Founders Fun!

Now in stock at Ballwin!
Founders Devil Dancer and the fresh Founders Centennial IPA
Avery Anniversary Sixteen Saison
St. Germain Page 24 beers (all 4 flavors)


Just noticed this on the bottom of the Founder's case box..
"If you can read this message then something is really wrong. Seriously. Look at the box. It's upside down. Turn this bad-boy over carefully, open it up, and enjoy the premium love inside."

Also just noticed that the....

Founders Red's Rye was bottled June 25th!!!
...more fresh beer to go along with the Centennial IPA that was bottled June 30th.

Avery 16th Anniversary

Just arrived at Forsyth and Ballwin!
Avery Anniversary Ale
Sixteen Saison....$6.79 / 750ml
Limited edition - brewed once and then it is gone!



Beer Style: Saison Ale
Hop Variety: Sterling
Malt Variety: Two-row barley, pale malted wheat
OG: 1.065 ABV: 7.69%
Adjuncts: peaches, jasmine and honey
Availability: One and done. Bottled in May of '09

"Finally, we're SIXTEEN! Dad, can we have the keys? No really, we'll totally take care of her--keep her clean--fill up her tanks--show her off to our friends and let 'em see what we can really do. Really? Thanks, dude! Promise to make you proud. Now to go find Jasmin, Peches and Miel! Well, we got her started and decided to add a few things to the tank. SIXTEEN is a harmonious combination of jasmine, peaches and honey fermented with an unmistakable Belgian yeast strain, all weaving a marvelously spicy and fruity, massively estery and dry, saison ale." -- brewery

Ola Dubh - Old Engine Oil in Highland Park Casks

Harviestoun aged in Highland Park Casks

order online now

Just Arrived -- two new Highland Park Cask years
Ola Dubh 18 year Casks...$9.99 / 11oz - New
Ola Dubh 40 year Casks...$15.99 / 11oz - New


We also have these in stock....
Ola Dubh 12 year Casks...$6.99 / 11oz
Rated 97 percentile on RateBeer
Ola Dubh 16 year Casks...$7.99 / 11oz
Rated 97 percentile on RateBeer
Ola Dubh 30 year Casks...$12.99 / 11oz
Rated 99 percentile on RateBeer

"Ola Dubh (or ‘Black Oil’) is a collaboration between Harviestoun Brewery and Highland Park, Distiller of the Year*. It is based on Harviestoun’s award-winning Old Engine Oil. With more than a stylistic nod to the classic Imperial Porters (and Stouts) of the nineteenth century, this deliciously rich, dark, 8% a.b.v. beer is the first ale to be aged in malt whisky casks from a named distillery and, with traceable casks and numbered bottles, the rest with genuine provenance. Ola Dubh will initially be available in three different expressions; the initial release will be of small batches aged in casks formerly used to mature Highland Park 12 Year Old, Highland Park 16 Year Old and Highland Park 30 Year Old. Further variants are planned for the future. Ola Dubh is, in the words of beer aficionado Owen D.L. Barstow: “The most interesting new British beer I have tried in years.” Retaining the appearance of used motor oil from which the beer gets its name, it is deep dark brown, dense and oily. On the nose there are notes of true oil and cocoa as well as faint smoke and heathery peat from the whisky casks. Although lighter in body that its appearance suggests, Ola Dubh is pithy, oily, salty and bitter on the palate. The finish is exceptional; burnt and bitter notes with an interplay of late hop characters, orange oil, fruity tartness and then delicate, fragrant smoke." -- importer

Devil Dancer!

Now in stock at Forsyth and Ballwin! Moving fast!
Also available online - click here


Very limited -- only 50 cases for Missouri
Founders Devil Dancer
Triple IPA...$17.99 / 4pk

Bottled June 17, 2009

"When you dance with the Devil the Devil don’t change. You do. Massive in complexity, the huge malt character balances the insane amount of alphas used to create it. At an incredible 112 IBU’s it’s dry-hopped with a combination of ten hop varieties. This one can age with the best of them."
-- Founders

Rated 99 percentile on RateBeer Rated A- or Beer Advocate

Also

Centennial IPA

is back in stock now and on sale!

