More Adventures in Beer and BBQ

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!