Capt Keith's Beer Blog

Meddlesome Moth Rare Beer Tapping Wednesday, September 1st at 5PM. We are tapping Real Ale Brewery Company – ESB Cask Condition. Come early ’cause it won’t last.

Moth will hosts its first Beer Dinner on Monday, June 28 with Rob Tod – owner and brewmaster of Allagash Brewing Company in Portland, ME.

Allagash brews some of the best Belgian Style beers in America and we are proud to showcase their beers. The Event starts at 6 PM

Details: 6 beers paired with 6 course from Chef Chad Kelley. Four of the beers are somewhat rare, especially in Texas.

Beers to be included are:

White - a fantastic example of a Belgian Witbier

Tripel - golden and complex with some nice herbal notes.

Curieux – The Tripel aged in Jim Beam barrels for 8 months

Odyssey - a dark wheat (10%abv) partially aged in medium toast oak barrels

Four - Four Malts and Four hops are used to make this beer along with date sugar and molasses – so good when it hits your lips….

Interlude - a rare treat and an interesting finale……

Tickets are on sale now at Moth and space is limited for this unique event. Call us to reserve a slot 214-628-7900 or come by and have a pint…..

The Lake Saucer is planning on kicking off summer with their first annual Summer Beer Festival. The date is May 22nd, which is a Saturday and the weather should be perfect that time of year. After hosting some great events in Austin and Fort Worth last fall, we have a solid plan in place. It will be a tasting format as before but we will do some planning to make sure the lines aren’t a mile long. Expect at least FIVE tents of hand crafted ales, with some jewels we’ve been holding back for an event like this.

Daniel is our GM at the lake. He moved from Charlotte FS, where he was an avid home brewer and hosted annual events like the Charlotte Oktoberfest. He is a certified beer judge and knows more about beer than you know about your mama. He and I will be hand picking 20 or so beers to place in the outdoor tents. We’ll have tasting glasses and information cards on all the beers out there. In addition to tasting stations, we’ll have a tent set up serving full pints.

Mark your calendars now and we’ll keep you posted through the website and with in store flyers. I will also blog to keep you up-to-date. Help us spread the good word about beer in Garland and Rockwall.

This July will be our 1 year anniversary and we’ve already seen some serious enthusiasm for quality beer in that area. If you have not yet been to the Lake Saucer, go soon. The patio is perfect with weather like this, with a beautiful view of Lake Ray Hubbard and a cool patio bar with 6 drafts to chose from. We’ve got another 80 inside and a cask ale on tap most nights.

Cheers

Keith

It is that time of year if you are near Columbia, South Carolina.

Our friends at All About Beer Magazine are hosting the 2nd Annual World Beer Festival at the convention center just around the corner from the Flying Saucer. I attended last year and there were many world class beers available and all of the usual suspects. Belgian ales are plentiful, local craft breweries are eager to give you a taste of their love for the art and many of the major craft players will be on hand to taste you on their special line up.

Smuttynose was a favorite of mine last year – look for Kevin Love when  you hit their booth – he is knowledgeable and passionate about his beers. The Smuttynose IPA was a fantastic example of the style and I recommend it. Look forward to trying a Barleywine this year. Hope they bring one.

Attend one of the beer lectures if you get the chance. Greg Glaser’s presentation is very well done and extremely informative and they pass out beer for you to taste as you go along. There should be several opportunities and I thoroughly enjoyed them last year.

The Flying Saucer will have a booth set up with merchandise and some of the folks from our local chapter. Ted from Austin will be on hand as well as Jeff from Raleigh. The Saucer is hosting a Brewers Dinner with beers on Friday night which could be an opportunity to talk beer with those who make it. Come by the Saucer after your session to warm up and have a killer beer with us. See you there!

3 Amigos Drinking Rogue Ale with Jim

This is our 4th year in a row to host the Fort Worth Beer Festival. Each year the crowd has grown in size and last year was the biggest yet. If you have not attended this annual event, let me explain how it will work.

You do not have to pay to get in the event.

