Sunday, April 8, 2007
Taste The Vulgarity
I always love to gauge people's reactions when tasting certain wines (and beers), and over the years I've heard many entertaining adjectives to describe what is in the glass. A couple of weeks ago, I heard what has become my new favorite - someone called a wine's flavor profile "vulgar". Well, the wine in question (DeWaal Pinotage, $19.99 a bottle) shows off a myriad of in-your-face flavors, such as smoke, leather, and earth, and would pair well with smoked meats, a bowl of chili, or is a sensory experience all its own. Vulgar? Well, pick up a bottle and judge for yourself.
Friday, April 6, 2007
Brazil, Blasphemy, and The Wooden Shoe
We sampled more new brews at last night's tasting, and there were four beers that really stood out. First, two German-style Brazilian beers: Eisenbahn Defumada Smoked Lager, and Eisenbahn Vigorosa Wheat Double Bock. The smoked lager tasted like a campfire in a glass, with a nice malt backbone accented by a rich, smoky flavor - it would pair up extremely well with ribs, other smoked meats, or even smoked salmon. The wheat double bock was very well done, and could've been mistaken for the genuine German version - a touch of clove and banana, with a sweet malt finish.
Next, Blasphemy - Weyerbacher's Belgian-style Quadrupel aged in oak barrels. A hint of candied sugar and vanilla complement the smooth malt profile, and makes this a very drinkable strong beer. At 13% alcohol, it's deceptively strong, but very well made.
Last, Wooden Shoe. There's a lot of history with this brand of beer, originally brewed from 1869 through the mid-1950's in the small town of Minster, Ohio. The brand has been resurrected, and is drinking much better than I imagine it might have back in the day. No noticeable adjuncts in this one, just a clean, well-done German-style pilsner (although I think it veers a little into Dortmunder territory). A very quaffable brew, and at only $3.49 per 22 oz. bottle, a pretty good price as well.
Next, Blasphemy - Weyerbacher's Belgian-style Quadrupel aged in oak barrels. A hint of candied sugar and vanilla complement the smooth malt profile, and makes this a very drinkable strong beer. At 13% alcohol, it's deceptively strong, but very well made.
Last, Wooden Shoe. There's a lot of history with this brand of beer, originally brewed from 1869 through the mid-1950's in the small town of Minster, Ohio. The brand has been resurrected, and is drinking much better than I imagine it might have back in the day. No noticeable adjuncts in this one, just a clean, well-done German-style pilsner (although I think it veers a little into Dortmunder territory). A very quaffable brew, and at only $3.49 per 22 oz. bottle, a pretty good price as well.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
April Arrivals
All kinds of new stuff at the market this week...
Beer:
Cleveland's Great Lakes Brewing is FINALLY bottling the Commodore Perry IPA year-round, and the first batch hit the shelves today. Spicy and bitter up front, with a hint of malt sweetness in the finish, it's one of the best India Pale Ales you'll find anywhere, and at a special price of $6.99 per six-pack, get to the market NOW and pick some up!
Three Floyds Rabid Rabbit Saison would make a great Easter gift for the beer lover in your life. A 22 oz. bottle of spicy, herbal, sweet and bitter goodness, it's one heck of a beer. The Rabbit is only available for a limited time - when it's gone, it'll probably be gone until next year.
If you like big, barrel-aged brews (a newer trend in craft brewing), then you're sure to enjoy Left Hand Brewing's Oak-Aged Imperial Stout. Flavors of coffee, vanilla, and bitter chocolate abound in this gem.
Wine:
I'm often asked to recommend an inexpensive, but good, Italian Red that'll pair well with pasta and red meats, yet will drink great on its own. There are lots of nice values out there in this category, but one of the better ones I've had recently is the 2003 Villa Puccini Tuscan Red, which just arrived here at the market. Medium-bodied with a nice finish, it scored 86 points and is rated as a Wine Spectator best-buy. At only $11.99 a bottle, it's a heck of a deal.
Another must-try is the 2005 Dr. Loosen (Dr. L) Riesling. '05 is shaping up to be a classic vintage for German Rieslings, and at $14.99 per bottle, the Dr. L exhibits wonderful lemon, apricot and peach flavors that would pair well with seafood, lamb, turkey, or it'll drink great on its own.
Beer:
Cleveland's Great Lakes Brewing is FINALLY bottling the Commodore Perry IPA year-round, and the first batch hit the shelves today. Spicy and bitter up front, with a hint of malt sweetness in the finish, it's one of the best India Pale Ales you'll find anywhere, and at a special price of $6.99 per six-pack, get to the market NOW and pick some up!
Three Floyds Rabid Rabbit Saison would make a great Easter gift for the beer lover in your life. A 22 oz. bottle of spicy, herbal, sweet and bitter goodness, it's one heck of a beer. The Rabbit is only available for a limited time - when it's gone, it'll probably be gone until next year.
If you like big, barrel-aged brews (a newer trend in craft brewing), then you're sure to enjoy Left Hand Brewing's Oak-Aged Imperial Stout. Flavors of coffee, vanilla, and bitter chocolate abound in this gem.
Wine:
I'm often asked to recommend an inexpensive, but good, Italian Red that'll pair well with pasta and red meats, yet will drink great on its own. There are lots of nice values out there in this category, but one of the better ones I've had recently is the 2003 Villa Puccini Tuscan Red, which just arrived here at the market. Medium-bodied with a nice finish, it scored 86 points and is rated as a Wine Spectator best-buy. At only $11.99 a bottle, it's a heck of a deal.
Another must-try is the 2005 Dr. Loosen (Dr. L) Riesling. '05 is shaping up to be a classic vintage for German Rieslings, and at $14.99 per bottle, the Dr. L exhibits wonderful lemon, apricot and peach flavors that would pair well with seafood, lamb, turkey, or it'll drink great on its own.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Magic Hat
Coming this Monday, we'll finally have beers from the Magic Hat brewery here at the market. Now available for the first time in Ohio are the Circus Boy Hefeweizen, an unfiltered Bavarian-style wheat beer, H.I.P.A., a spicy, hoppy India Pale Ale, and Magic Hat's flagship brew #9. The 9 is a pale ale with a slight hint of apricot, and is a great thirst quencher on a warm spring afternoon. We'll also have "Joe's Garage", a mixed 12-pack, containg four bottles each of the above three flavors. Vermont-based Magic Hat is renowned throughout New England for their eclectic marketing and quality beers - enjoy some next week!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
The definitive sign that Spring is here...
...is the arrival of Bell's Oberon. At $8.99 a sixer, this is one of the finest Spring/Summer ales anywhere. A wheat ale with a moderate hop presence, this is one tasty brew. Pick some up today!
Also new to the market this week is an incredible California Zinfandel. At $21.99 a bottle, the Four Vines Sophisticate is a rich, fruit-driven Zin that recently received a 92-point rating from Wine Spectator. A great wine at a great price.
Also new to the market this week is an incredible California Zinfandel. At $21.99 a bottle, the Four Vines Sophisticate is a rich, fruit-driven Zin that recently received a 92-point rating from Wine Spectator. A great wine at a great price.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
I caught you a delicious Bass.
Dirt cheap Bass Ale. One of our distributors has discontinued the 4-pack 16oz. Bass cans, and we're now selling them for only $14.99 per case (24 16 oz. cans). That's about $.62 per can. Stock up while they last!
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
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.
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.
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