In the past, Flying Saucer has only offered about ten different labels from the cellar at any given time. However, manager Josh Justice looked at bars that consistently have an extensive cellar list available, like ChurchKey in Washington, D.C., and realized that all of the incredible beer he receives shouldn’t just sit in the back for special occasions. Instead, it should be celebrated and enjoyed with friends. For this initial cellar opening, Saucer is releasing 65 of their 200 or so labels, then sitting back to see where this new menu will take them. After almost two decades of business, Josh is excited to be walking into new territory.

Saucer has made it quite easy to explore the new cellar menu. All of the new bottles are on the regular bottle menu, sorted by style. They are mixed in with the everyday bottle selection, so don’t be surprised to see Firestone Walker XVIII near Arrogant Bastard. The hope is that this idea takes off, and Flying Saucer can host a larger cellar menu for everyday purchase. I am seriously excited to see this happen and to see what bottles Flying Saucer will pull out of the cellar next.

A few highlights of the new list: 2008 Avery Mephistopheles, 2013-2015 vertical of Brooklyn  Black OPS, 2008 & 2009 Avery Samael’s, 2013 BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien Grand Cru Rum Barrel, and more Firestone Walker special release than I could ever hope for.

Check some photos and the full list of beers being released below, then go catch some rare and incredible releases at Flying Saucer!

Full Cellar List:

• Avery Beast (2008)
• Avery Callipygian
• Avery Mephistopheles (2008)
• Avery Old Perserverance
• Avery Rumpkin (2014)
• Avery Rumpkin (2015)
• Avery Samael’s (2008)
• Avery Samael’s (2009)
• Avery Tweak (2014)
• Avery Uncle Jacob’s (2013)
• Avery Uncle Jacob’s (2015)
• BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien (2013)
• BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien Grand Cru Sparkling Wine Barrel
• BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien Grand Cru Rum Barrel
• BFM Square Root 225
• Brooklyn ‘K’ is for Kriek
• Brooklyn Black Ops (2013)
• Brooklyn Black Ops (2014)
• Brooklyn Black Ops (2015)
• Brooklyn Cuvee Noir
• Brooklyn Hand & Seal
• Brooklyn Quintaceratops
• Brooklyn the Discreet Charm of the Framboise
• Brooklyn Wild Streak
• The Bruery Rueuze
• The Bruery Saison Rue
• Cascade Figaro
• Cascade Sang Noir
• Chimay B.A. Grand Reserve
• Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA (2012)
• Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA (2016)
• Dogfish Head Red & White
• Firestone Walker Helldorado (2016)
• Firestone Walker Parabola (2014)
• Firestone Walker Stickee Monkey
• Firestone Walker Sucaba (2016)
• Firestone Walker Velvet Merkin (2013)
• Firestone Walker Velvet Merkin (2015)
• Mikkeller Spontancherryframboos
• New Belgium Le Terroir
• North Coast Old Rasputin XVII
• North Coast Old Stock (2013)
• Oskar Blues B.A. Ten Fidy (2016)
• Prairie Apple Brandy Noir (2016)
• Prairie B.A. Bomb (2016)
• Prairie Birthday Bomb (2016)
• Prairie Pirate Bomb
• Real Ale Sisyphus (2013)
• Real Ale Sisyphus (2014)
• Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel 12
• Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel 14
• Saint Arnold Divine Reserve 12

The post Flying Saucer Downtown is Opening the Cellar first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Flying Saucer Downtown is Opening the Cellar appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

We chatted with 8th Wonder president and co-founder Ryan Soroka ahead of the celebration and he gave us a little insight into what to expect at the party. First, the beer: they’re releasing Coltsch Forty5, IP8 (an IPA dry-hopped with Citra and Cascade), and re-releasing BrewGK, a candy apple ale collaboration with Bun B.

Soroka said 8th Wonder has added capacity recently, both to keep up with local demand and to make room for seasonals and one-offs.

