Gulden Draak

Gulden Draak, from Van Steenberge, Ertvelde, East Flanders. Reddish brown with a slight bitter finish. Strong at 10.5. Described as being a good winter warmer with a long finish. My corked bottle seemed a little lacking on the bubbles but was still enjoyable.

Another beer from the same place is the golden, hoppier Piraat Ale, also available in a corked bottle. I didn't have the camera set up when I tasted this one.

Annual Fishing Trip

Every year my family has a father/son/uncle/cousin/any male in the family fishing trip. I leave today for that trip. We go to Seadrift, Tx and stay at my Uncle Tony's Bayhouse. It's like a mini family reunion, we fish, or catch depending on who you talk too, drink, play dominoes, drink and generally have a good time. This is one of my favorite photos and I always think of it, when my family gets together, below are the details provided by my cousin Frank.

An interesting thing he pointed out about the cans in the photo, in 1958, they did not have pull tabs on cans but were opened with can openers, that is why some can are upside down. A dance flier for the Vesely Playboys at Frydek hangs on the wall amidst some beer advertising.

From left to right: Otto Matus, Sr. (friend of family, Ganado), Rudolph E. Dybala (great grandfather), Edmund A. Dybala (grandfather), Frank Jendry (friend of family, Ganado), Emil Trojcak (friend of family, Ganado), Albert "Sleepy" Zouzalik (Frank Brauner's uncle, San Antonio), John Vincent Oehl (Sophie Oehl Dybala's brother, Houston), August "Gus" Oehl (Sophie Oehl Dybala's brother, Ganado), Grandpa Dybala's brother Arnold Dybala is in the shadow of the post in the picture, Victor Korczynski (husband of Elsie Novosad Korczynski who is Edmund Dybala's first cousin, and also from Ganado), and Louis A. Oehl (Sophie Oehl Dybala's brother, San Antonio).

This picture was taken June 23, 1958 in the K. J. T. Hall barroom in Ganado, Texas, at the wedding reception of Frank Brauner and Barbara Dybala who were married at 8:30 a.m. in Assumption Catholic Church in Ganado, Texas by Rev. Anthony Matula.

Duchesse de Bourgogne

This beer is named after the Duke of Burgundy's daughter, Mary born in Bruges back in 1457.

Belgian Red Ale, dark reddish color, apple or fruit cider nose, slight pucker, sour tartness to it. 6.2% ABV Brewed by the Verhaege family with a brewing history dating back to the 1500's.

Black Star Beer Co-op Pub Brewery

Chantal and I just joined up as investor members, I remember looking into them back in 2005 but was to busy with my store to join at the time. I am hoping to become more involved with them in the future.

Black Star CO-OP Mission

To apply the models of co-operative ownership and worker self-management to create the best venue in Austin for the production and enjoyment of high quality beer.

Website

It's the first concept of it's kind and the plans are to open a pub with a brewery as well. There is a beer social once a month where you can meet other members, drink beer and listen to music.

Austin Homebrew 17 year Anniversary

This Weekend, big sale on everything, live music, probably some beer. I am going to pick up a bunch of supplies I need, including a Wort Chiller.

Go check it out.

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/

Bottled Pinot Grigio and started a Cabernet

The Pinot has cleared up very nice over the past weeks, it has developed a fruity, crisp taste that should develop nicely over the next few months. It should be at it's prime during the wedding. 23 bottles total, half is for the wedding.

The final few inches of the Pinot carboy was remixed for the final time with the Fig wine and should be ready to bottle in a few weeks.

In addition Chantal and I have started a fresh batch of Cabernet Savignon.

Shiner: Spezial Leicht

At the local HEB and saw a few new Shiner labels, one of a re-do of the Heffeweizen with a bold new orange label, plus the new Light, or Leicht or whatever. To tell you the truth, I buy Shiner to drink a local beer with flavor, this tasted just like your regular light beer). It would probably be cheaper to go with any light beer out there. Not a fan.