Stone Xocoveza Imperial Stout

What's that you say?  Stone makes an imperial stout brewed with Mexican hot chocolate?  Well, happy holidays to everyone then.  The Xocoveza comes in at 8.1% ABV and pours a dark black with a brownish head.  The beer smells of cocoa, coffee, vanilla, nutmeg, and spices, those flavors all noticeable in the brew, with chocolate, malt, and hint of chili spice in the forefront.  This is a fantastic winter brew, and definitely worth your taste buds' time.

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COOP Ale Works DNR Belgian Strong Ale

This last weekend, i got to visit my sister and her family in Oklahoma, an all too short trip, but a fun one nonetheless.  Naturally i managed to squeak in a couple of local brews before leaving, and the one that left the biggest mark was the DNR Belgian Strong Ale from COOP Ale Works in Oklahoma City.  The beer pours a nice and cloudy amber with a quickly dissipating white head and smells of yeast, spice, fruit, and a little vanilla.  Flavors of banana and spice are at the forefront of this 10% ABV concoction, with some notes of fruit, molasses, and booze on the back end, all in a fairly dry finish.  Top notch.

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4th Tap Yule Cat Winter Amber

I probably don't give Austin's 4th Tap Brewing nearly enough love and enthusiasm as i probably should.  Aside from having an awesome taproom space, the brewery has as close to perfect a record on beer releases as one could possible hope for.  And their latest holiday offering is no different.  The Yule Cat Winter Amber comes in swinging at 7.2% ABV, pouring a brownish-reddish hue with a bubbly white head and smelling of malts, mulling spices, and nutmeg.  The flavor is a mix of sweet and bitter, malt and holiday spices at the forefront with some subtle oak notes on the back end.  It's delicious and surprisingly smooth, something i'll probably be stocking up on for the winter months ahead.

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Independence Shiny Diamonds Ale

Never one to let me down, Austin's Independence Brewing constantly releases new and delicious beers that grab a hold of me and never let go.  The latest is the brew, in a fantastically amazing can, is the Shiny Diamonds Ale, a light, crisp, and hoppy pale that just might be my go to beverage for the foreseeable future.  The 5.8% ABV beer pours light gold with a foamy white head, aromas of spice, herbs, and a little citrus hitting the nose.  The hops at the forefront in regards to the flavor, citrus and grapefruit notes being the most prevalent, and finishes dry, crisp, and refreshing.  I love this beer.

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Elysian Dark O' The Moon Pumpkin Stout

Pumpkin ale season is pretty much done now, but i thought i would sneak one more in before we're up to our elbows in holiday ales.  Elysian was always one of my favorite breweries to sample when in the Pacific Northwest, and although they've become part of the evil empire, they still put out good stuff.  Case in point, the wonderful Dark O' The Moon Pumpkin Stout.  Pouring a dark, brownish black with a tan head, the (now) 7.6% ABV stout smells of pumpkin, spices, cinnamon, and malts.  Thick and smooth, the flavors of pumpkin, nutmeg, malt, and cinnamon abound, with the cinnamon notes really taking front and center, all with a decently bitter finish.

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4th Tap Highland Scoundrel

On Friday, i took a day off from work, as did my wife, and the two of us went on a kind of brewery taproom crawl during the day while the kids were at school and daycare.  The last brewery we hit was 4th Tap Brewing Co-op in North Austin, and while i made sure to try a whole slew of things partaking in a flight, my favorite was the Highland Scoundrel, a delicious Scotch Ale.  The beer pours dark and brown and smells molasses, toffee, and malt.  Flavors of brown sugar, caramel, and dark fruit swirl in this strong 10% ABV, but never gets too boozy.  All in all, a perfect Fall libation.

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Celis Citrus Grandis IPA

I've been pretty stoked ever since Celis Brewery returned to Austin a few months ago, and i've got to admit that i'm surprised that the brewers have been able to make a beer that i actually like better than their classic White witbier.  But their New England IPA, the Citrus Grandis is just too damn good to ignore.  Coming in at 5% ABV and pouring a hazy, light gold with a foamy white head, the beer smells of citrus, fruit, spice, and just a little bit of funk.  Flavors of fruit and citrus, along with some notes of bread and spice mesh well together in a crisp and refreshing, full-bodied blend.  The sweet and the bitter play well together, making it remarkably easy to drink.  It's almost like crossing and IPA with a Hefeweizen.  It's a perfect year round drinker.

