The Return of Marfa Light

Merry Christmas! Was Santa, or any of the other Winter-themed, all-powerful, gift-bearing deities you worship nice to you this year? Regardless of where you fell on their list, we’ll have a nice sale for you on Boxing Day at Lamar. It’s the return of Marfa Light! Shake off that tinsel and get down here when we release it at 6pm on the 26th, it’ll go quick.

But before then, we’ll be closing both locations at 6pm on Sunday, 12/24, then closed all day on Christmas while we go a-wassailing, whatever the heck that means.

Congratulations to all the winners at last week’s Austin Beer Guide Awards. Among them, you guys voted us as the Best Beer Store and Best Beer Personality for Lamar’s own Tim Vela! We’re continually humbled by everyone’s support and patronage, thank you all for your votes.

And finally, on a sad note, we will soon be saying goodbye to the very same Best Beer Personality. Tim Vela will moving on to bigger and better pastures and we wish him all the best. This means we will be looking for someone to fill those big shoes as General Manager of South Lamar. Check the full post about the ins and outs of what this position entails. Have what it takes? We hope so, too!


Free Tastings at WhichCraft South Lamar – All 5-7pm Except Where Noted

Thursday, December 21st
Huzzah! Enchanted Manor Meadery is visiting Lamar, and they’ll be sampling their Traditional Renaissance Festival and Queen Mother’s Herbed and Spiced versions. Delicious for both royalty and the serfdom.

Friday, December 22nd
New Braunfels drops by Lamar for a sampling of their fruited sours. Lineup includes variants of their saison: Saison de Lenoir, Saison de Pasteque, Saison de Celemtine, and Saison de Roncier. Pucker up and drop on by.

Saturday, December 23rd
Don’t miss Julie with 4th Tap dropping by Lamar to sample their full lineup of Yule Cat, Bat Country, Zephyr, Long Walk, and Renewal.

Monday, December 25th
Clo-ho-hosed.

Tuesday, December 26th
6pm: Like we said above, don’t miss our release of Big Bend’s fantastic barrel-aged stout, Marfa Light.

Wednesday, December 27th
We enjoy Southern Star, and heck, we know you do, too. Come by to sample their Blood Belt, Buried Hatchet, Black Crack, and Winter Warmer.

Thursday, December 28th
Oasis visits Lamar to sample some of their fantastic beers. We’ll see you there.


 Special Events at WhichCraft Tap Room in Mueller

Thursday, December 21st
5-8pm: Frank with Saint Arnold makes the trip to Mueller to tap their White Noise witbier and sample their 20th Anniversary Barley Wine and Bishop’s Barrel 19.

Friday, December 22nd
5-8pm:  We’re dreaming of a Black Christmas when Left Hand drops by Mueller and tap their Black Saison. Also, we’ll sample their Nitro Milk Stout and Wake Up Dead in cans.

Saturday, December 23
4-7pm: Don’t miss Karbach when we tap their BBH Espresso and Zee Pils, and we’ll also be releasing the brand spankin’ new BBH.

Monday, December 25th
Clo-ho-hosed.

Wednesday, December 27th
7:00pm:  Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night! Weekly free event that puts your useless knowledge to the test. Prizes and good times are included!


New Beers This Week

(All beer available at both WhichCraft locations unless otherwise noted)

Back in Stock: Real Ale Hans’ Pils, Celis White, Prairie No Chill, To Ol Jule Maellk, Le Pere Jules, Deep Ellum Easy Peasy, Live Oak…all ‘dem!

Karbach Zee German Pils – Pour zee bier and watch as zee bubbles cascade towards zee top to develop a puffy white head. Like a true Pils, this bier is straw-gold in color, light bodied yet full of floral and spicy hop flavors that are zee signature characteristic for this style. Prost! 4.9% ABV / Houston, TX / Availability: Good

903 Winter Sasquatch – Sasquatch with vanilla, frankincense and chocolate. 10.3% ABV / Sherman, TX / Availability: Decent

Tupps Full Grown Man – This robust yet drinkable stout is brewed with obscene amounts of dark roasted malts. This full flavored bad boy gives off dark stone fruit and tobacco notes as well as rich, dark caramel and burnt toast. Full Grown Man pours with a nice medium brown head that lingers well after it hits the glass. This is a beer to share and will age incredibly well. 11.9% ABV / McKinney, TX / Availability: Good

Brazos Valley Lefty – El Dorado-hopped hazy IPA. Brenham, TX / Availability: Good

Woodcreek Vanilla Porter – Crafted to unite all of your senses in one glorious moment. This little beauty tempts with aromas of roasty chocolate and exotic Madagascar vanilla bean. One drink and your palate is treated to bold, dark flavors complemented by a silky smooth vanilla finish. So which is better, chocolate or vanilla? Why not both? 5.4% ABV / Rockwall, TX / Availability: Good

Sierra Nevada Hop Bullet – A double-barreled shot of Magnum hops and lupulin dust — pure, concentrated hop flavor — is blasted directly into the tank to emphasize the intense pine and citrus flavors of classic West Coast hops. 8% ABV / Chico, CA / Availability: Decent

Lagunitas Olde Gnarlywine – The Annual release of their Barley wine is dated and built to last. Flavors evolve as hop bitterness yields to crazy caramel and rich toffee flavors. 10.6% ABV / Petaluma, CA / RateBeer 98 / Availability: Decent / SoLa Only

Oasis Early Morning Shakes – Coffee pale ale. Juicy Citra hops come through at first sip, followed by more Uganda and Bali coffee finish. A true sensory thrill ride. 4.9% ABV / Austin, TX / Availability: Good

