Southern Tier Choklat

Apparently, tis the season for chocolate beers in my house.  I've been on a kick lately.  One of the best that i've imbibed thus far is the Choklat Imperial Stout from New York's Southern Tier Brewing.  It's a monster.  The beer pours a dark black with a mocha head, giving off a dominant aroma of dark chocolate.  The taste is chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, but with some burnt malts, alcohol, and some back end tartness to round the whole thing out.  It's a perfect dessert beer...and it's 10% ABV.  Pair it with some cheese, mint candies, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

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Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale

The winter months increase my cravings for dark, strong beers tenfold.  Stouts, porters, and such make their daily rounds over my palette...and into my belly.  And scotch ales.  I love the scotch ales.  Maybe it's the hints of bourbon and alcohol flavors.  Maybe it's the sweetness and bite.  I don't know.  But they sure do win me over every year.  Founders Brewery out of Grand Rapids, Michigan has a tasty offering called the Dirty Bastard.  The beer is a dark and inviting mahogany with a light head, aromas of malts, dark fruits, some banana, and alcohol.  As far as flavor, there's some subtle spices mixed in with the mildly sweet fruits, alcohol, and hoppy back end.  Probably one of the better scotch ales i've had in a while.  Oh, and at 8.5% ABV, you know you've got a good night ahead of you.

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Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

Nothing says winter and the holidays like some good stouts, and the Black Chocolate Stout from Brooklyn Brewery is pretty damn good.  This dark brew pours black with a thin head, but plenty of carbonation to give the beer a little kick.  The aroma is one of chocolate, coffee, toffee, nuts, dark fruits, and some subtle hints of alcohol (bourbon or scotch).  The taste is surprisingly crisp with bitter, dark chocolate overtones, and some slight, fruity sweetness on the back end.  Celebrate with this guy pre or post meal (it is 10% ABV after all), a fine winter's treat.

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Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale

I actually tried this guy a few weeks ago, and i'm just now getting around to writing about it.  Also i've been a little sick.  And i'm busy.  Who are you to judge?  Get off my back!  Whew!  Now that that unpleasantness is out of the way, on to the beer.  Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale from Shipyard Brewing out in Portland, Maine is a pretty serviceable pumpkin ale.  It's not too flashy, but it doesn't really need to be.  The brew pours a light amber and gives off an aroma of nutmeg, cinnamon, and pumpkin.  As for taste, seasonal spices, a hint of bitterness, and some sweetness on the back end.  Overall, a decent beer for the fall.

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The Dude White Russian Stout

So long as craft brews and brewpubs remain in vogue, i will continue to be the happiest of campers.  One of Austin's locals, Pinthouse Pizza, recently put out a one-off batch of The Dude White Russian Stout.  What can i say?  It was creamy, chocolatey, hoppy, and strong as hell.  At over 10% ABV, this beer does not mess around.  But the aroma and flavor of chocolate and toffee, and the back end bite from the hops really round the whole thing out.  Here's hoping this makes it into regular rotation.

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Rogness Belfort

Upstart Texas brewery Rogness has been going strong about two years now, and have started to release a series of reserve, one-off batches of beer.  The Belfort is a Belgian style strong ale, and it was a pretty tasty one to boot.  The beer pours a nice crimson amber with a moderate white head that dissipates quickly.  The brew smells of caramel, dark fruits, banana, and some hints of toffee.  Flavor wise, the beer keeps with the aspects of its aroma, with some added breadiness and a light vanilla.  It finishes nicely and would go great with a meat and cheese plate...and we're smack in the middle of prime meat and cheese plate season.

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Abita Pecan Harvest Ale

I think it's wonderful that you can tell the change in seasons by the different kinds of seasonal brews that start to hit the shelves.  Pumpkin ales and Oktoberfest brews signal the start of Autumn, while Christmas ales and beers brewed with pecans or other nuts or spices start making the rounds for Winter time.  Louisiana's Abita Brewing's Pecan Harvest Ale is a tasty treat for weather that's starting to get a bit nippy.  The beer pours a nice, brownish amber with an aroma of roasted nuts and malts.  The taste is sweet with hints of caramel throughout, recalling the candied pecan dishes that begin to make the rounds this time of year, but not too sweet.  Overall, a very well-rounded beer.  Cheers.

