6/3 vs CIN – BOTG #54

Posted on June 3, 2012 by

There’s been a lot of news coverage lately about the dude in Miami who got naked and started eating a homeless guy’s face.  Here’s an example of the coverage from the Miami Herald. Nude face-eating cannibal? Must be Miami

I’ve read a few  a lot of books about zombies, and there is usually a common theme in the beginning of every story.  Some “zombie” attacks a person and everyone tries to explain it away as an isolated incident.  The “zombie” must have some strange disease.  The “zombie” went crazy.  The “zombie” was on some bad trip from drug usage.  Nobody ever says it’s the living dead, and that there’s obviously a zombie apocalypse coming.

If you haven’t read that article from the Miami Herald I linked to, go read it now.  I’ll wait.

Done?  Wow, you are a fast reader.  Ok, did you notice how the writer is trying look for “rational” explanations for the attack?  Drugs, psychosis, the usual.  HOW ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE DUDE IS A ZOMBIE?!?  All I’m saying is keep a close eye on the homeless guy who’s recovering in the hospital.  If he tries something similar to a nurse or doctor…  Just sayin’.

So in recognition of the impending zombie attack I choose a BOTG called Zombie Dust by Three Floyds Brewing.  This beer isn’t available in Texas, but it has a REALLY high rating on Beer Advocate and RateBeer so I wanted to give it a try.  It was difficult to get, but I’ll give you a little spoiler for the review.  It was totally worth it.  Here’s what Three Floyds has to say about this fantastic American Pale Ale.

This intensely hopped and gushing undead pale ale will be ones’ only respite after the zombie apocalypse. Created with our marvelous friends in the comic industry. Art by Tim Seeley

Really cool artwork on this label. I think I can see some of the comic book influence. Just a little bit.

Not a lot of info on the site, but luckily there’s a LOT of awesome in the bottle.

This beer really is as delicious as it looks.

Beer Review:
Zombie Dust pours up a dark orangish, copper color with a little bit of haze to it.  There’s a very nice head on it that’s easily two fingers tall.  The head is cream-colored and quite foamy, and it leaves medium lacing in rings after every gulp.

Only Citra hops are used in the recipe for this American Pale Ale.  That’s fairly common.  What’s not quite so common is how amazing and complex the aroma is even using only one variety of hops.  The sweet tropical citrus note is most dominant, but there are hints of orange and floral notes as well.  The huge floral aroma is followed by notes of caramel and sweet malts.  Honestly I can say that this is one of the best smelling beers I have ever sampled.  It reminds me VERY much of my current favorite beer, Endeavor, from Saint Arnold Brewing.

If the smell of Zombie Dust hadn’t completely won me over I would have been easily convinced of this beer’s awesomeness after my first sip.  The taste follows the nose by enveloping your mouth with pure Citra hop goodness.  Tropical fruits like pineapple or mango are upfront, but there are notes of ruby red grapefruit or sweet navel orange in there as well.  The crazy delicious hop flavors are complimented wonderfully with the sweetness of the bready, caramelly malts.  It’s not overly bitter in the finish, but it does leave a subtle dryness after each sip which makes it extremely pleasant to take sip after sip after GULP.

Zombie Dust is one of the best APAs that I’ve ever had.  It’s a damn shame that I can’t get this beer in TX.  I would try to have this stocked in my beer fridge year-round.  I give this beer a Grand Slam!

Astros Review:
Astros win!  We finally broke out of the 8 game losing streak that’s been depressing as heck for all of us die-hard Astros fans.  I fully expected them to have some tough stretches this season, but it’s still not easy to deal with.  Especially after they were SO CLOSE to making it back to .500!  Hopefully this win today will get them back on track.

I have to start the review by mentioning Jordan Lyles’ stellar pitching performance.  He only allowed 5 hits and 2 earned runs, but the most important stat of his game was the 7 innings pitched.  Our bullpen has been severely overworked the last week or so, and they sorely needed a starter to go deep in a game.  Lyles did his job masterfully.  It earned him his first W of the season, and hopefully was a big confidence boost for him.  This organization needs Jordan to succeed in a big way.

