whats your favorite texas beer? i like ziegenbock. i hear firemans #4 is pretty good.

cold and open

cold and free!!!

Jester King's Black Metal Imperial Stout. Brewed near Austin, 10.4%, and fantastic.

http://jesterkingbrewery.com/introducing-jester-king-black-metal-imperial-stout

Shiner Kosmos

Lonestar Light, Firemans 4, Blanco Real Ales, Any Shiner, Alamo, Ziegenbock(dont think its brewed here though), Live Oak Hefe and Big bark amber Lager are good. IMO

Shiner

Samuel Smith.
Blanco Real Ales.

Real Ale is brewed in Texas, yeah, and they make some great stuff. I like their Full Moon Rye Pale Ale, and their Sysiphus Barleywine, as well as their Kraken, the oak aged version of their Highland Scotch Ale.

But Samuel Smith is an English brewery, lol.

Shiner Bock

+1 - still waiting for a 6 pack to be created though.

I keep hoping they'll do the 100 again.

I also keep hoping they'll start thinking outside the box and producing some bigger, bolder beers like some of the other better Texas breweries. ( Like Jester King, Real Ale, Saint Arnold's Divine Series, Freetail, (512), Southern Star, and lately, even Rahr And Sons. )

Rahr and Sons Snowmageddon Imperial Stout, brewed in Fort Worth, is another of my favorites from Texas nowadays.

I was looking at it the other day but could not bring myself to pay $8.99 for a 22oz bottle of it. Bought a 6 of ugly pug instead.

It's well worth it. Also, at Majestic its 7.99.

It's 5-10 times the beer Ugly Pug is, easily.

Plus, as an Imperial Stout it's about 10 percent, so at 22oz, that's nearly 4 beers in one.

Delicious. And very limited. Once it's sold out, it's gone till next February.

Shiner

free and lone star light.

St Arnold Christmas. Makes me wish it was Christmas already. Lol.

Possibly the best beer brewed in Texas these days.

Jester King's Black Metal Imperial Stout. Owns your face.

Looks like motor oil

Yup! Looks like what it is, delicious 10.4% Imperial Stout deliciousness.

where do you get the Jester King's

Right now, the easiest place to find it is usually on tap at good beer bars, quite a few in the DFW area have recently been pouring it. The Flying Saucers, The Gingerman, Lazy Bones in Grapevine, Holy Grail in Plano, Meddlesome moth in Dallas, etc. Don't know which still have it, but all of those had it previously.

You'll be able to find it soon throughout fine Liquor Stores across the state of Texas, especially in the Big Cities. DFW, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, etc. You should also be able to find it at places that sell fine beers like Central Market, Whole Foods, etc.

The first batch of the bottled version is likely already sold out, though. Thanks in large part to the TABC dragging their feet as usual. Jester King, the brewery, had Black Metal, the name of that particular beer, all bottled and ready to go. But they're a new brewery, and the TABC hadn't yet "approved" that beer and it's label for sale in Texas. But Jester King had beer sitting on shelves and production costs to recoup, so when they had offers for purchase and sale in other states, they had to give in and send most of it out of Texas. By the time the TABC had approved it, they had very little left for their home state.

But don't worry, Jester King is getting ready to ship a MUCH larger batch brewed just for the state of Texas to make up for it, and so in a few weeks you should be able to pick it up just about anywhere that sells fine beers.

They're from the Austin area, and I think there may be still be a few bottles on shelves in that area. Once they ship out the next batch, though, there should be plenty for everyone.

I only got mine by sheer luck, went into a beer store I like, and they had just so happened to have gotten in a single case of it, that day. And by the end of the day, that case was gone.

Anyway, here's the website for the brewery. They're quickly becoming my favorite Texas brewery.

http://jesterkingbrewery.com/01-home/

St Arnolds and Shiner.

Lone Star Light

Doesn't count anymore lol. It's brewed by Pabst, in Illinois, so its no longer a Texas beer.

Shiner for sure......try Holiday Cheer next Christmas, um, um, good!

shiner

Shiner 101

I thought it didn't count because it wasn't beer.

+2 Awesome brew, just wish I could find it by the case.

I like the freestyle wheat beer by the Independence brewery in Austin alot. 512 has some good stuff also.




Thanks for sharing that, I wonder why I havent heard yet, but thanks.

