The “haze craze” of Houston continues with a full head of steam and Spindletap Brewery has embraced the people’s love with arms wide open. While I’ve been enjoying the other hazy offerings from around the city, it’s been a few releases since I have had Houston Haze. I’ve been interested to see if anything has changed.
Lucky for me, Batch 4 of Houston Haze released this week and I was able to get over to Spindletap to pick up a few cans. I’ve had all the beers out of my 4 pack so I could formulate my opinion on this batch and decide whether to get more.
Houston Haze comes in pint cans with a sticker label. The label shows the Houston skyline in the background and refineries in the foreground. The pink and purple colors with the snazzy font makes for a great label.
Pouring Houston Haze into my glass, I’m almost sure I could take this to work and nobody would think twice if I told them it was juice! I would never do that, but this cloudy, bright yellow concoction looked like orange pineapple juice. Just like drinking your fruits does your body good, I hear a beer a day does too.
The aroma of Houston Haze was heavy on pineapple when I first popped open the can, but it gave way to orange and mango aromas like a tropical fruit punch. There is a slight hop bitterness aroma that I found as well, but it’s mostly like standing over a bowl of fruit.
Just like Houston Haze is cloudy, its mouthfeel is soft like you put a cloud in your mouth. It coats your palate and the flavors linger for so long. Speaking of the flavors, imagine that you go to a party and they have “trash can punch.” If you don’t know what that is, it’s when you combine fruit punch, halved fruits, and liquor (usually vodka or rum) into a punch. THAT is what Houston Haze tastes like, except it’s 95% tropical fruit and 5% alcohol. There is only the slightest ethanol flavor that somehow balances out the heavy fruit flavors.
The aroma of Houston Haze was heavy on pineapple when I first popped open the can, but it gave way to orange and mango aromas like a tropical fruit punch. There is a slight hop bitterness aroma that I found as well, but it’s mostly like standing over a bowl of fruit.
Just like Houston Haze is cloudy, its mouthfeel is soft like you put a cloud in your mouth. It coats your palate and the flavors linger for so long. Speaking of the flavors, imagine that you go to a party and they have “trash can punch.” If you don’t know what that is, it’s when you combine fruit punch, halved fruits, and liquor (usually vodka or rum) into a punch. THAT is what Houston Haze tastes like, except it’s 95% tropical fruit and 5% alcohol. There is only the slightest ethanol flavor that somehow balances out the heavy fruit flavors.
I’m giving this batch of Haze 4.5 stars for continuing to be a great product. It’s no wonder people keep coming back for more and more, including me this week. You can only get Houston Haze at the brewery and as of earlier today, they still have plenty at the brewery for purchase at $16/4-pack.
Do you think Houston Haze is improving batch to batch and do you think the haze craze will keep rolling? Let us know in the comments below! Beers to you, Houston. 🍻
Nick is originally from the Corpus Christi area, but found himself in Houston as of 4 years ago. You can spot him wearing a Hooks hat and drinking a glass of craft beer around the city. He typically prefers his beers to mirror his taste in music: complex, heavy, and dark.
2 Comments
Russell Casteel
Posted at 21:35h, 14 July
I’ve bought each batch and they’ve been very consistent, which is a good thing. I’ve found that waiting 2 to 3 weeks before pouring a pint reduces some astrigency and really brings out the soft tropical flavors.
Nick B
Posted at 23:19h, 14 July
Excellent! Some of the crew has had each batch and has said the same. It’s pretty damn good right now, but yes, giving it a few weeks does mellow it out even more and bring those fruit flavors forward. It’s just hard to hold onto it that long!
[…] far as comparisons go, Baa Baa Brewhouse Double Play kind of reminds me of Houston Haze but the flavors are different. The mouthfeel and easy drinkability are the similarities that stick […]
Russell Casteel
Posted at 21:35h, 14 JulyI’ve bought each batch and they’ve been very consistent, which is a good thing. I’ve found that waiting 2 to 3 weeks before pouring a pint reduces some astrigency and really brings out the soft tropical flavors.
Nick B
Posted at 23:19h, 14 JulyExcellent! Some of the crew has had each batch and has said the same. It’s pretty damn good right now, but yes, giving it a few weeks does mellow it out even more and bring those fruit flavors forward. It’s just hard to hold onto it that long!
Pingback:Baa Baa Brewhouse Double Play - Beer Chronicle - Sharing Houston Beer
Posted at 20:02h, 29 January[…] far as comparisons go, Baa Baa Brewhouse Double Play kind of reminds me of Houston Haze but the flavors are different. The mouthfeel and easy drinkability are the similarities that stick […]