I’ll also give a quick shout out to Justin Maxwell for his mammoth 2-run blast in the 7th inning that gave us a 3 run cushion.  It was the third pinch hit home run that Maxwell has hit this season, and all three have been BOMBS.  This dude is strong.  Seriously strong.

Finally, I want to mention Brett Wallace and Fernando Martinez.  I think it’s great that these guys got called up and have another shot in the majors to showcase their skills.  Matt Downs is a quality guy, but at this point I’d much rather see if Wallace can make it in the big leagues.  And Martinez has been mashing the ball all year in AAA while Bogusevic has been struggling with the Astros.  Management definitely did the right thing by calling this dude up.  He’s had a rough first couple of games, but I think he’s a capable hitter.  Give him a few months, and let’s see what we have.

All in all, great win tonight to break the losing streak.  Hopefully they stay focused and come back on Tuesday ready to kick some Cardinals butt.  Go ‘Stros!

Posted in APA, Astros, baseball, beer, Three Floyds | Leave a comment

5/28 @ COL – BOTG #49

Posted on May 28, 2012 by

Game 2 of the day/night doubleheader means I need another BOTG.  Luckily, my friend Kevin hooked me up today with two of his homebrews.  One is a black IPA and the other is a barleywine.  I’m going to go with the black IPA tonight, because I’ve got to go to work in the morning.  It’s been a rough weekend of #rootrootdrinking.

I don’t have any links to the brewery or cut and paste bloggery since this is a homebrewed beverage so let’s jump straight into the review!

*update* I forgot to ask Kevin the name of the beer, but he just got back to me and said that it’s called Dark Matter IPA.  The BOTG has a name!

The label is photoshopped. The foam is real.

Beer Review:
This beer Dark Matter pours up nearly black.  When held up to light you can see it’s actually very, VERY dark brown, but it has good clarity.  As you can see in the picture to the left the head is…awesomely large.  It’s a dark tan color and made up of tiny bubbles that stick around forever.  Lace was left in rings all the way down the pint glass, and I can’t wait to stick my nose in it.

The aroma is roasty, malty and hoppy all at the same time.  The toasted malt aroma is up front and I picked up some notes of toffee or caramel as well.  The hop aroma is at the back and it’s more of the earthy, piney resin variety.  It’s well-balanced and subtle.

The first thing that comes to mind regarding the taste of this black IPA Dark Matter is balance.  It’s got everything you could want, and nothing sticks out like a sore thumb.  It’s got hints of caramel and chocolate from the roasted malts, but the hops win out at the finish.  The hop flavor follows the nose and is spicy and piney, but not TOO bitter.  Again, balance is the name of the game here.  It has a dry mouthfeel, and I’m left wanting another sip as soon as I finish the previous one. Very nice.

Overall, the saddest part of this beer Dark Matter is that I only had one.  It’s one of the easiest drinking beers that I’ve had in a while.  I will admit that I am partial to black IPAs, but that being said, this is a damn good example of the style.   I highly recommend finding Kevin’s house and stalking him for weeks until he gives you a bottle of your own.  It’s worth any restraining order he can dish out.  I give this beer a Home Run! (would have been a Triple, but you just can’t beat the price point!)  Thank you so much Kevin!  Great job on a great beer.

Astros Review:
Another nailbiter in Colorado in the second game of the doubleheader.  Seriously though, what is up with our defense all of a sudden?!?  I am listening to the game instead of watching it, but it seems like every inning there has been some sort of misplayed ball or error.  This team simply can not afford to make this many mistakes and win a game.

Now we are going deep into our bullpen.  This has gone horribly for us so far this year.  Especially on the road.  Brandon Lyon is in the game now, and I have all my fingers and toes crossed.  Not my legs though.  I’m a man, damnit.  And Brandon Lyon tosses a perfect 9th inning in relief.

We are getting free baseball on a doubleheader day.  Can Wandy pitch again?

Hopefully this has a happy ending, but I won’t be awake to see it.  It’s been a great Memorial Day weekend, but I am straight up exhausted.  Hopefully the Astros have some energy left!  Go ‘Stros!

