The Wine and Cheese Place: April 2010

Apr 30, 2010

Goose Island Bourbon County - Coffee

Very rare, only 5 cases came to St. Louis.

Sold Out!
Again, you can pick it up at any store -- click here to order
(At Forsyth now, it will take a few days to get to the other store)

Goose Island Black Bourbon County Coffee Stout...$11.99 / 22oz
Brewmasters Notes:
Everyday Goose Island smells the wonderful coffee roasting next to our brewery at Chicago's Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea. They put the same passion and skill into their coffee as Goose Island does with its beer. This excellent stout is made with Black Cat Espresso beans from our friends next door. You'll like the combination.

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

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

Wheach in cans!!

O'Fallon Wheach in CANS
has arrived at Forsyth

O'Fallon Wheach....$13.99 / 12 pack CANS

Boulevard Tasting Tonight!!

The Wine and Cheese Place
7435 Forsyth Blvd

Clayton, MO 63105
314-727-8788

Friday, April 30, 2010
4pm-6pm

Open House Format! Bring your friends! No reservations needed!
Boulevard Smokestack Series Tasting
Laura Dale from Boulevard will be on hand to taste the full Boulevard Smokestack Series.

We will taste:
Smokestack Tank 7
Smokestack Long Strange Tripel
Smokestack Double Wide IPA
Smokestack Sixth Glass Quad
Smokestack Dark Truth Stout
Smokestack Rye on Rye
Smokestack SeeYouLater Doppelbock
Smokestack Harvest Dance

Years before whiskey comes out of the bottle as that amber-hued, caramel-scented object of desire, it goes into a barrel as something called white dog. This unruly spirit is unknown to most drinkers in its legal form, and its name summons images of Mason jars, rusted-out Chevys and revenuers creeping through the pines.

While you can still venture to a backwoods holler - or a seedy urban nip joint - and find coarse, homemade white lightning, now hobbyist distillers and an increasing number of professionals are cozying up to the unaged, unadorned character of clear whiskey.

"White whiskey is very dependent on the flavors of that with which it was made, as opposed to that in which it was stored," says Max Watman, whose new book, "Chasing the White Dog" (Simon & Schuster, $25), is being released this week. It chronicles his experiences with moonshiners and home distilling, and with legal distillers who honed their skills on white whiskey.

"In a barrel-aged whiskey like Maker's Mark, you've got all that vanillin and good, oaky round flavors that have become very much a part of the character of the spirit. In white dog, you've got nothing but the distiller's craft and the agriculture behind it," Watman says.

Until recently, the only unaged whiskeys on the market were coarse-tasting novelty products such as Georgia Moon. Increasingly, small distillers are seeing white dog as a way to introduce bartenders and consumers to a forthcoming aged whiskey while it's still in its infancy and to showcase their distilling skills with a spirit untouched by the mitigating effects of an oak barrel.

The naked, rustic aspect of white dog is finding fans among spirits aficionados.

Sampling the years
"Having visited a number of distilleries around the world and tasted spirits fresh off the still, it always perplexed me that nobody sold white dog," says H. Joseph Ehrmann, owner of the Mission District bar Elixir.

"Whiskey is one of the oldest and most well-known spirits categories, but unlike tequila, you couldn't taste it at its different stages of age."

While many Snuffy Smith-style rural moonshiners are still in operation, Watman says the liquor they produce is often of a gut-wrenching quality, made from white sugar with a sprinkling of chicken feed, such as the jar of whiskey he obtained in Virginia from a gentleman known as Skillet.

"It was the most profoundly disgusting - and hazardous-tasting - liquor I've ever put to my lips," Watman says. "I felt as if I was taking years of happy drinking off my internal organs with every swallow."

In comparison, the white whiskeys being bottled by small distilleries are typically made with an artisan's touch.

These whiskeys have a grappa-like ranginess but a clean, bold grain flavor. San Francisco bars such as Nopa and Elixir carry several styles, including Hudson New York Corn Whiskey from Tuthilltown Spirits, made in part from an heirloom corn variety; and Death's Door White Whiskey, made primarily from Wisconsin-grown hard red winter wheat.

Elixir also carries one of the newest white whiskeys, Doubled & Twisted Light Whiskey from St. Helena-based Marko K Spirits. Distilled from a hoppy India Pale Ale in 2004 by Marko Karakasevic, master distiller at Charbay, the whiskey was rested in an oak barrel for one day, then diluted and placed in a stainless steel tank - which allowed the whiskey to mature without the coloring and flavoring effects of oak, which could obscure the raw spirit's spicy, floral character - until it was bottled late last year.

Other white whiskeys that have recently premiered include a malted-barley white dog from Portland, Ore.-based House Spirits, released in late 2009. Two additional batches - one an unaged peated-barley malt, the other a rye whiskey - were bottled earlier this month. Also, Copper Fox Distillery in Virginia has released cask-strength, unaged versions of its Wasmund's malted barley and rye whiskeys, which may be purchased along with a barrel for custom aging.

Getting in on the act
Larger distilleries have taken interest in white dog, too. Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky, maker of several whiskeys including Buffalo Trace Bourbon, began selling uncut, unaged samples of the bourbon for what is described as educational purposes at its gift shop in 2009 (due to demand, the distillery is considering a wider release).

"We have 45,000 visitors per year, and many have no idea that bourbon is clear when it goes into the barrel," says Angela Traver, a distillery spokeswoman. "It's interesting to give them a taste of the white dog, so it emphasizes the importance of the barrel and the aging process."

