11 Nov Austin Beer Garden Brewing in Houston Thanks to Hop Drop

Austin Beer Garden Brewing in Houston Thanks to Hop Drop

Austin Beer Garden Brewing Rocket 100

Austin, TX
Pilsner
ABV: 5.1%
IBUs: 27
Packaging: Draft, 32 ounce Crowlers delivered by Hop Drop

If there’s one thing Texas is known for beer-wise, it’s got to be light, crisp, Pilsners. Beer drinkers from El Paso to Port Arthur, from Houston to Amarillo, and everywhere in between could probably all agree… There’s just something about a good Pilsner that matches well with Texas’ scorching heat.

Everywhere in between might not be the best way to describe our state’s capital city, but Austin Texas is home to some of the finest Pilsners ever. Like, ever ever? Ever ever.

The ABGB, as Austin Beer Garden Brewing is affectionately called, has hailed victorious at the Great American Beer Festival year after year of their brief history for their Pilsners, and it’s no surprise that Rocket 100 is one bringing home the hardware. It brought home a bronze in 2016 World Beer Cup in between garnering a Gold at 2015, 2017 and 2018 GABF.

Alongside the individual honors for Rocket 100 sit a few other medals including 2016, 2017, and 2018 GABF Brewpub of the year. They’re only a few years old, but a passion for great lagers has them reigning victorious. And a great beer delivery service has Austin Beer Garden Brewing in Houston.

Huge thanks to our homies over at Hop Drop for this one! (For the un-initiated, Hop Drop is Houston’s craft beer delivery service.) Amos Lowe, brewer, began his obsessional chase for the perfect lager after tasting Live Oak Pilz. Short after, he met up with Brian “Swifty” Peters, the man responsible for the beer. The rest, as they say, is history.

The ABGB first brewed Rocket 100 to commemorate their hundredth batch, and the city of Austin was hooked. The artwork features a black background with a diamond shape that houses chunky blue text and an orange rocket illustration, but you’re less likely to see the art and more likely to see a black, 32 ounce monster of a can with white text like these that Josh Olalde shot.

Once you crack into the Crowler, ABGB Rocket 100 pours the brightest, crystal-clearest, straw yellow color. The head is a creamy, chalk-white with more sustain than a clingy girlfriend at a senior year house party – you know who you are, Lauren.

The smell of ABGB Rocket 100 is as delicate as any I’ve ever had. Crackers and a touch of floral hops come to the party. I’ve never been to Germany, I’m no fancy Cicerone or BJCP judge, but this tastes exactly like what I imagine it should.

Each sip of Rocket 100 makes me wish it wasn’t a cold, dark, November evening while I welcomed Austin Beer Garden Brewing in Houston. I can only imagine how welcoming this’d be after sweating it out in the garden. Each sip starts with lively carbonation tickling my palette and top lip, and the light bodied Lager brings sweet grainy notes. The liveliness and sweet grain is welcomed to the party by a smooth bitterness that sticks around without coating the palette. A good time was had by all.

The artfully light and delicate nature of ABGB Rocket 100 makes it a good option to pass to your daring BMC drinking friends. I only say daring because the hops might be a bit assertive. It’s well short of what most folks think of as a melt-your-face-off-IPA in terms of bitterness, but there’s a bit more going on than what they might be used to.

If you want to get your hands on some of Austin’s, Texas’, err America’s best Pilsners, you used to have to drive to Austin. But now, thanks to Hop Drop, you can get it delivered right to your door, and you can save 10% with code “BEERCHRONICLE” Life’s good, amiright?