Sherwood Forest Faire Adventure In Beer


Welcome to the companion page for your Sherwood Forest Faire Adventure In Beer, led by Master Ravencraft and Brother Daniel. This page will remind you of what you learned and help you find the beer that you enjoyed.

“The beer that is right is the beer that you like!” — Saul Ravencraft

Jump to beers for your date

Serving Beer

Remember that most beers are better enjoyed when they are not ice-cold. Try your favorites at 50-55º. Also, remember that beer is best enjoyed in a glass where you can see and smell it.

Four Esses

See – Look at the beer. Notice it’s color, the body or viscosity. Does it have a lot of foam (head)? Is it cloudy (turbid) or clear? Often, beers you like will have similarities in how they look, even if they are different styles.

Smell – Swish the beer in the glass to help release the aroma. What do you smell? What does the smell remind you of. Smell is a large part of our taste, so consciously smelling the beer will give you more flavor. Again, qualities that you enjoy about the smell will help you find beers that you enjoy across styles.

Sip – Take a little of the beer. Feel the sensations as it touches your tongue. Notice the flavors you taste as it moves along your tongue. We taste things differently on different parts of our tongue. The flavor will develop as it moves to the back of your mouth. How does the beer feel?

Swallow – Beer drinkers do not spit!  Experience the sensations and flavor of the beer as it fills your mouth. Note the final flavors you get as the beer hits the back of your tongue. Notice the finish, or aftertaste. Does it coat your mouth? Does it disappear quickly? If the beer is good when you drink it, you don’t like the way your mouth feels at the end, that may not be the right beer for you!

Beers by Date

Our beers changed throughout the weekend. Here is a listing of each beer you tried with a link to the brewer’s web site.

Opening weekend, March 4-5

Pilsner
Goose Island 4-star Pils, Goose Island Brewing Co, Chicago, IL. ABV: 5.1%
IBU: 44

Hefeweizen
Weisse Versa, Karbach Brewing, Houston, TX, ABV: 5.3%, IBU: 20

IPA
Elysian Space Dust, Elysian Brewing, Seattle, WA, ABV: 8.2%, IBU: 73

Other
Iron Thistle Scottish Ale, Rahr & Sons, Ft. Worth, TX, ABV: 7%, IBUS: 35

Stout
Convict Hill Oatmeal Stout, Independence Brewing Co., Austin, TX, ABV: 8%

March 11-12

Pilsner
Becks, Brauerei Beck & Co., Bremen, Germany, ABV: 5.00%

Hefeweizen
Shock Top Belgian White, Anheuser-Busch, ABV: 5.2%, IBU: 10
Lobo Hefe, Pedernales Brewing, Fredericksburg, TX, ABV: 5.5%

IPA
Goose IPA, Goose Island Brewing, Chicago, IL, ABV: 5.9%, IBU: 55

Stout
Lobo Midnight Porter, Pedernales Brewing, Fredericksburg, TX, ABV: 6%
Convict Hill Oatmeal Stout, Independence Brewing Co., Austin, TX, ABV: 8%

Spring Break, March 17-19

Pilsner
Robert Earl Keen, Honey Pils, Pedernales Brewing, Fredericksberg, TX, ABV: 5.00% IBUS: 17.00

White
Freetail Rye Wit, Freetail Brewing, San Antonio, TX ABV: 4.20% IBUS: 10.00

Pale Ale
Power and Light, Independence Brewing Co., Austin, TX, ABV:  5.5% IBU:  42

IPA
Stash IPA,  Independence Brewing Co., Austin, TX, ABV:  7.00% IBU:  100.00

Schwarzbier/Black Lager
Ugly Pug, Rahr & Sons Brewing Co., Fort Worth, TX, ABV: 5.0% IBU: 27

Stout
Hellfighter Imperial Porter, Karbach Brewing Co., Houston, TX, ABV: 9.8%, IBU: 85

Jousting Weekend, March 25-26

Pilsner
Pilsner Urquell, Pilsner Urquell, Plzen Czech Republic, ABV: 4.40% (This is the Pilsner, the original brewers who first created it.)

