Texas beers

[Kent Wang]

Of course there are the regional juggernauts Shiner, Ziegenbock and Lone Star but Texas also has its fair share of microbreweries. My favorites are St. Arnold (Houston) Lawnmower and Real Ale (Blanco) Rio Blanco Pale Ale. Austin Chronicle recently ran a article on Austin-based Independence Ale, which I haven't tried.

What Texas beers do you like?

[planojim]

I've had a couple of beers from Rahr Brewing in Fort Worth, and those were decent enough. I think I picked them up at Central Market. I see that they're coming out with a bock this spring. That should be worth a taste.

http://www.rahrbrewing.com/

[dexygus]

i recently tried the st. arnold's lawnmower, and i really liked that. i don't care for shiner bock at all. those are really the only texas beers i've tried since i'm not much of a drinker.

[franktex]

i recently tried the st. arnold's lawnmower, and i really liked that.  i don't care for shiner bock at all.  those are really the only texas beers i've tried since i'm not much of a drinker.

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(Since I work for them, I'll go ahead and put my 'shill' hat on!)

If you liked The Fancy Lawnmower, I'd recommend that you check out the Saint Arnold Amber Ale, it's our best seller, and my personal favorite. You can also find:

Saint Arnold Brown Ale (slightly sweet, toasty);

Texas Wheat;

Elissa IPA (a well-balanced IPA named after the tall ship docked in Galveston).

We also have five seasonals, currently The Spring Bock (a REAL bock beer, very malty, higher in alcohol), Summer Pils (light, crip, and hoppy), Oktoberfest, Christmas Ale (a farily big beer with a sneaky 8%; and we are also making a series of single batch, very high gravity, barleywines and Belgium-types called Divine Reserve.

Did I mention we make a great Root Beer too?

www.saintarnold.com

[LDLee]

Regarding St. Arnolds, I prefer the Brown Ale.

You should tour the facilities in Houston sometime. Very different than the big corporate tour at an Anheuser-Busch brewery or the Heineken Brewery. The brewery is in a warehouse/office park in Northwest Houston. You can see everything when you walk in Tour takes about thirty minutes to an hour, then free beer.

[BrentKulman]

We also have five seasonals, currently The Spring Bock (a REAL bock beer, very malty, higher in alcohol)...

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Glad to see somebody else around here that recognizes that Shiner Bock isn't a REAL Bock.

[franktex]

We also have five seasonals, currently The Spring Bock (a REAL bock beer, very malty, higher in alcohol)...

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Glad to see somebody else around here that recognizes that Shiner Bock isn't a REAL Bock.

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But at least Zeigenbock is! )

(not!)

[MSchmidt909]

You should also check out Live Oak beers, they don't bottle, but you can find them at several good bars a restaurants around Austin (and Marble Falls). I tried a double bock at the brewery that was amazing. Well made, well balanced, unlike

"hops for the sake of hops" like some micro's.

[Kent Wang]

I went to Live Oak Brewery's 9th anniversary party this Saturday and had a chance to try the Pilz, Pale Ale, Big Bark amber lager and Hefeweizen; the latter two were my favorite. I don't usually like hefeweizens but I really enjoyed the crisp, citrusy flavor of the Live Oak brew. Live Oak is not available by the bottle and unfortunately does not have plans in the near future to build a bottling facility.