One of the most exciting aspects about the Texas craft beer explosion is the influx of new breweries making unusual and unique beer. We recently visited Galveston Bay Beer Company in Dickinson, TX and asked them about their story. They opened operations in 2013 and just recently opened the taproom in March of this year.
To truly drink local, you should always try to learn a little about the history of the local beer scene. One of the most interesting things about this brewery is their commitment to preserving and sharing the history of beer in Galveston County. I won’t spoil some of the stories they can tell you, but definitely ask about “High Grade” when you go there and how it survived through the prohibition era of the 1920s and early 30s.
First thing that needs mentioning, I loved their energy and passion for beer. With 12 different beers on tap at the taproom, including 8 taproom exclusive beers, the only way to responsibly sample all of them is through a flight. The staff at the brewery was eager to talk about their beers and recommend staff and patron favorites. My wife and I shared three flights (four 4oz beers in each flight) to ensure we had a taste of everything they had to offer.
Standouts among the lot were the Hammerhead Scottish Ale (their flagship beer), the Duck Duck Gose, the Tripletail Belgian Tripel. In addition to these stellar efforts were unique beers infused with watermelon extract, blueberries, and Montmorency cherries imported from Michigan.
My wife’s favorite was the Hammerhead Scottish Ale, which as a wee heavy scotch ale, you get a smooth malty sweetness in flavor to go along with the rich, deep color. This beer would be perfect on a cool, rainy day. Use your imagination and take a trip to the Scottish highlands in your mind when drinking this beauty.
My personal favorite was the Duck Duck Gose, which tastes like a beer version of lemon-lime Gatorade. If you’re from Texas, you’ve probably made a family trip out to the Texas Gulf Coast at some point in your life. As a child, you probably remember that first time you accidentally took a mouthful of sea water from the Gulf of Mexico. It was salty and odd, but not bad. It hearkens back memories of childhood. This beer instantly took me to that place growing up on the Texas Gulf Coast. The infusion of salt and coriander gives it the salty taste, but with a nice citrus flavor and finish. The sour notes are light, so even if you’re not a fan of sour beers, you can still enjoy this due to its slight saltiness and lemon flavor.
The Tripletail Belgian Tripel has a sweet flavor that almost tastes like candy. The description my wife used related to a Mexican food restaurant she used to dine at called Monterey House. This restaurant (eventually taken over by owners of Casa Ole) served candies apparently so legendary, there is a Facebook page dedicated to this. I never got a chance to experience this before they went bankrupt in the 1980s, but it’s clear their popularity has stood the test of time. Her description was, “it tastes just like the candies found at the bottom of the basket of tortilla chips at Monterey House.” Granted, I can’t recall ever eating there, but anybody who remembers the taste of Leche Quemada candies should immediately know the taste of this beer.
Others that were sampled:
Lafitte’s Wheat – a refreshing Texas summer beer with a hint of banana flavor
Blueberry Blonde – a light take on the summer blonde tasting just like a blueberry muffin
Lafitte’s Watermelon – a version of Lafitte’s Wheat that immediately tastes exactly like a watermelon Jolly Rancher smells
Tart Cherry Brown – picture sweet sherry wine with a nice dry finish
With a regular rotation of different beers and styles every two to three weeks, they are bound to have a different selection whenever you visit. No matter what style of beer you prefer, there is something available in their vast array of beer choices and options. Take a day trip out to their taproom in Dickinson to truly understand the genius these guys are producing!