Our wonderful and talented employee Sahara Smith has started a new monthly blog she’ll be writing exploring beer styles, beer history & the brewing process. The first installment is called Cellaring 101 and shares information on what and how to cellar. Each time she will also build a curated 6 pack available for purchase in the store. Read the first entry here.
As I’m typing this email we’re just receiving a brand new shipment from Dallas from Community & Lakewood. Now in stock from Community: Mosaic (bottled less than a week ago!), Legion RIS, Public Ale ESB, Trinity Tripel, Inspiration Quad. Lakewood: Hop Trapp, Till & Toil Saison & Lager.
It’s almost Valentine’s Day! Reminder: we sell fantastic beer and we’re happy to make recommendations. If you’re unsure of what to get that special someone in your life, let us help! Or at the very least, get a gift card.
Free Tastings 6-8pm
Thursday, February 12th – TONIGHT!
Hunter Roberts from Abita will be back in the housesampling out the latest releases from our friends over in Louisiana. The last few releases from Abita have really turned some heads, and we’re excited to taste the newest releases: Strawberry Lager (new in cans!), Grapefruit Harvest IPA, Macchiato Milk Stout, Mardi Gras Bock & Wrought Iron IPA.
Saturday, February 14th
This Valentine’s Day show your love of local beer with the Love Austin Beer event we’re having in store from 11:30am – 2:30pm! Jessica Deahl of the Bitch Beer crew created an awesome set of 10 screenprints commemorating some of the most iconic Austin beers. Jessica, Caroline & Sarah will all be in the house selling their prints (each can be purchased individually). As a bonus, we’ll be doing a free tasting of 4 of the beers that also have screenprints! Sample for free Austin Beerworks Fire Eagle, Real Ale Hans’ Pils, Hops & Grain The One They Call Zoe, and Independence Stash IPA.
Wednesday, February 18th
Dave Gonzalez represents the Global Beer Network, an importer that brings in some of the most awesome European brands available in Texas. We’ve chosen to sample a handful of simply outstanding beers. You’re not going to want to miss this tasting event! Barrel aged stuff, sours, Belgian quads… it’s going to be epic. Sneak peek… expect brands like Brasserie Silly, Kasteel, Von Honsebrouck, Monk’s Cafe, etc.
Thursday, February 19th
Nick Lensing from Dogfish Head will be in the house pouring free samples of the outstanding DFH beers. BONUS – we’ll be releasing our allocation of the 120 Minute IPA that arrived today for purchase this night during the tasting. No, we will not be selling any of our allocation prior to this tasting event, so please don’t ask. EXTRA SUPER DUPER BONUS: we’ll also be releasing some 2014 120 Minute IPA raffle-style.
New Beers This Week
Stone Enjoy After 12-26-15 – Talk about a unique brew! This IPA is spiked at bottling with Brettanomyces, a wild yeast that, over time, brings about charmingly unpredictable complexities of spice, funk, acidity and more. The operative words in our beer-cellaring thesis are “over time.” This beer should ideally be cellared at least until the end of the year. 7% ABV/Escondido, CA/Availability: plenty
5 Stones Fracking Blackstrap – Seth from 5 Stones is up to it again, this time taking an imperial stout and brewing it with blackstrap molasses, cocoa nibs & vanilla beans. Rich, decadent and delicious. 9.2% ABV/Cibolo, TX/Availability: Plenty
Stone Delicious IPA – Stone is undeniably the house of hops, and they wanted to create a beer that stood up to the lofty title of “delicious IPA.” Interestingly, this beer is also crafted to reduce gluten under the FDA guidelines, therefore making this beer certifiably gluten free. Lemondrop & El Dorado hops combine for a lemon candy-like flavor balanced by hop spice. 7.7% ABV/Escondido, CA/Ratebeer 96/Availability: limited
Green Flash 30th Street Pale Ale (now in 6 packs!) – 30th Street Pale Ale is a strong pale ale that is well dry-hopped making it taste like an IPA by many hop head’s standards. Brewed with Warrior, Cascade & El Dorado hops. 6% ABV/San Diego, CA/Ratebeer 95/Availability: plenty
