Great Raft Brewing is invading East Texas!!!

Come check out these great launch week events in Tyler, Longview and Marshall and enjoy some beer from Great Raft Brewing!

See you there!!!

Brew of The Week! Giant Slayer by True Vine Brewing Company

Brewery | True Vine Brewing Company

Name | Giant Slayer

Style | Russian Imperial Stout

ABV | 8.5%

IBU | 55

Giant slayer is a winter seasonal that was first introduced by True Vine in Tyler last year just in time for a early Christmas present.  I was able to sit down at Rotolo's in Longview and try out this years batch.  

"Chocolate, dark cherry and roasted malt flavors from this smooth stout make it perfect for slaying giants and staying warm in the longest winter months." 

True Vines 4th beer to be canned and will be made in limited batches.  For this reason there will be a few kegs floating around (at the brewery) while most of the batch will be canned and shipped in 200 cases that you can purchase at your local grocery/beer store and craft beer restaurants in East Texas.   

The Imperial Stout was created in the 1800's by brewers that where trying to win over the Russian Czar.  The king of stouts, the Imperial style is known for its high alcohol by volumes (ABV) and plenty of malt character. Low to moderate levels of carbonation with huge roasted, chocolate and burnt malt flavors.

A stout should be enjoyed anywhere from 45-50 degrees and I recommend giving it time to let the ice melt off the can before popping the tab to allow the roasted flavors to be enjoyed more.

First smell is roasty and chocolatey with a hint of 
smokiness.  The body is full and has a appearance of a thick molasses like motor oil.  The flavor is surprisingly smooth for a Imperial Stout without the overally booziness notes of a typical Imperial.  I enjoyed the Giant Slayer and I highly recommend finding one to enjoy for yourself!

The Happy Chappy (Jeff)

From Cliffs To Craft beers: My Unbelievable Story

Monarch Pass, Colorado 2011

It was a cold brisk Friday evening in Colorado the night my life flashed before my eyes. I was on a frozen tundra two-lane road in the mountains headed back to Texas after a work assignment. Little did I know this near death experience of mine would form a inseparable bond with craft beer and the thrill of adventure.

It was March 4th, 2011 I was in a hurry to drive back to East Texas to attend my dad’s wedding that weekend and pack up my belongings to move to Colorado. The route from Grand Junction, CO to Longview, TX is 1,300 miles. Approximately 400 or so miles can be dangerous and shouldn't be taken lightly. I've been this way twice before so I knew what to expect. Many locals have warned me about the driving conditions even to the point of recommending that I take off my seat belt when going down a treacherous mountain pass. I've heard all the stories and shrugged it off as just an old folk tale.

Monarch pass is a popular spot for avid skiers in the area, not for rookie snow drivers like myself. Many people choose not to go this route because of the conditions of the road. It could be 40 degrees on the bottom and -10 degrees on top. I thought off all the warnings and decided to proceed anyways. After all, I had been this way already. This time was different. It was around 5:30 a.m. when I approached the summit of Monarch. The road gradually turned from a dry road to snowy and icy conditions. I assumed I was okay since I was following traffic in front of me. Usually it's wise to drive slower than the posted speed limit. I don't remember how fast or slow I was going, but obviously since I lost control, it was too fast. I was only a quarter of a mile from the top of the summit (11,120 ft) when out of nowhere... it happened.

I started to slide to the right, I panicked and made the horrible mistake of slamming on the breaks, the one thing that you never want to do on a mountain pass. As I started to turn even more, I realized that there weren't any guard rails, snow banks, or even any trees to slow me down. It was "straight off the edge". I clearly remember my white knuckle grip on the steering wheel and trying turn the vehicle the best that I could. I knew that if I went over sideways, it would cause the truck to flip and roll several times. Like something I've seen out of the movies, I went air borne over the edge only to be welcomed by a "runway" of snow. The truck dug in the snow and drifted for about 200 ft before coming to a stop.

I typically like being comfortable when driving long distances. Certainly a t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops is comfortable, but not so much for this experience. I reached over the seat to find socks, waterproof work boots, and my insulated coveralls. I couldn't open the door because the snow was so deep that it was up to my windows. I rolled the window down to escape the disabled truck and climb back into the truck bed to put on my clothing. I grabbed my wallet, proof of insurance, and cell phone and headed out of the window to start my self-rescue.

