There, I said it.

Just 6 months ago this wouldn’t have been even mildly controversial. Fast forward to today, and the parent of D&T (Treadsack) has shuttered 4 of its 7 restaurant and bar concepts amidst a great deal of controversy, and has retreated to doing business at Downhouse, D&T and Johnny’s Gold Brick. It would be easy to simply dismiss D&T as just another hapless victim of a failing corporate parent but the quality of the beers on tap and the knowledgeable staff fly in the face of that generalization. I just can’t help but hope for the best for everyone there.

This is not to make apologies for the sins of the father, but D&T’s 4th anniversary party this coming weekend is an event worth celebrating and enjoying. D&T has earned its place as one of Houston’s classics, and the tap list this weekend is reflective of that.

D&T has a selected list of beers to be tapped on their Facebook page. It’s not a long list, but highlights are:

• Founders KBS and 512 IPA w/Grapefruit paired with breakfast cereals (on tap at opening at noon)
• Gigantic/3 Floyds Axis of Evil
• Boulevard Rye on Rye on Rye
• Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel 16 and 17
• Sierra Nevada Bigfoot 2014
• …and a number of others.

I also heard a rumor of a vintage barrel-aged Great Divide Yeti keg that’s been hanging around in the cold box just for this day.

The bar also plans on using a unique method to turn their taps over as the day proceeds – a common problem at anniversary parties. They’ve bought an air horn, and whenever it blows on Saturday everything on tap is $3.

They’re also holding a raffle for a mixed box of Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel bottles.

Regardless of the troubles of Treadsack, celebrating the success of D&T is a worthy exercise. Here’s hoping we can all toast them for years to come.

D&T Drive Inn 4th Anniversary Party

Saturday, May 27th & Sunday, May 28th
1307 Enid St, Houston, TX 77009

The post D&T Drive Inn Celebrates 4 Years first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post D&T Drive Inn Celebrates 4 Years 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.

I got to Brashland just after noon and there was already a line of about 100 people or so, however it moved rather quickly thanks to multiple volunteers, including Brash owner Ben Fullelove himself, taking tickets and handing out tekus. The parking lot of Brashland was laid out with tents, food trucks, and a small stage. One of the tents held Brash tees, hats, and even undies, as well tickets for both additional tap pours and for bottles of Brash’s special one-year anniversary beer, Hammer Smashed Face.

Shortly after I arrived I got a chance to speak with Head Brewer, Vince Mandeville, who talked to me about Hammer Smashed Face and how it came about. Named after a Cannibal Corpse album, the original beer,  Vulgar Display of Power, was brewed last December and aged in Woodford Reserve barrels. It was then blended back with a second beer to add more depth.

Brash’s Hammer Smashed Face Bourbon Barrel-Aged Russian Imperial Stout and “Old School Paved the Way” tee

“I don’t like straight barrel-proofed beer, it comes off as really hot, and a lot of times, thin, that’s why we blend it back,” Vince said. “The beer we blended it with has some coffee and milk sugar lactose so it adds even more body.”

The barrel-aged Russian imperial stout delivered exactly on the expectations set by Vince. It was smooth, not too thin or boozy, with flavors of dark chocolate, slightly bitter coffee, and some vanilla, which was added during the blending process to help enhance the bourbon flavors. At an estimated 15% alcohol by volume, it was surprisingly easy to drink.

Although Hammer Smashed Face clung to the sides of my “pinky-out, motherfucker” mini-teku and held on for dear life, I eventually got around to having a few other beers: Milk the Venom with its chili and chocolate complexity and Abide, a sweet and creamy dessert of a beer. Both topped my favorites list of the event, despite stouts being a style of beer I rarely reach for these days.

The anniversary beer was available at both the indoor and the outdoor stations. The beer tent outside featured Brash Pussy Wagon, Cali Green, EZ-7, Abide, Black Meddle, and Milk the Venom. It also featured guest beers – The Bruery Mash & Vanilla, Southern Star Bombshell Blonde, and Ballast Point Double Dry Hopped Sculpin on cask. Heeding the multiple “pace yourself fool” signs posted around the tents proved a difficult feat. Inside, the bar featured the same Brash beers, along with Alesmith Vietnamese Speedway Stout, Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel 13 and Raspberry AF, and Stone Enjoy By 10/31/16.