Ehrmann uses white whiskey to educate his customers as well. "I have a couple of whiskey barrels in the bar, and I say, 'When the whiskey goes into that barrel, this is what it is. When it comes out, it's what you know it to be,' " Ehrmann says. "That's all aging. When they taste that, they get it."

Watman says that even among whiskey fans, white dog is an acquired taste, although Nopa's White Manhattan, made with Death's Door White Whiskey, is one of its best-selling drinks. Not surprisingly, all of these unaged whiskeys are taken from larger batches, the remainder of which went into oak barrels to age.

But for Brian Ellison of Death's Door Spirits, what started as a onetime release for collectors has become a notable element in his business.

"Every time we make a batch, we ask if we have to barrel it for aging or sell it as white whiskey," Ellison says.

Paul Clarke is a contributing editor at Imbibe magazine, a trade publication, and publisher of the blog the Cocktail Chronicles.

Blind IPA Tasting results

The results are in from our Blind IPA Tasting!

We started out with a suprise Bells Two Hearted Ale flight. One bottled in January, one in February, one in March, and one in April. We wanted to see how the hops survive as an IPA ages. Bells showed fantastic, the two freshest came in at #2 and #3.

We had IPAs from Missouri, Colorado, California, Michigan, Idaho, and New York. I arranged the tasting from lowest ABV to the highest. Here are the results in order, starting with the winner. The beers were rated on a 10 point scale.

#1 - average score 6.95
Avery Maharaja #11
99 RateBeer
10.24% ABV
IBU: 102
Hops: Simcoe, Columbus, Centennial, Chinook

#2 - average score 6.89
Bells Two Hearted Ale -- bottled April 22
100 RateBeer
ABV: 7%
IBU: 56
Hops: Centennial

#3 - average score 6.47
Bells Two Hearted Ale -- bottled in March 22
100 RateBeer
ABV: 7%
IBU: 56
Hops: Centennial

#4 - average score 6.36
Bear Republic Racer 5
California
99 RateBeer
ABV: 7%
IBU: 69
Hops: Columbus, Cascade

#5 - average score 6.15
Founders Centennial IPA
Michigan
98 RateBeer
ABV: 7.2%
Hops: Centennial
IBU: 65

#6 - average score 6.00
Southern Tier Un*Earthly
99 RateBeer
11% ABV
IBU: 153

#7 - average score 5.63
Boulder Mojo IPA
Colorado
97 RateBeer
ABV: 6.8%
IBU: 89
Hops: Amarillo

#8 - average score 5.47
Bells Two Hearted Ale February 8
100 RateBeer
ABV: 7%
IBU: 56
Hops: Centennial

#9 - average score 5.36
O’Fallon 5-Day IPA
Missouri
90 RateBeer
ABV: 6.1%
IBU: 66
Hops: Summit, Cascade, Glacier

#10 - average score 5.10
New Belgium Ranger IPA
Colorado
94 RateBeer
ABV: 6.5%
IBU: 70
Simcoe, Cascade, Chinook

#11 - average score 4.94
Bells Two Hearted Ale January 4
100 RateBeer
ABV: 7%
IBU: 56
Hops: Centennial

#12 - average score 4.89
Laughing Dog Devil Dog Imperial IPA
98 RateBeer
10% ABV
IBU: 98
Hops: Columbus, Northern Brewer, Ahtanum, Cascade, Simcoe

#13 - average score 4.84
Moylans Hopsickle Imperial IPA
100 RateBeer
9.2% ABV
Hops: Cascade, Simcoe, Columbus, Ahtanum,
Chinook

#14 - average score 4.78
Grand Teton Sweetgrass IPA
81 RateBeer
6.5% ABV
Hops: Columbus, Galena, Amarillo, Cascade, Simcoe

#15 - average score 4.47
Arcadia Hop Mouth Double IPA
Michigan
94 RateBeer
ABV: 8.1%
IBU: 76

#16 - average score 4.36
Weston Brewlabs No.1
Missouri
51 RateBeer
ABV: 7.6%
IBU: 89
Hops: Cascade, Chinook

　
order beer online now

Weston from Missouri

Fresh load of Weston just arrived! All just days old.
Plus a new mixed pack

O'Malley's Pack-O-Craic....$6.99 / 6pk
2 bottles each
--- ISB Irish Style Bitter Ale
---Emerald Lager
---Festival Ale Irish Style Brown

In Old Ireland, people often come together to celebrate everyday life —fueled by good friends, and great beer. The resulting tradition of merriment and conviviality is called "craic" (pronounced "krak") — a quintessentially Irish form of fun.
Miles away in old Weston, Missouri, two strapping young lads decided to bring the tradition of craic to America. Their efforts to give craic a home in Weston have been welcomed by thirsty masses in search of merriment — and really great beer.
The O'Malley's Craic Pack includes a delightful trio of Irish-inspired beers perfect for every taste and every occasion:
O'Malley's Emerald, Irish Style Bitter (ISB) & Festival Ale
At O'Malley's, we dutifully carry on the Irish tradition of taking something great and making it better. We've taken beer and made it an essential part of every celebration. Crack open a Pack-O-Craic and bring this celebration home today!

A new brewery in Missouri is bottling now!
Weston Brewing Company!

