May 29, 2010

Cans

Had some Caldera IPA in the cans sent over from another store. A few in stock now.

New in stock --
Blue Moon in CANS
Leinenkugels Summer Shandy in CANS



Of note,
The Mikkeller Barrel Aged Black Hole beers are moving fast.
Not sure how long they will last!


Beer Tasting!

Stop by today Saturday,
May 29 -- Forsyth.
11am-1pm
We will taste a few of the new ones:
Mikkeller 10
Mikkeller I BeatU
Ben Middlemiss Benediction
Dominus Vobiscum
Jandrain V Cense

We will also have some wine open from 1-3pm




Ben Middlemiss Benediction Ale


Available online

First time in the U.S. since 2000!


Ben Middlemiss Benediction Ale...$6.29 / 11.2oz
"Ben Middlemiss Benediction ale made its first U.S. appearance in 2000 at the Museum of Archaeology and Antrhopology in Philadelphia as part of Michael Jackson's "10 Most Exciting Beers of the Millennium." We know of no other New Zealand beer that receives the same amount of care and attention, and we are proud to re-introduce Benediction to the United States. This classic ale will develop for 4-5 years if kept under ideal cellar conditions." -- back label






Read the article by Michael Jackson
"No beer-loving visitor to Auckland should miss Galbraith's Alehouse"




Mikkeller and BrewDog

Order Mikkeller online



Mikkeller/BrewDog I Beat yoU....$6.49 / 11.2oz
American Style Imperial India Pale Ale
9.75% Alcohol
98% on RateBeer
"I Beat yoU is a heavily-hopped Double IPA brewed at BrewDog’s Scotland facility. The beer features Herkules (a German hop variety that is only a few years old), Centennial, Warrior, Amarillo, Simcoe and Columbus hops and weighs in at 9.75% ABV." --
www.beernews.org






Mikkeller Frelser (Triple Bock)

Order Mikkeller online



Mikkeller Frelser (Triple Bock)....$16.99 / 750ml
"This Bock from Mikkeller is called Frelser. Means Savior in Danish. The name is a subtle reference to all Bocks Mother: Salvator. Originally the monks brewed Salvator because they needed a very strong and rich beer during Lent. Do not drink this beer instead of a meal, it contains 11% alcohol." -- Mikkeller

Order all Mikkeller online





Crap beer...

Order Mikkeller online

Back in stock VERY RARE!!
Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel...$13.99 / pint

10.9%
Rated 100 percentile on RateBeer
Rated A on BeerAdvocate

"This imperial Oatmeal stout is brewed with one of the world’s most expensive coffees, made from droppings of weasel-like civet cats. The fussy Southeast Asian animals only eat the best and ripest coffee berries. Enzymes in their digestive system help to break down the bean. Workers collect the bean-containing droppings for Civet or Weasel Coffee. The exceedingly rare Civet Coffee has a strong taste and an even stronger aroma.
Ingredients :Water, malts, hops, yeast and Vietnamese ca phe chon coffee." -- Mikkeller




"Beer Geek Brunch from Mikkeller is the highest rated Danish beer at RateBeer.com. And with the massive media coverage up to its release in early January, demand has obviously been much higher than supply. Beer Geek Brunch is in other words almost sold out. So Mikkel is getting ready for making the next batch Beer Geek Brunch in Norway. And a huge consignment of Ca Pe Chon coffee should also be on its way. On the picture you can see Rob with a weasel-poo full of the coffee beans that are giving Beer Geek Brunch its unique taste." -- Mikkeller









"So what is special about this particular big beer (10+ % ABV)? “Shit coffee.” Here is a post from Wikipedia all about Kopi Luwak, a.k.a. Civet coffee, a.k.a. the most expensive coffee in the world. And here is the animal coffee that they are using.
“Civet coffee is coffee made from coffee berries which have been eaten by and passed through the digestive tract of the Asian Palm Civet [...] The inner bean of the berry is not digested, but it has been proposed that enzymes in the stomach of the civet add to the coffee’s flavor by breaking down the proteins that give coffee its bitter taste. The beans are defecated still covered in some inner layers of the berry. The beans are washed, and given only a light roast so as to not destroy the complex flavors that develop through the process.” - http://www.beernews.org/

Mikkeller 10 Hops

Order Mikkeller online


Mikkeller "10" Hops ....$5.29 / 11.2oz


This is the culmination of Mikkeller's Single Hop Series. Mikkel started with the same beer and bottled 10 different beers with 10 different hops. This is the final one: it includes all ten hops!!


