I Love Beer

Independence's Convict Hill Stout Wins National Award

2012-01-20T12:00:00.000-06:00

Congrats to Austin's Independence Brewing. Cut and pasted from their blog:

Independence Brewing Co. wins 2012 Good Food Awards

Independence Brewing Co., the Austin microbrewery, received the 2012 Good Food Award for their Convict Hill Stout in recognition of the handcrafted ale’s exceptional quality, and the brewery’s commitment to sustainability and supporting the Austin community.

The Good Food Awards celebrate outstanding American food producers who push their industries towards craftsmanship and sustainability while enhancing the agricultural landscape and building strong communities.

Independence Brewing Co.’s Convict Hill Stout was selected from over 900 entries to become one of 18 finalists. Amongst such well-respected craft breweries like Alaskan Brewing, Brooklyn Brewery, Lagunitas, and New Belgium, the lone Texas brewery looked like the “little brewery that could”.

Since opening in 2004, Independence Brewing Co. has grown from a husband-and-wife run microbrewery to a talented crew of 13 with a reputation for brewing some of the best beers in Texas.

“Breweries should be a reflection of their community, and Independence Brewing is a reflection of Austin,” said Independence co-founder Amy Cartwright. “With creative tenacity we strive to responsibly produce the absolute best in our field while working with fellow farmers, business owners and non-profits to build a thriving community.”

Independence Brewing Co. gives back to the community in a unique way. Certified organic local rancher Calvin Jechow owner and operator of Six J Ranch in Thorndale, collects the barley that Independence used to brew and uses it to feed his livestock including, free range chickens, turkeys and goats. The meat is later sold at Austin-area farmers markets which collectively benefit the Sustainable Food Center.

And by supporting benefit dinners at Mansion at Judge’s Hill and Edible Austin’s Farm to Table Dinner, Independence Brewing has been working to further the Sustainable Food Center’s goals of improving access to healthy nutritional foods and strengthening the local food system.

In addition, Independence helps out other Austin non profits including Keep Austin Beautiful, It’s My Park Day, Friends of the Forest, Urban Roots and many animal rescue groups including Austin Pets Alive and Forgotten Friends.

“It was an honor to be on stage with such well-respected craft brewers, and we are feel that the 2012 Good Food Awards brings to light our efforts to be a responsible company that produced one of the best beers in America.”

Austinites can sample the award-winning Convict Hill Stout at two of the original stores to sell Independence beers: the Whole Foods on Lamar on Sunday, January 15 and January 22 from 1-3 pm, and at Wheatsville Co-Op on Saturday, Jan 21, 12-3pm. Independence fans are encouraged to attend a celebration happy hour at the Ginger Man Pub on January 20, 6-8 pm.

About Independence Brewing Co.
Independence Brewing Co. was founded in Austin in 2004 by Amy and Rob Cartwright. Over the years the microbrewery has become a staple in Austin bars, restaurants and grocery stores. Independence has developed a repertoire of favorite craft beers available year-round in bottles, from the easy-drinking Austin Amber to the dark, rich and roasty Convict Hill Stout. The more adventurous fans seek out seasonal draft-only brews like the ESB and the limited Brewluminati series.

Saint Arnold Austin Pub Crawl

2012-01-19T12:00:00.000-06:00

Cut-and-pasted from their newsletter:

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, Saint Arnold Austin Pub Crawl!

This will be our Downtown/6th Street Pub Crawl with five stops. We are utilizing our "open house" schedule for the first four stops. This means that we will be punching tickets at all of the stops for three and a half hours so people can split up between the establishments. You will get your ticket at whichever stop you decide to visit first. But, VERY IMPORTANT, we will only be handing out the tickets between 2:00 and 3:00 PM. Thus, you still need to start between 2:00 and 3:00 PM. Then, at 6:00 PM, everybody will gather at one final stop, and that is where we will award the glasses. The prize for making all five stops will be our awesome Saint Arnold Pub Crawl pint glass. We will have a large but limited supply of glasses. And as always, designated drivers are both eligible for the award and encouraged to attend! So here is the layout and our vague directions:

The locations (at which we will be simultaneously between 2:00 and 3:00 PM):
Chupacabra on 6th St.
Logan's on 6th St.
Jackalope on 6th St.
Shiner's Saloon (5th St. @ Congress - 2nd floor)
At 6:00 PM, we will end up at The Ginger Man for the pint glass giveaway.

Now, for our annual tips for maximum enjoyment:
PRECOATING: Try to eat something before commencing the crawl.
PACING: Too many Saint Arnold beers at the first stop is a critical strategic mistake. This is known as "Sprinting Too Early" which is not advisable in this, a distance event. Can have negative repercussions later.
MANNERS: Be patient with bar staff. Remember, 300+ or so people will be descending upon a poor crew. They will be working as fast as they can. Also, it is considered very good manners to tip well everywhere you go. This creates good "beerma".
CASH: Bring cash! This pleases the bar staff and the people standing behind you. Cash is fast. Credit cards are slow. They cannot run tabs for 300+ people.
BUDDY SYSTEM: Make sure that you are always in contact with a couple of people you know. One of you is bound to notice that the pack is starting to move on to the next stop. This prevents the disoriented feeling of looking around an empty bar and realizing that the only three people still in there are guzzling some inferior malted beverage and may be related to the missing link.
MAKE NEW FRIENDS: As everyone on this crawl will be intelligent and good looking, this is an excellent place to meet new people. Also, you will note that some people become better looking as the crawl wears on. If this occurs, be sure to consult your Buddy System partner.
DESIGNATED DRIVER: Yes, we encourage this strongly. You never know when you might decide to run for president. And even the designated drivers on the crawl qualify for the prize. While pregnant wives are perfect for this role, it is known to be poor judgment for a husband to claim that this is the best part of her being pregnant. See "Mood Swings."
ENJOY ST. ARNOLD'S BEERS: It is in poor taste to be seen quaffing anything else. Ever. See "Curse of Saint Arnold."

2012-01-18T12:00:00.000-06:00

Wow, here's what my waistline doesn't need: A place that specializes in beer and baked goods. Yeesh. Nonetheless, I'm sure you'll see me there.

Easy Tiger!
Much-Anticipated Bake Shop & Beer Garden to Open January 23

AUSTIN – January 13, 2012 – Bread and beer. The simple commonality is yeast, but superior products require tremendous technical expertise—and time. Respect for that concept is really the core of Easy Tiger, a new bake shop and beer garden from ELM Restaurant Group (the folks behind 24 Diner) opening January 23 at 709 E. Sixth Street. Even the name is meant to convey the message of “slow down, stay awhile.”

At the heart of the street-level bake shop is artisan baker David Norman. David’s pedigree includes head-baking positions at Grand Central Bakery (leading artisan bakery in Pacific Northwest), TriBakery (supplying NY greats such as Tribeca Grill and Nobu), Ecce Panis (NY, NJ) and Bouley Bakery (NY). Peek inside the hand-lettered storefront, and you’ll find a Parisian pink counter lined with salvaged bakery pans. Directly behind, steel-lined glass panels afford a view of the open bakery, where you can watch David and his team turning out baguettes, French country levain, rye bread, German pretzels, Danish, turnovers and more all day long. Step in and request a specialty coffee made from Texas Coffee Traders’ locally roasted beans or an organic tea along with a pastry (bonjour, pain au croissant), sandwich (try the ham & whipped butter on baguette) or loaf of your choice, perhaps joined by a selection from Antonelli’s Cheese Shop.

Lunch, dinner and late-night guests can follow the blinking arrow and hand-lettered subway sign downstairs to the beer garden and patio overlooking Waller Creek. Libations are overseen by CIA graduate and 24 Diner sommelier Billy Caruso, and the menu features cocktails, a carefully edited wine list, unique bombers and 30 craft beers on tap, including locally produced faves Real Ale and Jester King and boutique domestics such as Avery, Lagunitas and Ommegang.

Beer garden provisions are dominated by another product that requires culinary skill and time: house-cured meats. This is the domain of 24 Diner’s executive chef, Andrew Curren, a CIA valedictorian who worked for top New York restaurateurs Danny Meyer and Jonathan Waxman before returning to his home state. Drew’s devotion to the farm-to-table movement and meticulous preparation of chef-inspired comfort food at 24 helped earn him a nomination for People’s Best New Chef from Food & Wine magazine/CNN’s Eatocracy and a run on Bravo’s Top Chef: Texas last fall. Drew’s menu features housemade sausages, jerky, corned beef and pastrami, as well as homemade krauts, relishes and peperonata—which you can accompany with bread made in the bakery just upstairs.

24 Diner designer Veronica Koltuniak of VeroKolt (clients include Madonna, Courteney Cox and Jennifer Lopez) looked across the ages as she transformed the two-story 1890s space, calling the resultant mix “turn-of-the-century building meets end-of-the-century kitsch.” Cool details abound in the bakery and downstairs tavern, from pink-and-black cameo wallpaper and vintage brass accents to hand-painted wooden tables and a carefully curated selection of books, games and art. Long custom communal tables line the massive outdoor patio while three ping-pong tables roost on the banks of Waller Creek. Need a visual? Roni cites The Royal Tenenbaums as inspiration.

Web: www.easytigeraustin.com, twitter.com/EasyTigerATX, www.facebook.com/EasyTigerATX

Bwa-ha-ha

2012-01-17T12:00:00.001-06:00

I can tell you from personal experience that there are few things that offer more potential for fun that responding to an overbearing cease-and-desist letter. Check out this response by Freetail Brewing's Scott Metzger to one such letter.

Draft Mag's 100 Best Beer Bars

2012-01-16T19:59:00.003-06:00

Draft Mag has printed its 2012 list of the 100 Best Beer Bars in America. Congrats to the Texas entries on the list: Draught House, Flying Saucer, Ginger Man, and Little Woodrow's.

But I'd love to whip up some controversy: Are there any deserving Texas establishments that they missed?

Saint Arnold Gives Houston Texans Some Incentive

2012-01-07T15:23:00.004-06:00

Thanks to the Shirl for sending me this story.

The Houston Texans, for the first time in franchise history, will contest a playoff game, beginning about five minutes from now. According the Houston Business Journal, Brock Wagner, owner of Houston's Saint Arnold Brewing, has said he'll give them a beery treat if they take down the Bengals today. Sounds like good motivation to me.

TABC Issues Interim Guidelines After Jester King Verdict

2012-01-06T23:00:00.006-06:00

As most craft beer lovers in Texas know, Austin's Jester King Brewing, Zax (a bar/restaurant), and Authentic Beverages (a distributor) recently won a partial victory in a lawsuit against the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, in which a judge overturned laws that required brews to be arbitrarily labeled "beer" or "ale" according to alcohol content rather than brewing method and which banned brewers from informing consumers where their products could be purchased.

In light of that ruling, the TABC has issued a bulletin handing down interim guidelines on how brewers should label their products going forward, to be replaced by more permanent rules following a meeting on January 27.

The highlights: Brewers may either continue following the old labeling rules, or they may put the alcohol by volume on the label and "designate the product by the appropriate class or style that is recognized in the brewing industry." Also, 5.1% ABV will be the new dividing line for defining what "will be considered beer in Texas for regulatory purposes."

Also, brewers may now list ABV in advertising, and where their beer can be bought, as long as they don't receive money from the retail outlets listed in such ads.

The full bulletin may be downloaded at http://ow.ly/8kZh1

Top 10 Austin/Texas Beer Happenings of 2011

2012-01-05T21:03:00.002-06:00

The Austin Chronicle's annual Top 10s issue came out this morning, and I was happy to contribute my top 10 Austin/Texas beer happenings of 2011. Read it, let me know what you think, tell me if you disagree with any of my picks.

Houston Beer Scene Taking Flight

2012-01-01T08:55:00.002-06:00

Some happy New Year's morning reading for you Texas craft beer fans as you shake off your hangover: Houston Chronicle business reporter and beer blogger Ronnie Crocker says Houston-area breweries, ranging from the established Saint Arnold to newbies like No Label, really did well over the past year.

The killer quote, from Saint Arnold's Brock Wagner: "If you'd told me we'd be at 40,000 [barrels per year] in five years, I'd have told you you were smoking dope."

A Year of Beer

2011-12-23T11:57:00.005-06:00

Yesterday marked one full year since I signed up for Untappd, a social media site for beer drinkers. Untappd is fun — you can log your beers, where you drink them, earn badges for certain drinking accomplishments, and cross-post it to Facebook and Twitter. (Untappd is not the only such site, and I've been meaning to check out some of the others, but so far, that's the only one I do.) Most people, I presume, just do it on a lark; I also use it to promote this blog.

One of my favorite features is that it ranks your top 6 beers — creating, a I guess, your fantasy mix-and-match six-pack. I thought it would be interesting to examine mine:

Firemans #4 Real Ale Brewing Company Blonde Ale (28 times)

Shade Grown Coffee Porter Real Ale Brewing Company American Porter (21)

Weedwacker Saint Arnold Brewing Company Kölsch (21)

Winter Stout Saint Arnold Brewing Company American Stout (19)

Lost Gold IPA Real Ale Brewing Company American IPA (18)

Rahr's Blonde Rahr & Sons Brewing Company Helles Lager (15)

Now, this list isn't entirely accurate. There were times when I forgot to or couldn't log my beers. But this is pretty spot-on for me.

Clearly, I'm a believer in "drink local" — all six are from Texas breweries. Now, I'm no beer xenophobe — I love beer from outside Texas, and I specifically make it a point when I'm on vacation to explore beers from wherever I am, especially beers that I can't get back home. But I'll also declare that this is a good time to be drinking craft beer in Texas. My homeboys (and girls) just keep getting better, more interesting, and more adventurous. We may never become an Oregon or California, but there's plenty to brag about here (and Texans are good at that).

Plus, my Texancentric bias is skewed by a superstition I have: When I'm watching sports (which is a lot), I always drink the beer most local to the team for which I'm rooting. And that team is usually some incarnation of the Texas Longhorns. It's also the reason Rahr's Blonde got on there: For the first time, I really started following the Texas Rangers, and thus sought out the Fort Worth-based Rahr, especially as the Rangers drove toward their second World Series. I'm glad I did — I used to not think much of Rahr, considering them fairly mediocre, but in giving them another chance I found that the brewery is much improved. This blonde is good stuff, and Rahr's Texas Red very nearly made my top 6 as well. I'm turning into a soccer fan — perhaps if I start following the English Premiere League, you'll see more English beers sneaking onto the list.

In a way, though, I also think the list is deceptive — or at least, it highlights the difference between the beers we drink most and the beers we truly love. Fireman's Four is a good beer. But is it my favorite beer, because it sits atop that list? Certainly not. There are plenty of beers I love more. But of course, the beers I love most cost a pretty penny, and are likely to be seasonal. For me, Fireman's is — as I assume it is for many people — my go-to beer. In Austin, it's always available, it's affordable (not the same thing as "cheap," but certainly cheaper than super-delicious Belgian beers or crazy Dogfish Head selections), and with our ungodly hot weather, it's usually right for the moment.

And for my favorite venues:

Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery Nightlife Spots Austin, TX

Uncle Billy's Brew & Que Food Austin, TX

Whip In Convenience Store & Pub Food Austin, TX

The Ginger Man Nightlife Spots Austin, TX

Scholz Garten Nightlife Spots Austin, TX

North By Northwest (NXNW) Nightlife Spots Austin, TX

Not much surprise here. I was head-over-heels ecstatic when I learned that Black Star was going to open up walking distance (stumbling distance?) from my house. There's nothing cooler than having a neighborhood bar that you can just walk or bicycle to. Of course, the Pour House is slightly closer, and has a good beer selection, but it's not a brewpub and I think I just like BSC's vibe a little better. (Actually, most of my beer drinking occurs in my house, but unlike some Untappd users, I didn't create a listing for my house as a venue.)

My total stats: 989 beers, including 310 unique beers. Hmm, I think I see where my daughters' college fund has been going.

Actually, I'm pretty proud of that unique number. That means I tried a different beer almost every day! In general, I strive for culinarily adventurousness, and almost never drink the same beer consecutively.

And now I have it on record.

Partial Victory in Jester King Case

2011-12-20T18:26:00.003-06:00

Yesterday, U.S. Judge Sam Sparks handed down his ruling in the Jester King et al v. TABC case. Unfortunately, he did not rule in favor of craft brewers on the most important part of the case — the section seeking to allow brewers to better sell their products, giving them rights on par with wineries. However, he at least agreed with Jester King on the First Amendment issues, ending the practice of forcing brewers to inaccurately label their products and freeing them to finally tell consumers where their products may be found.

Pasted below is Jester King's commentary on the decision, followed by comments from Texas state Senator John Carona of Dallas, chairman of the committee that oversees alcohol regulation in the Senate.