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Renaissance Cowboy Scotch Ale

There's nothing like a good scotch ale to chase down your dinner with, relax after work with, or just end an evening.  And the good folks over at Texas Big Beer (out in Buna, Texas) have crafted a particularly sweet and tasty one for our enjoyment.  The Renaissance Cowboy is malty, malty, malty.  The smell and taste are akin to chocolate, toffee, and chocolate and toffee.  This is the only beer i've ever had that tastes like a box of Whoppers.  And i'm not complaining.  The sweet flavor makes this brew ridiculously easy to drink, but watch out for the 8.2% ABV, because it will sneak up on you.

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Uinta Crooked Line Oak Jacked Imperial Pumpkin

As it is Halloween, i feel compelled to rave about yet another pumpkin beer, this time hailing from the great state of Utah and the Uinta Brewing Company.  The Crooked Line Oak Jacked Imperial Pumpkin is a mouthful, both linguistically and in flavor.  The beer pours a dark brown with a nice tan head, and immediately, the aromas of pumpkin, clove, chocolate, and bourbon are evident.  As far as taste goes, this brew is a knockout with a fine mix of fall spices, pumpkin, caramel, and that ever present bourbon again.  Weighing in at 10.31% ABV, this beer does not mess around.  I wish i could drink it everyday.  If you only drink one pumpkin themed beverage this week, make it this one.

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Elliott's Phoned Home Pale Ale

As craft breweries continue to pop up all over Texas (and the country) like weeds, procuring new brews to imbibe becomes a much easier prospect week by week.  It's a good time to be a beer drinker.  Cedar Creek Brewery out in Seven Points, TX has offered up their take on an American pale ale.  Elliot's Phoned Home Pale pours a cloudy, orange and smells of citrus, fruit, and hops.  As far as flavor goes, there's a light breadiness to the beer, the prevailing citrus and fruit, and above all else, grapefruit.  And it comes in a tall boy can.  I'm not saying you should drink beer with breakfast...but if you were going to, this would probably be the direction to move in.  Easy to drink, refreshing, and coming in at 5.1% ABV, it's no slouch either.

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Alaskan Pumpkin Porter

The average temperature around here has finally dropped about 20 degrees over the last week, so i feel comfortable and compelled to proclaim that i love, love, love the Alaskan Brewing Company's Pumpkin Porter.  It's like dessert.  Or candy.  I can't stop drinking it.  The brew pours a dark brownish black with a nice tan head.  The aromas of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, smoked malts, and chocolate are immediately evident...and that's the flavors you get too.  There may be a little clove in the mix as well.  This beer will probably go best as a post meal option, but i'd probably drink it any time.  I'm going to be a sad panda when pumpkin ale season comes to a close.  I give this beer my highest possible recommendation.

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King Street Brown Ale

And...i finally come to the last of my Pacific Northwest beers delivered to me by me friend and former roommate back in August.  It's been a fun run, and i end it all with a smooth and tasty brown ale from Schooner Exact Brewing Co.  The King Street Brown pours dark and amber with a light, quickly dissipating head.  The aroma is one of toffee, chocolate, malts, and syrup, all of which are represented in the flavor, but with an added hint of hazelnut and molasses.  It's sweet and tasty and only 5.5% ABV, so go nuts.  Hooray!

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Silver City Fat Scotch Ale

As i'm still in the process of giving up entirely on my Texas Longhorns (we're currently tied with Iowa St.), here's another delicious beer out of Washington state that my good friend hand delivered to me back in August.  Silver City Brewery's Fat Scotch Ale pours a dark brownish, copper, the aroma sweet and smokey.  Plenty of carbonation adds a bite and tickle to the smoke and caramel flavors that prevail in the brew.  Add in some good malts and a little bitterness on the back end that flows pretty smoothly with acidity of the alcohol.  Perfect for a pre or post meal libation.  Good beer.  It weighs in at 9% ABV, so watch yourself.

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Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale

It's almost October, so it's high time i post about one of my favorite kinds of beverages ever concocted by mad scientists and beer brewers, the mighty pumpkin ale.  Southern Tier's Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale pours a lovely, orange-ish copper, with little head, but a lot of aroma.  There is an overarching floral smell that combines with pumpkin, vanilla, and hints of alcohol.  The flavor is heavy on the aforementioned florals and pumpkin, but there are also aspects of yam and an almost cream-like feel (the vanilla maybe?), and the finish is sharp and spicy.  The ABV comes in at a respectable 8.6%, so this brew does not mess around.  Enjoy it.

