Remember the Live Oak anniversary party? It was more than a month ago so maybe not. Thankfully, we’re here with an ever so timely recap to help you live it all over again.

There was food. There was music. There was mud (but no rain!). More importantly, there was free beer (why else would we be there?). Live Oak celebrated its 13th year with its 14th party (?), and a good time was had by all.

The event came right as the last of the Primus was drying up around to town and the Liberation was about to make its return after a two-year absence. (Have you had it? If not, go get some.)

Live Oak describes the Liberation IPA as, “light in color and strong in hop character. Dry hopping with Cascade hops, gives this favorite a delicious citrus note reminiscent of a Texas Ruby Red. Its 60 IBUs will satisfy the most demanding of hop heads, while its full malt character balances the assertive hoppiness.” We describe it as “tasty.”

The regular staples were on hand, including the IPA, Pilz, Big Bark and much beloved HefeWeizen, perfect for a few afternoon beers.

In addition to chatting with Chip McElroy from Live Oak (below), we had a chance to visit with some of your other favorite beer friends from around town, including Frank Mancuso from Saint Arnold, Kevin Brand from 512 Brewing, the guys from Jester King, Ronnie Crocker, and a more.

It was good to catch up with the man himself and hear about the return of two Live Oak favorites (tree-what?!?!), the possible future site of the 14th anniversary party and what he has been up to lately. We hope to see you there next year!

Didn’t make it out to the anniversary party? Check out Live Oak’s weekly Saturday tours (reservation required).

Welcome to Over a Pint episode 13, the baker’s dozenth.

Recently we went out to Opal Divine’s Marina with homebrew extraordinaire, John “JB” Brack for the Wednesday TX Pint special. John works at Austin Homebrew Supply and is very active with the Austin homebrew club, the Austin Zealots.

If you’re a homebrewer, you’ve mostly likely been blessed by JB’s expertise in recipe selection/tweaking, or in retrospectively assisting you with identifying what went wrong with your brew. If you’re a regular of the better Austin beer bar scene, you’ve prolly shared a pint or a laugh with him.

JB’s been part of Austin beer culture since the 90′s, and even though that’s not that long ago, the ATX beer landscape has undergone quiet a few changes. JB talks about the big brew pub boom of the 90′s, the microbrews of yesteryear, the current resurgence of Texas microbrews, and how homebrewers have played such an intrinsic role in shaping the current scene.

He drops major kudos to Live Oak (of which we are both drinking in the video), Real Ale, (512), Independence, and future brewstars, Jester King.

Thanks to Opal Divine’s, JB, and Austin Homebrew Supply !

Crack open a cold one, watch the video, and next time you see JB, buy him a beer.

Enjoy!

This episode had a surprising amount of out takes. Maybe JIB will have some spare time and compile and post them. It took me a few times to actually nail the cheers and sip wt/out spilling my beer down my face…

Who thought we’d actually have the stamina to make 9 of these?

I’m going to nick name this one “the reckoning”

So welcome to Over a Pint Episode 9 at the Flying Saucer… the reckoning.

In this episode, we had the pleasure of sitting down wt Sam and Rob (whom I call Sam in the video, sorry Rob) from the Flying Saucer in Austin. Maybe you’ve been there. They’ve got this nice little gig going there wt the beer and such.

We sit outside on a Thursday night; the wind tickles our beards, the casual conversation in the background is loud enough for me to trail off when I realize I don’t know what I’m talking about, the Oscar Blues dry hopped Gordon is flowing, we’re rapping about the Saucer, their upcoming Fall Beer Festival, Rob says “shit”, we cheers like three or four times, it’s revealed that there’s more in store at the festival that you have to show up to find out (of which they spill some beans but also leave some beans left in the can for Saturday), a good time is not missed by any of us.

Do you know when the first Saucer opened?

Do you know in what city?

Can you tell what I do wt my hands when I don’t know what to say next?

What about the special stuff happening inside the Flying Saucer on the 24th?

After watching this video you should be able to answer all these questions and some (meaning they spill some beans in the video that really sweeten the deal).

Check below the video for their cool poster and a hand typed list of the beers we talked about or I was given a list of.

Also, I think we may do a live stream Over a Pint from the festival. TBA.

Sam and I both have a Columbus dry hopped OB Gordon from a cask and Rob is drinking a Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout.

So, if you can, crack open a cold one and join us over a pint,

Enjoy!

The hand typed list:

[I'll bold everything I want and don't want you to drink all of]

Allagash Four

Brooklyn Oktoberfest

Victory Storm King Imperial Stout

Dogfish Head Punkin

Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale [WTF!?]

Green Flash Hop Head Red

Lagunitas 13 (Mondo Large Red)

North Coast Red Seal Cask

Anderson Valley Oatmeal Stout

Sierra Nevada Edge of Darkenss [WTF!?]

Green Flash West Coast IPA

Ska Modus Hoperandi

Saint Arnold Divine Reserve #8

Live Oak Oaktoberfest Cask

Real Ale XII Anniversary Ale

(512) Pecan Porter

Independence Imperial Oatmeal Stout [aka Convict Hill]

Dogfish Head Burton Baton

Breckenridge 471 IPA Cask [WTF!?]

Boulevard Smokestack Tank 7

New Belgium Transatlantic Kriek

What is this? Look here and here.

