Hot Wells Hefeweizen: This beer has a nice sweetness with hints of honey and some maltiness. You can taste some of the hops in there and maybe a bit of clove that they mention. It has a good richness to it and a nice finish, but it is not too strong. It’s actually rather refreshing and offers a good way to cool down in the Texas heat (which doesn’t want to go away this year).

DIPApaloiza Double IPA: My second tasting was a stronger beer which is very rich with plenty of bitterness right off. It has some nice hoppiness, but it is not too fruity or floral. There is some citrus in there as well along with notes of grapefruit. This is definitely a complex beer and not for those who do not favor an IPA. But I do like IPAs and rather enjoyed this one. It is brewed in collaboration with Alfazar Shine Brews Brothers and $1 from the purchase will be donated to Child Hospital Transportation Fund.

Dubbel Problemen Belgian Dubbel: This Belgian-style beer is very smooth with a nice richness. It has some sweetness to it with hints of malt and some caramel in the background. I don’t quite get the plum flavors they mention, though there is some fruit in there. But I would definitely not call this a fruity beer. It is a rather complex brew, but it goes down quite well.

The Crisis Strong Ale: As the name says, this is a very strong ale. It has some richness and a nice sweetness, and I would say it has some similarities to mead in taste. There is some spice in there, but I would certainly not call this a Christmas ale. A little of this goes a long way, but I definitely enjoyed every sip of it.

Party at the Neighbors India Pale Lager: This rather odd combination of beer types has the hops and bitterness you expect from an IPA along with some of the malt you expect from a Lager. It is a lighter beer and some more sweetness might have helped go down better. But that is really mostly a nitpick, and I rather enjoyed it.

When I stopped by recently, the Huftgold food truck was there which specializes in German street food. They do an excellent smoked sausage with sauerkraut, and they also pound out a pretty darn tasty schnitzel. The food truck will vary from day to day, but they generally have some appetizing options to pair with the brews on tap.  (You can see their food truck calendar here.)

If you happen to be making a trip to Blossom Athletic Center or traveling anywhere in the area, it is certainly worthwhile to remember that Second Pitch is right there and they have quite a selection of beers to pour for you. (You can see their current menu here.) They are located at 11935 Starcrest Dr. and you can check out their page on our site for the hours they are open and more information.

The post Beer Tasting as Second Pitch Beer Company appeared first on Craft Beers and More.

The barbeque place is on the premises and is located right next to the taproom. It is open seven days a week from 11 AM to 4 PM, though I wouldn’t be surprised if they are starting to run out of meat as it gets closer to the 4 PM hour. They have brisket, pulled pork, and sausage on the menu every day, and Thursday through Saturday they are cooking up half chickens and pork ribs. Wednesdays and Saturdays you can get a baked potato loaded with meat, and they have the usual sides like potato salad, coleslaw, pinto beans, and green beans (the latter is available Thu through Sat).  You can see the full menu here.  I decided to give the chopped brisket sandwich a try because in Texas brisket is the gauge for how good a barbeque place is.

First off, this is a big and messy sandwich. It is packed full of meat that is well-sauced and you will need several napkins while working your way through it. The brisket is tender and meaty but not drenched in sauce so that the taste of the smoked beef really comes through. The sauce adds the expected barbeque tang, but the brisket remains as the star of this sandwich. I got mine with jalapenos and those added a vinegar pop along with a bit of heat, but nothing that the average Texan can’t handle. Overall, it was definitely a good brisket sammy, very much in line with what you would expect to find in a small Texas town.

I also got the slaw, though that was more like a cabbage salad with a mild vinegar dressing that has some sweetness. It had some good crunch to it, and it actually works well when you add it to the sandwich. If you get the sandwich on the combo, it comes with chips and a drink for just eleven dollars. The coleslaw adds on another four bucks for a 4 oz portion. You can also just get the meat priced by the pound.

