Capt Keith's Beer Blog

Today is the second annual Stout Day, (or Tempranillo Day, for the oenophile) and people all over the country have their smart phone in one hand and their pint glass in the other.  Just like IPA Day, Stout Day is a social media driven beer holiday and is focused on not only drinking a stout, but celebrating the stout and spreading its good word.  We have teamed up with Untappd to produce a special badge for those that use their great beer tracking app.  All you have to do is check into the Saucer and a Stout Beer and the badge is yours.  Our Saucers and Moth are all celebrating in different ways, and some are taking it to the next level by celebrating Stout Week and even Stout Month.  Check in with your local spot, everyone has great things planned.

Many people are getting fed up with these “National” holidays (eg. Talk Like a Pirate Day, National Cheeseburger Day, and plenty other even more rediculous made up holidays) but since our little Craft Beer thing represents barely over 5% of the national market, it is up to us to spread the word and get “Lite” Beer drinkers to drop their Macro products and pick up a craft beer.  The stout and the IPA are two of the most misunderstood styles, so to me it makes sense for these two styles to be the first to earn their own day.  How many times have you heard someone say “I don’t like dark beers” only to find out they have never even tried one?  So many people are too quick to judge books by their cover and don’t understand the versatility the stout can have.  Watching someones eyes light up the first time they sip a Milk Stout sweetened with unfermentable lactose, or even a thick and chewy Imperial Stout, perhaps aged in bourbon barrels or on a bed of cocoa nibs never gets old to me. That’s half the fun of craft beer.  Sharing our knowledge and understanding of this craft along with a couple ounces of our favorite beer we might have smuggled back from a vacation wrapped in a sweater we took to the beach simply for the padding.  There are so many people out there who do not understand what we hold so dear, and in some cases take for granted.

Remember, today is not only about the stout (or generating web traffic for the various websites built around capitalizing on this opportunity, most of which I think are spreading the good word for the greater cause) but is also about sharing.  Invite someone from your office who doesn’t drink good beer to your favorite beer joint for Happy Hour today.  Spread the word through your social media outlets that you live the good life and enjoy beer made by hands and not machines.  Proudly exclaim what you’re drinking, who your drinking it with, and where. Open the door for another to become as enlightened as you are.  Help those who are drinking rice/corn beer loaded with chemicals to find out there is more out there.  And as always, tip your server well for letting you have all the fun.

Come out to the Lake Flying Saucer on Friday, October 26th @ 7pm for our Brews for Boob’s Custom glass night and Breast Cancer Awareness Event

(October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!)

We will release a custom made glass at 7:00 pm with your choice of either Southern Star Blonde Bombshell or Ska True Blonde Dubbel! The proceeds from the glass will go to The Save the Ta-Ta’s Foundation. THIS GLASS WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE AT THE LAKE SAUCER!

We will have pink themed dessert table for your sweet tooth – it is $3.00 for a plate that you can fill with what you wish – that money will also be donated to the Save the Ta-Ta’s Foundation.

Wear Pink and come support the fight against breast cancer!”

“Save Second Base!”

Last year we had some great success with a few #IPAday celebrations and this year we are getting behind it full force.  Every Saucer will be having some really great, and unique, IPA day experiences.  Tons of special tappings, casks, and of course discounts on India Pale Ales on draught and in bottle.  Come out and see us today and help celebrate the India Pale Ale.

We are also teaming up with Untappd, a web based social beer app that helps you track and share your beers with your friends.  Last year the Austin Flying Saucer had the most Untappd IPA Check Ins of any #IPAday celebration in the world and this year we want to fill up the top ten with Flying Saucers!  If you use Untappd, help us accomplish our goals by checking in a getting a special “IPADay: Saucer Style” badge as well as your IPA Day 2012 badge.

Flying Saucer on the Lake will host their Third Anniversary Party on Sunday, July 29 beginning at 11am, an hour before usual opening, with a special Beerknurd Buffet beginning when doors open.   Admission is free, but while the Beerknurd Buffet is free for U.F.O. Club members it is $10 for non-members. Upon entry everyone will receive one complimentary raffle ticket, for drawings throughout the day with prizes that include limited edition hats, shirts, special glassware and other signature collectible items. Six rare beers are to be tapped throughout the day, with one draught, one bottle and one cask tapped every three hours starting at noon.

Draught Rahr & Sons Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer, Avery Uncle Jacob’s Stout in bottle and a special Deep Ellum cask all go out at noon.

Then at 3pm, Laughing Dog Anubis Imperial Coffee Porter get tapped, along with BrewDog 5 A.M. Saint bottles and a Rahr & Sons cask.

At 6 we break out North Coast Grand Cru 2011 draught, a limited number of Ranger Creek Small Batch Series No. 1, and a Franconia cask.  They will also have other Texas beers on special for $3 all day, but not including rare tappings.

Then, in Addison, starting at one we have our Second Annual BrewBQ.  This year’s BeerBQ Fest will deliver another all-inclusive experience, as guests will enjoy great food, beverages and live music. Featured food specials will be available all day, including BBQ nachos, smoked sausage, pulled pork sandwiches and peach blueberry cobbler served a la mode. These true Southern favorites will be complimented with 12 carefully selected rare beers which will be tapped throughout the event, beginning at 1 p.m. including many of the most highly sought-after brews around. Breweries to be highlighted at the event include Dogfish Head, Saint Arnold, North Coast, (512), Brooklyn and more.  Adding to the night’s excitement, the JD Monson Band will set the mood with an eclectic musical performance of classic country and rock tunes starting at 2pm.