(and available online now! - click here)

Weston Drop Kick Ale.....$6.99 / 6pk

The first year-round offering since O'Malley's Cream Ale is now in stores. Drop Kick Ale is the "The Beer that Kicks back". It was designed for sports fans of Kansas City. The beer is a joint effort between tehh Weston Brewing Company and The Kansas City Soccer Foundation. The Foundation is the charitable arm of the Kansas City Wizards Soccer team. The brewery will make a donation to the foundation with each Drop Kick sale. Proceeds benefit youth scholarships, health education, and athletic participation. The beer has a European flair. It is light brown in color with a smooth malty richness, but remains light enough to enjoy while cheering on your favorite team." -- brewery

The consider their Cream Ale to be their flagship brew...

Weston O'Malley's Cream Ale Irish Style...$6.99 / 6pk
O'Malley's Cream Ale -golden in color- is a smooth, sweet and creamy brew with a light floral hop nose, malty middle and smooth finish. Don't miss the brew that started it all.

Weston SunRye Ale.....$6.99 / 6pk
O'Malley's SunRye’s Ale is the perfect beer drinker’s summer brew. Not a watered down seasonal substitute, SunRye’s offers a complex combination of the ruddy malts and gives the smoothest finish yet. It’s about time summer had a real beer.

Weston Brew Labs #1 IPA....$3.69 / 22oz

89 IBUs.
7.6% ABV
"After several years in the session beer business it is time to spread our wings and throw some extra hops and alcohol into the bottle. As big IPA fans, this seemed like the right place to start. This beer started several years ago as our 10 gallon batch of "Cream Ale Reserve". We used pale, caramel, and roasted malt for the base then dumped a ton of Cascade and Chinook hops into the boil. In the end it turned out much smoother than we expected given the IBUs. It goes down easy and has become our favorite out of the tank. We hope you like it as much as we do!!!" -- brewery

History of Weston Brewing...
"The Weston Brewing Company was first established in 1842 by German immigrant John Georgian. Georgian brought the tradition of lager brewing with him when he settled in Weston. The brewery was designed to utilize ice from the river during winter and lagering cellars dug deep into the ground to create ideal conditions for his beer which needed to be stored below 60 degrees for more than six weeks. In creating the brewery, the Weston Brewing Company became one of the first lager breweries in the United States.
Upon Georgian’s death in 1857, the brewery was acquired by August Kunz. The Kunz family, Joseph and Charles, were active in the brewery business in Leavenworth, KS during the same time period.

Kunz rebuilt the brewery after it was destroyed by fire in 1860 and continued to operate it until 1872 when he closed it due to financial problems. The brewery remained in an inactive status until 1885 when another Leavenworth brewer, John Brandon, an English immigrant and engineer by trade, teamed with fellow Leavenworth resident, George Mack, to reopen, the brewery.

As respective Manager and Superintendent of the brewery, Brandon and Mack negotiated a deal with famous Lawrence, KS brewer, John Walruff. Walruff with his son August, acquired the brewery in 1887.

Walruff, a native of Cologne, Prussia and machinist by trade, dabbled in politics and banking in Ottawa, KS before opening a large brewery and beer garden in Lawrence, KS.

When the Kansas Legislature passed a prohibition law in 1880, Walruff spent six years and many thousands of dollars trying to circumvent the law by claiming his products were ‘medical beer’ that cured stomach and other intestinal ailments.

A United States Supreme Court decision in 1887 against Salina, KS brewer, Peter Mugler and the United States Brewers’ Association, concerning a States’ right to close down a brewery if the State felt it would prevent injurious use of its product was the final blow to Walruff. Walruff soon gave up his fight and relocated his brewery to Weston, MO.

Walruff and son August spent $50,000 to refurbish the Plant. August even took courses in Cincinnati to become a master brewer. The elder Walruff spent only one and a half years in Weston, moving to Kansas City in 1890. By 1894 it was rumored that he had piled up over $40,000 in debt. August stayed in Weston and was elected Mayor; a position he held for a good many years.

The brewery made 12,000 barrels of pale lager annually, had 20 employees, and was worth $80,000. Weston offices were located at 15th and Hickorv in Kansas City, MO and the Leavenworth Depot at 319 Shawnee. In 1901, a new corporation was formed called the Royal Brewing Co., of Kansas City with a net worth of $50,000. The incorporators were listed as Benjamin J. Joffee, Benjamin F. Wollman, Morton WolIman, August F. Walruff and John Walruff. A branch office was established at 1111-1114 Grand Avenue in Kansas City, MO. In 1904 it moved to 1912 Grand Avenue.

In 1907, the old corporation was replaced by a new one with capital stock listed at $200,000. The new incorporators were Dan Danciger, Jack Danciger and Abe Danciger. The Kansas City branch office was moved to 308 West 6th Street and later changed to 310 W. 6th Street,

A few years before prohibition, the brewery like many others in the country began producing a ‘near beer’.

Promoted as the "oldest brewery West of the Hudson River", the brewery sponsored the first Kansas City Royals baseball team in the early 1900’s.

The Weston Royal label was well known throughout the Midwest and even Europe in its heyday. In the early 1900’s, the brewery was the largest manufacturing plant in Platte County and was producing 20,000 barrels a year.

Five stone cellars that were dug in the 1840’s were used to lager and chill the beer in solid oaken tanks. Popular brands produced by the brewery were a Royal Pilsener advertised as "the beer that made Milwaukee jealous;" Rip Van Winkle, "the world’s richest bottle of beer;" and Vivatone, "a family beverage for all ailments."