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Dogfish Head Punkin Ale

For years and years, Dogfish Head's Punkin Ale set the standard for craft brew pumpkin ales...probably because it was one of the only ones on the market, AND because it's just a great beer anyway.  But with so many different pumpkin beers from countless other breweries coming out every fall, it kind of gets sidelined in favor of new brews.  So i went back to it, and it's still great.  At 7% ABV, it's little heavier than some of its peers, and all the better for it.  Pouring a clear gold with a white head, the beer smells of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and sugar.  Notes of pumpkin and spices prevail with some brown sugar notes also on the tongue.  Can't beat an old classic.

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New Holland Dragon's Milk Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout

Sometimes you pick something up on a whim, maybe because it's got a cool name, or because you need a new beer to write about, or because of those magical worlds: Bourbon Barrel-Aged.  Either way, when the store clerk gives you a knowing nod, like you just found the secret treasure hidden within the store, excitement builds as you make your way home with your beer.  And the Dragon's Milk Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout from Holland, Michigan's New Holland Brewing certainly did not disappoint.  Coming in at 11% ABV, the brew pours a dark black with a moderate tan head, aromas of malt, chocolate, and vanilla hitting the nose with some subtle hints of bourbon.  The flavor is mix of chocolate, caramel, vanilla, and oak notes all swirling together with a malty and delicious finish.  The bourbon notes are there, but never overpowering, and given the high alcohol content, the beer is much smoother than i had anticipated.  I will certainly need to stock up on this one, as it feels like it may be the perfect companion for Thanksgiving dinner.

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Red Horn Watermelon Crawl Gose

I know in the Fall i'm usually bonkers for pumpkin ales and Oktoberfests, and when it finally starts getting cooler here in central Texas, darker, heavier brews are usually my favorites, but when one of your local brewers makes a watermelon gose, you drink the damn watermelon gose.  And it certainly helps when it's as fantastic as the Watermelon Crawl Gose from Red Horn here in Cedar Park.  Coming in at 4.75% ABV, and pouring a hazy gold, the beer smells of wheat, yeast, fruit, and some floral hints.  Crisp and tart, but not overly so, the watermelon notes mesh nicely with the salt and sour, making for a ridiculously easy beer to drink.  I could drink this all day, Fall or not.

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Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale

I was a little torn about writing about Elysian Brewing, as i'm no fan of the continued AB InBev acquisition of smaller craft breweries.  It feels like selling out the little guy.  But, good beer is good beer, and Elysian's Night Owl Pumpkin Ale is a good beer.  And we are knee deep in pumpkin spice season anyway, so i suppose it's worth noting.  Pouring a hazy, amber-ish gold with a crisp white head, the 6.7% ABV brew smells of pumpkin and your usual assortment of pumpkin spices like nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, and allspice.  The flavor is slightly sweet, the spices playing well with notes of caramel and molasses in a smooth and easily drinkable beer, a perfect, albeit corporate, Fall brew.

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TUPPS Full Grown Jack Pumpkin Spiced Imperial Stout

Yes, it's pumpkin ale season, and there doesn't really seem to be too much out there this year that i haven't tried or written about before, though i did get a delightfully strong brew from a new brewery in Texas this weekend.  The Full Grown Jack Pumpkin Spiced Imperial Stout from TUPPS Brewery in McKinney, Texas is a 12.1% ABV punch to the face.  The beer pours a dark black with minimal head and smells of pumpkin, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, malts, and a little booze.  The flavor is a robust mix of pumpkin and pumpkin spices with some notes of vanilla and liquorice that really start to stand out as the beer sits at room temperature.  It's complex, full-bodied, and definitely on the heavy side.  Enjoy for sure, but drink with caution.

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Coronado Guava Islander Tropical IPA

During a trip to San Diego a couple of years, i was fairly taken with a lot of the beer coming out of Southern California, with the selections from Coronado Brewing being particularly delicious.  I figured it would be a while before i was able to sample their wares again, but lo and behold, the brewery is canning and distributing to Central Texas now.  Oh happy day.  Anyway, nothing pairs with a hot Texas day quite like a fruity IPA, and Coronado's Guava Islander Tropical IPA really hits the spot.  Pouring a hazy gold with a frothy, white head, the beer smells of citrus, spices, pine, grass, and tropical fruit.  Flavors of guava, grapefruit, citrus, and hints of bread swirl together nicely with a strong, bitter finish, and weighs in at 7% ABV.  More places should send their beers here.

