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Thursday, August 13, 2015

Not Your Father's Root Beer - soon!

We get a ton of phone calls about this one,  we are told it should hit The Wine and Cheese Place next week.....


Not Your Father's Root Beer
Kovac passed down his family’s beer making tradition by working tirelessly with his son to craft the first version of “Not Your Father’s Root Beer.” At 10% ABV, the silky, smooth and satisfying finish is unmatched in flavor. It appeals to craft beer aficionados as well as those who don’t typically drink beer but crave something unique.


The award-winning “Not Your Father’s Root Beer” achieved a 95 rating from Beer Advocate and is a very popular choice at several Chicagoland bars. Small Town’s personally delivered “Not Your Father’s Root Beer” kegs consistently sell out at taverns across the Chicago area.


As Small Town Brewery continues to roll out new craft beers, Kovac is intent on providing the beer loving public with unique flavors that continue his family’s beer-making tradition. Available on draft and in bottles.

Fresh Hermitage Brewing releases....

Call Shae for reservations and transfers....314.727.8788


Hermitage Brewing Peach Sour...$24.99 / 750ml
Peach Sour spent about 2 years in a blend of American Red and White Wine barrels before we added the Peach in the spring of 2015. We then added about 1000 pounds of fresh Peach puree and let that infuse for another 4 months.
The beer pours a hazy golden color with orange-copper hues. The aroma of sweet summer Peach greets you strongly as you take the first sip, mingling with the earthy funk that one would expect from something that spent years living inside a barrel. The beer is not overly sour, but refreshingly tart. Peach lingers in the back of the flavor, along with a dry, white-grape note and plenty more barrel derived funkiness. The finish is smooth and reminiscent of a buttery Chardonnay, then fades cleanly on the palate.
6.5% ABV

Fresh single hop
Hermitage Hallertau Blanc Single Hop...$5.99 / 22oz
The latest addition to our Single Hop Series is Hallertau Blanc, a German variety that was released in 2012 specifically to appeal to American Craft Brewers. It managed to y under the radar for the first couple years of production, but has recently seen a huge surge in popularity.

The impact is big and bold for German hops, with lots of tropical fruit avors and a fairly high alpha-acid content. Growers notes describe this variety as having moderate to strong floral and fruit character, featuring notes of pineapple, gooseberry and white grape, lemongrass, passion fruit and grapefruit. We found that description to be pretty spot-on. Reminiscent of many recent Southern Hemisphere varieties, notably Nelson Sauvin, but with a cleaner, less “dank” profi le. The beer finishes nice and dry, with a lingering hint of sweet tropical fruit.

Fresh batch just landed....

Hermitage Hoptopia Double IPA....$7.49 / 4pk

Tropical nose, full citrus and floral flavors, good malt balance 8.0 ABV/IBU 65

BRC release: Prairie Pirate Noir

BRC release : Emails sent,
thanks for all your support, we do appreciate it!



Prairie Artisan Ales Pirate Noir...$8.99 / 12oz
Imperial Stout Aged in Jamaican Rum Barrels
Pirate Noir is our Jamaican rum barrel aged imperial oatmeal stout. This beer takes our already delicious Prairie Noir and adds intense notes of vanilla, coconut, and rum to the beer.
ABV 12%

The Exclusive Malts - 23yr and 30yr old



Exclusive Malts Invergordon 30 Year Old...$189.99
Distilled: 1984
Aged 30  Years
ABV: 52.3%
Bottles made: 608
10th Anniversary Special Edition
This grain whisky, distilled near the Dornoch Firth, has been slowly maturing for 30 years. Its rich, full-flavored sweetness comes from the distillation of grain mixed with a long and slow maturation in a refilled oak hogshead. Despite its age, it is still vibrant enough for any whisky drinker’s palate.



Exclusive Malts "Speyside" 23 Year Old Scotch....$149.99
Distilled: 1991
Aged 23 years
Bottles produced: 317
ABV: 51.3%
10th Anniversary Special Edition
This whisky from an undisclosed Speyside Distillery is redolent with the smells of Speyside. Rich oak mingles with Heather spices and sweet malt. It is a typically great example of the region home to more of than 50% of all Scotch Malt whisky distilleries.