The Weston Brewing Company of 1997 -1999 operated a 24 barrel traditional brewing operation located next to the original stone walls on the site of the Royal Brewery. Although short lived, the Weston Brewing Company produce an excellent Weston Pale Lager and Irish Ale produced in the original 19th century beer styles." -- brewery

Italian Sours!

Order Baladin online now

"Our search for the world’s most unique beers has brought us to Piozzo, right outside of Torino, Italy. In this village of 1,000 inhabitants, directly across from the town hall, lies Le Baladin, an extremely unusual brewpub and microbrewery. “Baladin” is a French

term referring to a “traveling minstrel.” The owner, Teo Musso, thought that this would be a fitting name for his brewery as the townspeople are known for moving around, especially between Italy and France. Upon visiting the brewery and meeting Teo, one finds that he is a very entertaining minstrel and has, thus, chosen the perfect name for his place. Teo studied at some of the best small breweries throughout Europe in order to learn his craft. He has worked most closely with another eccentric B. United International supplier, Jean-Louis Dits of Brasserie a Vapeur. Like Jean-Louis, Teo loves experimentation and never works by the books.

Baladin Nora Sour Edition 2006....$15.99 / 750ml
Description of the "non" sour edition.
"Teo’s wife, Nora, is the inspiration for this special beer, just released last year. Although she hails from the town of Lille, France, she also has Algerian heritage in her blood. So, this special brew has been concocted from an ancient Egyptian recipe. Unmalted kamut which was used in ancient Egyptian beers is employed. Hops, which would not have been used in Egypt, are employed in a tiny quantity, solely for their preservative power. Rather, ginger, myrrh, and orange peel are used to represent the balancing spices of ancient times. The myrrh provides the bittering that allows Teo to mostly forgo the use of hops." -- importer

Baladin Super Baladin Sour Edition 2004...$16.99 / 750ml
Descrition of the"non" sour edition
"The Super Baladin is the masterpiece of the brewery and is most often the favorite among the customers at Le Baladin. It originated from an old recipe created toward the end of the 9th century following the style of the Belgian abbey beers. It is similar to a Belgian triple. The twist with this beer is that an English yeast strain is used for primary fermentation. Afterwards, it is bottle-conditioned for two months using a Belgian strain." -- importer

The new expedition

We just scored another 9 cases of 2009 Expedition at Forsyth!

Bell's Expedition Stout 2009

Last batch bottled 11/11/09!

"The vintage port of American stout. A good ale for the cellar. Well suited for November storms and trips across the Sahara. The darkest beer we make; this Imperial stout contains double the malt and five times the hops of our Kalamazoo stout and is perfect for cellaring as its complex character will evolve over time." -- brewery

Rated 100 percentile on RateBeer

(with over 1700 reviews)

Rated A- on BeerAdvocate

It was also the big winner at our blind stout tasting.

Available online now

Apr 27, 2010

Fresh Bells....

More fresh Bells...
Just a heads up....
Bell's Pale Ale came in today at Forsyth bottled 4/12/10
We do not usually see this one only a few weeks old.

More Oberon in today from 4/20/10

Four Roses 100th Anniversary!

Available online also
Four Roses 100th Anniversary....$64.99

Limited Edition Single Barrel 2010 Distillery: Four Roses Distillery, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
Age: 17 years
Proof: 110%; approx 55% ABV
Color: Deeply aged amber
Nose: Some cherry pipe tobacco and cloves.
Taste: Luscious candied fruits of peach and cherry with a delicate spiciness. Rich mouthfeel with vanilla and oak. Creamy with that Four Roses signature mellowness. Incredible Bourbon to celebrate 100 years, definitely a must have for fans of Four Roses Bourbons.
Finish: Lingering rich cherry and wet citrus with touches of banana cream pie.
info from Bourbon Blog.com

Review Mikkeller 1000IBU

The Hopry (a Kansas City Beer Blog) reviews Mikkeller 1000IBU that he purchased from The Wine and Cheese Place
"Well here we are finally – a whole week dedicated to my love for hops. Why only a week Ginger Beard? I don’t know, either. I could

easily do a month’s worth of hop sessions, but the truth is that you’d all get bored and I would be bloated beyond belief. LOL! So here are three hopped up monsters I’ve been excited to share with you for quite a whole now. First up is the Mikkeller 1000 IBU Imperial IPA. It’s created a bit of controversy on the Internets, and for good reason. WTF is with 1000 IBUs? Who cares? Bring it on is what’s up. Now…I’m not going to say I had an out-of-body experience drinking this gem, but I came damn close. As most of you hopheads can attest, we are constantly looking for the hoppiest beers on the market. Well my friends…I’ve found it. This bad boy is a hopocalypse if I’ve ever tasted one. You are immediately met with an mushroom cloud of hop aromas out of the glass (definitely some centennial and simcoe), and just behind that is a good amount of sweet caramel malt aroma. And then the flavor just pummels your mouth…DAMN DUDE! It’s crazy, but much more balanced than you would expect. After all, it’s only 9.6% ABV – yes only – this should be an 18% beer. Anyway just go get one and enjoy the mayhem…seriously!" -- The Hopry

Watch the video:

The Hopry Session # 67 Mikkeller 1000 IBU Beer Review from The Hopry on Vimeo.

