Texas Beer Bills Close to a Reality

The Texas House passed a set of five beer laws yesterday and now sit for review by Governor Rick Perry.  The Governor has until June 16th to decide on the bills but assuming they pass, beer distribution in Texas is about to undergo some major changes.

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Three Floyds Evil Power Imperial Pilsner

Three Floyds Brewing  – Evil Power Imperial Pilsner

ABV: 7.2%

IBU: 56

“I hear voices . . . “ resounds the first lyrics on the self-titled track, EVIL POWER, from Lair of the Minotaur’s fourth release. Lair of the Minotaur (LOTM as they shall be known henceforth) and Three Floyds Brewing collaborated for this bottle of fearsome, full-palated deliciousness. After popping the crown cap, I am also hearing voices. These voices are telling me to find more Three Floyds Evil Power Imperial Pilsner and to hoard it like there is no tomorrow.

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Fat Head’s Oompa Loompa Chocolate Cream Stout

ABV: 6.5% | IBU: 33

Stout brewed with dark chocolate and vanilla beans added.

Fat Head’s story began in Pittsburgh, PA, circa 1992, with the founding of Fat Head’s Saloon. In 2009 Fat Head’s expanded to North Olmsted, Ohio, teaming up with Matt Cole (an award winning brewer) to open Fat Head’s Brewery & Saloon. Success came quickly, with the brewery producing over 5000 barrels over its first three years and Fat Head’s beers winning many awards. They expanded to a full-scale producing brewery in 2012, located in Middleburg Heights, Ohio.

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Homebrew: Make a Yeast Starter

I’m a huge advocate of the brewers’ saying that “Brewers make wort and yeast make beer.” Without healthy yeast, you cannot make the best beer possible. So step up your homebrew game with a yeast starter and improve your next batch of homebrew! Read More

Lexington Craft Beer Week Preview

The Beatles got one thing wrong: happiness is not a warm gun. No, no. Happiness is a week celebrating craft beer in your home town. And by a serendipitous turn of events this one kicks off on the back end of my birthday weekend. So what that really means is that Lexington’s Craft Beer Week coincides with my birthday week (that’s right, we celebrate birthdays for a week round these parts). Read More

Great Divide 19th Anniversary Ale

ABV – 10.2%

The song “Minotaur” by Thee Oh Sees epitomizes the swirly sway motion of the booze bomb known as Great Divide 19th Anniversary Ale. A roasty molasses nose gives way to an almost dark rum booziness while the sweet birch syrup is complimented with a dry woody finish. Read More

Ultimate 6er | Fantastic Fruit Beer

Many people shy away from fruit beers. They just don’t think the two should ever mix, never to dance the delicate art of brewing. But, not all great beers have to be pale and bitter, and a little sweet goes a long way. With summer just around the bend, folks are eager to get out and enjoy the warm cosmic rays. And, although all of these beers (save for one) come in 22oz or larger bottles, here is a phenomenal six pack that will make you second guess what great beer can be.

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Night Shift Brewing – Ever Weisse

ABV: 5.1%

Beer should be enjoyable. That’s simple enough, right? But sometimes I feel like as beer nerds we lose track of that. I know I do. I spend way too much time rummaging through Beeradvocate[1] and ratebeer, I obsess over “white-whale” beers and it legitimately bothers me when I try a much-hyped, rare, “highly rated” beer and it just disappoints me[2].  Then I start thinking about all the time I spent checking draft lists[3] and twitter feeds and the disappointment turns into pure anger, mostly directed at myself. I won’t even go into how frustrated I get at beer distribution[4] and beer laws because I am sure anyone reading this already feels my pain there. But here’s the good news: it does not have to be this way. Assuming you live close to a city, I can almost guarantee that you have phenomenal beer in your backyard[5] and you should be drinking and enjoying it. Not because it’s easy[6], but because it’s delicious and worth knowing about. Night Shift’s Ever Weisse, a superbly funky, sinfully red sour Berliner Weisse beer is the perfect example of the beers we should all be spending more of our time on. Read More

Crafting a Nation Private Screening Recap

UPDATE: Crafting a Nation will celebrate it’s Coloardo premieres THIS Thursday, May 16 in Denver and Friday, May 17 in Boulder as part of American Craft Beer Week.   Denver’s screening will take place at the Alamo Drafthouse in Littleton, appropriately home to 32 taps of craft deliciousness.  For tickets visit Alamo Drafthouse’s page.  Boulder’s Premiere will take place in Upslope Brewing’s new location.  Below is our write up of Crafting a Nation during their private screening last month.