Click here to read about the "Single Hop" Series




Revelation Cat - Italy

Order online now! Limited!

The Woodwork series is our first release from Revelation Cat. The "base" beer is an 110 IBU Imperial IPA made from 100% Munich Malt and hopped with Nelsin Sauvin Hops. There are 4 versions available: "base" beer with out any oak aging, then the same "base" beer treated in 3 different oaks. The beer was aged for 7 days in the oak barrels. 11% ABV

Revelation Cat Woodwork (Base)....$9.99 / 375ml
Revelation Cat Woodwork (American Oak)....$12.99 / 375ml
Revelation Cat Woodwork (French Oak)...$12.99 / 375ml
Revelation Cat Woodwork (Acasia)....$12.99 / 375ml

"This experimental ale is brewed to highlight the different effects that various woods give while aging the same batch. The ale we chose to brew as a base for this experiment is a very dry Heavy IPA brewed using only one malt, a neutral yeast and a one hop variety, grown in New Zealand. The barrels used for aging have been assembled in Sicily and are all fresh, used for the first time. This may sound discouraging, however our intention is to make you really taste the wood and all the differences between the barriques we used, which have been made with French oak, American oak, and Acasia. These ales have been bottled exclusively in 375ml gueuze bottles to aid you in parallel tasting and sampling without which this experiment would not have sense. Brewed in one of the most fascinating breweries in the world, by one of the most experienced brewers of the modern brewing scene, this is the first release of the Revelation Cat Craft Brewing project and we hope you will understand our goals and ideas." -- bottle


About Revelation Cat:
"....The production part seems already set to two directives: originality and collaboration, where the first is brought by the Woodwork Series, produced in Belgium at the brewery De Proef. The idea is very simple but innovative: to experience the effect of different woods in the maturation of beer, starting from a single base product. The base is a Strong single malt and single hop IPA, made with Munich malt and Nelson Sauvin (hops from New Zealand that many producers are recently fell in love with), very dry, with an alcohol content of 11% alc. This IPA is then aged in brand new oak barrels assembled in Sicily and never used before, which differ in the type of wood: French oak, American oak and acacia. The result is bottled in bottles of 37,5 cl, a size especially designed for a multiple tasting. I have heard words of praise from those who had the opportunity to try it.

Along with original productions the Revelation Cat will also brew traditional beers, and of course the production methods and ingredients will be of the highest level, for a clean production, innovative and exciting. The brewer will be Marco Meneghin, now transplanted from Milan to Rome, that some of you might know and who joined me in the homebrewer laboratoires during the latest Italian Beer Festival in Rome."
Info from:
Beer Chronicles
the craft beer world seen by an Italian beer lover










Canadian Micro-Brewery

Available online

Charlevoix Dominus Vobiscum Double...$6.99 / pint
Rated 98/100 Percentile on RateBeer
9% ABV
"The courtship of Fred and Caroline, founders of the Microbrasserrie Charlevoix was intimately connected to their mutual love of Quebec's stunning Charlevoux region and their shared passion for brewing at home. They brewed two batches every weekend. Now that they're married and have their own brewery, they still bring the same energy and creativity to making unusual ales.

"The DOUBLE is a complex mahogany-brown brew with an impressivevly aromatic personality. Its nose of candied fruit, dried raisins and star anise segues into a rich, nearly full mouthfeel that beckons you to savor this delicacy delicately." -- back label








May 28, 2010

O'Fallon Wee Heavy

In stock at Forsyth now!
O'Fallon Wee Heavy....$8.79 / 4pk





Here are some picture from O'Fallon's facebook page...


Beer news....

We are expecting a lot of new beers sometime today! I am off work today, so I will not get them priced and ready for sale until tomorrow.

New Mikkeller, Revelation Cat and much more.
Stay tuned

We will do a tasting of some of the new ones tomorrow from 11am-2pm at Forsyth.



May 26, 2010

New Rogue

New, limited release in stock at Forsyth....
Online also.





Rogue John John Juniper Ale....$8.49 / 22oz
Pale Ale brewed with Juniper Berries and aged in Spruce Gin Barrels

Style: Barrel aged


Food Pairing: Pork, Hot & Spicy
Tasting Notes:
A hint of cucumber and a Sprucey note in the aroma followed by a Juniper bite mid palate finishing with a soft oakiness.
11 Ingredients:
Harrington, Crystal, Triumph, C-15 & Rogue Micro Barley Farm Dare™ malts.Styrian, Golding, Amarillo & Rogue Hopyard Willamette hops.Juniper Berries Pacman Yeast & Free Range Coastal Water.








