Girl date at Yardhouse!

So instead of driving my ass in to downtown for Flying Saucer’s brewnite- I had a girl date with my boo Christine at the new(ish) Yardhouse in the cool new CityCentre at Beltway 8 and Memorial area. I have been to a Yardhouse in Long Beach (LBC!) back when I watched the Dynamo suffer a heart-breaking conference finals loss to that LA team ;). I love their beer selection- everything they offer is on tap and they offer a “6 pack” or 6 4oz tastes of different beers that they choose each week, as well as the option to try up to 3 beers in the same style singly. So when the waiter showed us the list, we both said hell yeah, why not?

Yardhouse 6 Pack Sample list

We decided to share the Lobster, Crab and Artichoke appetizer, which was delicious! Then we split the Blue Crab Cake Hoagie- applewood smoked bacon, avocado, swiss, tomato, and cajun aïoli on garlic toasted french bread, which was also amazing, but definitely not cheap. Hallelujah for splitting food and having more money for beer!

Yardhouse's 6 Pack Sampler

The 6 Pack Sampler:
1) The Beer:
Abita Amber
Brewed by: Abita Brewing Company, Abita Springs, Louisiana
ABV: 5.0%
Style: Märzen/ Oktoberfest

The Taste:
This lager was very smooth, not much to it, almost a hallow flavor if that makes sense. Next!

2) The Beer:
Abita Purple Haze
Brewed by: Abita Brewing Company, Abita Springs, Louisiana
ABV: 4.7%
Style: Fruit/Vegetable (American Wheat w/ Raspberry)

The Taste:
ummmm, Raspberry wheat, that is all.

3) The Beer:
Great Divid Hercules Double IPA
Brewed by: Great Divide Brewing Company, Denver, Colorado
ABV: 9.1%
Style: American Double/ Imperial IPA

The Taste:
Pine-sol. Not cool. I am not the biggest IPA fan, though I do enjoy some, even CWise agreed that it smelled and tasted like something you mop with. Next!

4) The Beer:
Full Sail Amber
Brewed by: Full Sail Brewing Company, Hood River, Oregon
ABV: 5.5%
Style: American Amber/ Red Ale

The Taste:
Eh. Smeels earthy and spicy, tastes the same way but not as much as you would expect by the smell. Nothing to get excited about.

5) The Beer:
Deschutes Black Butte Porter
Brewed by: Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Oregon
ABV: 5.2%
Style: American Porter

The Taste:
YUM! Chocolate and nutty smell as well as taste. I tried this at the Brew HaHa Grand Tasting, but since I didn’t make a smiley or frowny face next to it- can’t quite remember how I felt abut it then, but I definitely liked it tonight!

6) The Beer:
Deschutes Mirror Pond Ale
Brewed By: Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Oregon
ABV: 5.0%
Style: American Pale Ale

The Taste:
Smooth, clean smell and taste. Again, nothing special (to me) but balanced and well crafted brew. The barley and hops (not too much that it was bitter) made for a good ending to the tasting.

Did I say ending? I then ordered a St. Bernardus Tripel, while CWise ordered a Rogue Hazelnut Ale…. yummmmmmy

The Beer:
St. Bernardus Tripel
Brewed by: Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV, Watou, Belgium
ABV: 8%
Style: Tripel

St. Bernardus Tripel, Yardhouse

The Taste:
This tasted sort of like a juice beer, but not in an overly fruity way at least not sweet fruit, more like bananas and pears. I liked it and still want to try St. Bernardus’ Abt. 12 Yardhouse’s “strongest beer” Bring it.

Christine’s Beer:
Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar
Brewed by: Rogue Brewery, Oregon
ABV: 6.2%
Style: American Brown Ale

The Taste:
Mmmmmm, tasted like chocolate and caramel/toffee candy. Such a great after-dinner beer. Not too heavy or light. Definitely need to put a 6 pack of this in the fridge to go with cake, cupcakes or whatever else is for dessert.

I was feeling dangerous and ordered a single sample of Blanche de Bruxelles, based on the fact that it was in the same category as Allagash White, that I love. It was tasty and maybe a good (actual) ending to the lovely girl date with mucho shit talking and gossip ;)

The Beer:
Blanche de Bruxelles
Brewed by: Brasserie Lefèbrve SA, Belgium
ABV: 4.5%
Style: Witbier

The Taste:
It was very smooth, light and summery with some citrus hints to it. Perfect “pool beer” as Christine put it. Minus it’s definitely more expensive than most people’s “pool beer”, but what can we say we are FANCY. :)

Hopefully the next 6 pack we try at Yardhouse doesn’t include pine-sol! But overall, great food and great beer with my little boo.