Age your Saint Arnold Seasonals!!

Saint Arnold has 5 seasonals that are released through out the year that get better with age. The Christmas Ale, Winter Stout, Oktoberfest, Summer Pilsner and the Spring Bock are the fab five. All of them are outstanding and all of them age very well.

I normally age my beer in a closet where it is cool and dark. Micro brews are pretty sensitive, yet have more flavor than your typical six pack. Some micro brews tend to go bad within a year or so, so it is better to store them in a drawer in your refrigerator. I don't know exactly the dates are on Saint Arnold's brews, so it is safer to leave them in the fridge if you are going to keep them for a long period of time.

I have a few Christmas Ales with a date to hold until Christmas 2010, while my Spring Bock should be nice and robust in time for Thanksgiving. The Spring Bock loses some of it's sweetness, but gains a longer and stronger finish that is unlike any other Saint Arnold. The Christmas Ale has more of the spice at the end without any surprises. Very solid.

I have been holding a six pack of all of them, and have noticed more flavor and smooth finishes from all of them. The more they breathe after being opened for 10-20 minutes, the more full and rich they get.

I have not tried the normal line yet, (Brown, Amber etc.) but being a craft brew, it should be pretty interesting in doing so.

So far all of my bottles have done very well in cold storage, so I'm not going to try to store them in the closet and take a chance losing them. I hear the Divine ages extremely well, and I'm not surprised a bit. My only problem with aging a Divine Reserve, is that I always end up drinking them before I get a chance to put one back. ;)

I will blog each one of them starting this fall as they mature.

My next blog will be a Winter/Summer (Black and Tan with a Winter Stout and Summer Pilsner).

Saint Arnold Brown Ale....

MMmmmm.....I could drink this stuff for breakfast. Why do I even try other beers when this baby is on the shelves all year.

This is similar to the Spring Bock, but not as sweet on the finish. It has has the same smoothness as the most coveted Christmas Ale, But without that spicy hint at the end (which I love). The well rounded flavor is good after a hot and productive day, or at dinner with a medium rare ribeye or a cut fillet.

I loved the yellowish foamy reward after I poured it into a frosty, thick mug. It has an awesome malty ride on the initial touch of your tongue. The over all balance has a nutty character with a long memory without any bitterness. In other words, it is full of flavor without any weird kick or unexpected finish.

Most beers this smooth lack body, but this one, well it's my favorite. It is truly the smoothest Ale money can buy.

Shiner 101

This one was excellent. I'd rather have it with some grilled burgers or even a plate full of nachos.

Surprisingly decent for a Czech style brew. I had to try this one twice. Once in a frozen mug and the other in a Pilsner glass that warmed it up fairly quickly. The frozen mug diluted most of the Czech twang, so I'll describe the Pilsner glass experience.

I loved the aroma that hit me as I stared down in the glass. Extremely light in color. It had a smooth traditional Pilsner flavor at first, than moved toward a slightly harsh hops kick. Not bad, yet better than I expected. The over all flavor stayed present through out the entire drink and swallow. The finish made me want to take another gulp immediately. The ending was solid with plent of flavor and carbonation.

This was very similar to the Shiner Frost, but with a little more character. I liked it and will try one straight out of the bottle next time.

Saint Arnold Summer Pilsner

Mmmm mmm good. This is much lighter than any of the Saint Arnold seasonal's. I love the rich, flavorful brew that they release periodically. This is one of the few that you can have more than three or four in one sitting.

It is as light as a Coors Light, but has more flavor, obviously. The aroma is very malty, unlike the typical description that it normally receives. It goes down smooth with a light kick that fades into an expected, yet not that present, bitterness. Instead of a true bitter hit, it rolls into a hoppy finish. It's very pleasing and somewhat light in nature. It has the alcohol level of a regular beer, so don't be fooled by it's color and fading finish.

I got this the morning that it was released as Silver Eagle delivered it to a Spec's in the Midtown area, so it is as fresh as it gets. I will be partaking in quite a few of these bad boys. The next seasonal is the Oktoberfest that is released in August. I can't wait!!!

Shiner Frost!!!

It's time to get back on the wagon. Shiner has released a seasonal, "Dortmunder style" beer, and I actually like it.

It looks like a Miller light, and almost tastes like one too. Though, it is a little sweeter than the mass produced lager. I guess you could say it had a hoppy character with rich malty undertones. Shiner claims to use some special blah, blah, blah malts and barley. I believe them, it is pretty smooth. There is not a single trace of bitterness, nor are there any surprises to the finish. I could see myself drinking more than one during an evening, unlike some of my favorite, rich Saint Arnold brews.

The flavors came out so much quicker when a foamy head is not present when I poured it. Some people think they look cool, but it keeps the beer from breathing and relaxing it's flavors. When a foamy head is visible, you really don't get the true richness until the second half of the brew. Very similar to wine. Just a tip from your Uncle Josh. Buy some, you'll like it.

Saint Arnold Spring Bock

Can you see a trend? I got this today from the downtown spec's. They got it in this morning, and the beer nerds bought it today. :)

This is a true "Bock," according to Brock at Saint Arnold's. This is one of the smoothest and most flavorful beers sold in a store. Saint Arnold's holds to a rich "microbrew" taste in everything they brew. I love it!

My first swallow was outstanding. It hit my mouth with a rich malty rush and ended sweeter than I expected. That simple. I pray that they start selling this all year. It had zero bitterness and 100% satisfactioin to every drink. I could drink it for breakfast.