Chatoe Rogue Single Malt....$6.49 / 22oz

Style: Blonde Ale Food Pairing: Seafood, Hot & Spicy
Tasting Notes:
Single Malt Ale has a malty aroma and is deep golden in color with a dense creamy head. It is medium bodied with a lush rich maltiness from the Dare™ malt.


4 Ingredients:
Malts: Rogue Barley Farm first growth Dare™ malts.
Hops: Rogue Hopyard first growth Revolution Hops.
Yeast & Water: Free Range Coastal Water and Pacman Yeast.







May 25, 2010

Odell - Limited releases!

Order Odell online (reserve yours online for pick up at any of our stores)



Just released! In stock at Rock Hill, Forsyth and Ballwin now
-- still waiting at Provisions


Limit 2 bottles per person
Odell Saboteur

Brett Barrel Brown Ale....$11.99 / 750ml
"Our brewer’s created an unpretentious, yet sophisticated brown ale. Then they plotted, and dosed this full-bodied ale with brettanomyces, the ultimate adversary of wineries.
Embracing this vintner’s nemesis resulted in a complex and wonderfully drinkable beer. Intense earthy undertones, and notes of vanilla and pineapple come together with a sour silhouette. Aged in American oak barrels." -- brewery
10.0% Alc. by Vol.
100% Bottle Conditioned

No limit!
Odell Woodcut Series No.4....$24.99
"Our first lager offering in the Woodcut series, Woodcut No. 4 Oak Aged Lager provides an exceptional “base” for showcasing the importance of hand selected, hand coopered, medium toast, American virgin oak barrels. By choosing a double Marzen style lager, our brewers were able to design a beer that showcases the caramel malty characters of a Marzen along with the clean warming alcohol character only an 11% lager can provide. The nose of this beer is rich in complexity, providing pineapple, dried apricot, raisin and a pleasantly soft muskiness. Toasted oak overtone
s balance these aromas with a light cedar quality. As the warming alcohol coats the palate a soft vanilla lingers on the tongue imparted by the medium toast virgin oak." -- brewery



ABV: 11%













Founders Curmudgeon 2010

Order Founders online now
2010 Version just arrived -- our second year of Founders' Seasonals!!!
Curmudgeon Old Ale....$10.99 / 4pk
Rated 98 percentile on RateBeer.com

"Think classic sea fairing ports, local pubs, and weathered old fisherman. This old ale is brewed with molasses and an insane focus on the malt bill, then aged in oak. The result is a strong, rich, malty-delight that’s deceptively smooth and drinkable" -- Founders
.
.
Plus other great Founders favorites in stock now!!
Why are we so excited about Founders?
Check out these ratings --
Centennial IPA.... 6pk

Rated 98 percentile on RateBeer.com

Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale....6pk
Rated 98 percentile on RateBeer.com

Red's Rye.....6pk
Rated 99 percentile on RateBeer.com
#1 best
"Specialty Grain" style on RateBeer

Porter....6pk
Rated 100 percentile on RateBeer.com

#3 best Porter in the world on RateBeer


Double Trouble Double IPA...4pk
Rated 99 percentile on RateBeer.com







May 24, 2010

BBQ time is here!

At all locations now!.
Jack Daniels Whiskey Barrel Charcoal....$2.99 / 6.8lb bag

Briquets and Smoker Blocks

Created from authentic Jack Daniel's® Oak Whiskey Barrels! A product innovation for the charcoal-grilling and wood-smoking enthusiast! Whiskey Barrel® Charcoal originates from authentic Jack Daniel's® oak aging barrels. The charcoal briquets are made with barrel pieces. Also included are smoker blocks, cut from these original Jack Daniel's® barrels.
Features
** Whiskey Barrel® Charcoal originates from authentic Jack Daniel's® Oak Aging Barrels
** As seasons change, whiskey is drawn in and out of the oak wood barrel arrels are emptied at maturity and a portion of the whiskey remains inside the wood
** Whiskey Barrel® Charcoal Briquets -- premium quality briquets, made from fine wood char, also contain Jack Daniel's barrel pieces for distinct charcoal-grilled flavor.
**Whiskey Barrel® Smoker Blocks -- cut directly from whiskey-saturated barrel staves, the blocks capture a pleasant mix of caramel, vanilla and wood notes and will impart an extraordinary smoked flavor to grilled foods.
**No need to purchase additional woods!
**Premium quality -- made in the U.S.A.
**Grill and drink responsibly






May 21, 2010

Some news

Just a quick note, We are basically sold out of Schlafly Lager in the cans and I am told no new batch until June 26!!

Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale -- Sold out at Forsyth.
Provisions and Rock Hill still have some.




Affligem is back!


Another Belgian is back after a long absence from St. Louis...

Affligem Double....750ml
Affligem Triple....750ml
Affligem Blonde...6pk

"Winner of numerous awards and international tasting sessions, Affligem is Belgium’s abbey beer. Brewed in the Flemish village, Opwijk, this top-fermenting beer is still brewed according to the original recipe.Affligem Blond, Affligem Dubbel, and Affligem Tripel" -- importer





Southern Tier Pale Ale

New Release!
First time in St. Louis
Southern Tier Pale Ale....$8.99 / 6pk

"Our Pale is an aggressively hopped, with immense overtones of grapefruit and tangerine wrapped in a delicately refined body of pale barley and wheat. 6.0% abv • Pale Ale" -- brewery








Canned Beer

Great Article about Canned Craft Beer
Clearing up Craft Beer in a Can
By Mike Sweeney
Stlhops.com


One of the benefits to doing tours at the Schlafly Tap Room is that I often get to meet a bunch of people that haven’t been exposed to the huge world that is craft beer. It’s also interesting to see some of the reactions that take place when I mention that Schlafly has just release their Summer Lager in a can. Sometimes that reaction is joy, but a lot of times it comes across as a sour look.
It’s at that point that I have to stop the tour and clear up their misconception of canned beer. So, with the addition of more and more canned craft beer coming into the St. Louis area, it maybe it’s time to do it on a larger scale, to explain some of the advantages and disadvantages. First, let’s lay out some of the things canned craft beer is not:


Isn’t canned beer supposed to be cheaper?

At some point in your life, I’m sure you’ve had to purchase a large amount of macro beer for a party. You’ve quickly noticed that buying canned beer is usually much cheaper than buying beer in bottles. Why is this? It’s simply the economics of scale. When you’re brewing over a 100 million barrels of beer each year, you’re going to need hundreds of millions (and possibly even billions) of cans. When you’re buying that many cans, the price decreases.
Local brewers just aren’t going to have the warehouse space to purchase the hundreds of thousands of cans necessary to drop the price and lower the cost for the beer as a whole. Not to mention the fact that neither brewer is canning these beers locally, they’re currently having the beers contract brewed at Steven’s Point Brewery in Wisconsin. That adds additional shipping and contract costs.


Don’t beer cans use BPA?

You’re right, they do. The companies that currently make beer cans are looking into new can liners that don’t contain Bisphenol A, but if BPA is a concern, then you probably should avoid cans for the time being.

Bleh, beer out of a can tastes like metal!
That’s because you’re committing a cardinal sin when it comes to drinking craft beer, you’re drinking it out of the can or bottle. Think back to the times you had a stuffy nose, remember how everything you tasted was a muted version of what you normally taste? That’s because your sense of taste is completely tied into smell.
When you wrap your lips around a bottle or can, you’re creating a seal that keeps the beer’s aroma from reaching your nose. If you can’t smell, you’re not going to fully enjoy the beer as it was intended. As mentioned above, the can or bottle is merely a transportation device to move the beer from the brewery into your glass.
Now, are there going to be times when you can’t pour it into a glass? Sure, which brings us to one of the reasons canned beer is so great:

Convenience.
This is probably the main reason most craft breweries have begun canning beer. Canned beer can go places bottled beer cannot. The park, beach, pool, float trips; basically any place that bottles aren’t allowed, cans can happily live. They’re just about the perfect summer beer vessel.
This also means that you may on occasion have to drink out of the can. Obviously it’s not the preferred method of drinking your beer, but sometimes you don’t have a choice.

No Light.
Light is probably the biggest enemy of beer. In just a short time, light is the thing that can make that wonderfully hoppy beer you’re drinking turn into something that smells like it came out of the backside of a skunk. This is one of the best places where canned beer excels, because it allows no light to hit your beer as it’s sitting at your favorite retail establishment.

Oxygen.
Beer’s other big enemy. Oxygen is a bit of a toss-up as far as cans are concerned. When a brewer purges the bottle with CO2 to remove the oxygen, it pushes all of the oxygen out of a small opening. Cans are a bit more tricky as they have a larger opening which means it’s more difficult to get all of the oxygen out.
But, if most of the oxygen is removed, you’re left with a vessel that is airtight and will keep oxidation to a minimum. Another great aspect of the can.