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Black Wit-O

No Label Brewing Company continue to support my belief that they are the only good thing to ever come out of the city of Katy, Texas (for any of you non-Texans out there, Katy is a suburb of Houston).  The latest concoction of theirs that i've been lucky enough to enjoy is the Black Wit-O, a dark wheat ale.  The beer is very dark with a light, quickly dissipating head.  The aroma is light, malty, and vaguely toffee-ish.  As for the taste, the beer is a smooth mix of the aforementioned toffee, caramel, coffee, chocolate, and malts, with a slight hoppy kick to remind you that you're drinking a beer after all.  It would go great with steak, and porter fans will enjoy.

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Ninkasi Believer Double Red Ale

Oh Oregon.  You and your many, many, many breweries.  We love you.  And, i love that i was able to try the Believer Double Red Ale from Ninkasi Brewing Company.  This guy is tasty.  A mix of caramel, fig, other dark fruits, some chocolate, and hoppy, floral finish makes this beer a great post-meal treat.  A dark, coppery color and thick head add to the dessert-like feel.  I should warn you though, that even though the beer only comes in at 6.9% ABV, it feels like it could pack a wallop.  I wholeheartedly recommend this beer.  Get your ass to Eugene and try it.

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Koperen Ketel Belgian Style Pale Ale

Here's another beer from Washington (thank you John) from the seemingly infallible Sound Brewery.  The Koperen Ketel Belgian Style Pale Ale has all the aroma and flavor you could want, a hodgepodge of citrus and caramel and toffee and and some tart yeast.  The beer pours a darkish, murky amber with a fast dissipating head.  It was amazingly easy to drink, and only a 5% ABV, so nothing to devilish.  It's the perfect kind of beer to close the summer out or to bring in the fall.  Well done.

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Field Day IPA

So, i feel like i shouldn't be promoting "corporate beer" or whatever, but last night i tried the new and limited Field Day IPA from BJ's Brewhouse...and it was pretty damn good.  The beer is a nice gold with a good and foamy head that doesn't stick around too long.  As far as IPA's go, the Field Day is pretty mellow and smooth.  The hops are there and spicy, and overall the beer had a citrus thing going for it in both aroma and taste.  According to the beer info sheet at the restaurant, the hops that are used are added in on the same day that they're picked.  I guess that's good.  So, kudos to you BJ's Brewhouse.  I approve of your beer.

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Thor's Sunstone

Odin Brewing Company out in Washington state have a perfect track record with me so far, their latest offering that i've been luck enough to sample being Thor's Sunstone, an abbey Belgian-style tripel.  This tasty beer pours a dark and golden amber with a medium and quickly dissipating head.  A good mix of yeast and fruity aromas give way to an almost earthy flavor, possibly from the spelt (a kind of wheat) the beer is brewed with.  And it finishes with just a subtle hint of bananas.  As far as tripels go, the Sunstone is a little more bitter than i would have expected, but pretty damn tasty all the same.  I would recommend this as a pretty dinner beer.

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Quilter's Irish Death

Dark and smooth ales can be very dangerous if you don't tread lightly, thought they can also be awesome and delicious.  And so we have the Quilter's Irish Death from Iron Horse Brewery out of Ellensburg, Washington.  The brewers refer to this ale as "beer candy," and they're not that far off.  Aromas of oats and fruits give way to light carbonation, flavors of fig and cherry, and a rich alcohol flavor that packs a punch at first, but subsides as the brew settles in the glass.  It's got a 7.8% ABV and is a perfect post-meal/dessert beer.  Good stuff.

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Silent Treatment Pale Ale

Whenever i get to hang out with my old friend and former college roommate, it's a treat.  And to make that treat even better is the bevy of beers out of the Pacific Northwest he brings with him every time he comes back to Texas.  Hailing from Spokane, Washington, No-Li Brewhouse's Silent Treatment Pale Ale is a tasty brew, and a great one for pretty much any time of day.  It's very smooth and light-bodied, with a nice floral aroma that accentuates the floral and light citrus taste of the beer.  And, while the hops are definitely present, they're pretty mild.  Add the crisp carbonation to make the beer all the more refreshing, and you've got something that you could feasibly sip on all day long.  Bueno!

