At Whiskey River Ranch in Texas. When you live in Texas having a cow's skull on your coffee table is normal. God Bless Texas! Very dark brown color. Incredibly strong aroma of deep roasted coffee. Notes of chili pepper evident. Texture is smooth and creamy but not overly done. Taste is very well balanced. I was afraid that the strong coffee aroma would mean that it would overpower the pallet. But the coffee and the chilies accentuate the cinnamon and the milk chocolate so that none overpower the other. Incredibly well balanced as each are apparent but none become dominant. Finish has the milk chocolate rising while the coffee recedes with a slight kick from the chili peppers. This is a very soft and mellow drinkable beer. One of the very few imperial stouts that I could easily sit back and drink several off. Very impressive effort by the Brewer.

Wasn't planning on having a beer today but the son-in-law informs me it's National Beer Day. Well hell, what choice do I have. Tonight we're going to Duo a Houston Texas beer named after an interstate bridge. Interesting history. Starts with moderate head, deep yellow color with plenty of effervescence continuing. Aroma gives a sweet note along with wheat malt. Very soft creamy texture. A wheat malt is quickly followed by a raw natural sweetness. Raw unfiltered honey that comes with the comb in the jar. Has some unusual background sweetness that brings back a childhood memory of tasting honeysuckle blossoms. I think that's a Southern thing. Finish turns a little sour. Not a particularly good sour and turns a little earthy bitter. This beer would have benefited from a frosted glass which I very seldom recommend. As it warmed, it's characteristics turned more sour and it lost it's crisp refreshing nature. It's a decent beer but best when very cold.

With family in Texas watching college football and drinking beer. Son-in-law was prepared with some serious beer selections. Short head, opaque yellow haze. Grapefruit aroma. Soft texture. Gentle grapefruit, sweetness is of powered sugar. Light bitter on the finish. This is my kind of IPA. Citrusy, refreshing, low bitterness. I like this for a good afternoon brew.

It's Saint Patrick's Day so going to Duo with my son-in-law a Houston Texas beer that's an Irish Red ale. Medium-high, orangish tint head. Color is a brown amber, not getting any red that I expected. Thin texture. Not what I was expecting. This is more like a weak brown ale not an Irish red. Dark roasted malt, dry finish with hints of lemon. This beer totally missed the mark. Not bad but not the good Irish red beer I was hoping for. Finished it but just barely. Did not enjoy any part of it.

Duo beer with my son-in-law in Houston with a Houston Texas brew. Aroma is of chocolate and spice. Pours with a small tan head that dissipates quickly. Can tell from the pour that it's a deep red but is opaque while in the glass. Thick but smooth texture. No carbonation. Initial flavor is of dark chocolate with some roasted malts and hints of coffee. Finish reveals the alcohol and the spiciness of the ancho chilies. Sweet but not as sweet as I expected from a milk stout. Enjoyed this and would definitely like to have another.