Texas Craft Brewers Festival Debuts Beer List

Hey readers! We here at the Austin Chronicle Food section have finally cut a sliver of our busy Pokéstoppin’ time to clean out our reader mailbag full of craft beer-related queries. This week, we’re answering questions about the Texas Craft Brewers Festival presented by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild.

Reader Mail: With so many Texas beer choices on the market and only so much cash in my pocket, is there an alternative to downsizing my efficiency apartment each year or rooming with 14 rejected pledge sisters in lieu of turning to the cheap adjunct, big-beer alternatives for my weekend buzz?

Austin Chronicle: No there isn’t. But a great compromise is to attend a bitchin’ beer festival like the TCBF, where, for the price of an IKEA lamp, you can enjoy a rainbow of flavors made by a spectrum of rad Texas brewers who will be showcasing all the stuff you will be missing out on if you relegate yourself to moving out of town over silly things like finances. Something to think about when you’re shopping at the Giant Eagle in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

By the way, I was in a grocery chain in Checotah once and they kept everything higher than 4% ABV unrefrigerated and on a shelf next to the bulk cigarettes. Oklahoma’s a place you definitely don’t want to be a beer nerd, or a human in general. Which makes what’s being accomplished by the Texas Brewers Guild even more substantial. Go support them.

RM: Which Texas city makes the best craft beer?

AC: This is a question with a simple answer: Yes.

From the legacy acts of Real Ale, Live Oak, and Saint Arnold, to the dynamic, talented hucksters from Pinthouse Pizza, Big Bend, and Peticolas, the Texas craft beer scene is like a pitching rotation from a late-Eighties MLB All-Star Game. These Rusted Root jammin’ mercenaries can launch imperial IPA fastballs and barrel-aged slurves at your sobriety like Doc Gooden on five days rest. They even name their beers after euphemistic puns so that you won’t even know that they’re trying to brush you off the plate to set you up for the big punch-out.

TCBF has over 65 of these Texas-only breweries featuring nearly 200 of their handcrafted beers, giving you the chance to take a few cuts in the big leagues.

RM: Will the craft beer bubble ever burst?

AC: Eventually, but not now.

And I’m talking like centuries down the road when we’ve depressed Earth’s resources so badly that we’re making less than 4% beer on the moons of Saturn like a bunch of Okies while eating mozzarella sticks and Twizzlers for sustenance. Given the advancement of modern science, we all just might live to see that hateful era, so enjoy the good stuff while you can.

Until that time comes, the TCBF has done the heavy lifting for you, collecting the largest assembly of Texas brewers to ever appear under one banner, featuring a list of their classic core beers, one-off specialties, rarities, collaborations, seasonals, and an arcade of rotating taps (that will be announced at a later time to maximize the gooeyness of your melted mind). You should totally go.

RM: Who are some of the breweries – new and old – to look out for at the festival?

AC: There will be the classic festival crush for anything Jester King pours, which is a deserved accolade given their massive global reputation for farmhouse ales and fruited sours, particularly festival smash, Montmorency vs. Balaton, their cherry sour. Austin Beerworks will also be featuring their imminently canned Bloodwork Orange IPA, which is a superstar in the making. BrainDead out of Dallas is a new entrant to the festival and is named after their city’s best wide receiver. And while we totally fabricated that fact, BrainDead’s beer is as excellent and capable as Dez. We always look forward to Houston brewers Karbach and Saint Arnold’s specialty masterpieces like BBH and Pumpkinator, respectively. And look out for Last Stand’s SMaSH Citra, which very well could be the festival’s best IPA.

There are a few breweries making their TCBF debuts who we are anticipating, like Austin’s Friends & Allies, Cedar Park’s Whitestone, and Blackwater Draw out of College Station, who incidentally are breaking up the alphabetical showmance from last year’s festival between local celebs and heavy collaborators Black Star Co-op and Blue Owl Brewing.

RM: I’m a goof who forgot to get a ticket early. What are my options?

AC: Well, the VIP option (noon access) is justifiably sold out given the hype and execution of TCBFs of yore, but relax man, you're gonna be fiiine. Shake it off because there will still be plenty of really great beer to sample for the general admission ticket holders ($35) who will get 2pm access. For our A+ friends who are driving us away happy and sated from the festival grounds at 6:30pm, designated driver tickets are $10 and you will be granted access at the time noted on your pal’s ticket. You will also get to choose the car jams on the ride home at your volume of choice (we recommend loud). Be mindful that this event typically sells out in advance.

By the way, a festival ticket entitles revelers to eight three-ounce taster tickets. Additional taster tickets can be purchased for $1 each.

RM: If you were to equate craft beer to music, what genre would it be?

AC: For me, whatever genre Taylor Swift is. What is that? Bubblegum blues? That’s the kind of shit that really helps me put down a few triple stouts. But everyone’s drinking habit is different and any confessions you may have can be between you and your private Spotify playlists. Fortunately, there will be someone spectacular to curate your TCBF experience and that’s the venerable DJ GrossYall of Alamo Drafthouse. He’s a beer fest spinnin' veteran and the ketchup to this festival’s tater tot.

RM: So what’s the damned beer list look like, dummy?

AC: Anyway, it’s time to make it official and get you in the mood for a party. You can have a wee look below at the full beer list, which is presented in no particular order besides alphabetical. Of course, any of these beers are subject to change at a moment’s whim because beer is finicky and sometimes unpredictable, so don’t get too antsy about it. Something amazing always tends to fill in the gaps. One final note: You may be denied festival entry for wearing cargo shorts*.

*You won’t be denied festival entry for wearing cargo shorts. But, leave the list of prohibited items out of all those damned pockets.

Texas Craft Brewers Festival
Saturday, September 24
Fiesta Gardens
www.texascraftbrewersfestival.org

