The beer and BBQ tour continues. Since Friday we've eaten at multiple BBQ joints and drank even more multiple beers. So far the Memphis and Little Rock barbecue has not lived up to the brisket, ribs and sausage we had before leaving Texas. The beers, however, have showed very well.
The ribs in Memphis were extraordinary - tender and juicy. As is the custom in Memphis you must order the ribs either wet or dry. The dry rubbed ribs can be good - fairly tender, though no so juicy - and they are not overpowered by the sauce. The sauces were good, but as we say in Texas, "If it needs sauce the meat is NOT as good as it should be." Our best ribs were from Bobby, the kitchen manager at Rendezvous. We had the opportunity to chat with Bobby while we tried the restaurant's offerings. Bobby had worked at Rendezvous for 42 years - and he was only 54 years old. He'd held every position they had. Before we left he was kind enough to grab some country-style ribs he'd cooked for his own dinner and let us try them. Best of the trip so far. Thanks so much, Bobby!
Now for the beer. Since we left Kerrville last Wednesday I've tried more than 30 different beers. I know because I made a list today while drinking a Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout at McCardle's Irish Pub in Hot Springs, AK. I won't bother to list them all but I would like to mention the best of the bunch. If you are ever in the state of Arkansas you must try the Diamond Bear beers. We stopped by the brewery Sunday afternoon and had a late tour of the facilities - with large fermenters named Laverne and Shirley, Nicole and Paris, and Ginger and Mary Ann you gotta love these guys. And the beers, all seven, were outstanding. The favorites were the Pale Ale (a 3X gold medal winner), the Presidential IPA and the Irish Red. I left there with a case of mixed beers, a growler of the IPA and a t-shirt. These were beers I would love to have in Texas. Maybe some day. Hopefully sooner than later.
Other favorites along the way that are not available in Texas include Yuengling Lager (Pennsylvania), Yazoo Pale Ale and Dos Perros (Nashville), and Lazy Magnolia Pecan (Mississippi). If you travel and see these beers, please take my advice and give them a try. I purchased some of each to bring home.
Well, all for today. We return to Kerrville tomorrow and me back to work on Thursday. Lots of work left to be done to get the beer list ready for the new Grape Juice in downtown Kerrville. Only a little more than two months away.
Cheers and Hullabaloo!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Adventures in Beer and BBQ
Every adventure should begin with a motive, an intent. What exactly is that we hope to learn, find, or do on this excursion? Well, I'll tell you. We wanted to explore some of the best barbecue from here to Memphis and everywhere in between. Oh, and probably drink a few beers along the way.
Day 1 began with barbecue from four of the best in Texas - City Market in Luling and Black's, Kreuz, and Smitty's in Lockhart. Let's say to begin that Memphis will have its work cut out for it to top the tender pork ribs, smoky brisket and spicy sausage that crossed our lips on Day 1. If you have not tried these BBQ joints you must. Run, don't walk, to the nearest and don't stop until you've tried them all.
Steve, the RV owner and fellow homebrewer and beer lover, and I tasted several of our homebrews. Two of these we'd brewed specifically for the adventure - his Smilin' Bob's Beats His Wheat and my Downtown Brown. Yes, he names his beers much more cleverly than I. Both were drinking extraordinarily well having been in the bottle now about six weeks.
OK...now is confession time. As a self-professed beer lover I must admit that once we arrived at the Horseshoe Casino in Bossier City I was well into the Jack Daniels. It helps me focus (ahem) at the craps table. And, all that was available in beer was the Big Three - Bud Light, Miller Lite, Coors Light. No, thanks.
Day 2 find us on the road again in hopes to be in Memphis in time for dinner. I don't believe we've decided which of their famous BBQ joints to hit first. Maybe we'll save that for breakfast Day 3 and just hit Beale Street for some great blues. Oh, yeah, I forgot to list that as a motive - great blues music. Can't get enough.
Enough ramblings for now. I'll hopefully have more beer stories for you tomorrow. Thanks for listening and Cheers!,
Hullabaloo
Day 1 began with barbecue from four of the best in Texas - City Market in Luling and Black's, Kreuz, and Smitty's in Lockhart. Let's say to begin that Memphis will have its work cut out for it to top the tender pork ribs, smoky brisket and spicy sausage that crossed our lips on Day 1. If you have not tried these BBQ joints you must. Run, don't walk, to the nearest and don't stop until you've tried them all.
Steve, the RV owner and fellow homebrewer and beer lover, and I tasted several of our homebrews. Two of these we'd brewed specifically for the adventure - his Smilin' Bob's Beats His Wheat and my Downtown Brown. Yes, he names his beers much more cleverly than I. Both were drinking extraordinarily well having been in the bottle now about six weeks.
OK...now is confession time. As a self-professed beer lover I must admit that once we arrived at the Horseshoe Casino in Bossier City I was well into the Jack Daniels. It helps me focus (ahem) at the craps table. And, all that was available in beer was the Big Three - Bud Light, Miller Lite, Coors Light. No, thanks.
Day 2 find us on the road again in hopes to be in Memphis in time for dinner. I don't believe we've decided which of their famous BBQ joints to hit first. Maybe we'll save that for breakfast Day 3 and just hit Beale Street for some great blues. Oh, yeah, I forgot to list that as a motive - great blues music. Can't get enough.
Enough ramblings for now. I'll hopefully have more beer stories for you tomorrow. Thanks for listening and Cheers!,
Hullabaloo
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