Very rare and limited: Barrel Aged Cellar Door...

Barrel Aged Cellar Door from Stillwater Artisanal Ales...

Only 140 cases made and no score yet on RateBeer


Stillwater Barrel Aged Cellar Door....$18.99 / 750ml 
Ale brewed with White Sage : Aged in Oak Wine Barrels" - label


"Cellar Door which is my version of a wit beer (currently the #1 Wit in the world on Ratebeer). Aged in Red Wine French Oak barrels with Brett.. only 140 cases produced." -- Brian, Stillwater


Order all Stillwater online now also

Currently the #1 Witbier on RateBeer.com

Rated 98/100 
Stillwater Artisanal Cellar Door...$10.99
over the ages the term ’cellar door’ has numerously been referred to as the most beautiful term in the English language. upon setting out to create the first summer addition to the Stateside line up of ales; the feeling that almost instantly came to me was that of beauty & cleansing. many summer offerings tend to lack the complexity of their bigger, colder season counterparts; so my goal was to craft an ale of extreme balance with a delicate complexity that allows for contemplation while also providing quaffable refreshment. starting with a base of German wheat & pale malts this crisp slightly hazy foundation was then accented with a blend of Sterling & Citra hops providing a intricate blend of herbal grass & tangerine citrus flavors and aroma. to pull this all together and to complete the ’cleansing’ aspect of my vision i gently finished the ale off with a touch of white sage, lending a mild earthy spice character to the blend. of course let’s not forget our house saison yeast that brought all the elements together leaving a dry yet intricate finish.

Top 10 Witbiers on RateBeer.com

				score	count
	1	Stillwater Cellar Door		3.69	242
	2	Cisco Lady of the Woods		3.67	66
	3	Mikkeller Not Just Another Wit		3.65	270
	4	Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca		3.61	736
	5	Dogfish Head Namaste		3.60	281
	6	Anchorage Whiteout Wit Bier		3.60	49
	7	Boulevard Two Jokers Double Wit		3.59	199
	8	St. Bernardus Blanche (Witbier)		3.57	839
	9	The Bruery Imperial Orchard White  R		3.55	57
	10	Upright Pure Wit		3.54	26

Tilquin makes its debut in this year...

Now in stock at The Wine and Cheese Place and available online now

Tilquin Oude Gueuze A l'ancienne....$9.99 / 375ml

Tilquin Oude Gueuze A l'ancienne....$18.99 / 750ml

"Beer of spontaneous fermentation, the Old Gueuze Tilquin is made from the blending of 1, 2, and 3 year old lambics.  Unfiltered and unpasteurized, this beer is refermented in the bottle.  Ingredients: water, malt, yeast, hops." -- back label  

6% ABV

Tilquin is the first new Belgian Lambic producer in to open in over 15 years.

I hear that it is a blend of straight Lambics from Cantillon, Boon, and Lindemans.

Pouilly Fume

Great Sauvignon Blanc from Loire -- new release!

2010 Domaine Tinel-Blondelet Pouilly-Fumé "Genetin"...$25.99
The soil is made of "caillottes" (limestone stones).
"Genetin" is a name given in homage to the original name for Sauvignon Blanc: Muscat Genetin.  The Genetin bottling is normally reserved for the most powerful Cuvées in the winery. No oak.  Produced from 25 year-old vines coming from the Villiers limestoneterroir, situated in Bouchot.  A golden colored and mineral wine with elegance and finesse. Can be cellared for 2-3 years.  A mineral-laced smoky accent and citrus aromas. Elegant and powerful on the palate.   Food pairing: shellfish, goat cheese such as “Crottin de Chavignol”. Perfect also as an aperitif.

RJ Rockers new beers

A couple of new ones from RJ Rockers...

RJ Rockers PATRIOT PALE ALE...$9.99 / 6pk

 
Our American pale ale is aggressively hopped with Challenger and Cascade and has a sweet caramel finish. The flavor that launched RJ Rockers – and brewer Mark Johnsen’s personal fave.
6.0% abv


RJ Rockers BALD EAGLE BROWN ALE....$9.99 / 6pk 

A traditional English-style brown ale, but with more body. Its deep brown color comes from a combination of Chocolate and Black malts. Tall, dark and smooth – the perfect cure for the domestic beer blahs.
5.6% abv

2011 Best Brown plus fresh Two Hearted

Bells Best Brown arrives for the season!

Bell's Best Brown Ale...$9.89 / 6pk
"Rich brown ale perfect for the fall and winter. Plenty of malt character and smooth sweet finish give this brown ale its distinct character." -- brewery

Plus
Bells Two Hearted just arrived back in stock today -- fresh again -- bottled 9/15/11

2nd Shift Brewing plans on bottling....

2nd Shift Brewing gets their first bottle label approved!  St. Louis' beer scene just gets better and better.  I have only tasted a few of their beers so far, but have loved them!

