Real Ale

Discussion in 'Southwest' started by Danny124, Mar 10, 2015.

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  1. Danny124

    Danny124 Aspirant (289) Mar 21, 2009 Texas

    So, for those who've seen the most recent "New Beer (this month)" thread, Real Ale is currently revamping it's whole lineup with new packaging and in some cases, new recipes. In the past week I've started seeing the new cans and bottles on the shelf, and my first thoughts are all good ones, not least because it means fresh product. I've bought two sixers of 4^2 this week already, 'cause it's right at a week old! For less than $8 a sixer at HEB, that's a steal, and I've been in dry-hopped heaven for a week now.

    Their Rye ale, Full Moon, has seen a recipe change, with Citra being added and the final gravity being dropped to IPA levels (according to their website). I'll be looking for that one next. Between that, and 4^2 , and Han's Pils, I'm a happy man as far as well-priced local hoppy beers go.

    Any thoughts on the new packaging? Real Ale has often been a "underrated" local brewery (or by underrated, I mean "lacks excessive national acclaim")-- so I wonder, does this signal the explosion of our hill-country brewery? Or will their packing of some of the MV series do that anyway?
     
    #1 Danny124, Mar 10, 2015
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  2. Texasfan549

    Texasfan549 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Feb 26, 2011 Texas
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I dig the new labels. Full Moon with Citra sounds pretty tasty! I'll have to revisit that when I see the new bottles.
     
    #2 Texasfan549, Mar 10, 2015
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  3. champ103

    champ103 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,296) Sep 3, 2007 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah

    #3 champ103, Mar 10, 2015
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  4. starkmarvelo

    starkmarvelo Initiate (0) Jan 20, 2010 Texas

    I have two problems with Real Ale. They should have left the Sisyphus labels alone, and the cans of White say seasonal release on them. They should do away with that. I think big things are coming for Real Ale. New taproom, new website, new labels. I'm excited to see what's coming up.
     
    #4 starkmarvelo, Mar 10, 2015
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  5. jamescain

    jamescain Initiate (0) Jul 14, 2009 Texas

    Shhhh....
     
    #5 jamescain, Mar 10, 2015
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  6. ONovoMexicano

    ONovoMexicano Initiate (0) Jun 14, 2012 New Mexico

    I don't want to thread jack but I'm a big fan of Real Ale and as I'll be in Texas in a couple of weeks (Austin area) and I'm curious if I'll be able to find the gose from last year or was that a one-off? I'm a fan of that dry-hopped squared beer and still have some Sisyphus bottles, anything else I MUST try to pick up?
     
    #6 ONovoMexicano, Mar 10, 2015
  7. tpgraham

    tpgraham Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2013 Texas

    I cannot wait to try the new Lost Gold and Rye IPA. Is anyone seeing the new labels in Houston yet?
     
    #7 tpgraham, Mar 10, 2015
  8. starkmarvelo

    starkmarvelo Initiate (0) Jan 20, 2010 Texas

    A sixer of White.
     
    #8 starkmarvelo, Mar 10, 2015
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  9. Heretic42

    Heretic42 Savant (1,118) Aug 31, 2011 Texas

    You might be able to find some at an out-of-the-way liquor or grocery store. It sounds like the Gose will be a summer seasonal this year, so you won't find any fresh stock when you're here.
     
    #9 Heretic42, Mar 10, 2015
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  10. reverseapachemaster

    reverseapachemaster Zealot (722) Sep 21, 2012 Texas

    Personally I'm disappointed that they are changing the recipe to Full Moon to include citra. There are already a shit ton of beers on the market with a prominent citra character. I can understand that it didn't sell as well as it could under the old recipe (same for Lost Gold) and I understand the need to brew beer that sells but they could have revamped the recipe as something other than the 10,000th citra beer on the market.
     
    #10 reverseapachemaster, Mar 10, 2015
  11. jamescain

    jamescain Initiate (0) Jul 14, 2009 Texas

    Maybe they tried pilot batches with different hops and decided Citra was their favorite.
     
    #11 jamescain, Mar 10, 2015
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  12. Techichi

    Techichi Pooh-Bah (2,061) Sep 25, 2012 Texas
    Pooh-Bah

    I'm excited about the new Full Moon. Mainly because it will be more readily available around here than other citra hop IPAs. Plus I believe it still has rye? A rye citra hop IPA that I can pick up at my local grocery store? Yes please!
     
    #12 Techichi, Mar 10, 2015
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  13. Danny124

    Danny124 Aspirant (289) Mar 21, 2009 Texas

    Whoops! I glossed over that one. And I agree with your sentiment towards Live Oak. They're my "at a bar/ restaurant)" brewery whereas RA is my "at a grocery store" choice. While I wish them nothing but success, I hope I don't start overhearing people in the beer aisle talking about "this great new local brewery."
     
    #13 Danny124, Mar 10, 2015
  14. pwsoldier

    pwsoldier Initiate (0) Apr 26, 2007 Minnesota

    I think Citra beers can get tiresome when they are defined exclusively by that one ingredient. I don't feel that's the case with Full Moon. It's being pitched as a rye IPA with Citra, not a Citra IPA with rye. I haven't tried it yet (very much looking forward to it), but when I do it won't be with the expectation that the Citra is going to be the defining characteristic. Hell, maybe the Simcoe will be more prominent.
     
    #14 pwsoldier, Mar 10, 2015
  15. Danny124

    Danny124 Aspirant (289) Mar 21, 2009 Texas

    Citra is a hop that I love but I get where you're coming from. I guess what I'm actually happy about is that it got a revamped hop schedule.

    EDIT: basically what pwsoldier just said.
     
    #15 Danny124, Mar 10, 2015
  16. Ford

    Ford Initiate (0) Sep 8, 2012 Texas

    pretty sure I just saw new label Lost Gold at an HEB in Friendswood.... apologize if I'm wrong..ha.
     
    #16 Ford, Mar 12, 2015
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  17. jeebeel

    jeebeel Zealot (667) Jun 17, 2003 Texas

    Yup. This week I saw the new format at downtown Spec's, my local Kroger (11th & Shepherd), and the Metro Mart convenience store on 11th just west of Studewood. Plus I have a new-look sixer of Devil's Backbone in the fridge for the weekend.
     
    #17 jeebeel, Mar 13, 2015
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  18. ehsteve

    ehsteve Initiate (0) Jan 13, 2009 Texas

    Is anyone seeing the new Full Moon sixers in Austin yet? Everywhere I go, they've got the new bottles in the mix packs but either old sixers or no Full Moon at all.
     
    #18 ehsteve, Mar 13, 2015
  19. Techichi

    Techichi Pooh-Bah (2,061) Sep 25, 2012 Texas
    Pooh-Bah

    Today at my store I saw new Fireman's #4, Hans, and White cans. Also Devil's Backbone bottles. No Full Moon unfortunately.
     
    #19 Techichi, Mar 13, 2015
  20. ElChuques

    ElChuques Initiate (0) Oct 8, 2014 Arkansas

    ^Same. I can't believe they hit the Rio Grande valley this quickly.

    Looking for fresh 4^2 and that new Full Moon for sure!
     
    #20 ElChuques, Mar 13, 2015
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