Has anyone tried Shiner blonde? We had a party a couple of weeks ago, and that was the first beer gone. Somebody liked it.
The Japanese brew? Didn't know they had a black beer. Definitely have to try that. But Asahi Super Dry is the shiznit. I drank a lot of it when I was in Japan and liked it much more than Kirin Ichiban. And another +1 for Shiner Blonde.
I say this as a friend - if you want something quick and cold - A Cologne (Kolsch) style is what you need. It's meant to be quick & cold. The most popular/available German kinds are Reissdorf Kolsch and Gaffel Kolsch - but St. Arnolds Lawnmower is brewed in the same style, and obviously more accessible to Houston area folks.
Nay. The last time I had an asian black beer--aside from the keg at Hines Ward's house -- was when I had something called a "NEW BLACK BEER" way, way, way, way, way off the beaten path in far northwestern China. Your typical low production value, state-owend awful awful awful chinese brewey pale yellow sh-t lager....but with black food coloring, hence the name. Uhh..awesome, I guess.
Just on the Stella.... I went to England for 3 and a half months in mid 2006. In Hull to see a Rugby league match, all the Hull fans kept buying me Stella. I'd be half way through one beer and another full one would be handed to me. They got me so pissed so quickly...its was great! Also remember an ex GF of mine over there, her stepdad decided to have an unspoken drinking comp with me. Was drinking John Smiths and Carlsburg, he ended up getting ruined and telling everyone at the pub not to ever drink with an Australian. The next day I woke up as fresh as a daisy and he had a shocking hang over. I win.
You'd be surprised if you checked in the right places. Over the last few years, the distribution channels for american micros & european craft brews have expanded considerably. My across-the-street grocery store, for example, now stocks stuff like Orval, Westmalle, Gouden Carolus, Ayinger Weisse, Weinstephaner, Reissdorf Kolsch, and other stuff that was almost impossible to find outside of a specialty store just 5 years ago. I'm not sure what the distribution is like in Houston but I imagine it has expanded a bit too - I'd be shocked if you can't walk into Speck's or whatever the big place is down there and find at least a Gaffel Kolsch or something similar. Also I will say that a lot of the american brewers now (Southhampton in particular) make their own versions of european styles that are as good or better than the Europeans can make. Southhampton's Maibock is one of the best I have ever had.
I used to be a beer snob and try to talk beer and taste different ones. That was when I first turned 21 and I thought I was cool. Now my favorite thing is a really really really cold Miller Lite in a bottle. Heaven.
Yeah, it's by far the best Japanese beer I've tasted. Bit of a coffee finish, very smooth. They're proud of it too...$12ish a 6er at Central Market. One of my sushi spots had it at happy hour at the same price...until they decided they no longer would have happy hour. Sad hour. Very sad.
If you like Japanese beers, you should try Hitachino - their Nest White Ale is pretty good, I haven't tried their red whatever beer yet though. http://www.kodawari.cc/engpage/kodawari/html/hitachino.htm
Man, I would kill for a good kolsch. I went to business school in Cologne for 3 months and I loved all of the neighborhood kolsch's. Especially how cheap they were at the bars who were promoting the neighborhood brewery. Thanks for the info. I'll check out spec's this evening
they need to bring back the old label: anyone ever tried longhammer IPA? pretty good stuff. not sure which brewery though.
I ate at the Gaffel Haus in Cologne this summer and loved both the beer and the food. Unfortunately, Spec's doesn't carry any Kolsch brews aside from Lawnmower.
I'm a sucker for Fat Tire. I'm sad their winter seasonal (2 Below) is off the shelves Oktoberfest can't get here fast enough.. I hate springtime/summer seasonals.
Really? That's incredible to me. Houston is too big of a place to not be able to find someplace that has it - you should contact the licensed importer of Kolsch and figure out where they have it(Probably Merchant du Vin corp out of WA, i will look it up for you). Also Flying Dog Tire Bite Golden Ale (from Colorado, i think) is classified as a kolsch, though IMO it didn't taste like one.