Penn Field Texas Beers for Go Texan Week

Real Ale:

Octoberfest, Lost Gold IPA, Coffee Porter, Anniversay, Devil’s Backbone, Sissyphus Barley Wine, Rio Blanco Pale, Brewhouse Brown, Fireman’s #4

Independence:

Austin Amber, Bootlegger, Pale Ale, Freestlye, Stash IPA, Oatmeal Stout

Live Oak:

Pilz, IPA, Hefeweizen, Big Bark, Oaktoberfest

(512):

One, Pale, IPA, Wit, Pecan Porter

St. Arnold:

Elissa, Amber, Lawnmower

Shiner:

Shiner Bock, Anniversary, Rauchbier

Southern Star:

Bombshell Blonde, Buried Hatchett Strong American Stout

We will also have Lone Star.

Freehouse Beers For Go Texan Week

Real Ale:

Octoberfest, Lost Gold IPA, ESB, Anniversary, Devils Backbone, Sissyphus Barleywine, Rio Blanco, Full Moon Pale Rye Ale, Brewhouse Brown, Firemans #4

Independence Brewery:

Austin Amber, Bootlegger Brown Ale, Independence Pale Ale, Freestyle, Stash IPA, Oatmeal Stout

Live Oak Brewery:

Pilz, Oaktoberfest, Big Bark, IPA, Hefeweizen

512 Brewery:

One (Anniversary Ale), Pale, IPA, WIT, Pecan Porter (Cask Cond.), IPA (Cask Cond.)

St. Arnold’s:

Elissa, Amber, Lawnmower, Amber (Cask Cond.)

Shiner:

Shiner Bock, Shiner Anniversary, Shiner Smokehaus

Lonestar:

Lonestar

Southern Star Brewing:
Bombshell Blond, Buried Hatchett Strong American Stout

OK.

Well if the summer from hell came with complementary beverages these would be a few of our local favorites.
DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT PRETEND TO HAVE PROFESSIONAL OR TRAINED PALATES; ONLY OPINIONS BASED ON OUR PERSONAL TASTES AND EXPERIENCES

More than once these past few weeks the great folks at Live Oak have provided us with heat relief after plenty an ill advised bike ride with their delicious Live Oak Pilz and Live Oak Hefe Weizen. For effective heat relief, find a bar that has a Texas beer special and rotate between the two. The light hop crispness of the Pilz followed by the body and citrus of the Hefe then repeated makes an outside biergarten bearable.

(512) Brewing Co, describes their Wit as a “hazy ale with coriander and domestic citrus peel aromas,” which, I believe citrus=grapefruit. Yup. These guys got something good going on in the Wit department. They’ve even received the stamp of approval from Austin’s previous Wit authority, Pierre Celis.

Nextly is Real Ale’s bringin’-home-the-bacon Fireman’s #4. This is a blonde ale that, even if they don’t know what they’re drinking, even you’re most unexperienced of beer drinkers have prolly had. It’s a good beer, and what makes it just a little better then the previous few is that it comes in bottles. Yup. It’s portable heat relief. A solid bring to a bbq, a yard party, a basketball game, a beach, a bonfire, a weekend brunch, a sneak into a summer blockbuster movie beer. Pretty much good for most events when beer is expected and even not. Maybe more often appropriate to show up with a sixer of this than not. I’m sure there’s some situation where Fireman’s #4 doesn’t fit, but I’m drawing a blank. My only criticism, and this may reveal some personal denseness, what’s with the bike gear?

Uncle Billy’s Hay Stack Hefeweizen, Back 40 Blonde, Agave Wit, and Belgo-a-Go-Go all just made the team. Maybe being around flames, smoke, and hot sauces have influenced Mr. Peters to crafting tasty beverages of the heat reducing type. If you’re lucky enough to find all four of these on tap at once (only the Back 40 Blonde, Agave Wit, and Belgo-a… were available last time I went) then, well, you should drink them. Cause you’re lucky. Especially the Hay Stack Hefeweizen. Let me put it this way, the HSH is to beer as bread is to your mouth (yeah, I scored pretty high on the SAT/GRE). It’s like drinking the most spritzy glass of bread ever. Refreshingly chewy. And the Agave Wit, Back 40 Blonde, and Belgo-a-g… are nothing to scoff at either. Not glass of bread good. But still excellent with their own unique merits. And if you didn’t catch it, the Belgo-a-… is a Belgian style pale ale. Yum. You may be thinking, “What!? It’s too damn hot for a Belgian!” And I say, “Yes. But it’s gots hops in the end so your mouth feels refreshed.” So try it.

This post is getting long [read: I'm losing endurance, well into a few beers, and getting distracted by Adult Swim] so I’ll just list these with a little bit of commentary.

Saint Arnold Summer Pils- The tie-dye and sunglasses says it all. Crisp, delicious, a little bit sweet, ice-chest ready. Get it on draft if you can find it.

[whoa- the first ever episode of King of the Hill just came on!]
Saint Arnold Fancy Lawn Mower- I heard this beer was made on a bet. Some craft beer lover said he still liked to drink college beer when he mowed the lawn. He called it “Lawn Mower Beer”. So the guys at Saint Arnold took that as a challenge and made a “Fancy Lawn Mower” beer. This rumor is unfounded and I may be making this story up or confusing it with something I saw on TV. Either way, it’s very good- for lawn mowing and other things. It’s a crisp, malty Kolsche styled beer. Almost apple juicy.
Shiner Smokehaus- I tried this for the first time with a vegetarian friend. At least he was refreshed.
Shiner Blonde- BeerAdvocate doesn’t like it much, but I do. On certain occasions. Like that one occasion that I went to a friend’s house and he had a keg of it on his fancy pants kegorator. It was good that time. But last time I got a twelve pack of it when they were $8.99 at HEB it took me 3 weeks and a pool party to finish them.

Lone Star- Hells yeah. I’m not too good to drink it. Neither are you. Being a can (and a tall one at that) it’s good for all kinds of can only activities, like disc golf and also sneaking into movie theaters.