This week, I decided to go back to an old reliable “safety blanket” craft brew from those hard working brew masters over at St. Arnold. Many of us have probably partaken in a St. Arnold lunch or weekend get together, so indulge me for a few moments as I word vomit my enjoyment of a faithful brew....
Running Walker Texas Reserve IPA was the second beer I had from them and the first that I really enjoyed. I had their Kölsch first, and it was alright, so I was stunned when I had this Texas Reserve! It's deee-lish-ious! The first time I'd tried Texas Reserve IPA was...
Silt Brown poured smooth and had a color like a roasted pecan. The head was white and there was very little retention. The nose was heavy on chocolate, but in a way that I had yet to experience. It literally smelled like a...
So imagine the joy in my face when I popped the cap of this brew and a flood of aromas were released. Hints of caramel with a quick punch of hops followed by a balance of citrus invaded my nose as well as the sizzle of carbonated beer filled my...
A couple buddies and I were going to watch the Astros play one afternoon, and we decided we'd meet up early for a beer at Home Plate Grill. We arrive, and the craft selection isn't too impressive. Mind you, this was almost 6 months ago, so their selection may have grown. I asked for a Hopadillo - it's all foamy, they're about to stop serving it, just like the Amber Ale beside it. SMH. "How about those Texas Beer Refinery handles," - I ask again, halfway shouting over...
The nose on Half Nelson is like a bouquet of bright flowers and citrus fruits. I was in love with it as soon as the smell wafted into my nasal cavity. Considering Mosaic and Nelson Sauvin are typically said to give amazing tropical aromas, I don’t know why...
This delicious concotion has the exact airy fragrance as any regular pilsner and even to the moment of consumption the aroma stays true. The taste though is far from just some ordinary pilsner. It starts with a hard bitter punch and smooths to a sweet finish. Blue Testament...
Copperhead Striker IPA is the first beer I had from them. I remember seeing it on the shelf late this summer and being really excited to see a new, smaller brewery on the shelf! I swear I wrote about it, but I lost the write up somehow? I've bought it a few times since then because it's daaaaaang good, but as I...
This brew was perfect for my current weekend plans, for at that very moment I was in a fierce battle of Cornhole and smoking pork belly on my charcoal grill. Boomtown Blonde, when poured, produces a fountain of golden liquid that settled with a...
Did you know that City Acre Brewing Co. sells bombers to go? Me either. I found out on a Sunday morning while trying to find a brunch spot. Lucky me, I found City Acre offers bunch. I would be making a huge mistake if I didn't take a second to tell you how good their food is. I had the Brewers plate - I think - a plate full of goo-ood food for around 10 bucks!...
The post that almost never happened: After a few weeks of gathering beer from all over town, and one long ass drive to Galveston Island, we did it. We had them all. We met up with a few other friends for a potluck meal just before Thanksgiving, and the Top 5 Best IPAs in Houston was born. None of us are official BJCP judges or cicerones (yet), as you may have read elsewhere on the site, but here's our take as consumers - just regular dudes that...
Fast forward almost two years, and I'm in the garage trying to fix my wife's headlight. I knew I wanted a beer, and when I opened up my fridge, Art Car IPA smiled at me almost as to say, "You're fixing the car, dude. I'm the one." Bingo, Art Car IPA it is. Saint Arnold Art Car IPA smells of fruity hops, and the taste...
I normally don’t get very hyped up about the beers in this series, but this year’s iteration is a weizenbock with cocoa nibs (supplied by the amazing Tejas Chocolate Craftory in Tomball). The reason for my excitement has to do with...
When it comes to Belgian beers, I either love them or I don't. The flavors are just too complex to leave room for any gray area. This Derrickman Dubbel is good, and it's even more special knowing that as I'm drinking it, it's gone. It was a good beer, and I rated it accordingly. What'd you think - Derrickman Dubbel leave you gushing?...
Last time I had Derailler, it was icy-cold outside, we were at Cycler's Brewing interviewing Clay, and we had it straight from the tank. It was cold and could've benefitted from warming up a bit, but with the temperature outside, that wasn't a luxury we could afford. Despite the cold temp, the beer was delicious. This time...
Black Masses poured thicker and blacker than any other stout I’ve had from Brash. They weren't lying about the darkness! I took it to a New Year’s Eve party and people used the old “looks like motor oil” comparison and that...
There’s no better way to start off a new year of craft beer reviews then with a dependable well-made IPA like Hop Gusher! This hoppy fruit inspired concoction is on the year round list of the young but hard charging brewers of Spindletap and their two ingenious brew masters. When I...
8th Wonder Brewery did the city justice with Hopston. It's a TX IPA that's light on the tongue, but not light on flavor. I really dig 8th Wonder for their creativity - not only in the beers themselves, but in their names and artwork. Hopston's no different. Hopston is bit stronger in flavor than other IPAs I've had, but it's...
Pine Belt Pale Ale is a bit aggressive for the style, but I still really enjoyed it. It's a year round beer and suitably so as it's refreshing enough to stand up to the Houston heat that fills 10 months of our calendars. APAs are typically a bit more gentle than IPAs when it comes to IBUs, ABV, and hop flavor, but this one...
Big Black Cowbell was very carbonated, but not overly so. It had a generous amount of tan head (really trying to stay away from puns here) and a black body. The smell was all...