Swingsville

If you're looking for a blast of berry jam flavor, the Swingsville Red Zinfandel should be at the top of the list. From R&B cellars, this 2003 California Zin is on clearance (they've moved on to a new vintage), and is now only $7.99 (the regular price is $10.99). Pick some up at the market today!

Goose Me

Check out the outstanding "Special Reserve" beers from Goose Island:

Demolition - A golden ale brewed with saaz and styrian golding hops for a grassy, citrus aroma and lots of the finest pale malt for a "honey-ish", intense flavor.

Matilda - Made with a rare yeast strain, the complex maltiness is balanced by a generous dose of fresh hops. This delicious ale is both fruity and spicy.

Pere Jacques - Loads of malt and Belgian yeast frame this very fruity and malty ale.


These goodies are each $9.99 per 4-pack; Goose Island is one of the most renowned Midwestern craft breweries, and has been brewing great beer for years. Stop by Stimmel's Market and pick up some of the best that they have to offer.

Cheers!

Fuller's

It's been a long time, but a couple of beers from Fuller's lineup have made a triumphant return to Stimmel's. One of the most respected breweries in the U.K. (but difficult to get fresh here in Ohio), Fuller's London Pride and ESB are back on the shelves. The Pride is a nice medium-bodied, slightly hoppy pale ale, while the ESB is a rich, caramel-malt driven masterpiece. Both beers are worth seeking out.

Cheers!

Penn Invasion

What a great Monday! I just found out this morning that the wonderful German-style beers from the Penn Brewing Company are going to be available in Ohio, and we should have them here at Stimmel's Market this week. Penn Brewing, located in Pittsburgh, has been brewing some of the best German beers in the states for over 20 years, and is one of my absolute favorite breweries in the country. Initially, we'll have their three flagship beers:

Penn Pilsner - An amber, Vienna-style lager with a delicate hop flavor and a nice caramel-roasted malt finish.

Penn Dark - Smooth, with a slight burnt-toast flavor derived from the black malt. This is simply the best Munich-style dark beer brewed in the United States.

Penn Weizen - An authentic southern-German wheat beer; very effervescent, with a pronounced banana-clove aroma and flavor. Delicious on a warm Spring afternoon.

Tin Roof

Another great distributor closeout: Murphy-Goode "Tin Roof" 2004 Sauvignon Blanc, a crisp California white wine that normally sells for about $10 a bottle is now on clearance for $4.99! It's a perfect wine to sip on the patio as the weather gets warmer, so stock up while it lasts.

Can't you get it here in Ohio?

Every week we''ll get a request here at Stimmel's for specific beers that we can't get. Why? Well, as a retailer in Ohio (or any other state in the country, for that matter), you're only allowed to purchase beer and wine from a distributor in your own state (hence our motto, "If it's available in Ohio we'll get it for you"). Luckily for those of us here in the Bowling Green area, Ohio distributors typically carry a great selection of products for retailers to bring into their stores, and as such, Ohio beer and wine stores boast one of the better selections of products in the country.

So what are the most requested brews that we can't get here in Ohio? The first is Fat Tire, a medium-bodied amber ale that has been the fastest-growing brand of beer in the U.S. for the last several years. Fat Tire is the flagship beer from New Belgium Brewing Co., and the Fort Collins, Colorado-based company only distributes their products West of the Mississippi (with the Chicago market as an exception).

The second most requested brew is Yuengling Amber. Yuengling is the country's oldest continuously operated brewery, and their products are available from Pennsylvania (their main brewery is in Pottsville, Pa.) to Florida. They don't distribute in Ohio yet.

The best way to get these (and other beers not available in Ohio) brews?

Road trip, baby!

Pinots Galore

A bunch of new California Pinot Noirs have hit the shelves this week, and they're all 90-pointers in the $30-$60 price range. Try these delicate reds soon:

2004 Duckhorn Goldeneye Anderson Valley
2005 Melville Santa Barbara
2004 Flowers Sonoma Coast
2004 Orogeny Sonoma