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Boulevard Bourbon Barrel Quad

With so many different styles of beer out there, each with its own pros and cons, and each with its own suitable weather for optimal drinking, it can be kind of hard to choose some days, especially here in Central Texas where it's hot all the time.  That being said, i think anytime is a good time for an abbey-style quadrupel, particularly when it's been aged in bourbon barrels.  The Bourbon Barrel Quad from Boulevard Brewing is a great way to start or end an evening or afternoon, but should be treated with a little caution, as its 11.2% ABV can certainly make things hazy.  Pouring a a dark brown with white head, the beer smells of dark fruit, oak, yeast, and booze.  Notes of toffee, spices, and bourbon abound with some slight hints of cherry all in a medium bodied brew.  It's quite tasty.

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Celis White

Although i was too young to be able to really enjoy, and i was not nearly versed enough in beer outside of your standard American lager when i first made my way to Austin back in the late 90's, I was really bummed when Austin's Celis Brewery closed down back in 2000.  It was part of a larger wave of change in the city at the time, with many of the old stalwarts, bars, clubs, stores, and more, shuttering and making way for the oncoming gentrification and commodification that would come to Austin in over the next 15 years.  Celis ended up being acquired by Miller, and then just kind of disappeared here in Texas.  As the trademark passed hands over the next few years, it somehow, by the grace of whatever higher power you want to have faith in, ended up with the daughter of the original owner here in Austin.  And now it's back.  And i'm stoked.  Kicking it off with an old classic, the Belgian-style Witbier, Celis White pours a light, slightly murky gold with a quick dissipating white head, and smells of wheat, orange, and coriander.  The beer is crisp and tasty, the notes of orange and coriander never overpowering the brew, and meshing well with hints of spice and sweetness.  And it all comes in at 4.9% ABV...and it's hot here...so...drink this all day.

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Buffalo Bayou Raspberry Rotundone

With much of my state still underwater, and as post storm hardships begin in earnest, i figured i would leave the Pacific Northwest and come back to Texas this week, and Houston in particular.  As the city and the surrounding areas start to cope and rebuild, maybe imbibe one of the community's finer wares if they're accessible to you.  A great one to start with is the delicious Raspberry Rotundone Saison from Buffalo Bayou Brewing.  The beer pours a beautiful reddish hue with a foamy off-white head and smells of fruit, spice, a hint of earthiness, and lots and lots of raspberries (naturally).  The raspberries are at the forefront of the brew's flavor, meshing with a slight tartness and notes of spice.  As the beer warms, those spicy notes get stronger, leaving the whole affair with a much dryer finish than expected.  If you can, drink one of these 9% ABV wonders today, and then maybe donate some money to relief efforts.

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Mystic Luminous Ruins

As it turns out, when i was in Washington last month, i also drank a lot of beer not from the Pacific Northwest.  My old friend up there is a fellow beer nerd, so naturally we imbibed brews from all over the country.  One of the more delightful and summery concoctions came from Massachusetts' Mystic Brewery, with their very limited Luminous Ruins, a dry hopped sour farmhouse ale.  The beer pours a hazy and bubbly gold with a thick white head and smells of citrus, orange, grass, yeast, and just a little bit of funk.  The flavor is fruity and tart with some subtle hop hints and finishes crisp and dry.  All in all, it's quite a refreshing little 4.3% ABV brew, that unfortunately was only brewed once.

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Bale Breaker Topcutter IPA

I can tell that summer is beginning to leave us behind.  Not because it's getting cooler or anything ridiculous like that.  Here in Central Texas, we've got 90s and 100s in the forecast for the next two or three months.  What i'm talking about is the arrival of Oktoberfests and pumpkin ales on the store racks.  It's generally the first clue.  But, with it being as hot as it is here, i'm still jonesing for the more summery brews, specifically from the Pacific Northwest, as i drank a lot of them up there last month.  Bale Breaker Brewing Company's Topcutter IPA is pretty much everything you need in a tasty IPA.  The beer pours a nice and hazy gold with a crisp, white head and smells of citrus, fruit, florals, and pine.  A whopping combination of four different hops gives the brew a fairly complex feel, the mix of citrus, fruit, and floral notes moving back and forth between subtly sweet and bitter.  Drink this 6.8% ABV delight in the sunshine.