Bottled June 30th

1 day old!!!!

This has to be the freshest beer we have!!

Reader's Poll

Sauce Magazine 2009 Reader's Choice
We are very excited to announce that we have been voted by St. Louis as:

Favorite Place to Buy Cheese
1st Place -- The Wine and Cheese Place

Favorite Wine Shop
1st Place -- The Wine and Cheese Place


Thank you for voting for us!!

New beers

Read about the beers....click here

St. Germain Brasserie - France

Here is an interesting story about the brewery.

"All of our brewers have something to teach us. But it's not often that an enthusiastic brewer turns us on to something as strange and cool as Hildegard of Bingen, a woman of the Rhine River Valley (now Germany) who was packed off to a Benedictine monastery at birth, and eventually became the founder of a convent, a theologian and philosopher, a musical composer, a scientist and healer, pioneer of holistic medicine, and, more or less, the progenitor of the women's liberation movement. Way back in the 12th Century A.D., a time when women were regarded as little more than property, hardly ever educated, and generally unable to read or write, Hildegard gave counsel to popes and kings, and produced many important works in a range of disciplines. She is considered by many to be the first writer ever to describe the female orgasm, and was known for her positive views on sex (not typical of the Roman Catholic Church at that time, or since).

You can find a lot of interesting info on Hildegard on the so-called Internet - click here

What particularly interests the founders of the Brasserie St. Germain is Hildegard's writings on hops. She was an early advocate of hops in brewing, and in that way too she was out of step with church doctrine. (Before hops came into wide use, beer was usually laced with gruit, a mixture of spice and herbs; the Church had the exclusive right to make gruit in some places, and so railed against the use of hops.) Any serious history of hops must mention Hildegard of Bingen.

read more.

The brewers of St. Germain see themselves also as defenders of the hop flower, in opposition to the brewing orthodoxy of their region. That region, French Flanders, lays claim to France's ancient bière de garde tradition. But the St. Germain brewers are of the opinion that most of the beer of the region in modern times is too sweet, and certainly not hoppy enough. They are fans of hoppier Belgian beers, and they've taken a healthy part of their inspiration from the Belgians. But they also see their hoppier beers as a return to the brewing heritage in French Flanders.

At the outset of the 20th century, there were more than 2000 breweries in this tiny region, many of them undoubtedly making refreshing, drinkable farmhouse ales, using great loads of local hops. Two world wars nearly killed brewing in French Flanders. By the end of the last century there were only about 20 breweries left, and there was no one left who remembered how those original bières de garde tasted. The Brasserie St. Germain, which opened in 2003, is part of a small revival of brewing in French Flanders. There are about 30 breweries now, including the Brasserie Thiriez, which is fighting along with St. Germain to put hops back into the local beer.

At bottom, the mission of the St. Germain brewers is just like that of most of the brewers we represent at Shelton Brothers. When asked to describe the brewery's 'philosophy,' brewer Stephane Bogaert replies simply that, 'We make the beers we like to drink.' In France, then, just as in Belgium, a pattern is beginning to emerge. As the bigger breweries go increasingly bland, brewing to suit the tastes of the lowest common denominator and relying more on marketing than quality work to make a living, a corps of independent passionate beer drinkers and homebrewers, unable to get the beer they really want to drink, have determined to make that beer themselves. And the people are starting to understand the difference. After only six years, St. Germain has made its mark, and grown. It is now, indisputably, the most awarded brewery in France. Put that down to the power of hops.

The Reserve Hildegarde beers, a Blonde and an Ambrée, are of course a special tribute to the revered abbess who lived and loved hops more than 800 years ago -- well before they were so popular. They are generously-hopped with Brewer's Gold (what the St. Germain brewers call 'B.G.') and a lesser known variety called Strissel Spalt, both grown in northern France, and are a good bit stronger than the other St. Germain beers.

