TX Tap Takeover at BRC on TX Independence Day

BRC Gastropub is hosting a Texas Tap Takeover featuring five Texas craft breweries on Sunday, March 2nd. Celebrate Texas Independence Day with Texas brewed beers from a different brewery every hour starting with Saint Arnold at 2:30pm, Cyclers Brewing at 3:30pm, Fort Bend at 4:30pm, Rahr at 5:30pm and finish up the night with Karbach at 6:30pm. Raffle prizes, brewery glassware and special VIP growler specials will also be available.

TX Independence Day Celebration at League of Extraordinary Brewers

Celebrate Texas Independence Day a day early on Saturday, March 1st at the League of Extraordinary Brewers with a takeover of all seven house taps by Texas National Brewery:

Texas National Brewery will have their award winning Red Roggenhood Imperial Red Rye IPA AND the debut of SIX NEW beers never before available to the public! The new brews tap list includes:

- VladParticle Imperial Espresso Chocolate Oatmeal Milk Stout
- Wee Kevy
- Root Down Ale brewed with herbs and roots 
- Beer Brown on the Bayou Imperial Texas Brown 
- Hoppy Hoppy Hippo IPA
- Lola’s Panty-dropper Oatmeal Poire

Also available will be new beers brewed on site by The League and Warlocks as well as one brewed by the guys from Brews Brothers in Galveston. Additional special releases and brewery representatives will also be on hand.

TX Independence Day at Flying Saucer Sugar Land

Sunday, March 2nd is Texas Independence Day and the Flying Saucer Sugar Land will be celebrating with rare tappings of Texas beers, releases of special Texas bottles from the cellar and a selection of Texas pints for only $3. Commemorative Flying Saucer Texas Independence Day glassware will also be available.

Odell Brewing Arrives in Texas

Odell Brewing has quite the list of events planned for their inaugural week in Texas, including a tapping of a special collaboration brew:

The brewery has a full week of launch events planned all over the state, including a special tapping at Pinthouse Pizza in Austin, which was started by friend and former Odell Brewing brewer Joe Mohrfeld. Joe teamed up with Odell’s head of production, Brendan McGivney, to brew a collaboration beer that they once brewed together at Odell Brewing. “T.A.P. TX” honors that original recipe, but brings it into the culturally relevant Session Ale realm with just as many hops but a slightly lower ABV.

Their regular lineup of beers are quite solid and some of the their seasonals and other series can be highly sought after for enjoying and trading.

Odell is just another of some of the high profile breweries such as Founders, Southern Tier and Upland who have entered the Texas market recently.

Draft Beer Jelly Belly Jelly Beans

I don't typically eat candy of any kind, but when I stumbled across the Draft Beer Jelly Belly Jelly Beans on Amazon, I couldn't resist (thank you Amazon Prime).

They arrived double sealed in plastic bags and there was still a strong aroma of beer when I took it out of the Amazon shipping box. However, it's more of a stale beer smell. That smell that washes over you from all the empty bottles, cans and glassware left laying around when you wander into the kitchen the morning after a late night beer tasting. As far as the flavour goes, it's there, it's just pretty mild. Despite the strong aroma, you have to strain your taste buds a little to pick it up. According to their press release "...the company opted to pay homage to its German ancestry with a Hefeweizen-inspired ale flavor...". I would definitely say that the aroma does remind me of a hefeweizen. Perhaps they should have picked a beer with a strong flavour profile like a porter or double IPA. Although, this is apparently the result of three years of hard work, so it's obviously been a difficult journey.  If they're looking for a new project, I would perhaps suggest a line of hops flavoured Jelly Bellys. They could even shape them to look like hop cones.

An unValentine's Day Beer Pairing Dinner from the League Of Extraordinary Brewers

Still scrambling for something cool to do on Valentine's Day? Dislike the forced show of commitment and overspending required every year on February 14th? Then perhaps you'd be interested in the "Feast of Indifference and Non-Commitment" by the League Of Extraordinary Brewers:

"You will spend 30 minutes at each station drinking great beer and enjoying a delicious beer pairing. After 30 minutes, you must move on to the next beer style and another group of new friends. Don't like the people at your table? Who cares. You are indifferent and do not have to commit to them. Don't like sours or Thai food? Who cares! You are indifferent and in 30 minutes you might be enjoying Belgian food and brews.