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Silver City The Giant Made of Shadows Belgian Strong Ale

Still celebrating the beer i enjoyed in Washington a month ago, and still wishing i'd smuggled some of it back to Texas, my possible favorite from my time in the Pacific Northwest is another astounding brew from Silver City (quite possibly my new favorite brewer from the region).  Encouraged by their delicious creations brought to the Bremerton Brewfest, i snatched up a few samples of their wares to drink with my friends before vacation ended, highlighted by the fantastic and wonderfully named Belgian strong ale, The Giant Made of Shadows.  Pouring dark with a slight crimson hue, the beer smells of dark fruits and malt, with those same dark fruit flavors swirling nicely with notes of toffee, coffee, and molasses.  As a fan of dark Belgian ales, this one was right in my wheelhouse, and the 9.9% ABV kept me nicely sated.  Please start selling this in Austin.

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No-Li Wrecking Ball Imperial Stout

I am still very much missing the beer i was able to drink when i was in Washington state a few weeks back, not that my Texas brews aren't great (they are!), but there sure were some wonderful beers to imbibe during my visit.  The Wrecking Ball Imperial Stout from No-Li Brewhouse in Spokane was one such beer.  Pouring dark black with a tan head, the stout smells of chocolate and roasted malts.  Flavors of malt, chocolate, toffee, and dark fruit abound in this full bodied, 9.5% ABV brew, a wonderful way to wind down as the sun sets.

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Sound Brewery Bombshell

Pretty much every trip i've made to Washington over the last few years is at least somewhat influenced by the wares of Sound Brewery.  And while Silver City is quickly becoming my favorite from the Puget region, the good folks at Sound are dear to my heart and make some damn fine beers.  The Bombshell is a Belgian style blonde ale and pours a beautiful gold that just captures the sunlight.  Aromas of yeast, citrus, and spice abound and mesh nicely on the tongue with some very subtle hints of grass and banana.  And it's surprisingly easy to drink, considering its 7.3% ABV.  Think of it as a kind of light Tripel if you will.  Good summer drinking.

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Silver City Tropic Haze IPA

So, i've been back from Washington for about a week now, and man am i missing it.  The cooler weather.  The fantastic beer.  Good friends.  The cooler weather (worth mentioning twice).  Of the numerous brews i got a chance to try over my trip (hooray Bremerton Brewfest!), the mainstay for the week was the Tropic Haze IPA from Silver City Brewery.  It's a perfect summer beer.  Pouring a hazy gold with a foamy white head (and dig on that lacing), the brew smells of yeast, bread, and spices, with a ton of fruit notes.  Flavors of grapefruit and citrus mash with hints of pineapple, orange, and more all against a hoppy backbone that finishes with just the right amount of bitter bite.  And despite its 6.4% ABV, i could drink these all day long.  Stay tuned for a whole bevy of brews from the Pacific Northwest over the next few weeks.

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Elav Dark Metal Imperial Stout

Back again with another delicious beer from Northern Italy's Elav Brewery.  This time around is their black and smooth Dark Metal Imperial Stout.  The brew pours black with a tan, chocolaty head and smells of cacao, coffee, and malt.  The flavor is a mix of coffee and chocolate notes, complimenting each other well amid a nice bitterness and some subtle boozy hints.  This is a tasty, late night brew, something to sip on after the sun has set and the air has cooled, relaxing and enjoying the 8.5% ABV.  And again, all thanks to my awesome wife.

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Elav No War Rye IPA

My wife is smart and wonderful and does things like get me beer related gifts for Father's Day.  This year brought me a sampling of different beers from Elav Brewery in Northern Italy.  I'm pretty stoked about imbibing these over the next couple of weeks, and my first selection from the box is the tasty No War Rye IPA.  The brew pours a hazy, murky gold with a thick, white head and smells of citrus, orange peel, rye, pine, and spices.  The flavor is a lovely combination of citrus and pine with notes of orange and bread, and a slight hint of molasses.  Light to medium bodied and with a relatively dry finish, this 6.9% brew is an excellent start to this gift.  Be on the lookout for some other selections from Elav over the next few weeks.

