We’re celebrating our threequel for the next Style Night with the Beer Museum. We’ve done SMaSH IPAs, Berliner Weisses, and for this third installment, we break down Oktoberfests. Prost, y’all! On Tuesday, September 19th, Certified Cicerone Lindsay Compton will walk you through five different samples of this traditional German style, explaining the ingredients used, the beer’s history, and the similarities and differences between the beers. Tickets for the 6:30 and 8:00 sessions are found at the links. Reserve your spot now (Lederhosen not included).
And our continued thanks to those who have donated materials to our food and supply drive to help those affected by Harvey. You can still bring in any non-perishable food items or toiletries or bottled water to either location and we’ll make sure it gets in the hands of those who need it. And be sure to drop by the Mueller location tomorrow, Friday, September 15, from 5-8pm: we’ll be running a silent auction along with a tasting event starring Houston’s own Saint Arnold Brewing, and all proceeds from the silent auction will go toward the Houston Food Bank. We will also have a concurrent event running at the South Lamar location with its own unique prizes. And oh my me, the prizes you can win. Check out our Facebook page for a list of prizes, along with a list of food and items we’re looking to deliver to the people in Houston and the surrounding areas. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
Along with the other specials posted below, make sure to pick up a 6 pack of Hops & Grain River Beer for $4.99 at both locations. You’re reading this right, get in now before they’re gone, because once we sell out, this deal rides off into the sunset.
Finally, we posted earlier this week about needing to hire a few fantastic people to join the WhichCraft family. Along with positions open for general beer geeks to work at both locations, we’re losing one of our coffee experts and managers, so the search is also on for a person who can train new employees, set and maintain quality control standards, be a great steward of our coffee program, and help formulate new seasonal coffee specials, along with maintaining our relationship with our roaster partner. We look for people who are passionate about customer service, who are always active and on the go, not to mention love beer and coffee and look forward to talking with customers about both of these things. Retail or service industry experience is a plus but not required. We’re currently hiring for both locations, ranging from one to five shifts per week depending on your availability. Multiple days and time slots are open, so email resumes and availability to jody@whichcraftbeerstore.com. We want YOU to work at WhichCraft with us.
Free Tastings at WhichCraft South Lamar – All 6-8pm Except Where Noted
Thursday, September 14th
Deschutes drops by to sample their full lineup, including Hopzeit, Pack Wonderland, and Freshies.
Friday, September 15h
Along with the silent auction fun, we welcome in Adelbert’s, our Brewery of the Month, to sample their full canned lineup. Try a little, buy a little, talk a little. It’ll be a great night.
Saturday, September 16th
12-3pm: William with Hops & Grain drops by to premiere their new Haze County, and we also sample their River Beer and Pale Mosaic. What, you were going to miss this?
6-8pm: Left Hand always has some tasty sample to taste, and this will be no different when we pop open their Oktoberfest and Study Abroad.
Tuesday, September 19th
Jon with Last Stand visits to pour samples of their newly canned Citra SMaSH, Saaz Blonde, and Simcoe Pale Ale. Pick up a six of all three, you know you want to.
Wednesday, September 20th
Don’t miss Rahr & Sons as they drop by the shop to sample their Oktoberfest, along with a number of their other tasty brews.
Thursday, September 21st
Shannon with Saint Arnold visits the store to sample their new Icon Red Marzen, along with their Oktoberfest and Pub Crawl.
Special Events at WhichCraft Tap Room in Mueller
Thursday, September 14th
5-8pm: Lagunitas Pint Night? Lagunitas Pint Night. Don’t miss a sampling of this great California brewery as we run a Buy the Beer, Keep the Glass of the 12th of Never.
Friday, September 15th
5-8pm: In conjunction with our silent auction, we welcome in Frank from Saint Arnold as they offer a Buy the Beer, Keep the Glass with their fantastic Oktoberfest and a surprise. Drink some beer, bid on some cool stuff, and help some needy people. Triple threat.
