The Realm of the Senses

We made a trip down to south Texas over the holidays to visit family. It was warm in McAllen, mid 80s (F) daytime and 60s overnight. At Christmas.

Given the tropical conditions, dark beers were not popular, and we drank IPAs and golden ales. Fortunately, when we drove north to visit friends in the Hill Country the weather cooled off a bit. In the beer section at HEB in Marble Falls we found this imperial stout from local brewer Save the World Brewing. Here their blurb on Danger Noodle Island:

"Silky smooth with notes of dark chocolate, coffee, stone fruit and a velvety finish. Big body, yet delicate and super refreshing. A bold beer deserves a bold name, embrace the Danger Noodle."

A Christmas trip to Texas to visit family and friends, and to drink some local beer. We picked up this one at an HEB in Marble Falls, out in the Hill Country. Devil's Backbone is their take on a Belgian tripel. Here's what Real Ale say about their tripel:

Named for a winding stretch of Hill Country highway, Devil’s Backbone is a Belgian-style tripel. Featuring a beautiful pale-golden color, this ale’s spicy hops and Belgian yeast work together to create a distinctive flavor and aroma. Don’t let the light color fool you, this one has a dark side too. Traditional Belgian brewing techniques add strength without increasing heaviness.

it is light in color for a tripel, and a bit more hops bitterness (IBU is 35) than I'm used to, but the Belgian yeast notes are there and that hint of caramel. The full mouth feel and the powerhouse ABV (8.1%). It's a good drink.