NXNW Iron Mermaiden

So yesterday, i completed my goal of hitting 40 (which later became 50) breweries/brewpubs over the summer of 2019, kicking things off Memorial Day Weekend and closing them out this Labor Day Weekend.  Magic number 50 ended up being Austin's NXNW Restaurant and Brewery who happened to be celebrating their 20th anniversary.  To celebrate, they were offering up a batch of their Iron Mermaiden, a sour, barrel-aged Irish stout brewed with tart cherries.  Pouring black with tan and foamy head, the 6.5% ABV beer smells of malt, oak, cherries, and a whole lot of sour funk.  The flavor is sour and malty, but with the sweetness of the cherries taking over a little bit more on the back end.  Overall, a pretty well balanced brew, and a great way to end my summer quest.  Good job everybody!

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NXNW Zombie Dragon (with Mango) IPA

Yesterday, i pretty much wrapped up the Oktoberfest season by taking my family to the Oktoberfest celebration over at North By Northwest Brewing Company in Austin.  Beers were consumed, pretzels eaten, bouncy houses bounced in, and polka music listened to.  So what better way to write up the experience than by ignoring their traditional German beverages for something a little juicier.  The brewer's Zombie Dragon IPA is a big and juicy wonder, a 7.4% ABV concoction that's big on citrus and pine but easy on the bitterness.  You'd think that would be enough or everyone, but then they went and added a whole mess of mangos to the mix to create something superbly delicious.  Pouring a hazy, gold with a white head, the beer smells of mango, tropical fruit, and citrus with some hints of spice and pine.  The flavor is full of...you guessed it...mango, along with notes of grapefruit, spice, and grain.  And it still packs that 7.4% ABV punch.  This may be my favorite brew from NXNW, and i hope it becomes a mainstay.

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NXNW Bohemian Raspberry

I know we're heading into Fall, but the weather in Central Texas really does not care, as we're still pushing 100 degrees and beyond almost everyday.  And so, on these hot afternoons, a fruity concoction of hops and malts will certainly hit the spot.  Yesterday, NXNW Restaurant and Brewery in Austin hosted its 19th Anniversary Party, an event marking it as the city's oldest brewpub.  It was a family friendly affair, so where else was an avid beer drinker with two kids going to be?  Anyway, i was able to try a few different beers while there, and all were excellent (meaning i'll probably write about one next week too), but their limited Bohemian Raspberry, a fruit beer brewed with...you guessed it...raspberries really helped beat the heat.  Pouring a pinkish hue, the 6% ABV brew smelled of raspberries, citrus, hops, and spice.  Notes of raspberry were dominant, but meshed well with the spices and some subtle hints of yeast and bread.  The brew finished dry, tart, and crisp, an excellent choice to wind down these hot summer days.

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NXNW Zombie Dragon East Coast IPA

It seems everybody's getting in on the canning thing these days, and i think it's delightful, my grocery store's beer isle filled with all kinds of tasty brews that were formerly only available in taprooms, restaurants, and bars across the city.  One of the latest comes from North By Northwest, the longstanding restaurant and brewery in northwest Austin.  Zombie Dragon, an East Coast IPA originally brewed last year to celebrate the joint's 18 year anniversary, now appears to be a mainstay, and i happily procured myself of six pack to drink at home.  The 7.4% ABV brew pours a hazy gold with nice, white head and smells of fruit, citrus, spice, and bread, with just a little hint of funk on the nose.  The flavor is a mix of pine,citrus, and juice that stays pretty balanced with some not overly bitter hop notes.  The sweet and the bitter play very well together creating a great IPA, and further cementing my growing adulation of East Coast haziness.  Get some now.

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