Posted in Astros, baseball, beer, Black IPA, IPA | 1 Comment

5/28 @ COL – BOTG #48

Posted on May 28, 2012 by

I have the perfect BOTG for Memorial Day.  It’s called Homefront IPA from Saint Arnold Brewing Co.  When I heard that Saint Arnold was making a special release beer with 100% of the profits going to Operation Homefront I knew that I had to pick up a bottle or two to support the men and women who have fought for our great country.  Check out Saint Arnold’s website for their write-up of how this beer came to be.  It’s a great cause, and *spoiler alert* a pretty great beer!

I love how Saint Arnold makes each beer label distinct, but still manages to keep it so obvious that it’s a Saint Arnold brew. Cool!

The beer is a drinkable West Coast IPA. It pours a golden amber with a big white head. It has a big citrusy nose with a slight note of fresh oranges.

Malty and sweet up front. Lighter bodied than might be expected. The hop bitter, orange peel and hop flavor seem to all kick in at the finish. Remarkably easy to drink for an IPA with the orange notes more of a secret ingredient than a dominant flavor. Quite thirst quenching making it perfect for enjoying during Memorial Day weekend.

Consume this beer fresh as the hop flavor is best enjoyed this way.

Well, I bought the beer on Saturday and drank it on Monday.  I’m doing my best to follow Saint Arnold’s directions and drink it fresh.  I’d rather taste it right out of the tanks, but until I’m a VIP this will have to do.

I tasted this beer in an 8 oz. Saint Arnold glass. The bottle isn’t really THAT huge.

Beer Review:
Homefront IPA pours up a clear, golden color.  The white, foamy head is a little taller than a finger width and left sparse lacing on it’s way down the glass.  The head recedes slowly and leaves a trace of bubbles on the surface.

This beer isn’t quite as aromatic as I expected from a West Coast style IPA, but the hop aroma is of tropical citrus fruits and very floral.  I definitely got a whiff of orange, but it’s not nearly as dominant as I expected.  The malt shows up a bit more as it warmed, and overall Homefront IPA smells like a well-balanced brew.

The taste is of citrusy hops upfront with the clean biscuit malt flavors balancing out the finish.  The beer is very carbonated, and so crisp and refreshing.  However, I liked the taste and mouthfeel of Homefront IPA much more when it was cold and fresh out of the bottle.  Don’t let your glass warm up!

I drank this beer during the 1st game of the day/night doubleheader while I was playing outside with the family.  Thanks again to all the great men and women who have served our country to allow me to do something as simple and wonderful as that.  I could drink Homefront IPA every day, and I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t picked up a bottle yet.  It’s a great beer for a great cause.  I give this beer a Triple!

Astros Review:
This one hurt.  Too many errors.  Just all around bad defensive effort.

I like the way the offense kept battling back, but you have to play good defense in Colorado.  Mistakes will kill you every single time.

We gotta win the second game of the doubleheader.  Go ‘Stros!

Posted in Astros, baseball, beer, IPA, Saint Arnold | Leave a comment

5/25 @ LAD – BOTG #45

Posted on May 26, 2012 by

These road games on the west coast have been rough on me the last several years. Maybe I’m getting old, or maybe the 3 kids are wearing me out. I just can’t stay awake for the entire game when it starts at 9:10 pm. Not gonna happen.

My BOTG is another great one from a local brewery called Saint Arnold Brewing Company. If you are from Houston and haven’t heard of Saint Arnold by now…well, hurry up and getcha some. I’d especially recommend the Summer Pils, which is what I chose for tonight’s game. Even the squirrels in Houston like this beer!

Ignore the almond on top of the bottle. The squirrel is clearly craving some Summer Pils!

I agree with the rodent. This is one tasty beverage! Let’s hear from the brewer to see what the fuss is all about with this summer seasonal.

A true bohemian-style pilsner. Crisp and refreshing, this beer is perfect for a hot summer day. Saint Arnold Summer Pils has a delicate, sweet malt taste complemented by an abundant hop aroma and flavor. This beer is brewed with fine German malt, and a copious quantity of “noble” hops imported from the Czech Republic.

As you know by now if you are a regular reader, the above text is just an excerpt from the Saint Arnold website. I highly recommend hitting up the site and reading about the history of this beer. It’s pretty interesting stuff. Now on to my review!

Clear, crisp, cooooool.