Hum Botanical Spirit






Hum Botanical Spirit....$39.99
hum is a 70 proof spirit. 
Hum & Soda is the new, delicious 'Vodka Soda,' the reinvented 'Gin & Tonic' and the natural 'Rum & Coke'. hum has been called "seductive" and "lap-up luscious" by the most important spirits critic in the US and a "mixologist's staple" by the Beverage Testing Institute.

hum has a striking crimson red color from fair trade hibiscus, a peppery kick from organic ginger, heady aromatics from cardamom and the intoxicating fragrance of kaffir lime. This unparalleled spirit ironically tastes like the boldest "red wine" you could ever imagine.

hum is technically a "liqueur," however, it cannot be compared to traditional liqueurs with which most consumers are familiar. At a bold 70 proof, hum was created as a base spirit (like Rum, Tequila, Scotch). We consider hum to be in a category of its own as there is nothing else like it on the market in that it is strong enough to stand alone, but also has the versatility to blend with every other base spirit, wine, champagne and beer!

hum is created by soaking four incredibly rich botanicals (cold tea maceration) in our hand-crafted, pot still rhum AFTER distillation and is then bottled unfiltered in order to help retain the full flavors and properties of the botanicals (which contain antioxidants, vitamin C, and digestives).

hum is best enjoyed on the rocks or with a splash of soda and lime or your favorite cola. Enjoy it tall with tonic, ginger ale or lemon/lime or citrus soda. Add hum to your favorite beer or sparkling wine. Replace sweet vermouth or orange liqueur with hum to kick up the classic Negroni, Manhattan or Margarita. Shake it with sour mix to make an incredible Martini. Brew your favorite tea, add hum and seasonal produce and make a killer Punch. Cook with hum like you would with brandy. Then, end your evening with your favorite ice cream drizzled with hum. The applications are only limited by your imagination.

Giffard liqueurs!

These are amazing, high quality liqueurs!


Giffard Creme Pamplemousse Rose...$27.99
To craft this grapefruit liqueur, we extract the essential oils found in the peel through steam distillation. True to the fruit, the result is the bright aromatic quality and the balanced bitterness and tartness of fresh pink grapefruit.
ABV: 16%
Appearance: Pale, warm blush
Aroma: Fresh-cut grapefruit with a hint of sweetness
Tasting Notes: Juicy citrus with the natural bitterness of grapefruit


Deal Sealer
  • 1 oz. Gin
  • ¾ oz. Giffard Pamplemousse Rose
  • ½ oz. Aperol
  • ¾ oz. freshly-squeezed lime juice
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake vigorously, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.Dry, citrusy, bitter




Giffard Menthe Pastille...$33.99 / liter
Giffard’s flagship product, Menthe Pastille is a pure, clear, and refined white mint liqueur created from Mitcham peppermint. It was developed by Emile Giffard, then a pharmacist, in 1885 to refresh his customers in the summer heat of Angers.
ABV: 24%
Appearance: Crystal clear
Aroma: Invigorating spearmint
Tasting Notes: Crisp, clean mint, a hint of sweetness, and a brisk, dry finish


The Stinger
  • 2 oz. Cognac
  • 1 oz. Giffard Menthe Pastille
Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake well, and strain into a rocks glass packed with crushed ice. Garnish with a mint sprig.Bracing, crisp, dry



We also have Giffard Orgeat Syrup too.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

New Nuestra Soledad Mezcal San Luis Del Rio





Nuestra Soledad Mezcal San Luis Del Rio...$39.99
Traditionally, mezcals from different villages have their own distinctive flavors and aromas, which reflect the differences between distilleries, the soil, the local water sources, the wood used, and of course, the nuances created by the hand of the Maestro Mezcalero.

Mezcal Nuestra Soledad is a single village mezcal that showcases the differences between the villages of Santiago Matatlán, La Compañía Ejutla, San Luis del Rio, and San Baltazar Guelavila.

Mezcal Nuestra Soledad (a name which pays homage to Our Lady the Virgin of Solitude, the patron saint of the city of Oaxaca) is born from an ancient tradition and hand-crafted to conserve and retain the centuries-old methods of cultivating and producing this Elixir of the Gods. Each different expression is made from 100% agave Espadín, by the producers of El Jolgorio mezcals, in Oaxaca, Mexico.



Ledaig Rare 42 Year Old!





We have 2 bottles in stock now of this rare release limited to only 500 bottles!
Amazing package of leather and copper.  The bottle and box weighs in at 16 lbs!

Only 100 bottles made it to the United States!


Ledaig 
Dùsgadh 42 Year Old Single Malt Scotch...$4599.99 /  bottle

Bottle #34 - sold 

Bottle #431 sold
Aged for 5 years in Oloroso Sherry Casks
The story of handcrafted Ledaig 42YO begins on the Isle of Mull at Tobermory Distillery, the only distillery on the island and amongst the oldest commercial distilleries in Scotland. Named Dùsgadh, meaning ‘awakening’ in Scot’s Gaelic, reflecting the long, dormant period of maturation, this is the rarest and oldest Ledaig ever released.

