Shiner, Otter Creek, Belhaven: Who you kicking out of the hot tub

Beer Log: April 28, 2009
State: Hell if I remember...

As much as we downed it back when I first got into Shiner Beer after moving to Houston, I figured the 100 Year anniversary and the anniversary pack would be a great time to formally review some old favorites.

Shiner Hefeweizen
Oh man, this one is everywhere. It's at the Hooters, the mega beer stores in Maryland. It used to be one of their biggest sellers until the Black Lager took the Texas beer world by storm. Wheat and light ester/vegetal nose. Strong white poofy head with lightly clouded straw color. The taste comes in two phases, first you get thee nice banana and light bread, followed by some wateriness and metal. Leaves my tongue feeling very tingly (nullus). The aftertaste itself is pretty metallic as well. I considered giving it a low 3 Star for nostalgia, but metal is bad for you in this case. 2 Star.

It's a shame, as this bottle should have been pretty fresh with it has a nice 100 Year anniversary label on it and whatnot.

Later on that day while eating a Pale Ale turkey burger, pale ale baked beans, and some three cheese mac and cheese (with brie no less).

Otter Creek World Tour Sphinx
Ah some beer inspired by the Motherland. I purposefully did not read up on it as I was curious what this elixir would taste like. We picked this up while in Maryland. Smells of honey, grapes, and sugary sweetness. The taste is an awesome grain and honey (though not a mead) with a superquick finish and a delicate body. It's got a light gold color with a fleeting white head. It took me a while, but I was reminded of some of the various types of tea that are always at various conferences and conventions. Then it hit me, chamomile. As it warmed up it more chamomile like, and less beery. It was light and refreshing and I really appreciate what Otter Creek was doing. 3 Stars.

Apparently Otter Creek has put together a long series of beer based on different and historic styles, calling it a "World Tour".

Our 12th "stop" on the World Tour: "Sphinx" is an Egyptian-inspired multigrain ale brewed with Vermont honey and chamomile. The Ancient Egyptians were the first to brew beer, and they also were the first to grow many of the grains we use today. We brewed this golden ale with spelt, millet, rye, oats, barley, and wheat; for a well-deserved tribute to the ancient inventors of beer.

The Otter has been traveling the world in search of unique, interesting and unusual brewing styles. Whenever he finds something new and exciting, he teams up with our Brewmaster Steve Parkes and our capable team of brewers to produce Otter Creek's interpretation of the world's best beers. These unique brews are available in 22 ounce bottles and on draft.

The next day:

Belhaven Twisted Thistle IPA
An English version of our American IPA. Nice. Getting a great caramel light citrus hop, it certainly smells balanced. Clear with a light gold color. Massive poofy strong white head. This tastes like a nice basic IPA with a thin body. Strong hops for a regular beer. I would say it's on the low end of an American IPA in its strength, more like an American Pale Ale. In fact, it reminds me of a thinner Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. High 3 Star.

Beering in Atlanta: Gordon Biersch

August 28, 2008

Finally made it back to where I got my complete arse whoopin, er Graduate education. We were recruiting at Georgia Tech, and one of the guys in the crew (Bud Light Lime Fan) notified the crew that I'm a Beer Connoisseur. I convince everyone to go to Gordon Biersch on Peachtree St. for our lunch. Eating on the company, gotta love it. The only other time I made it to GB was in New Orleans, and I only had their Marzen, as I was a stone's throw away from stumbling all over Market Street and being picked up for public drunkenness, also on the company.

So we hit GB and we're loving the decor and the food was just fine. We went ahead and got the sampler to see what's going on, and I'm still watching my Weight Watcher points (lost 13 lbs as of this post, hells yeah).

Gordon Biersch Sampler

Not a fan of doing samplers, as I like to see how the beer changes as it warms, but we don't have a GB in Houston, so we gotta roll with it.

Golden Export

Obviously something to introduce Bud and Miller drinkers to craft beer. Smart idea. Give them something lighter than a triple IPA to get them used to the idea of trying new beers. Lager smell and clear gold. It's kind of Budweisery, but a little more hoppy. Just what I expected. 2 star beer, by design I'm sure.