In fact, the brewery itself is a tribute to Hildegard -- which brings us to the subject of that unusual name, Page 24, that the brewery has put on every one of its beers. Stephane explains that it refers to one of Hildegard's works, a treatise entitled 'The Benefits of Beer,' that has vanished in the modern era, but remains part of the legend of the famous lady. On page 24, according to legend, she revealed a great secret, which men have fought to obtain for generations. Historians tell us that much of the legend is really myth; Hildegard didn't do everything that her admirers and adherents claim. Did this book ever exist? Possibly not, say the brewers of St. Germain. But does that really matter? Even if it never existed, they say, it should have.

As for the wonderful secret of Page 24 . . . It may never be known, but one gets the feeling that the brewers of St. Germain believe they know what it is. Stephane tells the story of his grandfather and grandmother, who lived in French Flanders, sleeping on pillows that were stuffed with local hops. Hops, as Hildegard pointed out, have superb calmative properties. Perhaps the secret is that simple: whatever it is, you can make it better by putting in more hops." -- Importer

O'Fallon

I know it is early, but here is a look at the new label on O'Fallon Pumpkin Beer. O'Fallon was already around taking pre-orders. I think they ran out too fast last year and wanted to be ready for this fall.

More Absinthe...

Order Absinthe online - click here

Learn more about Absinthe..http://realabsinthe.blogspot.com/



La Valote Absinthe....$59.99 / 750ml
Authentic Swiss Absinthe
"La Valote is the name for a community of Absinthe distillers in Val-de-Travers. The absinthe produced in the small town Môtiers, using traditional Swiss methods. Two former clandestine producers do now, what they did for years – only one thing has changed – they do it legally. The combination of know-how and the desire to create something excellent unites these three men. They are using small stills from 25 litres up to 90 litres. Each one of them have their own, secret receipt, so each is distinctly different, but represents what others formerly described as the “holy grail” of Absinthe. La Valote still after many years, continues to stay focused on quality excellence in their production of fine absinthe rather than cheap imitation quantity. Willy Bovets / Francis Martin's La Valote Absinthe has a nice fennel aroma in the beginning which is surrounded by the wormwood bouquet in the background. Anise is present but not dominant to create a pleasant balance of flavor. The entire absinthe louches evenly into a wonderful milky display." -- importer









Pere Francois Absinthe...$49.99
Premium Swiss Absinthe
"This Absinthe Elixir from the original country of the green fairy is made by a specialized family business established more than40 years ago in Fleurier, Switzerland;The Bezençon Drinks Corporation.
With the absinthe ban recently being lifted, François Bezençon; founder, gave new light to the once feared drink of the world, and continues to still use all of the original formula and ingredients of the mystical drink." -- importer
Each bottle is individually numbered
Awards:Père François obtained a Gold Medal at the National Competition ofWaters-of-Swiss Noble Event in 2005/2006 (scored 18 out of a possible 20 points)
The jury commentary:"Very balanced and harmonious""The best example of a successful absinthe of great quality"






Mata Hari Absinthe...$49.99
Original recipe from 1881Produced in the last authentic historical Austrian Absinthe distilleryMata Hari is made of the finest herbs, above all Wormwood and SalviaHighest legal level of Thujon & AbsinthinMata Hari containes all-natural ingridients and is exclusively coloured with natural herbs onlynice louche effect with ice & waterno dominant anise taste and therefore outstanding mixing abilities
How to drink Absinthe














Grande Absente "Absinthe Originale"....$64.99
France
"The Absinthe Originale recipe with wormwood is back! In the late 19th century during the Belle Époque era in Paris, the renowned Absinthe culture was at its height of infamy. Absinthe was the trademark drink of artists like Degas, Manet, Picasso, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec and Oscar Wilde. To recall this glorious time, Grande Absente, Absinthe Originale is one of the oldest traditional Absinthe recipes from the south of France. Hand crafted in Provence like it was from 1860-1912, Grande Absente is made exclusively with the highest quality spirits and select botanicals from the region, including the legendary botanical Wormwood, also known as Artemisia Absinthium. Grande Absente is 138 proof so please drink with extreme caution!" -- Distiller





