Sugar Land Flying Saucer Opens

SUGAR LAND - The newest location of the Texas-based Flying Saucer Draught Emporium has opened in Sugar Land, southwest of Houston.

This site becomes the fifteenth national location of the Flying Saucer chain, and the seventh overall to open in Texas.

Jester King Sues TABC

AUSTIN - Jester King has filed a motion in federal court for summary judgment against the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC).

Along with two other co-plaintiffs, Jester King is challenging the TABC Code requirements regarding the content and wording contained on beer labels, such as the arbitrary "ale" or "malt liquor" legal designations and prohibited terms that may reflect alcoholic strength. Such unnecessary requirements have long been problematic for out-of-state breweries seeking label approval for their products to be sold in Texas.

Another change sought is the restriction on brewers in advertising or communicating retail locations where their products may be purchased, a legal holdover from a stricter three-tier interpretation. Jester King is seeking the elimination of both these current restrictions on the basis that they violate the right to free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

Jester King is also challenging the restriction of breweries from selling direct to the public and that of brewpubs selling to retailers or distributors, both changes that were pushed unsuccessfully in the last legislative session. The claim against the TABC Code here is violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

A third challenge involves the requirement of foreign breweries to obtain a separate licence to sell their products in Texas, an additional burden that is not requried of foreign wineries or distilleries.

A ruling on this case is expected sometime later this year.

Shiner Ryes & Shine Rye Lager

SHINER - Spoetzl Brewery plans to release the Shiner Ryes & Shine Rye Lager, a dark brown lager that is their interpretation of the German rye beer style.

This beer will be the second in the Brewer's Pride series from Spoetzl, the first being their Shiner Old-Time Alt. Both are sold bundled in their "Family Reunion" multi-packs, and should be available by December.

Hops & Grains Opens

AUSTIN - Hops & Grain will become Austin's newest commercial brewery when their beers will be available for the first time at area events next week.

Despite the theft of almost 2000 feet of copper wiring from their building last week, Hops & Grain decided to go ahead with plans to debut their beer at several area locations as well as a "Karma Fest" party held at the brewery. The brewery plans to eventually package and sell Hops & Grain beers in aluminum cans instead of bottles.

Deep Ellum Brewing Opens

DALLAS - Deep Ellum Brewing Company has finally cleared all paperwork hurdles and will be brewing its first commercial batch this week.

Deep Ellum Brewing becomes the first commercial package brewery to operate in Dallas since 2006. Bottling operations are planned but will not be operational for at least several months. Beers should be available on local draft accounts within just a few weeks.

Texas Brewers at 2011 GABF

DENVER, CO - Winners were announced over the weekend at the 2011 Great American Beer Festival, with brewpubs dominating the Texas medal winners this year.

Recognized Texas brewers include:

• Humperdink’s (Dallas): Gold for Über Braü as an American-style Amber Lager
• Uncle Billy's Brew & Cue (Lake Travis): Silver for Bottle Rocket Lager as a Kellerbier
• Austin Beerworks: Silver for Peacemaker as an English-Style Summer Ale
• North by Northwest: Bronze for Barton Kriek as a Belgian-Style Lambic

The Great American Beer Festival (GABF) is an annual event sponsored by the Brewers Association, the professional organization for the craft brewing industry. This 30th annual competition included 2375 entries from 466 brewers with a total festival attendance of more than 49,000.

Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded for beers in 83 different style categories plus a separate pro-am competition.

Zio Carlo Magnolia Brew Pub Opens

FORT WORTH - After years of development and delays, Zio Carlo Magnolia Brew Pub opened this week on Magnolia Avenue district south of downtown Fort Worth.

Although on-site kitchen and brewing facilities are still under construction, owner Carlo Galotto opened to serve commercial craft beers until his own beers are available.

New Wicked Beaver Beers

WOLFFORTH - Wicked Beaver Brewing has received label approval for two of their beers, the Timber Ale and Midnight Ale.

Both 8% ABV ales, the Timber Ale will be an American-style IPA and the Midnight Ale will be a black IPA style.

Saint Arnold Sailing Santa

HOUSTON - Saint Arnold has just received label approval for a new beer named Sailing Santa, described as "[a] perfect blend of our Elissa IPA and Christmas Ale."

No word yet on when this beer will be released, or how widely it will be available.

Jester King Das Wunderkind

AUSTIN - Jester King has received label approval for their Das Wunderkind farmhouse ale.

