Well, I ended up Hammer Smashed Face by the end of the night, which means it was a hell of a time. Brash Brewing celebrated their one year anniversary on Saturday and celebrated by releasing their bourbon barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout, called Hammer Smashed Face, which clocks in at roughly 15% ABV. If you’re drinking one of the highest alcohol content beers made in Texas to go along with more beers that are 8% or higher, you’re not going to feel your face.
Metal, food trucks, hop-blast IPAs, skull-bashing stouts, dudes in their underwear…yeah, it was a Brash party…and it was great. Full disclosure, I went to the Brash party after watching Texas lose to Oklahoma, so drinks were in order to drown away the sorrows. We showed up and immediately got our insanely beautiful Teku glass, three beer tickets and our ticket to redeem for our bomber of Hammer Smashed Face.
Drink #1 – Abide Milk Stout. This white Russian milk stout, coming in at 10% ABV, drinks much smoother than you would think. The cocoa flavor is balanced out by the milk flavor and completely tastes like a White Russian in beer form. More importantly, the execution of this beer is nearly flawless as Brash does stouts better than anybody in the state.
Drink #2 – Hammer Smashed Face. The reason why I was there. When I first heard that they were going to take Vulgar Display of Power, their 14% ABV and barrel-age it, I knew I would have to be there the day of the big release. The day had come and drinking it straight from the source is a thing of beauty. Pouring a very dark, almost oil color, you get a much more mellow version of Vulgar. The bourbon barrel-aging seemed to tone down the heat from the original beer, making it easier to drink. When I talked to people around the event, so many were shocked at the 15% ABV estimation as everybody claimed how easy it is to handle. I can tell you that it sneaks up on you and punches you in the mouth when you don’t expect it, so take this one slow.
Drink #3 – Pussy Wagon. Finally, I finished the night with a good ole’ favorite. No, I’m not talking about a crude Donald Trump comment. I’m talking about this 8% ABV IPA that was the lowest alcohol content beer I had, but the most bitter at 115 IBU. If you don’t like IPA’s, don’t go for this one as it’s a doozie. Me? I’m a fan of the Mosaic hops used in this beer, so this is right up my alley. Much more citrus and pine notes on this version of Pussy Wagon than I remember, it really was done to perfection for this batch.
The beer is great, but the event was legendary. At one point, I saw a guy (who shall remain nameless) walking around in his underwear. Another moment, I had a good friend of mine start rolling a joint at the table. Finally, I had another awesome lady from The Hop Stop give me her card with her official title of Duchess of Dank. We listened to metal all night, played Street Fighter in the arcade, and took drunken pictures that I refuse to take off of my Twitter page. All in all, it made my decision not to go to GABF that much sweeter. Thank you Brash and just keep being your beautiful, vulgar selves.