Greetings friends and fellow beer drinkers and welcome to a special day of beer drinking.  And why, pray tell, is this day any more special than, say, yesterday?  Hell if  I know, but I’m the one writing this column so I can make any day special and today is one of those days.  So you ask “What special beer do you have today?”  Well, actually, I have several beers to share with you today so let’s get down to it and start looking at these bad boys.

Capital Brewing Oktoberfest:  An “import” beer to our great state, this Marzen style brew is a nice amber color with a white fizzy head and a nose of caramel and hops.  The beer drinks light and smooth as any Oktoberfest beer should (you’re supposed to drink a lot of it, remember?) and with a nice mellow after taste this beer is another enjoyable Marzen in a long line of enjoyable Marzens.  Further proof that there is never too much of a good thing….or beer.

Black Sheep Holy Grail Ale Black Knight’s Reserve: Probably the best way to sum up this beer is unrealized potential.  Think about it: A beer that splashes the name of one of the greatest cult classic films out there and this is probably the best they’ll ever do.  Sad.  With a name like “Black Knight’s Reserve” wouldn’t this have been a stout or porter?  It carries a coffee flavor on the mid tongue like a good stout but other than that it’s a dry English ale.  Yeah, love the marketing but not the beer. 

Arcadia Brewing Hopmouth:  I remember a long time ago (like a year…maybe) when the term” IPA” scared me away from the beer that bore it’s mark, but now, well now it’s something I seek out.  Arcadia’s Hopmouth is another good example of a beer that the old me would of run from because the combo of the words “hopped” and “double” on the label.  This brew is like most other hoppy beers with a nice amber coloration, a nose of subtle but noticeable grapefruit a good clean and well balanced flavor.  Not sure how easy it is to find but it’s delicious and worth drinking if you ever get a chance. 

New Holland Brewing Dragon’s Milk:  Ah a beer that is made from a dragon, what will they think of next?  I have to wonder why they decided to milk a firggin’ dragon for a beer?  I mean wouldn’t it be easier to take a nice stout and age it in oak barrels for a while? Man, the insurance for the dragon milker must be outrageous so it’s a good thing the beer is nice and very drinkable because I’d hate to think these guys are risking all for nothing.  

Real Ale Scots Gone Wild (Mysterium Verum): Ah the joys of being a small successful brewery.  You get to play around with grand ideas that may or may not fly with all beer drinkers and they may never see the light of day outside of the breweries tasting room.  This little number has made it out of the orbit of Blano, TX and found it’s way to a tap in West Texas.  The color is very similar to that of Old Chub and a nose of smoky sweetness.  The taste is very complex with notes of citrus, caramel, malts and hops all mixing together to form that unique flavor that is a Scoth Ale. So if you can find this, give it a whirl, it’s worth it in my opinion but it’s taste is not for everyone.