My compulsion to buy singles has struck again. The key here: low expectations. I'm sure it has a brewery name, but I can't find it on the label. Kind of a generic Euro lager. It says it's a "Dutch Pilsner," whatever that is, although I like pilsners so it should be at least passable.
Mild in smell. The pilsner funk is in there, with a sweetness that European lagers all seem to have.
It's basically two beers competing if you ask me. A harsh Euro lager and the pilsner, with the harshness winning out. More like spoiling the pilsner taste, I guess. Not a good beer, and I'm glad it's out of the way.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Gordon Biersch Brewing Company's Blonde Bock
It's been a while since I had a Gordon Biersch beer, and I remember them as mediocre. Add to that my lackluster feeling about Sierra Nevada's Golden Bock, and all I really hope for this beer is that it doesn't suck mightily. That's okay though, low expectations are usually exceeded.
Pours a hazy light amber with a nice off white head.
Nice malty smell, with a hint of the usual lager smell to go with it. Very low pils smell to it, with a tiny alcohol bite as well.
Well, it doesn't suck mightily, but it's an odd combination of flavors. The aftertaste is the best part of it, it's bready and mellow. Up front, however, it's mostly an odd bitterness with an alcohol bite that really shouldn't be present in a beer under about 9% ABV. Overall, this just isn't a good beer and I'm wondering if the style can be done correctly at all. It seems like a European Golden that has had its flavors heightened by concentrating them, presumably by freezing the beer and scooping out the ice. But I doubt they went to all that trouble for this one.
Pours a hazy light amber with a nice off white head.
Nice malty smell, with a hint of the usual lager smell to go with it. Very low pils smell to it, with a tiny alcohol bite as well.
Well, it doesn't suck mightily, but it's an odd combination of flavors. The aftertaste is the best part of it, it's bready and mellow. Up front, however, it's mostly an odd bitterness with an alcohol bite that really shouldn't be present in a beer under about 9% ABV. Overall, this just isn't a good beer and I'm wondering if the style can be done correctly at all. It seems like a European Golden that has had its flavors heightened by concentrating them, presumably by freezing the beer and scooping out the ice. But I doubt they went to all that trouble for this one.
Thomas Bar-B-Q
Alright, I ordered the three meat plate, with the holy trinity of brisket, ribs and sausage, which came smothered in sauce. Serious party foul. Sauce is nice though. Slightly vinegary and peppery, maybe a little tomotoey? I like it.
Green beans are overcooked and mushy. Black eyed peas too. They tasted good but it was kind of like black eyed pea soup.
They make their own hot links, and they're well cooked and lean, like I like. Great flavor, slightly smoky, well ground as opposed to the fatty and chunky summer sausage type.
Texas toast instead of bread, which takes me back to my DQ country basket days.
Only one rib? That's kind of a rip. It was kind of tough, and more like a pork chop. Not very much smoke to it at all.
Brisket is lean, but not dry and well smoked. Would be excellent if not smothered in sauce, but it's very good even with it.
Peach cobbler is great. Lots of crust, not soupy, and not too sweet.
Over all this is a good local place to stop in. I'll choose different sides and be sure to keep the sauce on the side in the future, but I think it's one of the best BBQ places in town. It's a damn sight better than Goode Co. or Pappas, but not up to par with anything in Luling or Lockhart. That's not really a fair comparison though, and I'll be back to this place whenever I find myself hungry on the north loop.
Green beans are overcooked and mushy. Black eyed peas too. They tasted good but it was kind of like black eyed pea soup.
They make their own hot links, and they're well cooked and lean, like I like. Great flavor, slightly smoky, well ground as opposed to the fatty and chunky summer sausage type.
Texas toast instead of bread, which takes me back to my DQ country basket days.
Only one rib? That's kind of a rip. It was kind of tough, and more like a pork chop. Not very much smoke to it at all.
Brisket is lean, but not dry and well smoked. Would be excellent if not smothered in sauce, but it's very good even with it.
Peach cobbler is great. Lots of crust, not soupy, and not too sweet.
Over all this is a good local place to stop in. I'll choose different sides and be sure to keep the sauce on the side in the future, but I think it's one of the best BBQ places in town. It's a damn sight better than Goode Co. or Pappas, but not up to par with anything in Luling or Lockhart. That's not really a fair comparison though, and I'll be back to this place whenever I find myself hungry on the north loop.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Harpoon Brewery's 100 Barrel Series Island Creek Oyster Stout
Pours like a straight stout. Opaque in the glass, but amber highlights as it pours. Great dark tan head that stays for good.
Smells great too. Big roasted and chocolate flavors, backed by a solid and grainy smell.
Medium body with moderate bitterness, its primary flavor is the roasted grain.
This would make a great imperial, if it had more body, but as a stout it's excellent. I'm starting to like Harpoon more and more.
Smells great too. Big roasted and chocolate flavors, backed by a solid and grainy smell.
Medium body with moderate bitterness, its primary flavor is the roasted grain.
This would make a great imperial, if it had more body, but as a stout it's excellent. I'm starting to like Harpoon more and more.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Tallgrass Brewing Company's Buffalo Sweat
Alright--back from another round of illness, but ready to go. I do have some catching up to do, mostly with parks, but while I get started on some of that I'm going to have this beer. I thought it was going to be a brown, but it's a stout, so it's already looking up.
Pours an opaque blackish brown with a better than average dark tan head.
Nice smell. A bit harsh and grainy, with a nice chocolate smell hidden way under there somewhere.
Odd taste. Has all of the above characteristics, plus a mild bitterness, but probably the closest analogy would be that this tastes like a Belgian stout. It has that odd yeast taste of many Belgians that I'm not very fond of. Feels a bit like a milk stout, with that forced smoothness that lactose can give a beer.
This is about par for a Tallgrass beer, not great, but not really that bad either.
Pours an opaque blackish brown with a better than average dark tan head.
Nice smell. A bit harsh and grainy, with a nice chocolate smell hidden way under there somewhere.
Odd taste. Has all of the above characteristics, plus a mild bitterness, but probably the closest analogy would be that this tastes like a Belgian stout. It has that odd yeast taste of many Belgians that I'm not very fond of. Feels a bit like a milk stout, with that forced smoothness that lactose can give a beer.
This is about par for a Tallgrass beer, not great, but not really that bad either.
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