RJ Rockers Fish Paralyzer

Order RJ Rockers online now

RJ Rockers Fish Paralyzer....$6.29 / 22oz

Belgian Style Pale Ale
Ales from the Dark Side

"Fish Paralyzer is a Belgian-style pale ale that is moderately hopped with Tradition and Saaz. The grain bill calls for a combination of specialty malt to produce its sweetness and copper color. The Belgian Ale yeast used provides a strong Belgian essence to Phenolic and spicy flavors and aromas 7.5% abv " -- website

"Phil had heard that there were priceless pearls hidden among the oyster beds just off of the coast of Knokke-Heist, Belgium. Unfortunately, after three dyas of diving, he was unable to find and oysters at all. Instead, he found a long chain of small sea caves. On the fourth day, Phil found a cafe that was almost large enough for him to stand inside. As he swam into the cave, he noticed a strange light glowing in the distance. It slowly moved closer, almost lazily, with a hypnotic, swaying motion. Phil tried to swim back out of the cave, but found that he was unable to move. Phil was never heard from again, just the latest to fall victim to the Fish Paralyzer. No divers or fish were actually hurt in the making of this beer." -- label

Devil Dog Imperial IPA

Order Laughing Dog online

Devil Dog Imperial IPA...$8.49 / 22oz
"Diabolus Canis Imperiosus IPA"
The Devil Dog will chew you up and leave you whimpering for more.
At 98 IBU’s and 5.6 pounds of hops to the barrel it is an all out assault on the senses.Devil Dog Started as a labor of love but quickly took on a life of its own, leaving us drooling like Pavlov’s dogs at the mere mention of its name.Triple dry hopped and at 10% ABV, more than one of these bad boys will cause you to howl at passing strangers and chew up your toys, or anything else you can get your sharp little teeth on.
Hops: Columbus, Northern Brewer, Ahtanum, Cascade and Simcoe
Malt: Pale, Carmel and Munich

Boulder Brewing

Boulder Brewing arrives at The Wine and Cheese Place Forsyth!

"Colorado's first microbrewery"

Here are the beers we have in stock now!!

Mojo India Pale Ale

Flashback Anniversary Ale India Brown Ale

Sweaty Betty Blonde Ale

Hazed and Infused Dry Hopped Ale

New Holland Cellar Series

This is the first release from New Holland's Cellar Series...

New Holland Envious....$12.99 / 22oz

"The Cellar Series"
"Michigan pears fuel a second fermentation, providing subtle nuance between grain & fruit. A slumber on oak and local raspberries adds depth and tartness. Pairings: charcuterie, roasted poultry, grilled stone fruits." -- website

"We’re excited to unveil “Envious”, the first installment in our new “Cellar Series” this Saturday at the Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Beer Fest at 2 PM. Envious is a unique beer, a hybrid of many techniques. Its high-gravity malt-fermented base is blended with Michigan pear juice and chardonnay yeast for a second fermentation, before being aged with raspberries and oak. Unlike any style or beer before it, it must be tasted to be appreciated. Envious will be available on draught at select establishments later in the month, and 22-ounce, foil-necked bottles are scheduled to hit the streets on April 1st." -- press release from New Holland

Order New Holland online also

New Belgians...

Het Anker Lucifer...$3.99 / 11.2oz

"Lucifer pours cleat and golden yellow with a lasting and lacing full white head. The aroma of yeast carries into the flavor with slight metallic and spiced accents. A of fruit compliments the dry and bitter finish of this complex beer."

"Brewery Het Anker is one of the oldest breweries in Belgium. It first appears in the records of the city of Mechelen in 1369. That year “Jan in den Anker” was already paying his penny membership to the St. Rombouts Chapter of the Brewer’s Guild. The brewery appears a second time in the year 1433 which Mathijs, Jan’s son, took over the city brewery after not being profitable. In approximately 1400 the brewery, Beguinage, and the “crankenhuys” (hospital) occupied one third of the city. Some of the buildings from the 15th century still stand on the outer parts of the city." - click here to read more

Straffe Hendrik Bruges Triple Ale...$4.39 / 11.2oz
9% ABV
"Bruges Tripels are fuller bodied tripels with an amber color from the darker, roasted malts used during the brewing process. Also, adding to the fuller body is a longer boiling period for this beer and the use of more hops than traditional Belgian Triples. These unique characteristics were an immediate success with the people of Bruges. In 1981, when the Maes family began brewing this old recipe the people of Bruges gave it the name “Straffe Henri” (Strong Henri), after the owner Henri Maes."

Bell's Oberon -- Spring and Baseball!

Just arrived at Forsyth a fresh batch - only 3 days old! --

Also online now

This is Bell's #1 seller and it accounts for about 50% of their sales--find out why and pick up a 6 pack!
Bottled 4/20/09
Bell's Oberon -- 6pks
Released late in March each year. One of our favorite and most popular beers! When Oberon arrives, you know it is Spring and baseball season.
"An American wheat ale brewed with Saaz hops. Spicy and fruity, Oberon is the color and scent of a summer afternoon." -- Brewery

Plank-Bier

New Germans...

Plank Brewery
Brewery overview
Established in 1617, this small family owed brewery is under the direction of the 16th generation Michael Plank. Since taking over as brewmaster Michael has honed the traditional family recipes, with absolute dedication to quality which has resulted in Brewery Plank being named the “Best Small Brewery in the World” at the 2006 World Beer Cup – the only none North American Brewery to win a “Best of” award.