2016 BEER LIST

Brewery	City	Beer Name	Style
(512) Brewing Co.	Austin	(512) Export Lager	Dortmunder Export Lager
(512) Brewing Co.	Austin	(512) Pale	American Pale Ale
4th Tap Brewing Cooperative	Austin	Long Walk	Texas Grapefruit IPA
4th Tap Brewing Cooperative	Austin	Renewal	Tamarind Wheat Ale
5 Stones Artisan Brewery	Cibolo	Melo Rainbow	Saison
5 Stones Artisan Brewery	Cibolo	Pompous Monkey	Hefeweizen
Adelbert's Brewery	Austin	Tripel B	Tripel
Adelbert's Brewery	Austin	Pablo's Wild Pale Ale	Brett Pale Ale
Alamo Beer Co.	San Antonio	Alamo Pilsner	Pilsner
Alamo Beer Co.	San Antonio	Alamo Oktoberfest	Märzen
Austin Beerworks	Austin	Heavy Machinery Belgian IPA	Belgian-style IPA
Austin Beerworks	Austin	Heavy Machinery Wet Hop IPA	Wet Hop IPA
Austin Beerworks	Austin	Montecore	Oktoberfest
Austin Beerworks	Austin	Bloodwork Orange	Blood Orange IPA
B-52 Brewing Co.	Conroe	Saison Hop - Orbit	Saison / Farmhouse Ale
B-52 Brewing Co.	Conroe	Berliner Hop	Berliner Weisse
Big Bend Brewing Co.	Alpine	Barrel-aged SW1	Rauchdoppelbock Aged in Scotch Barrels
Big Bend Brewing Co.	Alpine	El Corazon	American Lager
Big Bend Brewing Co.	Alpine	Balmorhea Dry-hopped w/ Mosaic	Imperial Berliner Weisse
Big Bend Brewing Co.	Alpine	Blood & Treasure	Barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout
Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery	Austin	Pneuma	Pale Ale
Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery	Austin	Waterloo	Watermelon Berliner Weisse
Blackwater Draw Brewing Co.	College Station	Contract Killer	Coffee Porter
Blackwater Draw Brewing Co.	College Station	Timber Snake IPA	American IPA
Blue Owl Brewing	Austin	Hop Totem	Sour IPA
Blue Owl Brewing	Austin	Czech Czech	Sour Pils
Blue Owl Brewing	Austin	Little Gose	Gose
Blue Owl Brewing	Austin	Professor Black	Sour Cherry Stout
BrainDead Brewing	Dallas	Dry Hopped Wheat	American Pale Wheat / Session IPA
BrainDead Brewing	Dallas	GRITz	Classic American Cream Ale
Brazos Valley Brewing Co.	Brenham	7 Spanish Angels	Coffee Brown
Brazos Valley Brewing Co.	Brenham	Mama Tried IPA	Texas IPA
Brigadoon Brewery & Brew School	Plantersville	Scottish Beer	Scottish Light 60 Shilling
Brigadoon Brewery & Brew School	Plantersville	English Beer	English Bitter
Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co.	Houston	1836	Cooper Ale
Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co.	Houston	Don't Fear the RIPA	Rye IPA
Cedar Creek Brewery	Seven Points	Patio Pounder	Pale Lager
Cedar Creek Brewery	Seven Points	Catastrophic Failure	American Sour Ale
Chimera Brewing Company	Fort Worth	Shields Up!	American Pale Ale
Chimera Brewing Company	Fort Worth	Most Excellent Beer	American Sour/Wet Hop Beer
Circle Brewing Co.	Austin	BLUR	Texas Hefe
Circle Brewing Co.	Austin	Pacific Jade	Dry-Hopped Saison
Community Beer Company	Dallas	Mosaic IPA	India Pale Ale
Community Beer Company	Dallas	Community Witbier	Belgian White Ale With Orange Peel & Coriander
Community Beer Company	Dallas	Yessir!	Pale Ale
Community Beer Company	Dallas	Texas Helles	German-style Lager
Deep Ellum Brewing Co.	Dallas	Deep Ellum IPA	IPA
Deep Ellum Brewing Co.	Dallas	Neato Bandito	Imperial Mexican-Style Lager
Deep Ellum Brewing Co.	Dallas	Hatch Chili Stout	Brown Ale
Deep Ellum Brewing Co.	Dallas	Barrel-Aged Four Swords	Belgian Style Strong Ale
Flix Brewhouse	Round Rock	Saison De Walt	Saison