The heavy intensity of Ledaig 42YO makes it an ideal digestif, or accompaniment to a fine cigar. This depth also means that it is best enjoyed neat. Like all of the malts in the Burn Stewart portfolio, Ledaig 42YO is un-chilfiltered, ensuring that more of the whisky’s natural aroma, flavour and texture remain in the bottle, deepening the taste.

The luxurious packaging which houses Ledaig 42YO has been inspired by the copper from the retired stills, which released the first spirit in 1972 and has finally reached the end of its distilling life. The aged copper has been used as part of the Ledaig 42YO packaging to celebrate this milestone and honour its rich heritage.

As an appreciation of our customer’s commitment to Ledaig, each box of Ledaig 42YO contains a handcrafted copper card, which entitles the buyer to inherit a bottle of Ledaig Deanta 10YO from the last distillate from the now retired stills, which will be available in 2024.


COLOUR:  Chestnut.

NOSE: Rich and complex, intense phenolic sherry aromas. Sooty smokiness, fragrant wood, toffee apple, briny with some sweet biscuit maltiness.

PALATE:  Quite dry evolving to a rich smoky oloroso sherry character. Massive complex layers of dark chocolate, coffee and cherry liqueurs. Extremely smooth, well balanced with spicy ginger and black peppercorn overtones.

FINISH:  Dry, smooth and spicy, satisfying and very long with a salty smoky tail.


Also comes with this handcrafted Copper plate the size of a thick credit card that weighs over 3 oz!  This copper memento was made from the original copper still.  It has the bottle number and it entitles you inherit a bottle of the last ever Ledaig distilled in this still - the Ledaig Deanta (released in 2025)






More info from Drink Insider
The whisky was distilled using peated barley and laid to rest using a variety of hogsheads and butts in the distillery’s warehouse in 1972. In 1989, the casks were moved to the mainland to mature. In 2001, these came under the care of current Tobermory Master Distiller Ian MacMillan, who moved the whisky to Gonzales Byass Oloroso Sherry casks to add a further layer of aromas. After five years, the liquid was transferred back to Tobermory Distillery, where it remained until it was recently packaged up (in a beautiful case). Only 500 bottles were released worldwide, 100 of which were sent to the US. The whisky was bottled at 46.3% and has an SRP of $5,000. So, you know, pocket change.

Prairie Funky Gold Mosaic

Fresh batches all in stock now!



Prairie Artisan Ales - Funky Gold Mosaic Sour..$8.99 / pint
FUNKY GOLD MOSAIC
Guess what time it (almost) is?
Funky Gold Mosaic time.
We are super excited about this one. Funky Gold Mosaic is a dry-hopped sour ale. We took Prairie Gold (which was already pretty awesome) and dry-hopped it with a huge amount of Mosaic hops. The end results are tropical, sour, and, according to Chase, an all around new beer drinking experience!
We hope you enjoy it!
Cheers.
Jessi




Prairie Artisan Ales Sour Gold....$8.49 / pint
A Sour Bottle Conditioned Golden Ale
Prairie Gold is a dry, highly effervescent saison fermented with a mix of ale yeast, wine yeast, lactobacillus and 2 strains of brettanomyces. This beer highlights the various yeasts and bacteria used to make it. Lemon, pear, white wine grapes, and a touch of funk dominate the flavor and aroma in this champagne like beer.
ABV: 7%




Prairie Artisan Ales Prairie Hop...$8.99 / pint
Rated 99 on RateBeer

Rated 100 for its style on RateBeer
Dry Hopped Belgian Style Ale
Prairie Hop is our hop driven saison. This beer is packed with Simcoe and Citra hops. Notes of peach, mango, and tangerine can be found in the flavor and aroma of this beer. The beer finishes dry which helps the hops jump out of the glass flavor wise.
ABV 8%

Perennial Savant Beersel



Must be picked up within 7 days or it goes back on the shelf






Perennial Savant Beersel....$18.99 / 750ml

Here is some info via STLHops

“One of the best parts about working for Phil here at Perennial Artisan Ales is that he is really open to letting me experiment and run with crazy ideas. There are a lot of brewers and breweries who would have never let me brew a beer that is 100% Brettanomyces fermented!

Well, late last summer, around the time that Missouri starts harvesting its grapes, I started bugging Phil about brewing a beer that incorporated Missouri grown wine grapes, Brett, and barrels. I thought that this would be a great way in incorporate locally sourced ingredients, into a beer that very few other breweries have attempted. Phil found an opening in our brew schedule and gave me the go ahead!

