Bell's is Finally in Texas

Yeah they hit HEB and Kroger out northwest houston yesterday. Trying to determine if the Am I Right or Amarillo is 6 pack worthy

 

Only 1 way to find out? Or, ask the beer guy if he is willing to break up a 6'er in to singles. My HEB beer guy does that all the time, when asked.

 

I bought a sixer of Am I Right a couple of days ago. It didn't showcase Amarillo hops as well as Two-Hearted showcases Centennial (or maybe it did? Maybe Amarillo works best when blended?), but it was a fine IPA. Plus it was bottled on 2-20, so it made it here in a week!

On that point-- and I know I'm speaking from the beer nerd perspective-- I think their success in this state's big markets could come down to how they and their distributors manage freshness issues.
Ballast Point is in everywhere I walk into but is consistently ancient. (But the fruit flavoring mask the age! Hahaha! Haha! . . . ha . . .)
Firestone Walker does pretty good on their year-round, but their bygone bombers were usually old. I think (hope) their move to four-packs for the limited stuff will help.
Founders (I think) is doing the best out of these recent, very welcome, big name entries to the Texas market, although I'm sure others will differ based on the regionality of this large state.
Point being, if I can find reasonably fresh Two-Hearted, a pack of Expedition when it comes around, and maybe the brown ale (I haven't tried Bell's but I love brown ales love love them but outside Real Ale and Brooklyn I can't find consistently, especially in grocery stores)-- then I'll be a happy camper.
I feel like we're spoiled here in Texas over the past few years with the influx of well-regarded names, but when I look closer at their dates I can't help but think about what might have been.

 

Sorry, I forgot that we should tag these things
#firstworldproblems
#freshbeerproblems
#whatamidoingwithmylife

 

I usually overdose on Jai Alai and Two Hearted when I go to Florida (until I discovered Fat Head) and have come to the determination I like Two Hearted better. It doesn't fall off as fast as Jai Alai (in my opinion) and it is just so damned well balanced. I think I loved Jai Alai 2 years ago more than Two Hearted, but that has changed since then

 

I've only had the Two Hearted Ale and Black Note, but both were damn good.

Not to change the subject, but as mentioned earlier, there's so many good offerings to choose from these days between local and nationally distributed breweries. As a result, when I'm at the store, I'm checking for canning dates more than anything and this now determines what I buy - freshness, at least on the hop front. This normally means I grab Mosaic or Deep Ellum IPA as opposed to the FW, Ballast Point or Stone since its normally a 1-2 week, vs. 2 month difference between the local vs. nationals and I think the craft beer consumer is growing increasingly more savvy to this.

 

When will black note and expidetion show up?

 

I visit Florida once a year or so and used to do the same until I came to the same realization. Two Hearted is just so much better. I always by a couple of 4 packs of the tall boys and bring home what I don't finish. So happy to have Two Hearted in Texas now.

I bought a six pack of Am I Right yesterday and had one last night. It was pretty good but I will revert back to Two Hearted from now on. I hope we see more cans of Two Hearted. I only saw bottles at Central Market yesterday.

 

Hopefully, we will have both. Who would of thought 6 yrs ago, Bell's would be on the shelf and Cigar City with label approval.

 

I've never tried Two Hearted Ale. I really look forward to that.

 

Two Hearted Ale is amazing. My favorite IPA. Picking up two cases tonight.

 

There is a lot of salty Michigan folks on Facebook about Tx only Am I Right or Amarillo .

 

In my opinion, Bell's brown is definitely worth a try when the fall seasonals hit since you love the style. I think it's a great brown.

 

Oberon is very good too. Hopslam is my favorite DIPA but I suppose we have to wait till next January for that.

 

A great point, but there is no Fall in Texas (well at least in Houston) I'll still be picking some up though.

 

haha...people are so ridiculous.

 

I see my friends at Lone Star Taps & Caps have 8 different beers by Bells on tap (Lewisville and Fort worth locations) so looks like a couple of flights are in my future. Have only had Two Hearted and their Porter so really excited to check out these others.

http://www.tapsandcaps.com/