No matter where we go, we find travelers constantly on the prowl for good coffee, good food, or good beer. We share that passion, and we want to shine a light on the tasty beers (and the creative people who make them) that we stumble upon during our trips.
Every week is an opportunity for our team to showcase a beer that caught our eye while traveling.
We love finding good beer on our travels, and it would be a wasted opportunity if we didn’t share our discoveries with our fellow beer nerds and thirsty travelers. Whenever we find a new beer or brewery worth sharing, we want to make sure you get a chance to experience it too.
You don’t need to be a beer snob to appreciate good beer; all you need is an open mind on your next trip (and the directions to the closest brewery).
Finding beer in Amarillo
We found ourselves near AMA airport in Amarillo, TX in the fall of 2020 for a socially distanced camping trip to Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Unfortunately, we realized pretty quickly that we would run through our beer cooler (full of Karbach & Martin House cans) faster than expected.
More beer was required.
After wrapping up our morning hike and the obligatory photoshoot pit stop at Cadillac Ranch, we were pleased to find ourselves no more than 10 minutes away from the well-rated Pondaseta Brewing Co in East Amarillo.
Who is Pondaseta Brewing Co.?
Pondaseta is located at 7500 SW 45th in Amarillo on the opposite side of town from AMA airport. Situated in an old converted tire shop, Pondaseta’s brewery & taproom gives off a polished industrial vibe.
The brewery founders were originally in a country band together and, while we weren’t able to find any songs to listen to, I am glad that beer is where they decided to focus their energy because everything we tried here was good.
Visiting Pondaseta Brewing Co during the COVID-19 pandemic was very easy. The brewery had ample signage & touchless menus to guide guests during their visit, and we found plenty of outdoor seating available to us when we arrived on a Sunday afternoon.
What’s so special about Pondaseta’s The Beckiest?
The Beckiest is the epitome of basicness, and Pondaseta is unapologetic in their marketing of this beer.
Based on their clean & crisp Becky blonde ale, The Beckiest is a limited edition 5.2% ABV pumpkin spice latte version of their already-basic Becky.
Yes, you read that right. The Beckiest is a PSL blonde ale for all my basic bitches out there. Don’t be shy; we won’t judge!
With their tongue firmly planted in cheek, Pondaseta cans The Beckiest in a black label with a brown design across the middle that is very obviously styled after a cardboard coffee sleeve. How can you not love a beer like this?
What does The Beckiest taste like?
The Beckiest pours a rich straw color and is lighter than most pumpkin ales you have probably tried (this is a blonde ale after all). The head fizzles out fairly quick.
This beer has a very autumnal bouquet. Pumpkin spice dominates the aromatics with this beer.
The Beckiest has a light mouthfeel with balanced carbonation.
The taste of this beer is exactly what you might expect. Pumpkin spice, nutmeg, and maybe even some vanilla notes on the palette. I wasn’t able to distinguish the coffee notes, but I am told they are in there. Thankfully, this beer doesn’t feature that dusty aftertaste that seems to be all too common in other fall pumpkin beers.
This is a tasty & crushable beer for drinking in the cooler months of the year.
Final Thoughts
Say what you will about gimmicky beers, but I love the creativity that Pondaseta displayed with The Beckiest. It’s a fun beer that isn’t afraid to poke fun at itself. A can of The Beckiest would be right at home being cracked open around the campfire or while nestled up under a blanket at home.
If you ever find yourself visiting Amarillo or laying over in AMA, Pondaseta Brewing Co is a great stop for beer lovers. Their Festbier is perfectly balanced, the Razzle Dazzle imperial sour is absolutely worth a taste, and the bourbon barrel-aged Drinker Seeking Company is sure to convert any whiskey drinker into an imperial porter fan.
Pro tip: make sure to grab a sticker or two on your way out. Pondaseta’s stickers are easily the coolest brewery sticker designs I have come across in a long time. I normally only place 1 sticker per brewery on our #BottleBag, but I made an exception for Pondaseta because they just looked so damn good.
Cheers!