Note that this event "is not about dating, for singles, or in any way geared towards finding a hook-up... We encourage couples to come and celebrate this day in a different way!"  In other words, its just a cool and unique way to experience new food and beer pairings regardless of your relationship status.  The menus will not be released in advance so that each theme will be a secret until you move to that station. Some of the beers featured will be from the League Of Extraordinary Brewers as well as other rare beers.  In total, there will be six different pairing stations and you will be required to move through each one (no hogging a station because it includes your favourite beer).

More information is available on the event Facebook page.  Tickets are $65 each and available online, but they will stop selling them promptly at 11:00am on Friday, February 14th.

AHA Rally At Saint Arnold on Feb 23rd

Saint Arnold Brewing is hosting an American Homebrewers Association rally on Sunday, February 23rd from 1pm ~ 3pm.

Entrance to the event includes beer samples, VIP brewery tour and a chance to win prices from the AHA and Saint Arnold.

The rally is free for current AHA members and non-members can gain entrance by joining for a discounted rate at the door. Space is limited and you are asked to RSVP online if you plan to attend.

To learn more about the American Homebrewers Association and what a membership can do for you, see the Membership Benefits on their website.

Hay Merchant's 2nd Anniversary Celebration

The Hay Merchant is celebrating their 2nd anniversary on Thursday, February 13th. And in honour of their special day, they will be tapping over 30 different rare and vintage beers:

• 2013 Southern Tier Backburner
• 2013 Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout
• 2011 Real Ale 15th
• 2011 Ranger Creek La Bestia
• 2011 Live Oak Old Treehugger
• 2009 Brooklyn Black Chocolate
• 2013 Prairie Bomb!
• 2011 Real Ale Real Heavy
• 2012 Real Ale Scots Gone Wild
• 2013 Karbach Bourbon Barrel Hellfighter 007
• 2012 Harpoon Leviathan Quad
• 2011 Squatters Outer Darkness
• 2011 Unibroue Trois Pistoles
• 2012 Dogfish Head Theobroma
• 2013 Greenflash/Cigar City Candela
• 2013 Goose Island Lolita
• 2012 BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien
• 2012 Great Divide 18th
• 2013 New Belgium La Folie
• Jester King RU-55 (cask)
• Jester King La Vie en Rose (cask)
• Karbach Fra-Gee-Lay with cocoa nibs (cask)
• Karbach Bourbon Barrel Hellfighter 007 (cask)
• Karbach Buffalo Trace Hellfighter (last keg ever)
• BrewDog Paradox Isle of Arran (cask)

I'll sure there'll be a few other surprise tappings of beer that Kevin has squirrelled away in the cooler.

BRC Gastropub Crafts Valentine's Day Beer Dinner

Still haven't made dinner reservations for Valentine's Day?  Well don't despair as BRC Gastropub is crafting a romantic Valentine's Day beer dinner featuring beers from Fort Bend Brewing.  Executive Chef Steve Marques has put together a unique four-course beer dinner for $45 (plus tax and tip) with each course paired with a different beer:

Course 1: Texas Backyard Blonde Ale
Winter Salad - Shaved celeriac, shaved fennel, celery hearts, green olives, goat cheese, olive brine vin

Course 2: Over Backwards
Mudbug Boil Bisque - Crawfish, potato, sausage, corn, crayfish boil spice bisque

Course 3: Texas Farmhouse Ale
Choice of: 44 Farms petite filet, mushroom risotto, sautéed spinach or Crispy skin wild salmon, truffled lentils, roasted golden beets

Course 4: Texas Thunder Stout
Chocolate Trifle - Vanilla pound cake, Texas Thunder Stout chocolate budino, sorghum caramel

Reservations are encouraged with seatings on Friday, February 14th at 6:30pm and 9:30pm. Call BRC at 713-861-2233 to make reservations.