The barbeque place serves its food cafeteria-style and they have an open area outside where you can sit and eat. I was hoping they would have the Shiner beers on draft, but you have to go next door to the taproom for that. They are not really set up there to sell you one beer, possibly because of some of the regulations for breweries this size. If you buy one of their glass products, you can get two beer samplings. Or if you pay for the tour, you can get four or five. I was just stopping by for a quick lunch, so I didn’t get any beer, but they had a pretty wide selection of Shiner brews on tap.

So whether you are just looking for some good barbeque (at a fairly reasonable price) or if you want the full experience of beer and brisket, it is worth stopping by Spoetzel Brewery if you are in the area. It is not too far out of your way if you are driving between Houston and San Antonio (I think it added forty minutes to my trip total), and if you have the time you will certainly want to try out their beers as well as the barbeque.

Spoetzel Brewery is located at 603 E Brewery St, Shiner, TX 77984. It is open 10 AM to 6 PM Monday through Saturday and 12 PM to 6 PM on Sunday. K. Spoetzel BBQ Co.s is open 11 AM to 4 PM Monday through Sunday.

The post Trying Out the Barbeque at Spoetzl Brewery appeared first on Craft Beers and More.

This brewery started in 2018, producing beer that was just for retail sale, but later opened its German castle-inspired location off of 290 which includes a full restaurant. The beers they produce follow the German Purity Law of 1516 and they put nothing but hops, barley, yeast, and water into their core brews. They even mimic the mineral composition of the artesian spring water of Germany to get their product as close to that of the old country as possible. I have visited Altstadt Brewery on multiple occasions, and following is a rundown of the beers I sampled on my most recent visit:

German Style India Pale Ale: This IPA has some notes of fruit but not to the point that it is too fruity. It also does not go overboard on the hops like some IPAs do. It has some bitterness, but it is still quite smooth and goes down rather well. It is balanced enough that an IPA drinker should enjoy it, but it is still approachable to those less enamored with this style. The alcohol content is 5% which is on the low side for an IPA.

Hallowed Ground Imperial Helles: This seasonal ale is very rich with some bitterness with maybe some hints of cherry. Agave nectar is added to the brew which brings some sweetness and it has a notable taste of grapefruit in the background. It is definitely a strong beer at 7.8% alcohol content, but it goes down quite smooth.

Rye Maintenance Pale Ale: This seasonal ale is smooth and rather rich with a nice touch of sweetness. It is not too bitter or too heavy on the hops and there is just a hint of spice in there as well. It comes in at 5.9% on the alcohol content which is about standard for a pale ale and it delivers a full-bodied beer.

Maibock: This is another seasonal and it is honey forward with some bitterness in there as well. It is a strong brew and rather rich, but not overpowering. It delivers some maltiness as well and this is a crisp brew that goes down quite well. It comes in at 7.5% alcohol which makes it another of their stronger beers.  I would say either this or the Helles was my favorite this time around.

Pilsner: This is lite, crisp, and refreshing, just like a pilsner should be. It has a little bitterness and a touch of sweet, but there is plenty of flavor coming from this brew. Those who are more familiar with the watered-down American-style versions of this beer should give this a try to understand what a pilsner should taste like. Its alcohol content is 5.1% which I believe is a little bit high for this style.

Of course, with all these beers, you will likely want to pair them up with some food, and Altstadt has you covered there. If you are just looking for something to snack on, the pretzel or the sausage on a stick or the peach bruschetta (Fredericksburg is peach country) are definitely good options. They also make a great Reuben sandwich and their sausage plate is certainly worth a try. On my most recent visit, I got the Classic Chicken Schnitzel and that was every bit as good as you would expect from a German eatery.

So whether you are just going by to sample some beers or if you want a full meal, Altstadt is definitely a good stopping point in the Fredericksburg area. Plan your trip accordingly, though, because they are not open on Monday or Tuesday. But if you happen to be in the area on Saturday or Sunday, they are open for brunch. And starting off the day with beer and brunch sounds like a darn good idea to me!

Altstadt Brewery is located at 6120 East US-290 in Fredericksburg, TX and you can check out their page on our site for the hours they are open and more information.

