Good Grief Fruited Strong Ale

Great things can happen when great minds come together.  At least that's the case with Good Grief, a fruited strong ale made in collaboration with 5 different Texas breweries to benefit first responders.  Coming to us from the good folks at Roughhouse Brewing (San Marcos), Jester King (Austin), Lazarus (Austin), Oddwood Ales (Austin), and True Anomaly Brewing (Houston), the 11% ABV brew pours a dark burgundy brown and smells of molasses, dark fruit, and a hint of oak.  The flavor is a complex mix of dark and stone fruits, tart black currants, oak and booze, and some nice hints of chocolate that starts sweet and finishes dry.  Delicious, and a damn good collaboration i must say.

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Roughhouse Ona Farmhouse Amber

With so many different breweries continuing to pop up in Austin and the surrounding hill country, it's hard to get around to sampling all of them.  But i try.  From San Marcos comes Roughhouse Brewing and their delicious Farmhouse Amber called Ona.  Pouring a nice amber (naturally) with a dissipating white head, the 6.3% ABV brew, refermented with dried Montmorency cherries, smells of grains, spice, and said cherries.  The flavor is one with the aroma, the cherries having a very balanced feel throughout, and some hints of tartness.  All in all, a lovely beer to close out the summer with.

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