Beer

An insider guide to your next cider for June!

Beer, Beer Reviews, Entertain, Pairings
By Zach DehghanpoorBishop Cider Company The Dark Cide Black Currant CiderBishop Cider Company,The Dark Cide Black Currant CiderAfter years of enjoying the hops-mania that’s been surging in the beer community, cider is coming in as a real game changer and palette cleanser. Gluten free, dry and sweet, and so, so easy to drink – the cider side of craft and local beer is what Apples to Apples is here to explore!Bishop Cider Company, the Dark Cide Black Currant CiderBursting with black currant fl... Read More

Oh my Michelada!

Beer, Bar Mixers, Beer Reviews, Entertain, Spec’sology Blog
“We’ve all experienced the lime and salt additions to a light lager, but how about a michelada? It’s traditionally a mix of beer, hot sauce, lime and salt that makes for a deliciously interesting thirst quencher. Finding your preferred balance of flavors along with your favorite base beer is part of the fun!”I’d like to start by saying that you can, and should, drink your beer however you enjoy it. People have been adding to and mixing in their beers for as long as the liquid has been ... Read More

An insider guide to your next cider!

Beer, Beer Reviews, Entertain, Pairings
By Zach DehghanpoorAustin Eastciders Rosé CiderAustin Eastciders Rose Dry CiderWhen I first tasted Austin Eastciders’ Rosé Cider, I was immediately brought back to being a 5-year-old with my Persian family, eating Faloodeh, a traditional dessert made with thin vermicelli noodles, and a syrup made from sugar and rose water. If you’ve ever eaten baklava and absolutely loved it, then I recommend this cider. Typically, when you think of rosé, your first instinct might be to expect actual ... Read More

Belgian Strong Golden

Beer, Entertain, Pairings
“The Belgian family of strong golden styles is an absolute favorite of mine to share with friends, especially at dinner. Most are light and crisp with a champagne-like effervescence that plays beautifully alongside just about any dish with lighter flavors. This time of year, with our proximity to the Gulf, I especially enjoy this style with fish” – Joey WilliamsPairing beer and food is still something very novel to many people, but if you take the approach of pairing flavors, drinkable or ... Read More

Beer Snacks: Kalahari Biltong

Entertain, Beer, Deli, Finer Foods, Spec’sology Blog
Click here to view product. Kalahari Biltong“Kalahari Biltong is an honest, simple product that shows, like well executed beer, what great ingredients, good processes and an attention to detail can produce. It pairs with just about any beer style and friends. We enjoyed it with blonde and amber lagers, especially a well-brewed Pilsner.”The craft beer movement was started almost 4 decades ago by people who had experienced good beer abroad and came home to find nothing commercially available o... Read More
best low calorie beers

Low Calorie Beers

Spec’sology Blog, Beer
Estimated Reading Time: 3 MinutesIn a world where wellness and indulgence increasingly intersect, many beer aficionados are seeking lighter alternatives that won’t compromise flavor or enjoyment. Enter the realm of low-calorie beers, where brewers are crafting delicious brews with fewer calories, allowing you to savor the taste without sacrificing your health goals. In today’s blog, let’s take a closer look at five standout options available at Spec’s that are winning over beer enthu... Read More
Best winter lagers

Best Winter Lagers to Celebrate National Lager Day

Spec’sology Blog, Beer

In order to celebrate National Lager Day, it helps to know what makes a beer a lager versus an ale. Not to blow your mind or anything, but all beers are either a lager or an ale and are made from a basic combination of water, malts, hops, and yeast.

The difference is the type of yeast used and from this relatively small variant comes a whole slew of changes and differences that make these two beers very unique.

Lagers – are made with bottom-fermenting yeast that work best at cooler t... Read More

best summer beers of 2018

The 10 Best Summer Beers of 2018

Spec’sology Blog, Beer

Nothing’s worse than a boring beer cooler. Spice up your summer sipping with a little variety. It’s the “spice of life” after all. Here’s a collection of some of the best beers that Spec’s has to offer right now. Some of them you may have heard of, while others have oddball names that give most people a ‘confused puppy-look’ when they hear their names. (But that’s par for the course in the world of craft beer.) Rest assured, these beer picks are superb.
Buffalo Bayou • Summe... Read More

What the Helles?– THE TASTING

Beer, Spec’sology Blog

Who’s not a fan of “cold bubbles”? You know, the kind of beer that’s just beer flavored. Not every liquid that touches my lips or tickles my fancy has to be thought provoking, or even memorable, but it does have to be enjoyable! That’s where the Munich Helles, a light, crisp, pale golden German style of lager beer, comes in handy. So let’s take a little dive into what the Helles going on.

Right off the bat, Helles (pronounced something like “Hell-ess”) is German for “bright,... Read More

What the Helles?

Spec’sology Blog, Beer

THE TASTING

I’ve done a handful of these style tastings and have had good results with this format. What I do is go to both the BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) and Brewer’s Association websites to get style guidelines.

https://www.bjcp.org/docs/2015_Guidelines_Beer.pdf
https://www.brewersassociation.org/resources/brewers-association-beer-style-guidelines/

These are the parameters that are used to judge amateur/homebrew (BJCP) and professional/commercial (Brewer’s Asso... Read More

Game Day Pairings

Beer and Gourmet Food Pairings for the Big Game

Spec’sology Blog, Beer, Pairings

Cheering on your team during the big game works up quite the appetite—and thirst! But before you rally up your game day party guests, be sure you’re prepared. It’s not just about stocking the cooler with old brews and tossing some pretzels in a big bowl. You could easily up the wow factor of your football watch party by pairing the right types of beer with gourmet foods.

We’ve collected a few pairings suggestions so you can take your party to the next level of deliciousness!
Pale Ale... Read More

We Need to Talk…2

Entertain, Beer, Beer Reviews

The holidays are a time for good food and drink, with great family and friends. I’m here to tell you that some of that “good drink” can (and should) be beer! There are countless beers produced around the world that deserve a place at any dinner table, in every glass all the time, but few carry the quality, consistency and prestige of the Trappist ales.

Trappist ales are less of a style of beer, and more of a family viewed as the “cream of the crop” – so much so that non-Trappist bre... Read More