Spec’sology Blog - Beer

We all know what Oktoberfest is and which country it takes place in, but what are the best German Oktoberfest beers? And do we know why it even occurs in the first place? Sure, Germany makes some world-class beers, but which ones are the best to celebrate with? And what is the reason for the season? Turns out, this beer bash was born out of another party; a wedding party to be precise. Back in 1810, the crown prince of Bavaria, who later became King Louis I, opted to turn the traditionally stuffy, private, nobles-only wedding celebration into a massive

Is it really summer without a road trip to some Texas breweries? The answer is no. So, if you’ve never made a day of hitting the taps across Texas, you’ll want to check out some excellent breweries listed below and start plotting your course to Lonestar refreshment! Spoetzl Brewery - Shiner, Texas Located in Shiner, Texas it’s the oldest independent brewery in the state. They produce a diverse line of Shiner beers with the most popular being Shiner Bock. They also have a wonderful selection of highly anticipated seasonal beers they release throughout the year such as their Ruby Red

Memorial Day is here and that means it’s time to drag your grill into the kitchen and put it to use! OK, you should probably skip the dragging inside part, but either way, your grill will definitely be the center of attention this holiday weekend. And where there’s grilling, there’s marinating! Everyone has their preferred method of marinating meats, and one of the most popular ways to do it involves alcohol. A bourbon marinade is an excellent choice for chicken or steak, but there are a lot of other options out there that will have folks praising you as king

If you’re drinking local Texas beers, make sure you’re doing it right! Check out our list of the ten most popular Texas brews, and get ready to add a top shelf to your beer fridge! If your near our Smith Street liquor store in Houston, be sure to check out these great Texas beers. Lone Pine Yellow Rose Rated #1 Texas Brewed IPA, on both BeerAdvocate.com and RateBeer.com, I believe. A SMASH IPA (single malt, single hop), Yellow Rose is as nice to look at as it is to drink. Live Oak Hefeweizen Used to be one of the most

Texans are in for a treat with these new products hitting shelves just in time for spring! From spirits to seltzers and everything in between, Spec’s keeps you in the know when exciting new beverages become available in Texas. Bud Light Next Bud light dropped a new zero carbs, super crisp light beer called Bud Light Next. Bud Light Next is made with malt, rice and hops, so getting it down to zero carbs was extremely challenging. In fact, Bud Light says they’ve been working on this for ten years and it was only up until recently, that some new

Texas Independence Day weekend is the perfect time to raise your Texas spirits with a trip to a Texas brewery, distillery, or winery! We’ve put together a list of some of our favorites from across the state. These offer not only outstanding products but an excellent atmosphere for learning and fun! Please celebrate responsibly and don’t drink and drive by planning ahead. Breweries Jester King - Austin, Texas Jester King offers an outdoor dining & drinking experience which includes almost 2 miles of hiking trails, live music, and more across their beautiful 165-acre ranch in the Texas Hill Country! It’s

As a Texas family-owned business, Spec’s makes a point to bring you the latest and greatest made-in-Texas items! We develop special relationships with Texas wineries, distilleries, and breweries to ensure our shelves are stocked with Texas-made items. Supporting local businesses like our own is just one of the many ways Spec’s puts Texas first! Join us on a tour of some tasty Texas towns with a collection of local favorites from across the Lone Star State. William Chris Skeleton Key Proprietors Red – Hye, TX William Chris Vineyards boast a majestically restored Dieke family farmhouse, and they offer barrel tastings,

We all know what Oktoberfest is and which country it takes place in, but do we know why it even occurs in the first place? Sure, Germany makes some world-class beers, but is that the reason for the season? Turns out, this beer bash was born out of another party; a wedding party to be precise. Back in 1810, the crown prince of Bavaria, who later became King Louis I, opted to turn the traditionally stuffy, private, nobles-only wedding celebration into a massive public festival complete with a huge agricultural fair, food vendors, and even an extravagant horse race at

Whether it’s a pool, river, lake, or the beach, water and a Texas summer just go hand in hand. But no matter how hot you get; glass bottles are a big no-no when it comes to keeping you cool in the water. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of delicious refreshments that’ll keep your summer wet and wild without the hazards of glass. Not only are these all glass-free, but all the beers are lower in alcohol so you can get the most out of your time in the water! We even threw in some snackage so

American’s love for craft beers has continued its meteoric rise for good reason – they’re great beers! From the robust porters aged in bourbon barrels to the salty gose and unique sours, to all kinds of IPAs, and whatever else they think up. We just can’t seem to get enough of them! So, in honor of American Craft Beer Week, we’re listing some of our Texas favorites to help you narrow down your choices because if American craft beer has given us anything, it’s an almost overwhelming number of options! 512 Brewing – Austin, Texas (512) Pale Pale is a

It’s officially springtime! And more importantly, winter is done trapping us inside! We are also moving away from winter’s dark, thick beers that kept us full and warm during the cold season. Lighter spring beers are here to refresh your hibernating palate! Check out our list of spring beers to enjoy starting ASAP! Best Spring Beers Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing Sierra Nevada chills their fermenters at slightly higher temperatures than normal so the haze doesn’t fade, then they skip the filter to package all the hazy flavor in its prime. Juicy hops and silky malt meet in a Hazy

When Irish eyes start smiling, knowing the proper libation to serve will help keep them that way. That being said we’ve put together a list of the top, and some obscure, Irish potations for you to keep on hand this St. Patrick’s Day. Bunratty Irish Honey Mead Created from an old Irish recipe this mead is made of honey, white wine, and herbs and produces a fairly sweet mead well-suited for a variety of occasions. Served cold or slightly warmed, it pairs well with chicken or turkey, and is the perfect finish to a St. Patrick’s Day meal of corned