Environmental.
Cans are lighter than bottles, which means you can ship more at a time, which means you can save extra trips back and forth from the brewery to the distributor. Cans are also easier to recycle and easier to chill down, both huge savings to using energy.
Are cans the ultimate device for transporting beer? That’s really up for you to decide. There are certainly a lot of advantages, but there are some disadvantages as well. Personally, I think they’re pretty swell and I’m always looking forward to more canned craft beer in St. Louis.
Mike Sweeney, Stlhops







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May 20, 2010

Sam Adams and Weihenstephaner

Exciting beer news...
We have known since last year that Sam Adams Boston Beer Co. and Weihenstephaner were creating a new collaboration. Three possible labels got registered -- looks exciting. I am sure more news will come soon about their plans.
Hopefully we will see some here in Missouri since we get both Sam Adams and Weihenstephaner beers already.




Schlafly and Spiegelau Glass Event


SPIEGELAU EVENT
Thursday, June 10
at Bottleworks
7260 Southwest Ave. (at Manchester)
Maplewood, MO 63143
314.241.BEER


What a difference a glass makes! See for yourself at St. Louis' first ever craft beer and specialty glass tasting event presented by Schlafly Beer and Spiegelau Glass on Thursday, June 10th at 6:30 p.m. at the Schlafly Bottleworks.

Spiegelau Glassware uses fine powdered sand and a platinum purification process to c
reate a fine, scratch resistant premium glass with brilliant clarity and head retention - the ideal vessel for appreciating your favorite beers.

A representative from Spiegelau and Schlafly Beer will guide you through the tasting.

Tickets are $30 and include beer, snacks and your very own 4-piece Spiegelau Beer Connoisseur Glassware Set (retail value $49.95). Do not delay, space is very limited.

GET TICKETS


The Wine and Cheese Place
is proud to sponsor this great event. You will have the opportunity to order more Spiegelau glasses at the event through The Wine and Cheese Place










AMAZING PRICES!!

We just received these great Cachaca closeouts from our distributor.
"Cachaça is a liquor made from fermented sugarcane. It is the most popular distilled alcoholic beverage in Brazil....Cachaça differs from rum in that most rum is made from molasses. Use of molasses allows for the use of the byproduct of sugar production and a smaller still but has the taste affected by heating. Cachaca can be classified as a "rhum agricole" which is rum produced directly from cane juice." -- wikipedia

Can be used in any rum drink or make the classic CAIPIRINHA!
Click here for drink recipes


Cuca Fresca Silver Cachaca....$6.99

Compare to $16.99 at Total Beverage
Authentic Brazilian Rum


Crystal clear. The nose is wildly fruity offering a cool mélange of fruit scents ranging from guava to orange with hints of a tropical influence with accents of blanched almonds. The palate echoes the nose perfectly offering waves of silky soft fruit complimented by wet grass and pure cane juice. The ideal slate for cocktail creativity. — BEVX.com, Beverage Experts
Very smooth and flavorful. Tropical flowers, bananas in cream, and brown spice aromas. A round, silky entry leads to a dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body of banana cream pie, nuts, and powdered sugar flavors. Finishes with a very long, smooth and pleasant banana bread, sugar cane, and custard like fade. — Beverage Testing Institute




Double Gold Medal Winner
2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
Highest Rated Unaged Cachaça & Gold Medal Winner
2007 International Spirits Review
Gold Medal Winner 2007
Beverage Testing Institute
2008 Gold Medal Winner
San Francisco World Spirits Competition






Cuca Fresca Pura Gold....$9.99 / 750ml
Compare to $21.99 at The Wine Specialist

Golden straw green color. Sweet spicy baked banana, suede, earthy mint, and creme brulee aromas follow through to a dryish silky medium-to-full body with nice toasted banana bread and mineral accents. Finishes with a peppery, banana, nutmeg, toasted almond and pepper fade. Nice purity and spice. — Beverage Testing Institute





Gold Medal Winner & Highest Rated Cachaça
2007 International Spirits Review
2007 Gold Medal Winner
Beverage Testing Institute
Silver Medal Winner
2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
2007 San Francisco World Spirits Competition









May 17, 2010

Schlafly AIPA being bottled!

From Schlafly's facebook page -- pictures of the AIPA being bottled -- hopefully we will see it tomorrow or the next day very fresh!!!

Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary...