Festival Season is upon us once again, and we are kicking things off at the Lake on June 16th.  Early bird tickets are still available for $25, but in a mere 36 hours they will go up to $30 until June 14th, then $40 day of the fest.  With Fathers day on June 17th shopping is a no brainer this year, you know your Dad would love a day out on Lake Ray Hubbard with a beer in his hand.  Our GM at the Lake Daniel Parks has been stashing gems in his cooler and my right hand man Sam Wynne is pulling up the newest breweries from Austin including Rogness, Jester King, Hops and Grain, Adelberts and more.  Buy your tickets early at  www.beerfeast2012.com because we put a cap on ticket sales this year, so we might sell out!  A few of the exciting beers that will be tapped include: One-year old Saison-Brett from Boulevard Brewing Co., Lagunitas Brewing Sucks Holiday Ale, Real Ale Brewing’s Kraken (French Oak Aged Sisyphus), Rahr & Sons Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer and Maui Brewing’s Onion Mild.

Follow @SaucerFeast on Twitter for all the latest updates.  

Vintage Barley Wine Week will feature a special tapping of a different vintage barley wine every night, Monday through Friday, at 5 p.m. It is perfect weather for a visit to the Lake!

The selections of barley wines being offered throughout the week include a Monday night offering of 2011 Live Oak Old Tree Hugger; 2010 Scaldis on Tuesday; a 2010 Left Hand Oak Aged Widdershins on Wednesday night, which will coincide with the Left Hand Goblet Brewery Night that begins at 7 p.m.; Moylan’s Blarney Wine 2011 on Thursday; and Real Ale Sisyphus 2009 on Friday.

Monday December 5 marks the Anniversary of the end of Prohibition (1933) AND the (Lake) Saucer’s salute to Allagash Brewing Company.

We have proudly poured Allagash beers for many moons in Texas, but due to increased demand for Rob Tod’s fine Belgian Style beers, they decided to pull out of the entire state. He has promised to return as their expansion eases the supply issues. We will miss the many unique beers of Allagash as I am sure many of you will as well. In an effort to say thanks to the Saucer – Rob sent one last shipment to DFW and Daniel (Lake GM) saved the delicious goodness for YOU. See his plan below:

Tapping @ 5pm

Curieux – Possibly my favorite Allagash brew – Curieux was their first foray into barrel aging. Curieux is made by aging their Tripel Ale in Jim Beam bourbon barrels for eight weeks in our cold cellars. The aged beer is then blended back with a portion of fresh Tripel. The resulting beer is soft with coconut and vanilla notes, with hints of bourbon.

Odyessey – Odyssey is a dark wheat beer aged for ten months, a portion in oak barrels and the remainder in stainless tanks. The recipe includes 2-row barley, malted wheat, a generous amount of roasted barley and Belgian candi sugar. This deep brown beer boasts an aroma of black treacle and raisin. The flavor hints at dates, with a mildly roasted finish imparted by aging in both medium and heavy toast American Oak barrels. The finish is dry, punctuated by vanilla.

Fluxus – Fluxus ’09 was brewed in the style of the traditional Saison. For a twist, brewers added sweet potatoes, black pepper and a generous amount of hops. Sweet potatoes not only enhance its pale orange appearance, they contribute significant body. Centennial hops produce a bold grapefruit aroma, which is followed by a mild, honeysuckle sweetness. The intensity of both the pepper and hops are felt throughout, leaving a lingering warmth on the tongue. Papya, citrus and pepper dominate the flavor profile.

Added Bonus: A limited amount of Allagash 10oz glasses will be available for you to keep -  (free with purchase of any of of these Allagash brews). Plus – you can opt for the Allagash 3 Beer Flight for $8.00.

Cheers to Allagash, the ending of prohibition & to you. Happy Holidays.

Keith

The weather has been fantastic around Dallas, Texas and to celebrate good times with good friends,  Flying Saucer will host the annual Beer Festival on Lake Ray Hubbard. Daniel and his crew have been collecting some interesting and limited kegs from various breweries around the US and abroad. He will release some of these on May 7th at his 2nd Annual Summer Beer Festival.

As a sneak preview, the following is a small list of some of the brews you will be able to try:

Stone Vertical Epic 10.10.10

Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball

Saint Arnold Divine #10

Avery Collaboration not Litigation

We will also have a variety of sessionable beers at this event. We just get excited about some of the bold and adventurous offerings by our brewing friends.

There will also be rare tappings inside the Flying Saucer starting at 2 pm. I hope to see you there.

The youngest Saucer on Lake Ray Hubbard turns 1 on Sunday! Come celebrate beer with us. Check out this link to see the Saucer and learn more details. Daniel and his team have been holding back some rare juice for the occasion and below is the tapping schedule:

NOON

Special Saucer/ Breckenridge Collaboration called FS 15

2 PM
Rahr Stormcloud IPA Cask-conditioned

Franconia Dunkel Cask-conditioned

5 PM
Avery 17th Anniversary Ale (dry-hopped black lager)

7PM
Stone Cali-Belgique (IPA with Belgian Yeast)

On the lake-side patio, we’ll be grilling Chicken and Pineapple skewers (Free)

Plus our usual Sunday Texas Pints are only $2.75 all day – love to the locals…. Come see us!