To read the full ruling, click here: http://courtweb.pamd.uscourts.gov/courtwebsearch/txwd/08866076.pdf

Full disclosure: I am no longer an objective journalist (okay, I was never really all that objective) looking at this issue from the outside. I got laid off from The Austin Chronicle in August (although I continue to review beer for them on a freelance basis), and on Dec. 1, I began employment as the Communications Director for Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio.

Yesterday afternoon, Judge Sam Sparks of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas issued his final judgment on the case that Jester King Brewery and our two co-plaintiffs, Authentic Beverage Company and Zax Restaurant & Bar, filed against the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. With respect to all of the First Amendment challenges to the current state law, he ruled in our favor, declaring the statutes and TABC rules in question unconstitutional and therefore invalid. Congratulations and many thanks to our attorneys, Jim Houchins of Houchins Law and Pete Kennedy of Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody for taking on this case and for all of the hard work that they put in. Thanks also to Pete’s firm for supporting his efforts and to Jim’s associate, Rachel Fisher, for all of her hard work and diligent research.

As of result of yesterday’s ruling, beer in Texas may now be labeled as “beer” and ale may now be labeled as “ale”, regardless of alcohol content. Breweries and distributors are also no longer prohibited from independently telling consumers where their products may be purchased, or from communicating truthful and accurate information about their alcohol content. That means Jester King will now be able to add a “Where to Buy” section to our website, as will all other breweries selling beer in Texas.

“In a remarkable (though logically dubious) demonstration of circular reasoning” Judge Sparks writes in his ruling, “TABC attempts to defend the constitutional legitimacy of the Code through an appeal to the statutory authority of the Code itself.” Referring to the required use of the terms “beer”, “ale”, and “malt liquor”, he writes “TABC’s argument, combined with artful legislative drafting, could be used to justify any restrictions on commercial speech. For instance, Texas would likely face no (legal) obstacle if it wished to pass a law defining the word ‘milk’ to mean ‘a nocturnal flying mammal that eats insects and employs echolocation.’ Under TABC’s logic, Texas would then be authorized to prohibit use of the word ‘milk’ by producers of a certain liquid dairy product, but also to require Austin promoters to advertise the famous annual ‘Milk Festival’ on the Congress Avenue Bridge.’”

We were disappointed, but not too surprised, that Judge Sparks ruled against our claims that Texas’s disparate treatment of breweries and brewpubs violated the Equal Protection Clause and that its treatment of foreign breweries violated both the Equal Protection Clause and the Commerce Clause. The TABC never gave any reason why Texas should be able to prohibit craft brewers from selling beer to customers on-site, while allowing wineries to do so, or why Texas should be able to favor foreign wineries over foreign breweries, and Judge Sparks did not speculate on why that might be. But the legal standards are different and more demanding for challenges brought under the Equal Protection Clause than the First Amendment, and we were unable to persuade Judge Sparks to strike down these discriminatory laws. We were encouraged, however, by Judge Sparks’s observation that “The State of Texas is lucky the burden of proof was on [the Plaintiffs] for many of its claims, or else the Alcoholic Beverage Code might have fared even worse than it has.”

We’re pleased to have helped to bring about at least a few long overdue changes in the antiquated and often inconsistent Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, but small brewers still face many unjust and unnecessary obstacles that need to be removed before we can stand on equal footing with Texas winemakers and brewers in other states. Measurable progress was made with yesterday’s decision, but much more is still needed. We don’t yet know what, if anything, will happen next on the legal front. That’s something that we’ll need to discuss with our attorneys. In the meantime, though, it’s not too early to start thinking about the 2013 legislative session, with the hope that this case will help to bring some momentum for further change. For the first time, Texas consumers finally have a well-organized grassroots organization that’s working to modernize the Beverage Code. We, at Jester King Craft Brewery, will continue to do everything we can to support the efforts of Open the Taps and we encourage everyone who is reading this to do the same.

And here is the statement from Sen. Carona:

"A Federal Court has ruled that Texas' laws regarding the advertising and labeling of beer are flawed. In the case of Authentic Beverages Co. vs. TABC, the Judge awarded a summary judgment that certain laws directing the labeling and advertisement of beer are unconstitutional. While the three-tier system of manufacturer, distributor, and retailer has served Texas well since the end of Prohibition, it is an open question how well the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code reflects today's reality of Internet sales and the growth of the craft brewing industry. The Court's ruling suggests this is a topic that may be taken up by the 83rd Legislature."

What Were the Top Austin/Texas Beer Moments of 2011?

2011-12-15T19:41:00.002-06:00

Hey fellow Texans, I'm putting together one of those year-end list thingies that we journalists just love to do every December. Tell me: What do you think were the top events and happenings of the Texas craft beer scene in 2011, especially in Austin?

I need your responses soon — I have to have this done before I go to bed tonight. Thanks.

Black Star Co-op One-Year Anniversary!

2011-12-10T10:46:00.004-06:00

There's a couple of big events happening today at my neighborhood brewpub, Black Star Co-op, both worthy of checking out. This afternoon, 1-5pm, is the Eat Drink Local Week Local Brewfest. But even more important is this evening, 6-10pm, the one-year anniversary!

Yes, that crazy idea of operating a cooperatively run, customer-owned brewpub has survived a full year, and from what I can tell, it's been a success. (I was in there Wednesday night and it was packed.)

As I wrote in The Austin Chronicle last year, I had my doubts whether this could work. I'm really happy to have been wrong so far, and I hope I keep being wrong about it for years to come. Congratulations, Black Star!

Market-Based Drinking

2011-12-06T21:29:00.007-06:00

An odd little press release from Kung Fu Saloon:

More than 100 beers, ﬂuctuating prices

(Austin, Texas) The owners of Kung Fu Saloon, one of Austin’s most popular bars, are proud to announce the first bar in Austin where prices fluctuate based upon supply and demand.

The commodity for sale: more than 100 different brews.

“The stock market pricing based upon "supply & demand" will be a first in Austin and will bring a new and engaging experience to the customer on West 6th Street,” said Managing Partner, Chris Horne.

The majority of available beers, 72, will be an assortment of rotating draughts from around the world whose prices will constantly be riding the market.

“Selections that are selling will increase in price, and those that aren't will go down. We think this creates a unique social experience that goes beyond just having a drink," Horne said.

The Brew Exchange market will go through volatility seen in the real world. There will be "market crashes" where all of the prices drop to rock bottom and “reverse markets" where there's an inverse relationship between supply & demand.

Customers will be able to watch the “Brew Exchange Market” in real time on a 62 foot long, ‘60s style stock ticker while relaxing in an architecturally unique and stimulating surroundings designed by Jamie Chioco.

Like its sister bar, Kung Fu Saloon, the Brew Exchange will give back generously to the community we too call home. In September Kung Fu Saloon with the help of their customers donated $5,000 to the American Red Cross to help the victims of the Bastrop Complex fires.

“We strive to find new and unique ways that we and our customers can help give back to the community that has given us so much,” Horne said.

Opening Bell December 2011. Buy Low, Drink Up.

Brew Exchange is a business venture of five friends who have all called Austin home for decades. They also own and operate Kung Fu Saloon in Austin, Houston and soon their third installation in Dallas.

Saint Arnold Scavenger Hunt

2011-12-01T20:04:00.002-06:00

Sorry, I've been neglecting the blog while I was job-hunting (I lost my full-time gig at The Austin Chronicle back in August) and I might neglect it some more while I adjust to my new job (I just got hired by a state Senator to be her communications director), so I just wanted to offer this quick hit: Saint Arnold's Austin Scavenger Hunt wraps up this weekend. Details here.

I Can Read Norwegian!

2011-11-21T21:51:00.003-06:00

Okay, not really, but I'm pretty sure I know how to translate that middle word on this glass my friend Karla brought me from Oslo.

New Saint Arnold Winter Seasonal

2011-11-16T09:16:00.002-06:00

Whoa! A blend of my two very favorite Saint Arnold beers, Elissa IPA and Christmas Ale? Okay, I'm listening. Press release from Saint Arnold:

New Holiday Seasonal from Saint Arnold Sails into Stores Thursday
HOUSTON, November 16, 2011 – Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, today announced another new seasonal release: Saint Arnold Sailing Santa. A blend of Saint Arnold Elissa IPA and Saint Arnold Christmas Ale, Sailing Santa is scheduled to begin appearing in stores throughout Texas and select Louisiana markets on Thursday, November 17^th in 22-ounce bombers.
This is the first time Saint Arnold has released Sailing Santa, which was invented by craft beer lovers a few months after the introduction of Elissa IPA in 2004. In the years that followed, the community adopted the name, “Sailing Santa,” for the concoction when ordering draft pints at bars and restaurants.
“Normally we aren't big fans of blending beers, but this one works,” said Saint Arnold Founder/Brewer Brock Wagner. “The hoppiness of Elissa IPA with the big malt and slightly higher alcohol of Christmas Ale makes a nice winter beer.”
Saint Arnold Sailing Santa will be an annual seasonal release that precedes Thanksgiving. It is the second new seasonal from Saint Arnold in just over a month, following the highly regarded release of Saint Arnold Pumpkinator. As was the case with Pumpkinator, supplies will be limited.
Saint Arnold produced a single 240 barrel batch, which translates to approximately 3,600 cases of twelve 22-ounce bombers. Saint Arnold Sailing Santa will not be shipped in kegs, but can be prepared on-site wherever Saint Arnold Elissa IPA and Saint Arnold Christmas Ale are on tap.
Next up from Saint Arnold will be Saint Arnold Winter Stout, which will begin appearing in stores in early December as supplies of Saint Arnold Christmas Ale are depleted.

Shiner Picks Up European Awards

2011-11-14T09:24:00.003-06:00

Press release from the little town of Shiner, Texas:

SHINER BEERS STAR IN EUROPEAN COMPETITION

Spoetzl Brewery Brings Home Three Medals in

Traditional German-Style Categories

NUREMBERG, GERMANY and SHINER, TEXAS (NOVEMBER 13, 2011) – The Spoetzl Brewery, brewers of the legendary Shiner family of beers, has once again come home a winner from the European Beer Star Awards, one of the world’s most prestigious tasting competitions.

Shiner’s seasonal Oktoberfest won a silver medal in the GermanMärzen-style category. Bronze medals were awarded to Shiner’s Bohemian Black Lager in the Bohemian-style Schwarzbier category and Old Time Alt in the Düsseldorf-style Altbier section.

The judging panel of beer and brewing experts from around the world had a particularly difficult task this year, faced with evaluating more than 1,100 beers in 49 categories. That’s a nearly 20% increase over the number of entrants in 2010.

Typically, European breweries have dominated the categories representing beer styles native to that continent. Still, Shiner beers have been able to hold their own; in addition to this year’s medals, Shiner won gold and silver last year for Oktoberfest and Shiner 101 Czech-style Pilsner.

“It’s very gratifying to see the German and Czech heritage of our brewery, now 103 years old, reflected in these medals”, said Jimmy Mauric, Shiner’s brewmaster. “It fills us all at the brewery and the town with great pride.”

This is the eighth year for the European Beer Star Awards, which is organized by the Association of Private Breweries in Germany, the Association of Private Breweries in Bavaria and the Association of Small and Independent Breweries in Europe. It is considered one of the world’s foremost beer competitions.
Founded in Shiner, Texas (population 2,070), the 103 year-old Spoetzl Brewery is one of America’s oldest independent breweries. While Spoetzl has grown to be the country’s fourth largest craft brewery, every drop of Shiner is still brewed in Shiner.

Cover Story in Today's Austin Chronicle!

2011-11-03T13:25:00.006-05:00

While I may no longer be in full-time employ with The Austin Chronicle, at least I do still know how to get myself onto their cover. Click here to read the first feature I've done for them in a freelance capacity since the mid-1990s. (If it's not obvious: that link takes you to the intro; from there, you have to click on the links in the blue box to the right of the intro to got to the two parts of the story.)

To see a larger version of the cover, click on the image.

Freetail's La Muerta Coming Tomorrow

2011-10-31T12:00:00.000-05:00

Press release from our friends down in San Antone:

FREETAIL BREWING CO. ANNOUNCES ANNUAL RELEASE OF LA MUERTA

Locally owned and operated brewpub prepares for release of its highly anticipated Imperial Stout

(Oct. 17, 2011) San Antonio, TX – Freetail Brewing Co. announces the annual release of its highly-anticipated and sought- after Imperial Stout, La Muerta, with the draft release on Día de los Muertos (Tuesday, November 1) and the bottle release (dubbed Día de La Muerta) on Saturday, November 5.

The annual bottle release of La Muerta has become one of Texas’ premier craft beer events, attracting fans of better beer from across the state to get their hands on the limited 22 oz. bottles.

“We constantly receive questions about La Muerta’s return, and Día de La Muerta has become a much-anticipated celebration,” said Freetail Brewing Co. Founder and CEO Scott Metzger. “In just a few years it has transformed into an event where fans get here hours before we open and hang out on the patio making new friends. It’s a really fun atmosphere that we don’t see much in Texas, but is thankfully becoming more common.”

The November 1 release of La Muerta will be draught only at the brewpub with no growler fills allowed, but the 22 oz. bottles will be available promptly at 11:30 am on the 5^th. Bottles will be priced at $11 each with a three bottle per person limit. Freetail will also tap a number of rare beers including 2010 La Muerta and the debut of Pickly RealTail.

“We have increased production each year, yet every year it has sold out faster than ever – both on draft and in bottles,” added Metzger. “This year’s edition is the largest bottling run we’ve ever undertaken, all hand bottled by our brewers who work tirelessly to make these kinds of events possible.”

Last Day of Austin Beer Week

2011-10-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

12:00 pm
2011 Green Corn Project Fall Festival feat. (512) Brewing
@ Boggy Creek Farm

1:00 pm
Pairing - Local Brewers, Local Beer, Artisan Cheese & More
@ Draught House Pub & Brewery

2:00 pm
Lovejoy's Special Selections & Austin-Brewed Happy Hour
@ Lovejoy’s Tap Room & Brewery

6:00 pm
Cask Tapping - Saint Arnold Pumpkinator
@ The Ginger Man

7:00 pm
Haunted Halloween Ball - Local Craft Beer, Wine, Spirits(!) w. Chef-Paired Food
@ Mansion at Judges’ Hill

All Day
Greenling - Local Beer Sale & Delivery
@ Greenling Organic & Local Food Delivery

All Day
Rare Beer On Tap
@ The HighBall

All Day
$3 Austin Beers (12oz)
@ Parkside

All Day
$10 Growler Fills of 'Rational' House Beer
@ Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery

All Day
$12 House Pitchers
@ Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que (Barton Springs)

All Day
$12 House Pitchers
@ Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que (Lake Travis)

Saturday's Austin Beer Week Schedule

2011-10-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

12:00 pm
Circle Brewing's Haunted Open House
@ Circle Brewing Co.

12:00 pm
Brewing Tour & Tasting - Live Oak Brewing
@ Live Oak Brewing Co.

1:00 pm
Jester King Funk'in Sour Gravity Fest
@ Jester King Craft Brewing

4:00 pm
Lovejoy's Special Selections & Austin-Brewed Happy Hour
@ Lovejoy’s Tap Room & Brewery

4:00 pm
Brewery Tour + Tasting - Uncle Billy's Lake Travis
@ Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que (Lake Travis)

5:00 pm
Meet the Brewer + Cask Tapping - Austin Beerworks Mr. Falcon
@ Draught House Pub & Brewery

6:00 pm
Cask Tapping - Thirsty Planet Double Dry Hopped Bucket Head IPA
@ Red’s Porch

8:00 pm
Tapping + Movie - Jester King Farmhouse Ale Series, Contests & Zombie Film Premiere
@ The Dig Pub

All Day
Greenling - Local Beer Sale & Delivery
@ Greenling Organic & Local Food Delivery

All Day
Rare Beer On Tap
@ The HighBall

All Day
$3 Austin Beers (12oz)
@ Parkside

All Day
$10 Growler Fills of 'Rational' House Beer
@ Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery

Beer and Movies on 'Slackerwood'

2011-10-28T14:35:00.003-05:00

Hey gang,
My talented and vivacious beer-loving friend Debbie Cerda from Slackerwood (a site covering the Austin film scene) has an announcement for you, check it out:

It's alive! We are proud and elated to introduce a new monthly feature on Slackerwood called "Film on Tap", a new column about the many ways that beer (and sometimes booze including wine) and cinema intersect in Austin.

Read (and share!) our first installment here:

http://www.slackerwood.com/node/2528

Please feel free to contact me with any updates for your organization, venue or business that you think relevant content -- screenings, movie nights, brewery sponsorships of film-relate events -- or add me to your media list as needed.

Thank you for your continued support of the Austin and Texas film communities, as well as fine craft beer, wine and more!

