Happy New Year –

Just seem to think of this as a beer blog, should talk about wines to I guess, or cocktail recipes.  The holiday hub bub is over so we can get back to a more normal life pattern, including the Packers in a playoff game, everyone expects them to win.

I have had enough people tell me to try Ten Fidy Imperial Stout (10.2 abv, no IBU rating printed on the can), by Oskar Blues Brewery, that I finally have done so!

It poured black as any used motor oil I have ever seen, but the head came up this dark caramel color that reminded me of homemade caramel.  The nose didn’t give me any definite flavors, mild chocolate maybe, not the heavy roasted aroma I expected from a beer this black in color.  In between tastes I keep putting my nose in the glass and inhaling, just can”t put a finger on that pleasant aroma. Hints of chocolate and coffee at the finish of each taste.  Somewhat reminiscent of the Cappuccino Stout by Lagunitas I had a few weeks ago.  This beer has a silky smooth mouth feel.  The coffee/cocoa mild finish does linger very nicely.  As the beer has warmed up some, the chocolate flavor is coming out over the coffee. Gosh this is very good beer, it is a VERY BIG BEER, too.  How do you spell DELICIOUS !!  On the can it states “this dog’ll hunt”; unh yeh, I certainly agree.

By all my normal methods of  juding if I should keep a beer on the shelf or discontinue it, this one should be gone, it just doesn’t sell much at $13.75 a four pak of 12oz cans.  I have it kept around just because of the comments from those who have bought it. They are almost passonite about how good it is.  I can add my voice to how smooth, & tasty this beer is!  I still think it is a bet pricy, but we all deserve a special treat once in awhile:  don’t we?

a beer post; corks & CAPS

 

When I sat down Friday night to post something about craft beers, wines, or spirits, my mind was dominated by the events in the news concerning the school in Newton, Conn.  As some of you know, my wife teaches kindergarten in a K through 4th grade building, the horrible events of that day had a lot of us asking WHAT IF ? ? ? ? ? ?

We are in the midst  of the holiday season! Christmas beers, Winter beers, extra special Belgium beers that have little or no English on the labels, & English holiday brews are at the forfront these days!  It is fun imagining all the different flavors in these seasonal brews.  Some beers are using traditional spice sets (Sam Adams), others use spices & fruit, or nuts (Shiner & Abita).   Probably, there is more variety on the shelves now than at any other time of year! This has to be the best time of year to enjoy and appreciate good beers.  The holiday wine business has little to offer the season by comparison. Samuel Smith’s Winter Warmer, Goose Island’s Christmas ales and Stouts, our local Central Waters Bourbon barrell and Barely Wine beers are a few more examples of breweries doing real holiday offerings.  Don’t be timid and stick with your same old same old.  Close your eyes, reach out & grab one of these seasonal gems.  Go to our “Mix Your Six” section and build your six pack (or two) of seasonal beers, and a few others!

December 21 is not the end of the world (Mayan Calendar myth), it is the Winter Soltice, so ENJOY A SEASONAL BEER, and celebrate the Soltice, Christmas, &  the New Year!!

God Bless you all, hope to see you in the store, or elsewhere!

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Previous Post

A gal in red tights & 5 inch heels reminded me last night that I have ignored blogging.  My last post stated I would attempt to blog weekly, so what happened?  Distraction? CRS ? no brain functions after 8 pm?   –   I really don’t know, just didn’t get it done.

So since I am talking about Goose Island stout, I’ve decide to drink a “Cappuccino Stout” by Lagunitas.  Mild hops (IBU of29.5), & 9% abv. The aroma from the glass is really good, not to much coffee, not to much roast, really smooth & tasty.

I was sold on these stouts from GI based on how limited they are.  The salesperson told me he only had two cases of each.   The total supply for the Appleton greater area is split between a store in Neenah & Corks & Caps!!  Why I thought that is special, I can’t relate now.  Being that limited makes it hard for people to know about the beer!  I am hoping we can build a following for the Goose Island product.  The beers are very good, the local reputation dosen’t match up with the quality of the beers. Because of the limited availability, let your like minded friends know about these beers real soon.

GI’s Bourbon County stouts are pretty heavy on the bourbon for my taste, but a lot of people sure like them better than I do, (No surprise).  Last year’s Cherry Bourbon Stout was the first cherry bourb/stout I have ever tried.   I really enjoyed it, that beer got me trying other bourbon barrel aged beers.    Bourbon barrel aged will never be my first choice, but they come around seldom enough I have to try them.

The Cherry Rye intrigues me.  Cherry Bourbon Stout aged in Rye Bourbon barrels.  This sounds like it could be very tasty.  I haven’t checked Beer Advocate yet for reviews, but I will do my own.

Madame Rose I’m sure will be like Lolita, and Juliet, good ale aged in barrels with fruit.  The description on the label is accurate enough.

We intend to do more beer (& wine) sampling than we have in the past.  Lets see if I can follow through with letting you all know when & what we are sampling.

Thanks –  later

Finally, a beer post!

A gal in red tights & 5 inch heels reminded me last night that I have ignored blogging.  My last post stated I would attempt to blog weekly, so what happened?  Distraction? CRS ? no brain functions after 8 pm?   –   I really don’t know, just didn’t get it done.

So since I am talking about Goose Island stout, I’ve decide to drink a “Cappuccino Stout” by Lagunitas.  Mild hops (IBU of29.5), & 9% abv. The aroma from the glass is really good, not to much coffee, not to much roast, really smooth & tasty.

I was sold on these stouts from GI based on how limited they are.  The salesperson told me he only had two cases of each.   The total supply for the Appleton greater area is split between a store in Neenah & Corks & Caps!!  Why I thought that is special, I can’t relate now.  Being that limited makes it hard for people to know about the beer!  I am hoping we can build a following for the Goose Island product.  The beers are very good, the local reputation dosen’t match up with the quality of the beers. Because of the limited availability, let your like minded friends know about these beers real soon.

GI’s Bourbon County stouts are pretty heavy on the bourbon for my taste, but a lot of people sure like them better than I do, (No surprise).  Last year’s Cherry Bourbon Stout was the first cherry bourb/stout I have ever tried.   I really enjoyed it, that beer got me trying other bourbon barrel aged beers.    Bourbon barrel aged will never be my first choice, but they come around seldom enough I have to try them.

The Cherry Rye intrigues me.  Cherry Bourbon Stout aged in Rye Bourbon barrels.  This sounds like it could be very tasty.  I haven’t checked Beer Advocate yet for reviews, but I will do my own.

Madame Rose I’m sure will be like Lolita, and Juliet, good ale aged in barrels with fruit.  The description on the label is accurate enough.

We intend to do more beer (& wine) sampling than we have in the past.  Lets see if I can follow through with letting you all know when & what we are sampling.

Thanks –  later

 

 

Hello world!

The last few months most of our attention has been directed at craft beers.  We will attempt to keep a balance with wines as well as beer. On occasion I’ll bring up what may be new spirits offerings in the store as well.

I sampled a new brand of wine yesterday which will be come into the store this week. Today I tasted another two wines, I liked one immediately, the other one I let sit in the glass for 30 minutes to breathe and warm up a bit.  It was much better then.

The goal will be to update the blog weekly, hope I’ll make it!