That stinks! I didn't get any tropical fruit flavor, that would have improved it a lot...

Fort Worth, TX

That's so disappointing when that happens. Being that the Texas breweries are mostly average, I live on Boulevard, Founders, Colorado, and California breweries. It's happened to me a handful of times with beers I've enjoyed for years.

You see a lot of Boulevard come through there?

Just got back from the store. Our selection sucks around here, but I got some Dead guy Ale, Arrogant Bastard Ale, a bottle of Stone sublimely self righteous ale, and Some Jenlain farmhouse ale from France.

Anybody know anything about Jenlain? I ordered it off of staff recommendation at an Irish pub a year ago and loved it. Didn't know if it was considered quality or not.

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Side story: The only other people in the store were some lady and a dude she met up with there. They talked amd looked at the beer for a few minutes and then left. I walked out about 20 minutes after them, and as I approached my car they were parked next to me and she was blowing the dude in the car. She was going to town on him too. I tired to quietly get in my car and let them be so that I didn't ruin it for the dude, but she heard me open my door and quickly jumped up. Pretty funny though.

I do now that Spec's has expanded into DFW. I've been able to find most of the Smokestacks for years but it took a good amount of effort (had to go to 3-4 places that weren't close to my house). According to a manager friend at Gingerman (a beer bar here), Spec's is the largest buyer of Boulevard in Texas. They used to just be further south than DFW. About 2 years ago they pushed into DFW, I converted the guy who runs the beer section at my local Spec's into a Boulevard fan so he orders all of the limited release Smokestacks that he can get now.


Another large liquor store chain (Goody Goody) here is good for the regular Boulevard offerings.

Cool. We have absolute shit stores in Louisiana. So, I have to stock up when I go to Houston. Spec's is a wonderful store. It's the go to spot for me, but I don't ever remember seeing the smokestack series in there. I wonder how much the selection differs between Houston and Dallas. I may have to head up and check out the ones in Dallas. I could grab some In 'n' Out while I'm there too.

I'm not terribly familiar with Texas breweries, but I did enjoy the Deep Ellum IPAs I had down there.

From what I've been told in conversations with the Spec's guy and Gingerman (which is a chain that started in Houston), the priority for selection is Houston, Austin, and then DFW.

If you don't see them, then ask them. The limited release ones will sell out so it may be a timing issue. Generally they show up at Spec's anywhere from 3-6 weeks after they are released in KC.

Thanks. I'm headed to Houston next week. I'm gonna do some investigating then.

Deep Ellum IPA is good (it's a twisted thistle clone IMO).

The breweries here don't make bad beer, but they're not very original or don't tend to push the envelope.

Rahr, which is here in Fort Worth, tends to water styles down to make them more palatable to more people. Jesterking, out of Austin, is pretty good but they have a limited range (mostly Saisons/farmhouse ales with one imperial stout for what I've seen). Real Ale is similar to Rahr but has some better individual offerings than Rahr. St. Arnold's is the same as Rahr and Real Ale. Deep Ellum seems to just make copies of other breweries' beers (plus they've been slightly inconsistent due to turnover). Peticolas is really good but he is an attorney and brews as a hobby so he doesn't bottle his beer due to Texas laws. Community is pretty good and they just started bottling (I know the head brewer there. He's a ****ing douche but he makes good beer).

LIVE OAK HEFEWEIZEN

I changed my mind about the chocolate. Just drank my first bottle this year and had to finish the wife's glass. We won't buy it again. Lots of other great beers for the money out there.

You change my username?

I know you did. ****er.

You begged us to change it.