Friday Austin Beer Week Schedule

2011-10-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

2:00 pm
Brewery Tour - Real Ale Brewing
@ Real Ale Brewing Co.

4:00 pm
Lovejoy's Special Selections & Austin-Brewed Happy Hour
@ Lovejoy’s Tap Room & Brewery

4:00 pm
Tapping + Meet the Brewers - Independence 7th Anniversary
@ Opal Divine’s Freehouse

5:00 pm
Tapping & Meet the Brewer - Ranger Creek
@ Draught House Pub & Brewery

5:00 pm
Meet the Brewer + Tapping - Twisted X Siesta Prickly Pear Lager Release Party
@ Fion Wine Pub (Bee Cave)

5:00 pm
Cask Tapping - Independence ESB
@ HomeField Grill

5:00 pm
Cask Tapping - Real Ale Lost Gold IPA
@ Billy’s on Burnet

6:00 pm
Tapping + Meet the Brewer - Live Oak Treehugger
@ Alamo Drafthouse (South Lamar)

6:00 pm
Cask Tapping - Jester King Boxer's Revenge Farmhouse Ale
@ Red’s Porch

6:00 pm
Tapping - Circle Nightlight
@ The Ginger Man

7:00 pm
BeerTownAustin and Hops & Grain Buy the Beer, Keep the 'Stache (Glass)
@ Billy’s on Burnet

All Day
Greenling - Local Beer Sale & Delivery
@ Greenling Organic & Local Food Delivery

All Day
Rare Beer On Tap
@ The HighBall

All Day
$3 Austin Beers (12oz)
@ Parkside

3:00 pm
Happy Hour - $1 off All House Beers
@ Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que (Barton Springs)

3:00 pm
Happy Hour - $1 off All House Beers
@ Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que (Lake Travis)

7:00 pm
Pint Night - Southern Star Pro Am American Black Lager
@ Draft Pick

'Chronicle' on Jester King Suit

2011-10-27T12:23:00.003-05:00

On Tuesday, I posted about the Jester King/Zax/Authentic Beverages lawsuit against the state of Texas. Today, my former Austin Chronicle news staff colleague Richard Whittaker had his own report. It is, of course, well written. I especially like this analogy from Richard, which perfectly sums up the stupidity of the Texas law requiring that any beer stronger than 4% alcohol be arbitrarily labeled as "ale":

"Unfortunately, that is like saying all large pies are apple – it is simply not true."

Thursday's Austin Beer Week Schedule

2011-10-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

3:00 pm
In-Store Tasting - Real Ale Lost Gold IPA, Oktoberfest, Coffee Porter
@ Central Market Westgate

4:00 pm
Thirsty Planet Open House
@ Thirsty Planet Brewing Co.

4:00 pm
Lovejoy's Special Selections & Austin-Brewed Happy Hour
@ Lovejoy’s Tap Room & Brewery

5:00 pm
Cask Tapping - Independence ESB
@ Flying Saucer

6:00 pm
Cask Tapping - Real Ale Lost Gold IPA
@ Opal Divine’s Freehouse

6:00 pm
Tapping + Meet the Brewer - Ranger Creek Oaked Bourbon Mesquite Smoked Porter
@ Alamo Drafthouse (South Lamar)

6:00 pm
Special Tapping - (512) THREE on the patio!
@ Billy’s on Burnet

6:00 pm
Pairing - Jester King Wild & Farmhouse w. Local, Artisan Cheese, Meat & Bread
@ Draught House Pub & Brewery

6:00 pm
Cask Tapping - Uncle Billy's Hop Back Black IPA (Barton Springs)
@ Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que (Barton Springs)

6:00 pm
Cask + Mysterium Verum Tapping - Real Ale Aged Sisyphus & WT3F?!
@ Red’s Porch

6:30 pm
(512) Brewer's Dinner, 2011
@ Olivia

6:30 pm
Meet the Brewer + Tasting - (512) Brewing + (512) THREE
@ Billy’s on Burnet

7:00 pm
Meet the Brewers + Tasting - Circle Brewing
@ Trifecta on 3rh

7:00 pm
Anniversary Tasting - (512) Three, Two, One... Plus One
@ The Ginger Man

7:00 pm
Cask Tapping - NXNW Batch 1200 Collaboration Beer
@ North By Northwest Restaurant & Brewery

7:00 pm
Black Star Co-op Brews & Local Cheeses
@ Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery

7:00 pm
Cask Tapping + Meet the Brewer - Live Oak Dry-Hopped Oaktoberfest
@ The Dig Pub

All Day
Greenling - Local Beer Sale & Delivery
@ Greenling Organic & Local Food Delivery

All Day
Rare Beer On Tap
@ The HighBall

All Day
$3 Austin Beers (12oz)
@ Parkside

7:00 pm
Pint Night - Independence Brewluminati
@ Draft Pick

Wednesday's Austin Beer Week Schedule

2011-10-26T07:00:00.001-05:00

4:00 pm
Cask Tapping + Meet the Brewer - Live Oak Dry-Hop Oaktoberfest
@ Opal Divine’s Freehouse

4:00 pm
Lovejoy's Special Selections & Austin-Brewed Happy Hour
@ Lovejoy’s Tap Room & Brewery

5:00 pm
Meet the Brewer - Circle Brewing
@ Flying Saucer

5:00 pm
24 Diner's Exclusive Real Ale Cask Beer & Food Pairing
@ 24 Diner

5:00 pm
Tapping + Release Party - Hops & Grain (Inaugural!) + Austin Beer Guide
@ Draught House Pub & Brewery

5:30 pm
Cask Tapping - Jester King Boxer's Revenge Wild Provision Ale Firkin
@ Billy’s on Burnet

6:00 pm
Cask Tapping - Independence Convict Hill Stout
@ Red’s Porch

6:00 pm
Cask Tapping + Meet the Brewer - Rahr Kellerfest
@ The Ginger Man

6:00 pm
Tapping + Meet the Brewer - Austin Beerworks
@ Opal Divine’s Freehouse

6:30 pm
Brewery Tour & Tasting - Uncle Billy's, Barton Springs
@ Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que (Barton Springs)

7:00 pm
Tapping - Twisted X Siesta & Meet the Founders Party
@ The Dig Pub

7:00 pm
Seasonal Brew Social on the Pavilion + Logo Pint Night
@ North By Northwest Restaurant & Brewery

7:00 pm
Brewery Tour + Tasting - Black Star Co-op
@ Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery

8:00 pm
Tapping - Saint Arnold Santo Kick-off!!
@ Skinny’s Ballroom

All Day
Greenling - Local Beer Sale & Delivery
@ Greenling Organic & Local Food Delivery

All Day
Rare Beer On Tap
@ The HighBall

All Day
$3 Austin Beers (12oz)
@ Parkside

Jester King Sues TABC Over Freedom of Speech

2011-10-25T12:04:00.007-05:00

Jester King Brewery has announced a lawsuit against the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission on grounds that the state has violated its free speech and equal protection rights. I don't know if it will succeed, but it's certainly justified. The parts I like best:

They want to get rid of the stupid requirements that beer under 4% alcohol by volume be labeled as "beer" and over 4% as "ale." This results in the idiotic situation of lagers being labeled as "ale" or "malt liquor." Those are brewing style terminologies, not ABV. I once had a publicity guy give me an embarrassed apology as he handed me a review bottle of a dopplebock that was labeled "ale" because TABC required it. (A bock, of course, is a lager, not an ale.)
They want Texas brewers to be able to list ABV on bottles, like out-of-state beers do. I would guess the rationale for banning that info on bottles is that the state doesn't want people seeking out strong beer to get wasted. I would argue that it's necessary to prevent people from getting wasted. If I'm drinking a strong beer, I need to know that. I've accidentally gotten plowed on beers that were stronger than I thought, and it's not fun. I guess I should have thanked TABC in between pukes those nights. I'd even go further than the suit and suggest that brewers and bars be required to list ABV.
And most important of all, they want to do away with laws prohibiting production breweries from selling on-premises and brewpubs from selling off-premises. These are unreasonable restraints of commerce. Back in the spring I thoroughly documented failed attempts to legislate such change, so I guess it will have to be done in the courts.

Co-plaintiffs are distributor Authentic Beverage Co. and Austin restaurant Zax. If you want to read the full texts of the suit and TABC's response, go to BeerNews.org.

Thieves Hit Hops & Grain — So They Party

2011-10-25T11:16:00.003-05:00

Boy, as if small business owners don't have a hard enough time trying to make their dream a reality: Hops & Grain, one of Austin's newest production breweries, got hit by thieves, who stole a bunch of copper wiring and left them without electricity. Charming. But being good-natured folks, they decided the best revenge would be to throw a party. Click on the flyer for full details, and then get over there on Sunday and help them out. It'll be good for your soul. It's not part of Austin Beer Week, but it would still be a nice way to cap ABW off.

Tuesday's Austin Beer Week Schedule

2011-10-25T07:00:00.001-05:00

3:00 pm
In-Store Tasting - Real Ale Oktoberfest & Coffee Porter
@ Whole Foods Market (Gateway)

4:00 pm
Special Tapping - Black Star Epsilon, First of the Infinite Series
@ Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery

4:00 pm
Lovejoy's Special Selections & Austin-Brewed Happy Hour
@ Lovejoy’s Tap Room & Brewery

5:00 pm
Pairing - Local Beer & Artisan Cheese
@ Red’s Porch

5:00 pm
Tapping + Meet the Brewer - Rahr & Sons Lã Grange Farmhouse + Imperial Pilsner
@ Draft Pick

5:00 pm
Tapping - Real Ale WT3F?!
@ Haddingtons American Tavern

5:00 pm
Meet the Brewer - (512) Brewing
@ Draught House Pub & Brewery

5:30 pm
Meet the Brewer - Thirsty Planet Pint Night
@ Opal Divine’s Freehouse

6:00 pm
Tapping - Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Harvest Ale & Estate Harvest Ale
@ Black Sheep Lodge

6:00 pm
Cask Tapping - Uncle Billy's Surprise Brew (Lake Travis)
@ Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que (Lake Travis)

6:00 pm
Tapping - Dogfish Head Bitches Brew
@ Alamo Drafthouse (South Lamar)

6:00 pm
Meet the Brewer - Circle Brewing
@ Dog & Duck Pub

6:00 pm
Rare Tapping - Real Ale Mysterium Verum 'Empire'
@ Alamo Drafthouse (Lake Creek)

6:00 pm
Tapping - Real Ale 15th Anniversary Ale
@ The Ginger Man

6:00 pm
Beer & Chocolate - Appreciation of a Perfect Pairing
@ North By Northwest Restaurant & Brewery

8:00 pm
Movie Night - "Beer Wars" Waged at NXNW
@ North By Northwest Restaurant & Brewery

All Day
Greenling - Local Beer Sale & Delivery
@ Greenling Organic & Local Food Delivery

All Day
Rare Beer On Tap
@ The HighBall

All Day
$3 Austin Beers (12oz)
@ Parkside

4:00 pm
Pint Night - (512) Brewing
@ Red’s Porch

7:00 pm
Pint Night - Rahr & Sons Peckerwrecker & Oktoberfest
@ Draft Pick

All Day
Texas Tuesday - $2.75 TX Drafts
@ Billy’s on Burnet

Monday's Austin Beer Week Schedule

2011-10-24T07:00:00.001-05:00

4:00 pm
Lovejoy's Special Selections & Austin-Brewed Happy Hour
@ Lovejoy’s Tap Room & Brewery

5:00 pm
Tapping, Meet the Brewer + Pairing - Rahr Angry Goat Weizen Doppelbock
@ Draught House Pub & Brewery

6:00 pm
Cask Tapping - Independence ESB
@ The Ginger Man

6:00 pm
Tapping - Real Ale Mysterium Verum WT3F?!
@ The Dig Pub

6:00 pm
Tapping + Meet the Brewer- Jester King Farmhouse Black Metal Imperial Stout
@ Alamo Drafthouse (South Lamar)

6:00 pm
Rare Beer Tapping - Sierra, Real, (512), St. Arnold, Twisted X
@ Red’s Porch

6:00 pm
Tapping + Meet the Brewer - Real Ale Showcase w. Sisyphus & Cask ESB
@ Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery

7:00 pm
Collaborative Tapping - Lovejoy's Belgian Strong Ale Made w. Real Ale / Freetail Yeast
@ Lovejoy’s Tap Room & Brewery

All Day
Greenling - Local Beer Sale & Delivery
@ Greenling Organic & Local Food Delivery

All Day
Rare Beer On Tap
@ The HighBall

All Day
$3 Austin Beers (12oz)
@ Parkside

All Day
$3 Club Mugs (23 oz) for everyone
@ Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que (Lake Travis)

All Day
$3 Club Mugs (23 oz) for everyone
@ Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que (Barton Springs)

200,000 Visitors!

2011-10-23T15:59:00.003-05:00

Today I passed 200,000 visitors, according to Sitemeter. Of course, that's not exactly accurate, because I didn't start using Sitemeter until I'd been doing this for about six months. But good enough for me.

Sorry, there are no prizes, just my gratitude for visiting.

I have no way of knowing exactly who Mr. 200K is, but Sitemeter tells me it was someone from Mountain View, California, using a Macintosh, and they landed on a post I made in 2009 titled "My Wife Is Hot." It doesn't showing me what search terms they used to find me, but something tells me they weren't looking for beer. :-)

Sunday's Austin Beer Week Schedule

2011-10-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

11:00 am
NXNW Oktoberfest Weekend
@ North By Northwest Restaurant & Brewery

11:00 am
Hope Farmer's Market 2nd Birthday Party feat. (512)
@ HOPE Farmers Market

1:00 pm
Uncle Billy's Charity Poker Tournament (Lake Travis)
@ Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que (Lake Travis)

2:00 pm
Lovejoy's Special Selections & Austin-Brewed Happy Hour
@ Lovejoy’s Tap Room & Brewery

3:00 pm
Ultimate Fan Boy Bike Pub Crawl Strikes Back
@ Billy’s on Burnet

3:00 pm
Beer Olympics Hosted by the Draught House
@ Draught House Pub & Brewery

5:00 pm
Taste Off + Pairing - New Belgium vs Real Ale
@ Opal Divine’s Freehouse

5:00 pm
Tapping + Meet the Brewer - Jester King Farmhouse Wytchmaker & Black Metal
@ Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery

7:00 pm
Bats & Beers Boat Social w. Independence & FRANK's Pairing
@ Pride & Joy Flagship Party Boat (Capital Cruise)

All Day
Greenling - Local Beer Sale & Delivery
@ Greenling Organic & Local Food Delivery

All Day
Rare Beer On Tap
@ The HighBall

All Day
$3 Austin Beers (12oz)
@ Parkside

All Day
$12 House Pitchers
@ Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que (Barton Springs)

All Day
$12 House Pitchers
@ Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que (Lake Travis)

Austin Beer Week Starts Saturday!

2011-10-21T12:00:00.003-05:00

You better start planning out your Austin Beer Week activities now. Seriously, this is gonna be like a South by Southwest of beer — too much to do, so you'll have to pick and choose. To get you started, here's the calendar for the first day (Saturday, Oct. 22). To see the full schedule, click on that link to their website. (Confession: I'm probably gonna miss a lot of the first weekend's events, as the Texas Rangers are in the World Series. But I'll drink lots of Texas beer to bring them good Karma.)

11:00 am
Brewery Tour + Tasting - (512) Brewing Co.
@ (512) Brewing Co.

11:00 am
NXNW Oktoberfest Weekend
@ North By Northwest Restaurant & Brewery

12:00 pm
Brewing Tour & Tasting - Live Oak Brewing
@ Live Oak Brewing Co.

1:00 pm
Draught House 43rd Anniversary Party
@ Draught House Pub & Brewery

1:00 pm
The Dig Pub 4th Anniversary Party & Oktoberfest Celebration
@ The Dig Pub

4:00 pm
Independence Brewing 7th Anniversary Party
@ Independence Brewing Co.

4:00 pm
Lovejoy's Special Selections & Austin-Brewed Happy Hour
@ Lovejoy’s Tap Room & Brewery

4:00 pm
Brewery Tour + Tasting - Uncle Billy's Lake Travis
@ Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que (Lake Travis)

4:00 pm
Special Tapping - 2010 (512) BRUIN + Special Irrational Menu Items
@ Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery

5:00 pm
Pairing - Local Beer & Local Artisan Sausage
@ Red’s Porch

5:30 pm
Cask Tapping - Jester King Black Metal with Whiskey-Soaked Chip Addition
@ Alamo Drafthouse (Lake Creek)

6:30 pm
Cask Tapping - Ranger Creek La Bestia Aimable feat. Bourbon-Soaked Oak
@ Billy’s on Burnet

7:00 pm
Cask Tapping - Live Oak Dry Hopped Oaktoberfest
@ Draft Pick

Saint Arnold Santo In Stores Today

2011-10-20T10:00:00.002-05:00

Saint Arnold's new "black Kölsch," Santo, hits stores today. I got a review six-pack yesterday. Not sure I taste the Kölsch aspect of it, but it is definitely lighter than your typical dark beer, with a faint touch of roastiness. Saint Arnold's brewers are no doubt happy to finally get this out to the public after a false start back in September, as they relate in press release below.