White/Wheat (comparison)
Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat Beer, Boulevard Brewing Co., ABV: 4.4%, IBU: 14
Blue Moon Belgian White, Coors Brewing, Golden, CO, ABV: 5.4%, IBU: 9

Pale Ale
Power and Light, Independence Brewing Co., Austin, TX, ABV:  5.5% IBU:  42

IPA (comparison)
Pale Mosaic, Hops & Grains Brewery, Austin, TX, ABV: 5.9%, IBU: 50
Wicked Ram IPA, Spoetzl Brewery / Shiner, ABV: 6.00%, IBU: 55

Schwarzbier/Black Lager
Ugly Pug, Rahr & Sons Brewing Co., Fort Worth, TX, ABV: 5.0% IBU: 27

Stout
Hellfighter Imperial Porter, Karbach Brewing Co., Houston, TX, ABV: 9.8%, IBU: 85

April 1-2

All beers this weekend are provided by the Pedernales Brewing Company in Fredericksburg, TX.

Pilsner
Lobo Lager, ABV: 5% IBUS: 22
Robert Earl Keen, Honey Pils, ABV: 5% IBUS: 17

Hefeweizen
Lobo Hefe, ABV: 5.5%

Amber Ale
Robert Earl Keen Front Porch Amber, ABV: 5% IBUS: 17

Stout
Lobo Midnight Porter,  ABV: 6%

April 8-9

Pilsner/Lager
Freetail Bat Outta Helles Bavarian Style Helles Lager, Freetail Brewing Company, San Antonio, TX, ABV: 4.80%, IBUS: 22.00

Belgian/White/Wheat
White Rabbit White Ale, Independence Brewing, Austin, TX, ABV: 5.90%

Pale Ale
Firestone DBA Double Barrel Ale, Firestone Walker, ABV: 5.5%, IBU: 30

IPA
Hopadillo, Karbach Brewing Co., Houston, TX, ABV: 6.6%, IBUS: 65

Brown Ale
Koko Brown, Kona Brewing, Kona, HI, ABV: 5.5%

Stout/Porter
Big Bend 22 Porter, Big Bend Brewing Co., Alpine, TX, ABV:  6.4% IBUS:  28.00

Easter Weekend, April 15-16

Pilsner
Robert Earl Keen, Honey Pils, Pedernales Brewing, Fredericksberg, TX, ABV: 5.00% IBU: 17.00

Hefeweizen
Lobo Hefe, Pedernales Brewing, Fredericksburg, TX, ABV: 5.5%

Red/Amber
Roundhead Red Irish Ale, Solid Rock Brewing, Spicewood, TX, ABV: 5.3% IBU:22
Twisted X Cow Creek Amber Lager, Twisted X Brewing, Dripping Springs, TX, ABV: 5.7%, IBU: 17

Porter
Big Bend 22 Porter, Big Bend Brewing Co., Alpine, TX, ABV: 6.4% IBU: 28.00
Lobo Midnight Porter, Pedernales Brewing, Fredericksburg, TX, ABV: 6%

Closing Weekend, April 22-23

Pilsner/Lager
Freetail Bat Outta Helles Bavarian Style Helles Lager, Freetail Brewing Company, San Antonio, TX, ABV: 4.80%, IBUS: 22.00

Belgian/White/Wheat
White Rabbit White Ale, Independence Brewing, Austin, TX, ABV: 5.90%

Pale Ale
Firestone DBA Double Barrel Ale, Firestone Walker, ABV: 5.5%, IBU: 30

IPA
Hopadillo, Karbach Brewing Co., Houston, TX, ABV: 6.6%, IBUS: 65

Amber Ale
Robert Earl Keen Front Porch Amber, ABV: 5% IBUS: 17

Porter
Lobo Midnight Porter, Pedernales Brewing, Fredericksburg, TX, ABV: 6%