The beer: Counter Clockwise Swirl
The brewery: Martin House Brewing Co. in Fort Worth
Style: An American oatmeal blonde ale; the style strikes a nice balance with the lightness of a traditional blonde ale and the fuller body, deeper flavor of a dark ale.
Fun facts: Brewery co-founder and head brewer Cody Martin likes to pull together unlikely flavors. Counter Clockwise Swirl is a strong blonde brew all dressed up with notes of vanilla and chocolate.
His inspiration? Boulevard Brewing Co.'s almost artisan Chocolate Ale, which flies off the shelves in Kansas City each spring for its harmonious blending of chocolates and malts.
Martin compared Counter Clockwise to his other top-selling brew, Daybreak. “It’s got the same milk and sugar sweetness of Daybreak, but in a lighter beer.” he said. “We’ll absolutely have plenty of it for this weekend’s tour.”
As part of Martin House's ongoing micro-seasonal program, Counter Clockwise is the featured beer for March. On deck for April is Mind on My Money, another strong blonde ale with hints of juniper and orange peel.
Serve it: Right after a good brunch. The smoothness of vanilla and chocolate will make for a nice finish after a savory breakfast. It’s also not bad after a rich, hearty dinner, but it’ll vie for the affection of your taste buds, so save it for the end.
Get some: Tours happen every Thursday from 6-8 p.m. and every Saturday from 2-5 p.m. A pint glass and three beers come with your $10 admission to the brewery. Upcoming pint nights to feature the beer — with a complimentary “crazy glassware” pint –will take place on the following dates:
– March 6 at 5 p.m. at Lakewood Growler
– March 12 at 7 p.m. at East Side Denton– March 13t at 7 p.m. at Whole Foods LakewoodJackie Hoermann, Special Contributor
