BB18 is an “Oat Wine” aged in WhistlePig Rye Whiskey barrels for nine months. The base beer is similar to an English style barleywine, with oats making up 20 percent of the grain bill. In general, English style barleywines tend to be less hop forward than American style barleywines, leaning instead on the complexities found in the malt; flavors such as biscuity, nutty, caramel, and toffee are typical. The addition of the oats gives this beer a silky texture.

Since Saint Arnold was kind enough to share a pre-release bottle with me, I decided to extend the kindness and share this with two craft beer and rye whiskey loving friends of mine. The bottle only said “rye whiskey” barrels, but they immediately picked out the toasted marshmallow flavor characteristic of WhistlePig.

The malt complexities of the English barleywine base presented as golden raisins – not too dark, but sweet and dense. The cinnamon from the barrel was slight, but it added to the “oatmeal cookie” theme.

I didn’t grow up eating oatmeal cookies. I was always excited to see them, until I realized they weren’t chocolate chip. To me, BB18 is more like a Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pie – cinnamon, vanilla, and marshmallow. Either way, this is definitely a dessert beer.

BB18 is making its way to bars, restaurants, and stores today. I would expect many bars to save it for events later this week and next week to celebrate Saint Arnold’s 23rd anniversary. On social media you can search #BB18, watch Saint Arnold’s twitter page, and of course watch the social media accounts of your favorite spots to see where it will be available.

Details:

Date Brewed: June 13, 2016
Date Barreled: June 30, 2016
Date Bottled: May 15, 2017
Type of Barrel: WhistlePig rye whiskey barrel
Original Gravity: 1.113
Final Gravity: 1.018
Alcohol: 10.5% ABV (pre-barrel) 12.8% ABV (post-barrel)
Bitterness: 25 IBU

The following events are planned for the release of Bishop’s Barrel No. 18:

BB18 Release at Guru Burgers, Sugar Land, Thursday, June 8 at 6:00PM
BB18 Release at Lakewood Growler, Dallas, Wednesday, June 14 at 5:00PM
BB18 Release at Pizza Lounge Express, Houston, Sunday, June 18 at 6:30PM
Whiskey + Beer + Tacos at Eight Row Flint, Houston, Sunday, June 25 – 12:00 – 3:00 PM (Get tickets here)

The post Saint Arnold Releases Bishop’s Barrel #18 (BB18) first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Saint Arnold Releases Bishop’s Barrel #18 (BB18) appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

A couple years ago, you needed a spreadsheet and a hashtag to track down a single bottle of each Bishop’s Barrel release. You also had to go to a bar or restaurant within days of the release, because Saint Arnold didn’t distribute them to stores, and they sold out very quickly.

More recent BB releases have barely registered on the hype meter, despite being good-to-very-good beers. You can find bottles in stores now, and they seem to last for weeks, if not longer, at many places.

I’ve got some theories for why things have changed, but that’s a discussion for another time. For now I want to focus on today’s release, Bishop’s Barrel No. 17, a bourbon-barrel-aged Adambier.

First, Adambier: it’s a relatively obscure, top-fermenting dark German style. It tends to be malty, smoky, strong (~10% abv), and occasionally sour and/or hoppy. Saint Arnold’s first foray into Adambier was with Divine Reserve 16, released this time last year, and my fellow HBG writer Chris White wrote about it at the time. BB17 is that beer, aged for about a year in Woodford Reserve bourbon barrels.

Like most people, I’ve got minimal experience with Adambier, let alone BBA Adambier. That makes it impossible to rate/review BB17 to style. No matter — it’s a delicious beer. I quite liked DR16, and the original seemed like a match for bourbon barrels, so I expected to like this. It delivers.

Caramel, Smoke & Leather

Here’s what to expect: caramel, smoke, vanilla, leather, chocolate, and bourbon. None of those dominates, with each sip highlighting one or the other. There’s great balance here, but no shortage of flavor or depth. BB17 begs to be savored over a couple of hours. It warms beautifully, with chocolate and bourbon coming to the fore, and the body feels fuller and smoother as it reaches room temperature.

Watch out for the booze. The base beer was 10% abv, but this is a hefty 13.2%. It tastes nowhere near that big, so take your time. A couple of hours may seem like a long time to spend on 12oz of a style nobody’s every heard of, but trust me: it’s worth it.

BB17 starts to hit stores, bars and restaurants today. The spreadsheet probably won’t help you track it down, but keep an eye on #BB17 on Twitter, along with social-media posts from Saint Arnold and Houston’s finer beer establishments to help your search. Happy hunting!

