Beer Town Austin

[UPDATE: Received an e-mail from Kevin explaining that the event on June 19th was NOT the anniversary party, but just the seasonal release party for the ONE.2.

From the horse's mouth:

The latest open house was not our 2^nd anniversary party. It was just the re-release of (512) ONE because every seasonal sells out so fast we had to squeeze another one in, because we love it,  and as a prelude to (512) TWO. We’ll have a 2^nd anniversary party in Late August (likely 8/28) where a brand new (512) beer will be unveiled!

No comment on the style of the TWO, but that is good news. I loved the ONE and was perfectly satisfied wt the idea of the ONE.2 being the next anniversary beer, but this just incredible. Maybe it will be whatever is resting in those barrels...

-Chris]

(512) celebrated their two-year anniversary with an open house/release party for their One.2 on June 19. If there’s something I know about June 19, it’s that it’s hot.

We got married on that same date six years ago and people still remind us how hot it was (get over it!). This party wasn’t any different. It was sunny. So much so I got a little bit of a farmers’ tan (sexy, I know).

We arrived just after the 2:00 p.m. start to find an entrance line extending to the back of the business/industrial park. It’s our own fault for increasing our wait… we stopped to talk to Frank and Lennie from Saint Arnold (warming up for their pub crawl later that evening). About 20 people walked past us while we chatted them up. We may be fools, but we’re no line cutters, so to the back we went.

Once inside the beer lines weren’t too bad, even with the weird vortex of inside and outside tap line crossing paths.  Knowing we had a full day of activities ahead of us, I opted for only a taster of the One.2, a Belgian-style strong ale coming in somewhere around 8% abv.

It was good: sweet, caramely and similar to last year’s. One of our followers said they did switch from Good Flow to Round Rock Honey for this batch.

I honestly can’t say too much more as I didn’t go back for it; it was a little too much for me to imagine drinking a full pint in the setting. I don’t think it stopped too many others.

It was soon on to the reliable and tasty IPA and Wit, the latter of which was perfectly refreshing on a Texas summer afternoon.

Every (512) party I have been to has been a good time and this was no exception. Yeah, you have to wait in line, but what do you expect with free beer?

While there we did spot some barrels filled with something fermenting… what could be next?!?! Word is the guys may be playing around with some new ideas like a soured version of their Wit. After their last barrel release (Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter!), I’m in for whatever comes next.