Saint Arnold Brewing Slates Santo for October 20^th Release
HOUSTON, October 18, 2011 – Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, today announced its newest year-round beer, Santo, will be released on October 20, 2011. Originally planned for September, the release of Santo was delayed after the initial batch was tasted and the brewers felt there was something missing. After modifying the mash temperature and replacing the wheat malt with Munich malt, the brewers believe they have created the light, refreshing yet dark and flavorful beer they were after.
It is the second major new brew to be introduced by Saint Arnold in October, following closely on the heels of Saint Arnold Pumpkinator, which will be released on October 13^th.
“When we set out to create Santo, the idea was to create the beer we always wished we would get when we ordered a dark Mexican lager to go with our enchiladas,” said Saint Arnold Founder/Brewer Brock Wagner. “While we were a little embarrassed about announcing that we decided to dump our first batch, we are happy with the decision, especially given the beer that we are ready to release now. Our brewing team has been thoroughly enjoying this new version. We haven’t waited for the release date to tap some for ourselves.”
Santo is a black Kölsch. It is light in body and dark in color. Despite Santo’s dark appearance, the beer maintains other characteristics of a true Kölsch. Saint Arnold uses the same special Kölsch yeast – an ale yeast that ferments at almost lager temperatures – that is used in Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower Beer. This contributes to Santo being light bodied and floral even though it has a distinctive dark malt flavor.
Santo is brewed using pale two-row and pils malted barley, a dash of Munich malt and an addition of black malt. Saint Arnold uses Hallertau Hersbrucker hops, added to the brew kettle in four separate cycles to create a delicate flavor and aroma. It has an original gravity of 1.045 (11.4° Plato), bitterness of 17 IBU and alcohol content (by volume) of 4.6 percent.
Santo will be available on tap and in 12-ounce bottles sold in six-packs and cases throughout Texas starting on October 20, 2011.
Santo is the sixth year-round beer from Saint Arnold. It joins Saint Arnold Amber Ale, Saint Arnold Brown Ale, Saint Arnold Elissa IPA, Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower Beer and Saint Arnold Weedwacker in the regular lineup.

Hops & Grains Debuts, Austin Beer Guide Returns

2011-10-19T11:43:00.006-05:00

Press release from Austin Beer Guide:

Austin Beer Guide  to Release Fall Issue
and Throw Issue Release Party (Again)
AUSTIN – They (BeerTownAustin and Craft Austin) used to have their own, separate blogs, but they’ve pretty much trashed those to focus on one magazine and one website — Austin Beer Guide. The fall issue of Austin Beer Guide is printing now and poised to make a medium to huge splash on the Austin (beer) scene. They hope you like the new guide, as it nearly gave the publisher a nervous breakdown. What is in the issue? Good question: The usual stuff (maps, brewery and brew pub write ups, etc.). This is the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) issue. They were given press credentials, therefore obligated to write about it. It is still an Austin-centric issue though, with GABF coverage given a Texan angle (mostly). Did you love the word search last issue? Well it’s back, along with a crossword puzzle! And much (should be read MUCH) more.

Distribution of the fall guide will start during Austin Beer Week — http://austinbeerweek.com. Drop locations include area breweries, brew pubs, bars, shops and restaurants. Follow ABG twitter feed for distribution as it happens.
ALSO, to celebrate the new issue, there will be an issue release party on October 26th. The party will start around 5pm at the Draught House (4112 Medical Pkwy). ABG will play second fiddle to Hops & Grain, for whom the party is really being thrown. The party will be the first time their beers will be served anywhere on Earth. BeerTown Austin Tom Selleck-esque Mustache pint glasses will be given out for free with the purchase of any Hops & Grain beer. There will also be a grab bag full of junk (amazing swag) from GABF and local brewers.

For more info please visit: www.austinbeerguide.com and www.twitter.com/austinbeerguide
Release party URL: http://austinbeerweek.com/event.php?id=01022

A Beer Kiss

2011-10-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

Interesting photography from my wife:

I might have to turn that into my new logo or something. (So, just to plant my flag: photo copyright Lee Nichols and Margaret Bridgeman)

Need Your Advice on Beer Magazines

2011-10-14T15:03:00.000-05:00

I'm thinking of pitching an article to one of the national beer magazines, so tell me: Which one(s) do you read/subscribe to?

'Austin Chronicle' Best of Austin Awards

2011-10-13T12:41:00.004-05:00

The 2011 edition of The Austin Chronicle's Best of Austin Awards is on newsstands today (and online, of course). Here are the awards that are specifically beer-related:

Readers Picks
Best Beer/Wine Prices: Spec's
Best Local Beer: Live Oak Brewing

Critics Picks
Best New Brewery: Jester King Brewery

Click to the issue, or pick up a paper copy, to read the write-ups of those and other winners. Congratulations, winners!

Austin Beer Week Is Coming

2011-10-13T12:00:00.000-05:00

Austin Beer Week is returning Oct. 22. Last year's event were great. Damn this is a good time to be drinking beer in Austin. Check out the website.

Another Austin Craft Beer Fest

2011-10-12T19:03:00.002-05:00

Just got this press release, hot on the heels of last month's Texas Craft Brewers Festival:

Central Texas Beer Festival to Showcase Texas Independent Breweries on April 21^st 2012 at the Austin Music Hall

Festival to feature local food vendors and live music

Austin, TX Oct 12^th 2011 – Game Path today announced the first annual Central Texas Beer Festival to take place on April 21^st 2012 at the Austin Music Hall. The Festival will be the ideal location for beer aficionados to connect with 20+ independent breweries from Texas and beyond.

In addition, the Festival will include local Austin vendors offering a wide variety of food – some specifically to be enjoyed with different beers. The growing number of brew pubs will also be represented. The event will benefit the Capital Area Food Bank ( www.austinfoodbank.org ) by collecting food and cash donations,

To ensure a fun, friendly atmosphere, the Festival will limit the number of tickets available to attendees. Tickets will be $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

“We want to celebrate the success and growth of independent brewers in Texas and the Festival will feature only independent brews,” said Steve Farrer, Festival Executive Director, “we have listened to some of the concerns raised by the brewers and think we have the right formula for a successful Festival.”

The Austin Music Hall is a premier special event and concert facility. The Festival stage will feature live music throughout the event.

The Festival will run from noon to 8PM and admittance will be strictly 21 and up only.

A limited number of exhibit and sponsorships are available. More information from Steve Farrer – contact details below.

The Central Texas Beer Festival is produced by Game Path LLC.

Steve Farrer

Executive Director

512 415 8300

steve@gamepathevents.com

Real Ale Dinner at Flying Saucer

2011-10-11T14:45:00.001-05:00

If you're looking at this on some kind of a reader that doesn't show images, you'll need to actually go to the blog post to see this:

Pedernales Brewing Company Needs Head Brewer

2011-10-10T12:00:00.002-05:00

I spotted this on the Facebook page of Pedernales Brewing Company. I think their contact number is LEE HEREFORD, 830/669-2917

We are looking for a head brewer. Dr. Paul is dealing with some health issues and cannot be physically on-site for the next few months. We are looking for an individual that has at least five years experience working in a production brewery; not a Brewpub; familiar with bottling and kegging equipment; and willing to be mentored by Dr. Paul. Competitive salary and an opportunity to earn an equity stake in the company. If you know anyone that fits our needs, and wouldn't mind living in beautiful Fredericksburg, TX, please put them in touch with us. And please add Dr. Paul to your prayer list. Cheers!

Saint Arnold Austin News & Events

2011-10-08T12:00:00.001-05:00

From their newsletter:

OCTOBER 10, Saint Arnold Oktoberfest Pint Night-Ginger Man, 6pm
It's time for some fine Saint Arnold Oktoberfest, but then it always is!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, PUMPKINATOR!
You knew it as Saint Arnold Divine Reserve #9-it is making a comeback as a seasonal, and will be available in very limited amounts in 22oz bottles and draft!

OCTOBER 15, UT-v-OSU Tailgates
Root for Horns with Bevo's Benchwarmers (lot in front of Bullock Museum) and UT Tailgaters, 18th @ San Jacinto-both will have some cold Saint Arnold and great grub! ( 4 hrs before game time, which is TBA)

OCTOBER 16, Chefs Under Fire-Finals, 6pm
AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center.
Three deserving chefs will compete for the Chefs Under Fire Champion title to be awarded by Celebrity Chef Judge Chefs David Bull, Tyson Cole, & Kent Rathbun
http://www.chefsunderfire.com/tickets/

OCTOBER 19, Saint Arnold Oktoberfest Pint Night, Zax, 6pm
One of Austin's best beer-centric restaurants celebrates Oktoberfest, so stop in for some tasty Saint Arnold!
http://zaxaustin.com/

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, SANTO is released!!!
A new tasty beer by Saint Arnold is described as a black Kölsch will start showing up at your favorite beer stores!

OCTOBER 24, Homesick Texan Booksigning, Book People, 7pm
Our friend Lisa Fain, transplanted Texan in NYC, whose blog, Homesick Texan, has evolved into a cookbook and she will be signing them and drinking cold Saint Arnold all the while!
http://www.bookpeople.com/event/lisa-fain-homesick-texan-cookbook

OCTOBER 29 UT-v-Kansas, and that means it's tailgate time again!
Bevo's Benchwarmers (lot in front of Bullock Museum) and UT Tailgaters, 18th @ San Jacinto-Hook 'em Horns! ( 4 hrs before game time, which is TBA)

OCTOBER 30, Austin Beer Week
Cask-Conditioned Saint Arnold Pumpkinator, Ginger Man, 6pm. A rare treat for sure to close out Austin Beer Week!!

Coming Soon: Christmas Ale; Sailing Santa; Austin Pub Crawl

Shiner Promoting Texas Musicians

2011-10-07T12:00:00.002-05:00

Press release from Shiner:

Who will be the next Shiner Rising Star?

Music and beer make a natural pair. In support of Texas' independent music and independent taste, Shiner began the annual Shiner Rising Star competition. This year, hundreds of bands from across Texas applied for the opportunity to produce music and be seen with Shiner Records. Twenty-four bands were accepted into the competition, and only four will compete against each other during the final round.

On October 20^th, the four final artists will meet at Love and War in Texas, in Plano, and battle to be the next Shiner Rising Star. The final deserving artist will be awarded:
· An opportunity to work with a nationally known, critically acclaimed record producer
· New equipment, courtesy of Kona Guitars & GP Percussion
· National exposure in Alternate Route Americana Music Magazine
· And most importantly, a record deal with Shiner Records!

For the first time, the 2011 Shiner Rising Star competition is being simulcast online at KHYI.com (via RogueTV.net). Tune in on Thursday, October 20^th at 8PM to see the final round.

The Shiner Rising Star competition provides all of the competing artists the chance to be seen by different audiences in new and different venues, helping the bands get their foot-in-the-door with venue and bar owners. In addition, the bands get to hear opinions and feedback from judges in the acting, music, and business industries. Stay tuned to find out who the 2011 Shiner Rising Star will be!

Beer Dinner in Round Rock

2011-10-06T19:56:00.004-05:00

Click on the image to see a larger version. Click here for more info about HomeField Grill.

Saint Arnold Pumpkinator (DR 9 Returns!)

2011-10-04T12:12:00.005-05:00

I know pumpkin beers are kind of controversial, but take my word for it: Saint Arnold's Divine Reserve Number 9, a limited-edition pumpkin imperial stout released back in 2009, was awesome.

Now, DR9 is coming back as a holiday seasonal, renamed Pumpkinator. This is the first time Saint Arnold has re-released one of their Divine Reserve selections, which are usually very limited edition and always cause Texas craft beer lovers to run around like chickens with their heads cut off to snatch up a six-pack before supplies run out. Presumably this run will be larger, so no need to knock over little old ladies in the beer aisle to get it.

Press release from Saint Arnold below:

Thirteen is a Lucky Number for Texas Craft Beer Fans

First Annual Release of Saint Arnold Pumpkinator™ Slated for October 13th

HOUSTON, October 4, 2011 – Just in time for Halloween, Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com) will resurrect one of its dearly departed brews. But Saint Arnold Pumpkinator is no zombie of a beer. Formerly released as Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 9 nearly two years ago, Pumpkinator is slated for the first of what will be an annual pre-holiday release on Thursday, October 13, 2011.

Saint Arnold Pumpkinator is an Imperial Pumpkin Stout Ale. There are a number of firsts associated with Saint Arnold Pumpinator’s release, including:
- The first new seasonal brew introduced by Saint Arnold since the release of Saint Arnold Spring Bock 13 years ago.
- The first re-release of one of the brewery’s Saint Arnold Divine Reserve recipes.
- The first beer from Saint Arnold to be released in 22-ounce bombers.

“When we first introduced Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 9 in 2009, we set out to brew a beer that would stand up to the spicing traditionally associated with pumpkin ales,” said Brock Wagner, Founder/Brewer of Saint Arnold Brewing. “Our solution was to pumpkinize an imperial stout. We loved the result. We found it to be the perfect finish to our Thanksgiving dinners – and it made our relatives much more enjoyable.”

Black with ruby highlights, Saint Arnold Pumpkinator is full of pumpkin pie spices with notes of nutmeg, caraway and vanilla. In fact, some describe the beer’s taste as chocolate pumpkin pie. For this brew, serving at temperatures of 50 degrees or higher can considerably enhance the flavor profile. As it warms, the spices move forward in the taste and the chocolate moves to the finish. The pumpkin provides a pleasant undertone and a nice mouthfeel.

Saint Arnold Pupkinator will be available in 22-ounce bombers sold separately or in 12-bomber cases and in limited draft.

Unemployed!

2011-10-03T12:00:00.001-05:00

So here's the deal: As some of you may have heard, in late August, I lost my job. Yes, these difficult times for the print media industry claimed another victim, and it was me — I got laid off.

However, if you're an Austinite, you may have also noticed that I still had a write-up of the Texas Craft Brewers Festival in last week's Austin Chronicle. That's because I'm still covering beer for them on a freelance basis. (By the way, TCBF was awesome, and I will eventually write something about it.)

So I still have that gig, but not full-time work. If you know of any jobs out there that require strong writing, editing, and communications skills, especially in the Austin area, please let me know. Thanks!

Real Ale Dinner at 24 Diner

2011-09-29T12:00:00.000-05:00

24 Diner (a place I really need to check out eventually) is having another of their yummy-sounding beer-pairing dinners, this time with Real Ale brews. Here's the menu and details:

ARRIVAL
Real Ale Beer-Battered Local Vegetables
Hans’ Pils

FIRST COURSE
PEI Mussels & Manila Clams with Yukon Gold Potatoes, Bacon, Herbs
Full Moon Pale Rye Ale

SECOND COURSE
Duck Confit with Herbed Spaetzle, Bing Cherries
Oktoberfest

THIRD COURSE
Porchetta with Fried Polenta, Gremolata, Bianco Sardo
Barrel-Aged 14th Anniversary Strong Blonde

FOURTH COURSE
Stout-Braised Short Ribs with Carrot Purée, Parsnip Chips
15th Anniversary Russian Imperial Stout

FIFTH COURSE
Napoleon with Coffee Cream, Walnuts, Pomegranate
Bourbon Barrel–Aged Real Ale Porter

The event will be held Wednesday, October 5, at 7 pm. Please call 472.5400 for reservations and note that these events do typically sell out. Cost is $60 per person.

Ranger Creek "Re: Session" Beers

2011-09-26T11:21:00.003-05:00

Press release from Ranger Creek back in August, that somehow fell through the cracks of my inbox:

Ranger Creek’s New, Easy Drinking, Limited Edition RE: SESSION Beers Now Available

SAN ANTONIO, TX, July 27, 2011 – As a response to the movement in the craft brewing industry towards session beers, Ranger Creek created a new line of beers they are calling RE: SESSION. The first two beers are on the market now in limited quantities at select bars.
“The RE: SESSION name has a double meaning,” explains head brewer Rob Landerman, brainchild of the new product line. “It’s not only a response to the session beer movement going on with craft beer, but it’s also a play on the economic reality that we’re all living in at the moment. Plus, who doesn’t love a good pun?”