Beer Nerd details:

Date Brewed: February 4, 2016
Date Barreled: March 10, 2016
Date Bottled: February 16, 2017
Type of Barrel: Woodford Reserve bourbon barrel
Original Gravity: 1.100
Final Gravity: 1.023
Alcohol: 10% ABV (pre-barrel) 13.2% ABV (post-barrel)
Bitterness: 30 IBU

The following events are planned for the release of Bishop’s Barrel No. 17:

• Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel No. 17 Release and Divine Reserve No. 16 at Hop Scholar, Spring, Monday, March 27 at 3PM
• Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel No. 17, Raspberry AF, Icon Green – El Dorado IPA and Pub Crawl Pale Ale Tap Takeover at Valhalla, Monday, March 27 at 4PM
• Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel No. 17 Release and Movie Night featuring Life of Pi at Axelrad, Houston, Monday, March 27 at 7PM.
• Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel No. 17 at Beer Market Co., Wednesday, March 29 at 5PM
• Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel No. 17 and Divine Reserve No. 16 side-by-side with Brewery Wood Cellar Manager Aaron Inkrott at Spec’s Smith St., Wednesday, March 29 at 6:30PM
• Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel No. 17 and Divine Reserve No. 16 side-by-side at Hops Meet Barley, Thursday, March 30 at 7PM

The post Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel 17 first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel 17 appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

Well, 2016 certainly was interesting, wasn’t it? Jose started the year off by telling you to stop aging beer, we hosted a Houston Beer themed March Madness bracket and a bot almost ruined it, Lone Pint (FINALLY) started dating bottles of Yellow Rose, Saint Arnold turned 22, Whole Foods sold beer for $2, and Karbach sold to AB-InBev (and breaking that news crashed our site). The greater Houston area gained something like a dozen breweries and several new beer bars. Of those, we were lucky enough to cover Back Pew, Saloon Door, BAKFISH, Running Walker, City Acre, Under the Radar, Eureka Heights, and Holler, as well as Conservatory  and Beers Looking At You.

To round out the year, we asked our writers to send in a few sentences about their favorite beer from within Houston and their favorite beer from outside of Houston. The only requirement was that each beer be new-to-them. This isn’t meant to be a “best of 2016” article, just us talking about the beers that we enjoyed.

We would love to hear your favorite beers of the year. Let us know on Twitter @HoustonBeer or on Facebook at Houston Beer Guide

Editors Note: Saint Arnold’s 5 o’Clock Pils made several lists, which shouldn’t be a surprise if you’ve tried it. It also won our blind tasting challenge of 9 Texas Pilsners. 

Nathan Miller:

Overall, 2016 was an incredible year for me, beer-wise. I hit my 10,000th unique check-in on Untappd, I traveled to several festivals, I drank over 3500 beers, at least 2700 of which were new to me. So choosing my favorites is hard, but a worthy task:

Photo: Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Saint Arnold 5 O’Clock Pils – This might be cheating since this beer technically came out under a different name in a previous year, but 5OCP showed up in 2016 under this name and therefore wins my award for Best 2016 Houston Beer. It’s a perfectly crystal-clear pilsner with a clean, crisp taste, a biscuity aroma, and a TON of flavor. I adore this beer and will happily drink can after can after can of the stuff.

Photo: Garagiste Meadery

Garagiste Honeybell Dreamsicle – My pick for the best non-Houston beer of 2016 isn’t actually a beer at all, but a mead (a melomel, to be specific). You know that scene in Pixar’s Ratatouille where the food critic’s memories are taken back to childhood with one bite of a dish? That’s how Honeybell Dreamsicle treated me. One sip and I was a child, in my elementary school cafeteria, eating a popsicle given to me by a teacher who wanted to thank me for bringing an important letter home to my parents. The memory is deep, hidden in my brain, but this incredible elixir brought it to the surface.

Josh Frink:

Photo: Josh Frink

City Acre Fermette De Saison – Kumquat & Grapefruit – Houston finally has a brewery making a dry, highly carbonated Saison, which is one of my favorite styles. Out of the three variations City Acre brewed using fruit and herbs from their property, the Kumquat & Grapefruit variation was my favorite. The citrus complemented the natural flavor of the Saison yeast and the pit of the fruit added just the right amount of bitterness. I’m very much looking forward to see what ingredients they harvest for next year’s batch.