For their 30th Anniversary, Sierra Nevada is creating some exciting new beers. So exciting, they have created a brand new website just for the occasion.

http://www.sierra30.com/






In stock at Forsyth now!! We have 7 more bottles now!!

no limit!! First come first served
Fritz and Ken is in stock now

The best way to guarantee a bottle is to click here


Fritz and Ken's Ale....$10.99 / 750ml
Available Mid -March 2010
"Fritz Maytag, owner of San Francisco's Anchor Brewing Company, is regarded as the godfather of the craft brewing movement. Fritz agreed to guest brew this very special ale with us in honor fo our 30th Anniversary. As a nod to the robust black ales that seduced both Fritz and Ken in the early years, we bring you this Pioneers Stout, a rich and roasted ale, perfect for aging, and worthy of yor finest snifter. Enjoy!

Coming later
Charlie, Fred and Ken's Ale

Available Mid-May 2010
"Charlie Papazian and Fred Eckhart are the men who launched a thousand breweries. Their writing on the art of homebrewing and steadfast promotion of beer culture helped propel the craft brewing movement. Charlie and Fred agreed to work with us on this special ale in honor of our 30th Anniversary. This Imperial Helles Lager is a testament to the ever-evolving brewer's art. Bold yet balanced with distinct toasted malt character, moderate sweetness and clean and floral hops. Enjoy!

Jack and Ken's Ale
Available Mid-July 2010
"Jack McAuliffe is the original microbrewer. McAuliffe's tiny New Albion Brewery in Sonoma, California inspired countless brewers to start small-scale breweries of their own. Jack agreed to guest brew this very special ale with us in honor of our 30th anniversary. This American barleywine is a nod to the big ales New Albion served at their legendary sommer solstice parties. It is robust and complex -- brewed with 100% American Cascade Hops.

Our Brewers Reserve: Oak Aged Ale
Available Mid-October 2010
Brewers Reserve is a special ale highlighting our pioneering history and the innovative spirit that has carried us through all these years. It is a marriage of our three most acclaimed ales: Oak Aged Bigfoot, Celebration Ale, and fresh Pale Ale blended together and generously dry hopped. Come join us in celebrating thirty years with this most special brew. Drink it now, or save it for a future anniversary of your own."

Info from their website

May 16, 2010

Hof ten Dormaal

Small production, first time in the U.S.
(TWCP is the only place currently showing availability in the U.S. as of 5/16/10)

Hof ten Dormaal - Belgium
Estate bottled beers -- they produce/grow all of their own barley malt and hops on their farm!!
"The tiny Hof ten Dormaal farm brewery is situated in the vally of the Dyle River in Tildonk, Belgium. The new brewery began with the abiding principal of introducing original ales brewed with a strict adherence to Belgian brewing traditions. As part of the painstaking, hand-crafted art of their brewing process, owner/brewmaster Andre Janssens and son Dries use only barley malt and bittering hops that they themselves grow on the farm. The Hof ten Dormaal brewery also uses oil from rapeseed (a close relative of canola oil) produced on the farm as the primary source of energy for the boiling and cooling processes in their brewing, rendering the smal farmhouse a uniquely self sustaining brewery." -- back label


Hof ten Dormall Amber...$6.19 / 375ml
"Hof ten Dormaal Amber is an original Belgiam amber-colored ale brewed strictly via traditional methods. It is bottle-conditioned and uses a top-fermenting house yeast strain. The grain and bittering hops are produced on the Hof ten Dormaal farm.

Hof Ten Dormaal Blond Ale....$6.19 / 375ml
"Hof ten Dormaal Blond is an original farmhouseblond ale brewed strictly via traditional methods. It is bottle-conditioned
and uses a top-fermenting house yeast strain. The grain and bittering hops produced on the Hof ten Dormaal farm." -- label

Available online along with other beers from 12 Percent Imports






Bierbrouwerij Grand-Café Emelisse

Bierbrouwerij Grand-Café Emelisse
Kamperland. Zeeland, The Netherlands.

From this small Dutch brewpub situated on an island in southwestern Holland we bring you the extraordinary creations of brewmaster Kees Bubberman. Prior to running the show at Emelisse, Kees was
widely regarded around the Dutch beer geek circuit as the best homebrewer in the country. Running joke was that in any beer competition Kees entered, everyone else was fighting for 2nd prize. He established a well-earned reputation as a first-rate artisanal brewer, and the Emelisse brewpub came calling. Today, he’s turning out some of the very finest stuff Europe has to offer, and though the Emelisse beers are still largely undiscovered except by those in the know across the pond, that is seriously about to change. We’re here to help with that.


