Chano's Patio Brings Laredo a Finer Dining Experience

There’s a new eatery in town, so-named after its owner and head cook, Chano.  Thus, Chano’s, as it is called, is aptly named.  After all, this place is different.  The first thing a visitor notices is that the venue is completely outdoors; there’s no indoor seating.  Chano, too, cooks outside and is viewable by patrons through a wire mesh screen.  The natural setting, located in an older part of Laredo, works very well to create the mood that Chano’s is going for.  Birds chirping, soulful music played at an enjoyable volume from the speakers, and happy customers augment the positive vibes.  To add to the ambiance, the artwork on the walls—murals and abstract paintings and pictures created by local artists—line the giant wall behind the stage where local bands perform with delicate purpose.  At the top of the wall, the word “Freedom” repeats itself along the course of the perimeter of the wall.  An appropriate word that suits quite well the theme that Chano’s creates.

Now onto the food…it is outstanding!  The finest ingredients and the utmost care factor into food of the highest quality.  Cooked by Chano, himself, his lifetime of dedication to his craft are evident upon the first bite into any of the entrees.  Some seriously great recipes showcase the seriousness with which the food is prepared.  The cuisine is obviously made to irreversibly and positively impact the lives of patrons.  And so with the tasting complete, one is now officially and forevermore a member of this intimate society of return customers.

And that’s the point of such a place as Chano’s.  It strives for more—to be better.  It seeks to instill something new into the fabric of the community that helped fashion the character behind the restaurant.  All the more, it stays true to this vision of uniqueness and expression that has so often been lost to things corporate and impersonal.  While eating at Chano’s, one can’t help but feel a sense of something more and different that is evolving into a new sense of pride in the community of Laredo.  And that is exactly what we, the engineers behind this soon-to-be brewery intend for this city and its community that helped to make us who we are.  With the increasing popularity of a restaurant like Chano’s, we have hope that people are finally ready for something different—something more.

-Marc & Dan 

Drinking Wheat Beer (Hefeweizen) May Improve Your Health.

Recent evidence now suggests that drinking wheat beer also has its perks for living better, and it is not just used for getting happy after a few drinks. Wheat, unlike barley, has higher levels of protein in its yield. This is why wheat beer is known for having a characteristic cloudy appearance. Protein is a very important part of maintaining a healthy metabolism and essential to muscle growth with athletes. There is a significant amount of protein in wheat beer that can be further broken down into simpler carbohydrates that the body needs to remain healthy. This is perhaps why events like Tough Mudder will provide beer to the public after finishing their strenuous obstacles. Drinking 1-2 wheat beers a day may help prevent heart problems, reduce stress, and may extend the lifespan of a person. 

Since its discovery, wheat has developed into one of the most important crops consumed by humans. It has been historically used as flour for producing bread, which was and still is the lifeblood of most cultures since civilizations began to form. However, the wheat crop has historically had to compete with those parties wanting to produce bread and those wanting to produce beer. With the advent of modern war, it became clear that wheat resources would have to be used to produce bread instead of beer. But in recent times, wheat has made a huge comeback in the production of beer. The resurgence of wheat beer is due to more stable wheat output worldwide.

So, wheat beer does provide quite a few health benefits but let’s not forget that it is also a great beer to drink. We have considered this fact, which is why we have decided to produce our very own wheat beer, called a hefeweizen. A hefeweizen distinguishes itself as a very refreshing summer beer with its origins in Southern Germany. Our recipe remains true to Old World traditions by keeping beer simple and enjoyable. When savoring our delicious Hefe (pronounced Hef-uh), one could find a delicate banana and citrus taste that is complex yet subtle enough to enjoy after a good workout to replenish protein.

-Marc & Dan

Vienna Lager: The Mexican Lager?

Originally brewed in Vienna, Austria over 150 years ago, the Vienna lager is characterized by a dark brown/amber hue, a toasty, caramel flavor imparted by the Vienna malts, and its smooth mouthfeel due to the lagering process.  Initially attempting to replicate lager styles produced by their counterparts in northern Germany, Bavarian and Austrian brewers concluded that their water supply was not conducive to brewing the same recipes that they sought to replicate which used lighter grains.  To solve this problem, a Viennese brewer began using darker grains that were better suited to his town’s water profile.  Thus, the Vienna lager was a response to differences in water conditions that varied from region to region.

Ironically, however, despite its name and origin, there are hardly any breweries in Europe today that still brew Vienna lagers.  Instead, this style has a new home in Mexico where it has become a staple for more than a century, largely because of Austrian immigration into Mexico during the late 1800s when expats began employing the same brewing techniques used in Austria.  Recently, the Mexican-style Vienna lager has found its way into commercial success and onto store shelves in the U.S. with notable names that include Dos Equis’s Ambar Lager, Negra Modelo, Bohemia, and Indio.

Taking cues from this famed style, we have researched traditional ingredients and water profiles and have created our very own unique interpretation of the style. We used many ingredients from the old world such as Vienna Malts and Noble hop varieties found in Germany. We decided to give our Vienna Lager a twist by using biscuit and chocolate malts that add a smooth yet subtle complexity of fresh baked cookies with caramel undertones while remaining true to drinkability. We are confident that our version of this classic style will help spark up the new tradition of finer beer in our region. 

 Cheers!

Marc and Dan