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Friday, May 7, 2010

North Shore Distillery






in stock now----



North Shore Distillery from Chicago

"You have arrived at the virtual home for the first boutique distillery in the Chicago area (and in Illinois). Since 2005, we've been producing a range of inspired and unique spirits for your enjoyment. Our award winning, small-batch, handmade products are designed for the true spirit connoisseur, using the finest ingredients and the most advanced distillers' techniques. Thanks for visiting - we hope you come back often." -- North Shore







North Shore Distiller's Gin No. 11....750ml
Classic Dry Gin
Our Ode to Traditional London Dry Gin
We love to rave about our Distiller's Gin No. 6, but we didn't stop there. We also created another gin - Distiller's Gin No. 11 - which appeared for the first time in March 2007. This gin is based on the traditional London Dry Gin profile. If you are a fan of abundant juniper flavor, this may be your new favorite gin. We created No. 11 for those looking for a warm round nose, and an unmistakable dry gin flavor.

The botanicals in No. 11 add fullness to the gin without taking away from the leading role of the juniper berries. The balance is remarkable and lends itself well to classic cocktails from when gin was king.

•94 pts Gold Medal/Exceptional Rating - Beverage Testing Institute, 2008
Tasting notes: "Clear. Dense, compacted aromas of honeycomb, lime soufflé, peppery juniper, and sweet spices. A soft, silky entry leads to a fruity medium-full of citrus custard pasty, pink peppercorns, fresh herbs, and honeyed juniper berries. Finishes with an long interplay of flavor with a touch of eucalyptus and minerals. A lovely, deeply flavorful, and elegantly styled gin that will be sensational in vintage cocktails."
This makes it the second highest rated American made gin. The only American gin rated higher? Our very own Distiller's Gin No. 6.




North Shore Gin No.6...750ml

Modern Dry Gin
"Distiller's Gin No. 6 is extremely smooth, with a complex blance of citrus, spice and floral notes. We create No. 6 (90 proof) by infusing our grain-based spirit with hand-selected botanicals from all over the world, along with fresh lemon zest and lavender blossoms.
If you have never tasted this gin, or you think you don't like gin, we strongly recommend trying No. 6 neat (straight) before mixing it into a cocktail or martini. This will allow you to smell and taste the complex nature of this gin. We know you will be amazed at how much you like this gin.
Distiller's Gin No. 6 is fantastic in a traditional martini - we recommend an 8:1 ratio of gin to vermouth, although this gin works well with more vermouth if you like it that way. It also adds character and intriguing flavor to a range of cocktails, such as those you'll find in our
cocktail repository.
This gin has received several awards, including:
95 pts Gold Medal/Exceptional Rating - Beverage Testing Institute, 2008
"A superb gin that virtually bristles with fresh, 3-D flavors. Very impressive!"




North Shore Vodka....750ml
"Almost every high-end vodka claims to be a "small batch" vodka. How is this possible when you see them on every shelf, in every store in the country and on the shelves of many stores overseas? Small is obviously a relative term. The daily production capacity of most of these "small batch" imports is comparable to our distillery's yearly capacity. Our small batch production is actually that.
But enough about the others. North Shore Vodka is elegant and refined. Made from distilled midwestern grain, our vodka has a smooth, refreshing taste with a pleasant clean finish. Through our proprietary process, and our focus on the quality of each and every batch, our master distiller ensures that our vodka has the individual character and quality required to be enjoyed on its own or in your favorite martini or cocktail.
We proudly share with you this wonderful vodka and truly believe that you will enjoy drinking it as much as we enjoy making it.

Visit our Cocktail Repository for favorite drink recipes using North Shore Vodka.







New releases from Point....



