Trout at Cy Fair Wine Fair

Trout at Cy Fair Wine Fair

4.7.2014

Community service is an important aspect for any business that is locally focused, and I had a great time representing Trout at this year's Cy Fair Wine Fair, which benefits Reach Unlimited, an organization that manages group homes for adults with mental disabilities. The event was held last Saturday at Cypress Village over on 290 and Skinner. Along with other volunteers, I worked the beer garden, popping tops, pouring samples, and pitching Karbach, Rahr & Sons, and the new up and coming brewer Cycler's Brewing.

People were stacked 4-5 deep at our booth, as there were thousands of attendees at this year's event. My personal favorite out of the Rahr bunch was the Iron Thistle Scottish Ale. It was a creamy, coffee and chocolate tasting beer with about a 8.5% abv, and great flavor. It was a hit with the beer drinking ladies, one of whom said this beer would make a great dessert.

Karbach wisely choose not to sample the Rodeo Clown, but that did not stop people for asking for it, as it is a high abv beer that packs a punch even in small doses. As a substitute, Karbach drinkers mainly went for the Hopadillo IPA. I kept telling people that all of the beers were available at Kroger and HEB, and that sampling is about trying different flavors, but there were numerous guys that kept coming back for their favorite beer.

The real champ in my view was the up and coming Cyclers Brewing. This up and coming Montgomery County brewer is still not in store shelves but can be found on tap in fine establishments such as Lucky's Pub, Alamo Draft House, or Mellow Mushroom, which is where I had it the first time. Two of the reps were in our booth helping to serve beer and answer questions.

The 55-11 Imperial Red really stole the show in my view, and was a favorite among microbrew fans. One guy basically used his entire 12 punch drink card to exclusively sample this beer.

"Murky, malty, almost plum like color, with a tan head. Little hop bite, but balances well. Hits your mouth with a decadently sweet toffee and toasted nut flavor and then scours it away with citrus and pine hop spiciness. " -From Cyclersbrewing.com

Hopefully, next year Trout will be able to sponsor this event and put it's logo on the beer garden.