You probably haven't heard of Jester King yet because they're a very, very new brewery. Even newer then (512). In fact, the Black Metal I posted, and their WytchMaker Rye IPA are their first two bottled beers, before that it had been draft only.

Speaking of the Black Metal Imperial Stout and Wytchmaker Rye IPA, I should point out that both are currently in stores now. All your high end beer stores should have some in stock across Texas now. In DFW places like Halls, Grapevine Beer and Wine, Lone Star Beverage, and possibly some Central Markets and Whole Foods should have them in stock or be getting them soon.

I'd like to say that Majestic Liquors will also carry them, as they usually have a stellar selection of craft brews. However, they were recently bought out by Centennial, and Centennial is changing the way they order and stock their craft beers. Because Centennial makes their money of liquor, and to a lesser extent wine. According to a friend I have who works for Majestic, that means Centennial doesn't gave a crapp about craft beer, and is already making it much harder to get new things in stock. But that's a different rant.

Hopefully Majestic will get in some Jester King products as well, especially since it's brewed right here in Texas.

Anyway, Black Metal Imperial Stout and Wytchmaker Rye IPA on store shelves now!

Also, yes, Independence is a great little brewery too. Which their beers were available in bottled form more often up here. And I really enjoy (512)'s One and Two, their anniversary beers, as well as their Bourbon Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter. Good stuff!

I have to vote for shiner. any of their varieties

Any Shiner dark or stout,


I like beer it makes me a jolly good fellow

My local package store has thousands to choose from, and they let you mix and match in a six pack for 12.00 as long as each is from a different brewery

Most of the spicy beer brewed today is fun going over the palate.

shiner family pack is dang hard to beat

shiner blonde

PEARL?

if any of those others are any better than Shiner on tap at Mary's in Strawn , keep me away ! I have to lean forward to see My toes now

shiner

For research purposes on Friday I drank a Shiner Family Reunion. On Saturday at the Josh Abbott concert I drank Lonestar for the first time. I actually enjoyed Lonestar more.

its good to do research

No Lone Star is now brewed by Miller Brewing in Ft Worth, TX

yes that is the best right there...but if I have to buy it, give me Shiner 102, Shiner Blonde or Shiner Black.

For guzzling, St. Arnold's Summer Pils

Alright, if you'd rather get technical, at the moment, they're brewed by Miller. But they're owned by Pabst, who currently contracts the FW Brewery of Miller/MillerCoors.

Considering the original Lone Star Brewery closed in 2000, and has since only been contracted brewed ( Pabst pays other breweries to brew it.) I hardly consider that a Texas brew.

When I think of Texas Beers, I think of products that are owned by Texans, in Texas, and haven't been brewed any else, nor contracted by someone out of state just cause it's marketable product to Texans lol.

Interestingly, Pabst also owns, and contract brews Pearl, so I no longer consider that a "true" Texas beer anymore, either. Once you've closed down, been sold to another state, then the out-of-state owner ( From IL of all places ) pays someone else to to try and brew that beer again....It's no longer the same thing, let alone a "true" Texas brew.

At least in my opinion. Wonder if they even use the same yeast strain?

Saint Arnold's does some good stuff.

Here's one of the Texas Beers I'm currently drinking. Divine Reserve Number 11, from Saint Arnold's Brewery, out of Houston.

http://www.saintarnold.com/beers/divine_11.html

Shiner

I like Shiner and ZiegenBock. Hadn't heard of Jester King, but I'll be looking for it. Seems to run the gamut on alcohol content.

Guess I'll have to try some Saint Arnold as well.

That it does. Right now their lowest ABV beer is 3.2%, and and their highest is 10.4%, with others ranging from 6-9%.

I like any beer from Texas, right now its

and

any one ever had Rahr and Sons? brewed here in fort worth i believe

Yup. On the second page of this very thread, I wrote...



I also really like their Winter Warmer, particularly the Bourbon Barrel aged version.

Shiner Bock for me. I also think Real Ale does a great job and St. Arnold is a favorite around Houston but personally not my taste.

Ziegenbock is marketed as a Texas beer and IS brewed in Houston by Anheuser–Busch now owned by Inbev, a Belgium co. Whatever that makes it? It's not bad especially when the only alternative is the standard Bud, Bud Light, Miller Lite. Lone Star is now owned by Pabst but contract brewed by Miller in Ft. Worth.