The truck couldn't be seen from the road, local’s going home from skiing that day wouldn't be able to see me. This was a big problem since it was nearing night fall. Somehow I had to be a man and get to the top. I knew I couldn't get to the top without sliding and creating an avalanche on top of my truck. My hands were already numb and bleeding from clawing in the snow to get a grip. After several minutes of attempting to reach my highest point I did what is foreign to me, I gave up. My hands where on fire and felt like a frozen fish. Not nearly defeated yet, I was at least high enough to wave at cars going by.

After a few minutes I heard breaks squeal to a stop. A vehicle had seen me waving and stopped 50 feet above me. A skinny hiking looking guy approached and asked if everyone was okay. I said "Yes, I'm the only one, do you have a rope? I can't get up." He returned a few moments later with a 10 foot rope and tossed it down to me. He crawled down as far as he could go, held onto the end of the rope and stretched his arm out for me climb up his body as if it was a rock wall. Although, I still was about 10 ft from him. I dug into the snow, found some rocks sticking out, and prayed that my dead fingers could grip enough for me to make my way up the vertical incline. Finally I was making progress and he reached his hand out and I maneuvered around him to the rope and climbed my way to the top. It was such a relief to be out of the misery that I was in.

Salida, CO

I met Scott officially when I was warming up in his vehicle. Scott was traveling with his wife and two friends. They lived just over the pass in Salida, CO where they both where part owners in a local pizza place and brewery called "Moonlight Pizza and Brewpub". I was so relieved to be alive I was indebted to them. I wasn't into craft beer at the time, but I made a vow that I would always stop by Salida and pay my respects, eat some pizza, chat with Scott and drink some craft beer.

Many times, I have stopped by over the years and each time Scott has remembered me and that fate of a night that merged our lives together. Our stories have changed some since that night and I started a new life in Colorado surrounded by some of the best craft beer in the entire world. Moonlight Pizza expanded into a brewpub and has become one of the must see restaurants spots in the Colorado high country. 

                                                         

Scott and his wife are on the right

Looking back at my time in Colorado, much of my crazy adventures can be attributed to knowing that I truly have lived life to the fullest and have never settled for the mundane life. I attribute that to my pursuit of craft beer and the never ending journey of discovering the next hand made craft beer from local people just like Scott.

 Putting a face with a beer not only what makes it personal, but it also allows you to see the other stories behind the pint. I'm thankful for Scott and his friends coming back from Vegas that night, if it wasn't for their generosity I don't know if id be around to discover the art of craft beer. So next time you are in Salida, stop in and say hello to my friends and get one of my favorite beers there- the Moonlite Cream Ale!

The Happy Chappy (Jeff)  
















"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing"

15 Restaurants for Craft Beer in East Texas

Craft beer from a local restaurant is a joy that can be experienced by all! If you don’t know which restaurants to go to, we got you covered fam. 

But all restaurants have craft beer right? Wrong! There are restaurants in East Texas that are happy to serve the average beers that are often preferred by the distributors.  

Okay, so what constitutes as a craft beer restaurant?  It is a restaurant that is owned by people that care about both supporting smaller breweries and rewarding loyal customers with fresh rotating craft beer!

Try a craft beer at one of these area restaurants and enjoy a great meal to! (in no particular order)

1. Rotolo's | Longview and Tyler

With two different locations in East Texas, Rotolo's has committed to bringing the freshest craft beer by focusing on local breweries and the taps are constantly changing. The newest store in Longview has a rewards loyalty program known as "Brew Crewe".  You can go to Longviews Untapped page for an updated list of their beers.  Rotolo's in Tyler has Trivia night on Wed, and will often host events supporting local breweries.

2. BJ's Restaurants | Longview and Tyler



BJ's is a corporate restaurant that does several things very well.  Bringing craft beer to the masses!  Each state has its own brewery that produces the brews for their restaurants across the state.  BJ's hosts several beer pairing dinners through the year that we highly recommend going to.  They also recently won 2 awards at the Great American Brew Fest in Denver for their quality beers.  Oh and did we mention the delcious pizza? 

3. Rose City Draft House | Tyler 


 
Cleverly named, Rose City Draft House was a breath of fresh air when it came upon the Craft beer scene a few years ago.  With 57 craft beers on tap, this draft house is the craft beer oasis in the area.  From Trivia nights, pint nights, brewery nights, and BYOP (pizzas) nights, Rose City has set a golden standard for a place of community and fellowship among a pint of beer.  Cheers!