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Real Ale Bitchin' Camaro

Blanco's Real Ale never disappoints.  The Central Texas brewery has been doing things for a number of years now, and everything they create is worthy of inspections.  The Bitchin' Camaro is a new limited release, an hoppy amber ale that really hits the spot.  The 6% ABV brew pours a deep amber with a bubbly, dissipating head and smells of spice and citrus with light notes of bread.  The beer feels and tastes like your normal amber, but with lots of citrus and decent bitter finish.  This is a great beer for grilling in the backyard.

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Founders Doom

I partook in a little pre-Father's Day libation on Saturday night, the latest release in the Founders Brewing Co. barrel aged series, a delicious collision of flavors in a bourbon barrel aged Imperial IPA called Doom.  Pouring a dark, goldish amber with a foamy but dissipating head, this wonderful concoction smells of hops, vanilla, and oak, with hints of booze.  The flavor is a combination of intense hops and vanilla, with the notes of oak, malt, and alcohol mingling intermittently.  It's an interesting combo of aromas and flavors, but also very appealing.  And it weighs in at 12.4% ABV, so maybe take it easy.

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Austin Beerworks ACTION! Anniversary Ale

It's kind of hard to believe it, but Austin Beerworks has been around for 6 years now.  In fact many of the local breweries here in Central Texas are starting to hit all kinds of milestones, and while it's kind of making me feel old, kudos to all the little guys and their tenacity.  Anyway, to celebrate, ABW just released their ACTION! Anniversary Ale, a hoppy little brew that, fittingly enough, weighs in at 6% ABV.  The beer pours gold with a foamy white head and smells of citrus, fruit, and light, spicy hops.  Notes of citrus, pine, and grapefruit abound, all with a slightly dank, but bitter crisp finish.  All in all, it's a pale ale pretending to be an IPA, and it's delicious.  As a bonus, the beer comes packaged in 6 different can designs, each playing like an old drive-in, B-movie poster.  Happy Anniversary!

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Red Horn Hippie Hollow Dry Hopped Sour Ale

Ever since moving out to the suburbs a year and a half ago, one of my favorite places to frequent is Red Horn Coffee House and Brewing Co.  They never cease to impress me with their bounty of tasty brews.  Earlier this year, as part of their 2nd anniversary celebration, the brewers released their first bottled beers, one of which i will get to eventually, as it's currently aging at home.  But the other, the very Austin-named Hippie Hollow, is a wonderful sour pale ale that hit all the right marks.  Pouring with a hazy golden hue and bubbly head, the beer smells of malt, fruit, citrus, and some bread notes.  Tart and hoppy, the 6.5% ABV beer drinks rather smooth, the sourness from the different yeast cultures playing quite well with all of the pale ale hops, that all gives way to a slightly bitter finish.  I'm looking forward to future releases.

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Stone Tangerine Express IPA

It's a holiday weekend, and while i may be working through 2/3 of it, my off time sure gets a tropical lift from the Tangerine Express IPA from the always dependable Stone Brewing.  The 6.7% ABV beer pours a nice, hazy gold with a minimal head and lovely aromas of hops, fruit, and citrus abounding.  The flavor is a sweet and bitter mix of tangerine, pineapple, citrussy hops, and some floral and herbal notes.  It's the perfect elixir for a hot summer day.

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Saint Arnold Pub Crawl Pale Ale

Have i mentioned that we like sessionable beers here in Central Texas?  The coasts seem to give us big hops and big alcohol, but here in the heat and humidity of a the Texas hill country (and beyond), we tend to like our brews when we can drink them all day long.  The Pub Crawl Pale Ale from Saint Arnold Brewery in Houston is one such beer.  Pouring a light, hazy gold with a large and foamy white head, this 4.7% ABV brew has aromas of spicy hops and subtle malts.  It's crisp and carbonated with some slightly dank hoppiness abounding, and easy drinker for sure, but just hoppy enough to keep it interesting.  I think i'll have another.