Whole Hog Russian Imperial Stout....$6.49 / 4pk
8.6% ABV

"Ruby-black in color, with dark roast coffee aromatics. Enticing frothy tan head. Semisweet chocolate and bold malty flavor accompany a thick, complex palate. Dark fruit notes combined with a touch of hops leaving behind a smooth warm finish. Perfect after-dinner drink and specifically a dessert beer - excellent pairing for fine cigars." -- brewery










Point 2012 Black Ale...$6.99 / 6pk

Thousands of years ago the ancient Mayans of Central America developed a "Long-Count" round calendar that ends ominously on December 21, 2012. Some predict this symbolizes the end of time as we know it. Inspired by this mystery, we offer Point 2012 Black Ale to help contemplate this 'end of time' or perhaps a 'new beginning.' Dark rich roasty and complex, Point 2012 Black Ale is hand-crafted with Pale, Munich, and Roasted Malts with Cluster, Saaz, and Cascade hops for the robust flavor and finish. Enjoy -- while there's still time." -- brewery



Urthel Saisonniere

A new one from Urthel...
Urthel Saisonniere...$3.59 11.2oz"Saisonnière is brewed with 20% wheat for a style-shifting beer that is part Saison, part wheat beer and part golden/pale ale. Like the best of Hildegard's beers, Saisonnière is deceptively simple on first sip and elegantly simple with a gently building complexity." -- importer
6.0% ABV



More about the brewery from their website
"Ruiselede, West Flanders, Belgium. Urthel was established in 2000, a creation of the wife and husband team of Hildegard and Bas van Ostaden, owners of The Leyerth Breweries. The duo share responsibilities with Hildegard formulating recipes and Bas, an artist and marketing expert, designing the artwork, packaging and sales materials.
he Van Ostadens never planned to brew a Cult Beer, it just happened that way. From their home in Ruiselede, Bas and Hildegard created the recipes for the beer as well as the charming labels, tap handles and other sales materials. Their beer has been brewed according to the authentic Flemish brewing style, at Thee Koningshoeven Brewery in Berkel-Enschot in The Netherlands.
he gnome-ish figures on the label actually predate the beer itself. Bas had been working on a modern-day fairy-tale for some time when he and Hildegard decided to start brewing. Searching for a brand image was going nowhere, until Bas had the idea to combine his fairy-tale characters, The Erthels, with their new beer. Thus Urthel was born..."





Goose Island BCS

2009 We just scored 2 more cases ---
Available online alsoGoose Island Bourbon County Stout....$18.99 4pk
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout....$4.99 / 12oz btl.


Brewmasters Notes:
Brewed in honor of the 1000th batch at our original Clybourn brewpub. A liquid as dark and dense as a black hole with thick foam the color of a bourbon barrel. The nose is an intense mix of charred oak, chocolate, vanilla, caramel and smoke. One sip has more flavor than your average case of beer. A great cigar beer.

Recipe Information:
Style: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
Alcohol by Volume: 13%
International Bitterness Units: 60
Color: Midnight
Hops: Willamette
Malt: 2-Row, Munich, Chocolate, Caramel, Roast Barley, Debittered Black

Serving Suggestions:
Preferred Glass: Snifter
Preferred Serving Temperature: 40º
Food Pairings: Flourless Chocolate Cake
Cheese Pairings: Capriole Bourbon Chocolate Torte
Cellaring Notes: Develops in the bottle for up to 5 years

World Beer Cup Recognition:
Judging Category: Barrel Aged Beer
2006: Gold Medal

Schlafly glasses

Two new glasses from Schlafly -- (at Forsyth)

Schlafly Tulip with the "big bottle" logo on them and gold rim

Plus
Schlafly Kolsch glass -- tall slender with Kolsch logo on the back
(excuse the picture, I took it with my phone)







An old friend is back

Year of the Bacon
Bacon #9 -- Tennessee - Bentons Smoky Mountain Bacon
Benton's Bacon just arrived at Forsyth in time for Mother's day this weekend!
We do also have both Nueske Bacons in stock now (Applewood and Cherrywood).