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River Horse-Tripel Horse

ABV: 10%

Okay, so to get a proper feel for the River Horse-Tripel Horse you are going to need a particular soundtrack. Remember Salt ‘n Pepa’s ‘Shoop’? Remember the breakdown where it’s all, “Oooh ooh ooh, I like whatcha do, when ya do, whatcha do . . .”? Got the tune in your head? That is your soundtrack for this beer. Read More

American Craft Beer Week in Colorado

Today starts the 8th annual American Craft Beer Week which runs from May 13 to May 19th. Put on by the Brewers Association, the week long national celebration is meant … Read More

Craft Breweries come out for American Beer Classic

If Beer Heaven exists it might have been in Chicago on Saturday May 11th when 100 breweries lined up on Soldier Field to offer their finest brews. The inaugural American Beer Classic (ABC) put on display craft breweries from all over the country and the thousands of patrons who roamed the field with their shot-glass sampler could not have been disappointed.

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River Runners Pale Ale

Eddyline Brewery and Restaurant – River Runners Pale Ale

ABV: 6%

IBU: 50

Eddyline Brewery and Restaurant’s River Runners Pale Ale is yet another example of the  awesomesauce that can come out of both 16-ounce cans and the frequently neglected beer region of Southern Colorado. Read More

Anderson Valley Brewing Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout

ABV: 6.9%

IBU: 14

I grew up on a farm in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. Every day to and from school, we would pass one of Anderson County’s two distilleries. The smell of mash in the morning still brings back a flood of childhood memories. So when I heard that Anderson Valley produced a beer aged in an Anderson County batch of Bourbon barrels, I was naturally rather intrigued. I am a serious Bourbon drinker and, quite honestly, know more about Bourbon than I do beer. You grow up with it, you tend to learn a few things.

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Bells Brewery Hopslam

Bell’s Brewery- Hopslam

ABV: 10%

IBU: 90

When considering the progress India Pale Ales have made in the American beer drinking culture while also crediting the rise … Read More

Ultimate 6er | Summer Movie Beer Pairings

As we inch into the sunny days of May, the impending summer vacation for teachers beams like a beacon of hope, eclipsing the flickering fluorescent lights and mounting stacks of ungraded papers. As teachers, my wife (Sarah) and I use the summer months as we did as children – as a time for relaxation and recreation (albeit with supplemental jobs and some mandatory professional development trainings scattered about). But we travel, stay up a little later, work in our garden, and try to cram everything into that brief span when students aren’t around. Read More

Dry Dock Brewery Hop Abomination

Hop Abomination

Dry Dock Brewery

ABV: 6.5%

IBU: 70

Typically, when it comes to drinking beer, my rule is the more IBU’s the better. IBUs represent bitterness. Bitterness represents hops. … Read More

Chicago Gears Up For Inaugural American Beer Classic

Chicago’s Soldier Field has hosted a lot of events since it opened in 1924. Besides the Bears, it has hosted college football, ice hockey, World Cup soccer and even the Rolling Stones. But May 11^th will be a first for the stadium when the inaugural American Beer Classic takes center stage.

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Iron Throne Blonde Ale – Ommegang Brewery

ABV: 6.5%
IBU: N/A

I’m conflicted; after months of anticipation and searching high & low to find it, I paid the iron price for what was almost assuredly going to be one of my new favorite drinks. But after tracking for Ommegang’s Game of Thrones partnership Iron Throne Blonde Ale, I felt a little let down.

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Cult Beers Part 2

A few months ago we brought you part one of cult beers.  In today’s installment we touch on Dogfish Head, Yuengling, and a couple sours that’ll make you beer drool while packing a pucker.

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