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Oh Honey! A Beer That Sings to You
Robert Earl Keen and Pedernales Brewing Team Up
Phil Houseal/www.fullhouseprodections.com
Wed, October 29, 2014 10:29 AM

What do you get when you cross beer, a singer/songwriter and honey? Robert Earl Keen Honey Pils, of course!

It was a case of serendipity that the three came together, but for Robert Earl Keen and Lee Hereford, it just made sense.

That's Robert Earl Keen, Texas singer and songwriter, who, for the last 25 years has called the Hill Country his home. He now calls Kerrville home, and has even come up with his own slogans for his part of the world – "All's Well That's Kerrville" and, quite simply, "It's Easy to Live Here."

"It's Easy to Live Here."

Lee Hereford, a veteran brewer and President and CEO for Pedernales Brewing Co. in Fredericksburg, is excited to be collaborating on such a fun project. Known for producing award-winning pilsners and lagers, Hereford is ready to add a new beer to his already successful lineup, which includes the Lobo brands- Lobo, Lobo Negro, and Lobo Lito, among others.

Sitting just outside the Pedernales Brewing Co. brewery, Keen and Hereford relayed how the two came together, and just how the idea for this new Honey Pils was born.

Years ago, Robert said, he worked to helped promote Shiner. A beer lover, he enjoyed being a part of marketing the beer, but had always thought it would be great to do more than talk about beer...he wanted to be a part of creating his own. And so, about a year and a half ago, he and Lee began talking about it. He said that although it's been a long process, what has culminated looks pretty good.

Keen says that he has loved beer, all kinds of beer, as long as he can remember. He recalls the best beer he's ever had – a pilsner that he got while in Austria at the age of 19.

When it came time to nail down what direction to take this new beer, Lee gathered up about 15 different kinds of brew, and he and Keen sampled each one. Hereford asked Keen to make a list of what he liked and didn't like from each one, and from that, Peter McFarlane, master brewer, was able to create the recipe that would become Robert Earl Keen Honey Pils.

But why the honey? Well, Lee said his motivation lie in making something that hadn't been done before. Honey is popular right now, and although there are a vast array of Honey Wheat beers, there hadn't yet been one that utilized honey in a pilsner. And so it was determined that Fain's Honey, which comes from just down the road in Llano, would be the final ingredient. ."

Joking that he has always described himself as 'The Milton Bradley game of entertainment, appropriate for ages 8-80, Keen said that his beer is for everyone.

"This is a beer for people who love beer," Keen said. "Clean, crispy, beer."

Keen is no stranger to coming up with tasty treats. He has also created a dry Bloody Mary mix, Yardbird, that can also be used as a seasoning in many dishes.

So...when can I get it? Pedernales Brewing Co. will begin rolling out the new line on Oct. 15, sending it out in waves until all of the orders have been filled. It will be available at HEB and other retail locations across the state. The company will also debut Robert Earl Keen Honey Pils in towns on Keen's Tour Calendar. They will offer pint nights and in-store tastings, and of course, it will be available at Keen's concerts.

Keen said that he hoped to have some ready for the opening of his friend Charlie Robison's new venture, the Alamo Icehouse in San Antonio on September 29. Hereford said he wasn't sure, but they would try. In addition, Hereford wants to have some ready before Keen's show in New Braunfels on Oct. 10.

Hereford revealed that the Robert Earl Keen Honey Pils may not be the only special REK beer; they are already talking about releasing a Raspberry Hefeweizen, a German beer that is usually drunk in the summer months. He'd also like to see Robert's Raddlers take off – a drink made up of half-Hefeweizen and half-Sprite.

Robert Earl Keen Honey Pils is not the first project this duo has worked on together. For years, Keen has been performing at a fundraising event for the Hill Country Youth Orchestra. Recently, Hereford and Pedernales Brewing Co. joined in.

It's a natural combination, beer and music. Folks who've grown up in Texas and, in particular, the Hill Country, have probably spent a lot of time in front of a live band with a cold beer on a hot day.

In February, REK fans will get a treat – a new traditional Bluegrass album that Keen says is amazing. Featuring the Danny Barnes on the banjo, Sarah Watkins from The Decemberists, Peter Rowan, Natalie Maines, and Kym Warner, just to name a few, 'Happy Prisoners' is an album to look forward to.

Can't wait for it? Tune in to Austin City Limits on October 4 for the 40th Anniversary show. Joining REK on stage are Sheryl Crow, Joe Ely, Grupo Fantasma, Bonnie Raitt, Gary Clark, Jeff Bridges, the Alabama Shakes, Lloyd Maines, Doyle Bramhall II, Jimmie Vaughn and more.

Pedernales Brewing Co. agrees that music and beer go hand in hand, and on the first Saturday of every month, they host a 'Beer & Hymns' session at the brewery.

Robert Earl Keen and Lee Hereford make a great team, and the enthusiasm for their new venture is contagious. The delight each one had for not only the anticipated brew, but also the excitement of just going through the process, made this occasional beer-drinker ready to pop a top on an ice cold Robert Earl Keen Honey Pils. This is gonna be good.

Texas Hill Country Magazine

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