Flix Brewhouse	Round Rock	Satellite	Belgian Red IPA
Four Corners Brewing Co.	Dallas	Santanna Ray Equinox Lager	Hoppy Lager
Four Corners Brewing Co.	Dallas	Heart of Texas	American Red Ale
Freetail Brewing Co.	San Antonio	Bat Outta Helles	Munich-style Helles
Freetail Brewing Co.	San Antonio	Soul Doubt IPA	American IPA
Freetail Brewing Co.	San Antonio	Rye Wit	Belgian-Style Wit
Friends & Allies Brewing	Austin	Noisy Cricket	Session IPA
Friends & Allies Brewing	Austin	Urban Chicken	Saison
Hops & Grain Brewing	Austin	78702	Kolsch
Hops & Grain Brewing	Austin	So Pitted IPA	American IPA
Hops & Grain Brewing	Austin	WinoWeisse	Berliner-style Weisse
Hops & Grain Brewing	Austin	Vienna Lager	Vienna Lager
Independence Brewing Co	Austin	Cucumber Redbud Berliner Weisse	Berliner Weisse
Independence Brewing Co	Austin	Liberty Lunch IPA	IPA
Independence Brewing Co	Austin	Power & Light	Pale Ale
Independence Brewing Co	Austin	Stash IPA	American IPA
Infamous Brewing Company	Austin	Sweep The Leg	Peanut Butter Stout
Infamous Brewing Company	Austin	Sex A Peel	American Hefeweizen
Jester King Brewery	Austin	Kollaborationsbier	Collaborative Farmhouse Beer
Jester King Brewery	Austin	Montmorency vs. Balaton	Barrel Aged Sour Beer Refermented with Cherries
Karbach Brewing Co.	Houston	Karbachtoberfest	Märzen Lager
Karbach Brewing Co.	Houston	BBH	Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Porter
Lakewood Brewing Co.	Garland	All Call	Kölsch
Lakewood Brewing Co.	Garland	Hopochondria	Session IPA
Lakewood Brewing Co.	Garland	The Temptress	Imperial Milk Stout
Last Stand Brewing Co.	Austin	SMaSH Citra IPA	IPA
Last Stand Brewing Co.	Austin	Simcoe Pale Ale	American Pale Ale
Legal Draft Beer Company	Arlington	Legal Blonde Lager	Helles Lager
Legal Draft Beer Company	Arlington	Chief Justice Stout	Stout
Live Oak Brewing	Austin	Grodziskie	Grodziskie
Live Oak Brewing	Austin	Berliner Weisse	Berliner Weisse
Lone Pint Brewery	Magnolia	667 The Neighbor of The Beast	IPA
Lone Pint Brewery	Magnolia	UnDeadHeadEd	Ghost Chile Porter
Martin House Brewing Co	Fort Worth	Salty Lady	Gose
Martin House Brewing Co	Fort Worth	Cuvee Pumpkin Latte	Pumpkin Ale with Coffee
Middleton Brewing	San Marcos	Black Lab Porter	Robust Porter
Middleton Brewing	San Marcos	Garnet	Belgian Style Amber
No Label Brewing Co	Katy	Nightmare on First Street	Imperial Pumpkin Ale
No Label Brewing Co	Katy	Peanut Butter Chocolate Time	Imperial Stout
Noble Rey Brewing Co.	Dallas	Bridesmaids' Tears	Strawberry Rhubarb Sour Saison
Noble Rey Brewing Co.	Dallas	Sex in a Canoe	American Light Lager
North by Northwest Restaurant & Brewery	Austin	Porch Time	German-style Pilsner
North by Northwest Restaurant & Brewery	Austin	Cactus Jack	Prickly Pear Saison
Oak Highlands Brewery	Dallas	Freaky Deaky	Belgian Tripel
Oak Highlands Brewery	Dallas	Oktoberfest	Märzen Lager
Oasis, Texas Brewing Co.	Austin	London Homesick Ale	English Pub Ale
Oasis, Texas Brewing Co.	Austin	Metamodern Session IPA	Session IPA
Oskar Blues Brewery	Austin	Dale's Pale Ale	American Pale Ale
Oskar Blues Brewery	Austin	Pinner Throwback IPA	Session IPA
Oskar Blues Brewery	Austin	Mama's Little Yella Pils	Czech-style Pilsner
Pedernales Brewing Co.	Fredericksburg	Bitter Battle	American Pale Ale
Pedernales Brewing Co.	Fredericksburg	Lobo Oktoberfest	German Märzen