Despite long queues of people at either beer station, the event was well organized. Lines built up fast, but subsided just as quickly. This gave patrons enough time to start a casual chat with a fellow beer nerd, but be able to get their beer before the conversation died with awkward silence. The pourers were fast and efficient, quick to ask if anyone in their sight was ready to be served. I never waited more than ten minutes. The distribution of 1200 bottles of Hammer Smashed Face was also well organized. The beer was held in a temperature-controlled trailer where ticket holders who purchased this tier could come and collect their bottles whenever they wanted.

Brash Pinky Out Teku, Drinking Tickets, Hammer Smashed Face Bottle Ticket

Walking around Brashland, I saw party-goers drawn to the stage outside where four local metal acts performed: Mr. Plow, Dirty Seeds, Funeral Horse, and Venomous Maximus. In between listening to bands and petting adorable puppies, one of which was named very aptly named Lemmy, I also got a chance to speak with brewer Robbie Cummings about the past year at Brash and what lies ahead for them. He highlighted the Fancy Sauce and Cortado releases as some of his favorite moments in the past year. When asked about where he sees Brash going in the next year, Robbie said Brash is striving for volume increase and heightened consistency. “All of our core beers we brew as much as possible just to try and get that consistent taste,” Robbie said.

Robbie also discussed an exciting upcoming collaboration with fellow metal-head brewery TRVE in Denver. “The deal is we will brew a beer here, and then we will brew a beer at their brewery. We are essentially pushing each other’s comfort limits; since we’ve never done a sour, they’re making us do one.” Sour beer fans in Houston should be excited for this collaboration which will be exclusively sold here. To close out our conversation, I asked Robbie to tell me what he wants Houston to say when they think of Brash and he said “I want them to know we work our asses off. We’re brewing beers that we want to drink, it just happens to fill a niche.”

Justin Strait, Brews Brothers

Overall, the vibe of the Brash Anniversary party was enjoyable, casual, and just the right amount of weird, perhaps best displayed by Justin Strait of Brews Brothers and Channing Herrin of Nobi Public House showing their support for the brewery by walking around in Brash-branded tighty whities.

It was in these little moments that I found myself having the best time. Not only is Brash a fun place to be, they recognize the devil is in the details, from ticket tiers to the day-of operations. A key component of which is truly understanding their capacity, not by cramming in as many people in as possible, but making sure all attendees were able enjoy themselves and not suffer through long lines or lack of personal space. For me, the small things add up, and yes, that means even the ripped-off gendered bathroom signage and the demagogue-stenciled commode. Being at the Brash’s first anniversary party felt good, and that’s not just the barrel-aged beer talking.

The post Brash Brewing First Anniversary Party first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Brash Brewing First Anniversary Party appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

The tap list includes the new Brash Double IPA, Pussalia, which I hear is dry-hopped and “the dankiest beer” they’ve ever made; I can’t wait to try that one. A couple of my personal favorites, Deschutes Abyss and Real Ale Four Horsemen, will also be on tap. New kids on the block Eureka Heights will be represented with their Space Train IPA and Buckle Bunny Cream Ale.

Locally beloved Lone Pint Yellow Rose will be on cask, and La Muerta, Elijah Craig 12 La Muerta and Elijah Craig 12 Coconut La Muerta from our friends in San Antonio, Freetail, will also be available. I’m excited for the three different casks of my favorite Houston IPA, Saint Arnold Art Car. Other beers on the tap list include: Ballast Point Barrel Aged Indra Kunindra, Deschutes Black Butte XXIV & XXV, Real Ale Benedictum, Great Divide BA Hibernation, Nebraska Coffee Fathead and Vanilla Fathead, Destihl Blueberry Gose and, last but not least, I’m really looking forward to trying the new-to-Texas Tallgrass Wooden Rooster and Buffalo Sweat.

The party starts at noon. Hope to see you there!