Plank-Bier Heller Weizenbock pint
Origin: Bavaria
Special Notes: Produced exclusively using only locally grown grain and hops
Alcohol: 7.5%
Bitterness: 17 IBU’s
Color (standard research method): 20 EBC
Original Gravity: 18.4%
Malts Used: Pilsner, Wheat and Carahell
Hops Used: Hallertauer Magnum, Hallertauer Perle
Bottle Conditioned: Yes
Awards: Gold Medal 2006, Bronze Medal 2004, and Gold Medal 2002 World Beer Cup – South German-style Weizenbock

Plank-Bier Dunkler Weizenbock pint
Origin: Bavaria
Special Notes: Produced exclusively using only locally grown grain and hops
Alcohol: 7.5%
Bitterness: 17 IBU’s
Color (standard research method): 42 EBC
Original Gravity: 18.4%
Malts Used: Pilsner, Wheat, Caramuench, and All-natural liquid malt color (Sinamar Weyermann)
Hops Used: Hallertauer Magnum, Hallertauer Perle
Bottle Conditioned: Yes
Awards: Gold Medal “Best Wheat Beer” 2007 World Expo of Beer; Gold Medal 2004 World Beer Cup – South German-style Weizenbock

Plank-Bier Hefe Weizen pint
Origin: Bavaria
Special Notes: Produced exclusively using only locally grown grain and hops
Alcohol: 5.2%
Bitterness: 13 IBU’s
Color (standard research method): 23 EBC
Original Gravity: 12.7%
Malts Used: Pilsner, Wheat and Caramuench
Hops Used: Hallertauer Magnum, Hallertauer Perle
Bottle Conditioned: Yes
Awards: Silver Medal 2006 World Beer Cup – German Style Dark Wheat Ale

Plank-Bier Pilsen pint

Bavarian Pils

no info on their site about this one.

Beer with dessert

"Make beer your after-dinner drink"
Evan Benn of the Post-Dispatch recommends beer with dessert
"Sometimes I feel sorry for dessert. Restaurants and home cooks go to great lengths to come up with thoughtful beverage pairings for appetizers and entrees. But when it's time for dessert, our drink options are often limited to a short list of digestifs or coffee.I don't know about you, but I think dessert deserves to be paired with something better than a shot of scotch, a pour of port or a cup of cappuccino.Bring on the beer......."
click here to read the full article

Kelpie Seaweed Ale

Kelpie gets a new look!

Kelpie - Seaweed Ale

"Prior to the 1850's there were many Scottish coastal alehouses which brewed their own ales, these ales were made from local malted barley which was grown on fields fertilised with seaweed. This enviornment gave the barley a very specific flavour which we have recreated by the inclusion of fresh seaweed in the mash tun. Seaweed (bladder rack) taken fresh from the water on the Argyll coast is 'mashed in' with the malted and roasted barley. Kelpie is a rich chocolate ale which has an aroma of fresh seabreeze and a distinctive malty texture." -- importer

4.4% vol

Ingredients: Malted Barley Bree, Hops and Seaweed

Grand Teton

We now have beer from Idaho.

Grand Teton Brewing
Grand Teton Brewing Company is situated at the base of the Teton Mountains within the city limits of Victor Idaho.

Monday -- Grand Teton Beer Tasting!! - click to read more

Seasonal 2010 is here! Bottled March 10, 2010
Grand Teton Lost Continent Double IPA ...$8.99 / 4pk
"Lost Continent Double IPA has an astonishing three pounds of hops per barrel in the kettle and another pound per barrel of "dry-hops" added after fermentation, bringing this beer to 90+ IBUs. Starting with an original gravity of 22˚ Plato (1.088 SG), this is a full-bodied beer weighing in at 8.0% ABV. The hops provide citrusy, resinous spiciness, making this beer a great match for any bold food. Try it with prime rib, Cajun blackened pork or chicken, Thai, Indian or Vietnamese cuisine." -- brewery

Order Grand Teton online now

Plus other Grand Teton

Grand Teton Black Cauldron - click to read more
Grand Teton Pursuit of Hoppiness - click to read more

Grand Teton Sheep Eater Scotch Ale....$13.99 / liter
Sheep Eater Scotch Ale was brewed to showcase the role of malt in the flavor of beer and brewed in strict adherence to the Reinheitsgebot, or German Beer Purity Law.Scotch Ales are some of the world's most flavorful beers. Scotland's cold, blustery climate lends itself to the growing of barley and oats, but not to the production of hops, which are almost always added sparingly.The yeast must work at cooler temperatures than is customary for ales, resulting in maltier, cleaner, less fruity or estery, beers. The color often comes from black roasted malt, which imparts some dryness, but because of the lower attenuation and hopping rates, Scottish ales are almost always slightly sweet and incredibly drinkable.Ours was brewed with black roasted barley, biscuit and peat-smoked malt. It was gently hopped, fermented cool and aged cold for weeks for smoothness. It is copper-brown in color, with some sweet maltiness and plenty of body.Try it with ham, roast pork or chicken, roasted vegetables or venison, crème brulee or, most traditionally, Scottish butter shortbread cookies.Alcohol by volume 7.5%

Au Naturale
Grand Teton Organic Blonde Ale...$8.99 / 6pk

"Grand Teton Brewing is now brewing an all-organic beer.
Au Naturale is an easy drinking, blonde ale. The ale has a crisp, clean body and a subtle malt sweetness. All organic German Pilsner, Vienna and CaraHell malts and German organic Hallertau hops are used for purity’s sake. The play on words lends itself not only to the organic ingredients in the beer, but also to the lifestyle of those of us who live at one with nature. Grab a bottle and join us in the hot spring!" -- brewery
Awards
2008 - Silver Medal, Dortmunder/Vienna Lager - North American Brewers Association
2007 - Gold Medal, Dortmunder/Vienna Lager - North American Brewers Association