Peticolas Brewing Co.	Dallas	Velvet Hammer	Imperial Red
Peticolas Brewing Co.	Dallas	Too Soon	IPA
Pinthouse Pizza	Austin	Electric Jellyfish	IPA
Pinthouse Pizza	Austin	Calma Muerta	Session Ale
Rabbit Hole Brewing	Justin	Rapture Brown Ale	American Brown Ale
Rabbit Hole Brewing	Justin	Off With Your Red IPA	Red IPA
Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.	Fort Worth	The Regulator	German Doppelbock
Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.	Fort Worth	Iron Thistle	Wee Heavy Scottish Ale
Ranger Creek Brewing	San Antonio	Small Batch Series #12	Rye Saison with Brettanomyces
Ranger Creek Brewing	San Antonio	Take it Easy	American Cream Ale
Real Ale Brewing Co.	Blanco	Axis IPA	IPA
Real Ale Brewing Co.	Blanco	Four Squared	Dry-Hopped Pale Ale
Real Ale Brewing Co.	Blanco	Oktoberfest	Bavarian-style Lager
Real Ale Brewing Co.	Blanco	New World Pils	German-style Pilsner
Red Horn Coffee House & Brewing Co.	Cedar Park	Wilco Wit	Lemon Lime Witbier
Red Horn Coffee House & Brewing Co.	Cedar Park	HapSlappy IPA	IPA
Rentsch Brewery	Georgetown	Hefeweizen	Hefeweizen
Rentsch Brewery	Georgetown	Weizenbock	Weizenbock
Revolver Brewing	Granbury	Blood & Honey	Unfiltered Wheat Ale
Revolver Brewing	Granbury	Land Grab Ale	Herbed Amber Ale
Revolver Brewing	Granbury	Full-Tang IPA	IPA
Revolver Brewing	Granbury	Redshift Ale	American Spiced Red Ale
Running Walker	Richmond	Texas Reserve IPA	IPA
Running Walker	Richmond	Running Walker Kölsch	Kölsch
Saint Arnold Brewing Co.	Houston/td>	Art Car IPA	American IPA
Saint Arnold Brewing Co.	Houston/td>	5 O’Clock Pils	Hoppy Pilsner
Saint Arnold Brewing Co.	Houston/td>	2013 Pumpkinator	Pumpkin Imperial Stout
Saint Arnold Brewing Co.	Houston	Divine Reserve 16	Adamier
San Gabriel River Brewery	Liberty Hill	San Gabriel Texas Red	Irish Red
San Gabriel River Brewery	Liberty Hill	San Gabriel Honey Porter	Porter
Seguin Brewing Company	Seguin	9-Pin	Kölsch
Seguin Brewing Company	Seguin	Oktoberfest	Oktoberfest
Shannon Brewing Company	Keller	Shannon IPA	English Style IPA
Shannon Brewing Company	Keller	Shannon Chocolate Stout	Sweet Stout
Shiner Beers	Shiner	Shiner Homespun Cream Ale	Cream Ale
Shiner Beers	Shiner	Texas Warmer	Winter Warmer
Solid Rock Brewing	Spicewood	Dauntless IPA	IPA
Solid Rock Brewing	Spicewood	Big Drought Stout	Dry Irish Stout
Southern Star Brewing Co.	Conroe	Conspiracy Theory	IPA
Southern Star Brewing Co.	Conroe	Oktoberfest	German-style Festbier
Texas Ale Project	Dallas	Fire Ant Funeral	Amber Ale
Texas Ale Project	Dallas	100 Million Angels Singing	Double IPA
Texas Beer Refinery	Dickinson	Cucumber Gose	Gose
Texas Beer Refinery	Dickinson	Catalyst	Imperial IPA
Twisted X Brewing Company	Dripping Springs	Austin Lager	German Lager
Twisted X Brewing Company	Dripping Springs	Oktoberfest	Oktoberfest/Märzen
Twisted X Brewing Company	Dripping Springs	Later Days	Session India Pale Ale
Uncle Billy's Brewery & Smokehouse	Austin	Schizopetal Honey Hibiscus Ale	Honey Ale
Uncle Billy's Brewery & Smokehouse	Austin	Berdoll Candied Pecan Brown Ale	Brown Ale
Whitestone Brewery	Cedar Park	Lovely Day IPA	IPA
Whitestone Brewery	Cedar Park	Cedrela Hefeweizen	German Hefeweizen
Whole Foods Market Brewing	Houston	DL	Imperial IPA
Whole Foods Market Brewing	Houston	Post Oak	Pale Ale
Zilker Brewing Co.	Austin	Tafelbier	Belgian Table Beer
Zilker Brewing Co.	Austin	Brutus 10	American IPA