The post Beer Tasting at Altstadt Brewery in Fredericksburg, Texas appeared first on Craft Beers and More.

Honeydew: This is a honey-infused straight bourbon whiskey that comes in at 80 proof (40% alcohol). It has a nice sweetness, but it is not too heavy on the honey flavor. I don’t typically like a honey whiskey (unless I am drinking it with lemon when I have a sore throat), but this one works quite well for me. It is very smooth with the honey coming in at the end, and it works perfectly well just for sipping.

Single Barrel B: This is a single barrel straight bourbon whiskey that comes in at 94 proof (47% alcohol). It has a slight acrid taste, but that is not off-putting. The oak flavor from the barrel it ages in is notable in the background, but it does not overwhelm. It has some sweetness there as well to balance out the complexity of its flavors. It has more of a bite than the others I tasted, but it is still enjoyable.

Single Barrel A: Yet another of their single barrels, this one is also a 94 proof spirit. It is smoother than the Single Barrel B with not as much of the wood coming through. It also has some sweetness, and it goes down quite well. Of the two, I preferred the A barrel over the B.

Small Batch: This is another straight bourbon whiskey and it also comes in at 94 proof. It starts with some sweetness and it is very smooth and quite flavorful. There is a bit of oak in there, but just enough to make its presence felt. It also has a nice richness and it finishes off quite well. Of the four whiskeys I got on the flight, this was my favorite.

Laguna Madre 2023: This is a Limousin Oak-immersed straight bourbon whiskey and it is a limited release. It comes in at 101 proof (50.5% alcohol). They were giving out samples of this one so I got a small taste of it. It is rich with notable oak taste and a touch of sweet in there as well. It retails for $349 a bottle, and once they are out of the current run it is done for the year.

Garrison Bros. Distillery released its first batch in 2013 and has been consistently producing award-winning whiskey since then. They offer tours, but you will need to go to their website to book a time. If you just want to stop by and sample their whiskeys, they have plenty of seating, though it is all outside. But most of it is covered, and it was tolerable enough with fans blowing despite the scorching summer heat. They also have a kitchen cooking up some tempting dishes, but I had just come from lunch at Pecan Street Brewery in Johnson City (more on that in an upcoming post) so I did not sample the food . If you happen to be in the area, I certainly recommend stopping and sipping of their few whiskeys and maybe getting a bite to eat.

Garrison Bros. Distillery is located at 1827 Hye-Albert Rd in Hye, TX and you can check out their page on our site for the hours they are open and more information.

The post Whisky Tasting at Garrison Bros. Distillery in Hye, Texas appeared first on Craft Beers and More.

Old 290 Ale: They refer to this one as an Old Ale, and I am assuming that is because it is brewed using older traditions. It is very malty with some bitterness and plenty of richness. It has some hops in there as well along with some sweetness. It has similarities to some Belgian Ales I have had as well as some Barley Wines. Another brew this reminds me of is the Dogfish Head Midas Touch, which that brewery refers to as an Ancient Ale, though with more of the malt flavor. It is pretty strong at 10% alcohol, and this is definitely one I would order again.

Aunt Amburana Ale: This one hits you with some sweetness right away, and you detect the flavor of honey with some bitterness to balance that out. It also has a woody taste as well, which makes since seeing as it is aged with Brazilian Amburana wood chips. I would also say it has some similarities to a mead, though maybe not as sweet as those brews can be. This is another one with a high ABV, coming in at 10%.

Parley Porter: This dark beer delivers the malty flavor you expect from a porter with some slight hints of chocolate as well. But the latter does not dominate the taste, and this is certainly not one of those sweeter, desert brews. It is nice and smooth and goes down easy and should please those who like a good, solid porter. It is yet another with a relatively high ABV at 8.5%.

Waller Select Blonde Ale: This is a very smooth beer that goes down quite easy with a good finish. Not as rich as some blondes, nor does it have quite as much sweetness. This is a good starter beer for those who have not developed much of a taste for craft brews, but it should still satisfy any beer drinker. Its alcohol content is lower than the ones above, coming in at 4.8%.