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Hops & Grain River Beer

It sure does get hot here in Central Texas, as we've repeatedly breached 90 degrees a few times in the last couple of weeks, and it's not even June yet.  That being said, we certainly seem to enjoy spending our days off outside in the sun, in parks, backyards, local swimming holes, and tubing any and all nearby rivers.  And beer is usually in the equation.  But you need something easy to drink and something sessionable enough as to not knock you on your ass before the sun sets.  And as we're craft beer drinkers around here (though Lone Star will always have a special place in my heart), offerings from the "big three" will not do.  Fear not, as Austin's Hops & Grain now have a delicious take on the American Lager we all grew up drinking, the River Beer.  This 5.2% ABV brew pours a beautiful crystal clear light gold with a foamy and bubbly white head and smells of light notes of grain and citrus.  Crisp and light bodied, the beer is subtly sweet at first with a dab of bitterness on the back end.  It basically tastes like beer.  Good beer.  I wish this had been around when i was in high school.

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Live Oak Gold

Only a week into May, and it's already getting hot here in Central Texas, thick, humid air and all encompassing sun haze abounding.  So, naturally i spent a good portion of the day outside yesterday, my kids jumping and splashing around half naked in our recently rediscovered kiddie pools, blown up and filled in the backyard while i cooked steaks and portabella mushrooms on the grill, a veritable portrait of classic suburbia.  And the Live Oak Gold was flowing...probably too easily.  Gold, from Austin's Live Oak Brewery, is a German-style pilsner that pours a light gold (go figure) with a frothy white head.  Floral aromas and light notes of spice hit the nose, that classic beer smell.  The beer is light and crisp, slightly sweet with soft malts, floral notes, and a nice dry finish.  And at 4.8% ABV, it's the perfect brew for a day in the sunshine.

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Real Ale Phoenixx Double ESB

Real Ale never fails to impress and delight with pretty much every beer they put out on the market, be it their mainstays, seasonals, or more limited, experimental offerings.  As part of the brewery's rotating bomber series, the Phoenixx Double ESB is a fantastic English Style Bitter, and a perfect way to end a day.  I snagged this tasty guy at the grocery store yesterday for a post dinner libation, and it was wonderful.  The 7.6% ABV brew pours a dark amber with a foamy, white head and smells of malt and toffee with a general earthiness abounding.  The flavor is slightly sweet at first, the combo of toffee and caramel hitting the tongue before settling back and letting the hops finish it off with some spice and bitter notes.  It's delicious.  I may be going back to the store today.

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Red Horn Roggenbier

As i've been writing this blog for a number of years now, the need for new styles of beer to discover, try out, and write briefly about increases, but with the craft brewing community still chugging along strongly, i usually don't have to look too far.  Cedar Park, Texas' Red Horn Coffee House and Brewing Co, aside from being one of my favorite places in town to go to, has really been stepping up the game here in central Texas since first opening a couple of years ago.  Over the weekend, i tried their Roggenbier, a kind of Hefeweizen brewed with rye instead of wheat.  It was fantastic.  The beer pours a dark, malty brown with a foamy off-white head and smells of malt and spice with maybe some hints of banana.  The flavor consists of those same hints of banana swirled with a dry maltiness and some spice notes with a general earthiness to the whole affair.  And at 5.4% ABV, the Roggenbier is easily sessionable, and pairs with pretty much anything (i had a meat and cheese tray and salad to go along with it).  If you live in the area, take a growler home with you, and act quickly, as they may or may not brew it again.

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Community Razzy Witbier

This last weekend brought chocolate, candy, eggs, and other assorted Easter goodies, a threat of rain that never materialized, a large family lunch cooked by yours truly, and a delicious, ultra-sessionable raspberry witbier to wet my whistle (on Saturday at least, as i upped my game into barrel aged stouts on Sunday).  Dallas' Community Beer Co's Razzy Wit is a 5.5% ABV day drinker that pours a gorgeous, reddish gold with a quickly dissipating white head.  The brew smells of wheat, spice, citrus, fruit, and raspberries, and the flavor is a wonderful blend of citrus, light tartness, hints of coriander, and raspberry notes that never get too sweet or overpower the rest of the beer.  Finishing crisp, dry, and light-bodied, i easily could have drunk this all weekend long.  Maybe next weekend.