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The Sword Iron Swan Ale

The popularity of craft brews has really exploded recently all over the country, all over the state of Texas, all over Austin.  Hell, even our rock bands are getting in on it.  Austin stoner metal band The Sword have teamed with Blanco's Real Ale to give birth to a nice little concoction called The Sword Iron Swan Ale.  The beer is a dark amber, almost coppery color with a good head that dissipates quickly.  The aroma is of malts and earth, and the initial flavor is one of subtle sweetness (hints of fruit) and maltiness.  It finishes dry and bitter with just a little bit of spice.  This is a great medium-bodied beer that's way, way too easy to drink.  I give it my utmost stamp of approval.

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You may as well listen to the song that the beer gets its name from to really take it all in.

Austin Beerworks Heavy Machinery Half IPA

Austin Beerworks generally stick to their tried and true canned libations, but of late, they've unleashed a series of different IPA's on to our unsuspecting yet appreciative populace.  The third batch of their Heavy Machinery series is a Half IPA, a light-bodied concoction of hoppy goodness...in a tall boy no less.  The beer is golden with a thick white head, a delicious aroma of pine and citrus, and a nice bite from the hops in the brew.  It tastes like an IPA, but feels lighter and cleaner overall, hence the "half" designation.  I dug it.  A good IPA is like a good stinky cheese.  It's not for everybody, but there's just something about it that keeps me coming back for more.

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Alaskan Troppelbock (Pilot Series)

Here's a sweet one.  The cats at Alaskan Brewing never disappoint, and their Pilot Series Troppelbock is definitely a treat.  The beer is a nice reddish amber, and the aromas of dark fruits, malt, and hints of vanilla are detectable immediately.  The head is pretty light and dissipating due to the light carbonation therein, and the flavors consist primarily of the aforementioned dark fruits and molasses.  There is also a real alcohol smell and taste to the brew, like it's been aged in barrels.  Though very sweet, at 10.5% ABV, this beer is not to be trifled with.  Delicious but with a punch, best served after a meal...let's say steak.

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Clown Shoes Vampire Slayer

Aside from having an excellent brewery and beer name, Clown Shoes Brewery's Vampire Slayer is a very tasty Imperial American Stout.  The beer is a dark brownish black that starts with a nice tan head that dissipates very quickly.  The initial aroma is one of coffee, dark chocolate, dark fruit, and raisins, all of which are represented very nicely with the flavor of the beer.  The hops are there to give it just enough kick that i almost detect a little citrus flavor, though that may just be the alcohol as this brew chimes in at a whopping 10% ABV.  The Slayer is a great beer, perfect for after work, or after dinner, and i recommend using a glass you can sift it in to keep the aromas and tastes booming.  Well done.

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Deschutes River Ale

Summer in Texas means trips to the lake to swim and ski and drink beer or trips to the river to float and swim and drink beer.  So, it was nice of the folks in Oregon's Deschutes Brewery to craft a nice summertime beverage with their River Ale.  The beer is a cloudy gold with a lot of floral aromas.  It tastes like a sweet, clean pale ale, with little hints of florals and caramel here and there, and it's amazingly easy to drink.  Cold, refreshing, and just the right amount of hops that give the beer a crisp and slightly bitter flavor.  Good stuff to beat the heat.  (Oh, and don't take glass bottles to the lake or river.  Use your head.)

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Hoegaarden Wit Blanche

Seeing as it's well over 100 degrees here in Austin today, here's a lovely and refreshing beer for you to imbibe.  The Hoegaarden Wit Blanche is a delicious and golden white ale with hints of orange in both the aroma and the flavor.  The beer pours a cloudy gold and has plenty of carbonation and a nice, frothy head.  It's a little sweet, but has more of a tart finish (orange and lemon).  From look to smell to taste, this beer is pretty much the embodiment of one's mental image of what a beer is supposed to be.  And it's a perfect brew for these long, hot summer days.  Bravo.

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Pranqster Belgian Style Golden Ale

Like the Germans, the Belgians just know how to make good beer.  Rarely, if ever, have i found a Belgian ale that i didn't like.  Pranqster from North Coast Brewing is no different.  The blending of yeasts and hops and malts just work right.  This particular brew pours a lovely gold and carries hints of banana, wheat, and clove in its aroma.  The beer is sweetish (but not too sweet) with medium body and a slight aftertaste that makes you remember that you're drinking alcohol.  Top notch.

