Turbodog, Abita Brewing Company, Abita Springs, LA

The Abita Brewing Company's Turbodog is a decent Brown Ale, even though I'm not a huge fan of that type.  It has a molasses sweetness and pours out dark brown.  I drank it at a hotel bar somewhere on Bourbon St.

I'll recommend it, but to be honest I did a lot of smoking before this beer so my taste buds had been maltreated.  It was two days before Mardi Gras in New Orleans, so there was a lot of everything for us...but it was still important to try stuff made there or nearby.

Mission accomplished, B.

Bourbon Barrel Stout, Bluegrass Brewing Company, Louisville, KY

I had this great Bourbon Barrel Stout, from the Bluegrass Brewing Company at Eat Bar in Arlington, VA.  The food was very fancy and very fried, so ultimately nothing special when compared to the price.  You can see the menu and beer selection here.

I thought it was great, a smooth vanilla and chocolatey taste, with a sweet aftertaste as a plus.  You can also taste the whiskey.  Complex and flavorful, very great...A+.

Funniest thing was that the same night I (the Mexican) was drinking this beer and loving it.  But, unbeknownst to either of us the Indian was also drinking it and loving it (at a beer fest in a different city).  The next day we texted about it and we found out we had the same beer and felt the same way!

Obsidian Stout, Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR

This beer from the Deschutes Brewery was my first drink at the Anvil Pub yesterday.  It was a great introduction to the place.

Its bitter, especially in the aftertaste.  But combined with the overall flavor it added a richer, wonderful mouthful.  The stout was delicious with a burnt, coffee taste... very bitter in a great way and thick going down.  We'll give it an A.

Iron Thistle Scotch Ale, Rahr & Sons Brewing Company, Fort Worth, TX

I tried this local Fort Worth beer at the Anvil Pub in the Deep Ellum neighborhood in Dallas...yesterday!  I always try and order a local beer because its nice to be able to try things when traveling that you would probably never be able to try otherwise.  But I remember hearing recently that beer is essentially bread and bread goes bad relatively quickly, so:

distance = time

bread + time = bad bread

beer = bread

beer + time = bad beer

I know that it really is simple to understand, but for those of us that like beer it is a good fact to keep in mind! Order local because it is fresher!

The Anvil was a pretty typical bar, but had a really good selection of great beers.  The Deep Ellum neighborhood is kind of a hipster area, if you need to categorize it.  But I found almost everything to be closed and not many businesses to begin with.  Basically it is a gentrified former industrial area (sandwiched between streets named after Cesar Chavez and Malcom X...which brings to mind a certain Chris Rock joke).

The Iron Thistle Scotch Ale was great and I ordered it based on the recommendation of the great, very informed and very helpful bartender...he even gave me some samples.  I unhesitatingly give this an A!

It was sweet and caramely and not what I expected, not knowing much about this type of beer.  It reminds me almost of Fat Tire in its sweetness, which hangs out on the front of the tongue.

This is a seasonal beer, so make sure to order it now if you can!