Rogue Hazelutely Chocolatabulous – Dark, decadent, and delicious fusion of two Rogue favorites – Hazelnut Brown Nectar and Chocolate Stout. 5.7% ABV / Newport, OR / RateBeer 93 / Availability: Good / SoLa Only

Harpoon Fresh Tracks – Hop forward without being bitter, this single-hop Pale Ale showcases the piney, citrusy character of Centennial hops. Bright and golden, light and drinkable, the subtle malt flavor lets the hops shine. 6.2% ABV / Boston, MA / Availability: Good / SoLa Only

Gigantic Most Premium – Strong aromas of ripe raspberry fruitiness and a definite whiff of its 10% alcohol. There’s quite a lot of roast in the aroma as well, with smoky, woodiness that’s reminiscent of a campfire. All of these notes are quite strong and unrestrained—very little that’s subtle about this one. 10% ABV / Portland, OR / RateBeer 97 / Availability: Decent

Gigantic Most Most Premium – Blacker than the uncaring hearts of the Czars of Russia, richer than their estates, more decadent than their palaces, and larger than their empire, this bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout is truly MOST Most Premium. 12.3% ABV / Portland, OR / RateBeer 99 / Availability: Limited

Gigantic Catch 23 Pale Ale – Their newest seasonal made with the Experimental 527 hop. It has a tropical mango hoppiness. 5.6% ABV / Portland, OR / RateBeer 87 / Availability: Good

Brouwerij de Ranke Kriek De Ranke – Kriek de Ranke is a real Belgian sour ale fermented with cherries and then blended with real lambic. It is unfiltered and unpasterized. The de Ranke brewery was founded by two good friends: Nino Bacelle & Guido Devose. To them, brewing is a weekend hobby, not an occupation. For a few hours every week they make small batches of what many consider the best specialty beers. Their beers are robust and flavorful. They use the best Hallertau and Brewer’s Gold varieties of hops. 7% ABV / Dottignes, Belgium / RateBeer 98 / Availability: Decent

Lakewood Bourbon Barrel Temptress – Everything you love about their Imperial Milk Stout, but boozier and nicely-aged. One could go so far as saying Bourbon Barrel Temptress is the “cougar” of milk stouts. Hints of vanilla, oak, toffee, caramel, and roasted coffee intertwine for a boozy, dangerously smooth treat. Take your time with her and she’ll reward you. 11.3% ABV / Garland, TX / RateBeer 99 / Availability: Limited

Mikkeller Black Hole – Daring, vulgar and extreme. From the very beginning, Mikkeller’s goal has been to push the limit and with this warming, intense imperial stout, a new chapter in the Danish beer history has been written. The high bitterness from the hops and the sweetness from the malt and alcohol, creates a good balance which makes Black Hole an explosion of nuances, but also leaves a feeling of a perfect and complex beer – in the heavyweight category. 13.1% ABV / Copenhagen, Denmark / RateBeer 99 / Availability: Decent


New Beers on Draft at WhichCraft Taproom

Full Draft List Available on our Website

 

Roughtail Everything Rhymes with Orange – Soft, pillowy mouthfeel, hazy and non-filtered with juicy citrusy hops and a fluffy white head. This IPA features mid-low bitterness and a full, soft body while still finishing dry and clean like the rest of the Roughtail lineup. Simcoe hops are featured, with Citra and Mosaic providing backup and complexity. 7% ABV / Oklahoma City, OK / RateBeer 97

Austin Beerwoks Sputnik Oats. Cuvee Coffee. Alcohol. And we have liftoff! You get an intense coffee aroma and bold flavor that perfectly compliments the silky oats and high alcohol. It will take your taste buds to orbit. 8% ABV / Austin, TX / RateBeer 98

North Coast Old Rasputin Nitro – Produced in the tradition of 18th Century English brewers who supplied the court of Russia’s Catherine the Great, Old Rasputin seems to develop a cult following wherever it goes. It’s a rich, intense brew with big complex flavors and a warming finish. 9% ABV / Fort Bragg, CA / RateBeer 100

Left Hand Saison Au Ble du Minuit – Dry and crisp farmhouse-style ale. Mild tartness with Colorado barley and midnight wheat. 6.8% ABV / Longmont, CO

Pinthouse Pizza Electric Jellyfish – Brewed with some exciting hop varieties featuring Citra, Simcoe, Azacca, and Galaxy hops, Electric Jellyfish enjoys a bright tropical citrus character along with notes of orange, lemon, lychee, and a floral backbone. The Jellyfish is a hazy, new-school IPA focusing on the juicy hop flavor and aroma while keeping the bitterness balanced and refreshing. 6.5% ABV / Austin, TX / RateBeer 97

Saint Arnold White Noise – A crisp, citrusy Belgian-style Witbier, based on the original Celis White recipe with some oats added for a little extra body. To this, there is a dry-hopped addition of Citra hops that amps everything up. The nose is citrus and spices with a light banana. There is a pleasant round body that is light and creamy. The citrus of the orange peel blends nicely with the citrus from the hops and the coriander creates a liveliness on the finish. 5.3% ABV / Houston, TX


This Week’s Specials

  • Enjoy Live Oak six packs all month as our Brewery of the Month, with all six packs on sale for $7.99. Including their Primus Weizenbock. Primus! And as always…#CanTheGrodz

live oak sale at WhichCraft

South Lamar Specials

  • Until we run out of it, 22oz. bottles of Seattle Cider’s Gin Botanical cider is on sale for $3.99. A great deal for a fantastic cider.
  • Six packs of Copperhead’s Bite Me are on sale for $4.99.

Mueller Specials

  • If the NFL is playing on one of our TVs, it’s Happy Hour at Mueller. Get in here, people!

Parking at WhichCraft Mueller. The garage behind us on McBee is free to use.

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