To my surprise, this Belgian White style ale beer was very enjoyable to drink. Really felt like a complete beer on my palete. The traditional Belgian-style white beer is made with malted barley and unmalted wheat and sometimes oats or spelt too. It is spiced with a touch of hops to keep the bitterness low but carries notes of light coriander and citrus orange peel. Paired with a Belgian yeast character it’s mildy fruity and has subtle spice flavor notes. The appearance of white beer is usually pale yellow in color with a slight haziness and a rich, foamy head. The aroma is citrusy, spicy, and fruity and the body is light. Perhaps a bit too light?

The taste is balanced with light malt and wheat flavors, and has a bright pop of citrus on the nose. I am not gonna suggest you throw an orange slice in it for the Blue Moon effect but you could! The alcohol content of traditional white beer is usually between 4.5% and 5.0% ABV but sitting at 0.5%, this beer is perfect for those that enjoy drinking the more traditional beer styles and want to give their liver a break. After all, it’s good to start fresh with the new year, free from alcohol and easy to enjoy.

If you run across this beer in town, give it a taste. It might not be your favorite beer to drink every day but it’s well executed beer example of a traditional style. The no alcohol part? Your body says thank you. You deserve a break – free yourself and take it easy.

The post Free & Easy N/A Belgian White from Karbach Brewing first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Free & Easy N/A Belgian White from Karbach Brewing appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

But like your parents told you…you don’t need alcohol to have a good time. There are plenty of excellent options for the temporary teetotaler if you know where to look. You don’t have to keep it fairways and greens either with something as simple and classic as Saint Arnold’s outstanding root beer recipe. Even without leaving the Saint Arnold compound you can find something interesting like their HOP₂O, a hop-tinged water that will almost make you forget that it’s still water that was wasted by not becoming beer.

If you’re looking to be a little more adventurous than water, many area breweries have their own flavors of house-made sodas, like City Acre’s vanilla cream soda pictured here. At this point I think it’s fair to say that most breweries, especially those with family-friendly taprooms, have begun offering creative nonalcoholic options for those unwilling or unable to consume their primary product. 

Finally, if you have a need to take your beer-related-but-not-quite-beer game on the road, there are an increasing number of breweries going outside the box. Untitled Art has developed a line of CBD infused waters that they have canned for wide distribution. Although they aren’t a Texas outfit, they do distribute to the Houston area, and this product trend is something I’m expecting to see pop up more here locally in the near future.

 So, for the next 162 days until January is over, it’s nice to know that there are some great, enjoyable options to stay sober and hydrated. That said, assuming I don’t get fired before then for missing the mark on my first task, I look forward to returning to this space next month to talk with you about something with some kick to it. Cheers!

The post What to Expect When You’re Expecting Not to Drink first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post What to Expect When You’re Expecting Not to Drink appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.