Bitch Creek ESB / 6pk....$8.99 / 6pk
"Bitch Creek perfectly balances big malt sweetness and robust hop flavor for a full bodied, satisfying mahogany ale. Like the stream for which it is named, our Bitch Creek ESB is full of character... Not for the timid." -- brewery
Awards
2008 -Gold Medal, American Brown Ale - North American Brewers Association

XX Bitch Creek ESB 20th Anniversary...$13.99 / liter
Liter flip top bottles finished in wax
"To commemorate that twenty-year history, the brewers of Grand Teton have chosen four of our favorite beers--three current, one historical--to update and enhance. XX Bitch Creek is the final release in our 2008 XX series.

Bitch Creek ESB was first brewed in 2003, and perfectly balances big malt sweetness and robust hop flavor for a full-bodied mahogany ale. It has quickly become our best-selling beer, as well as our most-critically acclaimed, having won medals--including two Golds-- at three out the past four Great American Beer Festivals. XX Bitch Creek is all that and more. We took the Bitch Creek recipe and doubled everything: double the malt, double the hops, twice the flavor. This is a huge beer at 7.5% alcohol by volume, which should be paired with only the most flavorful foods. Try it with the best steaks, game meats and hearty stews, or with a nice cave-aged Gouda." -- brewery
94 percentile on Ratebeer

Grand Teton Howling Wolf Weizenbock Cellar Reserve....$13.99 / liter
Liter flip top bottle.
"Was brewed to showcase yeast in the flavor of beer, and was brewed in strict adherence to the Reinheitsgebot. "Weizenbock means strong wheat beer. Wheat contributes a pleasant citric acidity and delicacy on the palate, and its surfet of protein creates a massive head. Howling Wolf was crafted with 40% wheat malt and minimally spiced with Liberty Hops. Like all Bavarian wheat beers, yeast is the star of this show." -- brewery

Gand Teton Sweetgrass IPA....$8.99 / 6pk
"Sweetgrass is crisp and fragrant with a generous yet smooth hop character. The sweet bouquet and spicy flavor come from the combination of five hops and Idaho grown barleys. The color? We call is “Suntan”!" -- brewery

El Mole Ocho

2010 New Holland High Gravity Series
The first has arrived....

New Holland El Mole Ocho 22oz
8% ABV
"Our exploration into the flavors of mole, the legendary sauce of central Mexico. Malty aroma and rich,cocoa-laden body laced with an invigorating tinge of dried chilies and coffee.Pairings: poultry, red meat, dark chocolate." -- New Holland

Available online also

Bourbon Barrel Dogfather

More Bourbon Barrel has arrived!!
Laughing Dog Bourbon Barrel Dogfather....$9.99 / 22oz

Made of 7 malts and 4 different hops giving it a complex flavor profile. Bourbon barrel aged.
Aged 3 - 4 months in Heaven Hills Bourbon Barrels.
ABV: 11%

Laughing Dog I.P.A.....$11.99 / 6pk
"Brewed with five of the finest hops from Yakima WA. To balance the hop flavors, five different American grown malted barley’s add a malt flavor and smooth finish. A spicy, hoppy aroma balanced with malt body makes this beer perfect for relaxing after a hard days work." -- brewery

Order Laughing Dog online

Top Hat Butters from St. Louis, MO

Top Hat Gourmet Butters from St. Louis, Missouri

Available at our Rock Hill location now (Forsyth and Ballwin on Thurs)

Top Hat Gourmet Garlic Butter
"...is quite possibly the most mouthwatering combination of 16 all-natural ingredients ever created. It's an easy, instant way to breath new life into your Steaks, Shrimp, Crab Legs, Poultry, Potatoes, Pasta, and of course -- Garlic Bread. There are so many dishes that can be easily enhanced with Top Hat Gourmet Garlic Butter, that we can't possibly name them all." -- Top Hat

Top Hat Gorgonzola Butter
"...is the cream of the crop when you're looking for a savory way to make a steak sizzle with a little extra flavor or add a surge of seasoning to pork, chicken or lamb." -- Top Hat

Top Hat Cinnamon Butter
"...is one way we like to show our sweet side. English muffins, pancakes, toast, bagels, madalines, rolls and croissants are all happy to gain a subtle, sweet kiss from Top Hat Cinnamon Butter. It also works wonders in cinnamon rolls." -- Top Hat

Top Hat Mandarin Orange Butter
"...is an easy way to add a touch of fresh fruit-infused sweetness to english muffins, bagels, madalines , pancakes, toast, rolls, croissants and more. Skip the clumpy jam and jelly, because Top Hat Mandarin Orange Butter is the creamy way to add the perfect amount of flavor to your baked goods." -- Top Hat

