New Beer Round-up
12/11/2017
We’re back with another New Beer Round-up.
Note: Availability for all beers listed is draft only unless otherwise noted.
Houston Beer Scene Pick – Copperhead Brewery – Alpha Serpentis – This 6.7% IPA is brewed and double dry hopped with Galaxy. The hop flavor pops nicely with a combination of citrus and tropical flavors. Alpha Serpentis is hazy, but not quite at NEIPA levels and comes across as quite smooth. This is a very flavorful and easy-to-drink IPA. My favorite so far from Copperhead.
Eureka Heights Brewing Company – Palate Fatigue – This 8.5% DIPA is brewed with Azacca and Vic Secret hops. Flavors of pineapple, grapefruit and a hint of peach are noted, but this isn‘t especially juicy. Despite being listed as having 85 IBU the bitterness seems low making this a smooth, easy drinking brew and not especially fatiguing on the palate.
Saint Arnold Brewing Company – Cut With Bread Pudding – Saint Arnold has replaced Sailing Santa with this new seasonal release. If you miss Sailing Santa, you can always make you own by mixing half Christmas Ale with half Elissa IPA. Cut With Bread Pudding is their Christmas Ale with vanilla and cinnamon added. A combination of toasted and caramel malt and especially cinnamon dominate the flavor, with vanilla noted in the finished. This is a nice twist on the beloved Christmas Ale. Available in bombers.
Saint Arnold Brewing Company – Icon Series: Chocolate Milk Stout – The latest Icon is brewed with Mexican chocolate from Hugo’s, a highly regarded local Mexican restaurant named after head chef Hugo Ortega that has become a Houston institution. The flavor is that of a classic milk stout with a chocolate, lightly roasty malt flavor mixing with the sweet lactose. Bitterness is low and the requisite creamy feel is also on display. Milk stout fans should be happy with this one. Available in six packs of bottles.
Not Sampled
Baa Baa Brewhouse – Manamana – A 6.8% NEIPA brewed with Citra, Mosaic, Galaxy and Mouteka hops.
Baa Baa Brewhouse – Miny – Released this Saturday, this is an 8.0% NEIPA with Citra, Ahtanum, Falconer’s Flight, Equinox, El Dorado, Mouteka and Mosaic hops. 4 packs of cans were available at the brewery.
Bakfish Brewing Company – Bushyasta – A 9.2% Belgian tripel available at the taproom.
Galveston Bay Beer Company – Flemish Flake – This taproom release is Flanders red featuring a blend of beers that have been soured. Described by GBBC as moderately sour and fruity with notes of chocolate in the finish.
Gordon Street Tavern – Blueberry Berliner – Described by Gordon Street as dry, slightly sour and having a hint of blueberries.
Karbach Brewing Company – FUN Series 017: Brandy, You’re A Fine Girl – A dopplebock aged in Armagnac barrels. Available in bombers.
Running Walker Beer – Baby Got Bock – A 7.0% bock available at their taproom.
Texas Beer Refinery – Toast Coconut English Brown – Brewed with 12 malts, 50 pounds of toasted coconut and 10 pounds of cacao nibs.
Vallensons’ Brewing Company – Proof Is In The Porter – This 5.2% brew is described by Vallensons’ as having chocolate and coffee flavors with a touch of molasses.
News
11 Below Brewing Company – On December 12th, 11 Below will be releasing Negative Space with Coffee at the brewery with a limited release of four packs of cans, as well as other variants on-tap at the brewery. The beer is brewed with a Guatemalan coffee bean from Java Pura Coffee Roasters. Kegs will also make their way around town.
B-52 Brewing Company – Pocket Tots – On December 15th, B-52 is releasing their latest hazy IPA. Pocket Tots is a DIPA brewed with malted oats, wheat and, yes, tater tots (!). It’s also hopped with Enigma and Citra.
Copperhead Brewery – Slay Ride – On December 17th, Slay Ride will be released at the brewery. This is a 15% imperial stout brewed with cinnamon and vanilla bean.
Galveston Island Brewing Company – Nightfall Porter – This winter seasonal beer is now available in cans for the first time.
Running Walker Beer – Starting on December 2nd, Running Walker started their “12 Beers of Christmas” featuring a new beer in the taproom for every day that they are open. So far they have released Citra SMASH IPA, Funky Monday – a sour brown, Mocha IPA, Milk Stout, Gose, and Coconut Coffee Porter.