The first two beers in the RE: SESSION series are the RE: SESSION IPA and RE: SESSION Wheat. The RE: SESSION IPA has a floral, fruity hop nose with a pale malt backbone that lightens the color and allows the hops to shine through. The taste is citrusy, tropical, earthy, and slightly herbal. It’s a very hop forward beer with an aggressive hop pallet that is not for the faint of heart. At 5.5% abv and 55 IBU, it’s stronger than traditional session beers but lower in alcohol than traditional American IPAs. The RE: SESSION Wheat is an effervescent offering with strong tropical notes and a sweet, bready body. The traditional German yeast provides some light clove phenols and cloudy appearance. Dry hopped with Citra hops and lemon verbena, it has prominent notes of lemon and pineapple that make it a sweet, light summer offering at 5.1% abv.
Both RE: SESSION beers are available in limited quantities at select bars in San Antonio, Austin, and Houston. Ranger Creek is partnering with the Tap Exchange in San Antonio to do the first side-by-side tapping of both RE: SESSION beers, along with a Ranger Creek pint glass, for the Tap Exchange’s glass night on Tuesday, August 2^nd at 6:00 pm. Beers will be $6, and you get to keep the glass. It will be one of the only chances for craft beer drinkers to try both beers side-by-side.

Texas Craft Brewers Festival: Conversation With Brian Peters

2011-09-22T12:00:00.003-05:00

It’s almost here! This weekend, the Texas Craft Brewers Festival, which has been on hiatus for a few years, returns to Austin at Fiesta Gardens (Saturday, Sept. 24, 2-8pm). TCBF promises a showcase for what our state has to offer in terms of production breweries. (Unfortunately, due to Texas law, Draught House will be the only brewpub represented.

I Love Beer chatted with Brian Peters, brewmaster at Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que about the festival. Although his business can’t actually participate, he’s a member of the organizing committee for the festival, which is being produced by the Young Men’s Business League of Austin and benefiting Austin Sunshine Camps. It was an interesting conversation in which he shared his views on Austin’s place in the larger craft brewing universe, how Texas alcohol laws are holding our state back, and what treasures will be found at the fest:

I Love Beer: Do you think Texas is ahead of or behind the curve on the craft beer revolution?

Brian Peters: It’s very geographic, isn’t it? I would say we’re making up some lost ground. I think we were behind and we’re catching up. Probably within a year we’ll be where I believe we should have been years ago.

Are we ahead of certain areas? Yeah. The Midwest, we probably are getting close to about average with them. We’ll never catch up to Seattle or Portland or Northern California. I think Portland has fifty-something breweries in the city?

Do I think we’re behind? Not anymore. So Austin, with what I see being planned, we’ll see if we can absorb this many breweries, to be honest. It’s more than what we might be able to handle. But are we getting recognition finally that we certainly needed? Yes, it’s becoming where people recognize that we do have good beer here.

ILB: Why will we never catch up?

Peters: Well … to catch up — what does that mean? I don’t think we’ll be a Portland ever. I don’t think there will be many Portlands, or San Diegos. But I think for the demographic and the size of our market, we’ll be solidly in that second tier. But there’s only room for a couple of San Diegos or Portlands.

We’re getting there. When you go into almost any bar and you start to see the majority of the taps are local taps, then you’ll know we’re getting there. And we’re not quite there yet. But it’s an exciting time, for sure.

Hard to say, though, what “catching up” means. I don’t know if we can ever be as big as Portland, and I don’t know if we need to be. But say Portland has 50 breweries and we have 20 — well damn, I just went to Chicago and they only have, like, four brewpubs. And Houston has nothing, you know. So in a way, I think we’re doing pretty good. I think we’ll have more than our share of production breweries, it looks like, and I’m hoping we’ll get a few more brewpubs.

[Editor’s note: Actually, Beermapping.com says Chicago has eight, but still surprisingly low number for a city that size. There are, however, many brewpubs in Chicago’s suburbs. As for Houston, despite the growing presence of Saint Arnold, the craft beer scene there is shockingly sparse, with no brewpubs.]

ILB: What’s helping or hurting the craft brewing industry in Texas?

Peters: Well certainly, the regulations that [the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission] has to enforce are not helping. [The Legislature] took away the tax break for small brewers, and that hurt. The rules are in place, and they’re unfortunate, [and] not necessarily sympathetic at all to the small craft brewer. They are rules that were either designed before craft brewing existed or they’re specifically geared to where the larger breweries have the upper hand.

But the TABC comes out as the boogeyman. They’re just enforcing the laws that we create. We need to change the laws. And the laws right now as they’re written and being enforced prevent brewpubs for sure from excelling at all. We can’t distribute, and that’s such a limitation. Production-wise, for large-scale breweries, not being able to sell anything on-site is also challenging. [Ed. note: Go here for my coverage of the failed efforts to change Texas laws regarding microbreweries and brewpubs]

But everything else, it seems like the market’s ready. People are dying to get their hands on this stuff, and we have decent, pretty creative, good brewers and breweries. So you take away some of the limitations from the TABC and there’s no limit to what I think we can accomplish both in Texas and nationally.

ILB: Why is Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que not on the list of participants?

Peters: It’s against the law right now, based on interpretation of the TABC that you can’t have two permitees at the event. Josh [Wilson] from Draught House is pulling the permit, and it’s only by extension of his license that he’s allowed to have beer there. That might make other brewpubs upset, but I’m sorry, I based it basically on the fact that he’s good to go because [he has a license for] beer and wine.

That’s another area where [if] you want to talk about limitations of where we are in the big world — a festival where we can’t have brewpubs? That’s kind of cramping our style. We still have 18, possibly 19 breweries [in the festival] now, but you know, we could double that with brewpubs. That would be pretty exciting. But even then, at 18 or 19 breweries, we are what I believe is the largest collection of Texas brewers ever at a festival. Even the Brewmasters one that just happened [Brewmasters International Beer Festival in Galveston] didn’t have everybody from Texas. TCBF will have Twisted X, even people that haven’t released a beers at a festival before. That’s pretty exciting.

ILB: Maybe you just answered this question, but why should Austin beer lovers attend this festival?

Peters: There’s going to be new releases, stuff that’s not even been in the market yet, from both the old and new breweries. We have some breweries’ first time at a festival, and a lot of upstarts from the past year that maybe people haven’t tried yet. The whole goal was to highlight Texas craft beer, and this is a spotlight for some of these newer releases and limited releases. TCBF is asking the brewers to make about a third of what they bring be limited release, seasonal, or new release beers. You should be able to find things that you’ve never had before.

Orf Brewing Launches (Sort Of)

2011-09-21T15:25:00.001-05:00

If you read my article on new Austin brewers last year, you may remember one start-up hopeful named Orf. He's still not fully in business yet, but he'll preview his work with a one-off collaboration with the Draught House this weekend. Message from Orf:

Orf Brewing has collaborated with the Draught House Pub to bring a new beer to Austin. It's a coppery ale with a touch of sweetness and plenty of hop character. We call it Hella Copper. It should go on tap at the Draught House this coming Friday, September 23. It will also be available at the Texas Craft Brewers Festival at Fiesta Gardens on Saturday, September 24. So tell your friends, and drop by the Draught House Pub or the TCBF and taste for yourself the never-before-brewed Hella Copper.

(Photo by Lee Nichols)

Obama: The Home-Brewing President

2011-09-18T11:00:00.001-05:00

Okay, there are probably some much bigger issues to weigh when judging who you'll support in 2012, but hey, if you're a lover of craft beer, it certainly doesn't hurt to have a president who supports brewing your own. As CBS reports in the video below, Obama had the White House chefs brew up a special batch just for Oval Office consumption. (Please don't use the comments section to make incendiary political comments. I'll delete any comments that aren't directly about beer.)

Waterloo Brewing Reunion

2011-09-16T12:24:00.005-05:00

Darn it, I meant to post info on this a long time ago, and now it's done snuck up on me: Waterloo Brewing Company was the very first brewpub in Texas, having gone into business immediately after brewpubs were first legalized in Texas (in 1993). Unfortunately, because they lost their lease, its tenure was painfully short, ending in 2001. Many of us still lament its passing. Their Guytown IPA was my introduction to that style, and really opened my eyes to the coming craft beer revolution.

Staff and friends of Waterloo are having a reunion tomorrow (I told you I was late in getting the info up) at Billy's on Burnet. I'm actually not sure if I can make it, but I'm gonna try. And if the 1990s was before your time in Austin, you should still drop by and thank the guys who paved the way for Austin's current craft beer scene. And if you were a Waterloo regular, it's a chance to try some of their brews again. Info I got from Steve Anderson, one of the Waterloo Brewers and still a force in Austin brewing at Live Oak:

The 10th anniversary of Waterloo's closing will be commemorated tomorrow, Saturday the 17th, at Billy's on Burnet. Special appearances by Ed's Best Bitter and O.Henry's Porter will be in the form of two kegs each for sampling. They were brewed by Uncle Billy's and Freetail respectively.

The event runs 4-11pm.

Shiner Sneaking Into ACL Fest Again

2011-09-16T07:00:00.004-05:00

The ginormous Austin City Limits Music Festival cranks up again today, and yet again, the great music is counterbalanced with mediocre (at best) beer. Craft beer lovers have long bitched about ACL Fest's selection, which I believe is just A-B products and Heineken, when they could be showcasing local and craft beers. There's even a Twitter feed devoted to this discussion. For the past few years, Spoetzl (makers of Shiner) have struck back in sneaky ways, and they'll be doing it again. Press release:

Spoetzl Brewery Moving to Austin?

Shiner Beers Brings Their Brewery to Austin and the ACL Festival

It started three years ago when Heineken was named the “official” beer of ACL – The Austin City Limits Music Festival. What? Heineken? At the Austin City Limits Festival? That hurt Shiner’s feelings. Even though the brewery is 90 miles away, Austin and Shiner have a long and strong connection. And Shiner has deep roots in music too.

So Shiner decided to be involved at ACL on its own terms. The first year it was by producing thousands of koozies that looked like Shiner Bock cans, then handing those out to fans on their way in to the festival. Cans of Heineken transformed into cans of Shiner Bock. Or so it seemed.

The second year, Shiner handed out wooden nickels to concert-gers. The same wooden nickels that visitors to the brewery receive and exchange for beer samples. Except these nickels could be exchanged for a free Shiner outside of the Festival, through Shiner’s Foreign Beer Exchange Program. Leave your foreign beer behind, in the trashcan or the port-o-let, and replace it with an ice cold shiner.

Last year we added music to the mix. A billboard across the street was transformed into a 20-foot tall stage where Austin bands – who were also excluded from ACL – entertained the crowd below.

This year we're bringing the brewery to Austin. A façade of the actual Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner will be built in the parking lot of Flipnotics on Barton Springs Road. Inside you’ll find a biergarten serving Shiner beers along with German and Czech food, some of it from restaurants in Shiner. While eating and drinking, you can enjoy the polka stylings of the Shiner Hobo Band on Saturday or Erik Hokkanen on Sunday. Learn more at http://on.fb.me/rf0ZAF

'Austin Sips' — A Drinker's Resource

2011-09-15T14:34:00.003-05:00

My buddy Harry, clearly oblivious to what he's getting himself into — I used to be a listings editor for the Austin American-Statesman, and you couldn't pay me to do that again — has launched a new blog called Austin Sips, a "drinking events calendar." Harry says it's a "work in progress," but it looks good to me already. If you're having trouble keeping track of all the great beer and wine events out there (I gave up trying to be comprehensive a long time ago), you're gonna like it. Go check it out.

Independence Brewing Newsletter

2011-09-14T14:32:00.002-05:00

I normally don't do more than one post in a day, but this newsletter from Independence Brewing includes a tweet-up that's happening tonight, so here you go:

Independence Brewing September 13th Update

Howdy Gang,

This is the beginning of a very busy season for us here at the brewery! We have a TON going on, hope to see you all out and about.

Tweet up @opaldivines
Austin City Limits Music Festival is right around the corner and we want you to come celebrate with us. The Austin Beer Guide and the man behind @ACL_craftbeer present the inaugural ACL Craft Beer tweet-up Wednesday, Sept. 14th from 6pm-9pm at Opal Divine Freehouse and Independence will be there serving up some of our finest brews for only $2.50! Come join us as we drink, tweet, and discuss what we love (or hate) about the 3-day ACL Fest happening Sept. 16th - 18th at Zilker Park.

Flying Saucer Cask Night
When packaging a beer, one must always do so with the utmost respect and caution. The only way we could pay our respects to the All Seeing (Eye) PA was to stick it in a cask for one last go this year. We will be serving up this intimidating beast of a brew at the Austin Flying Saucer on Thursday Sept. 15th at 6pm. This bad boy will go quickly, so don’t miss your chance to drink it up before it’s gone!

FB Event Page

Brewtopia at Central Market San Antonio
Central Market is hosting its second annual Brewtopia event, providing patrons a chance to meet brewers from across the country. Amy Cartwright will be at the San Antonio Central Market on Friday, September 16, 4-7 pm to sample the latest Stash IPA, Bootlegger Brown Ale, and Austin Amber.

Oklahoma Suks Is Almost Here
Texas football is in full swing, so that means it’s almost time to kick some Sooner butt! The way we like to show our “appreciation” to our neighbors to the north is to name a beer after them. Oklahoma Suks will be out on Monday Sept. 19th, just in time for the Red River Shootout. Remember, these cleverly disguised Austin Amber beers are a fan favorite and will sell quickly once they hit shelves. Don’t miss your chance to show your Texas pride and enjoy an ice cold Oklahoma Suks on game day. Stay tuned to the newsletter for more info on where it will be available.

Brewluminati Night at Zax
The ever mysterious Brewluminati will be at Zax in Austin on Wednesday, Sept. 21st serving up its last batch of Thinkers Ale, All Seeing (Eye) PA, and Gold Deluxe from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. Come join us as we uncover the secrets behind these mystic brews once and for all. Get in the know leading up to the event by visiting the Brewluminti blog

Houston Beer Bike Bash
Onion Creek will be putting on an epic bike bash! Bike Raffles, Giveaways and live music! Neil from Independence will be out and will give away a custom Independence Bike!

Houston Big Bite Nite
Experience an epic journey of food as Houston Museum of Natural Science dishes up cuisine from some of Houston’s most prestigious restaurants, and beer from Independence Brewing Co. on Thursday, September 22nd, 6-9pm.

http://www.hmns.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=383&Itemid=358

Texas Craft Brewers Festival
The original Texas Craft Brewer's Festival is back and bigger than ever! This one-of-a-kind outdoor beer festival is going down Saturday, Sept 24th from 2pm - 8pm at the historic Fiesta Gardens in Austin, TX. The best beer and brewers from all across Texas will be on-site for what is anticipated to be the largest annual celebration of craft beer in Texas. This non-profit outdoor festival, produced by the Young Men's Business League and benefiting Austin Sunshine Camps, will feature Texas-brewed beer and ales (as well as non-alcoholic beverages), a commemorative tasting glass, live music, local food vendors, food and beer pairings, and a good time to be had by all at this beautiful venue on the banks of the Colorado River. For more info on purchasing General Admission and VIP tickets click here

Texas Craft Brewers Festival Volunteers
Want to do more than just attend the Texas Craft Brewers Festival? Sign up to volunteer here Remember limited volunteer space is available and these spots will fill up fast.

Great American Beer Festival
The Great American Beer Festival will be in full swing Sept. 29th - Oct. 1st at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO. The three-day event brings visitors from all around the world to sample beers from over 450 American Breweries. Independence will be there representing some of its finest brews including; Saison, Stash IPA, Austin Amber, Convict Hill Oatmeal Stout, and Brewluminati picks: Thinkers Ale, and Braggot. If you will be out in Colorado make sure to stop by our booth

No First Saturday in October
We will NOT be hosting a First Saturday Brewery Tour and Tasting in October. Instead we will be throwing a kick-ass 7 year Anniversary Party at the brewery on Oct. 22nd from 4pm - 8pm.

7 Year Anniversary Party October 22nd
Mark your calendars -- this year’s anniversary party will feature a special brew, limited edition 7 year anniversary glassware, two local food vendors and live music by Deuce Coupe.

Central Market Brewtopia Calendar

2011-09-14T13:56:00.003-05:00

Central Market (H.E.B.'s alternative to Whole Foods, for those who aren't familiar) is having a two-week event called "Brewtopia" beginning today. I think all their locations are having Brewtopia events, and all beer is on sale. It's kind of a pain to navigate their website, but my buddy Harry conveniently pulled together all the events happening at their Central Austin location, the one closest to my house, and compiled them into the schedule below. (I'm not sure about events after the 24th.) Sorry, but I'm not as industrious as Harry — if another location is closer to you, you'll just have to plow through their site. Thanks Harry!

Wednesday, September 14, 4:00 - 7:00 PM

Woodchuck Cider
Join a representative from Woodchuck Cider for an in-store demonstration and tasting.

Pyramid Breweries and Magic Hat Brewing Company
Join a representative from Pyramid and Magic Hat for an in-store demonstration and
tasting.

