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.

Visit the brewer.