Beer Review:
Summer Pils pours up crystal clear and is a light golden color. The head is formed of largeish bubbles that are white, and it’s easily two fingers tall with a normal pour. The head has pretty good retention until the first sip, then it quickly recedes to leave a nice cap on top of the beer. The head also left thin, white lacing on the glass. We’re off to a pretty nice start with this pilsner.

The aroma of Summer Pils doesn’t disappoint. The first notes that hit me are grassy and spicy. Next comes the aroma of sweet grain. It smells like a pilsner, but better. There’s more going on here than with your run-of-the-mill pils.

Summer Pils tastes like liquid gold. It’s crisp, fresh, and habit-forming. The bready German malts are just sweet enough to perfectly balance the spicy, grassy hop bitterness. There is also a hint of lemon that makes the beer even more refreshing. It has a smooth finish that leaves you ready for another sip as soon as the previous one is gone.

Saint Arnold spent several years perfecting the recipe for this brew, and I think they have hit it out of the park (baseball reference ftw!). I always used to tell people that this is my favorite Saint Arnold beer. I say “used to” because now Endeavor Double IPA is my favorite. However, Endeavor is sold year-round, and Summer Pils is only a summer seasonal. Therefore, my joy at seeing those tie-dyed six-pack carriers hit the shelves has not diminished one iota. It might be the only thing that keeps these Houston summers bearable! I give this beer a Home Run!

The label for this beer is awesome, but not nearly as awesome as the contents inside!

Astros Review:
One of my favorite hashtags on Twitter (besides #rootrootdrink of course) is #cantpredictbaseball. Here’s a good one from Dave Raymond (@daveramond4).

You get the idea. Well, last night the Astros faced the Dodgers in L.A. The Dodgers sent out the reigning Cy Young award winner, Clayton Kershaw, against the reigning “worst team in baseball”. Obviously, year-to-year things change. However, earlier this season Kershaw dominated the Astros in Houston by striking out 9 batters over 7 shutout innings.

Add to that, the Dodgers have the best home record in all of baseball, and the Astros are tied for the worst road record in MLB at 5-13.

Well, get out your hashtags because you #cantpredictbaseball!! The Astros went into Chavez Ravine and beat the Kershaw and the Dodgers 3-1!

Perhaps this victory wouldn’t have been so “shocking” if we had our ace on the mound as well, but the Astros sent Lucas Harrell to the bump to face off against the Cy Young winner from 2011. I don’t even know how to describe Harrell’s performance last night. Did he outpitch Kershaw? It’s hard to say that, but the results are there staring me in the face. Harrell threw 7 1/3 shutout innings and Kershaw allowed 3 runs. The strange thing is that Lucas Harrell didn’t strike out a single Dodger hitter. Not only that, but he didn’t get even one swing and miss from a batter. Think about that for a second. Let it simmer. Ponder life’s mysteries… You done? Good. Every single time that a Dodger took at swing they made contact. You know what that means? You #cantpredictbaseball

The other thing that I would be crazy not to mention is the fact that J.D. Martinez MAY BE OUT OF HIS SLUMP! After a pretty nice series against the worst team in baseball (the wonderful Cubs), he jacked a 2-run homer off one of the best pitchers in MLB. I hope I’m not getting ahead of myself here, but if Martinez starts driving in runs again then this Astros team just got a lot more dangerous.

The Astros’ record after tonight is 22-23, and they have 6 more games in May. They only have to go 4-2 to end May with a record above .500! That’s just freaking incredible. I love this team, and I love to #rootrootdrink them on to victory!

Go ‘Stros!

Posted in Astros, baseball, beer, Pilsner, Saint Arnold | Leave a comment

5/22 vs CHC – BOTG #43

Posted on May 22, 2012 by

One of my favorite things about beer these days is the awesome names that brewers are giving their beers.  Some are kinda crazy like Blaecorn Unidragon from Clown Shoes Brewing Co.  Others use a crowdsourced idea that fits their city and local culture like Endeavor DIPA from Saint Arnold Brewing Co.  Sometimes a beer name is just so obvious and awesome that you can’t even imagine how the brewery could ever name it something different.  Such is the case with Ryes and Shine Lager from Spoetzl Brewery.  Sup Spoetzl? You’re website sux, but I found a press release about this beer using the google.  So there!