5. Fosters Place | Pickton



Fosters Place is a hidden gem that is truly worth seeing.  It is known for the BEST craft beer selection in the entire area!  Art Foster is able to get many beers that the East Texas markets cannot get by personally driving to Dallas himself and bringing back hard to find brews.  Fosters is also open on Sundays for those traveling back from DFW to East Texas.   It is well worth the detour if you don't mind seeing the country side!  You will rewarded with the best beer around and excellent pub style food.

6. Pint and Barrel Draft House | Palestine 






Located in the Old Palestine area, Pint and Barrel is a family run restaurant that was opened by an employee of Saint Arnold Brewing Co. The Pub has a great selection of craft beer to choose from and the food selection is priced just right.  When passing by Palestine, stop in for a pint and enjoy the friendly atmosphere!

7. Charlies Backyard Bar and Grill | Marshall


 




 Located in a historic 1850's New Orleans Style Plantation home, Charlie's is the pride of Marshall.  Known primarily as an outside concert venue, Charlie's is also known for their craft beer selection on tap.  All 10 taps are craft beer, with 8 being from Texas!  We are excited to celebrate with them in welcoming Great Raft Brewing into East Texas markets! Charlie's will be one of the first places to get the Shreveport brewery.

8. Juls | Tyler

The "Pride of Tyler" is commonly referred to as the place for "anyone at anytime".  Jul's opened in 2014 with the vision of a "multi dimensional" restaurant with fine and casual dining while providing an "Austin influenced" atmosphere for their customers.  It is the only restaurant that boasts only Texas craft breweries on tap (20).  They were the first restaurant to get True Vine on tap, and are often the first ones to get rare rotating beers.  Stop in and enjoy fine food, fresh beer and good folks!

9. Auntie Skinner's  | Jefferson



Along the banks of the Caddo Lake you can find the old port town of Jefferson which is home to some of the most historical buildings in Texas.  Auntie Skinner's was opened in 1983 in the old international building that was built in 1866.  The owners have kept the building true to it's character and  carry some of the better craft beers in the area long before it was trendy to do so.  Auntie Skinners is a staple in East Texas, and if you haven't been before you may want to visit Jefferson during Mardi Gras. As the cajuns say, "LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS ROULER!" 

10. Maklemores Ale House | Nacogdoches 







Located deep in the heart of the "Piney Woods", Maklemore's was opened in 2014 to offer a relaxing hangout spot for patrons of all ages seeking the newest artisan craft ale.  The extensive craft beer selection and bottle cooler is enough to make any grown man weep.  You can find the list of the regular bottles on their Beer Menu List.  Stop by on Thur. or Sun for Pint night or even catch a few college kids playing guitar.  All around, Maklemore's is the place to go!

11. Stanleys BBQ | Tyler



Do you enjoy the smells of BBQ wafting through the air?  What about enjoying a Texas craft beer while watching a band play on a patio in the summer night?  Good beer and even better BBQ, Stanley's has been in East Texas staple since 1960 and has been serving up delicious pork and ribs. The owners have recently added a full stock bar with a wide variety of craft beers to go along with 70 different whiskeys to warm you up in the winter months.  Come out to Stanley's, order the famous "Mother Clucker" and wash it down with a good 'ol fashioned Texas Craft Beer!

12. Duke's Burgers & Sports Co. | Canton






Van Zandt County might be considered the edge of the East Texas Pine Curtain, but it's also the crossroads for good burgers and craft beer.  Duke's is one of the last places to stop on I-20 before you drive into DFW and they certainly get our attention with their fantastic craft beer selection!  Dukes focuses on making burgers with fresh meat from local farmers and getting the latest craft brews.  This is the closest you can get to getting some of the harder to get craft beers without having to drive into DFW.  Stop by next time you need a pit stop and enjoy your fav. sporting event while drinking some craft!

13. Pecan Point Brewing  | Texarkana 






Pecan Point Gastropub & Brewery is the best of two worlds.  You can go in for a in-house made craft beer and also gaze at their menu of guest beers on tap as well.  From the house made infused spirits to the gastropub style food, this place certainly does mean it when they say, "Eat Local, Drink Local".  Stop by the next time your passing through Texarkana to view the beautiful historical building downtown and grab a Peachweizen brew to enjoy!

14. Lone Star Ice House | Longview







This honky tonk sports bar is connected to the Electric Cowboy dance hall, where you can catch a show or two of some authentic Texas Red Dirt music while enjoying a Texas craft beer.  There are 24 beers taps as well as several other craft beers in bottles. The next night out on the town, grab your cowboy hat and boots and stop in for a cold one! (ps: Frosted mugs are for light beer drinkers!)