As reported on STLHops this week -- 2nd Shift Brewing plans to start bottling a couple of beers.  Well, their first label just got approved - Unicorn Killer Saison "UKII"

"Big Fancy Bottle Series"

Bottled in 750ml bottles.

Read more about them on their website

Founders CBS - update

Founders CBS:  It is worst than I thought.  We will only have 24 bottles to go around.   So we will stick with our "normal" way.   I will post the arrival on Tuesday October 4th with a link to reserve 1 bottle per person until they are gone.  I doubt it will take long.

We get our delivery usually on the early side.  I would guess I will be posting close to 9am.

Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout official release date is October 3

(which means we will get ours on Tuesday October 4, we are not taking pre-reservations.  We will offer it when it arrives. Watch our blog / facebook / twitter / emails .

Grand Rapids, Michigan, August 19, 2011—Founders Brewing Co. Vice President/Director of Marketing Dave Engbers announced today that the highly anticipated Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS) will be the second release in the company’s 750mL “Backstage Series”. It will be released to the market on October 3, 2011, with a taproom release party on October 1.
There has been a great deal of anticipation and speculation regarding the upcoming release after the success of Blushing Monk, the series’ debut, earlier this year. Canadian Breakfast Stout is the epitome of why Founders launched the Backstage Series: it brings some of the brewery’s most sought-after beers, which have been available primarily at the taproom or at a few select events, to a much larger audience.
"Canadian Breakfast Stout is an Imperial Stout brewed with a blend of coffees and imported chocolates and then aged in spent bourbon barrels that have most recently been aging pure Michigan maple syrup. The final product has had stellar reviews and currently is the 5th highest rated beer in the world on BeerAdvocate.
As co-founder Dave Engbers explains, “Releasing small specialty batches is a great way for us to connect to our core beer enthusiast. Fundamentally, we are a small brewery that loves to do things our own way. This isn’t about flooding the shelves with a beer that we hope people will try; it’s about producing the best damn beer we can brew and offering it to those enthusiasts that have supported our passion for great beer.”
While we aren't ready to release the next beers in our Backstage Series, we maintain that it will consist of "popular one-offs” that have been offered in the taproom over the years and have become favorites among patrons and brewery staff.
“I think part of what people love about Founders, besides our beer, is that we listen to what they are saying,” says President Mike Stevens. “With our new line, now we can offer them more of what they’ve been asking for.”
We expect to release one additional product in the 2011 Backstage Series later this year and 3 more release in 2012." -- Founders

Beer vs. Wine Smackdown

Wine vs. Beer!
Going to be a great Event for both wine and beer lovers!

Next Monday!
October  3 (6pm-7:30pm) - Beer vs Wine Smackdown with Goose Island Beers
This class will feature wine vs. beer paired with some cheese and light appetizers. We have STLWinegirl picking the wines and Karen King from Goose Island picking the beers. Which will match better with the food?  This will be a fun and informative event for both wine and beer lovers.  Something for everyone!!


$25 / person

Reservations are limited and required - click here to reserve a seat


First Flight

Cheese course: a triple creme with fruit chutney
Paired with a Goose Island Beer and a wine

Second Flight
Assorted Olives and our fresh roasted nuts
Paired with a Goose Island Beer and a wine

Third Flight
Assorted Salami with mustard and crackers
Paired with a Goose Island Beer and a wine

Fourth Flight
Dogtown Pizza 
Paired with a Goose Island Beer and a wine

Fifth Flight
Chocolate: a selection of both milk and dark chocolate

Paired with a Goose Island Beer and a wine

Midtown Alley Street Fest

This Saturday....

3rd Annual Midtown Alley Street Fest!
Saturday, October 1, 2011, 10am – 11pm

Where:
The Heart of Midtown Alley on Locust Street from Garrison to Hotel Ignacio. Download Festival Map (pdf).

Live Music On Two Stages:
Live Music includes: Kim Massie, Murder City Players, David Beeman
(of Old Lights), Derrick Streibig (of We Are Warm), Stickley & Canan, Animal Empty, Née, Union Tree Review, Pretty Little Empire, and The Blind Eyes.

Microbrew Beer Garden:
10am – 11pm

Breweries you will see include Schlafly, Ferguson Brewing, Urban Chestnut, Charleville, Augusta, Six Row Brewing, and Cathedral Square.

Food From Area Restaurants:
10am – 11pm

Saint Louis University’s Open Air Market:
10am – 5pm

Antique Car Show:
10am – 5pm

Kid Zone:
10am – 5pm

Let them know you are coming on Facebook

Founders Wet Hopped Ale

Founders Harvest Ale is here

Limit 1 - 4pk per person - Very Limited.