Hefeweizen

Yeasty smell (estery) and cloudy orange. It tastes fruity with light banana. Lower carbonation than most Hefs and very nice. Medium body and quick finish with low hops. 3 Star.

Berlinweisen

I don't even know if I'm spelling that right, and I'm having some trouble finding it on Beer Advocate. But the waiter said this was their seasonal. Clear, and kind of looks like tinged water. OMG hits you hard with the spice. A late shocker on spice and sourness. Can't believe I'm doing this, but this is 1 Star for me, a beer that could turn you off from beer. I typically have NO PROBLEM converting folks to craft beer, but my mentor also ordered this beer, and she will probably never touch beer again. The waiter did not care for it, but I don't know about this. A little warning would have been nice. I'll seek it out and try a couple more in this style, as I'm sure this is a style play. There was a time I couldn't stomach a pale ale. But dammit man, this ain't working. We lost a few folks on this one. 1 star.

Marzen

Had it in NO. On point.

Dunkles

Brown and kinda opaque. Chocolate and roasty caramel smell. Tastes roasted and buttery. Medium carbonation. Lite hops. Just not feeling it. 2-3 stars

Blonde Bock

Little malt smell. A clear beer that comes on malty and strong. Medium body and not bad. Bready and nice.

I did not order the Blonde Bock or Hefe as I had to watch the points, but I am disappointed with this adventure. With what I've had a BJs and Zea, I expected GB to be the King Ish. Of course

I'll try another location, probably New Orleans and report back in. But damn, this was not a nice

experience.

Best beer, the Hefe. Loved it, and I know the boys in the ATL would dig it. Especially with the popularity of the Sweetwater Hummer.

2. Blonde Bock

3. Marzen

Beering in Houston: BJ's part 1

Well I finally decided to do some brewpubbing in my own durn city. We have a few beer bars with The Sauce having the best selection, but as gas prices are still kinda high, I can't pick up and drive 20 miles in town just for some brown ale. There is a national chain brewpub that is on the Northwest suburban side of town, not too far from the house.

I had not been pushing to get to this brewpub with the thought that it's a national chain which should mean it sucks right? I mean, the most publicized beers are not all that good, so a successful chain brewpub would mean that it's beer are tempered down to have some sort of mass appeal? WRONG! I will be making a trip to BJ's probably every time I go up that way for a littel golf. What's this, I have a tee time tomorrow on that side of town? Another round at BJ's after the tournament? Oh yeah.

Anyway, we got there on a Sunday afternoon and the place was packed. The wife decided to chill so I went to the bar for my first beer. Seeing as how it is so god-awful hot outside, I needed something cool and light to get things started...

Harvest Hefeweizen (draft)
Orangish-yellow, low white head with a little lace. Banana and fruit smell going on. The taste kind of reminds me of banana and bread, lightly though. It's a little sweet as well. Medium carbonation that is a little choppy, if that makes sense. But it's very refreshing. The drinkability is only moderate, so it's a little tough to get down. The mouthfeel is okay, but I like my hefs to have a touch more thickness. But it works for the heat. Great start. Didn't write a star rating in my book, so I'll try it again later.

Brewhouse Blonde (a kolsch)
got to the table and decided to stay on the cooler side of things, so I copped the kolsch. Light gold color but very clear with only a little bit of head. Very bready taste with a medium-full body. Cool and very smooth. Low-medium carbonation, but has a good nonharsh fizziness. (Eating Garlic cheese breadsticks). The food is a good compliment. You'll get more of the bitterness as it warms up slightly. This one would be great for tailgating. Probably one of the better kolsches I've ever had. 3 Stars.

PM Porter
(BBQ Chicken Pizza)
I'm trying to remember to incorporate beer and food, so I take the menu's advice and order the porter with bbq chicken. The beer is opaque and dark brown with a low tan head. Maybe slight maltiness on the nose. The beer is smooth and full bodied with low carbonation, and kind of chocolaty. This is a NICE compliment with the BBQ sauce they used for the pizza. Low hops on the aftertaste. A nice 3 star beer. As it warms, I'm getting more smoke and more bitterness. Nice.

All in all a great experience. Nice family restaurant, which is good b/c the baby was making some noise. Nice ambiance and settings. They have several more beers on tap that I'll have to try next time. I don't think they brew on site, but I'll take it.