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Hop in the Dark...outstanding
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I saw this bottle on the shelf in Spec's this morning and lol'd.

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drink a few and you'll be laughing for other reasons

Belikin is awesome!!!

I need a beer!

Or rather, I'd like to try something different.

We're going camping this weekend, and I would like something to go with the steaks I'm making for dinner.

What say 'ye?

Had a few good ones tonight...

Bombshell Blonde: Southern Star
Lawnmower: St arnolds
Elissa: St arnolds

All were pretty good.

Several people have mentioned Southern Star as having some pretty good beers. I would have to agree. I drink the Blonde almost every game day. Something that I didn't see anyone mention about SouthernStar is that one of the owners is an Aggie!

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1554 and the porter are malty styles, they aren't supposed to be hoppy.

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Yes, but they lacked brightness, and carbonation. Besides, when you say hoppy, you might mean insanely hoppy, like 2008's Samuel Adams Hallertau Imperial Pilsner or Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA. I didn't have that order of magnitude in mind at all. I did like last year's Samuel Adams Seasonal Noble Pils, and St. Arnold's Special Pils. I wouldn't call these abundantly hoppy, but hops are the dominant flavor. I don't expect 1554 or a porter to taste like a lager or a pale ale, but I can admit where my preference is, and try to expand it.

Uni, I tried the Shiner Bohemian Black Lager you raved about, and I really liked it. This was a great beer for a cool evening.

[This message has been edited by exige (edited 11/5/2010 4:42a).]

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Yes, but they lacked brightness, and carbonation.

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1. What is brightness?
2. Not all beers are supposed to have the same level of carbonation.

If you like the Shiner Black, you might also like Negra Modelo and Bohemia. They are the best Mexican beers (Actually German Lager style)out there... try them without limes which kill the flavor. Avoid like the plague the horsep(*s which is Corona, Sol, Tecate etc..

I'm having some Stone Pale Ale right now which is outstanding.

Also bought some St. Arnold Christmas Ale.

Found a couple of Real Ale Sisyphus' from 2009 at Spec's tonight, and New Belgium Sahti. I'm excited about drinking the last of the Spaten Oktoberfest I could find. Yay!

-Jayci

So THAT's who 713 is, haha.

Went over to the Yard House the other day with an old roommate from college. Had an Anchor Steam, Kwak, and Magic Hat #9.

First two I'd had before, both very good beers.

For the third beer I was hoping to try the Green Flash IPA, but they were out. I picked the Magic Hat at random and was pretty disappointed by it. Tasted something like watered down grape Kool-Aid.

[This message has been edited by metrag06 (edited 11/6/2010 10:53a).]

I have been a member of texags for 12 years and never posted. It took this topic to
Drag mr out of the weeds. I have to let my fellow beer loving brethren about Left Hand Brewery Milk Stout. Freaking outstanding. You'll thank me. And, for the lucky few, the St.Arnolds Divine 10 is tasty. I'll head back into the shadows now.

No,Rockhead, do indulge!!! SA was my 21st inauguration to alcoholism, so I must be apprised of all the changes to SA seeing as how I'm now in D/FW by job not choice! What is this 10 you speak of! I can't even get the Christmas Ale that is my fave from the local purveyor yet. Please do tell before thou casteth into the shadow from whence thou came!

Divine Reserve is a limited-release that SA does every year. It's a different beer each year, last year (DR 9) I believe it was a Pumpkin Ale, this year DR 10 is a Barleywine.

I'll go ahead and say there's a 99.99999% chance you'll never see it in D/FW (although apparently a few cases ended up in CLL). There's a huge running thread on the Houston board of folks trying to find it, while others made fun of them for running around looking for it.

I lucked into finding it as I was grocery shopping when my store got some. I've had one so far, it's pretty smooth, although I'll probably let the rest age a bit and break another one out for Christmas or in January.

Christmas Ale is still my favorite SA beer, and I'm also having trouble finding it, despite being in Houston.

Had another "unusual" beer the other week:

Rogue's Cali-Belge IPA - mix of an IPA and a Belgian style beer.

Very tasty!

[This message has been edited by texas.aggie.2010 (edited 11/7/2010 6:51p).]

Had some Rhar Winter Warmer, Couple Black &Tan's, and a good porter (I can't remember it's name, Big Ben or something like that) this weekend. Pretty good.

62strat,
Torpedo uses Citra hops. Pale is a classic Centennial and Cascade.

hmm that's interesting to know. I've used cascade and centennial in a handful of my pale ale's.. that's a hop i usually like. SNPA just tastes a little funny to me.. i don't know what it is.

another random thing about ipa's, again I've had just about every one that spec's offers and more. Saint arnold elissa is the only one (only beer for that matter), that if I drink more than about 4, I have the worst unbearable headache in the morning. I've tested this theory 3 times, drinking elissa and elissa only, and my god my head has never hurt so bad. thought maybe it was hops, but alas, they use only cascades.. I don't what it is, but I stick to my guns everytime now, I never have more than one of those in a night.

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I'm having some Stone Pale Ale right now which is outstanding.

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Isle, try the sublimey righteous ale from stone.. holy cow that's a good damn beer. a dark ipa.

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I picked the Magic Hat at random and was pretty disappointed by it. Tasted something like watered down grape Kool-Aid.

