Deep Ellum Brewing Co. - Festivus Black IPA

The Deep Ellum Brewing Co. is the newest brewer in Dallas (as far as I know). They have been open for several months and I have been thinking about going to Deep Ellum just to try their beers. Finally, the Flying Saucer is serving some of their beers. The Lake Flying Saucer has Festivus, a black IPA. My server was interested in my opinion as they weren't sure it was a black IPA. Let me start off with, I like this beer. My first taste was more of a scotch ale. She said some thought it was more of a porter. So, my next beer was Avery New World Porter, so I did a side by side taste and I came to this conclusion: If a scotch ale and porter beer were to have a baby, this would be it!

Next to try is the Deep Ellum Double Brown Stout at the Addison Flying Saucer. Hint, it is classified as a brown ale. Hmmmm, will all the Deep Ellum Brewing beers be hard to classify?

7 Texas Flying Saucers - One Day! December 10th, 2011

I had been planning a trip to all the Flying Saucers in Texas for a while. When I first started planning the trip, there were only 6 Flying Saucers in Texas. Sadly, another group did my trip in the meantime. Then, they opened a new Flying Saucer in Sugar Land, just outside of Houston. I updated the trip to include Sugar Land and we are the first group EVER to visit all 7 Flying Saucers in Texas. WOO HOO!!

There were 3 of us on this trip: Tracy, Judy and myself, Jonathan.

The basic rules were, only 30 minutes in each Saucer and drink one beer. We met with the manager on duty in each one. I was pleasantly surprised how excited each of the managers were to meet us. I had printed a list of beers unique to each location so we (or at least I), could enjoy something not available at home. Something none of us had even considered, but Brandon offered us an inactive UFO card for his Saucer - as most have fun unique cards. So, we added to our list of things to do: ask for an inactive card for a souvenir. Judy and I also picked up a "Fly Paper" (beer menu) at each location as well and one for her friend, Claud.

Our first Saucer was the newest in Sugar Land. We were excited to see this location since it was new, AND we know the manager Brandon Doss (that's him on the right in the picture). We met Brandon while he trained in our home Saucer in Addison. The Sugar Land location didn't disappoint. Brandon was very proud of his store ... as he should have been. He took us on a tour and introduced us around. Luckily, we were early to the store, so we had an extra 10 minutes to dedicate to this location. Beers: Jonathan - Clown Shoes Brown Angel, Tracy - Independence Bootlegger Brown, Judy - Karbach Rodeo Clown.

The 2nd location was Houston, which is located downtown. We met with manager, Brad, who also was excited to see us and wanted to share his many beers. Since we didn't have time and only wanted to drink one beer, he brought out mini-tasters for us. Good thing too, because they do have a great selection of beer from breweries we don't have in our home Saucer. We met our friend, Mary Ann Wacker there too. Beers: Jonathan - Karbach Hell Fighter Imperial Porter, Tracy - Karbach Sympathy For The Lager, Judy - Karbach Hopadillo IPA.

The 3rd location was San Antonio. It was a long drive from Houston to San Antonio and sadly, it rained on the way in and at the store. The store is known for the great outdoor seating, which we didn't have the opportunity to enjoy. We met Katie and Trent, the managers on duty. They were fun as they called our next stop to let them know we were on the way. Beers: Jonathan - Ranger Creek UNO, Tracy - Harpoon Winter Warmer, Judy - Shiner Holiday Cheer.

The 4th location was Austin. Traffic was bad as you might expect and by now it was prime time on a Saturday night. Needless to say, the place was packed. Luckily, we snagged a seat outside. They had some outdoor heaters, so it was pleasant. The manager was Sam Wynne, a certified Cicerone. We met my friend Patricia Thomas and her boyfriend, "The Engineer." Beers: We all had the same beer - Ranger Creek Saison Oscura.

The 5th location was Fort Worth, also a downtown location. Traffic downtown was a mad house, but we found parking and got to the store. The place was WALL TO WALL...pretty much standing room only! So we stood up the entire time, but found the manager, Landon. Fun guy, and he could have talked with us longer than we had time alloted. Beers: Jonathan - Maui Smoked Hemp (how fun is that name? Beer? OK), Tracy - Dechuttes Black Butte Porter, Judy - Maui Smoked Hemp.

The 6th location was our home Saucer, Addison. We called ahead to Bo Peyton, the manager and asked to save us some place to sit. As much fun as it was to visit some new Saucers and revisit other Saucers, there is something about coming home to where you know everybody. Beers: Jonathan - New Belgium Snow Day, Tracy - Xingu, Judy - Anchor Steam.

The 7th and final location was "The Lake" which is on Lake Ray Hubbard in Garland. I walked in and held up my hands indicating the number seven and walked up to Ryan, the manager. He looked at me quizzically and I said this was 7 of the 7 Saucers in one day. He reached out, shook my hand, asked my name and came back with Jonathan Marsh? Then it clicked who we were! Claud met us there late and shared a celebratory beer with us. Beers: Jonathan - Troubador Imperial Stout, Tracy - 512 Pecan Porter, Judy - Rogue Double Chocolate Stout.