Per their website, Das Wunderkind will be a "Franco-Belgian inspired farmhouse session ale aged in French oak wine barrels" with an ABV of about 4.2%.

Karbach Brewing Opens

HOUSTON - Karbach Brewing Company became the newest Texas craft brewery as it officially opened at an event this week. Beers should now be available commercially at select places around Houston.

Saint Arnold Dumps 11,000 Gallons

HOUSTON - Saint Arnold announced it had to dump 11,000 gallons of its first batch of the new Santo beer, delaying its release from the initially scheduled date of September 1st.

According to a press release: "After filtering a batch this week and getting it ready for packaging we tasted it. It was good, but it was missing that spark that separates a good beer from a great beer." Rather than proceed with bottling and distribution, owner and founder Brock Wagner decided to dispose of the entire initial batch and start again with a few recipe modifications.

No official rescheduled release date has been announced but a first batch should be available by October.

Divine Reserve No. 11 Year-Round

HOUSTON - In a brief Twitter announcement, Saint Arnold owner Brock Wagner confirmed that the Divine Reserve No. 11 will be produced as a year-round beer sometime next year.

A name for the new beer, a double IPA and the most recent of the Divine Reserve series, has not yet been determined.

Karbach Hopadillo IPA

HOUSTON - Another label approval has been obtained by new brewer Karbach Brewing for their Hopadillo IPA.

Recent Facebook messages indicate the brewery is currently in production and should have beers available for sale to the public by mid-September.

Wicked Beaver Brewing Opens

WOLFFORTH - Wicked Beaver Brewing has become the latest Texas craft brewery, receiving their state licensing this week.

Located just southwest of Lubbock, brewers Michael Adams and Che Shadle are planning to have beers available for their first public events by mid-September.

Saint Arnold Centenni-Ale

HOUSTON - Saint Arnold has received label approval for two new beers of a seemingly limited edition series named Centenni-Ale to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Rice University.

No word yet on intended styles for these beers, named simply Centenni-Ale Blonde Ale and Centenni-Ale Dark Ale, nor when or how widely these beers will be available.

Saint Arnold Pumpkinator

HOUSTON - Saint Arnold has announced it will rebrand their popular Divine Reserve No. 9, the imperial pumpkin stout, and release it as a fall seasonal beer named Pumpkinator.

Ranger Creek RE:SESSION

SAN ANTONIO - Ranger Creek is releasing a new series of limited-run beers named RE:SESSION, with the first two beers available now at select locations in San Antonio, Austin and Houston.

With economic pun in hand, this product line will focus on more sessionable beers unlike most expensive, high-gravity limited releases. The first two beers are the RE:SESSION IPA at 5.5% and 55 IBUs and the RE:SESSION Wheat at 5.1%.

Karbach Sympathy for the Lager

HOUSTON - New brewer Karbach Brewing Company just received approval for their labels of Sympathy for the Lager, which may indicate the brewery is close to beginning commercial brewing.

Of note, this is the first Texas beer label seen to include the QR code on the label for the product.

Middleton Brewing Opens

WIMBERLEY - Middleton Brewing became the most recent independent craft brewery in Texas this month and are now licensed to sell to the public.

Owner and brewer Dennis Middleton also operates a homebrewing supply retail store adjacent to the brewery, and is frequently the focal point for area club meetings and instructional events. A grand opening celebration is planned for August 20th.

Spec's to Open in North Texas

DALLAS - Houston-based chain Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods has plans to open two or three stores in the greater Dallas area, with the first opening before the end of the year.

Currently with 93 stores and a goal of expanding state-wide, North Texas is the last major metro area in Texas without any Spec's locations.

Pecan Street Brewing Opens

JOHNSON CITY - Pecan Street Brewing became the latest independent Texas brewpub to open earlier this month in Johnson City. A formal grand opening celebration is scheduled for August 27th.

Freetail Suspends Location Search

SAN ANTONIO - Freetail Brewing has suspended indefinitely its plans for a second brewpub location, citing "an increasing level of resistance in capital markets."

Owner and brewer Scott Metzger had previously announced plans to expand this past spring, with Houston being the location of choice.

Saint Arnold Santo

HOUSTON - Saint Arnold will release a new beer, Santo, on September 1st as reported recently by Craft Austin. This beer will be a limited-run dark koelsch-style ale around 4.9% ABV.

Rumors suggest this may be the beginning of a new series of limited-release beers by Saint Arnold, but no official word has yet been released.