400 Pound Monkey

in stock at Forsyth...
Left Hand 400 Pound Monkey....$8.99 / 6pk
Arriving today -- we will add it to tonight's tasting! ENGLISH Style IPA
"Okay, this one isn’t for everybody – yet. Over the years we’ve been asked to brew a year-round IPA, but have balked at the idea because of the flood of American IPAs currently on the market. If we couldn’t make an IPA that was different what was available, that we personally liked to drink, and one that we could put our personal signature on and be proud of, we didn’t want to do it. So, last fall we brewed a single batch IPA on our new brewhouse and sent it out to 5 different markets around the country to test the response. Which turned out to be pretty positive. So, here we are in 2009, and we’re back playing again with a few new test batches that we’re sampling here in Colorado and a few select markets around the country. What’s in a name, you ask? Well, back in February of 2007, there was an article in there titled ‘Extremely Boring’. Go back and find that issue, and that specific article, and you’ll see why we named the beer 400 Pound Monkey. Happy sleuthing!"

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Next bacon...

The Wine and Cheese Place year of the bacon continues....with a bang. We are very excited about Bacon #8.

Click here for a recap of Bacon #1-#7

Bacon #8 - California
Hobbs Apple Wood Smoked Bacon...$12.99 / lb
Hobbs uses Berkshire Black Hair and Duroc Red Hair pigs for their bacon. All of their hogs are from Canada which they claim gives them much more flavor in the meat because of the colder temperature. They cure their bacon the old-fashioned way with just enough sugar and salt and they also smoke their bacon for 2 hours longer than most bacon producers to take out more moisture.

Thomas Keller arguably the best chef in the country and owner of the French Laundry, uses it at his restaurants and calls it the best bacon made in numerous articles that I have found. French Laundry is considered by many to be the best restaurant in the country (if not the world).

"Thomas Keller of the French Laundry in Napa Valley loves Hobbs’ bacon, smoked for 16 hours over applewood chips in California’s San Joaquin Valley. His favorite way to eat it: “In a BLT. It’s classic” -- Food and Wine Magazine

Here is how it appears on the French Laundry menu:
CORN-FRIED “TÊTE DE COCHON”
Hobbs’ Bacon, Hass Avocado, Petite Lettuces and Herbed Buttermilk


"Hobbs' Bacon Business Is Smokin' / Economist's hobby turns meats into millions
Twenty years ago, Hobbs Shore retired from a career as an economist and moved to the sleepy west Marin town of Marshall. But the tiny village proved to have even less of a pulse than Shore imagined, and two years into retirement, he was thoroughly bored.

At the urging of a commercial fisherman friend, Shore turned an old refrigerator into a smoker and began smoking salmon and the occasional ham or turkey for friends.

One Monday morning, a few days after he had made some smoked meats for a friend's dinner party, he got the call that brought retirement to an abrupt end.

"This is Bradley Ogden," said the caller, the chef-owner of the Lark Creek Inn in Larkspur. "Can I place an order?" Today, Hobbs Applewood Smoked Meat is a $4.5 million business with customers from California to Florida's Disney World. Thomas Keller of the French Laundry in Yountville calls Hobbs' bacon the best in the world. Ogden uses 50 pounds of his ham hocks a week at the Lark Creek Inn. Insalata's in San Anselmo, Bay Wolf and Caffe 817 in Oakland, and Bizou, Boulevard and Park Chow in San Francisco are among the restaurants that have made Hobbs' name almost as common on local menus as garlic. In an industry dominated by meat-processing giants, Shore's experience reflects, in part, how a small business can thrive by addressing Bay Area chefs' concerns about how their raw materials are produced.

"If we use prosciutto at all, his is the one we use," says Michael Wild of Bay Wolf. "It's the one that's actually made by a human being with some kind of care."

At Park Chow, where Hobbs' pepperoni tops the pizza, chef-owner Tony Gulisano is another enthusiast. "We can't touch the pepperoni pizza," Gulisano says. "It's really, really good. It's so clean when you eat it, it feels healthful. It feels like you've eaten food that's been taken care of. Let alone all the love that (Shore) puts into it. I believe you can taste that, too."