Item 66 Cascadian Dark Ale: This ale has some maltiness and bitterness and is actually similar to a porter. Not quite as strong as that style of beer, but porter drinkers would likely enjoy this one. It is not overpowering at 6.6% ABV, but it definitely satisfies.

Location Six has several more beers on tap, and I plan on making a return trip soon. They have also recently started cooking up their own pizzas Thursdays through Sundays (if they don’t have a food truck on the premises), or you can order from Eji’s on Main next door (menu is at this link). For a little brewery in a small Texas town, they have quite a lot to choose from, and I have enjoyed everything I have tried so far. If you happen to be in the area (it’s just a short detour off Highway 290), I recommend giving them a try.

Location Six is located at 2316 Main St in Waller, Texas and they are open 2-8 PM Thursday, 2-9 PM Fridays, 12-9 PM Saturdays, and 12-6 PM Sundays. You can check their website for more info.

The post Beer Tasting at Location Six Brewing Company in Waller, TX appeared first on Craft Beers and More.

Black Laboratory Brewing is a cozy little brewery and restaurant located just outside of Downtown San Antonio on East Houston St. You place your order for beer and food at the bar then find yourself a seat somewhere inside or in their patio area. I recently stopped by the brewery for lunch on a Sunday afternoon and decided to order up a flight to get a good sampling of their brews. The four pours that I requested were the Greetings from Helles Lager, the Hackberry Pale Ale, the Mox’s IPA, and the Grizzly Greg’s Mountain Ale. I usually like to include a dark beer in my sampler, but their Vanilla Joe Stout promised too much on the coffee side (not my preference) so I chose to pass on that the first time out.

You will notice from the picture above that they serve these in little beakers because . . . laboratory . . . in the name . . . get it? Never mind, on to the tasting.

Greetings from Helles Lager: This is a good solid take on the classic German style that delivers full-bodied taste and a good finish. Sometimes with the German beers I feel like they come up kind of weak, but this one brings a nice richness with some hints of hops and malt. No one flavor really dominates, but everything comes together to deliver a satisfying experience. I would certainly order a full pint of this one next time.

Hackberry Pale Ale: This one was a little bit odd with a strong berry taste and some hints of sourness. I guess I should have expected the berries because of the name, but I would have liked it better if they were further in the background. It has some good hoppiness and bitterness, and it did improve after a few sips. But of the four I tasted, this was my least favorite and I would probably not get it again.  Not that it was bad, just not quite my taste.

Mox’s IPA: This is an IPA drinker’s IPA, and that’s good because I am an IPA drinker. It is strong on the hops with some citrus and fruitiness in the background, and it delivers just the right amount of bitterness. It is a more complex beer, and those who are less enamored with IPAs may not enjoy it. But it has everything I am looking for in this style and I would certainly order it again.

Grizzly Greg’s Mountain Ale: This fourth beer on my flight was somewhat of a wildcard. It took me a few sips to process the flavors, but ultimately I decided I liked it. It has some good hoppiness, but not overpowering. The taste of pine is definitely present and that seems to dominate at first, though it mellowed as I continued to drink. I can’t tell you that I can really recognize nor describe the taste of juniper, which is one of the ingredients, but I am going to guess it is what gives that little something extra in this beer that is hard to identify. This is definitely a complex beer, but ultimately a good one. And at 8.5% ABV, it is certainly potent.

The flight of four 4 oz pours will run you ten bucks. A pint ranges from five to eight bucks depending on the beer. And most of their brews are available in a four-pack of cans between twelve and sixteen bucks.

Their food menu has several tasty items to choose from as well, including sandwiches, wings, pizzas, and more. I decided to go with their Chorizo pizza, and that was definitely a good pick. (You can read my review of it over at SpicyFoodReviews.com). Next time around I will probably get the wings because I saw those delivered to another customer and they looked quite tempting.