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Figaro Figaro Figaro FIIIGAAARO Quad

When my wife and i moved into our home a year and a half ago, we noticed that we had a fruit-bearing tree in our back yard that yielded us plenty of...something.  It took a little research, but evidently we have a loquat tree, and until last year, i had never had a loquat before.  They are pretty tasty, a quick blast of sweet and tart that i am now contemplating harvesting and brewing into a homemade beer of sorts.  Unfortunately, i've still got over a case of my last home batch of Christmas Ale to get through before i can start brewing again (i need the bottles), so i may be freezing some fruit soon.

Anyway, that was a long and rambling introduction to get to talking about Buffalo Bayou's wonderful quadrupel ale brewed with figs, the aptly named Figaro Figaro Figaro FIIIGAAARO.  This 11% ABV treat pours a dark, reddish brown with a foamy white head and smells of dark fruits, malts, and notes of fig and yeast.  The flavor is full of fig and other dark fruit notes, as well as spicy yeast and bread notes like what you would get in an abbey ale.  All in all, a great post dinner brew that's way stronger than it tastes.

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The Illustrated Man Dark Sour with Berries

Over the last decade or so, as i've made and honed and tested my beer palette, i've discovered that for the most part, i love all of it.  Bitter, malty, hoppy, dry, fruity, sour...and on and on, every season seems to bring me a new favorite.  And never in a million years would i have figured myself for a sour beer fan, but i am what i am.  Austin's Independence Brewery recently released a dry and fruity dark sour called The Illustrated Man.  The beer pours a dark brown with hints of purple and a bubbly, off-white head.  Initial aromas of citrus, berries, and tartness abound, with some subtle notes of malt and roast.  The flavor is tart and fruity, a mix of citrus and berries at 6% ABV with an all around dry finish.  All in all, The Illustrated Man is a great backyard beer for a warm afternoon or cool evening.

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Whitestone Peach Tart Saison

It was a lovely day in central Texas yesterday, sunny and warm with a windy breeze that made for perfect patio drinking weather.  I was fortunate enough to make it out to Cedar Park's Whitestone Brewery with the wife and kids for a crawfish boil, courtesy of Jimmy Vega, and some delicious brews to pair with all the mud bugs and sausage.  I found the brewery's seasonal Peach Tart Saison, a sweet and sour 7% ABV libation, to be a wonderful post boil beverage.  Pouring a cloudy gold with a slight bubbly head, the beer smells of peaches with hints of spice and a little yeast and bread.  The flavor start sweet, the peaches up front, but the sours up with some swirls of citrus and some champagne-like kicks.  I certainly need to get back there soon.  Hooray for beer in the suburbs!

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Deschutes Sagefight Imperial IPA

It's officially spring, which means it's IPA season.  From the always excellent and dependable Deschutes comes the Sagefight Imperial IPA, an 8% ABV tasty and intriguing brew.  The beer pours a cloudy gold and smells of hops, spice, citrus, and juniper berries.  The flavor is a complex mix of citrus and hops swirled with juniper berries and sage, all combining in a delightful punch to the mouth.  This beer is perfect for a cool and sunny day, but can totally sneak up on you if you're not careful.

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Rye'd The Lightning

Austin's Pinthouse Pizza is probably one of my most favorite places to hang out around town.  It's kid friendly, the grub is good, and i absolutely love their beer.  The mainstays are all great, but the real money is in the seasonal releases.  A strong and heavy dry Irish stout, the Rye'd The Lightning pours dark black and think with a minimal beige head and aromas of malts, cocoa, and coffee.  Predominant flavors of roasted malt with notes of chocolate and coffee prevail, though there are some slight hints of vanilla and booze in the mix of this 9% ABV brew.  I would have more, but i'm afraid it's now all gone.  Here's hoping it gets brewed again soon.

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Boulder Nitro Shake Chocolate Porter

I've been back from Denver for a couple of weeks now, and thinking how i need to get back there someday...maybe next time without the kids...to make my way to more breweries and drink way, way more beer.  Anyway, while catching some lunch at the Ale House in downtown Denver, i tried the delicious Shake Chocolate Porter on nitro from Boulder Beer.  The 5.9% ABV brew poured a dark, blackish brown with a foamy white head (as nitros are wont to do) and smelled of malts, chocolate, and coffee.  The flavor was a velvety mix of chocolate and coffee with some hints of caramel and a great blend of sweet and bitter.  I must have this again someday.

