Untapped Beer Festival Dallas

This last Saturday, I went to the Untapped Beer Festival in Dallas with my friend Judy.  There was a great list of beers.  Judy made a spreadsheet of the beers, I am more of a geek, so I did a database and added a category to sort in "must have" order.  We were both ready with our lists as they started lining us up to head in.

It was held by Gilley's in Dallas, but it was an outdoor festival and there was practically NO shade.  It was easily 100 degrees and no clouds that offered any relief.  Luckily, we had purchased VIP tickets and there was an air conditioned space you could visit, but since it was inside Gilley's there was a different liquor license, so you couldn't take any beer samples in.

At the top of both of our lists were the Firestone Walker and Founders tables.  Of the 3 beers I wanted at the Firestone Walker table, only 1 was available ... Sucaba.  I had never had this beer before and it was wonderful!  Sadly, we had to wait for Parabola and they didn't have the Double DBA.  Only 1 hour and 45 minutes later, they did a special tapping for the Parabola ... and it was worth the wait.

Founders is my favorite Michigan brewery and was excited when they came to Texas.  They had 2 beers I wanted ... and never have had.  I tried the KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) first and it was very nice.  I expected to like this one the most, but was very pleasantly surprised at the Backwoods Bastard.  Dirty Bastard is one of my favorite scotch ales and the barrel aged version did NOT disappoint!.

The Flying Saucer had just had a "Ballast Point Catch & Release" event.  So we had a chance to visit with the rep, Christ Marin, again.  I only wish he was more fun and excited about beer.  The beer they offered that I have never had before was Tongue Buckler, an Imperial Red.  Ballast Point beers are all very good and this one was no exception.

I had so many beers and it is hard to remember something about all of them.  Real Ale offered a 2009 Sisyphus Barley Wine.  I like Sisyphus and the opportunity to try one from 2009 was one I didn't pass up.  It was wonderful as you might expect.  There was also Avery Tweak.  You know I love me an Imperial Stout. Just a few weeks ago, I toured the Lakewood Brewery and fell in love with Lion Share, a barrel aged Imperial IPA ... I know right?  And of course, you can't NOT have some Temptress.  Since I love me a good scotch ale, I had to try the offering from Big Sky called Heavy Horse.  I enjoyed that one, but run to Founders for a great scotch ale ... and yes, I know I have repeated myself in this post :)

This festival was a great training run for the 2013 GABF in October in Denver.  I need to walk and stand more in the next month to be sure I am ready for 2 days of GABF and of course, much more beer drinking in the Denver and surrounding areas.