To all the breweries releasing their Christmas/holiday beers now: Why don’t we have time? Because we’re too busy enjoying the fall beers! Karbach Brewing Co., one of Houston’s newer breweries, recently released a pumpkin beer for its fall seasonal. Pumpkin beers are one of my favorite styles (Jenn would agree, while Jason would disagree, and you’d know this if you listened to our appearance on the Main Street Podcast). This beer is fairly scarce, but I managed to get my  [ Read More ]

The World’s Best Dark Ale. These words not only appear on Unibroue’s website announcing the availability of 17 in the United States but also on the back of the bottle itself. The original batch of 17 was brewed in 2007 for Unibroue’s 17th anniversary. That original batch won many high honors including platinum medals three years in a row at the World Beer Championship. However, in 2010 the same original batch aged three or so years was named the World’s  [ Read More ]

The summer seasonal from the Boston Beer Company is Samuel Adams Summer Ale. Referred to as an American wheat ale, its inspiration comes from Belgian witbiers (think Hoegaarden). Samuel Adams’ twist on the style includes lemon peel and Grains of Paradise. Summer Ale has a hazy golden color with a nose full of grain. Malty grain flavor with a lemon citrus tang and just the slightest bit of spice. Lots of carbonation. It’s a good beer to have a bunch  [ Read More ]

Jason reviewed Rogue Voodoo Doughnut a number of weeks ago, and it’s a pretty popular beer because it’s taken me this long to find a bottle of my own. It’s a unique beer: a bacon maple ale that comes in a pink bottle covered with pigs and maple leaves. This is a beer made in collaboration with Voodoo Doughnut, a specialty doughnut shop in Portland and Eugene, Oregon. One of their most popular wares is their bacon maple bar; the  [ Read More ]

You may have been expecting the next installment of my visit to The Avenue in New Orleans, but I’ll get back to that soon. On Saturday I visited Saint Arnold Brewing Company for my birthday; it’s just north of downtown Houston and is located at 2000 Lyons Ave. Saint Arnold hosts tours every day except Sunday. On weekdays they open at 3:00 pm until about 4:15 pm, but on Saturdays they are open from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm. During  [ Read More ]

Last week I took a week off from work and spent it in New Orleans. Among many other things, my wife and I got together with some friends and went out to The Avenue, a beer bar in the Garden District of New Orleans. This was my first visit (something Katie probably didn’t know when I told her to go there when she was in New Orleans a couple of months ago), so over the next several days I’ll be  [ Read More ]

Happy Independence Day! Today’s review is one you won’t find in a Disney park, but it’s one that I’ve been personally interested in trying for a while because Tin Roof’s home is Baton Rouge, LA. Baton Rouge is also home to my alma mater, LSU.  Tin Roof was founded in 2010, after I had graduated, but Blonde Ale has an interesting story. Blonde Ale was originally known as Bandit Blonde Ale with special can art and everything. Why Bandit Blonde? It  [ Read More ]

La Terrible is a brew from Unibroue that you won’t find at Walt Disney World. It’s also one of Kim’s favorites. Unlike most of Unibroue’s offerings, this Belgian Dark Strong Ale comes in a simple black bottle with silver markings. It also lacks the story or legend that accompany the other beers in Unibroue’s lineup. This one’s all about the ale within. La Terrible pours nearly pitch black with a large tan head. It has a clean sweet scent with  [ Read More ]

Rogue hit another home run with this quirky combination of doughnut, maple syrup and BACON? I don’t know about you but I can’t pass up any beer in a pink bottle. Speaking of the bottle, I would highly recommend only opening this bottle if you either have plenty of time to drink or reinforcements to share this bottle. Plus it doesn’t hurt that beer goes well with good friends. Beyond the salty bacon with doughnut like sweet breading aroma. You  [ Read More ]

I’m a big fan of coconut flavored food, candy and drinks. I’m also a big fan of Kona Brewing Company. So when I saw this beer which has toasted coconut flavoring at my grocery store, I was intrigued. I wasn’t sure if coconut flavor in a beer would work. I was pleasantly surprised when I had my first sip of this beer. The coconut flavor isn’t overwhelming, but you can definitely taste it. If you’re a fan of Mounds or  [ Read More ]