Make breakfast for your mom -- pick up some of our Farm Fresh Eggs and Bacon
We have not featured Benton's this year yet -- our year of the Bacon at The Wine and Cheese Place.


Benton's Smoky Mountain Bacon
This bacon is smoked the old fashioned way for two days. It is in such demand that Alan Benton says he turns down about 5,000 orders a month.



"Our hickory smoked country bacon is equally at home on a bacon, lettuce, and vine ripe tomato sandwich or on the breakfast table as it is wrapped around a premier cut of beef or a fish fillet. Hickory smoked in our smokehouse using an old-fashioned wood stove, each slice of our bacon has a distinctive full flavor that has attracted and maintained a broad spectrum of customers, from those looking for smoked bacon “the way grandpa made it” to gourmet chefs with the most distinguishing of tastes." -- Bentons



Their bacon has been featured in Gourmet Magazine, Saveur Magazine, and Southern Living Magazine.


Their bacon has been featured in Gourmet Magazine, Saveur Magazine
and here is an excerpt from Southern Living Magazine. "This is, hands down, the best bacon I've ever tasted....Benton's Smoky Mountain Hams come from a much closer source: Madisonville, Tennessee. You don't have to take my word for it though. Just ask the farmers and chefs. Some of the nation's top culinary stars make magic with Benton's hams. Local farmers bring their personal hocks to be cured by the five-man shop that competes with industry giants. The secret? They do things the slow way—using meat-curing practices thousands of years old. "Everything is done by hand," says Allan Benton, who speaks about curing ham with a passion that other men reserve for sports. Until recently, he kept his clients' addresses on yellowed sticky notes taped to the wall. "We're a hillbilly operation through and through," Allan says. And wonderfully so. The transformation from pork to perfection takes place in a smoke-stained cinder-block building on the side of a Tennessee byway. In a traditional process that's never rushed, whole hams get slathered with salt, sugar, and the family's secret spices; then they cure—for 7 to 14 months—on wooden racks. Out back, where the scent of smoking meat hangs thick in the air, Allan opens a sooty door to reveal the mysteries behind his bacon. As the fresh air clears out the little room, a tiny potbelly stove appears. "This is my smoke generator," Allan says. "I bought it for $50 from a cousin." Order now, because publicity has driven demand for Benton's products, especially the smoked bacon. Allan loves telling the story of a Vegas casino that paid hundreds of dollars for an emergency overnight shipment. But then, who knows better than a casino how to bring home the bacon?" -- Southern Living Magazine, November 2007








Thursday, May 6, 2010

Summerfest...


2010 Sierra Nevada Summerfest
-- in stock now at Forsyth!

Our Summerfest® is a refreshing, pilsner-style lager. Its incredible smoothness comes from an extra-long lagering period. Lighter in body than our ales but just as complex in character, Summerfest® quenches your thirst with big aroma and a tangy hop bite.

GOLD MEDAL WINNER
California State Fair (European Light Lagers: 1999)

alcohol content 5.0% by volume
yeast Bottom-fermenting Lager Yeast
beginning gravity 12.2 Plato
bittering hops Perle & Saaz
ending gravity 2.8 Plato
finishing hops Saaz
bitterness units 28
malts Two-row Pale & Munich




Cantillon

I have been getting many inquiries about Cantillon --

Cantillon is running scarce right now....
Kriek and Rose Gambrinus -- in stock
Classic Gueuze -- sold out -- June ETA
.
We will probably not see these for months....
I only have a few bottles left of Vigneronne and St. Lamvinus -- no ETA on new batches

Grand Cru 1900 sold out - no eta
FouFoune sold out - no eta





Tuesday, May 4, 2010

The Bitter Truth - new bitters

We are proud to introduce to Missouri
-- -The Bitter Truth from Germany
We have been trying to get these for awhile now, finally here. There is a lot of buzz (excuse the pun) on the internet about these new bitters.


