Fall Beer Sightings (Southwest) 2019

Discussion in 'Southwest' started by beeragent, Jul 20, 2019.

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  1. beeragent

    beeragent Pooh-Bah (1,850) Aug 16, 2005 Texas
    Pooh-Bah

    Aside from the 903 and Hop & Sting, those are also on the shelves in south Texas. I've never had the Hop & Sting, so I'll definitely be seeking that out. I have to say, even though they won a medal, Oak Highlands Oktoberfest was not that impressive. I'd say it was equivalent to something like Shiner's Oktoberfest. Not bad, but definitely not gold medal either.
     
    #21 beeragent, Aug 5, 2019
  2. Roadkizzle

    Roadkizzle Initiate (0) Nov 6, 2007 Texas

    I liked the OHB Oktoberfest but I was surprised it won a medal.
    I don't think it is the best around but I don't know what Oktoberfests were entered.

    From South Texas we get Saint Arnold, Karbach, and Southern Star.

    The Saint Arnold doesn't do it for me.
    The Southern Star two years ago was a favorite but I wasn't a fan of last years.
    I haven't bought Karbach since they were bought by ABInbev

    We don't get Oktoberfest beers from the Austin area either other than Real Ale.

    I'm on the lookout for when Real Ale and Southern Star land up here and I'll be buying the Altstadt and Live Oak versions when I go to Austin next.
     
    #22 Roadkizzle, Aug 6, 2019
  3. Roadkizzle

    Roadkizzle Initiate (0) Nov 6, 2007 Texas

    Well I bought my first fall beer at the store (I have had a pint of the Lawktoberfest as well).

    I bought Shiner Oktoberfest. I drank 2 last night and it fell short of what I really look for in Oktoberfests. It wasn't to the level that it has been in previous years I thought.

    But I did prefer it to the very sweet versions.
     
    #23 Roadkizzle, Aug 8, 2019
  4. icetrauma

    icetrauma Pooh-Bah (1,657) Sep 7, 2004 Texas
    Pooh-Bah

    Picked some Shiner and Ayinger today along with SA BB 24 at Pasadena HEB.
     
    #24 icetrauma, Aug 21, 2019
  5. beeragent

    beeragent Pooh-Bah (1,850) Aug 16, 2005 Texas
    Pooh-Bah

    So many great ones are in the shelf now! I love it (but my wife and wallet hate it). Live Oak Oaktoberfest and New Belgium Atomic Pumpkin are both out now. I’m personally still waiting for Avery’s Kaiser and Ballast Points Dead Ringer.
     
    #25 beeragent, Aug 22, 2019
    icetrauma likes this.
  6. Roadkizzle

    Roadkizzle Initiate (0) Nov 6, 2007 Texas

    Hopefully my dad will bring me the Altstadt Oktoberfest this weekend.

    I'll try to get the Oaktoberfest over the Labor Day weekend and if they have the Smoketoberfest at the brewery I'll try to go there.
     
    #26 Roadkizzle, Aug 22, 2019
  7. icetrauma

    icetrauma Pooh-Bah (1,657) Sep 7, 2004 Texas
    Pooh-Bah

    Kaiser got released on the 19th at Avery. Hoping he arrives very very soon.
     
    #27 icetrauma, Aug 23, 2019
  8. beeragent

    beeragent Pooh-Bah (1,850) Aug 16, 2005 Texas
    Pooh-Bah

    Not sure how I missed the release last year, but I got lucky and found an H-E-B that still had a sixer hidden in the back. I’ll keep an extra eye out this year. I’m also waiting for The Elysian 22oz pumpkin beers to hit. I know, they were bought out, but they’re still delicious!!
     
    #28 beeragent, Aug 24, 2019
  9. Roadkizzle

    Roadkizzle Initiate (0) Nov 6, 2007 Texas

    In Austin. My dad looked at Specs last week and said the closest Altstadt Oktoberfest in Specs was in Killeen.

    I went to a HEB in South Austin and could only find the Alt and Kölsch, no Oktoberfest. I was saddened but was still happy to pick up the Alt.
     
    #29 Roadkizzle, Sep 1, 2019
  10. Roadkizzle

    Roadkizzle Initiate (0) Nov 6, 2007 Texas

    I just went to Live Oak and while I enjoyed it as normal I wasn't really excited by the Oaktoberfest.

    Has anyone else thought this years Oktoberfests are lightening up from the last few years? A few years ago I thought most of the versions had a strong toastiness with some bitterness from the melanoidins.

    This year though I've had Shiner, Rahr, Real Ale, Live Oak, and a few German versions.

    In past years I've thought each of these as quite good examples but so far this year I've just thought they've been light bready malt tasting. Closer to a Helles tasting even though they've been darker colored.
     
    #30 Roadkizzle, Sep 1, 2019
  11. beeragent

    beeragent Pooh-Bah (1,850) Aug 16, 2005 Texas
    Pooh-Bah

    For those of you near the Texas Hill Country, consider taking a trip out to Boerne, and checking out Cibolo Creek Brewing. They have the Kendall County Oktoberfest on right now, and its really good! Reminds me of a really fresh Ayinger Oktoberfest, with the deep caramel (but not too sweet) malts coming through nicely!
     
    #31 beeragent, Sep 2, 2019
  12. beeragent

    beeragent Pooh-Bah (1,850) Aug 16, 2005 Texas
    Pooh-Bah

    I've still been enjoying the Oaktoberfest this year, and I think its still full flavored and highly drinkable, but I have to agree that I think it's lacking some of that strong toasty/bready character that it had when it was first released a few years ago, or when only available on tap before that. And maybe it's my palate changing, but I've noticed some of the German Festbier's that I really love, seem to be more bitter and less malty this year. Maybe we just got a fresher batch of them and we're not used to that?
     
    #32 beeragent, Sep 2, 2019
  13. beeragent

    beeragent Pooh-Bah (1,850) Aug 16, 2005 Texas
    Pooh-Bah

    Has anyone seen Ballast Point Dead Ringer in Texas this year? I believe it was already out by now last year.
     
    #33 beeragent, Sep 12, 2019
  14. beeragent

    beeragent Pooh-Bah (1,850) Aug 16, 2005 Texas
    Pooh-Bah

    Aside from all the Oktoberfests and pumpkin ales on the shelf, has anyone seen any of the wet hop style beers hitting the shelves yet? I know Founders Harvest ale has made it to Austin, but that’s as close as I’ve seen.
     
    #34 beeragent, Oct 14, 2019
  15. Roadkizzle

    Roadkizzle Initiate (0) Nov 6, 2007 Texas

    I went to Oddwood this weekend (a couple of times) and really enjoyed their Oktoberfest, Austinerbrau. It was straight toasty bread with a light sweetness to back it up.

    [​IMG]
     
    #35 Roadkizzle, Oct 14, 2019
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  16. beeragent

    beeragent Pooh-Bah (1,850) Aug 16, 2005 Texas
    Pooh-Bah

    I actually meant to go by there this weekend too, but after Blackstar, Draught House, and Pinthouse, I just couldn’t do it. Draught House has a really good Oktoberfest on tap right now too that they brewed.
     
    #36 beeragent, Oct 14, 2019
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