(512) Young Funkenstein

Every year, i slowly stockpile a collection of beers to age from 1 to 12 months, opening and enjoying it all around Christmas time.  This stockpiling almost always includes a dinner beer or two as well, and i think i may have found my dinner beverage of choice for this year's Christmas dinner (if we make it that far), the 2020 edition of Young Funkenstein from (512) Brewing.  The 7% ABV beer is a copper ale aged in cabernet barrels for 2 years with wild yeast and dried Ranier cherries.  It pours a coppery, red-tinted brown and smells of cherries and a little bit of funk.  The flavor is an enjoyably sour mix of cherry and oak with a dry and slightly funky finish.  I look forward to having a few more of these.

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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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(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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