Thursday, September 15, 4:00 - 7:00 PM

Breckenridge Brewery
Join Todd Usry of Breckenridge for an in-store appearance and demonstration.

Boston Beer Company
Join a representative of Boston Beer, makers of Samuel Adams, for an in-store
demonstration and tasting.

Friday, September 16, 4:00 - 7:00 PM

North Coast Brewing
Join co-founder Tom Allen of North Coast for an in-store appearance and tasting.

Saturday, September 17, 1:00 - 4:00 PM

Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.
Join Fritz Rahr Jr. of Rahr & Sons for an in-store appearance and demonstration.

Sunday, September 18, 1:00 - 4:00 PM

Brewery Ommegang
Join a representative from Ommegang for an in-store demonstration and tasting.

Mendocino Brewing and Butte Creek Brewing
Join a representative from Mendocino and Butte Creek for an in-store demonstration
and tasting.

Monday, September 19, 4:00 - 7:00 PM

New Belgium Brewing
Join a representative from New Belgium for an in-store demonstration and tasting.

Tuesday, September 20, 4:00 - 7:00 PM

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Join master brewer Terence Sullivan of Sierra Nevada for an in-store appearance and
demonstration.

Wednesday, September 21, 4:00 - 7:00 PM

Lagunitas Brewing Company
Join a representative from Lagunitas for an in-store demonstration and tasting.

Thursday, September 22, 4:00 - 7:00 PM

Brooklyn Brewery (only until 6pm)
Join a representative from Brooklyn for an in-store demonstration and tasting.

Original Sin Cider
Join Original Sin Cider founder Gidon Coll for an in-store appearance and tasting.

Friday, September 23, 4:00 - 7:00 PM

Harpoon Brewery
Join a representative from Harpoon for an in-store demonstration and tasting.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Join a representative from Sierra Nevada for an in-store demonstration and tasting.

Saturday, September 24, 1:00 - 4:00 PM

Real Ale Brewing
Join Brad Farbstein and Tim Schwartz of Real Ale for an in-store appearance and
demonstration.

Firemans 4 for Firefighters at the Barber Shop

2011-09-08T12:00:00.004-05:00

In case you hadn't heard, about half the state of Texas is on fire right now. Fire departments could use some help, and a Hill Country brewpub is offering to pitch in. See press release below. (Photo of Bastrop State Park on fire from Texas Parks and Wildlife):

THE BARBER SHOP BREWPUB HOSTS FIREMANS #4 FOR FIREFIGHTERS FUNDRAISER THIS SATURDAY (9/10/11)

DRIPPING SPRINGS, TX – September 7, 2011 – The Barber Shop brewpub, located at 207 Mercer Street in downtown Dripping Springs, Texas, is hosting a Firemans #4 For Firefighters Fundraiser this Saturday, September 10, 2011, from 6:30pm – 11:30pm. All proceeds from the purchase of Real Ale Brewing Company’s Firemans #4 Blonde Ale at The Barber Shop during the event will go to local fire departments. Real Ale has also donated items including t-shirts, glasses, koozies, metal signs and more to help raise money. Award-winning Pure Luck Dairy will be hand with tasty treats and there will be live music by Devin Preitauer, Sam Shepherd & Joe Forlini, and Jerry Kirk. The Barber Shop will also have donation stations for those who want to drop off cash or checks.

For the latest information on the event and more, follow The Barber Shop’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/barbershopbar or the website at www.barbershopbar.com

Another 'Dockhand' Beer at Black Star

2011-09-07T14:30:00.003-05:00

I loved both Recalcitrant Dockhand and Cantankerous Dockhand at Black Star Co-op, my neighborhood bar, so I definitely gotta walk down the street and check out the new Rebellious Dockhand. From their website:

Waterloo, our first endeavor into wild, sour beers, was a huge success. We just served up the final batch of Waterloo and it will make a national appearance in Denver at this year’s Great American Beer Festival. I learned a lot through the sour mashing techniques used to give Waterloo its distinctly tart, funky flavor, and these lessons learned were used in our final wild Summer beer — Rebellious Dockhand. For the latest beer in the “Dockhand Series,” we take the base ingredients from Recalcitrant Dockhand, sour the mash, and then add raspberry puree to make one of the most unique beers coming out of the co-op’s brewery. Rebellious Dockhand has strong raspberry flavor and aroma on top of roasty, complex maltiness. The wild sourness is more subtle in this beer compared to Waterloo. The sourness is meant to enhance the raspberries and provide a tart, refreshing Summer beer, but with depth and earthiness that make Rebellious more than just another fruit beer!

Additionally, to provide higher quality in our beers, we are now treating each batch with a “fining product” that helps settle out the yeast quicker and provide a clean, brite beer. A lot of breweries can filter out their yeast as a final step before serving. If too much yeast is left in the beer, it can dominate the flavors and tend to prohibit the subtleties of the malts and hops from coming through as brightly. Therefore, it’s common to either settle out the yeast over a longer period of time, remove the yeast with a coarse filter, or speed the settling of the yeast with a fining product. The most common and effective fining product is isinglass, which is a form of collagen derived from dried fish bladders. The isinglass grabs the yeast and settles down to the bottom of the tank where we then pull the beer off of the top of the yeast bed. Virtually no isinglass makes it into the final product, but instead, you get a beautiful, clean tasting beer! We are investigating other, synthetic fining agents to preserve the vegan-ness of our house beers and hope to quickly find a quality product that is comparable to our current fining agent. (Note: obviously this isn’t done for beers that are supposed to have a yeast presence like hefe-weizens and witbiers).

Guinness Reaches Out to Non-Stout Drinkers

2011-09-02T12:52:00.002-05:00

Why do I get the feeling that this is going to go over like New Coke?

NXNW 12th Anniversary

2011-09-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

Press release from NXNW. That's a mighty nice-sounding beer selection:

NORTH BY NORTHWEST CELEBRATES 12 YEARS
Join NXNW for music, fun and a limited release of their favorite seasonal beers

WHO:
North by Northwest Restaurant and Brewery (NXNW) of Green Menace IPA at 7 p.m.

WHAT:
Celebrate North by Northwest’s 12th anniversary on September 4th with live music from Warren Hood and Jeremy Steding, entertainment by Nate the Great Balloon Artist and of, course, birthday cake!

Brewers Kevin Roark and Don Thompson will be tapping two firkin casks of Green Menace IPA at 7 p.m.

In addition there will be a limited release of North by Northwest’s favorite seasonal beers: Tu Helen Bock, Czech Pilsner, Summer Ale, Belgo Ale, Wit and Blonde Ale.

WHEN:
Sunday, September 4

Jeremy Steding will begin playing at 5 p.m.
Warren Hood will perform from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

COST:
$5 suggested donation benefiting SafePlace

WHERE:
North by Northwest Restaurant and Brewery
10010 Capital of TX Hwy N
Austin, TX 78759

ABOUT:
Locally owned and operated by founder Davis Tucker, North by Northwest (NXNW) has been offering a mix of great craft brewed beer and fabulous food in a fun and interesting atmosphere since 1999. NXNW offers upscale food by Chef George Powell and beer brewed on site by Brewers Don Thompson and Kevin Roark. For more information, visit www.nxnwbrew.com or twitter.com/nxnwbrew.

'Beer Dork Night' at the Aviary

2011-08-31T12:00:00.001-05:00

Haven't had a chance to check out this place yet, but sounds like they want to be serious about beer:

Increase Your Alcohol Awareness with “Beer Dork Night: Belgium”

Aviary Lounge to Host an Evening with Beer & Food Pairings

Austin, Texas (August 23, 2011) – Austin boutique shop, Aviary Lounge & Decor, presents another creative occasion with their latest event “Beer Dork Night: Belgium” on Thursday, Sept 1 at 8 pm.

The lounge features a flight of six different Belgium-style beers from the U.S. as well as great food to match. Limited seating will be available.

To reserve a spot, please email marco@aviarydecor.com, and the event is be $40 per person.

Aviary is located at 2110 S. Lamar, Austin and is open Tuesday to Saturday 12am to 12am, Sunday 3pm to 10pm. For more information call 916-4445 or go online to aviarylounge.com.

ABOUT AVIARY
Aviary is Austin’s coolest new place to shop and sip on wine. Come in and peruse house wares while tasting an international selection of wines and charcuterie. Locally owned and operated by Marco Fiorilo and Shanna Eldridge, Aviary came from the owners’ mutual passion for travel and shopping. It boasts many unique and contemporary finds from countries all over the world.

More Details on Texas Craft Brewers Festival

2011-08-30T12:00:00.000-05:00

Press release from TCBF:

Fiesta Gardens, Saturday, Sept. 24

Texas Craft Brewers Festival Unites Craft Brewers in Austin

An Outdoor Beer Sampling Festival Dedicated to the Fine Art of Craft Brewing

AUSTIN, TX, [August 29, 2011]—On September 24, 2011, craft brewers from across the state will convene on Austin’s Fiesta Gardens to celebrate Texas’ new, innovative, and delicious craft beers. This non-profit outdoor festival, produced by the Young Men’s Business League of Austin and benefiting Austin Sunshine Camps, will feature Texas-brewed beer and ale (as well as non-alcoholic beverages), a commemorative tasting glass, live music, local food vendors, food and beer pairings, and a good time to be had by all at this beautiful venue on the banks of the Colorado River.

"The Texas beer scene is on fire!” says Tim Schwartz, Director of Brewery Operations for Real Ale Brewing Company in Blanco, Texas, and President of the Texas Craft Brewers Guild. “New breweries are opening all over the state and established craft breweries are expanding. This is a perfect time for the resurgence of the Texas Craft Brewers Festival. The festival brings all of this variety together in one venue. Come on out and see what Texas brewing has to offer."

In addition to the many established craft brewers that will be in attendance, several breweries who haven’t released beer yet are using the festival as their target date to publicly introduce their first beers. Rare and special beers will be highlighted throughout the festival.

Facebook Fan page- http://goo.gl/3ublb
Facebook Event Page - http://goo.gl/Pztay
Twitter: @TXCraftBeer
#TXBrewFest
Website: http://www.texascraftbrewersfestival.org/
Purchase Tickets: http://www.eventbee.com/v/texascraftbrewersfestival

This event is a must attend for Texas craft beer enthusiasts. Not only will there be a wide variety of delicious craft beers, rare beers, and tasty food, but there will also be a really awesome beer community.

The Texas Craft Brewers Guild exists for the purpose of promoting craft beer in the State of Texas, educating the public about the qualities and attributes of craft beer and advancing the common interest of Texas craft brewers.

Festival Information

Date/Time: September 24, 2011, 2 - 8pm

Location: Fiesta Gardens, 2100 Jesse E. Segovia St., Austin, TX

Information: info@texascraftbrewersfestival.org
Ticket Information: events@texascraftbrewersfestival.org

21+ Event | ID required at entry | Rain or Shine
Due to space concerns -NO chairs or coolers allowed.
Due to safety concerns - NO glass or dogs allowed.

Safety:
The event will be fully insured by the permit holder.
All beer servers will be TABC certified.
EMS and security will be on-site.
Designated driver program - free non-alcoholic beverages for designated drivers.
Free drinking water available.
Taxis available as attendees leave the gate from our taxi sponsor

For more information on the festival, brewers and other exciting developments, visit http://www.texascraftbrewersfestival.org/

Photo Credit: John M.P. Knox

Support the Home Team

2011-08-24T20:39:00.003-05:00

The last time I was at a major league baseball game was in Kansas City, and I was happy to see that the stadium did have Boulevard, the local KC brewery (although not at all the concessions stands). That got me to wondering if the Texas Rangers gave similar love to Rahr & Sons. A quick Google search led me to DFW beer blogger Cavalier Beer, and I'm pleased to read that the answer is yes. Good for them! That further motivates me to get up to Arlington and catch a Rangers game sometime.

New Belgium Filming at Draught House

2011-08-24T11:58:00.002-05:00

Message from Josh at the Draught House:

Hello beer fans,

next Tuesday, 8/30, New Belgium Brewing Company is filming a small piece to promote 1554 Enlightened Belgian Black Ale at our place and ya'll are invited! They will be serving BBQ, have cheese paired from Antonelli's Cheese Shop and an ice cream pairing from Austin Scoops, all free, while they last. Steel Head String Band will be playing until 8pm and we will be giving away New Belgium Globe glasses with each 1554 bought (only $2.75 because it's Pint Night!)

Come on by!

cheers,

Josh

Saint Arnold Santo Release Delayed

2011-08-23T14:29:00.002-05:00

Hearing that they dumped out 11,000 gallons of beer makes me want to cry, but Saint Arnold says it's for the best:

Saint Arnold Announces Delay of Santo Release
HOUSTON, August 23, 2011 – Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, today announced it will delay the release of its newest beer, Santo. The scheduled release date was September 1, 2011. Below is a statement from Brock Wagner, Saint Arnold Founder/Brewer:
We regret to announce that we are delaying the release of our newest beer, Santo. After brewing a 10 gallon test brew several months ago that we were enthusiastic about, we scaled up the recipe and recently brewed our standard 3,700 gallon batch. In fact, we have three such batches in the fermenters right now. After filtering a batch this week and getting it ready for packaging, we tasted it. It was good, but it was missing that spark that separates a good beer from a great beer. So we are dumping the over 11,000 gallons of beer we have in the tanks.
We are brewing another batch tomorrow with a series of recipe tweaks. We will taste this in two to three weeks. If we are excited about the results, we will release it then — or more likely, about three weeks later so we can brew some additional batches. If we again do not believe it is a world class beer, we'll continue tweaking. We apologize for this issue. We would rather experience the embarrassment of delaying the release than release something that isn't the best beer we can brew.
The company has not set a new release date for Santo, but the earliest a full release could occur would be sometime in October 2011.

Austin Homebrew Supply Owners Starting a Brewery

2011-08-22T15:58:00.003-05:00

Yes, yet another new brewery in the Austin area. They're coming so fast now I can barely keep up.

This one will be started up in Pflugerville by Forrest & Diane Rogness, owners of Austin Homebrew Supply — but first they're trying to raise some capital via a fundraising website called Kickstarter. Watch their video pitch below, then click that link to contribute to the project.

Firkins in Round Rock!

2011-08-19T12:01:00.002-05:00

HomeField Grill, a restaurant up in Round Rock (next door to and owned by the same people as Flix Brewhouse) is trying to bring some serious beer culture to the suburban hinterlands. Check this out:

Firkin Fridays!
Beginning next Friday, August 26, HomeField Grill is starting Firkin Fridays. Don't know what a firkin is? Click here to find out! Every Friday at 4 p.m., we will tap a firkin keg of fresh beer. The beer will be cold and the supply will be limited. Come enjoy it with us every Friday!

Independence News

2011-08-18T20:22:00.003-05:00

More lazy cut-and-paste blogging from me. This e-mail I got from Independence had some interesting stuff:

Pint Glass Nights
We have a string of buy the pint keep the glass nights coming up in the next few weeks. We tried to spread them across town so that everyone can come out and enjoy a brew with us! On Tuesday the 23rd at 7pm we will be at Draft Pick featuring Freestyle Wheat. On September 1st 7pm we will be at Black Sheep Lodge with Austin Amber. And for you folks up North we will be at Mr. Tramps this Friday the 19th at 7pm also with Austin Amber.

More Tanks!
We received a very special delivery this week, 2 new fermenters and 1 new brite tank. These tanks will help us turn even more water into brew for your drinking pleasure! Finding a space to put them..... well that’s another story.

Saison
Have you had our Summer seasonal Saison? It is a Belgian influenced Summer ale with Clementine zest, pink peppercorns and star anise. It is a great summer time companion but won’t be here for long! It is draft only so get out to you favorite watering hole and drink some.

All Seeing Eye(PA)
Millineum, Nugget, Cascade. Just three of the 7 hops in our latest Brewluminati brew. Imperial IPA? Double IPA? You be the judge, what we will say is that it was brewed in commemoration of brew number 1,000 and we would have never got here without you all. Sightings have been reported at Whole Foods Bar Lamar, Barley Swine, Draught House, Opal’s Divine and Red’’orch. Open your third eye.

Braggot
More Brewluminati activity. Do you remember our 6th anniversary brew? The Braggot was brewed with a ton of locally sourced Good Flow Wildflower honey. Well, we have reason to believe that it may return soon...

Gettin Sauced
BBQ sauce competition at a brewery? No it’s not a dream, join us on August 27th for brew, BBQ, live music and more. Admission is free as are the complimentary brew samples. If you would like to sample all of the BBQ sauces, wristbands are $8 in advance and $10 dollars at the door. More info at http://www.gettinsauced.com/

New Houston-Area Brewery: Buffalo Bayou

2011-08-15T09:00:00.002-05:00

Check out this real estate blog for some preliminary info on a new Houston-area brewery, Buffalo Bayou Brewing. Tip of the hat to my friend Bill for pointing me to it. Picture is from the blog, so presumably it's copyright of Swamplot.