Click here for cocktail ideas

The Bitter Truth Celery Bitters
44% ABV

A lost ingredient. Defunct for decades. Now revived to please the most discriminating palate.
The Bitter Truth Celery Bitters are the first celery bitters to be offered commercially in decades. This cocktail ingredient, which had already existed in the 19th century, enriches cocktails with unusual flavors. It’s ideal for traditional corpse-reviver cocktails such as the Bloody Mary, Bullshot and Prairie Oyster, as well as Martini Cocktails and the Gin & Tonic.

Tasting Notes:
Very complex and exotic. The initial flavor of celery is dominant, leading into a complex palate with aromas of lemongrass, orange peel and ginger.

The vegetal quality these bitters add to cocktails is quite unique. I’ve found its union with tequila to be nearly perfect. They’re another shining example of cocktail’s past molding its future. — Brian Miller, Death & Company, NYC


Bitter Truth Lemon Bitters

39% ABV
"The Bitter Truth – Lemon Bitters« were the first lemon bitters on the market. They add the liveliness and freshness of lemons to every cocktail. They are primarily suited for drinks that are based on clear spirits like Vodka, Gin and Silver Tequila, but also go well with many other spirits and liqueurs."

Tasting Notes:
Fresh and fruity-tangy with an unbelievably intense citrus note. They are bitter to the taste with flavorful notes of coriander and cardamom in the background.


The TBT Bitters were an immediate success in the German bartender scene. They are authentic and of high quality – they were crafted by bartenders for bartenders. TBT Bitters serve the new need for delicate and refined aromas in the revival of the classic cocktail. My favorites are the Lemon Bitters and their Aromatic Bitters. — Helmut Adam, http://www.mixology.eu/


The Bitter Truth Orange Bitters
39% ABV

"»The Bitter Truth – Orange Bitters« are a combination of bitter orange peel and several herbs and spices that are macerated in alcohol. The first orange bitters were released in the 1880s, a time when many classic cocktails such as the Martinez and Manhattan were created. Today they are still essential for the preparation of a Classic Martini Cocktail. The Bitter Truth – Orange Bitters can be combined with all kinds of spirits such as Whisk(e)y, Rum, Vodka and Gin."

Tasting Notes:
The fruity sweetness at the beginning is quickly followed by a very bitter taste. The aroma of bitter orange peel is in the foreground, completed by spicy flavors of cardamom, carraway and nutmeg.



The Bitter Truth Xocolatl Mole
44% ABV

New bitters for a new era of cocktails. Deep chocolate notes are supported by classic bitter flavors and accented with a hint of spice. Plays perfectly with most dark spirits, rums and tequilas.

These bitters blur the lines between old world bitters and new world flavors. They play exceptionally well with tequila, aged rum, sweet vermouth and most brown spirits. Add a dash to a Manhattan to start exploring its complex flavor or use in a Tequila Old Fashioned to bring forward the spirit’s vegetal flavors. These bitters were designed by Avery and Janet Glasser and are produced under license from Bittermens, Inc.

Tasting Notes:
Dark, rich and complex. A bitter chocolate nose leads the palate to dark chocolate, cinnamon and spice flavors that are supported by classic European bitter herbs.

Just as the finest cocktails should be, the Bittermens Xocolatl Mole are perfectly balanced. A great blend of spice and mole, adding a subtle and delightful complexity to cocktails I find dashing! — Phil Ward, Mayahuel, NYC


The Bitter Truth Grapefruit Bitter
44% ABV
Grapefruit meets with hops to create a fresh, bright citrus note. Best friends with gin and tequila, these bitters play nicely with fizzy and fruity drinks as well.
»Bittermens Grapefruit Bitters« reminds one of summers outdoors. These bitters are best friends to gin, white rum, silver tequila and most clear spirits. Delicate to the nose, these bitters can stand up to aggressive drinks. Give a modern twist to a classic Gin and Tonic with a couple of dashes of Maraschino and the Grapefruit Bitters – or add dashes to a Daiquri or Paloma to add a new layer of complexity to cocktails that traditionally didn’t include bitters. Produced under license from Bittermens, Inc.

