Friday, January 2, 2015

top dallas beer releases of 2014

As the new year has rolled around, now is a good time to reflect on all of the great beer Dallas has given us over the past year. It seemed to be a year of experimentation and bravery with new hop varieties, barrel aging and gaining confidence. As I am the only person doing this blog right now, it's damn near impossible to taste every single release, but I did my best to keep up.

Now if your brewery/beer didn't make this list, it doesn't mean I didn't like your beer(s), these are just the ones that really stood out and wow'd me. Also remember, this is COMPLETELY subjective, and I would love to hear from y'all as well on what YOUR favorites were!

Lakewood Lions Share II






















This Berliner Weisse was perfectly tart and had a beautiful color with the addition of barrel aging with black currants. This was a close one as my favorite release of 2014.

Community Legion
9.99% abv, this one was a huge beer, boasting huge aromas of vanilla and chocolate and hints of an alcohol bite. A bit of residual sweetness made this one almost chewable. I didn’t get a chance to try the Bourbon Barrel release, but I heard it was fantastic.

Grapevine Sir Williams
























This one caught some flack on social media, first being honored with the best NTX beer of the Big D magazine but then getting called out by a blogger (they’re the worst aren’t they!?) as being overrated. Then, almost like a slap in that blogger’s face, gets honored with a gold medal at GABF. Well deserved in my opinion. On draft, this one gives off huge toasty aromas with hints of toffee and a slightly earthy hoppiness from the English hops used.

Rabbit Hole Off With Your Red
























Hoppy Imperial Red with a similar hoppy profile to Peticolas’ Velvet Hammer...what’s not to love? It was even more divine from a cask.

Peticolas Thrilla in Brazilla
One of the most exciting world cups in a while deserved an equally exciting beer, and soccer loving brewery Peticolas delivered with an IPA boasting huge tropical fruit aromas and an intense hoppy bitter finish.

Deep Ellum Oak Cliff Coffee Ale
















One of the most well known breweries in Dalls paired with one of the best coffee roasters, delivering a smooth oatmeal brown with huge coffee notes on the nose with hints of chocolate.

Four Corners Peppercorn Pale
Released during NTX Beer Week 2014, this pale boasted floral notes from the hops, but also fruity aromas from the pink peppercorns. The finish on this beer was dry with just a hint of peppercorn bite. Not spicy, but just a nice bite, like after chewing on a peppercorn.

Rabbit Hole Hole Lang Syne






















Many were lucky enough to ring in the new year with a bottle of this effervescent Belgian Golden strong ale brewed with blackberries and raspberries, which gave the brew a complexity and tartness that made me crave more.

Franconia Triple Dunkel
One of Franconia’s most popular beers was brewed with triple the amount of everything, giving the public one of their best beers boasting huge chocolate and caramel aromas and a velvety smoothness. at 10% abv, this one hid the alcohol to a dangerous degree. Coming out of their 200 year old wooden keg left me speechless.

And my favorite release of 2014 is...

Lakewood Bourbon Barrel Temptress


































Silky smooth, sweet as suga and the smell of bourbon just put this one over the top. An amazing beer by all accounts.

I can't wait to see what 2015 has in store for us. Cheers!

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