You pay for a Tasting Card so that you can sample 10 of the 25 beers we are featuring. The cards identify which beers are in the various tents. Each time you try a beer, we will pour 4 oz and then punch your card. For a $5 bump in price, you can sample from the UR Not Worthy Tent. That was Marc’s idea – to include a grouping of beers that are very rare on draft and that he has been saving for all of you! In this tent, you’ll find beers like Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, Avery Beast Grand Cru and some Vintage North Coast Old Stock.

If you find a beer you like, you can buy a full pour with tickets or 4 punches of your tasting card.

A big tent will be set up with tables and chairs to take a load off or just sit and eat some killer beer food. We’ll fire up the Brat and Pretzel tent just before 2 PM. Expect beer brats and German pretzels with spicy mustard and seasoned kraut. Perfect fall beer food for an outdoor event.

As the doors open, we will tap the bung on some Real Ale Oktoberfest. We have a limited supply so get there early. Also, I will be on hand to tap the first keg of Sierra Nevada Edge of Darkness from my beer camp. Come see us and let’s raise a glass to some great weather with friends and the best beer selection ever presented at an outdoor venue in the history of Fort Worth, Texas.

Founders Brewing Company is one of our favorite breweries and we are please to offer you this tasting opportunity.

If you have not purchased your ticket, you’d better do it soon, because this tasting is sure to be a crowd pleaser. The tasting will be held on Monday, Sept 28 at 7 p.m.

Michael Bell is coming down to pair beer and food.

His line up will include Red’s Rye PA, Centennial IPA, Cerise Cherry Fermented Ale, Curmudgeon Old Ale, Dirty Bastard Scotch-Style Ale and one of my favorite beers – their Breakfast Stout. Tickets are on sale now for $30 to UFO Club Members and $35 to non-members.

Don’t forget – every Monday is Pint Night with most draught beers (over 60) for only $2.75

Cheers

Keith

Here’s a review of the event: Click Here

The event will be held upstairs in Half Acre Hall and will be hosted by Lagunitas’ “beer weasel” Ron Lindenbusch. Six of Lagunitas’ beers will be paired with a specially selected five-course menu. Featured pairings include the Dog Town Pale Ale with a salad of mixed greens and goat cheese; the India Pale Ale with a filet of salmon with tarragon chive sauce; the Maximus Imperial IPA with peanut- and spice-rubbed chicken satay with curried rice pilaf; the Cruising with Ruben & The Jets Stout with artisan sausages over beer-braised cabbage; the Old Gnarly Wine as stand-alone feature; and the Brown Shugga with molten chocolate lava cake à la mode with raspberry drizzle.

Ron is expected to bring a vintage Brown Shugga for a vertical sampling. It is a rare opportunity for us to have someone like Ron come and speak to our loyal beerknurds. We are saving space for only 45 people to make it more informative and interactive for those who attend.

Since we picked up the HopSlam, we have moved 7 kegs and are now forced to hold back the rest of the stock for the March 4th Brewery night with Bells.

Matt has a treat for those of you who plan to attend.  A Cask of HopSlam that will be tapped at 7 PM SHARP. Mark your calendars – it will not last long! This beer is a Double or Imperial IPA with over 100 IBU’s and just at 10 % abv. Go easy, it goes down easier than you’d think.

Oscar Wong, owner of Highland Brewing Company will be on hand Thrusday, February 19th to host a tutored tasting and food pairing.

We will feature six Highland beers including the Imperial Black Mocha Stout. Each beer will be paired with various cheeses and meats. The final beer will be paired with chocolate truffles and the match works incredibly well.

In 2006, Highland began a tradition of releasing an imperial version of one of their brews each September at Asheville’s Brewgrass Festival.   First was Imperial Gaelic followed by Imperial Kashmir IPA.  This year’s offering was Imperial Black Mocha Stout,  rich with coffee and chocolate notes.

Most of you know Highland’s story but to hear it from the man himself should be a good time. Make reservations NOW as space is limited. The tasting will begin at 6:30 PM .

Ticket Price: $25 for Members and $30 for non-members.