I was able to visit the brewery for the first time yesterday. It was really hot.. oh yeah, I'm in Houston.. hello Ford. Here are my impressions: Out of their three regular beers the only one I find just ok is Hopston. I really liked Intellectuale tonight.. I was already a fan of Alt Universe... and now I'm a big fan of Coffee Mocha Alt Universe... loved that beer. Even Hopston was better than the first time I tried it... but I still think there are many IPA's better locally. Side Note: Waffle Bus... delicious.. the Ancho Chile Honey Waffle Chicken sandwich is GREAT. The Irish Creme Brulee dessert waffle with Strawberries is amazing... Had a good time, but of course being summer in Houston the non airconditioned brewery is just so hot.. bring your own chairs and sit outside in the shade somewhere.. ten to fifteen degrees cooler there. After tonight, I look forward to seeing where 8th Wonder goes... I have no problem watching a brewery grow and improve in time. Tonight was a definite step in the right direction for me. I put them ahead of No Label, Fort Bend and many of the brews from Southern Star... I like Alt Universe and Intellectuale about as much as anything in the regular Karbach lineup....
They had a dry hopped Citra version of Intellectuale, but I didn't have one of those. It was a five dollar pint fill, separate from the tasting price. Coffee Mocha Alt Universe was also an extra pay fill. Which I'm fine with as the new laws finally allow us to buy beers this way at the brewery. I wish I could have had a small sample of it though to compare to the regular Intellectuale!
these no inclusive rules are bs. I had the first batch of Hopston, which was rumors to have got messed up but they sent it out anyways. It was like a malt bomb, hardly any hops. Was the next batch the same? So far i'm not impressed with them much at all.
Wasn't a big fan of Hopston, but I enjoyed their Intellectuale and Alt Universe. Overall their beers just seem a little safe to me and I'd like to see them put some higher ABV beers out. Definitely a brewery to keep an eye on!
I retract my food statement from earlier... please disregard... we don't want anyone knowing anything else that might be going on AT a brewery.... they only have beer...
Anyone had their new IP8 yet? I had it at the Saucer (DT) yesterday and didn't like it at all. Confused the hell out of me, too. It's supposed to be a "Belgian Double IPA" -- I got plenty of fruitiness, but no hops at all, and no hint of "classic" Belgian fruity esters either. And it finished with a harsh bitterness (not a hoppy bitterness) that made me want to wash my mouth out. Curious if anyone else has had a similar experience, or if mine was just off somehow. Really want these guys to succeed, and I'm a fan of Intellectuale & Alt Universe. But IP8....yeesh. Followed it up with Ommegang Fleur de Houblon, which while not technically a Belgian IPA is plenty hoppy and Belgian. Delicious beer.
I thought their Alternate Universe was okay, but Hopston was a mess. Fairly strong diacetyl flavor IIRC. It's been a while since then, so I'd be willing to give it another shot based on changes that might have been made.
I'm a fan of Alternate Universe and the other beer they make...besides Hopston.. there are just way better IPA's out there than that one... at least the two times I've tried it...I'm sure I'll try the Belgian DIPA when I see it.