Fortunatly it is a 3 month seasonal, not a 2 monther. ( Is monther a word?) hmmm.. Anyway, I drank a few with my best friend and gave him the rest since New Braunfel's won't get them in for a month or so. I will get more tomorrow.

Saint Arnold's has the fizziest and most flavorful beer on the shelves. WOW!!!

Saint Arnold Winter Stout

Oh boy! I have been on the phone for two weeks tracking this baby down. Showing up at different Spec's that said they had it, only to find they were wrong and had no idea of what I was talking about when I said "Saint Arnold Winter Stout." I finally talked to someone at the downtown store as he informed me they only had two cases left. It was extremely busy and packed with Christmas shoppers buying more than enough alcohol for the up and coming week. Needless to say I got mine, and I got it two weeks earlier than those genius's said it was going to be released.

Here we go...

This beer poured as black as the label on the bottle. The creamy foam had a rich coffee rush as I licked it impatiently, waiting for it to subside. My first recognizable flavor was dark chocolate with almonds, with a thickness to the liquid itself. A little smokey sweetness arose as I swallowed this highly anticipated brew that I searched so vigorously for. The finish ended quickly and pleasantly. I went for another drink immediately.

I smoked an Arturo Fuente Anjeo Shark with this one. A very dark cigar with an extremely dark stout. Saint Arnold should truly call this their "stout" and keep it on the shelves all year round. Once again, their seasonal cask's are worth waiting for.

Guinness 250

Guinness 250 will always be one of my favorite beers, as it is a true "stout." As I poured the black river of brew in my pilsner glass, a brown foam arose a little later than normal. The texture is more coarse than a Guinness draught, even more so their an extra stout. It had a solid chocolate base with a slight smokey and roasted nut body. The finish was very smooth and solid without any bitterness to be found.

It is so solid and dense, it reminds me of an improved Guinness draught. In my opinion, Guinness draught is very thin after the third sip. This is awesome through the end. I will miss this brew, since it is gone now. It was an anniversary special that was only sold in 2009. I have had many cigars with this one and have yet to find one that did not go along with it perfectly. Outstanding!

Shiner Smokehaus

This is truly an everyday beer. Shiner released it as a summer style brew, but it is smooth enough to have have a few in a row.

It starts off quite lighter than Shiner Bock. The first flavor that reached my tongue was a light "hoppy" touch. As it made it's way down my mouth a hint of smoky brisket went through my mind. The finish was very light and smokey as well. I loved it! To hear that a B B Q flavor is present would have someone think it would be too strong to finish one, but it has a very faint touch of liquid smoke. There was not a smokey aftertaste following the finish beyond the last 2-3 seconds. I have gone through three 6-packs in the last few months.

This is great with grilled burgers or Bar B Que, also with a dark maduro too. I will certainly look forward to Shiner's 2010 sommer bier (summer beer).

Cooper's Best Extra Stout

Wow! This poured jet black with a fizzier-than-most, dark tan creamy head. Almost reminded me of a Guinness. I love anything that uses the word "stout," so I was pretty pumped to try an Australian beer that claimed to be the "best extra stout."

The first flavor that it my tongue was a dark mocha rush. Smooth and carbonated just as I had hoped. Some bitterness was to expected at the end but there was nothing bitter about this black beauty. It had a long coffee finish. I kept holding the mug to the light to see a color or tone other than black, but even with an inch of brew left, it was opaque. Dark and perfect, and I loved it.

It has 6.3% alcohol with 187 calories, so take it easy. If someone showed up at our Monday night football party with a 6 pack and intended on drinking them all, I would be very shocked to see them succeed.

Thank you Australia for brewing the perfect beer for an "end of the day" stout with a ton of flavor. I will go back to World Market and buy a few more.

Saint Arnold Divine Reserve #9

The Saint Arnold Divine Reserve #9 is the ninth brew in a very rare series of small batches that the Houston based brewery releases once or twice a year. The Divine is hard to find, with only 1500 cases per series. This one was $14.99 per 6-pack.

This beer is different than any other beverage in any category, outside of water, that I have tasted in my 37 years on this earth. I love a strong Bordeaux with or without food, and this was like drinking a mug full of Thanksgiving pudding. It has a deep chocolate brown color with a tan head. Saint Arnold described it with a "nose full of pumpkin." That is right on target. As the mug made it's way towards my mouth, I could smell a cool pumpkin pie. The initial hit was thick and spicy. It proves a long nutmeg and pumpkin spice finish, with a solid flavor for about three seconds. Once again, a few seconds later, a hot spice creeps into your mouth after the beer is on it's way down. It is a very strong with 11% alcohol, so watch out. About two and a half beers worth of strength.

Any cigar would go very nicely with this one. All of the unique flavors, and their timing, open up many options for a nice cigar and beer combination. I personally could not drink more that one at a time, but some people may be able to. Very nice job by the St. Arnold's Brewery to give us this fist full of experience.

Lets start the Christmas season with a little Saint Arnold Christmas Ale!

Saint Arnold Christmas Ale was surprisingly smooth. It is fairly light in color with a yellowish foamy head. My first impression was that it was going to taste like a light beer, but as usual, Saint Arnold gave us a straight forward flavor at the beginning with a nutmeg-like spice about two seconds after a fizzy swallow. Most Saint Arnold beers have a very different, fizzy texture, so it makes for an interesting flavor. I highly recommend this seasonal blend and it would go very well with a Connecticut shade cigar. (Fuente or Macanudo) I have had one at dinner with chicken, and at lunch with a sandwich. If you like a lighter flavored Ale with a hint of seasonal spice, then you will enjoy this on. Go get a 6-pack while they are still on the shelves because it is only here for a couple of months!