For more information visit Flying Saucer Houston’s website: http://www.beerknurd.com/locations/houston-flying-saucer.

The post Saucer Turns Sweet Sixteen first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Saucer Turns Sweet Sixteen appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

There was a definite buzz of excitement in the stairs as the crowd waited for the taps to open on Sunday, June 12. I was at the first of two sessions, along with fellow Houston Beer Guide writers Nathan Miller and Jose Luis Cubria. For a $65 entry ticket each entrant received a commemorative (and adorable) 4oz pilsner style tasting glass and a punch card good for 2oz pours of each of the specialty beers below, along with a cheese plate from the Houston Dairymaids and a couple ‘break beers’ from the regular lineup.

Photo: Saint Arnold Brewing Company

The Setup

As in previous years, the brewery had stations set up around the main beer hall, each serving two of the beers on offer on tap through a jockey box or bottles. As tickets were limited the crowd was thin, and getting beers (or cheese) was rarely more than a 60-second wait. There was also plenty of space at the tables in the hall to spread out. This also allowed plenty of time for my favorite part of events like this – chatting with the brewery employees pouring the beers, who in many cases were the brewers who created or contributed to the beer they were pouring.

The Beers:
– Cask Conditioned Divine Reserve No. 13 (Quadrupel)
– Bishop’s Barrel No. 12 (Christmas Ale aged in Sauvignon Blanc barrels with Brett and Cherries)
– Divine Reserve No. 15 (Russian Imperial Stout) aged in Stranahan’s Whiskey Barrels
– Bishop’s Barrel No. 8 (Russian Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels)
– Bishop’s Barrel No. 10 (20^th anniversary barleywine aged in bourbon barrels)
– Bishop’s Barrel No. 13 (Divine Reserve 13 (Quadrupel) aged in bourbon barrels)
– Virgin Monk: Bishop’s Barrel No. 13 with Cherries
– 20th Anniversary Ale (barleywine — 2 years old)
– 20th Anniversary Ale aged in Cognac Barrels
– Pumpkinator aged in Bourbon Barrels
– Pumpkinator aged in Bourbon Barrels with Coffee, Vanilla Bean and Cocoa Nibs
– Dubbelganger: Sorachi Ace Dubbel with Brett
– UrbanHouse Saison: Belgian Farmhouse/Saison
– Raspberry Boiler Room Berliner Weisse
– Blackberry Boiler Room Berliner Weisse
– Boiler Room Berliner Weisse with Syrups

Overall Impressions and Tasting Notes

Where the two previous Rare Cellar tastings were more of a full tour of everything going on in Saint Arnold’s barrel room, this year’s event focused on variants of a few of the things touching wood in the lower levels at 2000 Lyons Avenue. I’ll be honest — my first reaction to this beer list was disappointment: where were the experiments with tequila and gin barrels that were my favorites from years past? Where were the ‘funkified’ versions of the standard lineup or Icon series? Where was at least a taste of the barrel-aged versions of DR16 that I haven’t been able to quit thinking about since February?

These questions and any disappointment quickly faded away as I began to experience the depth of flavor on offer with the beers. Below are a few of my thoughts on the the beers I thought were real highlights:

Boiler Room

I love Boiler Room, and it was perfect for my palate as a ‘break’ beer between tasting of the other variants. The raspberry syrup was awesome — just a small splash (maybe half an ounce) in my full 4oz pour was more than enough to give a slightly sweet and fruity bite against the bready tartness of the base beer.

20^th Anniversary

Full disclosure – I am a barleywine fanatic and have been in love with this specific beer since release two years ago, but in my my own experience aging barleywines over many years, there are times when the beers go through down periods where the flavors break up a bit, only to return to form in future years. In my opinion 20^th Anniversary is in one of those down cycles. The base beer is good right now — the caramel flavors strong and pushing through the heat — but I don’t think it’s drinking quite as well as it was last year. The barrel variants (cognac and bourbon/BB10) suffered the same fate. Good, not great. I firmly believe it will return to form with a little more time, and hope to have it again next year.