This small batch brew is the second in our limited edition Brewer’s Pride craft brew series. Medium bodied, dark brown lager brewed with Weyermann Rye malt and Chocolate rye from Germany, caramel malt and three hop varieties. Result is a rich, roasted, dry finish with a touch of sweetness and hops.

Oh my! That laminate floor looks FANTASTIC.

Get it?  Ryes and Shine?  It’s a beer made from the world famous brewer of Shiner Bock using Rye malt.  Ryes and Shine.  RYES AND SHINE!  The louder you say it the more awesome it gets.  No?  Yes.

Beer Review:
I have to get this done fast.  I’m sleepy.

@jennann516 left the camera at school. Please forgive the Instagram foolishness once again.

Ryes and Shine Rye Lager pours up the color of Shiner Bock.  Maybe a little bit lighter reddish brown.  MAYBE.  It’s got a pretty awesome two finger tall head on it though that’s the color of my carpet.  BTW my carpet is a light tan color.  I was also impressed with the retention of the head as well as the fancy lacing that appeared on my glass.  Did Spoetzl make another decent beer?

If the aroma is any indication I would say yes indeed, they have produced a quality beer with this Ryes and Shine Lager.  I get hints of the caramel malt as well a toasted cracker scent.  There is a tiny bit of spiciness, but overall the aroma is subtle.  There is nothing offensive in the smell of this beer, but also nothing worth raving about.

The taste?  Well, the taste is quite pleasant actually.  I tasted the toasted malt and the smooth caramel rye malt.  There’s just enough hops in there to balance it out nicely.  This beer is easy to drink, and while it’s generally quite tame, I found myself enjoying each and every sip gulp.

Sadly, this beer is only available as part of the Shiner Family Pack.  That’s a damn shame.  I would spend my hard-earned dollars to buy a 6-pack of this beer alone.  It’s simple, but refreshing and actually pretty darn tasty.  Spoetzl has done a good job with this one.  I give it a Double!

Astros Review:
The #reversejinx works again!  J.A. Happ throws 6 innings and only allowed ONE RUN?!?  I know that @DWWoodruff doesn’t want me to overuse and abuse my #reversejinx powers, but DUDE.  The evidence is clearly there that I, and I alone, am responsible for J.A. Happ’s pitching skillz these last two outings.  You guys can deny it all you want, but you’ll be calling for me to do it again in the playoffs.  Just you wait.

I love this team!  Go ‘Stros!

Posted in Astros, baseball, beer, Lager, Rye, Shiner | Leave a comment

5/21 vs CHC – BOTG #42

Posted on May 21, 2012 by

The 42nd BOTG is called Rodeo Clown Double IPA from Karbach Brewing here in Houston, TX.   I chose it because it’s from Houston, and I wanted to get some good karma going to get the Astros back on track.  Now I’m just worried that this choice might jinx the Astros.  I didn’t realize until after I chose it that the colors on the can are Cubs colors.  Yuck.  Check out that can, and then check out Karbach’s blurb about the beer.

Cubs colors?!? What was I thinking?

It’s a job.  And a hazardous one at that.  Benefits, you ask?  I hardly think so.

But the show must go on.  So, it’s with bravado that the Rodeo Clown takes his place in the arena lights.  Whether or not he’s insane is not important right now.  It’s with grit and intensity that the Clown steps in the path of almost certain destruction.

Our Double IPA is much the same.  At 9.5% ABV, Rodeo Clown Double IPA coats the tongue in bitterness and packs a punch that will knock a bull on its ass.  Intense and maybe a little insane; drink carefully, but drink often.  Ladies and Gentlemen, let the show begin.

As we all know, rodeo clowns are generally badasses.  With any luck, some of that badassery will rub off on the Astros tonight.

This beer looks pretty badass. Just like a rodeo clown. Oh, I get it now!

Beer Review:
Rodeo Clown Double IPA is a dark amber color.  I wasn’t expecting that color, but it’s nice-looking.  It’s also very hazy, and that adds to the darker appearance of the beer.  The head was easily 2-3 fingers tall consisting of a light tan foam that had pretty good retention.  By the time I was done taking pictures (3-4 minutes), the head had settled to a thin cap on top and left a little bit of lacing on the Karbach glassware.

