From sunrise to sunset and a good deal afterwards, it always feels like quite the party here a WhichCraft. I know these cooler temps have me seeing stars, especially out in the beer garden. All of this week’s new beverages are reasons for a party in their own right!
On the draft front I’m totally here for the Martin House Blue Dreams. Boy oh boy, does it ever deliver on the flavor front. She’s severing some blue raspberry realness, with the color ta’ boot! We’re jammin’ pretty hard on the hoppy front this week. We have fresh kegs from Meanwhile, Tupps, Lone Pint, and SpindleTap. Being that it’s October it’s more that apt that we have an Oktoberfest for ya fine folks, and we’ve delivered. Our pick from Family Business is doing things right with a long condition theirs since last March… so ya know it’s bringing some serious body and taste.
On the package front there are SO MANY options this week! We’ve brought back lots of fan favorites and kept it fresh with the one offs. That means you should pop in so we can provide the best recommendations for ya. As for our new wine options I’m smitten. Up first is the Pipeño from Escandalo wines in Chile. A blend of Pais and Cinsault, it’s the fresh and earthy wine I want as the seasons change. Then we have the Biancospino, a white Lambrusco. I’m willing to bet never have you ever tried one… and lemme tell ya the bubbles are on point and I’m living for notes of lemon zest & a touch of almond. So good friends!
Are you looking for some extra coin in your pocket or spending more time with Austin’s best beer selection? Well you’re in luck! We are currently in search of part time help in the evenings and on the weekends. If you’re interested feel free to stop in the store for a chat or email me, justin@whichcraft.com.
New month, new brewery. Folks, we’re stoked to have our friends at Willard’s Brewing in Pflugerville as our brewery of the month. For JUST $8.99 a six pack we have their Fistful of Fury Hazy IPA, Forbidden Helles Lager, and Oktoberfest. They’ll also be in on the 22nd for a pint night. Don’t miss it!
Later, y’all.
New & Returning Beers, Ciders, & Seltzers This Week
Back in Stock – Celis Peche, Live Oak Oaktoberfest, Roughhouse Treeform Farmhouse IPA, Roughhouse Rice Lager, Adelbert’s October Rust, 4th Tap House of Torment, 101 Cider House Cactus Rose, Dogfish Head Punkin Ale,
Austin Eastciders Cranberry – This cider uses a blend of bittersweet apples and real cranberry juice for a tart yet light and refreshing beverage. Enjoy on its own or as a base for a holiday punch. 5% ABV
Shotgun Seltzer Red Paloma – Agave and Grapefruit spiked seltzer. 6.9% ABV
Tupps Cotton Candy Blonde – Brewed with Vienna and Munich malts and dry hopped with Citra, Ekuanot, Amarillo, Simcoe and Mosaic hops 7.5%ABV
Roughhouse Sordid Nature – Their dark saison was brewed with all English malts to provide a rich body with subtle roast aroma and a warming finish. 8.8% ABV
Martin House Salty Lady Watermelon – Salty Lady Gose with Watermelon. 5.2% ABV
Martin House Salty Lady Mango – Salty Lady Gose with Mango. 5.2% ABV
Martin House S’mores Stout – Imperial Stout with Graham Crackers, Marshmallows, and Chocolate.
Founders KBS Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa – Here’s one for the cocoa lovers: KBS Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa – the sumptuous, deep coffee and chocolate flavors of KBS rise to the next level with a swirl of cinnamon and a hint of vanilla to create a sweet-but-not-too-sweet barrel-aged drinking experience. It’s a whole new spin on KBS that’s sure to sweeten your spirits. 12% ABV
Stone Let’s Bee Homies – Nature is full of great collaborations. Take plants and pollinators for example – a symbiotic relationship that gives us fruits, vegetables and of course, honey. Although Stone and Deschutes have origins on near-opposite ends of the West Coast, our backyards are brought together in this hazy IPA brewed with equal parts Oregon blackberry honey and California orange blossom honey. 7.5% ABV
Luna Bay Booch Co Hibiscus Lavender Hard Kombucha – A pleasant palette of fresh floral flavors that’s simple, yet sweet. 6.5% ABV
Spindletap Candy Green – Wai-iti, Denali, & Vic Secret hopped hazy double IPA. 8% ABV
Original Sin Dry Rose Cider – A cider made with our proprietary blend of freshly pressed New York apples. OS Dry Rosé features a beautiful light pink color with a delicate nose, refreshing acidity and a smooth semi-dry finish. 6.5% ABV
Elgin Meadery Black Nectaris – Black Nectaris is an intensely fruity blackberry mead made with Marion blackberries and local wildflower honey, this is a rich and sweet melome. 11% ABV
Elgin Traditional Mead – Our traditional-style honey wine is crafted with Texas honey. This mead is perfect for when you crave a clean and simple mead that drinks sweet and imparts a beautiful sense of central Texas terroir. 13.5% ABV
Elgin Meadery Red Nectaris – Our traditional-style honey wine is crafted with Texas honey. This mead is perfect for when you crave a clean and simple mead that drinks sweet and imparts a beautiful sense of central Texas terroir. 13.5% ABV