For a 78-year-old who says the best part of his business is hanging out with chefs, the approval of these demanding clients is a huge ego boost. When Keller, who reportedly has time for no one, stands around with him in the French Laundry kitchen debating whether to put truffle oil on Hobbs' bundnerfleisch, Shore is in heaven. When he recalls bringing liverwurst to Boulevard's Nancy Oakes and watching her and her staff eat it all on the spot, his elfin face lights up with delight."
By Janet Fletcher, Chronicle Staff Writer

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KY Derby Bourbon

In stock at Forsyth.. (and online now)
Woodford Reserve Kentucky Bourbon Bottle 2010.....$39.99 / liter

Woodford Reserve® Bourbon Releases 2010 Kentucky Derby® Bottle

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Like nurturing a champion thoroughbred, the art of crafting fine bourbon whiskey takes time, patience and attention to detail. So it is with Woodford Reserve®, the Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby, which honors the country’s favorite horse race with a limited-edition Kentucky Derby commemorative bottle. The 2010 bottle features the work of nationally-acclaimed, Louisville-based artist Jeaneen Barnhart.
“As a proud supporter of horse racing, it is fitting that Woodford Reserve has been selected once again as the ‘Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby,’ America’s most prestigious horse race”
“When creating this special painting, my intent was to reveal the energy and emulate the figures through loose interpretation of uninhibited line and depth,” said Barnhart. “It’s the heart, the bones, the muscle and the mind that open my eyes to deeper expression.”
Barnhart’s striking work depicts the vibrancy and intensity of Kentucky Derby racehorses as they charge toward the finish line. The artist’s signature adorns the neck of the bottle, and an attached neck tag bears information about the artist and product.
For the twelfth year in a row Woodford Reserve Bourbon has been selected the “Official Bourbon of Kentucky Derby.” It also sponsors a Grade I race, the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, which is run on Derby Day, May 1, 2010, and has become one of thoroughbred racing’s premier turf events.
Jeaneen Barnhart
Though her work extends through many subjects and artistic styles, acclaimed Kentucky artist Jeaneen Barnhart is best known for her equestrian drawings and paintings. In 1994 along with her twin, Doreen, the sisters worked side-by-side on their first Kentucky Derby Festival poster. This combination of Jeaneen’s art and Doreen’s design was the inspiration that led them to their own business and way of life, “Twinspired: Art + Design”. While successfully pursuing separate careers, the twins collaborated on many projects, such as the 1996 PGA Golf Experience Poster, 1997 and 2009 Kentucky Derby Festival Poster and the 1999 St. James Court Art Show Poster. They also partnered on projects for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Ball and Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure’s Pink Tie Ball.
About Churchill Downs®:
Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 1, 2010 and the Kentucky Oaks on April 30, 2010. The track will conduct its 2010 Spring Meet from Saturday, April 24, through Sunday, July 4. Churchill Downs is scheduled to host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for a record seventh time on Nov. 5 and 6, 2010. Churchill Downs tickets are available at Tickets.ChurchillDowns.com or by calling (502) 636-4400. Additional information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.ChurchillDowns.com.
Churchill Downs®, Kentucky Derby® and the Twin Spires design are registered trademarks of Churchill Downs Incorporated.
Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 45.2% Alc. by Vol., The Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, KY ©2010.
Article from Business Wire

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Avery 17th Anniversary!

Not released yet, looks like late Spring 2010

Avery 17th Anniversary label approved -- we should see some in St. Louis when it is released -- stay tuned.

Order other Avery Beers online now

Here is a preview

Avery Seventeen Dry Hopped Black Lager

"A study in German Hops"

Looks like it will be bottled in May 2010

"After years of commemorating our anniversary with deliciously wild and weird ales, we decided to mix it up a bit and create our first Anniversary Lager. SEVENTEEN is a celebration and case study of the aromas and flavors of German hops. And knowing our fetish for those beautiful green cones, you can be confident that the contents of this bottle are excessively hopped for your olfactory pleasure. Many thanks to all and we hope you enjoy our lupulin dissertation. Peace to all and follow your dreams!" -- label

8.52% ABV

BBQ time is here

Fire King Charcoal is in stock now! Plus check out these new items...

Fire and Flavor Grilling Planks - in stock at Forsyth

Fire and Flavor Red Oak Grilling Planks

Fire and Flavor Alder Grilling Planks

Fire and Flavor Cedar Grilling Planks

Fire and Flavor Maple Grilling Planks

Fire and Flavor Cedar Papers

(wrap around seafood, meats, vegetables, and fruit)

Natural wood smoking chips!

Sweet and Smoky Ozark Apple Wood Smoking Chips

Sweet and Smoky Ozark Hickory Smoking Chips

Sweet and Smoky Wild Cherry Smoking Chips

Sweet and Smoky Mesquite Smoking Chips

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Glendronach is back!!

Founded in 1826 by the legendary James Allardice, GlenDronach was one of the very first licensed distilleries in Scotland (the Excise Act was passed in 1823, just 3 years earlier). Arguably one of the most unspoiled distilleries in Scotland, they are proudly using the same production processes today as they did in 1826. Many of the distillery’s unique attributes offer a distinctive character that you will not find anywhere else, and they are still producing the original, richly sherried style of single malt Scotch whisky associated with the distillery in its early days" -- importer.

