Although this beer was new to us at the time, it was the very first beer that Valle Kauniste, owner and brewmaster of Vallensons’ Brewing Company has ever brewed. After serving our country abroad, Valle landed in northern California on a search to find beers similar to what he was drinking in England. At the time, Sierra Nevada and other large craft beer breweries were flooding the beer market with new beer styles but Valle could not find any beers similar in taste to those beers he was craving from overseas. Being primarily a stout and porter fan, Valle set out to recreate that familiar beer style he loved and remembered. Over the years, grains and brewing techniques have evolved but the recipe for this beer still remains unchanged. As a result, the Settler’s Oatmeal stout is leading the pack for being the ‘most decorated’ stouts in the City.

The first time this beer awarded was back in Valle’s early homebrew days. Valle entered a new brewer competition called the ‘Mississippi Mashout’ and much to his surprise, took home a gold medal. In 2000, he moved to Houston and got involved with the local homebrew scene, established a homestead with his growing family and started the plans for a family owned brewery operation with his wife, Lori Kauniste. Valle scaled up his 5 gallon electric brew system to a 30 gallon system and quickly, craft beer became a big part of the Kauniste family lifestyle. The current 3BL system is pushing overtime, brewing new beer recipes each month and will soon be replaced with a custom built 7BL brewhouse to compliment the new expansion of the taproom and new event space in April. Did someone say VIP tours? Yes, please!

Additionally, Valle’s Oatmeal Stout has won…

Gold in the US Open Beer 2019

Silver in the US Open Beer 2020

and the big one, the 2020 Great American Beer Festival “Oatmeal Stout” Category – Gold.

“This is a beer that I really enjoy making and we are so glad that the community likes it. I feel like I am the new guy on the scene so taking home a gold medal at GABF this year is mind blowing to me. Two golds and a silver in two years – I am planning to call an upcoming beer “Validation” because we must be doing something right! – Valle K.

So, how does it taste? This beer features a rich roast flavor with a touch of residual sweetness that will delight any stout drinker. The body is medium to full with a slick velvet texture making it super easy to drink. At 5.9%, this beer is a perfect companion to your morning coffee to kick start your day with a buzz. On New Year’s Day, this beer was released in 16oz cans (4-packs) for the first time and cans quickly sold out over the weekend. But don’t fret – this beer will always have a spot on the Untappd tapwall and cans are back in restock each week.

Take a trip down south to Vallensons’ Brewing in Pearland on a nice Sunday afternoon, and enjoy a tulip pour of this award winning stout. While you are there, snag a beer flight and take advantage of the creative beers Valle and his team are creating each week.

AUDIO BONUS!

For more ‘behind the scene’ discussion about the story of this beer, check the Draught Queens audio segment with Valle Kauniste available here .

The post Beer Spotlight: Settler’s Oatmeal Stout first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Beer Spotlight: Settler’s Oatmeal Stout appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

Founders Brian Allen and Kris Szecsy

The name “BAKFISH” combines the initials of the partners’ first names with a bit of history into Kris’s past career as a marine biologist. Brian has a background in business development, allowing him to be the more commercially minded partner. Kris was a chemist in the oil and gas industry, and he is using that knowledge in the brewing process.

BAKFISH is currently brewing on a 30-barrel system, with plenty of space to grow in the future. For now, they plan to dial in their “core five” beers to ensure that they are always consistent and available in the tap room. BAKFISH currently has 4 out of 5 of their core beers on tap: Wit, IPA, DIPA and Porter. They expect to have their last piece of the puzzle, their Golden Ale, on tap soon. In addition to the core five, they are looking at ways to test the market to see how receptive the area is to more experimental beers. As Kris said during our interview: “The brewpub atmosphere allows us to keep playing.” A quick review of the four beers that I tried when visiting is below:

The Wit was so good that we accidentally drank it before we remembered to take a picture!

I Tell You Wit, 5%:

Cloudy as expected with a wispy head. Aroma is orange with chamomile, although I’m not sure if I would have picked that up unless I knew to look for it from the conversation with Kris. Flavor profile is reminiscent of Blue Moon, as the citrus notes from the wheat and the bitter orange peel blend seamlessly. The mouthfeel is full, but it fades quickly and finishes dry.

Circle Hook IPA, 6.5%:

Poured darker than the DIPA, causing the two to accidentally be mixed up when sorting out the flight at the table. Flavor is full of a mix of pine and caramels, with a quick bitter bite and a toasted malt finish.

Defying Gravity DIPA, 8.5%:

Pours a dark straw color and a little cloudy. Lots of pine flavor up front, with a nice mango, tropical midpoint, and a resiny finish. The alcohol was masked by the nice blending of the key flavors.

Goat Roper Porter, 6%:

Very strong aroma of dark roasted coffee upfront. Coffee flavor comes through on the taste, along with mellow chocolate notes. Overall, a relatively light-bodied beer which makes it very easy to drink, even in the Houston heat.

BAKFISH already seems to be fairly successful in connecting in with the local community, by both connecting with other area breweries to share knowledge, and by looking to assist local organizations. Coming up soon, BAKFISH will host events to help support local organizations such as the Friendswood Animal Advocates and Hunt with Heart. More information about both events is provided below, and you can always check out the brewery’s Facebook and Twitter pages for more up-to-date details.

I would highly recommend checking out BAKFISH if you live in the area, or if you are up for taking a short drive out to the suburbs. BAKFISH offers a kid-friendly and dog-friendly area, as well as a private space available for rent. They offer snacks at the brewery, and they also allow you to bring your own food or have it delivered.

Taproom hours:

• Monday through Thursday: 3PM-9PM
• Friday: 3PM-10PM
• Saturday: noon-10PM
• Sunday: noon-9PM

Location: 1231 Broadway St, Pearland, TX 77581

Upcoming events:

• May 14^th from 5:30PM-9:00PM – Ales for Tails Event supporting the Friendswood Animal Advocates
• May 16^th, Leukemia & Lymphoma Man & Woman of the Year Golf Tournament (BAKFISH is sponsoring a hole)
• June 17^th, starting at 6:00PM – Washer tournament at the brewery supporting the Hunt With Heart organization

The post BAKFISH Brewing Company first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post BAKFISH Brewing Company appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.