For anyone that's interested, the Houston Chronicle has a great beer blog, covers the state of Texas and beyond.

http://blogs.chron.com/beertx/

Cheers!

Is XX Amber a Texas Beer.........I drink it in Texas all the time.....so, it's my favorite!

By that standard my favorite Texas beers are Deschutes Abyss and Stone Imperial Stout, cause I also drink them in Texas hehe.

I get the XX Amber at Mexican restaurants a lot, I like it better then the lager by far.

free-cold-open. just like that or any of the three

had some shiner ruby redbird summer brew. some good stuff. also tried rahr and sons ugly pug and bucking bock. all pretty good.

Yup, my favorite Rahr And Sons Beers are the Bourbon Barrel Winter Warmer, and the Snowmageddon. ( Named after the huge snow a few years back that collapsed their roof. )

Their Stormcloud IPA's not bad, and their Iron Thistle is a good Scotch Ale.

They've just bottled a new beer, and are sending kegs around to the local beer bars, it's an Imperial Pilsner, and they call it..."Pecker Wrecker". Hehehe, cause it's stronger then your average pilsner and I guess that's what it'll do if you drink too many lol.

Just a little note.....(I Like Shiner Bock! OK!) I tried the nastiest beer ever here while back imho. my friend Eric (stickshooter) poured my a little of the Shiner Bar B Que Beer......OMG, NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!

Ah, the Shiner Smokehaus. Some love it, some hate it. I'm not a fan. Like drinking a liquefied brisket that wasn't that well cooked lol.

I actually thought it was good.
What many dont understand is lagers go with certain meals.
Smokehaus would def be a beer while grilling or bar b qing :P

I like a hoppy IPA when grilling, and a dark, roasty beer to go with my grilled meats myself.

shiner black,real ale ...or mine

i have been brewing 7 years, favorite is big [censored] texas brown 7%...from defalcos

Well Totally Agreed With You jae011..

As ziegenbock is Also One of My Favorite ...

Apart of That When I Had Trip I Also Had Beer Called God-Father n Believe Me It's Best Drink Which I Ever Had ...

So Cheers With 2 Ice Cubes !!

Stopped in Mellow Mushroom the other night and tried a pitcher of Franconia Lager made by Franconia Brewing Company in McKinney. Very tasty brew - I would definitely order it again if I see it on tap when I'm out.

Yeah, Franconia's a good brewery, and pretty close to home, too!

a open one

Real Ale's seasonal offering, The Devil's Backbone.

Ranger Creek OPA (Oatmeal Pale Ale) by new kid on the block Ranger Creek Brewing is also mighty fine.

I too would like to see Shiner branch out even further in their offerings. I'd REALLY like to see their interpretation of an IPA or, even better, an Imperial IPA.

Agreed about Shiner making a DIPA. That'd be great. Though...I'm not sure shiner believes in "Hops" as lightly as they use them, lol.

Devils Backbone is great, have you tried the Oak Aged version? I want to say they call it the Devil's Share. They also do an oak aged version of their Real Heavy, which I think they called Highlander, lol. Also delicious.

I'd love to see Real Ale do an Imperial Stout.

As for Ranger Creek, I tried their La Bestia at the Spring Beer Fest at the Flying Saucer on the lake, and it was pretty delicious! Rather unusual for the style, but very good.

I'd love to see more of their products make it to DFW.

Have you tried much Jester King? They're my favorite Texas brewery right now.

I like alot of Rahr & Sons. St Arnies has some really good stuff. REALLY wanna try Jester King now. There is also a new brewery in the VERY early stages opening out of the Rocksprings area. They re called Stonesthrow (one word). Tried their DIPA and Imperial Stout. Good stuff. Seems promising. They got a long road ahead before opening though.


Is Steel Reserve still out of Ft. Worth?...Lol.

You wouldn't be disappointed by Jester King's beers. Their Black Metal Imperial Stout and Wytchmaker Rye IPA are both top notch.

shiner bock

Acutally tried it for the first time this past weekend. Do not remember which one, but had a red label. I enjoyed it. Won't replace my standard shiner, but will definitely drink it again when in the mood for a switch.

i think the red one is buffalo butt. its pretty good.Had some St.Arnolds wheat. loved it.

Could be Buffalo Butt, could also be Texas Red.

The Saint Arnold's beer I'm drinking the most lately is Weedwhacker. It's their new summer wheat beer, and it's delicious. Essentially a version of their Fancy Lawnmower but brewed with a hefeweizen yeast.