The beer has a thin hop aroma that bends toward the earthy, piney side rather than citrus or floral.  The main smell I’m picking up is grains and malt.  There’s also a whiff of booze in there, but it’s pretty well hidden considering the beer is 9.5% ABV.

Rodeo Clown is actually pretty easy to drink for being a Double IPA.  The bready malt imparts a sweet honey-like flavor upfront, that initially I didn’t like.  However, the hops bring a resiny bitterness to the finish that isn’t too bitter, but actually quite refreshing.  The alcohol doesn’t show in the taste, but it definitely helps the mouthfeel.  This is a pretty damn smooth DIPA.

It’s a good thing that they sell this beer in a 4-pack of 12 oz cans.  Otherwise, it would be tempting to consume more of this beer than I “need”.  It’s not the most incredible Double IPA that I’ve tried, but it’s an interesting version of the style.  I am not sure how fresh my cans are, but I’m curious to see how the beer changes over time.  I will continue purchasing this beer year-round here in Houston, TX, because sometimes I feel like drinking a 10% ABV beer and standing in front of a raging bull.  I give this beer a Triple!

Astros Review:
By the time I got home and unloaded my Home Depot haul the score was already 4-0 Astros.  I hurried to pour the beer so I could get in on the #rootrootdrink action, and as soon as I started taking pictures, Chris Johnson hit another 3 run homer to push the score to 7-0! The score ended up 8-4 with all of the Cubs runs scored in garbage time.  Typical Cubs garbage.

Since when did the Astros become such a home run oriented team?  Nearly all of the runs scored on Saturday came from homers.  The only run we scored on Sunday came via longball.  Tonight, 7 of the 8 runs scored off prodigious blasts that left the yard.  I’m going to attempt some math now.  5 + 1 + 7 = 13.   6 + 1 + 8 = 15  Ladies and gentleman, this here Aggie has deciphered that 13 of the last 15 runs scored have been via home runs!  Yeah, math!

Speaking of home runs, can we talk about Jed Lowrie for just a bit?  With every swing of the bat Red Sox fans are reminded of what a stellar trade it was getting Mark Melancon for  Jed Lowrie.  Perhaps they are also reminded of Larry Anderson for Jeff Bagwell?  It’s too early to say that Lowrie is going to be a steady Astros weapon for the next decade, but there are signs pointing that direction for sure.

One last comment on the game tonight before I get back in front of the bull.  Bud Norris is now 5-1 on the season.  Another 7 shutout innings tonight with 8 strikeouts have put him in the national spotlight.  He has 58 strikeouts on the season which should be in the top 10 after tonight, and there are only a few pitchers with more victories than Bud.

So far in May, Bud is 4-0 with a 0.35 ERA.  Pitcher of the month?  Maybe, but that’s not the long-term goal here is it?  Perhaps this will be the year when he turns into a bona fide top of the rotation type of pitcher.  We can only rootrootroot and hope!

Thank goodness the Cubs colored can didn’t jinx my Astros after all!

Go ‘Stros!

Posted in Astros, baseball, beer, DIPA, Karbach | Leave a comment

5/16 vs MIL – BOTG #37

Posted on May 16, 2012 by

I have tried to keep this blog interesting by occasionally tasting beers from the Astros’ opponent’s home state.  I had planned for tonight’s BOTG to be from Wisconsin.  You know, cause the Milwaukee Brewers are from Wisconsin.  But you know what?  Screw it.  The Astros need my help.  After a tough road trip for my Astros I refuse to give any extra love to our next opponent.  Wisconsin can suck an egg.  Tonight I’m going to focus on MY team!  Specifically, the Astros starting pitcher, Bud Norris.

According to wikipedia, David Stefan “Bud” Norris was born March 2, 1985 in Greenbrae, California.  Well, it turns out that Anchor Brewing is only 17.7 miles away from Greenbrae.  So tonight’s BOTG is a Coors Light.

Psych!  You didn’t fall for that did you?  Come on now, that wouldn’t make a lick of sense.  The REAL beer-of-the-game is called Brekle’s Brown from Anchor Brewing.  Whoa boy.  This is one tasty Brown Ale.  Should I use my cut and paste skillz to give you some info directly from Anchor Brewing’s site?  Or perhaps you should #rootrootclick your way to their site all by yourself.  Naw.  This is the easiest part of my blog.  I can’t stop now.