It was a Sunday afternoon and I had tasks planned for the day, so I did not indulge in any more of their brews, though I was tempted to get a pint of the Helles or the Mox’s IPA. I will definitely get Black Laboratory on my list for a return trip and may even give that coffee stout a swig. They are located off of E. Houston St. and they have their own parking lot, so getting in and out should be easy (unless an event is going on down the road at the Alamo Dome). You can find all the information about the place at this link and I highly recommend that you schedule a visit soon.

The post Beer Tasting at Black Laboratory Brewing appeared first on Craft Beers and More.

I have visited Dos Sirenos multiple times and have enjoyed their many beer selections and their extensive menu that has a few notable spicy offerings. I happened by just recently and ordered up a sampler of brews along with something to eat. You can read about my tasty meal over at SpicyFoodReviews.com, and below is a rundown of the beers they lined up for me.

Hercules Belgian Golden Strong Ale: This is a good Belgian ale that has the rich taste you expect from this type of brew. It has some bitterness and hops in there along with some sweetness as well. They call it a “Strong” ale and that is definitely correct, with it coming in at 8.3% ABV. And be careful with this one because it goes down easy and it catches up to you quick!

Priapus IPA: They call this one a West Coast IPA and it does deliver the boldness you expect from that type of beer. It has good bitterness and plenty of hops, and it is also very fruity with a notable amount of grapefruit coming through. Those who don’t care for a fruity beer may steer clear of this one, but it is a decent IPA selection.

Atlas Strong Ale: This is a good English ale that is very complex but still quite drinkable. I noted similarities to a Doppelbock or maybe a barrel-aged beer, but its British origins are definitely notable. It has a lot of bitterness, but then some sweetness and maltiness to balance that out. This is another one that is up there on the ABV (7.3%), but it doesn’t overwhelm. I got a four-pack of this one in cans to go on my most recent visit.

Morpheus Stout: I am not big on stouts, but I have had this one before and I really enjoy it. It does not overpower like some brews in this variety do, and even though it has a strong coffee taste, that is balanced out by the maltiness and some slight hints of fruit (probably cherry). They suggest that it has some chocolate flavor in there, but I don’t detect that, and this is definitely not one of those desert stouts. Basically, this is a good, solid brew that I would order again.

Trident Tripel: This is another Belgian ale and it is my favorite among the regulars offered at Dos Sirenos. It delivers the richness you expect from this type of beer while also proving quite refreshing. It has some bitterness, but that is well balanced by the sweetness and hops. And this one pairs surprisingly well with several of their spicy menu options. I get a glass of this each time I go and often bring some cans home as well.

A couple of other beers I have tried in the past and recommend are the Zeus Juice IPA and the Hera DDH IPA. The former is a good, hazy IPA that is refreshing and pairs well with the food, especially their spicy items. The latter is a rich, double IPA that should satisfy lovers of pale ales. The tap house and kitchen opens every day at 11 AM except Tuesdays (hey, give them at least one day off!), and it can get rather rowdy on Wednesday nights when they do trivia. Monday is also a good time to check the place out when they have several appetizers and select beers for only five bucks. I make it a point to stop by Dos Sirenos on a regular basis, and if you are in the area and looking for some good beer and food be sure to give it a try.

Dos Sirenos Brewing is located at 231 East Cevallos Street and you can check out their page on our site for the hours they are open and more information.

The post Beer Tasting at Dos Sirenos Brewing appeared first on Craft Beers and More.

Blondetastic Blonde Ale: This was the featured beer of the day and delivered a decent summer brew. It has a light, malty flavor and is not too rich but still has good taste. There is a bit of sweetness and maybe some citrus in there as well. The alcohol content is moderate at 4.5% and this is the type of beer that goes well with a hot Texas summer day.

San Antonio Salt & Lime Lager: This is another brew that is on the lighter side (though not a lite beer) and that works well for the summertime. It has some maltiness and some citrus, but neither the latter nor the salt overwhelm like you might expect since both are in the title. It is a refreshing beer and would go great with a barbeque. The alcohol content is 4.7%, so it is not too strong, but it definitely has good flavor.

