The long search is over, and with the exit of Tim Vela as Lamar’s General Manager, we want to welcome Diku Desai as he fills those big shoes. Diku has been a home brewer for three years and is active in SAAZ South Austin Area Zymurgists). He’s also studying to be a Cicerone/BJCP, and has worked at both WhichCraft locations for several months. We’re excited for him to take over at Lamar, so come by and say hello…how about one of the many fine tastings listed below?
Then, make it a point to visit Mueller this week and next as we have a few great events lined up. Saturday, we’ll be tapping Blue Owl’s Salted Chocolate Double Cherry Professor Black with Jeremy from Blue Owl. Then, we’ll have a special Aventinus event on Tuesday, January 16, where we pour the standard Aventinus on draft, then sample 2014 Cuvee Barrique, Eisbock, and a vintage Aventinus from 2008. This event will be $15/person for 3oz. pours of all four delicious beers and a special Aventinus glass you get to take home. Event details can be found at the Facebook Event page.
Folks, there’s always something great happening at both locations. Oh, and plenty of beer for sale, too. Let’s not forget that.
Free Tastings at WhichCraft South Lamar – All 5-7pm Except Where Noted
Thursday, January 11th
6-8pm: We welcome in Buffalo Bayou to sample some of their tasty beers. On the menu: Turtle Murder, Fiiiiiigaro, 1836 Copper Ale, and Sam’s Daily.
Friday, January 12th
To welcome in Diku as our GM, we’re having an in-store tasting. Drop by to sample Copperhead Bite Me, Martin House True Love, Clown Shoes Undead Party Crasher, and Rogue Hazelutely Choctabulous.
Saturday, January 13th
Don’t miss Southern Star at Lamar as we sample their full lineup of cans, including their Winter Warmer.
Special Events at WhichCraft Tap Room in Mueller
Thursday, January 11th
5-8pm: Love Real Ale? Sure, we all do. Then don’t miss it as we tap Hans’ Pils and sample their Axis IPA. We’ll also have a specific Hans pilsner glass for a Buy the Beer, Keep the Glass. Then, for ten extra dollars, you can try a vertical of their Sisyphus barley wine from 2004, 2009, and 2014. Boulder and hill not included, but what is included? Cheese. A beautiful cheese to complement this beautiful beer.
Friday, January 12th
5-8pm: It’s Martin House, our January Brewery of the Month! Drop by Mueller to sample their Reverie on tap, and have samples of their full lineup of BotM cans.
Saturday, January 13th
4-7pm: Jeremy with Blue Owl will be in to tap that fantastic barrel-aged Professor Black I described above. Get in before it’s gone, cuz you and I both know it will. Get gone, that is.
Tuesday, January 16th
5-9pm: Don’t miss the Aventinus tasting with Jon Lundbom. Again, we’ll be tasting the standard Aventinus on tap, a 2014 Cuvee Barrique, Eisbock, and a vintage Aventinus from 2008. This beer pairing, as mentioned above, will cost $15 for four 3oz pairs and a special Aventinus glass.
Wednesday, January 17th
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, January 18th
5-8pm: We’re big fans of Shacksbury Cider, so we’re tapping their Arlo cider and having them come by Mueller. Don’t miss this.
