Texas Beer Scene

@jamescain When I spoke to Laura Bell (who runs the brewery day to day) in May of this year, she told me they had no plans to be in Texas at any time.

Actually that'd be Yuengling, who also qualifies as a craft brewery now.

 

This was a few years ago when they told me that. I think they just hate Texas haha

 

Bells is good - but I don't know if it would actually bring that much to TX anymore. People get all excited about new breweries coming in just to see them sit on shelves because they now have had it.

Sure, it would be another great IPA and other beer, but it is more of the same.

Would I be happy if they came? Of course. I was when Jolly Pumpkin came in. But, they also just sit on shelves now too.

 

Considering price and availability...I'll take Legion just the way it is. I agree I'd love to see it aged for a year as well...maybe they'll do a reserve or something like that after they grow some. And they are growing.

And what's this about Martin House being super creative? I see their single hop beers rotating on shelves, but besides that..? And I don't remember ever being blown away by anything they've done either. Not to put them down, I hope to see them succeed, but...

 

Sorry I must have skipped your response about Martin House's beers. Duly noted. Although I don't get to bars much anymore.

 

I'm fine with Jolly Pumpkin sitting on the shelves, one of my favorite breweries and my fridge almost always has a few bottles. Imagine that, something that is great and you don't have to wait in line or travel, then wait in line again to get it. Oh the horror

 

I agree. And given that the style of beer can sit on shelves, it's no problem for stores. Just more old IPAs for places like Flag Store to gouge from is not really needed.

 

Until they pull out of the state cause their product doesn't move. Didn't Allagash pull out for this reason?

 

Allagash pulled out due to not being able to keep up with sales in their region apparently. I'm sure it didn't help that it wasn't selling the greatest either.

Or at least that is what I heard.

 

Those are not old IPAs, they are American barleywines

 

I can buy sours in cans...that pretty fucking awesome!

 

"Sitting on shelves" is not great for a brand. If that's all it does it won't be there forever because a retailer will find a product that actually moves for that real estate. Shelf space is finite and quite valuable these days.

If you like Jolly Pumpkin you should put your money where you're mouth is our it won't be around forever. Those Flood boys could use your support as well.... especially if you want to see more ground-breaking beers come into this market.

 

I'm waiting for the day when we don't see Jolly Pumpkin anymore

 

I don't know how well Jolly Pumpkin sells, but they are not rare at all. They are available in many states and easy to come by. Not saying they won't pull out or anything, I have no clue, but I am really not worried about it. Saying JP will pull out is like saying Odell or any newish brewery to the market here will pull out just cause you see them on the shelf a lot. It certainly may be true at some point, but unless I hear something more definitive this is a non issue to me.

 

I will drink JP anywhere/anytime I find them on tap, but have never purchased any of their 750ml's. Just not a format I like buying right now

 

It isn't because I see them on a shelf much, it is because they aren't moving from the shelves. Will they pull out this year? No. Will they renew their TABC license when it is up and pay the fee again? Who knows.

 

I'm a Texan, born and bred in Pampa, Houston and Austin. Family goes back over 200 years in Texas. Now, I've been in Seattle over 20 years and started a brewery ( fremontbrewing.com ) awhile back. However, I grew up on Lone Star and Shiner Bock. I'm not complaining, just saying.

You have to be kidding me about complaining that Texas doesn't have great beers! Where is your sense of history? As mentioned before, realize that this scene is brand new in Texas, man. Give it time. St Arnold's has lit and held the candle that so many others now get their spark from....give it time, loyalty and patience. Real Ale, Lakewood, Martin House, Community, Austin Beerworks, Live Oak, and on and on. Gems in each one. Love and realize your scene for what it is. You are trailblazers. Act like it and embrace the change, don't complain that Texas craft beer is not like somewhere else. Make it what you want it to be. Promote and push. Be Texas proud and Don't Mess With Texas! You will miss the surge when it happens.

In the PNW, we have been brewing and pushing craft for over 30 years. Pause. Realize your opportunity to be pioneers and embrace the moment. Texas craft beer is exciting and blowing up....well, there is a little local love from a Texas heart in the PNW, so happy to see the scene finally exploding...while drinking an Easy Peasy from Deep Ellum in the Fremont hood of Seattle (thanks to Tom and Teddy who brought it up from DFW)...Because Beer Matters!

 

@Texwild was kind of wondering where this was coming from and then I read back in the thread. So yeah somewhat deserved. I have only been really into good beer for about 1 year, but I feel that if Texas no longer imported beer from other areas, I could survive. I think there are plenty of breweries here that are doing some pretty wild experimental stuff. Just in Houston alone, you have St Arnold and Karbach that release yearly what I feel is some top quality BA beers. Texian out in Richmond is doing some fantastic stuff with Sours. What Live Oak is doing in Austin for the classics is amazing, along with Jester King which is widely known and traded for. So I think most of us here truly appreciate what we have

 

Two of the more recent brewery releases just sitting around on shelves without much fanfare are Jolly Pumpkin and Uinta.

Both make me incredibly sad, two very great breweries that should be held in better esteem here in Texas given how little we had for so long, but it's whatever. I enjoy being able to readily grab a bottle of their beers without much hassle. I remember trading for both 2 and a half years ago and giddy when they arrived.

As far as local DFW breweries that aren't impressing the chicagoland types, sorry. We'll start pushing out those pumpkin peach beers and alcoholic rootbeer malt liquors sometime soon i'm sure.

 

you have no idea what you're talking about, do you?