Click here for recipes

More info about Top Hat
"The secret recipe of the world's top cola sits in a heavily fortified vault on copy proof paper. Even greater measures are employed to guard the identity of the 11 herbs and spices that flavor the worlds most famous fried chicken. Much as a great magician closely guards the secrets to their signature illusion, a gourmet chef is equally as protective of their signature recipe, usually. As armed guards kept a watchful eye on the great secrets of the culinary world for the past 30 years, the recipe to the world's greatest garlic butter has passed the years amongst discarded neckties and mothballs, a scrap of notebook paper in shoebox at the bottom a closet in a St. Louis home. It was an unremarkable cocoon for the brightest butterfly. Today, Top Hat Gourmet Garlic Butter, an artesian blend of 16 all-natural ingredients, is ready for your table, able to add an instant infusion of brilliant taste to even the most mundane meal.
As much as we wish it weren't true, there are a few occasions in the kitchen that call for a taste other than that of Top Hat Gourmet Garlic Butter. That's why we've created three additional members of the Top Hat flavor family. Top Hat Gorgonzola Butter, the savory savior of beef, pork, chicken and lamb is a bold way to bring new flavor to the table. We show our sweet side with Top Hat Mandarin Orange Butter and our Top Hat Cinnamon Butter, both are able to enhance pancakes, muffins, breads and croissants, anything that needs a sweet kiss of incredible taste." -- Top Hat

Blaugies Darbyste

Blaugies Darbyste.....25oz.....$11.99

"A traditional style named for John Darby, preacher of temperance whose parishioners were oddly moved by a ‘soft drink’ they insisted was just fig juice . . .The Blaugies Darbyste is a saison made with wheat and fermented with fig juice. A variant of the Belgian “Wit” or “Blanche” style, but a little drier and a lot more substantial and flavorful. In his Beer Companion, Michael Jackson notes the burgeoning interest in the Belgian style of wheat beers in the U.S. and elsewhere, and adds hopefully that “perhaps an acute traditionalist will bring back the use of figs as a fermentable material" The brewery at Blaugies has answered the call. According to Jackson [Michael Jackson, beer guru], “The figs are not evident in the flavor, which is light, lemony and dry.” This is a great beer for summer – and the best “blanche biere” of Belgium. Very spritzy, as a saison should be - be careful popping the cork.
Darbyste is hand-brewed in small batches by the impassioned, gifted Blaugies brewers, a husband, wife, and son team. They’re very adventurous in recreating traditional beer styles - and are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. The family enjoys good food and beer, and consumes a lot of its own product for cooking and drinking.
We like the rougher, grainier malt texture of all their beers. They give you the feeling that the brewers put this beer in a bottle just a few days ago, especially for you.
Selected as one of the fifty best beers in the world by Men's Journal magazine, July 2005." -- Importer

St. Louis Craft Beer Week 2010

Mike Sweeney of STLHops.com is hosting the second annual St. Louis Craft Beer Week.

St. Louis has an unparalleled history for beer in the United States. The St. Louis Craft Beer Week is a celebration of that history.

The 2010 Craft Beer Week celebration is beginning on April 24th and culminating on April 30th, May 1st and 2nd with the St. Louis Microfest. Each night of this event will provide an opportunity to talk to brewers, pair food and beer, play some trivia or meet other beer enthusiasts. This is your chance to really see everything that the St. Louis beer scene has to offer.

The St. Louis Craft Beer Week is devoted to the beer brewers, drinkers and lovers in St. Louis. Be sure to check our Events page and the Calendar to learn more information about upcoming events.

Events are now posted on the site -- click here to see all events

Here are a few events at our stores....

The Wine and Cheese Place
7435 Forsyth Blvd, Clayton, MO
Monday, April 26, 2010 from 5pm - 7pm
Grand Teton Beer and Cheese Pairing
Open House Format! Bring your friends! No reservations needed!

Chuck Nowicki, Sales and Marketing Director of Grand Teton, will be on hand to talk about and taste their reserve series.
We will taste...
Grand Teton Pursuit of Hoppiness
Grand Teton Sheepeater Scotch Ale
Grand Teton Bitch Creek Double ESB
Grand Teton Howling Wolf Weizenbock

***********************

Provisions Gourmet Market
Beer and Food Pairing Class
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
6:30 - 7:45pm
$25 / person

Reservations Required for this event - click here to sign up
or call Samantha at 314-989-0020
Most BEER dinners feature one brewery, we have the option of choosing from 1,000 different beers. Sign up now!
We have paired two experts Certified Sommelier Angela Ortmann (stlwinegirl) and Chef Scott from Provisions Gourmet Market for 5 courses of Food and BEER Pairing. The best bargain in town.

Sorry, sold out already!
The Wine and Cheese Place -- Forsyth

Blind IPA - Imperial IPA Beer Tasting
Thursday April 29
6pm-7:30pm

Only $5 / person
Reservations required -- limited to 24 people
Click here for reservations

We will taste many different IPAs and Imperial IPAs and rate them to see which ones are the favorites without label influence. You will not know which beers are in each flight, they will be tasted blind. We did this last year with Stouts and it was a great time. Fun, informative, and very interesting event.
Not sure of the list of beers we will use, but here ares some IPAs that we have to choose from: Avery Maharaja, Bells Two Hearted, Founders Centennial, Arcadia HopMouth Double IPA, Boulevard Single Wide IPA, Bouldevard Double Wide IPA, O'Fallon 5-Day IPA, Moylans IPA, Moylans Hopsickle, Lagunitas, Southern Tier, Avery, Laughing Dog IPA, Laughing Dog Alpha Dog, Anderson Brewing, Caldera, Bridgeport Hop Czar, Big Sky, New Belgium Ranger IPA, Weston, Goose Island, Shipyard, Southern Tier UnEarthly, Acme, Odells, Great Divide Titan, and maybe some Mikkeller!

***********************

The Wine and Cheese Place
7435 Forsyth Blvd