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Josephs Brau Dunkelweizen

Continuing in the grand tradition of people bringing me different beers to sample and write about (let's keep this thing going everybody), my father-in-law dropped off a few beverages for me to check out.  This being Father's Day weekend, it seemed like the apt choice for inclusion.  I was actually kind of surprised that i dug the Josephs Brau Dunkelweizen, considering this brewer's beers are only available through Trader Joe's.  So, in a lot of ways i feel like i'm drinking a corporate craft brew, but at least it's a tasty one.  The beer is a dark brown and smells sweet.  Toffee, banana, and some light hops make up the bulk of the aroma.  As far as the taste is concerned, the beer is a sweet one, with plenty of the aforementioned banana and some clove-like after taste to give the brew a bit of a bite.  It's very similar to New Castle Brown Ale, just a little sweeter.  I would drink this as an after-dinner beer.

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Omer Traditional Blond Ale

I don't know what it is about Belgians, but they make good beer.  Up to bat is the Traditional Blond from Omer Brewery.  The beer is a nice golden color, with slight red tinting, and a nice head that dissipates quickly.  Nice aromas of fruit and bread are evident at first pour with some maltiness to even it out.  The beer tastes much like it smells, but with some added lemon flavor.  All in all, it's a light, refreshing beer that hides its 8% ABV very well.  A great brew for a summer evening.

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Honker's Ale

The folks over at Chicago's Goose Island Brewing Co. have just recently moved their craft beverages into the Austin area, and after trying their Honker's Ale, i approve.  The beer is an English bitter that pours a golden caramel and gives off aromas and flavors of said caramel, some nuttiness, hints of citrus, and a light hop that finishes pretty dry.  It's a refreshing beer and easy to drink, and while it's not going to shock and awe you, it will definitely serve you in a pinch.

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Karbach Weisse Versa

While being the new kid on the block, the cats at Houston's Karbach Brewing Co. seem to outdo themselves with all the different beers they make.  It's summertime, and Texas is usually hotter than hell, so what better way to quench the thirst and refresh body and mind than with a nice Hefeweizen hybrid.  German Hefe meets Belgian Wit in the delicious Weisse Versa.  Pouring golden orange with white, dissipating head, the beer gives off a lovely aroma of orange, banana, coriander, and wheat,  all of which are represented in the taste as well.  Add just a little bitter bite at the end, and you've got yourself an excellent, refreshing summer brew.  If we could just start seeing some of this stuff in Austin...

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Lagunitas WTF

I recently messed my finger up pretty good, and while wincing away through the pain, a good friend of my declared that the Wilco Tango Foxtrot (WTF) ale from Lagunitas Brewing would make me feel a thousand times better.  And it was just what the doctor ordered.  My finger is still a mess, and it still hurts, but i did manage to enjoy a tasty beer.  The WTF is a smooth ale, with plenty of malts to go around.  The initial aroma was one of hops, caramel, and hints of fruit (figs maybe?), while the taste was a good mix of the usual caramel you'd expect from a brown ale and the added oomph of citrus and orange.  This is a very tasty beer, and the hops never overwhelm, so it leaves a great aftertaste.  Definitely check this one out while you can.  (It's also relatively inexpensive!)

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Karbach Hellfighter Imperial Porter

Houston is getting in on the craft brew explosion, and it appears that Saint Arnold's is finally getting a little competition.  Last weekend, i was able to try an array of different beers from Karbach Brewing, and one that really stood out is their limited release Hellfighter Imperial Porter.  Dark and heavy with chocolate and caramel flavors, a nice, frothy head, and a good bitterness really brings this beer together.  You can really taste the alcohol too (9.5% ABV), at times feeling almost bourbon like.  Drink this if you can find it.  The cats over at Karbach really hit it out of the park with this one.

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Odin's Gift

Odin's Gift amber ale is the second beer i've been fortunate enough to try from Odin Brewing Company out of Seattle, Washington (thanks John).  And it's a keeper.  The beer is darkish in color with reddish hues, a decent creamy head, and filled with roasty, malty goodness.  There are hints of caramel and cocoa, and the juniper berries the beer is brewed with kick in very lightly at the end.  Good bitterness all around with some sweet undertones, i believe the ale would pair well with just about any kind of dinner you could think of, but i'm feeling burgers on this bad boy.

