26 Apr Buffalo Bayou More Cowbell by Tam

More Cowbell

Buffalo Bayou

Houston, TX (Nolda St.)

DIPA

ABV: 9%

IBUs: 118.36

Packaging: Draft, 16oz. Cans and Bottles

“One cup of it took the place of the evening papers, of all the old evenings in cafés, of all chestnut trees that would be in bloom now in this month, of the great slow horses of the outer boulevards, of book shops, of kiosques, and of galleries, of the Parc Montsouris, of the Stade Buffalo, and of the Butte Chaumont, of the Guarangy Trust Company and the Ile de la Cité, of Foyot’s old hotel, and of being able to read and relax in the evening; of all things he had enjoyed and forgotten and that came back to him when he tasted that opaque, bitter, tongue-numbing, brain-warming, stomach-warming, idea-changing liquid alchemy.”

– Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls

WOAH! Just freaking woah!

Let me just say that if you’re going to be drinking this next beer, you need to not (I SAY NOT) be timid to the craft game. This brew is not for novices or drinkers who wish to dip their toe in the deep end. If you’re drinking Buff Brew More Cowbell, you are jumping fully clothed into the murky depths of bitter sweet Double IPA.

Let me slow down first, catch my breath, and I’ll get back to it.

So a little history about our big brew. It comes from Buffalo Bayou’s heritage series that emphasizes classical brewing techniques and throws in Houston flavors. Their goal is to push drinkers into exploring the vibrant history that our dear city holds. More Cowbell is exactly that, a pusher that makes something or someone better (or in this case more enthusiastic craft beer enthusiast.)

This double IPA is that ass kicking calling we need and it serves as one to classically exemplify the style, in my opinion.

Buffalo Bayou Brewing More Cowbell pours golden orange and leaves a fine white foam that will sustain itself through the duration of the brew; which if you enjoyed it like I did then it won’t last long.

The aroma that it gives off is floral notes with hints of caramel, but the taste is sweet with just the right kick of bitterness. Honey notes shine through and a balance of grassy citrus finished the final dregs.

Hemingway spoke of his main characters enjoyment of Absinthe, which was just a mirror of his own obsession with his favorite night cap, but I’m sure that if Hemingway was given a pint of More Cowbell then his classic war novel may have ended in a pub instead of a battlefield.

*Picture Courtesy of Buffbrew.com

More Cowbell’s design is unique with its coca brown 16oz can, Cowbell/Buffalo stencil and unintentional “Medical Advice” it gives its drinker; most don’t even realize that its existence is there since it falls under the Government Warning label. Obviously this brew has two cross generation marks, one paying homage to the hilarious SNL sketch and more famous song “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” while taking a darker turn with Ernest Hemingway’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls.”

As mentioned earlier, this has established my new standard for double IPA’s and Buffalo Bayou has done it again. How did this brew meet your DIPA standards? Let us know in the comments below and as always “Beers to you, Houston!”