“We’re always excited to celebrate with our friends, family, and fans,” Soroka said.

8th Wonder has put on a hell of a party year after year. I encourage everyone to head out to EaDo and enjoy a few beers with them.

There are still a few tickets available:
http://www.stubwire.com/event/acelebr8ionofbeer4thanniversary/8thwonderbrewery/houston/13932/

The post 8th Wonder 4th Annual Celebr8ion of Beer first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post 8th Wonder 4th Annual Celebr8ion of Beer appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

Petrol Station was in on the craft beer movement early on in Houston, and I got to talk with owner Ben Fullelove, owner of Petrol and Brash Brewing, about the upcoming anniversary party this Saturday, Nov. 5.

Evan: Beer laws in Texas limited you at first; did you feel like it was going to be a lost cause to bring Brash to Texas and hang on to Petrol?
Ben: Pretty much. Three-tier laws hadn’t changed that much since the 1930s, then a lot changed in a short amount of time. I jumped right on it. My dream was opening Brash in Houston before my 40th birthday. I started building it when I turned 38, so the law change was perfectly timed for my vision.

E: What beers are you looking forward to on Saturday?
B: Definitely excited about KBS, Red & White, Sucaba, BB15, Vietnamese Speedway, of course HSF (Hammer Smashed Face). Really, all of the beers we have for Saturday are fuckin’ awesome. It’s great to see so much amazing beer being offered to Texas.

E: You’ve seen the Texas, specifically Houston, landscape change drastically in the past few years. Anything that is getting you excited in the Texas scene right now?
B: To me, the future of craft beer is local beer. While it is exciting to see the best breweries in America bringing their beer to Texas, it’s more exciting to see a quality local beer scene happening.

E: How many people have been around since the first day of Petrol, besides you?
B: Zero employees but quite a few regular customers have been there since the beginning.

E: The Rancor has been voted as one of Houston’s best burgers multiple times. Was it always the plan to have top-notch eats along with beer?
B: Things kind of happened organically. We were in the right place at the right time with the growth of craft beer. Our food takes us to the next level. We’ve become more of a neighborhood pub and the food has played a big role in that.

E: What beers are you currently drinking?
B: I’m really digging IPAs from Wicked Weed in Asheville, NC; IPAs from Fort George in Astoria, OR; and Alpine Nelson, all of which I drink when I can get my hands on them. Locally, [Saint Arnold] Art Car is always great.

E: I always feel like when I go to Petrol, it’s this hidden gem even though it is wildly popular. Do you want it to expand to more locations?
B: No. I get asked a lot about opening a location in The Woodlands or Sugar Land, but it’s just not something I’m interested in. Petrol is its own thing, and I think it would be hard to duplicate and maintain a genuine feel.

E: Any particular beers you really wish you could bring to Texas?
B: Not really. I look forward to more great local breweries opening. No beer is going to be as fresh as local beer.

E: On a personal note, can you save me some Odell Jolly Russian since I am going to miss the party?
B: Haha, I’ll see what I can do.

I hope everyone who is able to, makes it down to Petrol on Saturday. Their parties are always a blast, and you never know what surprises they might pull out of the cellar. And, seriously, someone grab me a growler of Jolly Russian.

Check out the taplist here: https://www.facebook.com/PetrolStation/posts/10154428166150751

Editor’s note: In light of Karbach’s recent acquisition by global beer behemoth Anheuser-Busch InBev, BBH with Chocolate is being replaced with 11 Below Big Mistake Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout. Petrol’s remaining Karbach kegs will be tapped on Wednesday, November 9th, with all proceeds going to the Texas Craft Brewers Guild, which lobbies the legislature to protect Texas breweries from the practices of companies like ABI.

Petrol Station Anniversary

Saturday, November 5
9 AM – ?

985 Wakefield Dr
Houston, Texas

The post Petrol Station Celebrates Anniversary this Saturday first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Petrol Station Celebrates Anniversary this Saturday appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.