Elgin Intricatus Bourbon Barrel – Intricatus is a semi-sweet to off dry mead made with wildflower honey harvested in central Texas. This mead opens with a bold vanilla bourbon profile with underlying but still assertive fruity notes of mango which give way to hints of caramel and a light oaky finish. After fermentation was complete, the mead spent a month in secondary steel tanks before being transferred to a single Bulleit bourbon barrel where it aged for almost three months. 14%ABV
Meridian Hive Electric Rickshaw – Honey Wine aged 4 months in oak barrels 12%ABV
Meridian Hive Currant State – Honey-Black Currant Cherry Wine. Aged on Hungarian Oak. 12.5%ABV
(512) Bock – A smooth dark lager with German malt & hops. 5.6%ABV
Real Ale Blakkr – Subtle dark malt and toffee character quickly yields to the citrus and tropical notes provided by a staggering amount of hops. Bonded by their love of brewing and love of metal, this unholy trinity of brewers has unleashed a crushing, black as night double IPA. Collaboration between Real Ale, Surly and Three Floyds. 9.99% ABV
Left Hand White Russian Nitro – Super smooth & decadent with coffee and vanilla. Abide with The Nitro, or White Russian Nitro, if you’re not into the whole brevity thing. White Russian Nitro is takin’ er super smooth for all us craft beer drinkers out there. There’s a beverage here that’s for strikes and gutters; ups and downs. And, I don’t know about you, but I take comfort in that. With coffee, vanilla and notes of chocolate, this is a beer that really ties it all together. But, well, that’s just, like, our opinion, man. 8.9% ABV
Toppling Goliath Intergalactic Warrior – Galaxy and Warrior hops join forces to create a beer with a bitter punch. Big body, bold flavor, with a boost of citrus rind and just a kick of spiciness in the finish, Intergalactic Warrior is an India Pale Ale worth fighting for. 6.5% ABV
Toppling Goliath Dorothy’s New World Lager – Mildly hopped with Cascade hops, this lager is light in color and body, and clean to the taste. 5% ABV
Blue Owl Little Gose Peach Cobbler – Our refreshing salty-sour wheat is perfect for your summertime shenanigans. Be on the lookout for these limited variations of Little Gose.This summer’s Little Gose is sour peach cobbler for the Liquid Bake Sale benefiting the Texas Craft Brewers Guild. 3.4% ABV
The Bruery Chocolate Churriosity – Bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout with dulce de leche, milk sugar, cinnamon, and cacao nibs. Chocolate Churriosity is inspired by the decadent duo of freshly made churros dipped in an oooey, gooey, warm chocolate sauce, commonly found in Madrid. Brewed in collaboration with Horus Aged Ales, we aged this imperial stout in bourbon barrels then loaded it with milk sugar, dulce de leche, cinnamon, and a proper dose of cacao nibs. This tasty pastry stout will have you licking your fingers and asking for more. 13.7%ABV
Bruery Offshoot Stirred – Hazy DIPA with Mosaic and Cashmere hops Maybe they’re stirring up trouble, but this Hazy Double IPA is so straightforward yet so delicious. We brewed Stirred using primarily Mosaic hops for a true juice bomb, complemented by a touch of Cashmere hops to add a super smooth fruit character. Expect a pillowy body with notes and aromas of bubblegum, peaches, nectarine, pineapple, coconut, and mango. Seriously, all that just from the hops. Hop to it! 8.2%ABV
City Orchard Cider Fresca Plum – Plum infused fruit cider. 6.5%ABV
Põhjala Birthday Banger – Imperial Stout brewed with mountains of chocolate, cacao nibs, tonka beans, and vanilla for a big birthday celebration. 12.5%ABV
Põhjala Orange Gose – A citrus-forward gose brewed with Oranges, Coriander, Himalayan rock salt, and our house culture of lactobacillus. Taste: Refreshing citrus sour notes come through mixed with hints of fresh rye fields, and balanced out by a sweet, jammy orange juiciness. Even more floral zest shines through as the glass warms. 5.5% ABV
Põhjala Prenzlauer Berg – A rich and creamy sour wheat beer, brewed with raspberries. Taste: Sweet creamy raspberry with a tingling, zesty acidity. The light, almost farmhouse malt body slides slowly down the tongue almost as a meringue, balanced by a juicy creamy lactose touch. 4.5% ABV
Martin House Twang A Rang – Mango Chile Sour 6.5%ABV
Austin Beerworks Black Thunder – If a stout and a pilsner had a lovechild, it would be Black Thunder. It would also be a miracle, because beer can’t “get it on.” This miniature powder keg starts with a roasted, bread-like complexity but finishes dry and clean like a pilsner. It’s dark, distinctive, and dry. 5.3%ABV
Ingenious Franken FroYo –New England hazy milkshake style double IPA with strawberries, marshmallows, and milk sugar. 8%ABV
Ingenious Boo Berry Fluff – Tart berliner conditioned on blueberries and marshmallows. 6.8%ABV
Ingenious Stout Chocula -Imperial milk stout with chocolate and marshmallows. 10%ABV
