March Madness

It's crazy at the market these days, with dozens of new beers and wines coming every week! Check out some of the latest (and greatest) for your next basketball party:

Beer
Springtime beers are starting to blossom, and we've got a few already: Dominion Spring Brew, Red Hook Copperhook, and one of my favorites, Dogfish Head Aprihop - an IPA brewed with a touch of Apricots. Great Lakes Blackout Stout is finally here as well; a smooth, roasty imperial stout from Cleveland. Other beers that have hit the market in the last few weeks include: Stoudt's Honey MaiBock, Clipper City Holy Sheet (nice Belgian Abbey-style ale), Summit Maibock (clean, malty lager with a touch of spiciness in the finish), Sierra Nevada Bigfoot (huge, hoppy Barleywine), Widmer Hefeweizen, and Goose Island's Kilgubbin Red Ale.

Wine
The new vintage of Peirano Estate's Cabernet Sauvignon is in. The 2005 is drinking great now, with some full-bodied Lodi fruit at the core, surrounded by ample tannins. At $12.99 a bottle, it's simply one of the best Cabernet values anywhere. Also look for the Monte Antico Sangiovese, a $9.99 Italian red that is a perfect match for any pasta dish. And if you're looking for a great White wine under $20, try the new Toasted Head Russian River Chardonnay. It's $17.99, and is a near-perfect blend of light tropical fruits and creamy vanilla oakiness - great with seafood, chicken, or any cream-based dish.