Dog in the Hunt Amber Lager: This is another lager, and it adds a little more complexity over the prior brew. The expected maltiness is there and it is a dryer beer, but it still goes down quite well. It has 4.6% ABV so it won’t overwhelm, and it is a good drinking beer.

Wee Heavy Scotch Ale: This one is a notable change of pace from the other beers as it delivers a rich and complex brew with a high alcohol content (11.9%). This one spent some time in a bourbon barrel, and that comes through in the taste. It has some caramel flavors with some bitterness and maybe some similarities to a mead. This isn’t what you would call a refreshing summer beer, and a little goes a long way. But if you like Scotch Ales and/or bourbon barrel brews, you should definitely enjoy this one.

.36 Straight Bourbon: This is their flagship whisky which they make in small batches, and bourbon drinkers should certainly enjoy it. It has the caramel flavor you expect from a bourbon with a touch of sweetness with hints of vanilla, and the oak from the barrels really comes through. But it is still a smooth whisky that goes down quite well.

They offer whisky flights, but I didn’t go that route because I already had the beer flight and I just missed the food truck, so I didn’t want to drink that much on a relatively empty stomach. But I will be heading back to try more of their whiskies at some point. And if you want to try a wider selection of their beers, that do have several more varieties available in cans. They don’t have a kitchen on the premises, but they do have food trucks come by for events. Just be sure to get there early if you want to eat, because they run out of food if a lot of people show up.

Ranger Creek’s beers and spirits are available in some of the local stores, and they are definitely worth trying. You can sample some at their brewery, and they do sell cans and bottles, or you can check for the beer at your local HEB and the whisky at you liquor store.

Ranger Creek is located at 4834 Whirlwind Dr, Ste 102 and you can check out their page on our site for the hours they are open and more information.

The post Beer and Whisky Tasting at Ranger Creek Brewing and Distilling appeared first on Craft Beers and More.

The Waterfront Brewery did not have quite as nice of a view as Simonton Beach because it overlooks the Key West Bight Marina, but there was still plenty of fresh ocean air flowing in, and the beer and food along with the friendly service made for a wonderful afternoon experience on the island. They have an extensive menu that is abundant with seafood but which also includes burgers and other sandwiches along with tempting non-seafood entrees like Cuban BBQ Pork and Caribbean Skirt Steak. I found a couple of spicy items that looked interesting and I have written about them in more detail over at SpicyFoodReviews.com. I also tried their key lime pie, and they do good by that desert.

For the beer, they offer their Specialty Flight which costs only $8 and includes four generous pours of the following: Island Life Lager, Crazy Lady Honey Blonde Ale, Passionfruit Shandy, and Lazy Way IPA. I started there, and tasted a couple more beyond that, and following is my report:

Island Life Lager: This is very crisp and refreshing with a bit of sweetness. Unlike some lagers, it has a full taste the finishes well. This is the perfect beach beer and it was a great way to start my tasting while enjoying the ocean air.

Crazy Lady Honey Blonde Ale: This is a good smooth ale with just a touch of sweetness (though not as much as you might expect seeing as it has honey in the name). It also has some richness, but it is not too heavy. Those who may consider the Island Life too lite, may instead prefer to sip on this one while sitting on the beach.

Passionfruit Shandy: It takes only one sip of this one to discover that it is heavy on the passionfruit. It is not too sweet, though, so it does not taste like you are drinking a soda, and it has some good citrus to it. But you will have to like a fruity beer to enjoy this one. It was drinkable for me, but probably not one I would order again.

Lazy Way IPA: This is another beer that is fruit forward with Mango very evident in the taste. But it is not as fruity as the Shandy, so I found it more tolerable. It has some bitterness and hops that balances out the fruit, with citrus and pine flavors helping it to a nice finish. You will still have to like a fruity beer to enjoy this, but I could see getting this again.

TruMan Double IPA: After finishing the flight, I ventured to a stronger beer with this IPA, and it was definitely a good way to close out my tasting. It is not heavy on the hops, but their presence is definitely noted. It has a good level of bitterness with some grapefruit as well as some malt and maybe a bit of pine in the background as well. This is good and rich and comes in at 9.5% alcohol. It may not be a beach-sipping beer, but I sure enjoyed it in the ocean setting.