Glendronach Revival 15 year....$79.99
Renowned amongst many whisky enthusiasts around the world, this remarkable and full bodied malt is matured for a minimum of 15 years in the finest Oloroso sherry casks. Bottled at 46%, the GlenDronach Revival is non chill filtered and of natural colour. A truly excellent single malt.
Deeper, richer, more viscous, and more intriguing than 12 year old. Complex and intriguing, with raisin, orange marmalade, grape skin, sugar plum, cinnamon bun, raspberry preserve, mixed nuts, and coal ash. Nice tannic grip on finish. The best of the bunch, and very impressive!
Advanced Malt Advocate Magazine Rating: 93/100




Glendronach Allardice 18 year....$109.99
The famous GlenDronach 18 year old, now renamed Allardice, is the third expression in the GlenDronach core range. This exceptional single sherried malt is non chill filtered and of natural colour. Matured in the finest Spanish Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 46%, this sublime richly sherried malt is truly unforgettable

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Night Stalker !!

Online now also

Ten cases arrived at Forsyth!!!
No limit. Should be plenty to go around since it is the second load even though the first 10 disappeared.
Goose Island Night Stalker Imperial Stout...$8.99 / 22oz
Rated 100/100 on RateBeer and only 750 cases bottled!!


Info from Goose Island's Website:
A heavily-hopped imperial stout, Night Stalker is a heavyweight of a beer. It delivers a formidable punch of hops and rich roasted malt notes to the nose in a silky body that's as dark as night.

Recipe Information:
Style: Imperial Stout
Alcohol by Volume: 11.2%
International Bitterness Units: 60
Color: Midnight
Hops: Mt Hood, Simcoe
Malts: 2-Row, Munich, Chocolate, Caramel, Roasted Barley, De-Bittered Black



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Big Sky from Montana --

Short notice beer tasting
Beer Tasting this Wednesday from 2-4pm
The Wine and Cheese Place
7435 Forsyth Boulevard
Clayton, MO 63105

Big Sky will be on hand to taste --

Big Sky Ivan the Terrible Imperial Stout (not available for sale)
Big Sky Brewing’s Ivan the Terrible Imperial Stout is brewed according to the traditional style using English hops and the finest American malt. Its aroma and flavor balances well between esters of dried fruit and roasted cocoa with a slight bourbon presence. Ivan was aged for a minimum of three months in American oak Jim Beam Bourbon barrels." -- Rated 99/100 RateBeer

Big Sky Bukin Monk Tripel -- (not available for sale)

Plus we will taste these....

Big Sky from Missoula, Montana

We will taste all of these...
Summer Honey
When the days get longer and the air gets warmer, we get outside quite a bit. And we build a big thirst. Summer Honey helps us shake off the winter and slakes our thirst for a refreshing brew.Summer Honey is a full-flavored summer seasonal ale. Brewed with a unique, balanced blend of spices, Northwest Hops, and Montana honey. Summer Honey is brewed during the early days of spring and released around the first of May each year. Light colored, light bodied, and very drinkable, Summer Honey sacrifices nothing to create a flavorful beer that can be enjoyed during the height of the Summer. Summer Honey has 3.8% alcohol by weight, and 4.7% alcohol by volume.

BIG SKY BREWING -
Big Sky IPA India Pale Ale...6pk
"In Montana, many classic memories are made right after someone says, “Hold my beer and watch this.” These bold, assertive moments deserve a bold, assertive beer – Big Sky IPA. A distinct hop presence and malty backbone will leave you refreshed and ready for your moment of glory. Hang on tight and enjoy the ride. Big Sky IPA has 65 IBU's, 5% alcohol by weight, and 6.2% alcohol by volume" -- brewery

Big Sky Moose Drool Brown Ale...6pk
"Remember that feeling?
That first taste, the best part of a beer after a long day. We want to make that better than ever. So we made Moose Drool. The name sounds a little iffy, but it's really the best Brown Ale you'll ever taste. That's why Moose Drool is far and away the best-selling beer brewed in Montana.
It's chocolate brown in color with a creamy texture. A malty beer with just enough hop presence to keep it from being too sweet. The aroma mostly comes from the malt with a hint of spice added by the hops. Moose Drool is brewed with pale, caramel, chocolate, and whole black malts; and Kent Goldings, Liberty, and WILLAMETTE HOPS. It has an original gravity of 13 degrees Plato, and is 4.2% alcohol by weight, 5.3% by volume." -- Brewery