Russian Imperial Stout (Divine Reserve 15/Bishop’s Barrel 8)

This beer, the only Divine Reserve brew to make a repeat appearance (it was originally brewed as Divine Reserve 5 way back in 2007), is aging and tasting incredible. What I personally love about this beer is the chocolate note — it’s so rich, almost sweet, and I don’t notice any of the (10%) alcohol. The Woodford Reserve aged version of this beer is BB8, and it was an absolute star. It stitches the strong vanilla and stout oak notes into the already classic base beer. It’s good. VERY good.

Divine Reserve 13

I thought BB8 was going to be my standout winner of the event — and then I started into the quadrupel variants. I wasn’t a fan of this beer on release. Man, was I wrong. The base beer is full of nuance. A real sipper — the fruity esters typical from the Belgian abbey ale yeast play around with the big full malt backbone in different ways as it warms. This beer is now as good if not better than my personal icons of this style, St. Bernardus Abt 12 and Rochefort 10, and I think it can still get better given how excellent the barrel variants were. As with BB8, the bourbon barrel again added vanilla and just enough tannic oak to this great tapestry of flavors. Virgin Monk, the bourbon barrel aged variant with cherries added, layered in a slightly astringent sweetness of tart cherry to this symphony of flavors. Just wow! However, as great as all these barrel versions were, it was the cask conditioned base beer that was my overall favorite. The delicate carbonation enhanced through the beer engine faucet (with a sparkler) added an incredible creaminess that I just couldn’t get enough of.

All in all, the experience of going deep into aged variants of the same beers was incredibly fun and a testament to how rich and interesting Saint Arnold’s cellar program has become. I can’t wait until next year!

The post Saint Arnold 22nd Anniversary Rare Cellar Tasting first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Saint Arnold 22nd Anniversary Rare Cellar Tasting appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

Photo: Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Known to its faithful followers as Houston’s oldest craft brewery, Saint Arnold Brewing Company will celebrate its 22nd anniversary on June 11. The festivities will feature live music from Wild Moccasins and Khris Royal. Saint Arnold’s executive chef, Ryan Savoie, will DJ, and eats from food trucks including Golden Grill, Coreanos, and The Burger Joint will be available. Fat Cat Creamery will scoop ice cream and offer root beer floats.

There will be plenty of beer, of course, but how about an elevated beer-pouring contest? Contestants will participate in pairs pouring beer from a scissor lift into a bucket on the other person’s head. The champions win a party at the brewery. Competition spots have been filled, but you can still watch the fun.

Need another beer t-shirt to add to your collection? Santo artist Carlos Hernandez of Burning Bones Press will be on hand printing celebratory anniversary shirts. Posters will also be available.
Tickets for the anniversary party are $25 and include three beers and a commemorative glass. Additional beers will be available for purchase.

Buy tickets on Saint Arnold’s website: http://www.saintarnold.com/news/.

Where: Saint Arnold Brewing Company
2000 Lyons, Houston, TX 77020
When: Saturday, June 11, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The post Faithful Followers to Fete Saint Arnold’s 22nd Anniversary first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Faithful Followers to Fete Saint Arnold’s 22nd Anniversary appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

Recently released Dome Faux’m cans were available for purchase.

Both Colleen and I enjoyed Haterade. Colleen opined, “The Gose style was a nice change to the usual line-up at 8th Wonder and I hope they have it on draft this summer as it’s great for hot weather. It was tart and very easy to drink.” In addition to their standard line-up, a couple of specialty casks were available, including Peanut Butter Chocolate Rocket Fuel and French Toast, a chopped and screwed version of Alternate Universe.

Houston’s own Fat Tony

There were food trucks aplenty, including Eatsie Boys, The Rice Box, and The Waffle Bus. Below, Walker Lukens & The Side Arms kick off their set as the sun starts to fade.

All of the acts were high energy, but The Hot 8 Brass Band really got the crowd going. It may have been the beer, but everyone seemed to be having a great time on a beautiful Houston night.

The post 8th Wonder 3rd Anniversary Celebr8ion first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post 8th Wonder 3rd Anniversary Celebr8ion appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.