With 2015 winding down and this being our last post of the year, it’s time we toast our favorite Texas craft beers and breweries. To celebrate, we are giving our quick rundown of the best of the best for the year.
Best Overall Brewery – Hops & Grain Brewing Company
What is there to say about this place other than they know how to consistently make solid beer. Every offering in their entire lineup is a standout.
Our love stems from their commitment to brewing complex and balanced everyday favorites intended to be enjoyed with friends throughout the year. For example, their World Beer Cup gold medal-winning altbier, Alt-eration, has a strong malty flavor, but with a crispness and freshness that allows you to enjoy it whether it’s 100 degrees or 30 degrees outside. Their IPA offerings of A Pale Mosaic (which we’ll elaborate more on later) and the Greenhouse series give you hoppy choices without being overpoweringly bitter. However, our cool weather go-to from them is Porter Culture, a Baltic porter that utilizes a heavy chocolatey malt flavor finishing with a nice dark fruit and coffee flavored finish.
We can’t overlook the fact that they believe in sustainability and use their spent grain to make dog treats that are available for purchase. In addition, they are actually contributing to the local economy by giving 1% of their annual revenue to local non-profits dedicated to environmental protection and preservation. The beer, the message, the cameraderie. Put it together and that’s why they are the best brewery in the state.
Best Overall Beer – Community Beer Company Barrel-Aged Inspiration
Life changing. This unbelievably complex beer unleashes so many flavors throughout each drink. Start with a vanilla nose that has such a sweet scent. The body of the beer involves the dark fruit flavors of a Belgian strong ale. Finally, finish it off with the barrel-aged oak booziness and you have a nearly perfect beer.
At 10.2% ABV, it’s not for the faint of heart. Community Beer Company makes one of the best barrel-aged beers in the state: their barrel-aged Legion Russian Imperial Stout. To have a beer that tops it is an ultimate achievement.
Best Everyday Beer – Big Bend Brewing Company Hefeweizen
For a beer that just about everybody can enjoy, Big Bend Hefeweizen is a stellar achievement. If you’ve ever enjoyed Live Oak Hefeweizen, you will see that these beers are unbelievably similar. That’s because late brewmaster, Steve Anderson, created the recipe for both beers and achieves perfection out in West Texas.
The hefeweizen has a sweet flavor that sets off the banana and clove notes in the body. We were lucky enough to enjoy the freshest taste from the tap of a keg that was kegged same day. Perfection was achieved with this light, unfiltered hefeweizen that hits the spot on a warm summer day.
Best Release – Saint Arnold Brewing Company Bishop’s Barrel #12
Perhaps the greatest release that Saint Arnold has ever had from the Bishop’s Barrel series. Take Christmas Ale and barrel-age it in Sauvignon Blanc wine barrels for nearly two years. What results is a cherry-flavored tart brett that will knock your socks off.
One of the lower ABV offerings at 8.9%, this beer achieves near perfection by completely changing the flavor profile from Christmas Ale. If you weren’t told that Christmas Ale was the base beer, you would have a difficult time putting your finger on it. Another complex beer that gives you tart cherry flavor mixed with caramel sugary sweetness and a bit of white grape. This release was a hit on every level.
Best New Beer – Hops & Grain Brewing Company A Pale Mosaic
Hops & Grain hit a homerun with A Pale Mosaic. Utilizing mosaic hops, this IPA uses a German pale ale as the base and delivers a hoppy bitterness that isn’t overpowering.
Perhaps the best thing about this beer is how clean it finishes. You will get citrus and pine flavors throughout each sip, but unlike many IPAs, the hoppiness doesn’t leave a bitter aftertaste. The dry finish is spicy and peppery. At 6.8% ABV, it’s a drinkable IPA that is sessionable allowing you to enjoy more than one without feeling tipsy.
This beer is destined to be a staple in Hops & Grain’s lineup as one of your favorite offerings.
Keep in mind, we are only going by what we believe. We hope there is disagreement with this list or at the very least, curiosity involving the different beers we mention. Let us know what you think and give us your opinion as well. The great thing about Texas beer is the choices and the tastes that different people in different areas of the state have. Keep drinking local and let’s make sure 2016 is an even bigger year for Texas beer!