Photo: Bières de Chimay

Chimay Dorée – This spring, my wife and I went on a trip to Belgium. We visited a dozen or so breweries and decided to make the trek all the way down to the Chimay restaurant/inn/museum (you can’t actually visit the abbey) to try the ubiquitous Belgian Abbey beers as fresh as possible. We were disappointed and yet amazed to find that their beers taste the same in Friendswood as they do in Chimay, but we were completely shocked to discover they brew a fourth beer that we had never seen in Houston. Dorée (French for golden) is a 4.8% patersbier that has the cleanest orange flavor I’ve ever had in a beer. It sees very limited distribution in the US. Occasionally Flying Saucer Downtown has bottles and it’s well worth the $10 to try it yourself.

Jose Luis Cubria:

Photo: Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Saint Arnold 5 O’Clock Pils – For the 2nd year in a row, Saint Arnold debuted a spectacular new year-round beer (in 2015 it was Art Car). 5Oc is delicious and crushable. It takes a classic style and nails it, but with enough of a twist to keep it interesting and new. A permanent staple in my fridge.

Photo: The Bruery

The Bruery Melange No. 14 – It’s been nearly four months and I’m still giddy that my favorite US brewery is on our shelves. I’d never had M14 before it landed in Houston, and I immediately fell in love. It’s a perfect encapsulation of one of The Bruery’s great strengths: deliciously complex and dangerously drinkable barrel-aged monsters.

Kenneth Krampota:

Photo: Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel #13 – This beer screamed to me to begin with. A bourbon barrel quad that was done to damn near perfection. Tons of bourbon, vanilla, that traditional quad fruit, and it all came together without being too boozy. One of my favorite Saint Arnold beers ever.

Photo: Russian River Brewing Company

Russian River Temptation – I spent a few days out in the California wine country this year celebrating my 40th trip around the sun. No trip out that way would be complete without a trip to Russian River Brewing, and the wife and I enjoyed the full beer sampler. The standout to me was Temptation. The Chardonnay barrel and Brett funk in this blonde ale just provided the perfect level of sour. I know Consecration and Pliny get more attention from Russian River, but this is the beer I’d drink the most of that they produce.

Alice Hicks:

Photo: Brash Brewing Company

Brash Pussalia – My favorite Houston beer is a Brash brew for the second year in a row. Pussalia drew me in with its gorgeous, resinous aroma and hooked me with its double-dry and undeniably dank hops, rounded out by tropical notes. Its crisp, clean, medium body and dry finish left me wanting more: Pussalia is a perfect double IPA in my book.

Photo: Orange Belt Brewing Company

Orange Belt Brewing Chardonnay Barrel-Aged Whalez AKA Whalez 2.0 (Chardonnay Barrel) –  I swear I didn’t choose this beer just so I could say “Whalez, bro!” but I have to say it: “Whalez, bro!” However, I will swear that this is one beer truly worth seeking out. A side project of Cycle Brewing’s Head Brewer Eric Trinosky, Orange Belt Brewing makes some beautiful sour ales. The light, lemony tartness of the chardonnay barrel-aged version of their Whalez blonde ale is perfectly balanced with its rich oak character and bright acidity. One of the most well-executed barrel-aged sours I’ve ever had; it is in a class with the best of Portland, Oregon’s venerable Cascade Brewing.

Tim Spies:

Photo: Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Saint Arnold 5 O’Clock Pils – Austin may be the “Pilsner Capital” of Texas. But the best domestic pils available is from Houston.

Photo: The Rare Barrel

The Rare Barrel Afterlight – I’m generally not a fan of dark sours or red wine barrel-aged beers. But rarely are they executed near perfection. Afterlight is such a beer.

Chris White:

Photo: Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Saint Arnold 5 O’Clock Pils – My high expectations were exceeded by this local take on the Americanized version of the classic continental style. As I learned in the HBG blind pilsner tasting, these hoppy pilsners fool me – they don’t taste exceptionally hoppy, just ‘crisp’ and slightly aromatic. 5OC hits this mark hard – a nice bitterness, great earthy hop aroma and clean crisp finish with a little malt sweetness. The fact that this beer is on basically every supermarket shelf all the time is a great bonus for someone like me that gets most beer on the weekly shopping trip.

Photo: Community Beer Company

Community Yessir! Pale Ale – I love APA, but I also find that most new pales don’t really stand out in comparison to the incredible classics *cough* Sierra Nevada *cough* that are always available. This Dallas-area brewery takes a heavy hand to the three new(ish) hop varietals in their fall seasonal brew but most importantly maintains a balance (and ABV) that’s squarely in line with the style, making it incredibly drinkable with a unique juicy hop flavor. That flavor profile stands out from the long shadow of the classic APA with the pale green label. Distinct, delicious and darn good! Yessir!