Emelisse Imperial Russian Stout....$5.89 / 11.2oz
Style: Imperial Stout, refermentation in bottle
Alcohol Content: 11%
Color: pitch black; creamy, khaki head
Tasting Notes: dark roast, richly complex, berries, black coffee, bitter chocolate

Rated 98/100 percentile on RateBeer
Rated A- on RateBeer


May 14, 2010

North Shore Spirits from Chicago

From Chicago, Illinois
Order North Shore online now

A Rare Creation - U.S. Made Aquavit
North Shore Aquavit....750ml

Most common in Scandinavia, aquavit is a truly enjoyable spirit. In that part of the world, you can find many small and large-batch aquavits with widely varying flavors. In the U.S., the selection is far more limited. In Chicago, we have only found five aquavits (and only 3 are common), all of which are imported. We thought it was high time one was produced on this side of the ocean.

By the U.S. government's definition, aquavit's dominant flavor must be caraway seed (most commonly found in rye bread). Beyond that, the distiller uses his or her own artistic flair to add additional flavors and qualities to the spirit.

Aquavit - Private Reserve has a complex balance of spices and flavors. We begin with hand-selected botanicals from all over the world, including caraway, cumin, and coriander. These botanicals are macerated and distilled with the alcohol, and we age the spirit in new American oak to soften and meld the flavors. Unlike other aquavits, we do not add caramel coloring. All of the flavor and color is natural, and are the direct result of our process.

Enjoying Aquavit - Private Reserve
Aquavit is traditionally enjoyed chilled and straight, but it can also be sipped neat. Being avid mixologists, we have some fun and savory cocktail recipes with it as well. Visit our Cocktail Repository to find some favorite recipes with Aquavit - Private Reserve.

This spirit received 95 points - Exceptional Rating from the Beverage Testing Institute in November 2008 and was the Highest Rated Aquavit

Tasting notes: "Yellow straw color with a chartreuse cast. vibrant and stimulating aromas of pink peppercorns, cardamom, lemongrass, medicinal roots and herbs, and sandalwood follow through on a silky entry to a dryish medium-to-full body with a touch of tilled earth a long, spicy fade. Excellent flavor, purity and depth.
This spirit also received a Gold Medal in the 2007 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and in July 2008 the folks at Spirits Review awarded it a 9 out of 10, and described it as "[i]ncredibly smooth and seductively aromatic - especially for an aquavit."







North Shore Absinthe Verte....750ml
Introducing Sirène Absinthe Verte
Like the sirens of Greek mythology, Sirène will tempt you. With a beautiful, nuanced aroma and flavor, Sirène embodies the rich tradition and history of absinthe.

Absinthe has always been a favorite spirit at North Shore Distillery - first as a curiosity on our world travels, then as a fascination. We have tasted many variations and have been working on our own recipes for years. Now that is possible to actually introduce one to the market, we are excited to share this incredible absinthe with you.

Creating Sirène
We take a traditional approach to creating Sirène. We use the traditional trinity of absinthe ingredients along with a proprietary blend of additional herbs and spices to create Sirène's richness and complexity. The process requires a significant amount of time, preparation and botanicals, but the result is worth the effort.


Enjoying Sirène Absinthe
Absinthe is traditionally enjoyed in a drip. Pour about an ounce of absinthe in to an absinthe glass or a rocks glass. Then place an absinthe spoon on the glass and place a sugar cube (optional) on the spoon. If you do not have an absinthe spoon you can just add simple syrup to your absinthe. Then you drip ice cold water over your sugar cube and in to the absinthe. You can use an absinthe fountain or simply a carafe of ice water. We recommend having your first drip with three parts water and one part absinthe. Then adjust the water next time to your personal taste.









Eggs

Sorry, we have sold out of our Farm Fresh Eggs for the week.
We will have more on Tuesday


Fresh Centennial

Founders Centennial IPA new batch
Bottled May 10 -- only 4 days old!!!