Saturday, September 16th
3-6pm: We welcome in Strange Land for a Buy the Beer, Keep the Glass with their Oktoberfest, then sample their Headless Gentlemen and IPA. Get a pretzel, buy a pint, and keep the glass for $6.00.
Tuesday, September 19th
6:30-9:30pm: Oh come on, you know what’s happening: our third Style Night! Oktoberfests! Be there! Read above for ticket info!
Wednesday, September 20th
7:00pm: Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night! Weekly free event that puts your useless knowledge to the test. Prizes and good times are included!
Thursday, September 21st
5-8pm: Thousand Oaks drops by the Tap Room for a good old fashioned Buy the Beer, Keep the Glass for their Rye Blonde.
New Beers This Week
(All beer available at both WhichCraft locations unless otherwise noted)
Back in Stock: Real Ale Lux Aeterna, Hops & Grain Dispensary Pale Ale, Hops & Grain Dispensary IPA, Austin Beerworks Bloodwork Orange, Hops & Grain River Beer, Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel ’18
Martin House Cuvee Pumpkin – Pumpkin ale with Cuvee Fazenda Pantano coffee beans. 5.2% ABV / Fort Worth, TX / BeerAdvocate 81 / Availability: Good
Anderson Valley Fall Hornin’ – A brilliantly dark copper hue with a dense and creamy beige-colored head. Aromas of caramelized malt and baking bread, seasonal spices, cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin. Pleasantly creamy, with a silky body, sweet caramel flavor, the tang of the spices, and a hint of hops, all wrapped in a round smooth finish. 6% ABV / Boonville, CA / BeerAdvocate 83 / Availability: Good / SoLa Only
Anderson Valley Blood Orange Gose – A tart, refreshing wheat ale that is kettle-soured with lactobacillus and brewed with sea salt and coriander. However, unlike traditional versions of the style, this features liberal additions of blood oranges during fermentation. This imparts tangy citrus notes that complement the champagne-like flavors, creating a complex and sessionable ale perfect for any occasion. 4.2% ABV / Boonville, CA / BeerAdvocate 88 / Availability: Good
New Belgium Sour Saison – Brewers worked tirelessly to brew an exquisite French-style Saison, while their industry-leading wood cellar team worked to mature the perfect sour golden ale in large, French oak barrels called foeders. The best of both worlds is brought-out with this sour saison: a traditional barrel-aged sour ale artfully blended with a rustic, champagne-like farmhouse ale. 7% ABV / Fort Collins, CO / Availability: Decent
Independence Shiny Diamonds – A moderate, refreshing ale with noticeable hop aroma balanced by supporting malt flavors. 5.8% ABV / Austin, TX / Availability: Good
Avery Rumpkin – Imperial pumpkin ale brewed with pumpkin puree and a blend of five spices. Aged in extremely fresh Gosling’s Rum barrels for six months. Consume early and often, preferably with a pumpkin pie and/or s’mores. 18.1% ABV / Boulder, CO / RateBeer 99 / Availability: Limited
Stone Neapolitan Dynamite – This beer is an imperial stout brewed with chocolate, vanilla, strawberries and coffee.This beer is the winning recipe in the American Homebrewers Association Stone Liberty Station annual competition. It is a collaboration with homebrewers Paul Bischeri and Patrick Martinez, as well as Abnormal Beer in San Diego, CA. 8.5% ABV / Escondido, CA / Availability: Decent
Dogfish Head Punkin Ale – A full-bodied, spiced brown ale brewed with baked pumpkins, cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar. Dogfish Head Punkin’ Ale is named after the annual Punkin’ Chunkin Festival held near Lewes, Delaware, the weekend after Halloween. 7% ABV / Milton, DE / BeerAdvocate 88 / Availability: Decent
Left Hand Study Abroad – Belgian yeast gives this light-bodied ale a distinct spiciness with mild fruit esters. 4.5% ABV / Longmont, CO / Availability: Good / SoLa Only