Green Flash Soul Style IPA – Typically known for huge double & triple IPAs, Soul Style is Green Flash’s effortless and pure manifestation of the Single IPA. Citra, Simcoe and Cascade hops are layered, allowing bright tropical waves of flavorful citrus and floral notes to break gently on the palate. 6.5% ABV/San Diego, CA/Ratebeer 95/Availability: plenty
Lakewood Till & Toil Saison – Notes of grapefruit, pineapple and peach are derived from the unique hops used in the brew. Mosaic & Citra hops bring a very refreshing & citrusy snap to the Belgian saison yeast strain used. 7.1% ABV/Garland, TX/Ratebeer 86/Availability: plenty
Community Trinity Tripel 4 packs – A hoppy Belgian-style Tripel, technically falling into the Belgian-Style Pale Strong Ale category. The smooth body and flavor come from select German Pils malts used for the grist, lending a deep golden hue and clean finish. The lack of complexity in the grist is necessary to highlight the stars of the show: three of our most beloved Belgian yeast strains and a new German hop variety called Mandarina Bavaria and also the famed Nelson Sauvin hops from New Zealand. Fruity and spicy flavors from both yeast and hops unite, with neither dominating, creating a complex character that begs another taste.9% ABV/Dallas, TX/Ratebeer 88/Availability: plenty
Community Inspiration Belgian Quad – Aroma is of dark fruit, sweet malt, phenolic spiciness and a hint of noble hops. Flavor is packed with juicy malt flavors that mingle with the fruitiness of the Belgian yeast and spicy character of the noble hops, all balanced by the alcoholic strength. A Belgian quad in 4 packs and singles… just what you want! 9.6% ABV/Dallas, TX/Ratebeer 90/Availability: plenty
Seguin Brewing Black Rye IPA – We wrote about new kids in town Seguin Brewing last week, and this week they launched their black rye IPA in bombers. Roasty, with plenty of coffee notes. 7.9% ABV/Seguin, TX/Availability: plenty
Abita Macchiato Espresso Milk Stout – Abita continues to impress with most recent releases. Macchiato is made with pale, caramel, chocolate, and roasted malts. Oats and lactose are added to give the beer a more robust and sweeter taste. The sweetness of the lactose helps balance the bitterness of the brew just like in the coffee drink, which is our inspiration. The roasted malts give the beer its dark color as well as its intense flavor and aroma. 6% ABV/Abita Springs, LA/Ratebeer 92/Availability: plenty
Abita Strawberry Lager (12 and 6 pack cans!) – Abita’s immensely popular strawberry lager is now in cans! We have both 12 pack & 6 packs available for purchase. 4.2% ABV/Abita Springs, LA/Availability: decent
Infamous Double Tap Imperial IPA – The Infamous boys are back at it with another bomber release. This one is a huge 10% Imperial IPA using Azacca, Citra & Equinox hops. 103 IBU but deceptively smooth and refreshing. 10% ABV/Austin, TX/Availability: plenty
Nebraska Cardinal Pale Ale – Light copper in color and characterized by a very pronounced floral & citrus-like aroma. Medium bitterness. Dry-hopped to infuse the big aromatics. 6% ABV/Papillon, Nebraska/Ratebeer 88/Availability: limited, *arriving Friday
Hops & Grain Greenhouse #14* – Sheesh, the H&G dudes just want to woo us in 2015 with their sweet hop nectar that is the Greenhouse series. We were just blessed with batch #13 two weeks ago but #14 will be available tomorrow when we open. 7.7% ABV/Austin, TX/Availability starting Friday: plenty but will go fast
Back in stock: Community Mosaic (bottled less than a week ago!), Legion & Vienna Lager, Green Flash Palate Wrecker, Sierra Nevada Nooner, Upslope IPA, Lakewood Lager.
Weekend Tastings, 6-8pm
Friday
5 Stones Fracking Blackstrap
Hops & Grain Greenhouse IPA Batch 14
Lakewood Till & Toil Saison
Community Trinity Tripel
Saturday
Infamous Double Tap Imperial IPA
Green Flash 30th Street Pale Ale
Community Inspiration Belgian Quad
Founders Dirty Bastard