Rahr & Sons Lã Grange

Now, for all intents and purposes, Fort Worth is my backyard (please don't hate me, all you great people from Fort Worth), and Rahr and Sons is my metaphorical playground. I have visited on several occasions, have several Rahr pint glasses, and have sampled many of their beers. But on to THIS beer...


Lã Grange... Most of us, hopefully, think of the song by the Southern rock legend ZZ Top, who were from Texas, but what a lot of people don't seem to realize is Lã Grange is referring to a whore house. Thankfully, this beer does not.

This Texas saison, or "farmhouse" ale, pours out hazy golden straw yellow with a large, fluffy white head. One can make out a few bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass. It looks exactly like what you would want to be drinking on a hot summer's day after working out on the farm for several hours, or with your plowman's lunch.

The aroma is earthy; it has lots of strong yeasty notes that lend to both fruitiness and some mild funk that is characteristic of saisons. One thing I appreciated about this beer is that they did not use brettanomyces in the production of this product, as many saisons do (and I love brett in my beers, especially sours). The taste follows the nose pretty well; there are nice fruit flavors such as white grapes and pears, some spices and straw-like characters, and some funk to round it out.

Lã Grange also has a nice feel in the mouth, being bubbly but not excessive, and not too thick that you're eating bread but not too thin that you're drinking water. This beer also has a nice, crisp, refreshing finish, perfect for the Texas heat, for sure. Available throughout Texas, $6-7 for a 22 oz bottle.

Rahr & Sons Brewing
Lã Grange Farmhouse Ale
TCSH - 8.5/10
Aka - A must try.

Dallas