Flowers? Screw That, I Want a Beer Bouquet

2011-08-13T12:00:00.001-05:00

Hey, here's a fun (and Austin-based) gift idea: Send someone you love a Beer Bouquet. Sounds good to me. And their inventory includes more than just megabeers: You can get good craft brews from the likes of Spoetzl (Shiner), Sam Adams, Boulevard and Brooklyn and imports like Spaten. They have some non-alcoholic choices too, including root beers from Abita and Saint Arnold.

I think they should re-think that slogan, though. I know plenty of women who would like one of these. More than flowers.

Brewing and Flavor Analysis Class at Black Star Co-op

2011-08-12T12:00:00.002-05:00

Wow, I really should attend this. Black Star Co-op is offering a couple of classes on brewing and flavor analysis, coming up on Aug. 14 and 21. They say: "The 101 class will be for beginner homebrewers and beer appreciators. The 201 class will be for intermediate and advanced homebrewers and beer aficionados." I have to say, learning from Jeff Young would be a treat considering how good his Black Star beers have been. Click on that link for more details and to register.

Austin Beerworks Firkin Tonight

2011-08-11T12:00:00.002-05:00

This sounds interesting: Austin Beerworks, one of the rash of new microbreweries that have popped up in Austin, is presenting a firkin at Billy's on Burnet tonight that combines characteristics of their IPA and their black beer. More info at Beer Town Austin, the event's sponsor.

Birds and Bock: A Party

2011-08-10T12:00:00.000-05:00

So there's this barbershop chain in Austin called Birds, and they've had a habit for a while now of providing beer with your haircut. They recently inked a partnership with Shiner Bock, and now they're throwing a party on August 18 at their South Congress location to celebrate. Check out the poster below for details:

An Ode to Beer

2011-08-09T14:31:00.004-05:00

This just got passed on to me by a good beer-drinking buddy. I'm surprised I haven't heard this song yet — it's by one of Austin's best bands, the Asylum Street Spankers. Yeesh, I've really fallen out of touch with the local music scene since I quit being a music critic.

Saint Arnold Santo: A Black Kölsch?

2011-08-08T12:00:00.004-05:00

Sounds interesting. Press release from Saint Arnold:

HOUSTON, August 8, 2011 – What do you do if you brew a beer that doesn’t fit an existing category? You make one up. At least that is what Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com) is doing with the upcoming release of its latest creation: Santo. The company is describing its new brew as a black Kölsch – light in body and dark in color. Santo will be available on tap and in 12-ounce bottles sold in six-packs and cases throughout Texas starting on September 1, 2011.

The other big development is Santo’s packaging. Instead of the distinctive image of an outreaching St. Arnold, which continues to grace the brewery’s other beers as it has for more than 17 years, Santo features a design created by Houston artist Carlos Hernandez. His attention-grabbing “Day of the Dead” style artwork depicts a big eyed crowned skull on a bright red background.

“This is the first beer we have ever brewed that started with the packaging,” said Saint Arnold Founder/Brewer Brock Wagner. “The process started over four years ago. We originally commissioned Carlos to design new packaging for Saint Arnold Brown Ale. We loved what he came back to us with, but somehow it didn’t fit the Brown Ale. Thus began our work on creating a beer to fit the packaging, an odd process for us. The final result was a recipe we called a black Kölsch. We’ve been waiting to have the capacity available to brew it and are now very excited to begin drinking it.”

To some in the craft beer community, the black Kölsch concept is an oxymoron, since the Kölsch style is expected to have a golden appearance. However, Saint Arnold’s brewers insist that stretching the boundaries is part of the fun. Besides, despite Santo’s dark appearance, the beer maintains other characteristics of a true Kölsch. Saint Arnold uses the same special Kölsch yeast – an ale yeast that ferments at almost lager temperatures – that is used in Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower Beer. This contributes to Santo being light bodied and floral even though it has a distinctive dark malt flavor.

Santo is brewed using pale two-row and pils malted barley, a dash of malted wheat and an addition of dark malt. Saint Arnold uses Hallertau Hersbrucker hops, added to the brew kettle in four separate cycles to create a delicate flavor and aroma. It has an original gravity of 1.045 (11.4° Plato), bitterness of 15 IBU and alcohol content (by volume) of 4.9 percent.

Santo is the sixth year-round beer from Saint Arnold. It joins Saint Arnold Amber Ale, Saint Arnold Brown Ale, Saint Arnold Elissa IPA, Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower Beer and Saint Arnold Weedwacker in the regular lineup.

The #3 Bus Pub Crawl Is Underway!

2011-08-06T09:55:00.003-05:00

If you're reading this on Saturday, August 6, and you're in Austin, then get yourself over to Burnet Road or some other location along Capital Metro's #3 bus route, because I'm celebrating my birthday with a renewal of the Number 3 Bus Pub Crawl!

Sorry for giving no advance warning on the blog — while I'd love for many of my regular readers to join me, I can't have everybody along, because that would turn this thing into an even worse clusterfuck than it will already be.

But if you're lucky enough to have nothing to do today and you can catch up with us, please do. Check my Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/ILoveBeerBlog for updates on where we are and where we're heading next. We'll start at the beginning of the route at North by Northwest's Brewer's Brunch at 10am and after we fill our bellies with breakfast and beer, we'll head south, literally and probably figuratively as well.

And if you have no idea what the Number 3 Bus Pub Crawl is, read about the first here (my 40th birthday) and the second one here (my 41st). I turn 43 today.

No prayer and fasting! Today is for debauchery and gluttony!

(Note: That Cap Metro illustration is there just for decoration. This event is in no way sanctioned or sponsored by Capital Metro.)

Flavored Beer Salt: Blech

2011-08-05T18:56:00.003-05:00

Time for a quick product review. A San Antonio Company called Twang sent a box of flavored salts to The Austin Chronicle (for which I write). There were a variety of flavors and purposes: Several cocktail salts (for margaritas — including mango and lemon-lime flavored — and bloody mary) and several different flavors for putting on snacks.

The ones of interest to me: beer salts. I was immediately wary of these. I remembered my father, before he discovered craft beer, putting salt and lime in his Miller Lite. Looking back on it, I realize that must have been for one reason: Because Miller Lite has no flavor.

And when I was in college, I did like everyone else and squeezed lime into my Corona. I did this for the same reason: Because otherwise, Corona has no flavor. At the risk of offending Latinos everywhere, I'll boldly proclaim that this is a consistent theme in Mexican and other Latin American beers: They tend to always be flavorless water. Ideal, perhaps, for a hot climate — I myself like 'em cold and crisp in our Texas summers — but sadly, it means that I don't turn to those countries when I'm looking for something bolder. (Of course, beers like Fireman's 4 prove that a good summer beer doesn't have to be devoid of taste. And of course, I do not include the "Mexican style" beers of Cedar Park's Twisted X.)

So, to cut to the chase: I dumped some of this stuff (it came in lime and lemon-lime flavors) into a glassof Modelo Especial , and it just upheld my suspicions: This is for people who don't like the taste of beer. This is for people who drink Corona or Lite or whatever, oblivious to the fact that they are just drinking overpriced water, and need something to make it worthwhile for their tastebuds.

But if you actually like the taste of beer … just leave this stuff on the shelves. It's not for you.

More News From Freetail

2011-08-04T17:27:00.004-05:00

More news from Freetail, sent to me while I was on vacation:

SAN ANTONIO-BASED BREWERY SUSPENDS PLANS FOR SECOND LOCATION
(July 27, 2011) San Antonio, TX – Having previously announced expansion into the Houston market, Freetail Brewing Co. will announce the indefinite suspension of plans for a second location — citing concerns over access to capital.

“As I moved forward with the Freetail Houston project, I began to run into an increasing level of resistance in capital markets. A brewpub is a good project for downtown Houston, but the deal is simply not there for me at this time,” explained Freetail Founder & CEO, Scott Metzger. “When we announced the project on May 17, we also stated there were financial considerations to be addressed. Those considerations are ultimately what put this project on hold indefinitely, and no other reason. To move forward with the project at this time would be irresponsible and an injustice to my company and the City of Houston.

“For now my focus will be to continue growing our successful original location, which has internal expansion needs of its own, and moving forward in the battle for fair reform of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, as it relates to the activities of our state’s brewpubs and breweries,” added Metzger.

Freetail's "RealTail" Festival August 27

2011-08-04T16:05:00.003-05:00

Press release from our friends down in San Antonio:

FREETAIL BREWING CO. ANNOUNCES 2^nd ANNUAL “RealTail” FESTIVAL TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 27
Event with Blanco’s Real Ale Brewing Co. to also Feature Special Collaboration Beer
(August 3, 2011) San Antonio, TX – Freetail Brewing Co. is announcing that it will host RealTail II on Saturday, August 27. The annual festival will feature rare, barrel aged beers from both the local brewpub and Real Ale Brewing Co. from Blanco, TX in addition to a special collaborate beer developed by the two breweries.

Austin-to-Saint Arnold Bus Trip

2011-08-02T11:24:00.003-05:00

Hey Austinites, would you like to check out Saint Arnold's new brewery in Houston? And more importantly, would you like someone else to be your designated driver? Here's your chance. This is on the Saint Arnold website:

Austin to the Brewery Bus Trip

Once again it's time for another trip down to Houston to see Texas' oldest craft brewery! If you have not been to the new brewery, now is your chance. Saturday, August 20, at 10:30 am we will meet at The Flying Saucer and depart at 11 am sharp. We will get there at the end of our regular Saturday tour and enjoy some cold Saint Arnold. Then we will open the iPub for lunch and more tasty beverages. We will leave the brewery at 5 pm and return to Austin at 8 pm. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased here:

Click here for tickets!

Shameless Self-Promotion

2011-08-01T12:14:00.004-05:00

Hey, check it out, I'm today's "Featured Local Blogger" on the Spoken City blog. Damn, I wish I'd proofread my replies to their questions a little more carefully before I hit 'send.'

Saint Arnold Brewing Company Reports Record First Half Production

2011-07-27T12:00:00.001-05:00

Yeah, I was bitching just yesterday about how Texas' archaic beer laws are holding back Texas' craft brewers and making it hard to grow their businesses. Thankfully, however, some Texas brewers are swimming against that tide and expanding nonetheless. Just imagine how well they could do if our laws were more like those of California or Oregon.

Here's a press release from my favorite Houston brewer (glad to see that note about the popularity of Weedwacker — that is an absolutely marvelous beer, and I want to continue seeing on store shelves. If you haven't tried it yet, hunt some down):

HOUSTON, July 27, 2011 – Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, today reported record first half production of more than 17,000 barrels of beer. The Houston brewery is due to expand production in the second half of 2011 with the addition of four 240-barrel fermenters to keep pace with increasing demand throughout Texas and Louisiana.
Overall, shipments from the brewery were up 22 percent with the brewhouse limited by fermentation capacity for much of the period. Sales of Saint Arnold brand beers were up 50 percent from the same period in 2010 at the distributor level as distributor inventories were depleted severely. Shipments related to the brewery’s brands that are sold primarily at BJ’s restaurants decreased as the brewery shifted more of its capacity to its Saint Arnold brands. By market, sales of Saint Arnold in San Antonio surged 102 percent over the same period in 2010, followed by Dallas/Fort Worth, up 66 percent. Houston was up 51 percent, while Austin was up 44 percent.
“We are seeing a long-term shift in people’s perceptions of what beer is and what beer can be,” said Brock Wagner, Founder/Brewer of Saint Arnold Brewing. “People in their 20s and 30s now expect a wide spectrum of flavor and diversity from their beers and they get it from Saint Arnold and other craft beers.”
Year Production % Growth
2011 (1^st Half) 17,018 barrels 22 percent
2010 31,445 barrels 22 percent
2009 25,710 barrels 13 percent
2008 22,749 barrels 28 percent
2007 17,811 barrels 30 percent
The big surprise of the first half was the enthusiasm for Saint Arnold Weedwacker, which was introduced as a year-round beer during the second quarter. Early sales of Weedwacker have rivaled Saint Arnold’s top-seller Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower Beer.
The first half of 2011 has also been notable for Saint Arnold’s efforts to promote community. The recent Feast of Saint Arnold Week raised $15,000 for Texas Children’s Hospital IBD Clinic, the brewery’s team in the BP MS 150 raised more than $262,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the brewery donated $10,000 from the sale of Saint Arnold Elissa IPA to support the preservation of the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA.
About Saint Arnold Brewing Company
Saint Arnold Brewing's ten brews are made and sold by the company’s staff of 32 dedicated employees. The brewery was listed by USA Today as one of the “10 great places to see what’s brewing in beer,” and Smart Meetings magazine named it among the “Top 5 breweries to host an event.” Saint Arnold is located at 2000 Lyons Avenue and its brewery tour and tasting is offered every weekday at 3:00 P.M. and Saturdays starting at 11 A.M. For more information on Saint Arnold's five year-round and five seasonal beers as well as root beer, log on to www.saintarnold.com.

Open the Taps: A Political Movement

2011-07-26T14:28:00.006-05:00

You probably already know about this, because I'm a little late to this party and every one else has already written about it. Sorry, I'm on vacation right now, and can't overcome an inertia that only allows either swimming, or lying on the couch and reading, or drinking beer. But here's the quick and dirty: A nonprofit group called Open the Taps — a successor, I suppose, to Friends of Texas Microbreweries? — has formed in order to "act as an advocate for craft beer enthusiasts in Texas within the bounds of the multi-tier system and the legislative process."

In other words, they're getting organized now in hopes of changing Texas absurd laws regarding microbreweries and brewpubs, laws that unfairly restrict their ability to grow their businesses, in the 2013 legislative session. Attempts at reform have been killed by certain distributors who insist Texas cling to its outdated "three-tier" distribution system (requiring that producers, distributors, and retailers be kept separate). Do a search on my blog or on the website of The Austin Chronicle to see my coverage of bills that failed at the Lege this past spring.

Since I'm feeling too lazy to do a big write-up right now, I'll direct you to the reporting of the Houston Chronicle's Ronnie Crocker. The killer quote, which will likely become the official battle cry, from Houston's Ted Duchesne of the Barley Vine blog: "The fourth tier wants to speak up."

My vacation ends next week. I promise to resume being a better beer blogger and reporter when I return.

Best Texas Beer Snob Contest

2011-07-24T22:11:00.001-05:00

Message from Opal Divine's:

Starts Monday July 25th (tomorrow). Every day from 4-7pm at at all Opal's there will be a $5 Blind Texas Beer sampler of 4 Texas beers from our regular menu. Guess all 4 and you're in the finals Saturday at Freehouse 7pm! A different sampler will be served each day!
Who has the best Texas Beer Nose in Austin? Maybe you! Go Local, Go Texan!

Belgian Beer Week at Draught House

2011-07-17T18:00:00.004-05:00

Message from one of my very favorite bars in the whole world, the Draught House:

tomorrow (7/18) starts Belgian Beer Week and we will be celebrating at the Draught House with a range of good ones and some cheese pairings too.

Monday- Chouffe Houblon- get a glass and cheese sample free with beer purchase.
Tuesday- Chimay Blue- glass with beer purchase

Wednesday- Ommegang Witte- glass with beer and free cheese sample

Thursday- St. Bernardus ABT 12- glass with beer purchase

Friday- Duvel Green- Free glass and cheese with beer

Saturday- Lindemans Framboise- Free glass with beer

UPDATE: Apparently, it's also Belgian Beer Week at the Flying Saucer, as well. Here's their lineup:

Belgian Beer Week! All week long we will have Belgian glass giveaways at 7pm and plenty of Belgian brews on the wall and in package.
Monday - Timmermans
Tuesday - Blanche de Bruxelles
Wednesday - Duvel
Thursday - Ommegang
Friday - Maredsous
Saturday - Hopus

Vote in The Austin Chronicle's 'Best of Austin' Poll

2011-07-12T15:15:00.004-05:00

Hey gang, the alt-weekly newspaper for which I write, The Austin Chronicle, is currently conducting its annual "Best of Austin" poll. There are two categories that specifically will be of interest to readers of this blog: Best Local Beer and Best Beer/Wine Prices, both under the Food and Drink category. If you're an Austinite or even an out-of-towner familiar with Austin's beer scene, I encourage you to make your voice heard. Click here to fill out a ballot. (No, you don't have to fill out every category, just the ones that interest you.) This is the first year we've done the Local Beer award — I'm really excited to see who you choose!

The deadline is Monday, July 18, so jump on it!

