Beer Log: Last Night
State: Thirsty, awaiting my first Astros game
We finally made it back to the damn Flying Saucer in Houston. I think it's been about a month since I last made it there. Why you ask: one, I've been studying for the PE Exam, two, I live about 25 miles from downtown Houston. I need a good mega beer bar somewhere in Katy, Texas and I would be good. Maybe a Taco Mac or something.
Anyway, we wanted to down about 3 beers to make before the 'Stros game. I drove the whole way leaving the top down on the convertible. Normally not a big deal, but I still had the baby seat in the back. Is that ghetto, rolling around town with a drop top and an empty baby seat. I guess I should put it in the trunk next time. But the temperature on I-10 got over 95 degrees on my car thermometer, so I'm actually sweating. Why not some German wheat beers...
We had to order just the right beers as it was happy hour and we wanted to get the 22 oz beers for 12 oz prices. Looks lightly tinged orange and rather cloudy. On the nose we have oranges and just barely some bubble gum, and I detect a touch of the mustiness from the hops you get in those German beers. First I notice the medium body and carbonation with a very nice orange flavor and a pinch of sweetness. High 3 Star. Great way to start the night. You can always count on Ayinger.
Ah yes, another weisse beer. Banana ester nose. (I'm trying to remember to do the smell before the appearance. The smell can change pretty rapidly, the appearance ain't goin anywhere). Strong white head with a deep orange tinge. It tastes like a great 4 star wheat beer at first with all that ester, a touch of sourness, and banana, and then BAM! it's followed up by the taste of copper coins and icky hops at the back of the tongue. What in the blue hell? That is a damn shame. It could have been in the transportation or something up with the keg, but come on, it's on TAP. It's not like they shipped it in a green bottle. And usually that comes with skunkiness. And how long could it have possibly been sitting in the keg as it was on the new beer list on the chalkboard? Low 3 Stars.
After choking down the banana flavored pennies, I did what I always do when hit with a bad taste, IPA ALL THE WAY! But somebody got cute and made an IPA Tripel. A superstrong light colored Belgian strong ale with American hops.
Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel by Brasserie d' Achouffe
That's a name that I can't pronounce any of the names to, except for IPA and Tripel. Cloudy tinged orange with a strong white head. It was actually on tap, so I'm glad I was able to try it without the green bottle affect. Smells like strong citrus hops (maybe cascade) with a ester and sourness. Oh yes. The taste reveals an overpowering hops with low malt and great creaminess. Great mashup for a Belgian beer. The aftertaste is a little bitter, but it works. You keep drinking it and you'll find the tripel fighting for taste buds with all those hops. That smoothness, that banana/ester, that great mouthfeel. Fantastic 4 Star beer.
While downing the IPA Trip, we decided that for our guys trip we should try to go to Amsterdam and to Munich for Oktoberfest. Hopefully we can pull it off. Of course, the trip seems easier when your on your third weisse beer. After leaving the Sauce we made it to the Stros game and they beat the Dodgers. Actually grabbed me a Drop Top amber with my BBQ sandwich. That was a good hour after we had our last beer at the Saucer, and the amber may as well had been a budweiser. Couldn't taste a thing but some bread. I should have just ordered the Saint Arnold Amber anyway. Oh it's real.
2 comments:
You may be getting your wish for a good beer bar in your neck of the woods. Isn't there supposed to be a Yardhouse over there near the end of the year? I've been to one in San Diego, selection is all tap, but the food was a heck of a lot better than Saucers.
Yes, a Yardhouse is coming to west Houston in December. I would like some better food options at a beer bar. Looking forward to it.
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