Anybody familiar with the coolest city in Texas will know that the “Keep Austin Weird” campaign has been around long before numerous other cities and states (Vermont) have tried to maintain their weirdness. Austin is indeed weird – deep in the heart of Texas, it is a giant liberal middle-finger pointed at the rest of the ultra-conservative state that it not only sits in, but is the capital 0f as well. Throw in one of the greatest live music atmospheres in the world, one of the craziest party streets in the country, a campus full of cattle lovers and a bridge with a million bats, and you can’t deny that Austin is truly weird.
Keeping with the spirit of weirdness, Austin is also home to a real nutjob of a beer – the Pecan Porter from the 512 brewery. Although Austin is home to several great brews that deserve some merit, this one truly typifies Austin in its creativity, its eccentricity and the fact that it supports a nutty local – the pecan. Pecan trees are a very common sight in Austin and it makes sense that one of the local breweries would experiment with incorporating these neighborhood nuts into one of their brews.
Everything’s bigger in Texas and that holds true for the flavor of this unique beer which has all of the warm, dark malty sensations of a classic porter with very small hints and aromas of the star tree nut that resides inside. Enjoyed from a tap, this flavor experience remains unique and satisfying just like a trip to Austin should be. What’s even more enticing is that the brewery also makes a Whiskey Barrel Double Aged Pecan Porter as a seasonal brew that is definitely on my list of things that I need to get my taste buds on this winter!
If you’re curious about the name of the brewery, just remember this basic rule – area codes are generally only important to hip-hop artists, wireless companies and brewers. In the case of breweries, the 312 in Chicago and the 512 in Austin are classic examples of the “area code” inspired brewery names.
Whether you like your weirdness in a porter or a presidential candidate, Austin has it all and is a great destination for anybody who likes to take booze adventures in the good ole’ United States.
Enjoy your brew adventures and God Bless Texas!
Cheers! from the Booze Whisperer