Odell Rupture – Rupture was born out of an obsession with getting the most out of each and every hop. In fact, they built a machine in their brewery to incorporate a unique fresh grind process. By grinding the whole hop, they “rupture” the lupulin inside – releasing the oil that gives the beer its flavor. And what they grind that day, they use that day. Leaving you a beer that’s fresh, aromatic, with an unparalleled bright, hoppy character. 6% ABV / Fort Collins, CO / RateBeer 94 / Availability: Good
Sweetwater Blue – Sweetwater Blue is a unique, light-bodied ale enhanced with a hint of fresh blueberries. This euphoric experience begins with an appealing blueberry aroma and finishes as a surprisingly thirst-quenching ale. 4.8% ABV / Atlanta, GA / Availability: Good / SoLa Only
Hops & Grain Haze County IIPA – Dry hopped wth Calypso and Mosaic pellets and Simcoe Lupulin powder. 4 pounds of hops per barrel! 8.2% ABV / Austin, TX / Availability: Limited (Arriving Saturday)
Strange Land Headless Gentleman – Imperial bourbon pumpkin porter. 8.9% ABV / Austin, TX / Availability: Good
New Beers on Draft at WhichCraft Taproom
Full Draft List Available on our Website
Southern Star Yard Cutter Kolsch – A tribute to St. Arnold’s Fancy Lawnmower Beer. They stayed true to the original recipe from the original SABC brewery, then added extra hops towards the end of the boil to make it more spicy and floral, but still true to the original. They even fermented it in the fourth fermenter that St. Arnold bought, Dorothy (now Count Crispi). This is a light, refreshing beer, perfect for a hot summer day after mowing the lawn, or cutting the yard. 5.1% ABV / Conroe, TX
Odell Sunny Rain – Brewed in honor of all the parents of young kids, Sunny Rain is an American-Style Pale Ale featuring the Australian hop variety Ella. Light on bitterness, but heavy on flavor and aroma, a bright grapefruit and mango character pops from the glass. Each sip is full of layers of hop flavors including citrus, pine, and fresh grass, artfully created through a blend of 6 different hops. 6.2% ABV / Fort Collins, CO
Weathered Souls Rule 4080 – All-Citra pale ale, dry hopped once with Citra hops. Mild bitterness, low ABV, subtle malt character that brings out the beer. Very hop forward on the nose. Fruity characteristics from Citra: citrus, pineapple and mangoes.
Saint Arnold Oktoberfest – A full-bodied, malty, slightly sweet beer celebrating the Autumn harvest. This rich beer has a round malt flavor and an above average alcohol content perfect for a cool fall evening.
Lone Pint Yellow Rose – A SMaSH, Single Malt and Single Hop, IPA using a caboodle (technical term for a large amount of malt) of malt and a new hop released in 2012 called Mosaic. Whole cone Mosaic is used for bittering, flavoring, and aroma in the kettle; it is also massively dry hopped. The beer is named after a Texas Heroine. Tasting notes: chalk-white head with a very clean malt backbone. The hops impart strong grapefruit, pineapple, and blueberry flavor and aroma. A strong beer that is extremely quaffable. 6.8% ABV / Magnolia, TX / BeerAdvocate 98
Collective Brewing Project Cup o’ Beer – Ramen beer with lime, ginger, lemongrass & seaweed cured sea salt. 4.5% ABV / Fort Worth, TX
Strange Land Octoberfest – Traditional Marzen-style with plenty of malt and lederhosen. 5.2% ABV / Austin, TX
This Week’s Specials
- Enjoy six packs of Adelbert’s Hibiscus Saison, Mango Wit, Naked Nun, Lemon Rye, and Buzzbait Blonde for $6.99. All. Month. Long.
- We’re offering 16oz. 6pks of Sweetwater’s 420 Extra Pale Ale for $6.99, or enjoy a can on site at Mueller for $4.
- Hops & Grain River Beer on sale for $4.99/6pk until it’s gone! Get it!
South Lamar Specials
- Abita’s To-Gose is available for $6.99/6pk.