Hydro Street Brewing's Pancho Mexican IPA
Last year for Madison Craft Beer Week, Tex Tubb's Taco Palace did a collaboration beer with House of Brews featuring agave. This year, they're creating not one, but six brews with five different breweries.
"Bigger is better," jokes bar manager Will Mueller. "We've done a lot of events with craft breweries in the past two years -- tastings and things like that." The popular Mexican joint's increasing involvement in craft beer warrants a few more raised pints, and collaborations with five local breweries featuring ingredients inspired by Tex Tubbs' menu will celebrate the trend.
Next Door Brewing, House of Brews, Hydro Street Brewing Company, MobCraft, and One Barrel Brewing will each contribute a special beer conceived as a pairing for the dishes featured at Tex Tubb's. "I sat down and talked with each brewmaster or brewery individually, then they created the recipes," explains Mueller.
Hydro Street's offering, Pancho IPA, coincides with Cinco de Mayo. "That holiday is always really big for us, and we decided to make a beer named after Pancho Villa, a Mexican hero (or villain, depending on which side you're on)," says Mueller. This Mexican IPA honors the revolutionary general with a zesty brew. "We wanted to do something citrusy, so we're using New Zealand Hallertau hops for a lime-y flavor. We're also adding lime rind at the end of the boil."
Mobcraft's contribution is a bit of a mouthful until you've had some tequila: Saison de Cilantroctus, a Franco-Belgian farmhouse ale with roasted cactus paddles and cilantro from the Tex Tubbs kitchen. "Saison is probably my favorite style right now," Mueller says. "Mobcraft is known for using really unique ingredients in their beers, and cactus and cilantro are ingredients we use every day. I thought, if anybody could do a beer with those things, the guys at Mobcraft could."
The week's offerings will also include Rey Rye Imperial Vienna Rye from Next Door, Barrigón Baril Cafe Imperial Brown Ale (with coffee, cacao and maple) from One Barrel, and Enrique Sucio Mezcal Barrel Imperial IPA and Templo Smoked Chocolate Chipotle Porter from House of Brews.
"We're doing really small batches, one to three barrels, so it's likely they'll only be available that day," Mueller cautions. The first one hundred customers each day will receive a custom beer glass with the collaboration's logo. For a tapping schedule, check out the Tex Tubb's listings on the Madison Craft Beer Week calendar and be sure to keep on eye on the Tex Tubb's Craft Beer Week blog.