After 2 weeks of calling almost every winery in Missouri, we found out that St. James Winery had 4 rows of unpicked, late harvest grapes, which were experimental for Missouri and were not going to be used this year. I packed up early one morning, heading to St. James, and hand picked almost 300 lbs of Noiret and Corot Noir grapes.

A Belgian Pale Ale malt bill was written, a 2 day sour mash made things funky and tart from the start, primary fermentation with Brettanomyces Bruxellensis added more rustic, barnyard notes, 4 months of aging in French Oak Cabernet barrels with both the grapes and Brettanomyces rounded everything out, and Savant Beersel was born!”

Perennial’s head brewer Cory King

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

A couple of Italian Gems - 95 and 97 points!






Early Candidate for Wine Spectator Wine of the Year
After enjoying an amazing bottle of the 2006 Vigna Riserva from Cavallotto a few months ago at dinner with friends I contacted our distributor the next morning about availability. Sadly the 2006 was sold out but luckily they had just placed and order for the 2008, fresh off my enjoyment of the 2006 I committed to all of the 2008 that was on order. Happily a few days later the Wine Spectator reviewed the wine, see below. It's taken longer than I would have liked but finally the 2008 Cavallotto Vigna Riserva Barolo as arrived.

2008 Cavallotto Vigna Riserva Barolo...$79.99
(The lowest price on Wine-Searcher is $84.97)

A rich, dense version, with power and beefy tannins supporting the cherry, wild herb, eucalyptus and tea notes. This is tight and bursting with latent energy, so give it more time. Shows excellent length and resonance on the finish, which hints at the ultimate potential here. Best from 2018 through 2036. 692 cases made. –BS
Rated 97/100 The Wine Spectator






95 Point Tuscan Gem
2013 Sette Ponti Crognolo Toscana...$24.99
For the third year in a row this wine has scored 95/100 from James Suckling, if there is a better value from Tuscany we haven't found it.
Lots currants, blueberries, vanilla and floral character on the nose and palate. Full body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Edgy contrast of acidity, ripe fruit and wood. Stylish, savory and delicious. A blend of sangiovese and merlot. One of the best values amongst Super Tuscan reds. Drink in 2016.
Rated 95/100 James Suckling

93 Point Chianti Rufina


2013 Selvapiana Chianti Rufina...$15.99
Elegant and fragrant, this opens with aromas of pressed rose, crushed violet, wild berry and a whiff of baking spice. The vibrant, focused palate delivers juicy red cherry, raspberry, white pepper, cinnamon and dried herb. It’s well balanced, with supple tannins and bright acidity. Drink through 2018.

Rated 93/100 The Wine Enthusiast

Samuel Adams Fat Jack Double Pumpkin




Samuel Adams Fat Jack Double Pumpkin....$6.49 /   22oz

Pleasantly plump and satisfied. This rich and luscious brew indulges in flavor with over 28 lbs. of pumpkin per barrel, for a full bodied sweetness and deep russet color. Classic pumpkin pie spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice ignite a warmth and spark that’s deepened by an undercurrent of roasty smoked malts. The result is a delectable brew full of enveloping layers of flavor and spice.

Arcadia Jaw Jacker Pumpkin Ale


Arcadia Jaw Jacker Pumpkin Ale....$9.49 / 6pk
This spiced amber-wheat ale is our celebration of the arrival of Autumn. Using the finest malted barley and a small amount of wheat for mouthfeel, Jaw-Jacker displays a brilliant orange-amber color, despite the absence of pumpkin in the recipe. The addition of cinnamon, all-spice and nutmeg (in the exact proportions of a family pumpkin pie recipe) creates a refreshingly spicy, season brew.

Aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels from Tallgrass




Just landed at Forsyth
Tallgrass Wooden Rooster Aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels...$8.49 / 19.2 oz CAN
Tallgrass Wooden Rooster is a Belgian-style tripel, aged in rye whiskey barrels.

Tallgrass Zombie Monkie Post-Apocalyptic Porter

This one was a big seller last year -- do not hesitate!







Tallgrass Zombie Monkie....$9.49 / 4pk 16oz cans

Style: Post-Apocalyptic Porter
ABV: 6.2%
IBU: 35
Full Brew Birthday: September 2013
A robust porter inspired by approximately true events… 
Zombie Monkie is a dark, rich porter, carefully brewed for the post-apocalyptic world to come. Crafted with lots of roasty dark chocolate and specialty malts, then inoculated with enough hops to add a floral/citrus character in the finish. It's hardy, complex, and interesting, because you might be drinking it for a long time. Zombie Monkie...
Grab A Can. Make A Plan. Take A Stand.