Inspired by the all-malt brown ales in Anchor’s brewing archives, Brekle’s™ Brown has a coppery brown color and unusual depth of flavor with hints of citrus which makes for richness and complexity without heaviness. The classic, all-malt, single-hop brown ale.

Brewmaster Mark Carpenter’s unique recipe—a tip of the hat to our first brewmaster—looks to both the past and the future. It starts with a special blend of roasted malts.

For brewing and dry hopping, a single and distinctive new American hop variety called Citra creates nuanced flavors and aromas complementing Brekle’s™ Brown’s unique maltiness.

Citra hops!  No wonder I like this beer so much.

#beertography Nice pic Jenn!

Beer Review:
Brekle’s Brown is one of the prettiest beers that I have poured so far during this challenge. Anchor Brewing calls it a brown ale.  That description doesn’t do justice to the color of this brew.  It’s the color of an Oregon Sunstone.

Breckle’s Brown is more awesome looking than this.

The head on this beer is a light beige color, but because of the deep reddish color of the beer below it appears to have a pink tint to it.  I am not ashamed to say that I spent a decent amount of time admiring the pour of this beer.  The foam had good retention, but left very little lacing.  First person to care about the lack of lacing gets a free koozie.

Aerial shot of Breckle’s Brown. Mmm, foamy.

I accidentally got some of the foam in my nose while I was sniffing this brew.  I guess that’s the price you pay when you are a world-famous beer reviewer.  However, knowing that I have at least 2 people hanging on my every word kept me focused, and I was able to continue taking notes on the aroma of this fine beverage.  The most noticeable aromas are the roasty, caramel malts.  I also get light aroma of chocolate.  It reminds me of brownie batter.  BUT! When you take a few deep whiffs of this beer you can start to pick up the sweet, fruity smell of the Citra hops.  Yum.

The taste of Breckle’s Brown matches the nose, but in reverse.  Does that make sense?  I hope so.  I first taste the sweet, citrus flavor of the hops, but it’s quickly balanced by the roasty malt flavors that are the telltale signs of a brown ale.  Caramel malt flavors are certainly present, but the hops add a dryness to the finish that make this beer one of the most drinkable brown ales I have tried in quite some time.

The pictures don’t do the color of this beer justice. Pour up a Breckle’s. Hold it up to the light. Prepare to be awed.

I am not quite certain that this is a great example of the brown ale style.  It’s more floral and hoppy than any brown ale that I’ve tried.  However, it is exactly these reasons that I enjoyed Brekle’s Brown so much.  I only bought this beer as a single in a pick-a-six-pack, but I will probably head right back to Rowdy’s to buy the other 5.  My wife liked it, and I liked it as well.  Even though I don’t particularly care for brown ales I have to give this beer a Home Run!

Astros Review:
If you follow me on Twitter, then you know that occasionally I try to set OVER/UNDER lines on certain stats for the upcoming games.  Without tooting my own horn too much, I would like to point out that my lines have been spot on all season long.  I’m a badass I know.  Tonight I tweeted that my line for Bud Norris strikeouts was 8.5.  Most of my followers are Astros fans so I wasn’t surprised when the majority of them picked the over on that line.  I also picked the over, and was pleased as punch when Norris got strikeout #9 to make me look like a genius once again.

To go along with those 9 strikeouts, Bud only gave up 1 run on 4 hits through 7 innings.  Pretty stellar stuff.  Has Bud turned into our ace?  Wouldn’t that be great?

Bud’s last game was a 1-0 victory, but he didn’t have to worry about shutting out the Brewers tonight.  The Astros offense finally woke back up after 9 straight games with less than 3 runs scored.  9 STRAIGHT GAMES!?!?  Then all of a sudden we explode for 8 runs when we need them least.  Typical.  But enjoyable.  I won’t complain about anything tonight.

In conclusion, I am excited that I picked a beer from where Bud Norris was born and raised instead of a beer from Wisconsin.  I am 90% certain that I am the sole cause of the victory tonight, and I am fine with that.  Let’s #rootrootdrink and Go ‘Stros!

Posted in Anchor, Astros, baseball, beer, Brown | 1 Comment