Monthly Archives: October 2011

Freetail Brewing Company (San Antonio, Tx)

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You may have heard that there is a craft beer renaissance going on in Texas.

One of those breweries “participating” in this revival of craft brewing is Freetail Brewing Company in San Antonio.  They have an excellent reputation and A  ratings on BeerAdvocate.

The brewpub is in a shopping center on the north side of the city–They have a great layout and an even better selection of beers!

 

From the limited number of trips I’ve made there already it seems that they specialize in two types of beers … Wits and Sours.  They have others available (IPA, Amber, Etc), but they seem to produce several small batches of specialty beers (kind of like in-place gypsy brewers)–haha!

Here are the 10 I had at one tasting:

 

The first photo represents my sour tastings: 1) Prickly Pear Ate’ (Sour), 2) Rubio Fumando (smoked beer), 3) Chile Fumando (another smoked beer), 4) Ate’ (Sour), and 5) Bandito (Sour).  All of the sours are called “American Wild Ale” but they are definitely belgian-inspired/fermented.

The second photo represents my “wit/hop” tastings: 1) Hopothesis (double IPA), 2) Real Tail (witbier collaboration with Real Ale Brewing), 3) Spirulina Wit (obviously a wit), 4) Witicus (double witbier), and 5)  S.A.weet IPA (American IPA).

I’ve also eaten here twice–the food was excellent, the beer outstanding, and it is a good atmosphere.  I highly recommend a visit the next time you are in San Antonio!

Enjoy!

Beer Mentor

BJCP Exam and La Cumbre Brewing

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Yes … I am still alive and kicking!  You may have had your doubts due to the paucity of posts … but I will get this thing rolling!  I had two big goals this summer: 1) get moved to San Antonio, Texas … done! 2) take my Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) exam … done!

Neither of these were easy and I’m still experiencing fallout from the move!  However, the BJCP exam is finished.  In February of this year I searched on-line for a place I could take the BJCP exam–wow, is that difficult.  There are only so many sites who can schedule an exam and the exam has to be proctored … so the pool of available tests at that site is also small.  I found a site in Albuquerque, New Mexico in August (the 21st to be exact).  I called and was able to get on the waiting list.  Thankfully, a few people dropped out and I was able to move up the list!

It ended up being a great experience!  The test was very hard–probably the hardest test I’ve taken since my Master’s degree comprehensives.  Three hours of writing mixed in with blind beer tasting.  Yes.  The test is as hard as they claim.  It will test your knowledge!

The test location was at La Cumbre Brewing.

  

Yep … that’s my friend Mike.  This was also the site of the judging for the New Mexico State Fair.  I had the pleasure of judging some beers for 2011 NM State Fair Beer Competition the same weekend I took my test.   The test host homebrew club was the Dukes of Ale … everything was well set up, well presented, and thoroughly enjoyable.  Mike was a test proctor (nationally certified Beer Judge) and we both judged for the fair.

Back to La Cumbre for a minute.  If you check the recent GABF results–you will see that they medaled (2 Golds and a Silver!).  Way to go!  Their beer was excellent…if you are in the area, definitely stop by the brewery–you can drink right on premises.  Just be careful where you park! LOL!

I won’t receive my test scores for a couple of more months.  I also combined this weekend with some Mountain Biking!

  

Enjoy!

Beer Mentor

Southern Star Brewery (Conroe, Tx)

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On Saturday I drove over to Conroe, Texas (near Houston) to tour the Southern Star Brewery.  This is a small regional brewery that makes three commercially-available beers: Bombshell Blond, Buried Hatchet Stout, and Pine Belt Pale Ale.  They make a number of other beers but I think they are only available at the brewery.  An example of this was their Pro-Am collaboration Black IPA.

 

This is a great brewery, awesome people, and an excellent atmosphere.  You show up on a Saturday at 1pm, pay $5 for a pint glass and you get to drink free beer.  Their brewery location reminds of Heavy Seas in Baltimore (except a little bit smaller).  Tucked away in an industrial/commercial complex it’s quite the laid back atmosphere.  They have brats/burgers twice a month out back–and they let you tour around the brewery!  Here are a few pictures — they have the most interesting fermentors I’ve ever seen … and most of them all have interesting names too!

     

Another interesting thing about this brewery is that they can all of their beers.  Here’s their “canning machine” — two at a time!  Wow!  Look at the stack of beer cans ready to be filled!

 

They are producing about 3500 barrels a year with plans to push it up over 5000 this year (2011/2012).  If you are in the area, I highly recommend a stop in at Southern Star — Well worth the trip!

Enjoy!

Beer Mentor