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Avery Tangerine Quad

Turns out there are a lot of breweries in Colorado.  I was only there for 4 days...with kids...so i was only able to make it to a couple, but Avery Brewing in Boulder most certainly got a visit.  While there in their taproom/brew pub (the food was excellent by the way), i was able to try a handful of different beers, culminating in the Tangerine Quad, a 10.1% ABV Belgian style quadrupel with added tangerine peel and aged in bourbon barrels.  I think it goes without saying that it was magnificent.  Pouring a dark amber, the beer smells of dark fruits, tangerine, and hints of vanilla and alcohol.  The flavor is complex, notes of fruit, vanilla, caramel, bread, and oak swirling together with the tangerine peel in this full-bodied brew, nothing ever overpowering.  All in all, a damn fine beer.

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Bristol Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout

"Make the Empire Great Again!"  Like i wasn't going to buy the beer with storm troopers on the label.

Last week i spent a few days in Denver and was able to sample a hand full of different Colorado brews, as one is wont to do when in Colorado.  The first during the trip (literally just a couple hours after landing) was the 10% ABV Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout from Bristol Brewing out of Colorado Springs.  The beer pours dark with a fleeting head and smells of malts, oats, hints of chocolate, and booze.  The beer's flavor was predominantly a mix of malt and alcohol but with a little extra tang to make things interesting.  Not a bad way to start the trip...and again, dig on those storm troopers.

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Buffalo Bayou Black Raz

Every now and then, a beer can totally serve as a desert, something thick and sweet to end a meal or evening with.  The Black Raz, a delicious chocolate raspberry stout from Houston's Buffalo Bayou Brewing, has you covered.  The beer pours dark black with a nice tan head and smells of roasted malt, raspberry, and hints of vanilla, toffee, and other fruit.  The flavor is a lovely mix of malt, chocolate, raspberry, and cherry that's sweet, but with a roasty back end, and all in an 8% ABV package.  Nothing overpowers.  All in all, a wonderful stout.

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Phoenix Vienna Style Lager

One of the cool things about writing a beer blog (even if i don't have a vast readership) is that the friends and family that read it will sometimes send beer my way.  From Coachella Valley Brewing Co. comes the Phoenix Vienna Style Lager, a tasty and spicy 6.5% ABV beer that i may certainly have to drink again if ever i'm back in California.  The brew pours an amber hue with a very foamy white head and smells of spicy hops with hints of bread and fruit.  The flavor is full of spice with toffee and fruit notes.  Brewed with dates, the beer is a pretty refreshing libation, and would pair well with spicy food.  Much thanks to Gary and Noma.

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(512) Wild Bear

I missed posting last week, but i'm back again with an absolutely wonderful beer from (512) Brewing here in Austin.  The Wild Bear is a double brown ale with Brettanomyces yeast and Pediococcus bacteria cultures added after primary fermentation and then aged in oak barrels for 10 months.  Pouring a nice, dark brown with a foamy, white head, this 8.5% ABV brew smells of oak, cherries, and hints of vanilla with an overall tartness prevailing.  The flavor is full of sour brett funkiness with a nice malty backbone and notes of vanilla.  This is a tasty brew wrapped together in a badass bear package.

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Community Snickerdoodle Ale

Christmas may be in our rear view now, but i had to get in just one more holiday ale before the oncoming later winter months and the beginning of spring bring us a slew of lagers, pales, and IPA's to whet our whistles.  And so, i present the Snickerdoodle Ale, a 5.2% sweet treat from Community Beer Company.  The brew pours a light crisp gold with a frothy white head and smells of sugar, cinnamon, and light bread notes.  Cinnamon and vanilla are most prevalent in the flavor, though the malt and bread notes keep everything surprisingly balanced.  I enjoyed this beer far more than i thought i would, and it made for delicious offering over the holiday break.  Find some while you can.

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(512) Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter

The Pecan Porter from (512) Brewing Company is easily one of my favorite year-round beers to drink here in Austin, so it should go without saying that i'm going to adore the barrel aged variety.  And so we have this year's Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter, a tasty and potent elixir for these long winter nights.  The beer pours dark and black, aromas of malt, sugar, and booze prevailing.  The flavor is very similar to the regular Pecan Porter, malts, pecans, and some subtle chocolate and coffee notes abounding, but with a heartier, boozier feel, a delicious beverage with 9.5% ABV to keep you all warm and fuzzy.

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