What a long day, about 585 miles and the total round trip was about 833 miles. But, an amazing day with really good beers and good friends!

The Triple Threat

Here are some party pics from our recent plate party at the Flying Saucer (where we imbibed on Bitch Please...see previous post).  Thanks to MOU Judy for the pictures!

Good picture.  Remember this is the Rev's THIRD plate, just Joe's and my SECOND...the bitch lapped us!  But everybody's happy (even the back of Muffin's head) we had $300 to spend.

Another good picture...

And, finally, it's official...beer makes me happy!

I'm just sayin'.



BrewDog - Bitch Please

Tracy, Joe and I had our combined plate party last Saturday. They each have finished plate 2 and I have finished plate 3. Since we had so much money to spend, we decided to order some of the more expensive beers. One of those beers was BrewDog Bitch Please. It was a 12 oz bottle and cost $22 each! We ordered 2 of the beers to split. That was a GREAT idea! Why? Because it was one of the weirdest beers I have ever had. Joe and I drank most of the two bottles. I think Joe liked it the best. I kept trying it again and again. Perhaps thinking it change as it warmed up. Everything on paper looked like a beer I would love. Practical application proved differently. Some of the reviews I have read said there was too much going on. I think that is apt.

Perhaps the text on the side of the beer tells it best:
I am a collaborative brew. I am a messed up, idiosyncratic, schizophrenic son of a bitch. I would blame my parents. With the wolves of 3 Floyds and pirates from BrewDog involved, the writing was on the wall for me. Right from the start ... An inherently Scottish spin on a barley wine style brewed with peated malts from Islay and eclectic hops.After fermentation the beer was aged in old single malt whiskey barrels for 8 months.

Not a beer I would buy again, but definitely happy I had the chance to give this one a shot!

Beer Cookies

Recipe links for beer cookies Judy made for Claud’s 4^th plate party at the Addison Flying Saucer What’s better than beer and cookies? Beer and cookies made with beer! Double YUM!

Belgian White Beer Cookies with Orange Icing (Avery White Rascal)

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ultimate-recipe-showdown/white-beer-cookies-recipe/index.html

Dressmaker’s Double Chocolate Stout Cookies (Young’s Double Chocolate Stout)

http://measuringspoons.wordpress.com/2010/10/03/dressmakers-double-stout-cookies/

Carrot Cranberry Oatmeal Stout Breakfast Cookies (Boulevard Dark Truth Stout)

http://www.keyingredient.com/recipes/86171/carrot-cranberry-oatmeal-stout-breakfast-cookies/

Deschutes Black Butte Porter XXIII

I went to The Lake Flying Saucer just to try this beer. It comes in a wax dipped 22 ounce bottle and is 10.8% ABV. The label reads: "Black Butte XXIII: Porter brewed with cocoa nibs, orange and natural flavor added with 25% aged in Bourbon Barrels." This is one rich beer! The dark roast flavor is up front and then you get the orange. They claim to have chiles in here and if you know me, I don't get essences of or hints of. So, sadly, I didn't get that, but I was LOVING me some of this beer.

On the side of the bottle it says, "Best After: 6/15/12". This beer can get better? WOW!

The only downside was the $22 price tag at the Flying Saucer, but I don't regret the purchase one bit.

And There Was Much Rejoicing!!!

Spec’s liquor and food chain heading to Dallas




Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods, a Houston-based family-run business since 1962, confirmed Thursday that it’s planning to enter the Dallas market.

The chain of 93 stores has a goal of being statewide by the end of this year, “and the only way to do that is to include Dallas,” said Lisa Rydman Key, vice president of marketing. “We’ve been asked for years by our customers who moved to Dallas to open a store there.”

North Texas voters eliminated beer and wine boundaries in last year’s election, which made coming into the market “more doable,” she said.

Several grocery stores and convenience stores in previously dry areas of Dallas have added beer and wine since the law changed, including Kroger and 7-Eleven. Several liquor stores operate in the Dallas market, including the area’s largest chain, Centennial Fine Wine and Spirits. California-based specialty food store Trader Joe’s is looking in the Dallas area but also hasn’t announced its first location.

Initially, Spec’s plans two to three Dallas-area stores, Key said. “We’re in the midst of lease negotiations and hope to have a store open by the end of the year.”

Store sizes vary, with Spec’s smaller stores occupying about 8,000 square feet. Its flagship Houston store is its biggest at 80,000 square feet. The size depends on the products stocked at each location, said Key, a third-generation family member and an alumnus of Dallas’ Southern Methodist University.

“We have 35,000 products and 15,000 to 16,000 are just wine, but we’re also known for our huge food selection,” she said. “There’s plenty of room in Dallas for another liquor company, and what we offer is
different.”

Spec’s has been expanding rapidly. “Three weeks ago, we opened in El Paso , next week Killeen and late August in Georgetown. We’re looking for a second San Antonio store,” Key said.

Life is AWESOME!!!  (ooo Trader Joe's too!!)