Kilted Cowboy Irish Red Ale: My wife ordered this brew and I gave it a taste as well. It has a nice malty flavor with some richness and sweetness. There are some hops in there, but they are more in the background. This one should certainly please anybody who enjoys a good red ale.

They had a few more of their brews to choose from as well as some guest beers (the key lime cider certainly sounded interesting), and if I was staying in town longer I would certainly make a return trip to Waterfront. I would like to pay another visit to the Keys at some point in the future, and this place will definitely be on my list when I do. In the meantime, I definitely have some good memories and highly recommend that you stop by for a beer and a bite if you are on the island.

Address: 201 William St, Key West, FL 33040

Website: www.thewaterfrontbrewery.com

The post Beer Tasting at the Waterfront Brewery in Key West appeared first on Craft Beers and More.

Casting Schwarzbier: This beer has a good, dark color and you might mistake it for a porter or stout based on appearance but it is not as heavy as either of those brews. It has a malty flavor with a nice sweetness in the background (maybe some honey in there?). It also has a little bit of nuttiness with a good, rich finish. It is not as daunting as some of the darker beers and should be somewhat of a crowd-pleaser.

Rule 4080 Pale Ale: This is one of their regulars and it is a milder IPA that has some hops and bitterness, but not too much on either. It is not a higher alcohol content beer, so it does not bring too much kick, but it is a good drinking beer. Those who typically do not enjoy an IPA might find this one approachable.

Don’t Give Me That Bammer American IPA: I don’t recall seeing this one before, but I hope it sticks around. It is very citrusy and not too heavy on the hops or bitterness. They call it an American IPA, but I find it similar to a Hazy IPA. I would say it is not too far from their Who’s Got the Juice Now? New England IPA, though stronger on the citrus flavor.  Next time, I might try sampling those side by side.

Round About Midnight Porter: This is a very malt-forward brew with a slightly sweet finish. There is some nuttiness there as well, but not as much as the schwarzbier. It actually seems more like a cross between a Doppelbock and a porter, bringing some of the best qualities of both.  I am pretty sure this is a regular, and it is one I would definitely get again.

Real Big Triple IPA: This was the winner from my recent trip. It is pleasantly rich with just the right amount of hops and bitterness. There is some sweetness in there and maybe just a touch of citrus, and then there is a noticeable grapefruit flavor in the background. It has some complexity to it, almost like a wine or mead, and it goes down well; the perfect beer to top off a Friday afternoon happy hour. The alcohol content is high (11%), so they don’t serve more than a 10 oz pour. And this is a rotational beer, so it won’t be on tap much longer.  But I hope it will be back at a future date.

To the West with Love Imperial IPA: This has more of a malty flavor than you would expect from an IPA and a fair amount of bitterness. There are some hops in there as well, but they are more of an afterthought. It has some sweetness and plenty of richness as there is a lot going on with this one. Bitterness and complexity win the day, though, so take note if you don’t care for that type of beer.

Outta Pocket Shandy: This has the lemony taste you expect from a shandy, but it is not too sweet or too tart.  It does have some hints of sweetness but that balances well with the other flavors.  This is a very refreshing beer, especially for the Summer months.  And it pairs particularly well with some of the spicy offerings on their menu.  It is 7.4% alcohol,  though, so don’t drink it too fast (which you will be tempted to do).

And while I did not get their West Coast IPA on either trip, I have to point that out as one of the highlights from this brewery. It is a true IPA-drinkers beer with all the hops and bitterness you expect from an IPA. It is available on tap at other locations around town, so if you encounter it I recommend giving it a try. Or just pay a visit to the source and try several more of their brews as well!

Weathered Souls is located at 606 Embassy Oaks – Suite 500 and you can check out their page on our site for the hours they are open and more information.

The post Beer Tasting at Weathered Souls Brewing Co. appeared first on Craft Beers and More.