Shacksbury Deer Snacks – Wild yeast and apple fermented cider 6%ABV
Nebraska Wick for Brains Pumpkin – Wick for Brains is our classic and painstakingly produced Fall Pumpkin Ale. Instead of simply using spice, we use real pumpkin which lends a sweetness and pumpkin flavor not found in many Pumpkin Ales. Wonderful pumpkin pie spice intertwined in an Amber Ale creates a pumpkin sensation which is elegantly crafted. Notes of Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Clove, Ginger and Allspice blend perfectly in this seasonal Ale. 6.1%ABV
The Bruery Chocolate Churriosity – Chocolate Churriosity is inspired by the decadent duo of freshly made churros dipped in an oooey, gooey, warm chocolate sauce, commonly found in Madrid. Brewed in collaboration with Horus Aged Ales, we aged this imperial stout in bourbon barrels then loaded it with milk sugar, dulce de leche, cinnamon, and a proper dose of cacao nibs. This tasty pastry stout will have you licking your fingers and asking for more. 13.7%ABV
El Segundo Change of Plans – Today is one of those classic Southern California days that leaves the rest of the country envious. The sun is smiling upon us and the sky is so crystal clear a cloud wouldn’t dare show up to the party. Today is perfect. You pack the cooler, grab your beach chairs and the umbrella and head down to the ocean for a day of fun in the sun. After spending some time finding parking and then the perfect spot on the beach, you get all settled in because it’s time to kick back and rela… wait… what are these clouds? They’re moving so fast! Where’s the sun and the clear blue sky? This gross haze came out of nowhere and ruined everything! While the weather might not be reliable, thankfully El Segundo Brewing Company is and we’re ready for your change of plans… even if it’s hazy. 6.5% ABV
New Wines This Week
(On-Premise Consumption or Off-Premise To Go)
Escandalo Pipeño Tinto 2020 – Escandalo began in 2013 as a project to highlight old, abandoned vineyards (60-200yo) around Colchagua, Itata, Maule, and beyond. Mauricio searches out these old plots & the work in the vineyards remains extremely traditional with no chemicals used in the vines (only organic treatments or plant and citrus extracts the farmers have used for generations) and all harvesting is done by hand.
Maricio’s Pipeño is made from 50% País and 50% Cinsault, made in the traditional Chilean fashion: minimal intervention in the vineyard and winery; a wine to drink young; and one that displays amazing freshness and drinkability with flavors of berries, black pepper and rocks. Absolutely delicious and extremely glou-glou! 11-14% ABV
Vitivinicola Fangareggi – Biancospino NV – Vitivinicola Fangareggi was founded in 2005 by Giuseppe Fangareggi, even though the family has been growing Lambrusco since the 1800’s. Today, Giuseppe’s son, Matteo, runs the farm along with his mother, Margherita, and his uncle, Roberto. Giuseppe and Roberto take care of the vineyards, Margarita takes care of hospitality, and Matteo takes care of everything else, including the winemaking. Their wines are produced only from the family’s 24 hectares of vineyards spread across eight parcels in the provinces of Reggio Emilia and Modena. Most vineyard work is done by hand and the vineyards are practicing organic with an advanced integrated pest management protocol. In the cellar, Matteo uses only indigenous yeasts for primary fermentation to produce six types of sparkling wines, both red and white, with a focus on the production of Lambrusco.
The Biancospino is a blend of 85% Lambrusco di Sorbara (vinified white), 10% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Chardonnay. The grapes undergo a gentle, soft pressing followed by fermentation in steel tanks with indigenous yeasts and second fermentation according to the Charmat Method. Fresh, fragrant and fruity on the nose with aromas of apple, lemon and grapefruit. The palate is lively, textured and balanced with firm length and clean, persistent finish. An authentic and joyful wines, perfect with the meats and cheeses Emilia is known for. 11% ABV
New Draft Beers This Week
(On-Premise Consumption or Off-Premise Crowlers)
Family Business Oktoberfest – True to the Marzen tradition, this malty amber lager was brewed in March and cold conditioned over time in preparation for the end of summer harvest celebration. Biscuit, toast, and caramel notes abound. 6.5%ABV
SpindleTap Stratospheric Clouds – DIPA brewed with Strata and Galaxy hops 8%ABV
Tupps Day of the Dead Hazy Pale – Brewed to celebrate the vibrancy of Day of the Dead, this double dry hopped pale ale is loaded with huge citrus and stone fruit flavor and aroma. Compared to it’s bigger brother, DDH IPA, Day of the Dead drinks lighter with a crisper body yet packs every bit of the aromatic punch that DDH IPA does. Massively dry hopped with Galaxy, Citra, and Mosaic. 5.5% ABV
Martin House Blue Dreams– Blue Raspberry Sour 8%ABV
Parking at WhichCraft Mueller? The garage behind us on McBee is free to use.