Tried the Shiner 102 Double Wheat last night. Very tasty!

X2... Gooooooooooooood stuff....

+1

hard to beat that, IMO

[/quote]
I also really like their Winter Warmer, particularly the Bourbon Barrel aged version. [/quote]

+1000

It took 3 pages for Franconia to be mentioned! I really like their Octoberfest.

Some of the folks on here might not consider it a Texas beer though. The owner is originally from Germany. Very nice fellow!

If it's brewed in Texas, it's a Texas beer hehe. I like Franconia over all. The only bad thing about following German purity laws is that there's no innovation in the beer.

That's one of the things I like best about American style craft beers. All the big, bold flavors, and all the innovations. Of course...the high alcohol content of some American craft beers doesn't hurt either lol.

But, Franconia makes some very tasty products!

I had some Rahr and Sons India Pale ale.....no complaints but i wont buy it again.

Hoppy beers can be an acquired taste lol.

I'd just like to re-iterate....

Jester King may be Texas' best brewery right now.

Their Black Metal Imperial Stout is amazing, and their Wytchmaker Rye IPA is damn delicious.

(512) is also brewing some fantastic beers, but they don't bottle yet, just have to drink them on tap in bars.

Shiner Summer Stock. I can only find it when I'm down near Shiner. One of the best beers I have ever had!

I think of all the rahr and sons i have tried the texas red is one of my favorite. I had the blonde on tap and it was great also

Shiner Kolsch, great on a hot summer day!

In that case,....Pacifico (tasty and smooth)

WHY WON'T SHINER SELL KOSMOS IN A 6 PACK!!!

I have a new favorite Texas beer.

La Muerta Imperial Stout by the Freetail Brewery, out of San Antonio. Sadly, they're a brewpub, and so by virtue of outdated, idiotic Texas law championed by Distributors who only like lining their own pockets...

Freetail cannot distribute it's beers or sell them anywhere but their own pub. ( They're opening a second one in Houston. )

Anyway, their Imperial Stout is world class, truly fantastic. Sadly, it only comes out one day a year, and as mentioned must by purchased at the brewery, where the bottles sell out in hours.

The bottle I got to try was hand numbered "2010 Vintage, bottle 401 of 450."

Oh Man.. when I was a kid we could get kegs of Shiner for about $40.. Six packs were like $1.75.. Then the yuppies discovered it.. Still partial to everything Shiner brews tho especially the double wheat. Fireman's 4 is what I've been enjoying lately, very good brew for summertime.

Does anyone else remember when Coors wasn't sold in Texas? I can't stand the stuff, but at one time it was THE beer to get ahold of. I have some relatives that would drive to Louisiana to fill up the back of their station wagon with that [censored].. LOL

On my way to Holy Grail now. Hope they have it........

They (Holy Grail) didn't have the BMIS, but they did have their Commercial Suicide on tap. Pretty good. Had to venture out of the state and also enjoyed some Old speckled Hen, Lagunitas, and Smithwicks ofcourse...

Fireman's 4 is brewed by Real Ale, another of my favorite Texas breweries.

Yeah, it's been a little while since the Holy Grail had Jester King Black Metal on tap. The most recently tapped batch of it in the DFW area was at the Flying Saucer in Fort Worth. They tapped a cask of it about two weeks ago, not sure if they've sold it all yet or not.

You can still find Black Metal in bottle form at various locations throughout DFW, some Majestic Liquors have it, Lone Star Beverages and Sam's in Carrolton, Halls in Colleyville, some Central Markets, Whole Foods, and possibly Market Streets have it as well.

Yeah, the Commercial Suicide is also pretty tasty. I also like Jester King's Wytchmaker Rye IPA.

My favorite Texas beer over all now is the La Muerta Imperial Stout by Freetail. Sadly outdated Texas laws only allow it to be sold at the brewpub so it's very hard to obtain. I got mine from a friend from San Antonio.

The best On Tap beer I've had lately wasn't from Texas, but it was the Stone Imperial Russian Stout, on tap at the Common Table in Dallas.

As far as bars to try great beers, and great Texas beers, in the DFW area some of the best are The Meddlesome Moth, The Common Table, Holy Grail Pub, and all the Gingerman and Flying Saucer locations.