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Southern Tier Iniquity Black Ale

Oh, how the darker beers always call my name.  Hailing from Lakewood, New York, Southern Tier Brewing Company offers up a veritable smorgasbord of different brews.  As they've only recently begun circulating their way into Austin, the only one i've managed to try thus far is their Iniquity Black Ale, a dark and foamy potion of sheer delight if i may be so dramatic.  This 9% ABV ale is smooth, malty, and sweet as you would expect from a darker ale, but the hops give off much more of a citrus flavor than bitterness.  At first, it's kind of an odd mix, as it's so unexpected, but ultimately, it really works well.  The beer would be the perfect companion for a steak dinner, and thus, is awesome.

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El Hefeweizen

And my summer beer binge continues...i know it's April, but it gets hot here early.  I've been doing this beer blog for over a year now, and looking back, i don't think i've ever posted about a Hefeweizen before, and that's a damn shame.  They're great for hot weather, sweet and refreshing, and Katy, Texas' No Label Brewing has the best named one i've ever come across...El Hefeweizen.  Aside from its fantastic name, the beer tastes good too.  Overtones of citrus and banana mix well with the malts and the ever slight sour flavor from the yeast.  And like last week's Summer Shandy, this is a great starting beer for people who don't usually drink it.  Sitting on a covered patio, you'll knock a slew of these things out easy.  Who would have thought something good would come out of Katy?

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Summer Shandy

In between a couple of bouts of much needed rain, the weather in Austin lately has been absolutely beautiful. I wish it would last forever.  Unfortunately, that's not to be, but at least we can enjoy a glass of Summer Shandy from Wisconsin's Leinenkugel Brewing.  This wheat beer brewed with lemonade tastes pretty much exactly like you would expect it to...damn delicious.  Essentially the Arnold Palmer of beers, the Summer Shandy goes heavy on the citrus and fruit and light on the hops, but it's remarkably refreshing.  I know i've mentioned several beers that would be perfect for a backyard BBQ, or for a break from a day's worth of yard work, but the Shandy's got 'em beat.  The perfect beer for people who don't think they like beer, even my mom likes it.  I could literally drink this all day long.  Hello summer beer, i have found thee.

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Infamous Hijack

 Breweries are sprouting up all over central Texas like weeds...wonderful, wonderful weeds.  It's really amazing how craft beer making is taking off the way it is.  It makes me supremely happy to have so many different local brews to try, and a little jealous that i don't have a brewery of my very own.  The latest Austin has to offer comes from Infamous Brewing Co., opening just last month.  I was fortunate enough to try their delicious Hijack cream ale, an odd beer, seeing as the taste and feel are far more in line with a lager than an ale.  This golden, creamy beer goes easy on the bitterness, and is probably one of the smoothest beers i could imagine drinking.  It's a springtime/summer beer to be sure, the perfect companion following a day of yard work, or for an afternoon at the ballpark.  Bottles are on the way and should be in stores soon (in Texas anyway), and it's available in draft form at various bars and brewpubs around Austin.

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Monk's Indiscretion

Monk's Indiscretion is the second beer i am recommending from Washington state's Sound Brewery.  A Belgian strong ale, this stuff is delicious.  The aroma is sound (no pun intended) mix of light florals, fruit, citrus, and hints of pepper.  It has an earthy feel to it.  The taste is the same, featuring bits of orange peel, banana, grass, and spice...but not too much spice.  The beer is remarkably smooth, considering the 10% ABV, and it's tasty enough that i'm sure i would enjoy drinking this brew all day long.  I was very sad when i finished the bottle.  This beer alone is worth a trip to the Pacific Northwest.

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Thor's Equinox

First and foremost, the fact that there is a beer called Thor's Equinox from a company called Odin Brewery, it would be damn near impossible for me not to enjoy the hell out of their product.  And it's a great one at that.  A dark Belgian-style ale with a 9% ABV to get you where you need to be.  An elixir of the gods to be more exact.  The beer has an aroma of dark fruit and hops, and a taste to match, though there is an almost oak-like hint in the mix, along with malts and plenty of bitterness to go around.  For a Belgian, this brew is not quite as sweet as you might expect.  In some ways there is almost a stout-like feel in the bitter hops.  But it's damn tasty.  And it's called Thor's Equinox.  And that's awesome.  Unfortunately, this Washington brewer's wears are not available here in Texas, so much appreciation goes to my good friend John for smuggling it down here.