Brasserie de Cazeau

Available online along with other beers from 12 Percent Imports

Belgian Ales

"With Brasserie de Cazeau, we introduce to you some superb craft beers from a small town brewery that’s been there for a long, long time. From the town of Tournai in south Belgium, close to the French border, the brewery’s property records suggest that it began operations at least by 1753, most likely earlier. On a recent visit to the brewery, as we wandered through the cavernous, rustic farmhouse, our friend Cory, who caught me gawking at the resplendent nostalgia shining from every corner of the place, acutely suggested the following to Laurent Agache (brewer, owner): "I’m pretty sure Brian’s thinking about how to import your entire brewery." Well said, Cory. The grounds and brewery at Brasserie de Cazeau abound in history - from walls lined with crates and beer bottles two hundred years old, to the tasting room replete with historical photos, to a perfectly preserved, century-old bar game. Oh, the bar games. But alas, we concede that history should not be tampered with, and so we settle on the beers. And remarkable beers they are." -- importer

Brasserie de Cazeau Tournay Black...$9.99 / 750ml

  • Style: Belgian Stout, refermentation in bottle
  • Abv: 7.6%
  • Color: pitch black; creamy off-white head
  • Tasting Notes: roasted malt, coffee, bitter chocolate, earthy, cigar ash
  • Other: Originally brewed as a winter ale known as Tournay de Noel. The beer was so well received that brewmaster Laurent Agache decided to make it a year-round brew. We nudged him in this direction too, of course. At 7.6%, it's a bit lighter than the original of 8.2% - all the better to enjoy in warm weather as much as cold.

Brasserie de Cazeau Tournay Farmhouse Blonde...$9.99 / 750ml

  • Style: Farmhouse Blond Ale, refermentation in bottle
  • Abv: 7.2%
  • Color: pale gold, lingering head – off-white cotton
  • Tasting Notes: floral, faintly bitter aroma; soft mouthfeel; straw, earthy, light sweetness, straightforward, refreshing
  • Other: The first beer made by the brewery since it re-launched commercial operations just a few years ago. The intent was to focus on perfecting a single blond ale before doing anything else. Check.


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Brasserie La Botteresse de Sur-Les-Bois

Available online along with other beers from 12 Percent Imports
Belgian Ales
"The second largest brewery in Jupille. The largest and only other being Inbev. From the French-speaking Wallonian region in Belgium, we bring you the unique creations of hobby brewer Jose Poncin, whose La Botteresse line of beers have us giddy with delight. Monsieur Poncin has a flair for the experimental. And as such, he's a bit more industrious in his occasional use of non-traditional ingredients than are many of the other brewers with whom we work. You'll sometimes find spice. Sometimes lots of it. In October, you may think you're drinking pumpkin. And that's because you are. But make no mistake, the beers we bring you from Jose are no experiments. They are sharp, superbly crafted creations from a master brewer who deserves to be discovered." -- importer
La Botteresse Blond....$4.99 / 11.2oz
  • Style: Blond Ale, refermentation in bottle
  • Abv: 7.5%
  • Color: hazy blond, creamy, lacy white head
  • Tasting Notes: spicy, citrusy aroma of sweet fruit; sparkling, vibrant mouthfeel, sweet & crisp citrus, herbal, butterscotch

La Botteresse Noire...$4.99 / 11.2oz

  • Style: Belgian Strong Ale, heavily spiced, refermentation i n bottle
  • Abv: 10.5%
  • Color: near pitch black, rich beige head
  • Tasting Notes: complex but balanced - liquorice, black pepper, burnt sugar, roasted malt, winter


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Brouwerij Contreras

Available online along with other beers from 12 Percent Imports


Gavere. East Flanders, Belgium
"A small regional brewery from East Flanders, Brouwerij Contreras has been in operation since 1818. Originally Brouwerij Latte, the farmhouse brewery was bought by the Contreras family in 1898 and they've run it ever since. Until very recently, the brewery was content to produce a couple of modest ales – focusing primarily on their local chain of family-owned cafes. But in 2004, enter brewmaster Frederick De Vrieze, and along with him a virtual 180 on the beer produced by this centuries-old brewery. Frederick has masterfully merged the innovation of his new craft beers with the ample history of their small Flemish region. His Valeir line of beers get their name from a local legend – a warrior by the name of "Valeir," who fought in the battle of Gavere in 1453. Valere Latte is also the brewery's original founder, so regardless of the war legend's accuracy, there's appropriate history in the name. So now, we introduce you for the first time to the superbly crafted Valeir beers. Four straightforward styles, uniquely crafted: blond, bruin, tripel, and IPA." -- Importer

Contreras Valeir Extra $4.49 / 11.2oz
  • Style: Belgian IPA, refermentation in bottle
  • Abv: 6.5%
  • Color: yellow-gold; dense, white head
  • Tasting Notes: spicy, citrusy nose; fruity palate, orange, yeasty, floral; growing, pleasant bitterness
  • Rated 95 Percentile on RateBeer