The post Our Favorite Beers of 2016 first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Our Favorite Beers of 2016 appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

I went with a trusty tulip glass and poured the entire bottle in quickly. The beer had a very thin head and the color reminded me of a tawny port or very aged whiskey. What I immediately noticed was the aroma. The rye whiskey dominated the smell, especially the booze, and I was surprised, as I took the bottle to the recycling bin, how soon I smelled it again. I was several yards away from the beer and it lingered in the air as if Yankee Candle made a whiskey-scented candle. Upon first taste I got a cherry-plum type of flavor (I told you, I’m horrible at picking out the fruit), a slight floral taste, tons of chocolaty malt, and a lingering vanilla booze. As it and I warmed up a bit (it is 13.1% ABV, the highest ABV ever bottled by Saint Arnold), other notes started to become more pronounced. That fruit note changed a bit and lingered a bit longer, plus I would occasionally get the rye spice from the barrel mixed in. The next layer was the chocolate, but it came in without the heavy malt I tasted when cold. Finally, I got a layer of vanilla and coconut, and throughout all of it you get booze. Somehow that booze never overpowered and stayed fairly balanced. I’m guessing the base English Barleywine was a massive malt bomb, but that was intentional to balance the rye whiskey and kept it from becoming a boozy mess. The silkiness of this beer may be its best trait. I’ve had dessert wines that didn’t coat my mouth that much. It was the perfect mouthfeel for this type of beer.

Overall I liked it quite a bit, and I’m glad I bought 3 bottles. I think this beer will age very well, as the booziness cools and the flavors round out a bit more. I hope you’ve gotten a chance to try it, as it’s well worth seeking out. Let me know what you think of it in the comments below.

The post Review: Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel 15 first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Review: Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel 15 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.

We asked our writers to send in a few sentences about their favorite beers of the year. We asked them for a favorite local beer and a favorite out-of-town beer. Some of these have been around for years and some aren’t available in Houston. This isn’t meant to be a “best of 2015” article; it’s just us talking about the beers we like. Hopefully if you get to try these you’ll like them as much as we have.

What were your favorite beers of the year? Let us know on Twitter @HoustonBeer or on Facebook at Houston Beer Guide

Cody Lee

Photo: Brash Brewing Co.

Brash EZ-7 – The long anticipated homecoming of Brash Brewing brought with it a slew of new beers, and EZ-7 was my favorite of the bunch. A pale ale with a bite, this beer satisfies both the hop-head in me and my desire to drink for hours on end. I hope to see this in cans in the coming year.

de Garde Petit Desay – If you have an idealized version of a farmhouse ale in your head and you’re spinning your wheels looking for it, look no further. Subtly tart, perfectly effervescent, and wonderfully dry; at 5% ABV, this is my ideal beer to ring in the New Year.

Josh Frink

Photo: Karbach Brewing Co.

Karbach Mother in Lager – I know this wasn’t a new release for 2015, but somehow this was the first year I tried it. If it weren’t a seasonal beer, this dark lager would have a place in my fridge year-round. It is full of roast and biscuit flavors that give way to a light body and crisp German hops. That balance would make it a great year-round offering. Hopefully someone from Karbach is reading this.

Crooked Stave Wild Sage – My wife and I took the dream trip to Denver this year for the Great American Beer Festival. During that week, we tried more beers than we could count (don’t worry, the tasting glasses are only 2 ounces). Wild Sage was my favorite beer of the trip. The mix of brett beer and sage create a wonderful display of floral, earthy, and herbal flavors in a way that makes me feel like I’m discovering something lost in time.

Nathan Miller

My favorite Houston beer remains Fort Bend Texas Lightning. They may have closed back in February but the age on this flavorful IPA just adds to its wonderfulness. Balanced flavors of cardboard, stale grain, and oxidation contribute to a marvelous beverage. AHAHAHA just kidding. See attached picture.

Photo: Other Half Brewing Co.

This year I’ve been fortunate enough to try a lot of beers and picking a favorite from outside Houston is hard even if I limit it to 2015, but I think I’ll go with Mosaic from Brooklyn’s Other Half. It’s no secret mosaic is my favorite hop, and this showcases it *almost* as well as Yellow Rose.

Jose Luis Cubria

Photo: Saint Arnold Brewing Co.

Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel 12 – The first truly great barrel-aged beer from Houston. Funky, dry, vinous, tart and fruity. Way more interesting, complex and delicious than its forebears BB2 & BB2B. If this is an eye into the future of BA beers from Saint Arnold, then hold onto your butts.

Real Ale Tenebrae Aeterna – A standout among all the other great beers in RA’s Mysterium Verum series. “BA sour porter” doesn’t do it any sort of justice, although this is the beer that finally convinced me that sour porters/stouts can be greater than the sum of their parts.

Alice Hicks

Greg Manuel

St. Arnold Art Car IPA –  This may be my favorite “traditional” beer they’ve ever released in the permanent lineup. Really. It’s incredibly approachable, even for the “I don’t like IPA” people you may know (and we all have one or two of those hanging around; don’t ask me why we keep them around). It’s citrusy and tropical, finishes clean thanks to the low malt bill, and is not terribly bitter. This one drinks like a session IPA to me. While this dog roamed, as a result of this fantastic IPA, he has found his way home, and Arnold and I are happy to announce that we will be renewing our vows. You can have your Yellow Rose, I’m having an Art Car or three.*
*But I’ll still be having a Yellow Rose as well. And an Uber.

Photo: Parish Brewing Co.

Parish Brewing Co. Ghost in the Machine DIPA –  Welcome to the party, Louisiana! Even if you don’t travel frequently, odds are that you’ll still cruise on over to our neighbor’s place to the east every now and again to satisfy your urge to commit some of the deadly sins, making this non-local-but-still-sort-of-almost-local from Lafayette pretty attainable. Find this crushable DIPA and find it now — people will call me a blasphemer, but I’ll say it and stand by it (and even Twitter fight you): this beer is every bit as good as a certain famous and not-as-attainable not-too-malty hop explosion DIPA from Vermont that you may have heard of (hint: rhymes with Bready Flopper). While it used to be a pretty limited release, things have changed, and word on the streetswamp is that it will be released monthly in 2016. I need more of this beer in my life.

Ryan Mader

Tim Foley

What were your favorite beers of the year? Let us know on Twitter @HoustonBeer or on Facebook at Houston Beer Guide

The post Favorite Beers 2015 first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Favorite Beers 2015 appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

21 years of Saint Arnold. Photo courtesy of D.J. Delarosa.

Last year, in a celebration of 20 years of business, Saint Arnold held a special “cellar event” that included special beers that were new, rare, or created for that event alone. It was marvelous, and a really nice way to celebrate two decades of craft beer in Houston.

This year, Saint Arnold decided to hold the event again, this time celebrating 21 years, and did so in a marvelous fashion, not at all as sloppy as most of us celebrated 21. The event once again held beers that hadn’t been seen in some time, beers that were yet to be publicly released, and beers that wouldn’t be seen outside of the event. And once again, cheese from the Houston Dairymaids was provided.

Highlights included a Cognac Barrel Aged 20th Anniversary Ale (a year and some cognac later turned this into an extremely complex beer), the Bourbon Barrel Aged Divine Reserve 12 (Quad) that they also had at last year’s party (just phenomenal), and Bishop’s Barrel 2 with Brett, a beer that most around me agreed is one of the best the brewery has ever made.

Some of the more interesting beers that were available included a cask of Pumpkinator with Coffee and Cocoa (the coffee dominated, and the spice – evident in both the Bishop’s Barrel 9, Pumpkinator 2014, and to a lesser extent, Pumpkinator 2011 – was almost non-existent), Divine Reserve 11 (a once proud and mighty beer is no longer very drinkable – the fresh Endeavour on tap nearby was a strong reminder of how amazing DR11 once was), and two different syrups for Boiler Room (The blackberry was my preference – though I generally drink Boiler Room straight and in large quantities, sometimes I enjoy it mit schuss.)

It’s crazy to think that Saint Arnold is 21 years old today. All around the room on Sunday stood workers, volunteers, friends, and family of the oldest craft brewery in Texas. There was a buzz in the air, not just because of exciting beers and tasty cheeses, but because in many ways, this celebration wasn’t just about the brewery – it was about craft beer in Texas, in Houston, altogether. In 1994, when Saint Arnold opened, when the first sip of Amber poured, no one could have predicted how mature the beer scene in Texas would get over the next 21 years. And now, we’re all very thirsty – it’s time to enter Houston beer adulthood.

Congratulations to Saint Arnold, godfather of Texas Craft Beer. Here’s to 21 years, and here’s to many, many more.

The post Celebrating 21 Years of Saint Arnold first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Celebrating 21 Years of Saint Arnold appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.