287. Kona Brewing – Longboard Island Lager
Mar10

287. Kona Brewing – Longboard Island Lager

As I mentioned in my last post, I was out at the Hickory Street Bar and Grill in Austin, TX at SXSW.  My new friend Robert and I enjoyed the view of Congress Ave. from their patio while we ate.  After starting with a Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale, I thought I’d try something else from them along with my meal.  The only other Kona beer on their menu was this one, so it made my decision easy. Numbers: 4.6% ABV, 18 IBUs, 13 degrees plato...

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286. Kona Brewing – Fire Rock Pale Ale
Mar10

286. Kona Brewing – Fire Rock Pale Ale

I’m down in Austin, TX for SXSW and my new friend Robert and I headed out on the town to try to find a place to eat.  We found The Hickory Street Bar & Grill, which had a nice patio looking out on to Congress Ave.  Although I know it’s probably made by one of the other Craft Brewers Alliance breweries, I was glad to see beer from Kona Brewing on the beer list.  I haven’t had any of their beers, but they sounded...

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285. (512) Brewing – (512) IPA Draft
Mar09

285. (512) Brewing – (512) IPA Draft

When I checked into the Downtown Austin Residence Inn for the beginning of the SXSW Interactive Festival, I got a coupon for a couple free drinks at the attached Champions bar and grill. So, my friend Robert and I headed to the bar before dinner. Fortunately, they had some local brews on tap, so I got a chance to try this local IPA. Numbers: 7% ABV, 65 IBUs Appearance & Aroma: It was a somewhat hazy brown-orange color with a...

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284. Grupo Modelo – Pacifico
Mar09

284. Grupo Modelo – Pacifico

We’re finished with the iMedia Brand Summit, and we’ve got a day off before the Social Business Summit, and then SXSW Interactive.  Since it was a great afternoon, my new friend Robert suggested was try out Chuy’s Hula Hut for lunch.  Since I’m a big fan of Mexican food, and I had a craving for a cerveza, I was in. I nostalgically became a big fan of this beer after my trip to Cabo San Lucas in 1999, where...

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283. Real Ale Brewing – Fireman’s 4 Blonde Ale Draft
Mar06

283. Real Ale Brewing – Fireman’s 4 Blonde Ale Draft

I arrived at the iMedia Brand Summit I was headed to at the Hyatt Lost Pines resort, just south of Austin. After the second night of the conference, I headed to the hotel bar to see if I could find any local brews on tap. I got lucky and found this one, even though I had to look up where it was brewed, since the waitress didn’t know the brewer. Numbers: 5.1% ABV, 21 IBUs, 12 OG (plato) Appearance & Aroma: A very bright gold...

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282. Widmer Brothers – Broken Halo IPA
Mar05

282. Widmer Brothers – Broken Halo IPA

I’m still sitting in the Austin, Texas airport, now watching the second half of the Missouri-Kansas game in the bar just outside of security. Unfortunately, my Tigers are down, and it doesn’t look good. However, the bar was almost empty, so I could relax and enjoy sipping on this brew during the second half. After having the Shiner Bohemian Black Lager I was looking for something a bit hoppy. Numbers: 6% ABV, 45 IBUs,...

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281. Spoetzl Brewery – Shiner 97 Bohemian Black Lager
Mar05

281. Spoetzl Brewery – Shiner 97 Bohemian Black Lager

I just arrived in Austin, Texas for a couple of conferences – iMedia Brand Summit and SXSW Interactive.  However, the first thing I had to do when I arrived in the Austin airport was find a sports bar.  My Mizzou Tigers were playing my dad’s Kansas Jayhawks in the Big XII tournament.  I found one past security and settled in with this Texas beer to watch the game. Numbers: 4.9% ABV Appearance & Aroma: The black/deep...

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280. Destihl Restaurant & Brew Works – Bamberg Rauchbier Draft
Feb25

280. Destihl Restaurant & Brew Works – Bamberg Rauchbier Draft

I wasn’t really planning on having a fourth beer this evening, but it’s my wife’s birthday, and she wanted to have another.  So, how could I say no.  After the Torrent Black IPA, I thought I’d try another beer from the Brewmaster’s Selections.  I really, really enjoyed the Brauerei Heller Bamberg – Hecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen I had during my Oktoberfest Challenge, so I thought I’d give...

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279. Destihl Restaurant & Brew Works – Torrent Black IPA Draft
Feb25

279. Destihl Restaurant & Brew Works – Torrent Black IPA Draft

As I mentioned in my last couple posts, it’s my wife’s birthday and we’re out on the town. After a nice dinner at Kobe Steakhouse and swalling a Tsingtao and Asahi Super Dry, we headed over to Destihl for a beer or two and enjoy the evening before having to pick up the kids. Ever since I had Deschutes’ Hop in the Dark Cascadian Dark ale and the Walnut Brewery 1123 IPA during my trip out to the Great American...

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278. Asahi Breweries – Asahi Super Dry
Feb25

278. Asahi Breweries – Asahi Super Dry

As I mentioned in my last post, we’re out to dinner at Kobe in Bloomington, IL for my wife’s birthday.  Before dinner, I started with a Tsingtao, and wasn’t thrilled with it.  So for my next drink, I went for the Asahi.  We continued to watch the show and I had this beer with my dinner. Numbers: 5% ABV Appearance & Aroma: It was very clear and was golden-yellow in color.  The head was bright white with some big...

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277. Tsingtao Brewery – Tsingtao
Feb25

277. Tsingtao Brewery – Tsingtao

Today is my wife’s birthday, and to celebrate, we went out to Kobe Steakhouse here in town for dinner and a “show.”  It’s usually fairly entertaining, although they’ve got the same gimmicks at all of these types of places.  Since we were celebrating, it was a chance to have a beer, and a unique one that I could add to the list. Numbers: 4.8% ABV Appearance & Aroma: It was in the bottle here, but I...

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276. Ballast Point – Sculpin IPA India Pale Ale Draft
Feb23

276. Ballast Point – Sculpin IPA India Pale Ale Draft

Tonight I’m at Fat Jack’s for our monthly steering meeting for the ABNormal Brewers.  I like that they usually have some different beers on tap, and tonight was no exception.  I felt like something hoppy, so I decided to go for one of the only IPAs on the list. Numbers: 7% ABV, 70 IBUs Appearance & Aroma: It was slightly hazy and golden-straw colored.  It had a very thick, creamy, bright-white head on it, which left...

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