On tap at Biggie’s, lush yellow grapefruit tang embittered above malted wheat sugaring. Floral citrus-spiced sweetness and candied orange-tangerine-pineapple conflux sour lemon-lime licks for tropical medium-bodied wheat ale. As crisply refreshing as its label.
THE BRASS TAP CRAFT BEER BAR
ALLEN, TEXAS
One of the finest craft beer haunts in the Dallas area, THE BRASS TAP resides at the northern end of the interurban city of Allen. A freestanding red brick edifice with wide open interior space, The Brass Tap set up shop, August 2015.
A well-rounded selection of 100-plus draught beers fill the stainless-steeled taps at the 20-seat left side bar. The maroon-walled backdrop and studio lighting heighten the caliginous black ceiling.
Along the back wall, there are several black-boarded beer drinkin’ categories defined as Repeat Offender, Guru, Snob, Aficionado and Rookie. The high-ceilinged open space includes pristine wood tables and chairs. Drink and food specials are listed below the TV’s at the bar.
On my initial April 2018 journey with wife and youngest son, quaffed several fine Texas brews such as Rahr & Sons Paleta de Mango, Buffalo Bayou Sam’s Wake and Bake Blonde Ale, Great Raft Old Mad Joy Baltic Porter, Lone Pint Knecht Ruprecht II Porter, No Coast Agricultured Rye Porter, Blue Owl Admiral Garvitas Sour Imperial Stout, Lakewood The Temptress Imperial Milk Stout and Braindead Party Pooper Strong Ale (all fully reviewed in Beer Index).
www.brasstapbeerbar.com/allen
FLYING SAUCER DRAUGHT EMPORIUM
GARLAND, TEXAS
Proud beer-centric restaurant chain, FLYING SAUCER DRAUGHT EMPORIUM, opened its waterfront operation in Garland, Texas, during 2007. Over a decade hence, this Lake Ray Hubbard-bound establishment continues to thrive.
Inside an expansive freestanding red brick building next to Hooters and Primo’s, Flying Saucer’s busy interior is filled with plastic UFO-like saucers, brewery insignias, elegant china and glazed wood furnishings. An outside deck and windowed pale green-shingled porch (with block wood antique tables and red slate floor) sit alongside the waterside.
Visited April 2018 on a windy Saturday afternoon, its impressive 80-plus draughts don a penny-backed wall unit. A stainless-steeled kitchen alongside the curly 30-seat bar serves anything from pork bellies to goat cheese salad. A large bottled-canned beer selection fills a fridge. There’s a definite sportsbar atmosphere.
During my hour-long stay, quaffed previously untried Texas brews St. Arnold’s 5 O’Clock Pils, Martin House Friday IPA and Wild Acre Billy Jenkins Dunkelbock as well as Utah’s Epic Son Of A Baptist Stout (all fully reviewed in Beer Index).
www.beerknurd.com
EQUILIBRIUM GENERAL RELATIVITY STOUT
On tap at Ambulance, milky chocolate syruping and coffee-sugared moderation pick up nutty hop-charred bittering over serene oats malting. Mild molasses-smoked cocoa smidge and tardy burgundy, brandy, blackberry, black cherry and anise illusions play possum.
STONE TOTALITARIAN IMPERIAL RUSSIAN STOUT
Invigorating jet black full body veers from molasses-licked brown chocolate roast to bitter oak-charred hop sear. Syrupy chocolate caked midst picks up ancillary cocoa nibs, vanilla, coffee, black licorice and cinnamon bun illusions. Boldly righteous.
TWO ROADS IGOR’S DREAM RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT – 2018
On tap at Growler & Gill, serene oak-aged whiskey tone guides treacly rye adjunct and rich dark chocolate malting above mild soy-sauced earthen peat scorch. Sweet vanilla, toffee, caramel, cocoa, coconut and black cherry illusions saddle cookie-like chocolate rye finish.
PIPEWORKS / INTERBORO TONIGHT AT NOON RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
On tap at Ambulance, robust (10% ABV) Chicago-Brooklyn collaboration loads peppery mocha richness atop treacly caramel nuttiness. Dark chocolate creaminess gains mild coffee roast and nascent cola, burgundy and bourbon illusions.
URBAN FAMILY TWILIGHT STONE FRUITED PORTER WITH PLUMS
Noirish English-styled porter fuses dried plum essence onto ashen charcoal-like hops and musty mocha malts. Musky cellar earthiness crowds tart plum frontage as molded fig, bittersweet prune, dry burgundy, oaken cherry and sour grape illusions relegate Baker’s chocolate, Blackstrap molasses, cocoa powder and day-old coffee spunk.
DARK CITY URBAN DECAY IMPERIAL STOUT
On tap at Mohawk House, sweet-spiced brown chocolate roast gains sweet toffee, vanilla and pecan illusions for bold brown body (with creamy tan-headed froth). Piquant chocolate truffle resilience works in brown-sugared cumin, cinnamon and nutmeg smidge to contrast lightly lingered Chinook hop astringency. (This version was not Cabernet barreled as label below shows).
INNIS & GUNN KINDRED SPIRITS IRISH STOUT
On tap at Growler & Gill, soothing, yet pronounced, Tullamore Irish Whiskey influence gains coffee-stained black chocolate roast and oaken vanilla leathering. Mild wood char seeps into whiskeyed mocha charm. In deep recess, black grape musk and sooty peat add musty wisps.
GREEN FLASH CACOW
On tap at Mohawk House, soft-tongued draught-only milk stout may lack body, but its sweet chocolate roast stays resilient. Lactic cocoa-beaned vanilla latte, coffee and cola tones fortify silken mocha fortress as resinous earthen hops mildly caress easygoing dessert fodder.
BLUE POINT ARMCHAIR NITRO STOUT
On tap at Growler & Gill, soft-tongued nitro stout leads with its smooth ground coffee roast coercing ancillary dark chocolate, espresso, cocoa and walnut illusions above light hop char. Mild java bitterness tranquilizes delicate mineral-watered finish.
