Front Porch Pub

I was headed out of downtown today, and thought I'd stop in for a burger and to see what beers they have on tap. Sure, it's not a "real" beer bar, but what the hell.

First of all--hot bartender. 24-ish, former college soccer player with soccer player legs. Nice.

Food seemed to be the regular pub grub, no surprise there. They had a small tap-wall with a lot of the Budweiser/Heineken types, but they had a decent selection of St. Arnold and Real Ale that made it worth the visit.

St. Arnold Stout: This is the first time I've had it on draft except at a brew tour. For some reason, it's a little richer, little smoother, little heavier, little nuttier. All around it's better on draft. The nut-brown taste was a surprise, but didn't take it out of the type.

Real Ale's Rio Blanco Pale Ale: This was also better on draft. Still crisp and light, it's got a good zip to it. Nice pale, and I'll have to get it more regularly.

Real Ale's Fireman's #4: This one was not as good as I remember it being in the bottle. It seemed a bit flat, a bit hollow. Seemed like it was a bit old, probably because it's not a terribly fast mover.

Real Ale's Sisyphus 2008

I have high hopes for the 2008. I've heard it's hoppier, as a barleywine is supposed to be, and the 2007 was decidedly unexciting.

Starts out great. Pours slowly and thick, almost oily. Great light tan head that thins to a sheet with slow, small carbonation. Excellent deep amber color.

Smalles hugely malty. Sweet with a hint of grassy hops. Strong smell of bread, but it feels a bit crisp in the smell.

Man, it's slow. Goes down smoothly, like a heavy cream ale. Huge body. Big bitterness that is mostly indistinct, primarily because it has to fight through the big body and malt. Fades to an twangy grassy aftertaste, and the bready malt never fades.

Very good beer. Huge step up from last year, and I'm looking forward to letting it age and also to trying it side by side with the '07 as well. Good to see such a big beer from Texas.