This is a good thing.  It's a tasty beer.  Now, normally, i try to shy away from the direct description given by the brewer, but this time around, reading that was what made me try this beer...

"Kill Devil Brown Ale's flavor come from the use of ingredients traditionally used by Caribbean distillers. Sweet Barbados and Blackstrap Molasses provide touches of toasted sugar, black licorice and blackened toffee while the palm sugars invite notes of subtle sweetness. As the beer conditions in Puerto Rican rum barrels, the vanilla and subtle oak flavors and aromas develop and integrate with the Calypso hops' soft tropical and stone fruit aromas."

I could never have said it better myself.  As far as food pairings go, i wouldn't do it.  This is a sipping beer that's meant to be enjoyed all on its own.  Apparently they know what they're doing in Oregon.

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Franconia Dunkel

Ah, German style beer.  Ah, German style dark beer...and from Texas of course.  We're certainly known for our German brews around these parts (even in the northern parts of the state).  Enter Franconia Brewing Company from McKinney, Texas, and their delicious Dunkel.  It's a dark ("dunkel") brewed lager using an awesome blend of different German malts as well as the obligatory spicy hops for kick.  The beer goes down pretty smooth, as it's fairly sweet, and ends with some light cocoa flavors at the bottom of the brew.  There is a bit of a tangy aftertaste, akin to what you'd get after drinking a Newcastle Brown Ale, but the Dunkel is lighter and feels more like spring time.  It would probably go great with a burger.

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Circle Brewing Company and the Wryteous Rye-Wheat I.P.A. - A Special Report

 Although we try to limit ourselves to trying only one new beer a week (we're not alcoholics after all, just alcohol-enthusiasts), the time and opportunity occasionally presents itself to imbibe a new brew.  Brewery tours and open houses pretty much beg for this.  And thus, we went and visited Austin's own Circle Brewing Company and their first open house to celebrate the release of their latest creation, the Wryteous Rye-Wheat I.P.A.  And...it was fantastic.  Unlike the majority of I.P.A.'s that i've tried, this one was not overly bitter.  Sure, the hops and bitter flavors were there, but they were combined with a sweetness that reminded me more of a summer pale ale, or at times, even a light Hefewiesen.  It was perfect for the heat of the early afternoon, and i might add, that it went great with the hot dog i ate out there (The Evil Wiener).  So, congratulations Circle Brewing, you've just created my new favorite beer!  I look forward to drinking many of them in the near future.

Rows and rows of kegs...nice.

And that is the refreshing and delicious elixir of the gods below...

Circle Brewing Wryteous Rye-Wheat IPA

 And there's some goofball with his new found love...

Shocked and amazed at how good it is.

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Southern Star Bombshell Blonde Ale

Texas brews...Texas brews...so many Texas brews.  I love it.  We recently tried the Bombshell Blonde Ale from Houston's Southern Star Brewery, a lovely version of a classic style beer.  The hops are mild and not too bitter, and the beer's got a really good malt flavor going for it, where you get an almost sweet taste at the end, and is a smooth drink from start to finish.  Probably too smooth, as it's a cinch to down one after the other.  All in all, this a great summer time beer, perfect to enjoy in the middle of the day in the sunshine.  (I won't tell your boss.)

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Austin Beerworks Pearl Snap Pils

Lately it seems that every year, Austin gets more and more breweries to choose from.  And that's about as awesome as anything you can think of.  Austin Beerworks has been around for a couple of years and are at the forefront of abandoning your fancy-schmancy bottles in favor of the aluminum can...the peoples' way to drink beer.  At the head is the delicious and refreshing Pearl Snap, a German-style Pilsner.  This is your basic everyday beer.  It goes with anything...BBQ, Mexican food, cigarettes.  You name it.  To me, it tastes like drinking a beer with your dad after spending a Saturday afternoon mowing the lawn.  And that's as fine of an endorsement as anything i can think of.

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Adelbert's Naked Nun

Always happy to find a local brew that tastes as good as this one.  Austin's own Adelbert's Brewery (named after the brew master's deceased brother) makes a variety of different beers, each with their own back story.  The Naked Nun is a Belgian Style Wit Ale with hints of orange and coriander in the mix.  It gets its name from a story involving Adelbert getting robbed and stripped only to find aid from a group of Colombian nuns.  It's pretty easy to drink and goes down very smooth.  While this is an exceptionally good beer, i'd say that the spices make it feel like a late autumn or winter beverage.  It's not really a summer time beer.  And, apparently that's my thing right now.

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Alaskan Summer Ale

And we now have a nominee for my new favorite beer for the summertime...Alaskan Summer Ale.  The good folks at Alaskan Brewing Co. deliver the goods on this Kolsch-style brew, a perfect mix of hops and malts that complement each other in the best possible way.  Damn, this beer is refreshing.  There are hints of fruit and sweetness that don't overpower, making this a ridiculously easy beer to drink.  As far as food pairings go, i'd recommend it with anything.  I know i throw this out there a lot, but this is a perfect beer to beat the heat...and we can now get the stuff in Austin.  Hazaa!

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Real Ale Devil's Backbone

It's May.  And we're in Austin.  It's only going to get hotter, so i must divert myself away from the usual dark and heavy brews i love so.  Bring on the crisp and refreshing pale ales my friends.  Texas's own Real Ale Brewing Company unleashed their yearly batch of Devil's Backbone, a Belgian style Tripel ale.  It's a wonderful mix of malts and hops with a blend of sweet sugars, and served ice cold, is wonderful for these upcoming long and sweaty days.  But, be wary.  The 8.1% alcohol by volume content can pack a wallop you were not expecting.  It is a damn good beer though, the kind of brew i start thinking about around 4PM when i'm still at work, as if it's calling me from my refrigerator.  Ahhh.

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Victory Summer Love Ale

With the onset of summer around the corner (or 2 days ago for Austin), sweet, lightly hopped brews from all over the country are starting to surface.  The pale ale is generally the king of BBQ season, and we've got a pretty good one from Pennsylvania's Victory Brewing Company.  The Summer Love Ale uses German and European hops with some pale malts to create a light, crisp, and casually hoppy beer.  It's an easy transition from the basic lagers that accompany most Barbecues and has just enough bitter hop flavor to grab the IPA fan that wants something a little smoother.  Remember, it's already 90 degrees outside, and damn it, we need something refreshing.  At any rate, the Summer Love Ale is a pretty good way to relax and forget about how much you're sweating.  Ahh.

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Rogue Mocha Porter

Hailing from Oregon's Rogue Ales Brewery, the Mocha Porter is a great, dark porter to finish a meal with.  Like a lot of the brews we drink around here, it's a dessert beer.  The hints of chocolate and coffee in the mix add a flavorful kick to the usual malts and hops, but to me, the coffee taste outweighed the chocolate.  That's not a bad thing, but if you're expecting a big chocolate kick, you won't get it.  When all is said and done though, this is a great beer to end the night with, post meal, at the pub or at home on the sofa.

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LIve Oak Schwarzbier

Live Oak Brewery's Schwarzbier.  This is as central Texas a beer as you're likely to find anywhere.  By that, i mean there's just something about the brew that screams Bar-B-Q and Germany.  In fact, my first feeling was that there was just something super German about this delicious beer-on-tap.  It's a dark lager that has hints of ruby red color in the light, a crisp, carbonated feel, and enough roasted malts and slightly bitter hops to go with any meal (and/or a movie for that matter).  At times you can taste subtle hints of different spices that then subside under the more traditional malt and hop flavors.  I could drink this everyday.  You win again Live Oak.  You win again.

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