Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Jalapeño Beer – A New Texas Favorite




Two of my favorite Texas experiences are local beer and tasty jalapenos! Luckily, I have found the perfect combination of these two, “Don Jalapeño Ale” by No Label Brewing Company of Katy, Texas. Who could resist this temptation? So, I bought a six-pack at our local World Market store and brought it home to chill. The next day, Suzanne fixed one of my favorite meals, fish tacos and beer. This time though, it was my much prized “Don Jalapeño Ale”. I took a big bite out of my fish taco and finished with a swift swig of beer. At first sip, it tasted much like any other beer, and then the jalapeno flavor kicked my taste buds to a new level, leaving the total food/drink experience oh so pleasurable.


No Label Brewing Company of Katy, Texas had caught my attention with this beer. I noticed on the six pack carton that they gave tours of the brewery on most Saturdays between 1pm and 3pm. Glancing through their website, we found out that this brewery tour was considered family and dog friendly, included several food trucks and a live band on site. Plus, they charged only $5 bucks to sample their numerous beers. This sounded like a fun date. So the next Saturday, we headed off to the town of Katy, a few miles west of Houston.


We left home a little early since they claimed that the parking areas filled up fast. When we got there, it was clear that arriving early was a good idea.  The parking lot was about ¾ full and a steady stream of people with folding chairs and accessories were heading into the complex. Apparently, this afternoon tasting party is a popular event in Katy!


Once inside the gate, we found out that for an additional $7 we could buy pint glasses to use for our four tastings. These glasses can be used again if you come back to another one of their tastings! Wandering through the old rice silos on the property, watching the crowds and listening to the music was a perfect way to work up a thirst. The beer lines inside the building moved fast and the No Label Brewing Company had a wide variety of beers to sample. Groups of friends carrying stacks of pizzas, families who brought their own food and balloons for a family party, and owners with their pets all added to the party-like atmosphere. I have been to many other beer tours and tastings, but this company has hit a home run in their marketing efforts with their festival style Saturday tasting excursions.


Our Saturday experience was fantastic! We had so much fun listening to the music and browsing around the facility that we forgot to take the tour of the brewery. Oh well, maybe next time. It’s a good excuse for going back. My advice would be to get there early, bring some folding chairs, many friends and maybe a large sombrero. Why the sombrero?  Not only will it protect you from the Texas heat but your friends can easily find you in the crowd as you taste Texas Thru My Back Door!

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