Microbrew Roundup: 5 to Try on a Hot Summer Day

Homebrewing is the "new" hotness? I think homebrewing had its hay day in Austin back in the mid 90's, everyone was making beer and it was the new cool thing to do back then. I think the people doing it now are actually interested in possibly pursuing it seriously as opposed to then. Either way, homebrewing takes way too much time for me, I'll leave it to the guys and gals in Blanco to make the great beer.

The "new" hotness is home brewing. Austin has one of the best home brew supply stores in the state (in fact, they have a successful website).

In the shop they have a recipe book that essentially sells mimicked versions of real beers, including hef's, #4 and seasonal ales.

Lone Star is the best cheap beer--their return to the retro label helped their summer. Fireman's #4 is, as always, the best bet for a draft beer (yes, they sell it in bottles, but it's just not the same). The best beer in bottle, and if you're willing to splurge, St. Bernardus Abt 12.

I'm a fan of the Real Ale Lost Gold IPA which is available now (or at least it was) and they generally only make it in small batches. I had it at Uncle Billy's a couple of weeks ago.

Ya, I knew I might get some blowback on Northern Lights. Color me weird, but I just like light, crisp beers in August. I hear what you're saying, tho.

Fireman's 4 is indeed the best beer ever. The fact that it is named after the Fireman's bikes makes it even cooler.

With all the other beers at NXNW, why would anyone EVER choose Northern Lights??????

Fireman's 4 always reminds me of the late, lamented Jupiter Records in Hancock Center.

Anotehr fact is that I had my first Fireman's 4 at Room 710 - it was suggested when I was ordering a Rye - haven't drank the Rye since.

Room 710 is proud to say that we were the first bar in town to carry Real Ale's Fireman's 4. We would also like to suggest the experience of drinking Fireman's 4 while watching Tia Carrera play a free, Friday happy hour.

Not so coincidentally, Tia Carrera will be playing a happy hour at Room 710 starting at 8pm tonight, and we've got an extra keg of 4 sitting in the beer closet.

These two factors have nothing to do with this article being posted on the Austinist today. They are just cold, hard facts.

Yep, you can find it in bottles lots of places now.

i hear fireman's 4 is available in bottles now.

any truth to this?

Delicious Hefeweizen. How I love you so, whether in an imprerial pint at Club DeVille, a plastic cup at Nasty's or sitting in a cold, black theater at the Alamo. And your high alcohol content makes me giggle, inside and out. Coo.

Session may not be the tastiest beer I have ever had, but you can get a 12 pack of those cute little bottles at the Pronto Mart on Duval/43rd for like 8 bucks, and the guy behind the counter always tells me that he has a thing for redheads, which makes the experience that much more enjoyable.

I'm sad and happy that people have finally discovered how good Fireman's 4 is. I remember when I couldn't find it in anymore than 2-3 places around town, now its everywhere; hoo-ray.

Session tastes like Budweiser

Fireman's 4. Imperial Pint. Deville.

It would be more interesting if it smelled like fruity chewing gum but tasted like shit.

Ahh, the subjective nature of tastebuds.

Firemans 4 is so great! One of the best local beers around!

Live Oak Hefe smells like shit and tastes like fruity chewing gum.

Ah, didn't make the connection - duh! With that said, Fireman's #4 is great, it's good to see that so many places have it around town. I especially like drawing pictures of Firemen when I order it at the Alamo.

That's Full Sail, ya? I was trying to focus on central Texas beers for this post, but I'll check that out. Thanks.

Session is also great on a hot day, it's my summer beer of choice, but I've never seen it on tap anywhere. Plus, the bottles are only 11oz so you can never have just one, or you'll be left dreaming of that last missing ounce...