New Beer Round-up

Todd@HoustonBeerScene.com

New Beer Round-up is posted every two weeks and features information on new beers released in our area with brief tasting notes for the ones we’ve sampled. Houston Beer Scene Picks are our choices for beers that stand out as excellent examples of their style.  For additional information on upcoming releases, check out our Labels Approvals updates which are also posted every two weeks.

Note: Availability for all beers listed is draft only unless otherwise noted.

11 Below Brewing Company – Trade Bait Batch #2 – The plan for Trade Bait is for 11 Below to change the hop bill for each batch.  Batch #2 features popular hop varieties Mosaic and Amarillo.  I felt the hop flavor popped a little bit more for this batch, but the overall effect is the same: bright hop flavor from plenty of dry-hopping and a low bitterness resulting in a very easy to drink IPA.  Available in cans.

Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company – Pecan Pie – Buffalo Bayou’s latest is a 9.3% Scotch ale with cinnamon and whole roasted pecan.  The flavor didn’t quite remind me of pecan pie, but this does work really well as a dessert/nightcap beer.  The added ingredients enhance the malt body without taking over and create a nice level of complexity.

Eureka Heights Brewing Company – Zicke Zacke –  This marzen is only available at King’s Biergarten and King’s Bierhaus.  I’m not sure how much longer it will be available. Malt flavor is moderate for the style with toasty, caramel notes. A mild herbal hop flavor and moderate bitterness round this one out.

Houston Beer Scene Pick – Great Heights Brewing Company – Denali – A 7.4% IPA brewed with Denali hops.  The hops provide fruity flavors with pineapple really standing out.  This is a bit sweet for an IPA, but everything really comes together on this one.  The interplay between hops and malt is nicely layered, complex, but still well balanced. Overall this is very well-crafted from top to bottom and easy to recommend to IPA fans.

No Label Brewing Company – Fresh Hop Solo: Idaho 7 – The latest in the Hop Solo series is probably my favorite to date and a solid example of a fresh hop pale ale.  Idaho 7 hops provide a combination of citrus, earthy and resinous pine flavors.  Hop Solo has only a mild bitterness and soft mouthfeel which really helps to allow the fresh hop flavors to shine.

Platypus Brewing – Hey Helga – Brewed for their first anniversary, Hey Helga is a 6.8% saison.  Fruity yeast flavors dominate this dry, easy drinking saison.

Platypus Brewing – Oh My Rye – The latest from Platypus is a 6.5% rye IPA brewed with Amarillo hops.  The rye flavor provides a nice, spicy touch, but citrus hop flavors stand out here.  Bitterness is moderate and the overall package adds up to a balanced American IPA.

Houston Beer Scene Pick – Whole Foods Brewing Company – Elgin Alt – WFBC nailed it with this one.  The malt flavor is complex, with caramel flavors standing out.  The hops provide floral notes and a moderate bitterness that tie everything together nicely. The overall impression complex, full-bodied, yet crisp.  Easily one of the best altbiers I’ve had in a while.

Baa Baa Brewhouse – Double Play – A 6.9% New England IPA with Galaxy and Mosaic hops.

Baileson Brewing Company – Parliament Pale Ale – An American pale ale brewed with Simcoe, Citra and Mosaic hops.

Baileson Brewing Company – Stone Temple Porter – Aged on cacao nibs from Tejas Chocolate Craftory.

Fetching Lab Brewery – Challenge Accepted – A Challenger and Warrior hopped SMATH (single malt and two hops) IPA released only at the brewery.

Galveston Bay Beer Company – Black Cauldron – A 6.0% smoked porter brewed with a portion of cherry wood smoked malt. A taproom only release.

Karbach Brewing Company – Goodnight Loving – A 7.7% maibock, brewed in collaboration with Breckenridge Brewery, made with Texas honey and Colorado peaches. 100% of the proceeds will go to Houston Food Bank.

New Republic Brewing Company – Passion Fruit IPA – Their flagship IPA with passion fruit added.

Running Walker Beer – Ur-Weisse – Described by Running Walker as a traditional Bavarian style Hefeweizen brewed with German hops and more than 50% wheat malt.

Saint Arnold Brewing Company – Bishop’s Barrel 19 – The latest in the amazing Bishop’s Barrel series is Christmas Ale aged in Chardonnay barrels with cherries and brettanomyces.

Sigma Brewing Company – Black Rain – A 12% imperial stout aged on cacao nibs, cascabel chilies and guajillo chilies.

SpindleTap Brewery – Draped Up – Released this Saturday and then it quickly sold out, this is a quadruple dry hopped IPA with Mosaic, Amarillo, Galaxy and Wakatu hops.  Hopefully some kegs will show up around town.

Texas Beer Refinery – Basil Chocolate Stout – This 6.5% stout joins TBR’s Mint Chocolate Stout on their tap wall.

Texas Beer Refinery – Dilly Dilly Dunkel – A Munich dunkel lager; you gotta love anything that’s named to poke fun of Budweiser.

Under The Radar Brewery – Porter Authority Coconut – Brewed with fresh coconut and only available at the brewery.

Sigma Brewing Company – Murry Fuggin Chrimmus – On November 30th, Sigma will be releasing this in bottles, along with regular Murry Chrimmus. Murry Fuggin Chrimmus is Murry Chrimmus aged in Bulleit Rye and Cadenhead 10 Year Trinidad Rum barrels.