Feast of Saint Arnold, Benefiting Texas Children's Hospital

2011-07-11T11:53:00.005-05:00

For my Houston-area readers, a press release from Saint Arnold:

Saint Arnold Brewing Company Launches Week-Long Celebration and Fundraiser
HOUSTON, July 11, 2011 - Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, wants to make the Texas Children’s Hospital IBD Center the leading center in the country for the treatment and study of IBD related diseases. With that in mind, on Friday, July 15, the brewery will host the Feast of Saint Arnold, culminating a week of activities to celebrate St. Arnold and the craft of brewing, which will raise funds for Texas Children’s Hospital IBD Center / Gastroenterology Clinic.
The Feast of Saint Arnold will feature dishes prepared by Scott Castell of Brenner’s. Each dish incorporates a Saint Arnold beer or root beer. Dishes of beef, pork, seafood and poultry will fill each table, and diners will be invited to sample each. They can either eat with utensils or their fingers, whatever feels right. Plus, this is no black-tie affair. In fact, it’s no tie or jacket affair. Just come hungry and casual.
“At Saint Arnold Brewing Company, we focus on two things: beer and community,” said brewery Founder/Brewer Brock Wagner. “We feel we are at our best when the two come together. The Feast will be the crown jewel of the week of events. We are imaging a feast like from Beowulf, but without Grendel or his mother visiting. We think St. Arnold himself would be proud.”
The Feast of Saint Arnold Week honors St. Arnold of Metz, for whom the brewery is named. St. Arnold was renowned for his piousness and generosity to the poor as well as his promotion of beer as a safe and healthy beverage. His actual feast day is July 18.
As part of the celebration, Saint Arnold Brewing will also have special beers available, in addition to their regular offerings. The special beers include chardonnay barrel aged Brown Ale with cherries as well as barrel aged Farmer Brown's Ale.
Tickets for the Feast are $85 with at least $50 per ticket going to the TCH IBD Clinic. The event is sold out. Doors will open at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 15, and The Feast of Saint Arnold will commence at 7:30. The Great Hall at Saint Arnold Brewing Company is located at 2000 Lyons Ave. in Houston.
Other events during the week include:
Monday, July 11: Starting at 2 p.m., Ginger Man, will feature rum barrel aged Winter Stout, Divine Reserve No. 11 on cask, bourbon barrel imperial stout on cask, and an auction. One dollar per pint plus a portion of auction proceeds will be donated to TCH IBD Clinic.
Tuesday, July 12: Starting at 5 p.m., Boondoggles will tap a cask of Divine Reserve No. 11. One dollar per pint will be donated to TCH IBD Clinic. Then, starting at 7 p.m., Petrol Station will tap a cask of Brown Ale, barrel aged with cherries. All proceeds will be donated to TCH IBD Clinic.
Wednesday, July 13: Starting at 7 p.m., Rudyard’s joins the celebration with a Saint Arnold Ale dinner. Tickets are $60, with $10 per ticket donated to TCH IBD Clinic, plus $1 per pint. For reservations, call 713.521.0521
Thursday, July 14: The Flying Saucer will tap a cask of Divine Reserve No. 11 and promises more surprises when that runs out. One dollar per pint will be donated to TCH IBD Clinic.

Uncle Billy's Oasis in the 'Chronicle'

2011-07-01T22:36:00.003-05:00

It's rare, but there was actually something in this week's Austin Chronicle regarding beer that wasn't written by me. We printed our annual lakeside dining issue, and writer Kate Thornberry spotlighted the huge changes that have gone on out at the Oasis on Lake Travis, which is now a ginormous complex with three restaurants, including the new Uncle Billy's Brew & Que. Check out her review (scroll down past the review of Soleil).

(picture copyright Lee Nichols)

Sneak Peek of Flix Brewhouse

2011-07-01T17:10:00.003-05:00

The media got a glimpse of the new Flix Brewhouse Wednesday, and I posted my report to Chronolog, our blog at The Austin Chronicle. Please go give it a read.

Big brewing news buried within the story: Flix hired head brewer Justin Rizza away from Independence Brewing; Indy hired his assistant Michael Waters as his replacement.

Movie Theater Brewpub to Open in Round Rock

2011-06-27T11:04:00.006-05:00

If you're a movie buff, even outside of Austin, you've probably heard of Alamo Drafthouse, the movie theater that serves you food and drinks (including craft beer) while you watch the show. The Austin chain is pretty famous, including getting named best movie theater in America by Entertainment Weekly. Well now, a group of investors is taking on Alamo on their home turf, but with a twist: The new Flix Brewhouse in Round Rock (an Austin suburb) will not only serve craft beer, they're also going to brew their own. Press release below, and yes, I noticed they don't identify their brewmaster. I'm looking into it.

(UPDATE: Flix sent me an e-mail stating, "Flix Brewhouse is proud to welcome Justin Rizza on board as our Brewmaster. Formerly at Independence Brewing, Justin was the man behind their Saison, Stash IPA, and Killshot Scotch Ale.")

Flix Brewhouse Sneak Peek

Debuts with Transformers 3

ROUND ROCK, TX ‐ Flix Brewhouse by Galaxy, the only first run movie theatre in the world with a working microbrewery, opens this Wednesday [June 29th] at 6:00 pm with the Steven Spielberg blockbuster Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Sony Pictures’ Bad Teacher. The popularly‐priced new cinema anchors the Sky Ridge Plaza community lifestyle center at the northwest corner of IH‐35 and Hesters Crossing, exit 251 in Round Rock.

A joint effort of Los Angeles‐based Galaxy Theatres and a local investment group, Flix Brewhouse will first operate in “Sneak Peek” mode with the best in projection and sound, 42 draft beers, an extensive wine list, and traditional snacks. The full‐service kitchen, helmed by noted local chef Scott Reed, will be in full swing for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2 on July 15 and the first tastings from the brewhouse are slated for mid‐August.

Flix was designed to deliver in‐theatre three of adult America’s greatest loves – craft beer, great food and the latest hit movies. All six of Flix’s stadium seating “dining rooms” are outfitted with the latest high‐definition digital cinema projection and sound technologies, wall‐to‐wall curved screens, cushy high back chairs and the innovative Easy Glider moveable table top.

The microbrewery, run by the former head brewer of a renowned Texas craft brewery, will brew a selection of 6 to 8 beers ranging from its signature golden ale to seasonal specials like “Round Rock Red.” The Flix Mix lobby bar and cafe is open seven days a week, no ticket required, and auditoriums are available for daytime rental and special presentations.

Maui Brewing Takes Over Draught House

2011-06-24T12:00:00.000-05:00

Message from Josh over at Draught House about stuff happening TODAY:

Another " tap takeover " ....

This Friday 5 of our taps will be taken over by Maui Brewing Company . We will be pouring the Coconut Porter, Imperial Coconut Porter , Mana Wheat , Big Swell IPA , and Double Overhead IPA. Glasses will be available with some of their beers, and Maui Brewing Co. owner Garrett Marrero will be present from 6-9 pm to answer any questions abut his beers . Hope to see you there ,...

Texas Craft Brewers Fest Coming in September

2011-06-24T10:51:00.003-05:00

Sorry to only have bare-bones info at the moment, but I just got alerted that this is coming. I'm already psyched. Cut-and-paste from Facebook:

Texas Craft Brewers Festival

Time
Saturday, September 24 · 2:00pm - 9:00pm
Location
Fiesta Gardens
2101 Jesse E Segovia St
Created By
Texas Craft Brewers Guild
More Info
A craft beer festival from the Texas Craft Brewers Guild. More information will be coming shortly.

Time	Saturday, September 24 · 2:00pm - 9:00pm

Location	Fiesta Gardens 2101 Jesse E Segovia St

Created By	Texas Craft Brewers Guild

More Info	A craft beer festival from the Texas Craft Brewers Guild. More information will be coming shortly.

Austin Chronicle: Best Convenience Stores for Beer

2011-06-23T12:00:00.002-05:00

Which convenience stores in Austin have the best beer selections? I make my picks in this week's Austin Chronicle. What do you think? Did I miss your favorite? Leave comments either here or at the story itself.

Thanks to my Facebook and Twitter friends who gave me tips.

(Photo by Lee Nichols)

New 'Austin Beer Guide' Out, Party Tonight

2011-06-22T12:00:00.002-05:00

The summer edition of the Austin Beer Guide is printed up and ready for perusal. You should be able to get it at your favorite quality beer bar, but if you just can't stand to wait that long (or if you're new to town and want to know which bar to head to) you can download a PDF version here.

ABG will be hosting a release party tonight at the Draught House, 7-10pm. They report, "There will be brewers present, maybe some special beers, and NEW MUSTACHE GLASSES! Buy any beer from a brewery featured in the guide, and keep the mustache glass." Sadly, I can't make it. :-(

This venture must be going well: This issue is 48 pages, up from 32 back in the spring.

Austin Beerworks Meet 'n' Greet at Black Star

2011-06-21T12:00:00.000-05:00

And yet another brewery on the Austin scene. Damn this town is getting good.

The newest kid on the block is Austin Beerworks, and I finally got to taste their wares at a meet 'n' greet party at Black Star Co-op. Like more and more craft brewers are doing these days, Austin Beerworks is canning instead of bottling.

I sat down for a taster flight, and was easily moved to try full pints. Nothing that blew my mind, but they aren't really attempting the mind-blowing stuff yet — just the basics you expect from a craft brewery. Something drinkable, something hoppy, something dark. Their lineup:

Pearl Snap German-style pils: A very sold pils, perfect for the godawful heat wave we're having in Texas right now. Stronger hop presence than you usually get from a pils.
Fire Eagle American IPA: actually underwhelmed me a bit, surprising since I'm fairly easy to please with the hoppy stuff. Nonetheless, still a good beer.
Black Thunder German-style Schwarz: Very nice. Rich. I really wish I'd had a full glass of this roasty goodness, but after full glasses of the pils and IPA, I was getting pretty pickled (I hadn't had dinner yet, plus I've been losing weight, so I'm a cheap date these days). I definitely want to go back and try more.
Peacemaker Extra Pale Ale: They didn't have any of this at the tasting, but I'm looking forward to it.

I interviewed one of the owners at the party, but don't have time to transcribe it right now. I'll try to post it later.

Product Review: Newcastle DraughtKeg

2011-06-20T09:19:00.005-05:00

I got a press release back in April asking if I wanted to check out a new product — the Newcastle Brown Ale DraughtKeg. A free 5 liters of beer? Heck yeah, I'll do that.

Now, this isn't really a new product. Heineken (which owns Newcastle) has been available in DraughtKeg since at least 2007. But it's new to me, and probably new to a lot of my readers, who probably aren't big Heineken drinkers.

I know you've probably seen similar 5 liter kegs in the store, but this product has a key difference that puts it well ahead of those: It's pressurized. The others are simply oversized cans — the beer comes out via gravity, and must all be consumed at once. Which isn't too hard if you're buying for a party.

But the DraughtKeg's patented pressurization system (it has some sort of widget inside, like the "draught cans" we've seen from a lot of English beers lately) and specialized tap actually keeps the beer good for up to 30 days. In fact, I decided to test them on this claim – rather than knocking this thing out all at once, I kept it in my beer fridge and took a glass every so often. I finally killed the last of it at a party exactly 30 days later, and sure enough, it had not gone flat. Creamy smooth, still at the same level of carbonation as the first day. So obviously, that's huge advantage over the others — buy it for a party, or just because you want to have a steady supply of draught Newcastle around your house on demand. Either way, it works superbly, and if you have a BeerTender system, it's compatible with that.

My only quibbles with the DraughtKeg:

The "patented" part. That means you're only going to purchase this if you like Heineken or Newcastle. Really, I'm not a big fan of Newcastle. (Actually, to be fair, I'm not a fan of brown ales generally.) But I know many of you are, which made this product worth reviewing. I dearly wish Heineken would decide to really capitalize on this technology and sell the rights to some other breweries. Keep a mini-keg of Sierra Nevada in my fridge? You bet!
It's "recyclable." I put that in quotes because I'm not so sure about that, despite their claim that it is. Technically, yes, it is made out of recyclable materials — steel and plastic. But it isn't easily disassembled, and I'm hesitant to crack open a pressurized can to get that widget out. The question is, will your recycler accept it? I asked our local recycler, the city of Austin, and they said they cannot. They suggested I take it to a private recycler such as Ecology Action and ask them. If it's not easily recycled, that certainly discourages a tree-hugger like me from buying it. Of course, if you live in a locale that doesn't have a good recycling program, then I suppose you can buy it guilt-free, because either way your beer container is going to a landfill.
There tends to be a bit of drippage after you pour, which can be a little messy if you store it in your fridge.

Overall: A great product, with only minor drawbacks. If you like Newcastle, you're going to love this.

(Photo copyright Lee Nichols)

Beer Events Coming Up

2011-06-17T20:42:00.005-05:00

I've been way busy lately. If you sent me a press release and I lost in my mountain of unchecked e-mail, I apologize. Please give me a nudge and I'll try to add it. But here's what I'm sure of:

Young Faces of ALS – National Cornhole Challenge Fundraiser at Jester King — Um, cornhole is a game, not what you're thinking. And ALS is a disease. Saturday, June 18.
Austin Beer Guide Summer Issue Release Party – My beer-blogging colleagues at Craft Austin and Beertown Austin celebrate the second issue of their very cool guide to our city's brewing scene. June 22
Real Ale Brewing 15th Anniversary Party — They're not just the best brewery in Blanco, Texas … they're one of the best in all of Texas. This ought to be a fun day out in the beautiful Hill Country. June 25
Great American Beer Festival Rare Beers Tasting at Black Star Co-op — The co-opers are trying to raise money to go to GABF. You can help by attending this event. June 26.
Haddingtons Beer and Cheese Pairing Event Featuring Cheese Expert Cathy Strange — This place claims to be "Austin’s favorite downtown spot for hearty draught beers, cask ales." A little brash considering I'd never even heard of the place before receiving this press release. I'm afraid they'll need to put in a few more years of serious commitment before they can wrest that title from the Ginger Man. Nonetheless, this sounds like a good event. July 25.

Beer Tasting at Sunrise Mini Mart

2011-06-01T13:27:00.003-05:00

I just chatted with Ray, the beer buyer at Sunrise Mini Mart. That's the tiny little Citgo station at 1809 W. Anderson Lane, just up the street from my house, with absolutely absurd beer selection. Seriously, you can't imagine how much amazing beer they cram into such a small little place. I'll be writing more about them soon, but I just wanted you to know: They're hosting a beer tasting this Friday (June 3), 4-6pm, featuring six breweries: Ommegang, Duvel, Young's, Deschutes, Butte Creek, and Kingfisher.

I Love Beer

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Top 10 Austin/Texas Beer Happenings of 2011

Houston Beer Scene Taking Flight

A Year of Beer

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What Were the Top Austin/Texas Beer Moments of 2011?

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New Saint Arnold Winter Seasonal

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Cover Story in Today's Austin Chronicle!

Freetail's La Muerta Coming Tomorrow

Last Day of Austin Beer Week

Saturday's Austin Beer Week Schedule

Beer and Movies on 'Slackerwood'

Friday Austin Beer Week Schedule

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Thursday's Austin Beer Week Schedule

Wednesday's Austin Beer Week Schedule

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Tuesday's Austin Beer Week Schedule

Monday's Austin Beer Week Schedule

200,000 Visitors!

Sunday's Austin Beer Week Schedule

Austin Beer Week Starts Saturday!

Saint Arnold Santo In Stores Today

Saint Arnold Brewing Slates Santo for October 20th Release

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Texas Craft Brewers Festival: Conversation With Brian Peters

Orf Brewing Launches (Sort Of)

Obama: The Home-Brewing President

Waterloo Brewing Reunion

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Independence Brewing Newsletter

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NXNW 12th Anniversary

'Beer Dork Night' at the Aviary

More Details on Texas Craft Brewers Festival

Fiesta Gardens, Saturday, Sept. 24

An Outdoor Beer Sampling Festival Dedicated to the Fine Art of Craft Brewing

In addition to the many established craft brewers that will be in attendance, several breweries who haven’t released beer yet are using the festival as their target date to publicly introduce their first beers. Rare and special beers will be highlighted throughout the festival.

The Texas Craft Brewers Guild exists for the purpose of promoting craft beer in the State of Texas, educating the public about the qualities and attributes of craft beer and advancing the common interest of Texas craft brewers.

Festival Information

Date/Time: September 24, 2011, 2 - 8pm

Location: Fiesta Gardens, 2100 Jesse E. Segovia St., Austin, TX

For more information on the festival, brewers and other exciting developments, visit http://www.texascraftbrewersfestival.org/

Support the Home Team

New Belgium Filming at Draught House

Saint Arnold Santo Release Delayed

Saint Arnold Announces Delay of Santo Release

Saint Arnold Brewing Slates Santo for October 20^th Release