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magic hat is an apricot flavored beer.. not very good IMO, and I too was fooled, cause it's labeled as a 'not so pale' ale or something, I was like, ohh a pale ale i've never had... vomit.

had a deschutes brewery jubelale last night...WAY up there on my list of delicious beers to drink again

As a hophead I've always been intrigued by Dogfish Head's Randall the Enamel Animal.

http://www.gourmet.com/winespiritsbeer/2008/08/infused-beer

It's a modified water filter which allows various flavoring agents (such as hops, coffee, etc) to be infused into kegged beer right at the tap. I found some plans on HomebrewTalk and am in the process of assembly - should only cost me $20 or so. It will look like the below.




I'll report back once it is in operation.

[This message has been edited by WC87 (edited 11/10/2010 9:07a).]

WC, we're building one of those to serve beer at our bar!

_____________________________
"Guns don't kill people, I kill people."

Here's what I am doing. The stainless spear from a Sanke keg will serve as the 'filter', cut to 9 7/8"

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/blogs/suthrncomfrt1884/347-randall-enamel-animal-build-process.html

Original plans here. http://www.maltosefalcons.com/clubgear/hashback/

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Hop in the Dark...outstanding

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Saw this at the Saucer last night and tried it. A dark hoppy bear, just as it says. DELICIOUS!

After years of drinking beer without really paying much attention to what I was drinking a buddy explained to me the difference between ale and lager. So after experimenting with a few different types I discovered that I'm partial to ales, particularly Scottish ales. My favorite at present is Bellhaven Scottish Stout (which is especially wonderful if you can find it on tap) followed by their Scottish Ale. Below are reviews for each that do a much better job of describing them than I could:

Bellhaven Scottish Stout

Bellhaven Scottish Ale

i've yet to meet a lager that I can really enjoy.

Grabbed Sierra Neveda's Celebration last night. I suppose it's their Christmas ale. They call it a Fresh Hop Ale.

I'm not a hop head but this was good. It was just on the cusp of being too hoppy to drink several of... which is just about perfect.

[This message has been edited by IsleAg11 (edited 11/14/2010 10:19a).]

Bought this out of curiosity, expecting it to be horrible. It actually wasn't too bad - smooth flavor and taste.

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i've yet to meet a lager that I can really enjoy.

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I'm more of an ale person myself, but I enjoy the following lagers:
Negra Modelo (my favorite Mexican beer)
Czechvar (Budvar Budweiser)
Dos Equis Amber
Hacker-Pshorr & Paulaner Oktoberfests (and many other Marzens)
Ayinger Celebrator Dopplebock

I made my wife try my Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout last night...

She asked why I hated her!

I love winter beer!! The mix of lots of malt and heavy hopping makes me happy.

Had some Boulevard Nutcracker last night. Great stuff.

I got ahold of some Dechutes Jubelale, but have not tried any.

My eyes are peeled though for some Widmer Brrr. I love that stuff.

I'm also partial to StA's winter "stout"

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had a deschutes brewery jubelale last night...WAY up there on my list of delicious beers to drink again

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Agreed!

For those that like winter beers may I suggest attending the Holiday Ale Festival in Portland, OR http://holidayale.com/index.php

I went with a few buddies last year and we had an awesome time. If you do I would suggest Thursday or Friday afternoon for a calmer time with plenty of beer. Feel free to send me an e-mail for tips/places to visit if you decide to do this. The beer scene in Portland is outstanding...most per capita in US.

For those that may not be aware of "the best kept secret in Texas brewing" IMHO at least...you need to check out Franconia Brewing in McKinney. http://www.franconiabrewing.com/homepage.html

It's a brewery started by Dennis Wehrmann up in the industrial district of McKinney and he traces his lineage through years of German brewing. He brews in the "German purity law" mindset, so you will not see anything crazy out of his beer, but they are all very good. He also doesn't bottle anything, so you will only find it on tap at certain places and can buy in kegs. I've heard he has made more inroads to Austin now at particular places, but otherwise it's only around DFW I think. One of the main reason is because they self deliver everything and do not work through distributors to make sure it's fresh.

If you ever find yourself up in the DFW area may I suggest you take a tour of the brewery, which is only at 11am on Saturdays. He and his wife will typically give the tour and it's honestly the best one I have been on. You'll get a large glass (and I mean Weizen glass not sample) of beer to take the tour on and then hang around and he'll fill it up a few more times afterwards...$5 the last I remember. The tour is often like a beer class..honestly the last time he was giving us information on how different enzymes worked and will answer pretty much anything. I think he had a degree in beer/food science from Germany or something.


I need to mention I have no stake in this brewery or know him personally (though it may sound like it)...just want to pimp a place I think real beer drinkers need to try.

His Dunkel has become one of my favorite beers, but you typically only see it in kegs or a few select places. You will mostly find the Lager and Heffe.

tried some Spaten Oktoberfest, probably my favorite oktoberfest brew yet

also picked up a 4-pack of ayinger celebrator as per someone's suggestion on this thread...probably will try some tomorrow

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One of the main reason is because they self deliver everything and do not work through distributors to make sure it's fresh.

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I'm pretty sure TABC requires all beer sold in Texas to be sold through a distributor. This is why you can't run down to your favorite brewer and buy direct.

A micro brewery can produce and self distribute beer but cannot be a retailer. I believe once you are over a certain size you can not self distribute.

The only way in Texas to produce and retail your own beer is if you are a Brew Pub, in which case you can not sell your beer anywhere besides at the brewery.

If you are a distillery you do have to have a distributor, you can not do it yourself. This is the case with Ranger Creek Brewery and Distillery which should have beer on the market in two weeks. They are self distributing thier beer but have to have someone else distribute their liquor.

Thanks for the clarity Dover.

I have half a mind to try to start a distribution company that only distributes small brewer's beer. IOW, no BMC beers. I feel that such a venture would be an uphill battle the entire way.