Monday, May 28, 2018

Real Ale ZWEIUNDZWANZIG 22nd Anniversary Berliner Weisse

It's HOT in Central Texas today, a fact more than adequately discovered trekking about in the woods south east of Austin at a dinosaur park for the boy's 5th birthday.  And in a few moments, i'll be manning the grill...with an assortment of beer, but certainly starting things off with the 22nd Anniversary brew from Real Ale, the ZWEIUNDZWANZIG Berliner Weisse.  This refreshing, 3.5% ABV beer is meant for days like these, pouring a nice transparent gold with a frothy white head and smelling of grain and lemon.  The beer is light bodied with subtle notes of banana, lemon, and salt, all with relaxed tartness.  It's almost like a classic Berliner Weisse crossed with a Gose.  Good stuff.  Here's to 22 more years.

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Monday, May 21, 2018

Dogfish Head Dragons & YumYums Pale Ale

I love that over the last several years, more and more musicians and bands are teaming up with breweries to release collaborations of sorts.  I'm sure the artists are just lending their names or aesthetics, but it's produced some interesting brews.  Off of the top of my head, i've tried beers from Guided By Voices, NOFX, The Sword, and Iron Maiden, and i've been trying to locate some Run The Jewels libations here in Central Texas but to no avail.  Anyway, in conjunction with the band's 7" release for Record Store Day last month, The Flaming Lips have partnered with Delaware mainstay Dogfish Head Brewery to release Dragons & YumYums, and a quirky, fruity, and colorful pale ale.  Pouring a pinkish hue with a bubbly white head, the 6.5% ABV beer smells of fruit, sugar, citrus, malt, and bubblegum with some hints of hops.  The flavor is a mix of tropical fruit, citrus, and some balanced hoppy bitterness, all with a medium body and a dry finish.  All in all, a very enjoyable spring/summer brew.

Visit the brewer...and watch The Flaming Lips' video for "The Story of Yum Yum and Dragon" below.


Monday, May 14, 2018

Whitestone Quadrivium Series #4

With all of the ups and downs that 2018 has provided us so far, a veritable roller coaster of awfulness, one constant good note (in Central Texas anyway) has been the Quadrivium Series, a string of barrel-aged Belgian Quads released by Whitestone Brewery over the last few months.  The Quad is one of my favorite styles of beer, and these bottles have been delightful, aged in bourbon barrels, rum barrels, or a combination of the two for three months.  The fourth and final bottle in this series was aged for six months in Madeira wine barrels, and is a wonderful way to finish things off.  Pouring a dark, dark brown with an off white head, this 10% ABV darling has an aroma of oak, brown sugar, and hints of fruit and wine.  The flavor is a strong mix of the aforementioned oak and sugar with some dark fruit notes and an underlying sweetness that never overwhelms.  I need more of these, and i'll be making sure to procure them for as long as they last.

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Monday, May 7, 2018

Celis Raspberry

I've been pretty stoked since Celis Brewery came back from the dead to start making delicious Belgian-inspired brews again here in Austin, and their latest is a fruity take on a classic.  The Celis Raspberry combines the brewery's original Celis White with a whole lot of raspberries.  Pouring a pinkish/reddish hue with light pink head, the beer smells of...you guessed it...raspberries, along with some floral notes, spices, and a wheat-y breadiness.  The flavor is tart, a mix of sweet fruit and spice with dry and crisp finish.  This beer is certainly not for everyone, but if you're looking for something a little different, this 5% ABV concoction is a great summertime brew.

Visit the brewer.