Do you go to Holy Grail often? I was just there last week as well, and the Moth, and the Common Table. At the Moth I was working on writing up some interview questions for local breweries and pubs.

Tried some this weekend, was pretty good. A real hot weather beer that was light but flavor.

I prefer Saint Arnold's Weedwacker to their Summer Pils for summer beer drinking. It's basically their Lawnmower but with a belgian hefeweizen yeast instead. Very tasty, very refreshing.

I go about once a week. It is just down the street from work. Will also hit Gingerman at the Legacy Shops as well as Rugby Pub.

Nice! I don't go there that often, but I get there when I have a chance. Mostly recently went to the Meddlesome Moth, and the Common Table, both in Dallas.

Tried a fantastic new Texas Beer the other day, up at the Holy Grail in Plano.

Real Ale's XV. ( That's 15 ) It's an Imperial Stout that Real Ale, out of Blanco, brewed to celebrate their 15th Anniversary. It's delicious, too, one of my new favorite Texas beers. Up there with my other two Texas favorites, Jester King's Black Metal, and Freetail's La Muerta.

Right now, the Real Ale 15 is only available on tap, and you can find it at The Common Table, The Meddlesome Moth ( Both in Dallas ) the Holy Grail in Plano, and some of the Gingerman Pubs, and the Flying Saucers in the area.

Hopefully they will be bottling it soon!

Pearl light!

St. Arnold Brewery, from Houston, has a new seasonal beer out for October/Halloween/Fall. It's called Pumpkinator, and it's based on their previous Divine Reserve 9 beer, which was a Pumpkin Imperial Stout. This one is as well, tastes a bit like chocolate pumpkin pie in a bottle. It's pretty fantastic. It's also close to 11%, hehehe.

again cold beer

just tried shiner holiday brew, real ale coffee porter, and rhar and sons pecker wrecker . all really good

I haven't seen it in awhile but Shiner Frost was very tasty. I had it down in Shiner a couple of years ago at a little store on the main drag there...

Shiner

Ziegen and shiner for a drinking beer, rahr and sons angry goat for an enjoying beer

Amber bock, then Shiner

Here are a few I came up with this winter - Rahr Winter Warmer and and the Real Ale 15th. Anniversary Russian Imperial Stout (expensive). A friend of mine wrote a pretty good article on the holiday varietals - http://texasflycaster.com/holiday-beer-selection-local-beer-consultant-provides-guidance/ .

Shiner is the best

I really like Live Oak brewery.

Drinking beer and enjoying beer are the same thing to me, lol.

Any of you guys tried Deep Ellum or Peticolas Brewing Yet? They're Dallas' two newest breweries, and they make some damn fine beers.

I'm a sucker for anything Saint Arnold's or Rahr Brews.

Not sure if this is been posted but you DFW beer drinkers may be interested in this:

http://www.bigtexasbeerfest.com/

Southern Star's Bombshell Blonde from Conroe!! Better than Fireman #4, but a bit pricey!

That festival will be amazing. I'll be there, as well at least two or three other TFFer's I'm friends with.

I know the guy who's putting it on personally. In my other life, lol, I'm big into the DFW Craft Beer scene.

+1

For those of you interested in trying new beers brewed in Texas?

The previously mentioned www.bigtexasbeerfest.com will have beers from almost every brewery in Texas. Rahr, Franconia, Deep Ellum, Peticolas and Lakewood, all from DFW.

Jester King, (512), Circle, Real Ale, Austin Beerworks, Independance, and many more from the Austin area.

Southern Star from Conroe.

No Label, Karbach, Saint Arnold and others from Houston...

Seriously, there's a whole huge world of Texas brewed beer out there with dozens of Texas Craft Brewers. Why not head to the Big Texas Beer Festival and check them out?

They have it in several stores around there. We have to stop and get some every time we go to the deer lease.

Had several Rahr Bucking Bocks at a little bar/grill on bluebonnet circle tonight. Damn tasty beer - and a good kick with 7.5% alcohol

that rhar bucking bock is the stuff man

Texas Pride
Pearl

And of course.....Buckhorn!

Love all the Jester Kings beers, especially the Black Metal.
Southern Star is an awesome brewery too. Doesn't get much better than a Blonde Bombshell on a hot day.

Is that 30 weight or 40 weight?

Shiner

deep elum brewery in dallas is awesome...just wished i could get good texas beer in north dakota

Franconia out of McKinney