366th - Rahr Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer ....

This is it - I have done it.  The 366th beer of the year.  I have sampled beers from 71 different breweries; 9 of which were from Texas.  There are still a lot of beers I haven't tried including several already in my fridge.  Keep going?  Not at the one-a-day pace.  But I think I will continue to sample different beers and put my notes here.  Maybe a couple of beers a week?  Just no set pace.  This has been an enjoyable experience, but now I want to relax and 'just' drink a few beers.  Cheers!

I thought it fitting for my New Year's Eve beer to be from Texas, as well as local.  So tonight I am having a Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer, Dark Winter Ale, from Rahr & Sons Brewing Company.  1 pint, 6 ounce bottle.  It is listed in different places from 8-8.5% ABV.  The regular Winter Warmer is 8.5%

This beer poured with a small, tan colored head.  Beer color is a very dark reddish brown; when held up to the light, a very small amount of light shines through.  There is still a lot of chocolate to the aroma, but there is a little booziness underneath from the bourbon.  A little vanilla.  The taste again has the chocolate and roasted malt, but this time is smoother, and the bitterness is replaced with obvious notes of bourbon.  The aftertaste primarily leaves you with some of the bourbon.  Somewhat warming, but very soothingly so.  Overall, very tasty and hard to imagine a better beer to ring in the New Year.

Rahr & Sons Brewing Company

Fort Worth, Texas

www.rahrbrewing.com

Southern Star Pine Belt Pale Ale ....

And yet another Texas brewery:  Southern Star Brewing Company.  I am trying Pine Belt Pale Ale in a 16 ounce can.  Their web site shows 6.3% ABV and 45 IBUs.

 This beer poured with a thin, light beige head.  Beer color is a light, orange-ish amber.  There is a small amount of sediment in the glass.  The aroma is sweet, with some citrus, fruit and caramel.  The taste has a little more bite than the aroma, with some citrus and pine.  But there is a definite sweet malt and fruit quality that comes in towards the finish.  Slightly vegetal.  The aftertaste leaves you with some nice pine/resin.    

Southern Star Brewing Company

Conroe, Texas

www.southernstarbrewery.com

Real Ale Black Quadrupel ....

Today I will have a Brewers' Cut Black Quadrupel from Real Ale Brewing Company.  Twelve ounce bottle. The web site shows 10.8% ABV and 33 IBUs.

This beer poured with a thin, dark tan head.  Beer color is a very dark brown; when the glass is held up to the light, a very small amount of light can be seen around the edges.  The aroma has a lot of dark fruit, a little banana, brown sugar and a note of the higher alcohol.  The taste has the dark fruits, a little roasted malt, yeast, brown sugar, candied fruits and an even stronger note of the high alcohol.  The aftertaste leaves you with a little roasted malt and alcohol.  

Real Ale Brewing Company

Blanco, Texas

www.realalebrewing.com

Coney Island Albino Python ....

My Friday night beer is a Coney Island Albino Python, White Lager Brewed with Spices, from Shmaltz Brewing Company. 1 pint, 6 ounce bottle.  Their web site shows 6% ABV.

This beer poured with a small, white head.  Beer color is a pale to medium yellow.  It is slightly hazy, with a small amount of very fine sediment.  The aroma is mild, with yeast, wheat, lemon, fruit and spice.  The taste is more of the same, but with a little more oomph than the aroma.  It is fairly dry.  Somewhat effervescent.  Mild aftertaste of some spice and 'lager'.  Overall, this is a refreshing milder beer with some nice things going on in the flavor department.

Shmaltz Brewing Company

Saratoga Spings, New York

www.shmaltzbrewing.com

No Label Black Wit-O ....

Tonight's beer is Black Wit-O, Dark Wheat Ale, from No Label Brewing Company.  The twelve ounce bottle shows 10 IBUs.  The web site lists ABV at 7%.

This beer poured with a thin, tan colored head.  Beer color is a dark blackish brown.  No light shows through the glass when held up to the light.  For the aroma I am getting roasted malt, cocoa and a little spice.  The taste is more of the same, with roasted malt and cocoa.  Not really getting any wheat qualities in there.  Flavor is a little thin towards the finish.  Creamy mouth feel.  Very little aftertaste.  Not bad, just a little mild.

No Label Brewing Company

Katy, Texas

www.nolabelbrew.com

Indian Wells Lobotomy Bock ....

Today I will try a Lobotomy Bock Lager from Indian Wells Brewing Company.  Twelve ounce bottle.  Internet searches show 10.5-10.8% ABV.

Lobotomy Bock poured with a thin, chocolate brown head.  Beer color is a blackish brown, with no light showing through the glass when held up to the light.  The aroma has dark fruit, molasses and a hint of the higher alcohol.  The taste has a little chocolate, some malt, a slight metallic note.  You don't taste the higher alcohol.  A little thin on body.  Very little aftertaste.  Overall, this one is a little thin on the body and flavor for my tastes.

Indian Wells Brewing Company

Inyokern, California

www.mojavered.com

No Label Pale Horse Ale ....

Today's beer is Pale Horse Ale from No Label Brewing Company.  The bottle shows 36 IBUs.  5.8% ABV is listed on the web site.

This beer poured with a thin, beige head.  Beer color is an orange-ish amber.  The beer is very cloudy, with a lot of fine sediment.  The aroma is more fruit and floral, than citrus.  Some bread as well.  In the taste, I do get a bit of citrus rind or pine that gives it a little bitterness behind caramel, bready malt, fruit and floral.  The aftertaste is mild, with just a little bitterness.  

No Label Brewing Company

Katy, Texas

www.nolabelbrew.com