Le Tourment Vert Absinthe....$6.99 / 50ml
Le Tourment Vert Absinthe....$49.99 / 750ml
French
Artists & Thinkers "We’re not the only ones inspired by absinthe. It’s captured the imaginations of some of the world’s most famous (and infamous) artists and writers. Masters from Degas to Picasso, van Gogh to Hemingway, Toulouse-Lautrec to Wilde, have found their muse to be green. Not only devoted absinthe enthusiasts, they also celebrated it prominently in their works. The complex flavors. The painterly color. The captivating spirit. These same qualities that made absinthe the artist’s creative juice of choice are now reimagined in Le Tourment Vert. We leave it open to your interpretation." -- importer
Death in the Afternoon Cocktail
Read about the Absinthe Myth
Hollywood and Le Tourment Vert
Cocktail recipes
Banned!"About a hundred years ago, absinthe became a victim of its own success. It was increasingly popular, particularly in France, with both the working class and the bourgeoisie. Some claimed it could protect against malaria. Others swore it unleashed their creative muse. The rituals required to prepare it found their ideal setting in the bohemian café scene of the Left Bank. But with the world descending into the turmoil of the First World War, absinthe began to take the blame for society’s decay. The prohibitionists launched a campaign against “The Green Torment”, claiming it was responsible for everything from general debauchery to insanity and death. By 1912, it was banned in the US and many other countries. Now absinthe is back and a whole new generation of distillers is creating a wide range of styles to choose from. In acknowledgement of absinthe’s checkered history we named ours “Le Tourment Vert” (The Green Torment): The very phrase that was used against absinthe by its detractors a century ago." -- importer



Lucid Absinthe....$59.99
France
Absinthe, first commercialized in the early 1800's, emerged as a powerful icon of freedom during the Belle Époque period, and it was during this time that the highly perfumed spirit reached unparalleled popularity and cult status among the worlds of art, literature, and fashion. Once proclaimed to fuel the fires of creativity, and subsequently demonized, Absinthe has recently reemerged on the world stage as a high quality, fine alcoholic libation recalling those earlier artistic times.
lucid is formulated by world renowned absinthe expert T.A. Breaux, and is distilled in strict accordance to traditional French methods. lucid is crafted in the historic Combier distillery, founded in 1834 and designed by Gustave Eiffel in the fabled Loire Valley of France. Each bottle of lucid is carefully prepared by skilled craftsmen, using ancient copper absinthe alembics. Unlike most contemporary imitators, lucid is distilled entirely from spirits and European herbs, and uses no artificial additives, oils, or dyes. lucid recalls the rich tradition of Absinthe, and is crafted using a full measure of Grande Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), Green Anise, Sweet Fennel, and other fine European herbs traditionally used in making fine Belle Époque absinthe.







Pernod Absinthe Superieure....$64.99
(we also have the Absinthe free Pernod $24.99)
"At the end of the 18th century, a man by the name of Major Dubied began distilling the elixir professionally. A few years later in 1805, his son-in-law, Henri Louis Pernod, opened a distillery in France where Pernod would later become known as the national beverage. The original Pernod drink consisted of 65-75% alcohol and the notorious hallucinogen, abinsthe "Arthemisia Abisnthium", which gave Pernod a distinct reputation around the world....THE drink of Bohemian society, enjoyed religiously by some fo the greatest artists of modern time including Wilde, Picasso, Van Gogh, Maupasant, Poe, Verlaine, Baudelaire and Rimbaud. due to the controversy surrounding the sometimes dangerous effects elicited by ansinthe, the ingredient was banned by the French government in 1915. As a result, the Pernod Fils Company closed temporily. It-re-opnened five years later when a controlled form of anise liquors was legalised with a new absinthe-free Pernod recipe. Since then, Pernod has had an ever-growing success in France and well beyond." -- Pernod