Sold out at Forsyth -

Founders Harvest Ale...$9.39 / 4pk

This liquid dream pours a hazy golden orange straw color with a white, two-finger head. Your first sip of this beer rewards you with a super juicy hop presence bursting with citrus, then finishes to introduce toasted malt undertones.
6.5% ABV70 IBUs

A new Pinot Grigio

Vitas Pinot Grigio

2010 Vitas Pinot Grigio Friuli...$16.99
 "Made from 100 % Pinot Grigio. This variety has French origins, but it has been cultivated in Friuli since the second half of the 18th century where it has found an ideal habitat to reach excellent results.
Elegant and intense bouquet with hints of acacia flowers, dry hay, walnut kernel, yellow peach and golden apple, intertwined with fresh and mineral notes. The palate is well-structured, mineral and flavorful. The alcoholic and fresh note gives the wine a pleasant consistency on the finish.
Ideal as an aperitif and with fish hors-d’oeuvres. It also pairs well with white soups, fish and shellfish." - importer

Rubus brings us a Lodi Zinfandel

A new Zinfandel...

2009 Rubus Old Vine Lodi Zinfandel....$15.99 

After selling over 400 cases of Rubus Cabernet, we decided to see what else Rubus had to offer for us. We tasted their 2009 Old Vine Zinfandel and fell in love with it. For $15.99 you are getting a quality Zinfandel for a bargain price. Rubus is not a winery, but a label created by our friend, Fran Kysela. With the wine glut we are seeing now, he goes out and purchases surplus wine from well known wineries and bottles it under his own label (same thing Cameron Hughes does). Fran Kysela is a master taster, he became only the 12th United States member of the Master Court of Sommeliers back in 1989.

Lodi, American Viticulture Area (AVA) – The Lodi AVA is located in the northern end of the San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley California, east of the San Francisco Bay. Lodi has warm days and cool nights, similar to the Mediterranean climate. The lower temperatures that occur in Lodi result in fruit with good acidity. A wide range of soils are found in the Lodi AVA, but they generally are deep, loamy, sandy, rocky soils similar to that found in southern Rhone valley.

Zinfandel – The Zinfandel grape is a hearty variety that produces grapes with high sugar levels, often resulting in wines with a high alcohol content. Thought to be a relative of Primitivo that is found in southeast of Italy (the boot heel), Zinfandel can be made into a wide range of wine styles, including White Zinfandel, light or full bodied red wines, and even late harvest desert style wine. However Zinfandel, especially Old Vine Zinfandel from Lodi, is usually made into a full bodied, spicy red wine with characteristics of red fruit, raspberry, and cherry.

Produced in the heart of Lodi AVA from vines owned by Van Ruiten Winery. From their 1,000 acres of vines are chosen a select lot of 1,200 cases of Zinfandel.

Bottled after aging in French and American oak for 9 months.

Ruby red in color, with red fruit, raspberry, and spice on the nose. This wine is medium in body, with notes of ripe cherry, cedar box, cinnamon, anise, black pepper, and hint of smoke on the palate. It has a long, silky finish. 

info from Fran Kysela

Barrel updates....

Buffalo Trace Barrel - Our barrel of Buffalo Trace is almost gone -- about a case left at each store. Waiting on samples to pick out a new one.


Knob Creek Single Barrel - we have the rack waiting to be filled with old barrel No. 66 that we selected -- should be this week.


We have selected our Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Single Barrel. They just sent us a picture of the label!

It will still be a few weeks before they get it bottled and shipped to us though....you know I will keep you posted...

Update....bad news...

Just got word that Founders Breakfast Stout got shorted on the distributors truck.  We are now told that we will not see any until Mid-Late October  -- 

Founders Breakfast Stout...4pk
ABV = 8.3% and 60 IBUs
"The coffee lovers consummate beer. Brewed with an abundance of flaked oats, bitter and imported chocolates, Sumatra and Kona coffee, this stout has an intense fresh roasted java nose topped with a cinnamon colored frothy head that goes forever." -- Founders
"You’ve got to love coffee to truly appreciate this phenomenal brew. Brewed with an abundance of flaked oats, bitter and sweetened imported chocolates, Sumatra and Kona coffee. We’re actually not sure if this is some type of coffee cake or a beer. Either way you can drink this ale with a fork. Breakfast Stout has an intense fresh roasted coffee nose topped with a cinnamon colored frothy head that seems to never fade and makes you wish breakfast could last forever. "
Rated 100 percentile on RateBeer (over 1,100 ratings)
Rated A on BeerAdvocate (over 1,100 ratings)

Great Aligote....

Domaine de Regusse Aligote

2010 Domaine de Régusse Aligoté...$16.99
 Made from 100% Aligoté, this wine is fresh, crisp and fruity. An easy drinking aperitif style, it is best enjoyed with shellfish, grilled chicken, and salads.
The wine made from the Aligoté grape was used to make the original "Kir". The Kir is a popular cocktail that was created by Mayor Kir of Dijon, France. The acidity of Aligoté works perfectly with the Creme de Cassis to make the perfect Kir.