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Port City Brewing Tartan Ale

Lately there has been a trend among my out-of-town friends to bring me beer when they pass through Austin.  This needs to continue.  One of the latest comes from Alexandria, Virginia's Port City Brewing Company.  Tartan Ale, their seasonal springtime effort, is a scotch ale, and a very tasty one to boot.  The beer pours a dark amber with a minimal head and light carbonation.  As for the aroma, it's pretty malty with hints of fruit that translate well to the flavor of the brew, a combination of said malts and accented fruit with a sweet caramel or almost a dark chocolate feel.  It's lovely and very easy to drink.  Thank you Tammy.

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Sound Brewery Triple Entendre

Last weekend i was lucky enough to get to spend some time with an old friend of mine who shares my love of beer.  He had the forethought to smuggle a bunch of Washington state brews into Texas, and for that he is truly an American hero.  Let's begin with his personal favorite, the Triple Entendre from Sound Brewery, a tasty Belgian-style triple ale.  The aroma is fruity and grainy, matching the taste of the beer with some additional bitterness here and there, but i found the fruitiness to be most prevalent.  This is a perfect after-dinner beer, but packs a punch at 9.9% ABV.  So far, the folks at Sound have me most impressed.  Look for more on them in the near future.

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Saint Arnold Winter Stout

It's starting to get a little warmer around here, so this will probably be my last winter tinged brew until later in the year, but it's always good to go out strong.  Houston's Saint Arnold Brewing Co. consistently puts out one great beer after another all season long, and the Winter Stout is no different.  The subtle chocolate and coffee flavors abound in this dark and creamy brew, mixing damn near perfectly with the spicy hops that give it its kick and underlying bitterness.  The aroma the beer gives off is wonderful too, a malty mix of sweet and spice.  It smells like Christmas.  Great stuff.

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Here's an interesting beer-related article for your enjoyment...

Here's a link to an interesting article about age verification on brewery websites, and the pointlessness of it all, courtesy Jim Hughes and Badass Digest.

Go here to read.  Hooray!

Chang Beer

So i'm venturing outside of my normal local wares and craft brews to celebrate something from the far east.  Chang Beer comes to us from Thailand's Cosmos Brewery and i must say that it pairs wonderfully with Thai cuisine.  It's a light tasting gold lager with a quickly dissipating white head and tastes almost sweet with a champagne-like feel.  There are some subtle hints of rice in the mix too.  All in all, a very cold and refreshing beer and the perfect antidote to a searing spicy meal.  One could easily drink a ton of these, so make sure you pace yourself.

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Alaskan Black IPA

It's been so wonderful the last year to have the fine beers from Alaskan Brewing Company available here in Austin.  They're really top notch, and something i'd been missing since i visited the northwest a couple of years ago.  Which brings us to their Black IPA.  It's dark and malty, looking more like a porter than anything else, but then the citrus and floral aromas and flavors hit your senses, and it's evident that you're in IPA country.  The hops work nicely with the light coffee and dark fruit flavors in the beer, and it's never too overpowering.  Strangely enough, the brew feels like a combination of a good winter ale and a hoppy, springtime IPA...and it works.  Kudos to the boys and girls in Alaska.

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Snow Day Winter Ale

So this goes out to all my friends in the northeast who may be under a foot or more of snow right now.  I hope you are adequately stocked with water and food and propane and batteries and whatnot.  I also hope you have some libations to keep you warm through the storm.  Might i suggest New Belgium's Snow Day Winter Ale.  With hints of chocolate, caramel, and some subtle walnut undertones combined with the spicy hops, the beer comes together remarkably well and is just the remedy for a cold night.  Add to that the creamy head and roasty finish, and you've got a winner.  Keep warm and be safe my friends.

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Real Ale Brewer's Cut Imperial Red

Having been stricken with cold and flu like symptoms for the past couple of days, my beer drinking has been non-existent this week.  That being said, i did try the lovely fourth beer in Real Ale's Brewer's Cut series, a delicious Imperial Red.  The beer pours a dark, reddish amber with a light head, and gives off an immediate citrus aroma with a slight floral hint here and there.  The taste is a little sour, with a pretty good combination of brown sugar and citrus (from the cascade hops).  It almost has a wine-like feel to it, so i'd suggest using it as a dinner beer, or with an array of meats and cheeses.  As far as alcohol content goes, the brew gets a solid 8.8% ABV, so it will pack a punch, even if it doesn't taste like it will.  All in all, an excellent beer, and one i intend to drink again...whenever this damn bug goes away.

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