Big Sky Scape Goat Pale Ale...6pk
"Don't blame yourself, you can blame us. Scape Goat is about to become your favorite beer. Or it will be when you taste it. Scape Goat is our award-winning Pale Ale. It is a very smooth brew, refreshing and well-balanced. Scape Goat took home the Gold Medal from the North American Brewers' Association competitions as the best English-style pale ale brewed west of the Mississippi, but only because it is the best. Scape Goat is brewed with pale, crystal malts, and Kent Goldings and Crystal Hops. Scape Goat is 3.8% alcohol by weight and 4.7% by volume." -- brewery

Big Sky Trout Slayer Montana Ale...6pk
They say the best way to shrink a fish is with with a ruler, but the best way to grow a fish is with a beer. Montana Trout Slayer is the beer to drink when you're knockin' back a couple cold ones and tellin' fish stories. Who knows the next one might be the best yet! "A bigger tale with every ale." Trout Slayer is a filtered wheat ale, fermented at cool temperatures, making it a smooth drinkable session beer. Brewed with Palisade, Glacier, and Mt. Hood hops, this straw colored beer is sure to please any craft beer drinker. Alcohol by weight 3.78% alcohol by volume 4.7%.



I honestly do not know much about these beers, so I started a thread on the Beer Advocate site that include Montana to hear what the locals had to say -- click here to read

Here is their website --Big Sky Brewing

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Thornbridge Brewery

A new one from the United Kingdom......Thornbridge

Also available online - click here

Thornbridge Jaipur India Pale Ale....$6.49 / pint

ABV = 5.9%

"Thornbridge Brewery is a collaboration of passion, vision and great ale making. Our brewers come with a variety of experience but all share the same desire to make great real ales. Using the flavours of the land their aim is to put the art back into the sicence they were taught. The immediate impression of this wonderful award wining India Pale Ale is soft and smooth buty this rapidly builds around the mouth to a crescendo of massive hoppiness. This completely natural bottle conditioned ale produces a layer of yeast. Please store upright in a cool place and pour carefully." -- brewery

Rated 94 percentile on Ratebeer.com

Rated A- on BeerAdvocate

Thornbridge Saint Petersburg Imperial Russian Stout...$7.99 / pint

ABV = 7.7%

"Saint Petersburg is a fabulous warming, full bodied, stout with subtle peat smokiness and chocolate malt flavours. This completely natural bottle conditioned ale produces a layer of yeast. Please store upright in a cool place and pour carefully." -- brewery

Rated 93 percentile on Ratebeer.com

Rated A- on Beer Advocate

Rare Belgian....

A very rare one!!! Back in stock!!
These could be some of the last brewed at Drie Fonteinen -- the brewing is moving to Boon - read more at Beernews.org

Available online!


Drie Fonteinen Schaerbeekse Kriek...$35.99 / 750ml



"Armand Debelder's most special Kriek, brewed with Belgium's famous Schaerbeekse cherries, renowned for their incredible color and flavor. Loads of these rare and expensive sour cherries, pits and all, are poured into aging casks of lambic, where they are gradually infused into the beer. The result is a delectable blend of sourness from the lambic and a slight hint of sweetness from the ridiculous quantity of cherries employed. Naturally, no sugars, sweeteners, or artifical flavors are used." -- importer

Rated 100/100 percentile on RateBeer
Rated A on BeerAdvocate

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2007 Bryant...

Coming soon -- the amazing 2007!

2007 Bryant Family Cabernet Sauvignon....$439 / bottle

Net pricing, no additional discounts.

Call 314-727-8788 to order

paul@wineandcheeseplace.com

"Potentially a candidate for perfection, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is the finest Bryant Family wine since the aforementioned 1997. Striking aromas and flavors of blackberries, blueberries, flowers, smoke, truffles, and sweet berries lead to a wine with profound concentration, a silky, layered mouthfeel, perfect integration of tannin and wood, and remarkable depth, intensity, and balance. The finish lasts nearly a minute. This stunning Cabernet should age nicely for 20-30 years. This superb 13-acre hillside vineyard on Pritchard Hill, one of the great sites in Napa, has produced some remarkable wines. I recently had the compellingly perfect 1997, which continues to age at a glacial pace."

Rated 98+/100 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

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Quick news

Bell's OBERON is arriving tomorrow -- Spring and Baseball!!!

Eggs are sold out right now -- more FRESH on Tuesday!

Bacon - sold out, sorry for all of you looking for some, we will have a new one this week hopefully. We are told it should arrive on Friday. Sounds like a great one!!!

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