A New Brewery In Salado Seeking Law Changes

Graydon Hill recently relocated to Salado, Texas, and wanted to open a brewery.

Hill led a successful petition drive to turn Partially Dry Salado into Wet Salado. In Texas, partially dry areas do not sell hard liquor off premise. This law prevented anyone from opening a liquor store in Salado. Now, Salado is wet, and that means he can start the licensing process for his brewery.

Yes! Another man doing the Lord's work.

Karbach Brewing Expands Distribution to Austin

Folks in Austin have begun seeing beer from Karbach Brewing Company pop up in places like Draught House Pub and Brewery, Opal Divine’s, and the Dig Pub in Cedar Park. At first, only aHopadillo and Sympathy for the Lager will be on sale, but soon everything else will arrive, thanks to the purchase and installation of 23 140 barrel fermenters, and a planned expansion that will see Karbach's output at 60,000 barrels a year.

Already in San Antonio, the next step will be distribution in Dallas and Fort Worth. But not west of I-35. As Captain Picard once said, "The line must be drawn here! This far, no further!"

Saint Arnold Production Up 19% in 2013

Saint Arnold Brewing Company recently announced that their production was up 19% in 2013 to 5,397,000 barrels, even if most of that stopps its westward movement at I-35. Fancy Lawnmower Beer, Amber Ale, and Santo were the top three sellers. It is unknown if Endeavour still ranks #1 among Wagyū cows, because Heaven forbid we get any here in Paradise.

Humulus Lupulus Neomexicanus

Later this year, I will be attending the RDP Customer Conference in Vail, Colorado. I'm sure you don't recall the last time I attended the Conference in September, but I visited a lot of breweries along I-70. (Follow along in  the September 2007 archives.)

I went back to Vail in February 2012 ostensibly for business, but still had some good beers. I even sampled Crazy Mountain Brewing's Amber at a restaurant in Edwards, but never made the brewery tour (which was just around the corner from our hotel!!).

This year, though, I will make the brewery tour, come hell or high water. And hopefully they will still have Neomexicanus Native Pale Ale  in the tasting room.

Neomexicanus Native Pale Ale is made with a new, American hop cultivar, Humulus Lupulus Neomexicanus, created in cooperation with CLS Farms in Yakima, Washington. This experimental hop  "offers a citrusy aroma with a distinct lemon lime and guava character while maintaining a moderate acidity" to help balance the malt flavor in the beer.

Crazy Mountain does distribute to Texas, but it does not appear in the Great Texas Craft Beer Desert™, hence my excitement at going to Vail in Septermber.  Right now, the beer is draught only.

The Secret to Tender Beef? Beer!

神戸ビーフ, or Kobe Beef, comes from Wagyū cattle in Hyōgo Prefecture. It is known for it's marbling and tenderness, achieved through feeding the cattle beer and giving them daily massages. The yeast in beer aids digestion and helps break down the grass the cattle eat.  Kobe beef can only come from Japan, since it is a trademark of Kobe Beef Marketing and Distribution Promotion Association.  Much like Champagne and Kölsch beer.

With its popularity, American Ranchers have been producing Kobe-style beef using the same breed of cow, and the same Japanese herding techniques. Texas T Kobe ranch in Wallis, Texas, pours beer into the hay its Wagyū cows eat, and owner Gene Terry says that they prefer it over regular hay.

And what beer do they cows consume? Saint Arnold Endeavor! The beer was out dated and was exchanged for fresh product in the stores, so Saint Arnold owner Brock Wagner donated several hundred cases of the beer to the ranch.

Several hundred outdated cases of Endeavor in Houston?!

Send some out here to the Great Texas Craft Beer Desert™, for Pete's sake! I'll drink it old, because I can't get it here! Donate it to me!

Four Corners Brewery to Sell First Beer October 27

Four Corners Brewing Company in Dallas will sell their first keg October 27 at the Blues, Bandits and BBQ event at 715 W. Davis in north Oak Cliff. The brewery is at 423 Singleton Blvd. just west of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge.

The Texas craft beer boom continues!

I Like the Way Michael Peticolas Thinks

While discussing distribution of his beers, Michael Peticolas, owner of Peticolas Brewing Company, was asked about distribution to other cities along the Interstate. He replied,  “I’ve been driving to Houston and Austin to get their beer for years, it’s about time they drive up here to get some of ours.”

In a related note, while en route to Makers Mark distillery to pick up my bottle, I stopped at the Flying Saucer on Lake Ray Hubbard and thoroughly enjoyed a Velvet Hammer.  I'll happily drive up there again. It's a great beer!

Another Big Middle Finger From Ben E. Keith

Ever eager to bring more craft beer from around the country to the Great Texas Craft Beer Desert, Ben E. Keith is only bringing one case--count 'em: one--of Divine Reserve 12 from Saint Arnold Brewing to Gillespie County. Last year, they brought five. Despite Saint Arnold producing more than last year, we're getting less. Apparently, the markets on the Interstate are more important.

In fact, I can drive 24 miles south of Paradise, and find Saint Arnold Endeavor in a couple of stores.  How many stores here carry them? Not a fucking one.

But, we can get beer from Hawaii! Fuck Texas beer!  You want Texas beer? Move to an Interstate! This is why we have distibutors: to keep beer out of markets!

Franconia Wheat

Sadly, found near the Interstate, not in the Great Texas Craft Beer Desert.

Good, though.