Category Archives: Brian Wall

Revolver Brewery Tour

revolverby Brian Wall

It’s not often that the planets line up, Karma comes around or that everything just lines up properly. This past Saturday tour day was one of those perfect happenings. When two very good friends were in town this past weekend, it seemed like a good opportunity to take one to a brewery tour while the other was duck hunting. As a typical weathered day in the Metro, traffic was horrid and I ran late getting to the hotel for the tour. The mighty hunter had finished and was on his way back with his spoils and we both decided to wait and have him go with us to the tour.

My first idea was to hit Fort Worth since the hotel was in Weatherford. Looking at the location though and the time frame of running late, it seemed that maybe getting late would not have been a good idea so the decision of a slightly closer and unvisited brewery came to fruition, that brewery being Revolver in Granbury. Time was still not looking great but I figured that we would get there at least an hour before the close and we would get a couple samples. Imagine my surprise when we arrived at the brewery and found that not only were they extending their tour until four in the afternoon rather than three but we also happened to have arrived at the one year birthday party. While there was no cake for this party by the time we arrived, we did get a gift of five samples of great beer.   Continue reading

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A Duo Of Dallas Brew Tours: Peticolas And Community

peicolas4by Brian Wall

Fall, the best of seasons aside from Spring. Temperatures cool down, leaves change color, temperatures cool down, children go back to school and most importantly temperatures cool down. With a cooler temperature, it is a world of difference when you decide on going to a large un-air conditioned warehouse for a brewery tour. Some do have temperature controlled areas but most can be as hot as the outside or hotter if there are plenty of bodies jockeying for beer.

This past weekend was a definite nice time for a brewery tour or possibly two tours if you feel up to it. Seeing as though Peticolas Brewing Company and Community Beer Company are roughly one mile away from each other, this seemed like a very doable reality. The tour started at 12pm at Peticolas and last pour is at 2:45. Community does their tour from 2pm-5pm, so times are not a problem.    Continue reading

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Rahr and Sons Visionary 2013

Visionary-Labelby Brian Wall

So, how many of you out there enjoy a good IPA?  The scent of hops, with a fruity or citrusy or piney bouquet that seeps into every aspect of the nose. The flavor that ranges in the same scale of citrus, fruit, pine or even mango. Weird thing is that the strain of hop and when it is added during the cooking process of the beer is how the scent, flavor or bitterness is accentuated in the beer. A good IPA is pretty much the staple of the typical hophead.

When one brings up the Double or Imperial IPA, it can make a hophead become a kid around Christmastime. “I want” or “I need” is the most common thought that crosses a hophead’s mind when it comes to a limited edition Imperial IPA.    Continue reading

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Real Ale Coffee Porter

coffee porterby Brian Wall

Beer and coffee. For some, coffee is an institution, a must for every day. The breath of day in which some cannot wake up, function or think until they have had their “first cup of the day”. An interesting thing, coffee. When someone first noticed a form of berry growing on a type of evergreen and decided to roasted the seed inside, filter it with water and drink it, really shows how in-depth the thought process of humans may be. Different areas, climates and methods of processing the seeds can either enhance or decrease the flavor. I will not get started on the Kopi Luwak coffee from Sumatra that is from civet droppings.

Coffee in beer is not something new and plenty of breweries take advantage of the roasted, bitter, earthy flavor that coffee can impart into beer.  Primarily, stouts and porters are the main beers that have coffee infused into them.   Continue reading

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Enjoy Stone IPA

stoneby Brian Wall

As you may have guessed, I enjoy a good IPA. The hop flavor bursts in a strong, bitter flavor and just completely assaults the taste buds in a way that ensures you are not only alive but enjoying something that demonstrates a history of beer making. Hops were used for flavoring but more importantly, they were used for their natural preservative qualities. The fact that they give a strong piney scent to beer is just an added plus to the enjoyment.

When home brewing, I look forward to opening of the hop package because it allows me the ability to breathe in deeply of all that scent. It cascades through the nose and imparts memories of pine forests after a strong rainfall. While this may not be the same experience that you have for hops, there is no denying that the scent is something to be experienced. Flavor and scent do vary depending on the hop variety and this fact is taken fully advantage of by beer makers around the world.    Continue reading

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Tasting Founders Brewing Company’s Mango Magnifico

mango_magnificoby Brian Wall

There are many chili beers on the market.  Some have a combination of maltiness and pepper flavor that is a nice change from the norm by most beer drinkers. Others have heat that most people are unable to fully enjoy. Most of these beers are novelty but pair well with pizza, Mexican food or mild chili. It is not uncommon to find one of these beers as part of the actual chili recipe.

This week, the chili beer that was sampled was Founders Brewing Company’s Mango Magnifico. This beer is a relative newcomer on the market having only been released this past August and having hit the DFW area in the last few weeks. It is part of their “Backstage Series” of one-time released beers. This beer comes in a twenty-two ounce bomber bottle and pours a nice golden color with a quickly dissipating head. Carbonation level is adequate and the beer is clear. Scent is non-descript for the flavors of mango and habanero listed on the bottle. The flavor is sweet at the beginning with slight mango flavor but definite malt flavor. The aftertaste is pleasant as the habanero slowly starts to build with every sip.      Continue reading

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Touring Lakewood Brewing Company

lakewoodby Brian Wall

It’s a Saturday. You have the day off, no serious projects around the residence and there are no plans. Weather is not an issue. What to do? How about a brewery tour?! The biggest problem is what brewery to take a tour on a Saturday. This week the brewery tour happened in Garland. Lakewood Brewing Company opened in August 2012 and continues to brew some very impressive beers. The brewery itself has a nice lodge-like front area where the majority of the samples are poured. A very large table greets visitors and welcomes friendly discussion about almost anything. The main brew floor hosts live music and a secondary pouring station with two taps. In the back of the brewery, a food truck offered wares for those looking for a bite. Four samples were tasted on this tour for the entry fee of ten dollars and each beer was drank from a Belgian-style beer glass.

The first beer sampled was the anniversary beer, Lion’s Share I. This beer is a double IPA and gave a nice malty-citrus scent. Color was a light caramel and slightly cloudy. Foam was clinging on the top of the glass. The first sip gave a pleasant, sweet maltiness with very little hop bite. There was a strong flavor of alcohol but no alcohol burn or bite as one might expect. Being a double IPA, the alcohol can be expected. This beer does justice as the specialty for their anniversary.            Continue reading

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Fall Cider Anyone?

DryHopby Brian Wall

Ahh, Fall. The weather starts to cool off, leaves change, children go back to school. Fall also brings two great things; Oktoberfest and fall ciders. Oktoberfest allows the flavors of German Pilsners to be tasted. A score of communities brush the dust off the Lederhosen and break out the Steins for strong flavor German beers.  An often overlooked craze is the orchards breaking out the myriad of apples to be consumed and fermented. Whether you enjoy a good dry or a sweet cider, this is the best time of year to try something different.           Continue reading

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