Tasting Notes:
Bright, complex citrus. A dominant grapefruit aroma and flavor mellows into the vegetal green flavors of hops. A great bitter for citrus-heavy drinks that may otherwise feel dull or overly sweet.

The Bitter Truth and Bittermens have had anything other than a bitter past few years. Combining exquisitely crafted products with uncanny timing and a seemingly deep understanding of bartenders’ needs and wants, these two companies have the perfect approach. The past has been stellar and this development makes the future very bright indeed for drinks, drinkers and those that serve them. — Angus Winchester, Alconomics





Monday, May 3, 2010

The winner is....


We are proud to announce that the O'Fallon family has chosen the winner of the "Name the O'Fallon Beer Contest"

Drum roll please....


O'Fallon "Sticke It To The Man Alt"
Submitted by Craig B. of New Haven, Missouri

Congratulations to Craig!!








Ardbeg Choppers!!

TONIGHT!!!! May 3, 2010 (5-7pm)
The bikes arrived, they are unloading them!!



Open House!


Ardbeg Choppers are coming to

The Wine and Cheese Place on Forsyth in Clayton.
7435 Forsyth Blvd, Clayton, MO 63105
314-727-8788

Come see the two bikes created by
Orange County Choppers (OCC)--
Spirit of Islay (The Black Bike)
The Beist (The Green Bike)




Both bikes (Spirit of Islay--The Black Bike and the Beist--The Green Bike) will be on display at The Wine and Cheese Place and there will be an Ardbeg/Orange County Chopper representative. He is an expert on both the Scotch and the Bikes. You will also get a chance to register to win one of the choppers!!!!



He will taste through all three amazing scotches:
*Ardgeg 10 Years Old
*Ardbeg Uigeadail
*Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist 1990

*Glenmorangie Sonnalta

*Glenmorangie La Santa Sherry Cask



Click here for more pictures of the bikes!




2010 La Folie

2010 is here and it has a new package...

Lips of Faith

New Belgium release two new Lips of Faith to St. Louis --- In stock at Forsyth
Plus 2010 Lips of Faith La Folie
(new package, now with the vintage back the bottle)



Order all Lips of Faith online



Lips of Faith Eric's Ale
"Eric's Ale, named for long time New Belgium brewer Eric Salazar, combines a dry, sour beer aged up to three years in oak foeders with a semi sweet, higher alcohol base beer. The resulting blend is re-fermented with peach juice, creating a smooth ale with subtle peach tones and a warm, spicy finish. The aroma has pleasant hints of vanilla and tropical fruit, the wood characteristics are present but nicely muted." -- brewery

A sour beer for those who don't like sour beers. And a fruit beer for those who don't like fruit beers.
ABV 7%
IBU 16
Hops/spicing: Peach Juice



Belgian Style Blond Ale

"This strong golden ale is light in color, with moderate body and a crisp finish. Saaz and Styrian Golding hops offer a distinctive Nobel hop aroma. A Belgian yeast strain produces banana and clove notes for a remarkably crisp flavor profile. Belgian Blond is delightfully inviting and approachable with a decidedly adult 8.5% alcohol content." -- brewery
ABV 8.5%
IBU 30
Hops/spicing: Saaz and Styrian Golding hops








Trends in beer...

Specialty Food Magazine
Just put out an interesting article on American Craft Beer....
here are few quotes...

"There are more breweries working today---more than 1,525--than in the past century. Out of that total, only 20 are big breweries"

"...mass market lagers down 1.3 percent, craft beer sales grew 10.3 percent in 2009"

"the majority of Americans, according to the Brewers Association, live within ten miles of a craft brewer"