Thursday, November 20, 2008
Texas Beer Odyssey Part 2
The only thing that's bad about these retrospectives is that I really wish I had a few of these beers right now.
Oh well, let's finish a walk through Austin-area brewing. Let me know if I missed anything good.
10) Real Ale Firemans #4 Blonde Ale
This slightly heavy concoction from Blanco is malty but is less about creating flavor than it is about just feeling big in your mouth.
11) Real Ale Rio Blanco Pale Ale
Accented with Czech Saaz hops, this is a European-style pale with a subtle, fairly quiet taste. But I drank it for breakfast, and I can tell you in that instance that it gives you a little kick to start your day.
12) Live Oak Pilz
This is the beer that I wanted St Arnold's Fancy Lawnmower to be: A very smooth, golden and yet filling brew. It comes at you with a very grainy, bread-y malt feel with just a little bitterness on the back, like it's fresh wheat swirling in your mouth.
13) Live Oak Big Bark Amber
The Austin brewers have created a slightly dusty, musty feel, though unfortunately it's not enough to create a unique flavor. It's not watery but it's also not gutsy. It's just your average beer, though I'm sure it feels good on a Texas spring afternoon.
14) Original Draughthouse Amber Ale
The Draughthouse Pub and Brewery is a wonderful place to spend a night quietly drinking their five beers - as well as the roughly 65 other delicacies from across the U.S. and Europe that the pub has on tap. I'd like to get that out up front and decline comment on the specific goodness of its fairly plastic-tasting amber . . .
15) Draughthouse Vanilla Porter
. . . However, it took only until my second Draughthouse beer that I was smiling ear to ear. Sharp and tasty but not drowned in vanilla, this dark concoction maintained its flavor and actually got more pleasing as it warmed.
16) Live Oak Treehugger Barleywine
Howdy, partner! This is an oak-barrel-strong, thick and woody drink that feels like it should be more about shootin' than about sippin'.
17) Draughthouse Amber Waves
If you're looking for British-feeling beer in Texas, this surprisingly bitter, grainy concoction should suit your needs.
18) Live Oak Hefeweizen
The weekend finished with a slightly mellow but very drinkable unfiltered wheat whose flavor grew increasingly lemony as it warmed.
That's my Texas story, partner. What's yours?
The only thing that's bad about these retrospectives is that I really wish I had a few of these beers right now.
Oh well, let's finish a walk through Austin-area brewing. Let me know if I missed anything good.
10) Real Ale Firemans #4 Blonde Ale
This slightly heavy concoction from Blanco is malty but is less about creating flavor than it is about just feeling big in your mouth.
11) Real Ale Rio Blanco Pale Ale
Accented with Czech Saaz hops, this is a European-style pale with a subtle, fairly quiet taste. But I drank it for breakfast, and I can tell you in that instance that it gives you a little kick to start your day.
12) Live Oak Pilz
This is the beer that I wanted St Arnold's Fancy Lawnmower to be: A very smooth, golden and yet filling brew. It comes at you with a very grainy, bread-y malt feel with just a little bitterness on the back, like it's fresh wheat swirling in your mouth.
13) Live Oak Big Bark Amber
The Austin brewers have created a slightly dusty, musty feel, though unfortunately it's not enough to create a unique flavor. It's not watery but it's also not gutsy. It's just your average beer, though I'm sure it feels good on a Texas spring afternoon.
14) Original Draughthouse Amber Ale
The Draughthouse Pub and Brewery is a wonderful place to spend a night quietly drinking their five beers - as well as the roughly 65 other delicacies from across the U.S. and Europe that the pub has on tap. I'd like to get that out up front and decline comment on the specific goodness of its fairly plastic-tasting amber . . .
15) Draughthouse Vanilla Porter
. . . However, it took only until my second Draughthouse beer that I was smiling ear to ear. Sharp and tasty but not drowned in vanilla, this dark concoction maintained its flavor and actually got more pleasing as it warmed.
16) Live Oak Treehugger Barleywine
Howdy, partner! This is an oak-barrel-strong, thick and woody drink that feels like it should be more about shootin' than about sippin'.
17) Draughthouse Amber Waves
If you're looking for British-feeling beer in Texas, this surprisingly bitter, grainy concoction should suit your needs.
18) Live Oak Hefeweizen
The weekend finished with a slightly mellow but very drinkable unfiltered wheat whose flavor grew increasingly lemony as it warmed.
That's my Texas story, partner. What's yours?
Labels: Draughthouse Pub and Brewery, Live Oak Brewing, Real Ale, Texas beer