New Beers This Week
(All beer available at both WhichCraft locations unless otherwise noted)
Back In Stock: Stone Xocoveza Charred, Prairie Vape Tricks, Funkwerks Pineapple Provincial
Ommegang 20th Anniversary – begins as a Belgian-style strong dark ale followed by maturation in Buffalo Trace Bourbon Barrels for 6 months. The result is an immensely rich and complex beer worthy of drinking now, or perfect to age. 11.5% ABV / Cooperstown, NY / RateBeer 99 / Availability: Decent
Alaskan Baltic Porter – A deep, dense beer with an intricate array of aromas and flavors derived from substantial amounts of specialty malts, dark black cherries and whole gourmet vanilla beans. In order for the British to export their dark ales to the northern ports of the Baltic Sea, they were brewed stronger than normal to endure the long voyage. The extra warmth was welcomed in these countries with harsh winters and a taste for the robust, attributes that also fare well in Alaska. 9.8% ABV / Juneau, AK / RateBeer 99 / Availability: Decent
Lagunitas Sumpin’ Easy – A healthy dose of 2-row malted barley, a bit of wheaty-esque-ish-ness and loads of Ekuanot hops to create a super smooth and velvety ale with a fruit and resin-y- finish like biting into a freshly pickled peach. Easy! 5.7% ABV / Petaluma, CA / Availability: Good
Odell Settle Down Brown – This American Brown has a rich malt flavor with complex tropical fruit and caramel notes. 6.5% ABV / For Collins, CO / Availability: Good
Jester King Black Metal – English Imperial Stout meets the Franco-Belgian Farmhouse tradition in this dry, drinkable beer. Pitch black in color with notes of chocolate, roasted and black malts coupled with earthy, peppery, and floral farmhouse esters. 9.3% ABV / Austin, TX / Ratebeer 98 / Availability: Very Limited
Jester King Kernel Colonel Toby – A hoppy little farmhouse ale brewed in collaboration with Toby Munn from The Kernel Brewery in London. Dry hopped with Citra and Centennial hops. 3.4% ABV / Austin, TX / Availability: Limited
Dinkelacker Das Naturtrube – Unfiltered German pilsner brewed with Noble hops. 5% ABV / Stuttgart, Germany / Availability: Good / SoLa Only
Dinkelacker Das Schwarze – A a jet-black, full-bodied beer that involves a complex brewing process and has an aromatic and tangy flavor. 4.9% ABV / Stuttgart, Germany / Availability: Good
Destihl Moonjumper – Fasten your space helmet because this stout will quickly have you orbiting the moon. Notes of roasted and chocolate malts round out our milk stout’s sweet side, creating a well-balanced beer with a smooth mouthfeel and creamy tan head. One sip of this medium-bodied stout will have you jumping over the moon for another. 6.1% ABV / Normal, IL / Availability: Good
New Beers on Draft at WhichCraft Taproom
Full Draft List Available on our Website
Schneider Weisse Aventinus – Dark-ruby colored wheat doppelbock with a creamy fine head. Strong notes of ripe bananas, raisins and plums meet liquorice and roasty aromes. Full-bodied and warming, with a well-balanced and smooth finish. 8.2% ABV / Kelheim, Germany / RateBeer 100
Alesmith Speedway Stout – Chocolate and roasted malts dominate the flavor, supported by notes of dark fruit, toffee, and caramel. A healthy dose of roasted coffee from Ryan Bros. Coffee, Inc. added to each batch brings out the beer’s dark chocolate flavors and enhances its drinkability. 12% ABV / San Diego, CA / Ratebeer 100
Blue Owl Salted Chocolate Double Cherry Professor Black – Weighed down with as many extra ingredients as an Adjunct Professor teaching seven sections; this special edition of Blue Owl’s Sour Cherry Stout has been enhanced with a double batch of cherries and salted chocolate. Tasty, complex, sweet, and sour all at once. Come get you some learnin’. 6.1% ABV / Austin, TX
Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca – An artisan white ale brewed in the classic biere blanche tradition. Spiced with orange peel and coriander, you’ll find it refreshingly tart, with a wonderful dry finish. 4.8% ABV / Dexter, MI / RateBeer 94
Real Ale Hans’ Pils – Hans! Hans? Hans. 5.3% ABV / Blanco, TX
Southern Heights Tahitian Dreamin’- This majestic beauty tasting like a tropical voyage to the end of a rainbow. Brewed with Citra, Centennial, Simcoe and happiness. No reservations or tickets needed. 6.7% ABV / Austin, TX
Victory Mighty Things IPA – Daringly dry-hopped with loads of mighty whole flower American hops, this juicy Imperial IPA imparts vivid aromas and notes of biting citrus. 8.3% / Downingtown, PA / Availability: Good
This Week’s Specials
- As we click over to January, make sure to pick up six packs of Martin House, our new Brewery of the Month. We’ll be offering their Salty Lady, True Love, and Friday IPA for $6.99 all month.
- Six packs of Copperhead’s Bite Me are on sale for $4.99.
South Lamar Specials
- Until we run out of it, 22oz. bottles of Seattle Cider’s Gin Botanical cider is on sale for $3.99. A great deal for a fantastic cider.
Mueller Specials
- Divisionals, AKA the best weekend of the play If the NFL is playing on one of our TVs, it’s Happy Hour at Mueller. Get in here, people!