
In this week’s newsletter:
- February Tasting Events
- Orange Wine Sale
- Gin Specials
- Wine of the Week: Arrowood Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
- Beer of the Week: Hopewell Ride or Die American Pale Ale
In this week’s newsletter:
In this week’s newsletter:
In this week’s newsletter:
In This week’s newsletter…
Full Newsletter Here: https://conta.cc/3G3oxhN
We really love all of our barrel picks but this one is truly special. Coppercraft is located in Holland, Michigan but they have a long relationship with Midwest Grain Products (MGP) in Lawrenceburg, Indiana and are able to source some outstanding barrels from them. 26 barrels that were going to be blended to make Joseph Magnus Bourbon were pulled aside for their outstanding characteristics and we were lucky enough to get our hands on one of those 26 barrels. All aged 9 years, there aren’t many MGP barrels with that amount of age on them available to be selected as single barrels so this was an opportunity we jumped on.
On the nose, orange rind and cherry jam lead the way with the classic MGP rye spice and aged oak quickly following. Caramel, butterscotch pudding, and bananas foster give decadent aromas while white pepper balances it all out. The first sip is waves of baking spices, orange, apple, citrus, and vanilla. The dessert character lingers on the palate and meshes perfectly with the older oak presence. A full-bodied viscosity coats the palate but is not too heavy, allowing all the underlying flavors to shine on the palate long after drinking. The 110.58 proof is so well hidden in all areas of this outstanding dram.
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite food and beer days of the year. The vast array of flavors and textures on the holiday table make for endless pairing options for beer. The best part is there are no wrong answers, drink what you enjoy, but a few thoughtful pairings can help elevate the entire meal!
Some simple concepts to keep in mind to make your next beer and food pairing a delicious success:
Consider these beers for your holiday table:
Light, Bright, and Easy
Great for lighter fare: Appetizers, salads, sides, or lighter meats (white turkey/chicken meat, pork tenderloin, whitefish).
Weihenstephan Kristall Weissbier
A filtered version of a German Hefeweizen, the Kristall Weiss has a very delicate fruitiness with a snappy, effervescent finish.
Noon Whistle Bruski Czech Lager
Noon Whistle’s riff on the classic Pilsner style. Medium, round body with a very fresh grassy and bread-dough character.
Effervescent, Herbal, Floral
Saisons are the all-purpose food beer, making a great match with just about anything on the table. Their high carbonation and dry body cut through richness while their herbal and floral qualities complement roasted meats, vegetables and grains alike!
Baladin Wayan Saison
Solf and round with delicate white-flower, honey, and herb garden aromatics.
Is/Was Will Be Spelt Saison w/ Brettanomyces
Dry and effervescent with subtle stone fruit and almond notes. Is/Was is producing some of the best saisons in the country and just recently cracked Beer & Brewing Magazine’s list of top 20 saison producers.
Toasty, Nutty, Hoppy
Winter IPA’s toasty, nutty, malt character is a perfect match for all the rich, caramelized features on the table, especially roasted meats. Their snappy, citrusy finish helps cut through all the festive richness and refresh the palate.
Half Acre Tend Winter IPA
The perfect balance of toasty, nutty malt character with citrusy orange marmalade hop character. A fireplace or bonfire staple.
Brooklyn Winter IPA
A hoppy red ale with notes of dark fruit, blood orange, juniper, and pine.
Dark, Roasty, Chocolatey
Perfect with darker and sweeter meats: dark turkey meat, glazed ham, pork shoulder, beef roasts. Stellar with mashed potatoes and heavier stuffings. Could even move these over to the dessert table!
Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock
A world class doppelbock. A touch drier with subtle roast than other classic examples – keeping it hearty but approachable.
Tynt Meadow English Trappist Ale
The lates offering in the world of Trappist ales – and the first from England! Notes of milk chocolate, subtle roast, and dried fruit on top of a silky-smooth texture.
Dessert Time!
Look to big roasty stouts for all sorts of decadent pies or cakes, especially pumpkin or pecan pie. Swap the Kriek in for cheesecakes and chocolate-based cakes. When it comes to fruit beers, sour/dry fruit beers can also be great with dinner, making a solid pairing with glazed meats and side dishes with grains or nuts. Keep sweet fruit beers for dessert!
Revolution Deth’s Tar BA Imperial Stout
This beer is pretty much dessert on its own, but can make a really nice complement to the richest of desserts – dense fudge or flourless chocolate cakes
Alesong Kriek
Could be a dual-purpose beer. Alesong Kriek is pleasantly tart, making it suitable for dinner; but a subtle touch of vanilla bean can surely make its case for the dessert table, offering a nice complement to cheesecakes, creme brulee, and chocolate mousse.
In This Week’s Newsletter:
In This Week’s Newsletter:
In This Week’s Newsletter: