It’s really fun to live in a city that feels familiar yet continually changes all the time. I’m discovering great restaurants, bars, and products all the time, while trying to keep up with all of the new ones that appear to pop up overnight. The one industry that seems to be changing faster than I can fathom is Texas craft beer. Every time I visit a local bar or supermarket, there are beers on the shelves from local and regional breweries that I don’t recognize, and most of them are made in my backyard.
Beverage is booming in Texas in a big way, and I couldn’t be happier about it. Experimentation is at an all-time high, and breweries around town are making some phenomenal beers. Now I never leave a store without the pre-requisite six-pack, but I also spring for limited-release large-format bottles for low-key dinners at home. One bottle I cracked open today that I adored was the recently released Lakewood Brewing’s Bokkenrijders Altbier. I’m pretty relieved I’m writing and not talking about it. It’s my new go-to beer with a name I can’t pronounce.
The Altbier is a copper colored ale that can trace its roots back to Germany, and I’m happy to see the style being made here in the states. This Doppelsticke Alt is a super-strong ale with an ABV registering at 8.5%. Once I poured it into a glass it burst with aromas I love: caramel, malt, and a touch of citrus from the hops. With an IBU count of 71, I expected this to register a bit more bitter on the palate than it did. The bitterness is nicely tempered by the light sweetness of the beer. I plan to stock more of it.
Lakewood Brewing Company is located in nearby Garland Texas, and you can visit their brewery for a tour every Saturdays from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. (972) 864-2337.