4 Hands Volume 3

Limit 2 bottles per person

SOLD OUT


4 Hands Volume 3....$11.99 / 22oz
Volume 3 is a Rye Wine aged in Templeton Rye Whiskey barrels for 6 months. Look for notes of American Whiskey, vanilla, caramel, and stone fruit.

Kilchoman 100% Islay 2nd Edition

The next lowest price on Wine-Searcher is $84.99
We are $69.99



Islay – The 2nd Edition ‘From Barley to Bottle’



Kilchoman 100% Islay 2nd Edition....$69.99
This a 50 – 50 vatting of 3 and 4 year old whisky matured in fresh bourbon casks. 100% Islay from barley to Bottle
All parts of the production process for the 100% Islay have taken place at the distillery – from barley to bottle. The barley is grown, malted, distilled, matured and bottled at Kilchoman making for a unique character. Bottled at 50% ABV and peated to a lower level to that our other releases, 100% Islay has a lighter, fresher feel to it. Citrus and lemon notes come through with soft peat smoke and a long smooth finish. First launched in 2010 a new edition of the 100% Islay has been released every year since.



Monday, August 10, 2015

Rare Niellon Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru



2012 Niellon Chassagne Montrachet Maltroie 1er Cru....$109.99
Floral, lime blossom, hazelnut and stone aromas and flavors highlight this racy, intense white. Balanced, echoing mineral notes on the lingering aftertaste. Best from 2017 through . 90 cases imported. –BS
Rated 93/100 The Wine Spectator

94-96 point wine from Eric Solomon






2012 La Peira Terrasses du Larzac...$89.99
"One of reference point producers in the Languedoc, and in my view, easily one of the top estates in all of France"- Jeb Dunnuck The Wine Advocate

The 2012 Coteaux du Languedoc Terrasses du Larzac La Peira is similar in style, with lively and fresh cassis, black raspberry, graphite, licorice and cedar notes flowing to a medium to full-bodied, profile on the palate. Pure, focused and nicely concentrated, enjoy it over the coming 10-12 years.

Raetd 94-96/100 The Wine Advocate

95+ Calera Jensen Pinot Noir



2012 Calera Jensen Vineyard Mt. Harlan Pinot Noir...$89.99
The 2012 Pinot Noir Jensen Vineyard hits the palate with a rush of fruit. Intense, layered and voluptuous in the glass, the 2012 boasts gorgeous mid-palate depth and pliancy. Raspberry jam and bluish-hued fruit come forth in abundance. The Jensen is bold, racy and pungent today. Of course, much of that forward personality will soften with age as the aromatics develop, but I expect the Jensen will always be a relatively overt Pinot. There is more than enough tannin and structure underpinning the fruit to suggest the Jensen will drink well for another 10-15 years, perhaps longer. This is the most opulent of the Calera 2012s.
Rated 95+/100 The Wine Advocate

2013 Domaine Weinbach

Limited releases



2013 Weinbach Riesling Schlossberg Cuvee Ste. Catherine L'Inedit...$66.99
Origins: the low part of Schlossberg "grand cru". The Riesling Cuvée Sainte Catherine are picked later and have more richness and more flesh.  "L'Inédit" ("the original one") is from the most beautiful plots. It is only produced when Riesling reaches an exceptional maturity. This choice cuvée is suave, delicate, and wonderful on its own, or with a lobster, or even with scallops.



2013 Domaine Weinbach Riesling Cuvee Theo...$33.99
The Domaine's Riesling wines have a fine and delicate fruitiness, they are racy, nervy, dry but at the same time they are mature and long on the palate. Riesling is such a prestigious grape variety that it is considered as the king of Alsace wines. It holds a special place in our vineyards and in our hearts.
"Lithe and lively, featuring bright tangerine, passion fruit, stone and melon flavors. Delivers a mouthwatering finish, with floral and spice notes. Drink now. 250 cases imported" -- Raetd 90/100 The Wine Spectator



2013 Domaine Weinbach Gewurztraminer Altenbourg...$49.99
With wonderful aromas of rose, gilly-flower, jasmine, spices, crystallized citrus fruit… with velvety bodies, they are sumptuous as an aperitif, with exotic food, smoked salmon or even with cheese, especially with French cheeses such as Munster or Roquefort. The taste of a particularly rich Gewurztraminer, a Grand Cru Furstentum or Late Harvest, is incomparable with a foie gras. It will be your taste buds' delight.