Beer Reviews / 26.12.2016

So, it's the day after Christmas and it's a frigid 73 degrees with 92% humidity, so it seems a bit silly to be writing about Southern Star Winter Warmer, but bear with me! I write about beer in my journal as I drink, and then I post them on here as I see fit, and I originally drank this one while I grilled on my back patio as we endured the first sunshine after the big cold front week before last. It starts off mild and sweet, and...

Beer Reviews / 12.12.2016

This No Label 5th Anniversary Barleywine marks their 6th anniversary. But wait, it's the 5th anniversary beer? It seems as though they say on it a while, but it was worth the wait. (I'm a little behind the curve, too.) This barleywine is pretty bold, and it starts off even bolder. It has a strong hoppy nose, with subtle fruity, woody notes, all wrapped up in the smell of pure alcohol. The tastes...

Beer Reviews / 05.12.2016

Hop Gusher's got the sort of balance that's a bit rare in IPAs - I feel like the malt backbone and sweetness counteract the hop flavor and hop bitterness that typically turns off macro drinkers, although both are still there and very enjoyable. It starts off light on the palette, despite an aggressive...

Beer Reviews / 28.11.2016

Honey Hole ESB is a terrific beer from SpindleTap Brewery, and it's one of my favorites from them. I think I enjoy it so much because it's a bit unusual to see an ESB, and Honey Hole really hits the spot for the style (pun wholly intended). ESB stands for Extra Special Bitter, and Honey Hole's extra special, alright! It starts off clean and...

Beer Reviews / 21.11.2016

Citra Mellow is a special beer. The team and I have been on a hunt for the last few weeks to gather a handful of certain "special" beers from around the Greater Houston area, and Citra Mellow was on that list. (More info on why it's special soon.) We got word that Galveston Island Brewing had started canning Citra Mellow, and the day the cans were available, we made a drive down to Galveston for a couple 6 packs....

Houston Beer News / 10.11.2016

Our friends Marcus and Kinga over at Baa Baa Brewhouse are hosting the 12 Beers of Christmas, a Houston Homebrew Competition. The competition will happen in 2 stages beginning in December, and the winner will be invited to brew their beer on a commercial scale at Baa Baa Brewhouse along with bragging rights, a trophy, and the opportunity to share their beer with thirsty Houstonians (and Brookshire-ans?) More info and registration...

Beer Reviews / 07.11.2016

Fresh Nugs has a cleeeeean flavor - man it's so good. The flavor starts off bright and crisp. Since the news of the Karbach sellout, this beer is going to be a bit harder to find. Many local bars that specialize in local beers are saddened by the news and have all but dumped their Karbach kegs. Despite all the bad press, I wrote about these beers before they sold out, and people that don't know much about craft, might not know if we don't tell them....

Houston Beer News / 03.11.2016

It's a sad day in Houston, but a great day at Karbach. News was released today that Houston craft beer powerhouse Karbach was bought out by Anheuser-Busch. Details of the deal have yet to be disclosed, but many within the craft community have said for a while now, "It's not a matter of if Karbach will be bought out, but when." ...

Beer Reviews / 17.10.2016

Karbach Quintuple IPA is is more complex than an angry woman. It's brewed with 5 different hop varieties, 5 different types of grains, and 5 different fermentables. It's a beer they brewed to honor their fifth anniversary, and it's completely ridiculous. The flavor changes drastically as it warms up, and everything intensifies. As you take a sip, it starts off somewhat boozy, then it gets...

Beer Reviews / 10.10.2016

Saint Arnold Oktoberfest is a freaking fantastic fall beer!! It starts off crisp and it develops a sort of sweet, malty flavor as it goes down. It's bolder and more full-bodied than the Karbach Oktoberfest, and it feels a bit heavier, too. Saint Arnold Oktoberfest has more flavor than...

Beer Reviews / 06.10.2016

BB15 is definitely a winter beer. Since it's special and only comes in limited releases, some folks are even stealing it out of the back of the store. I cracked one open, so I could write this review while it was still fresh, and I wish I woulda waited a bit. BB15 starts off mild, all things considered. The second it hit my tongue...