Today is a day that many beer lovers in Houston have come to love, the day that Saint Arnold releases one of their small batch experiments under the moniker of Divine Reserve.  Initially launched in in late 2005, the small Houston brewery has since given us 8 unique brews, some better than others.  Since Saint Arnold has continued to grow in popularity, it has become increasingly difficult to ensure the acquisition of one of the  six packs when it is released.  Most stores have limited sales to 1 or 2 six packs per customer and this still does not help to put any dent in the 30 minutes that it takes for it to sell out.

Today was no exception.  I was horrified to find out that I would be in a training session during the first opening minutes of Spec’s liquor stores around town and am thankful that I have a great boss who volunteered to take the time to run to the nearest one to ensure that I got one, for the small payment of a single bottle to call his own.  I am very grateful that he did since the stores around my area of town have long sold out of what seems to be liquid gold.  Read below for a nice description of what I can be expecting for dessert tonight.

Important: let this beer warm to at least 50° before enjoying.  This beer is black with some ruby highlights.  The nose is full of pumpkin pie spices and some alcohol.  There are notes of nutmeg, caraway and vanilla.  The taste starts with chocolate malt with a hint of spice and rolls into a warm spicy alcohol taste which has the effect of creating the balance that usually comes from the hop bitter.  There is some hop bitter on the finish, but not much.  Overall, this beer finishes relatively dry for such a big beer.  As it warms, the spices move forward in the taste and the chocolate moves to the finish.  The pumpkin provides a pleasant undertone and a nice mouthfeel.  The spices will probably fade some over time; they mellowed considerably while still in the fermenter.