BEER IS FOR BREAKFAST

Jester King is located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, a picturesque locale dotted with wineries, breweries, and the occasional gun range, just so you don’t forget where you are.   The hills roll on and on, and you can’t help but feel you’ve got nothin’ but time.  Book a Bed and Breakfast and an Uber, the beers are the only thing that’s rustic in these parts, and saddle up for some wine tasting and brewery touring.  But we came all the way out here for one thing…to visit the infamous Jester King.

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This fabulous bitch is brewed as a collaboration with Live Oak Brewing Co.  They bring their classic Hefeweizen and JK brings the beast…I mean yeast.  It has the aroma of funky toes and that is a beautiful thing.  It comes with all the appropriate accouterments; banana, bubblegum, clove and then takes you to the tarty darkside.  And boom…you’re in love.

C: Clear golden…surprisingly

A: Tart banana bread, with a heavy dash of toe cheese (yes!!)

T: Banana again, with bubblegum, apricot and lighter fruits as well as clovey goodness

F: Quick, tart and bready

B: Light

Tragically, this is my first run in with Urban Family Brewing Company, a travesty I plan to remedy again and again and again.  I’m a huge fan of Saison, the funkier the better.  Think, foot sweat dribbled onto a horse blanket with a little bit of light fruit for posterity.  Amazing!  This Brett Farmhouse Ale delivers, on all accounts.

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New England-style IPAs are all the rage these days.  Juicy, hazy, and thick, not exactly what one would expect in an IPA.  This craze actually started back in 2004 when the Brewmaster of The Alchemist decided not to filter or pasteurize his new IPA, Heady Topper.  This left a hazy product with a thick mouthfeel and intense hop flavor without relative bitterness.  It took a long time to catch on, like 10+ years, but now the New England IPA is beginning to get the recognition it deserves.

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Prairie Artisan Ales, located in the heartland, gives me the feels all through my heartland.  What started as a labor of love from two brothers in Oklahoma, has blossomed into a trendsetting operation for craft beer.  These guys push the envelope whenever possible, with their ever hearty stouts, funky saisons, boozy imperial IPAs, and brain-stretching bottle labels.  I wait with bated breathe for the next release, always stalking their movements, like a cat on the prowl for her next meal.  And a meal from Prairie never disappoints.  So…Prairie Artisan Ales…how do I love thee?  Let me count the ways.

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Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel series is both adored and lamented.  Adored because of the creativity and deliciousness of this inspired line of barrel-aged brews, and lamented because it’s just gone so dang fast. Half the battle is knowing when and where to get it.  Fret no longer, BIFB has got you covered.

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For some, music is a part of our everyday lives. It can inspire the emotion and creativity that drives some of the most talented artists and creators. The creatives at B&O Play, a high end line of Bluetooth speakers and heaphones from Danish electronics maker Bang & Olufsen, have teamed up with the brewing masters of Mikkeller to create Beobrew – a beer that is infused with music, of all things. Read More

The lowly brown ale rarely gets the love it deserves, what with a new fangled IPA being released every other day.  Well, this Imperial Brown Ale demands attention, and man is it worthy.

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This fruited saison is made with Saison Dupont yeast, blackcurrant puree, Galaxy hops and acidified malts; it’s got layers.  Read More

It’s nearly summer, and you know what that means don’t you?  It’s sour time!  That’s what it means if you’re me anyway.  There’s nothing more refreshing than a libation that inspires your taste buds to shock and awe.  So here are three beers to get you on your way to sour season.

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