The guys at Texas Beer Refinery in Kemah have four solid everyday offerings that should find at least one of their brews on rotation at any place that takes pride in their craft beer selection. They have yet to get into the retail world but are on the way to offering their beer in a growler. This is the only way the beer will be available for the retail market and, while it’s a unique way to come to market, will it work long term or be seen as a gimmick? Only time will tell.
Tex’s Blonde: 7.5
This is a nice gateway beer that I could give to almost anyone. The creaminess rounds out the dash of hops used in this brew that makes it great for the Texas heat. The slight hints of citrus make me want to be outside doing man things with an axe.
Bayou City Brown: 9.0
Their take on a Southern English Style Brown is something you will not find readily available in Texas. It has a nice hint of coffee on the nose, and the balance of fruit, chocolate, and caramel is very well done. This is the kind of beer that will make you feel like a sophisticated rebel.
American Dream Pale Ale: 9.0
When I drink this, it shows me why John Hearn started making beer and why this beer had already seen such high praise. The six different hops are on full show in the nose of this beer leading you to believe the IBUs are way higher than they are. It isn’t until this beer caresses itself across your pallet that you are able to understand just how well balanced this thing is. This Pale Ale made me think less of picket white fences, and more about American Muscle Cars and hot women.
Mexican IPA: 8.5
This is a different IPA than I have ever had. It has six different hops in three stages, plus it’s been dry hopped. It’s also brewed with both the juice and the peel of the lime which tones down the hop; making this beer complex and session-able all in one. My perfect night with beer would be paired with some jerked chicken wings sitting in a cabana enjoying night of salsa dancing & friends I just met.
While John & Ryan know how to cater to and please the masses with their daily line-up, it is their special releases that you get just how good of a brewer John Hearn is.
Gulf Coast Gose: 8.9
This beer is delicious. It’s light. It’s salty. It’s sour. Yet, it’s not too much of any of these. This could help gateway the craft drinker into some more complex sours, but for emits the perfect compliment to the end of summer. I’ll take an endless supply of this beer and a sack of oysters. The rest of you can leave me alone.
Crawfish Porter: 8.5
There is nothing fishy going on here. Just a good porter, and oh yeah it’s made with freaking crawfish! If you are from the Gulf Coast and you like porter, you are doing yourself a disservice not to try this at least once.
Catalyst Imperial IPA: 9.7
This. Beer. Here. Floral bouquet doesn’t scream holy hop juice, but this monster has been vacuum hopped, dry hopped and packs 160+ IBUs in 9.5%ABV. The magic is in the malt that makes this beer deceptively smooth. I would put this beer up against ANY beer you want. This is a beer worth a top 10 title.
Make sure to check them out at their site TexasBeerRefinery.com and also look for their growlers at your local HEB!