15. Roast Social Kitchen | Tyler





After a successful venture with Stanley's BBQ, the owners wanted to open a "farm to table" restaurant that focuses on fresh local food, house made infused spirits (barrel aged), fine wines (on tap... a first in East Texas!), and of course, craft beer! From the fresh pizza to the good folks behind the counter, you don't want miss out on this experience. It truly is a "social kitchen" with delectable pizza and even better beer!

 -The Honorable Mentions- 
Longview |  Bootlegger Grill, Lil Thai House, Fuzzy's Taco
Tyler | Old Chicago's, Torchy's, Twisted Root, Republic Icehouse
Nacogdoches | The Liberty Bell  Greenville | Ashen Rose
Marshall | OS2, Pazzeria  Jefferson | McGarity's Saloon





The Happy Chappy (Jeff)

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing"

Pride and Prejudice and Beer

  

 The craft beer “boom” we are experiencing is wonderful for beer lovers everywhere providing greater variety of and easier access to craft beer. With this variety comes the struggle of choosing what to drink for both craft beer “connoisseurs” and those new to craft beer alike. Having access to a large variety of beer is a double edged sword. On one side you have a great selection for avid craft beer drinkers, and on the other an intimidating and often confusing array of beers to someone who is thinking about trying craft beer.

     As a craft beer lover who has been at it a while, I have tried a wide spectrum of beers and relish the chance to try something new any chance I get. This was not always the case however. When I first started to drink craft beer I only enjoyed beer that was similar to the rich savory foods and other drinks I enjoy such as black coffee. I drank only stouts, porters, and darker lagers and ales. I believe it is only natural for people to stick to something familiar while trying something new. The problem this can cause, just like it did for me, is once you have favorite types of craft beer you stop branching out. It is very important to know what your favorite types of beer are so that you can find and enjoy those kinds beers. However, it is equally important to constantly try new beers from different breweries for the sake of expanding what we know of beer and, as I have personally experienced, find a new beer that becomes a favorite from a style of beer you never even knew existed.

     One of my favorite parts of craft beer culture is sitting down at a bar or in a tap room and striking up a conversation with a stranger about beer. Just last week I spent several hours relaxing at Rotolos Pizzeria in Longview, Texas. The owner and bartender happen to both be fellow craft beer lovers and have the best selection in town of craft beer on tap. If a keg is getting low and they have a new craft beer they want to put on tap they will let me know so me and my friends and try to “pop” the keg that is low and get the new one tapped. I ordered a couple pints of the beer that was almost out in hopes of getting the next beer on so I could try it. We always get excited to try something new and when the keg “popped” we got excited and they went back to switch it out. A gentleman who was sitting next to me at the bar after seeing our excitement turned to me and said, “I know this is probably a stupid question, but what does it mean when you pop a keg?” I was quick to tell him it wasn't a stupid thing to ask at all, and explained what it meant and why we were excited. We talked for a while after that about beer and where we were from and what we liked. Before long people around us overheard and joined in. I know a good amount about craft beer, but still have a million things to learn about beer. My favorite place to learn more is through conversations with brewers, owners, and patrons alike. Craft beer culture is a living breathing thing made up of the people who love it. As you try new beers from new places you will not only find yourself asking more questions from the likeminded people around you , but you will find yourself answering questions and education people who want to know more about the beers they drink or would like to try. The next time you're out enjoying a good beer on tap try to start a conversation with the person drinking next to you. Never talk down to someone who may not know a beer term or who has never tried a certain beer that is very common. Try to connect to the people around you and you may be the one who helps someone try and enjoy craft beer for the first time in their life.

     I implore experienced craft beer drinkers, and those new to craft beer alike, to try every new beer you can get your hands on! While there is truth to the general tastes and bodies of the many styles of craft beer; they can also be wildly different. I've had lagers that tasted like stouts, and IPAs that tasted like porters, and so on. Craft beer is categorised for the way it is brewed but they can taste wildly different from any other beer in that same style. I spent too long not even trying most IPAs and sours because I didn't think I liked any of them based on the one or two I had before. We all have prejudices against different types of beers based on our own palates and favors we like, but don't judge all beers within any group, or even brewery, based on a few.The more beers you try the harder it is to keep track of which beers you have or haven't had as well as how much you enjoyed it. I personally use the app Untappd which is free to catalog my beers and rate them. It is a fantastic tool, and has enhanced my craft beer experience. Don’t let your pride get in the way of trying a new beer just because you think you may not like it. Just remember your favorite beer might be the next one you try.


-CHEERS!