Did you know it's almost Thanksgiving?

In case you thought the whole US skipped Thanksgiving and went to the much more lucrative day signifying the official holiday gift-buying scramble, also known as Black Friday, a way to "stimulate the economy," we didn't. We'll be open on Thursday, but only from 10am-1pm, but Redemption Center will be closed.

And before you reach for a cheap bottle of red and white for the table (I know we're all on a budget), consider this: You could down-grade your wine purchase and pick from the usual "Macro-wine makers," things with animal, mineral or vegetables on the labels and get what you pay for, OR you could consider reaching for a more expensive bottle of beer. Think about it. Average bottle cost for "inexpensive, but tasty" wine is $10-12 for a 750mL bottle. For less than $10/750mL, you could get an "expensive and delicious" bottle of beer. You could be drinking entry level wine for the same price as super-premium, luxury beer.

So if I've piqued your attention, here's some suggestions for the typical Thanksgiving table, vegetarians and omnivores included.
+ Belgian Saison ales are a go-to. They have light, airy carbonation and are naturally spicy from the yeast. A perfect match for the stuffings, the roasted potatoes, and anything else made with the usual herbs and spices. Try Brasserie Dupont's Saison (Belg.) or North Coast "Le Merle" saison (CA).
+ Lambic fruit beers are great on tables that use a lot of fruit glazes (cranberries, cherries, etc) and won't overpower the bird/tofurky. Try St. Louis Framboise (raspberry, a touch more sweet) or Kriek (cherry, a touch more sour). This is a great beer for the people who say they don't like any beers. Also, they're killer with cheesecakes.
+ Want something not from Belgium? You want light, crisp, but with character. North Coast Scrimshaw Pils (CA), Southhampton Altbier (MA), Castelain Biere de Garde (France).

Not a fan of light beers? There's still hope. Skip the after-dinner coffee and check out a hearty stout or porter with dessert. Hapoon's Leviathan Baltic Porter (MA/VT), and Pennichuck's Pozharnik Espresso Stout (NH) are two great beer stand-in's for the bitter black brew called coffee. Just don't add the cream and sugar.

Cheers and Happy drinking!
Jeff

Lucky find in Essex!

I stopped by the Inn @ Essex tonight and slipped into the Tavern to see what was new and exciting - low and behold, they've taken Guinness off their nitrogen tap and put on North Coast's Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout! How could I resist ordering at least a half-pint? At $4.50 for a 12 oz pour (a respectable price by most standards), this is a must for anyone who loves the bottled version. It's so light and fluffy, a touch more creamy, and just downright delicious! Try it with their Smoked Gouda Mac-n-cheese!

Get out there and drink up!
Cheers,
Jeff

New Today

Real quick:

+ Stone Double Bastard 2008 22oz and 3 liters!!!! (CA)
+ Fuller's Vintage Ale 2008 (England)
+ Pennichuck (NH) Ginger Pilsner, IPA, "Pail Ale," & Schwarzbier 220z's, and Ponzharnik (Espresso vanilla stout aged in whiskey barrels), Scottish Ale 1 liters
+ Smuttynose Big Beer Series Scotch Ale 22oz (NH)
+ Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Rauchfetzen 22oz (VT/MA)
+ Harpoon Leviathan Series Baltic Porter 4 packs (VT/MA)
+ Farnum Hill Extra Dry Sparkling Cider 750mL and a limited series one too! (NH)

And CHAUCER'S Meade (England) is back in VT! Both the standard and the Raspberry mead. Located below the cider section on the left as you head towards the beer room.

News on VT Brews

Today I met briefly with Ryan Caffin of Long Trail Brewing Co. and Rob King of Otter Creek/Wolaver's to discuss upcoming releases. Ryan said that Long Trail will be releasing soon a Belgian Dubbel (draft only), but their next big beer, released early next year, will be put into bombers and I'm racking my brain trying to remember what he said it was going to be, an Imperial Pilsner, maybe? I'll check back with him. That meeting was rather brief.

In a slightly longer, but equally rushed meeting, Rob let me know that both the Otter Creek and Wolaver's labels had new things coming soon. First, from Otter Creek, their holiday gift pack which includes three recent World Tour Series bombers and a special glass will be available starting Friday. In January, their "Mud Bock" will make it's much anticipated return from a lengthy hiatus; Stovepipe Porter will be available in 22oz bottles, and they'll release their first big beer, a Russian Imperial Stout. In March, they will release their second big beer, and Imperial IPA. I can't wait! Two of my favorite styles, finally available from a local brewer! Wolaver's will also be releasing a new bottling in January, their "All American Ale." Take that Bud/Inbev! A real American brewery brewing a real American ale! Oh snap!

And a non-VT brew tidbit, we're getting our shipment of the highly anticipated Double Bastard 2008 from Stone Brewing this Friday! 22oz bottles and glorius 3 liter swingtops! Yum!

New Arrivals and More Shelving!

So, this week it happened. We ran out of room on our bomber shelves. So instead of refusing all the new goodies, we just added more shelves! 16 feet, to be exact. We established a new New England Bombers section, just to the right as you enter the beer room. We also have an official 22oz-or-larger cider section, right next to the VT wine section (across from the cold bombers). The cider 6 packs are still in the beer room.

Here's what came in this week:
+ Les Brasseurs de Gayant (France): Amadeus Biere Blanche, Goudale, Saint Landelin Le Divine, and Saint Landelin Speciale Noel 750mL's
+ Estrella Damm Inedit (Spain) 750mL
+ Cisco Brewers (Nantucket, MA): Indie Pale Ale and Moor Porter 22oz's
+ Shipyard Brewing (Portland, ME): Pugsley's Signature Series Barley Wine Ale and Imperial Porter 22oz's
+ Gouden Haven Pilsner (Holland) 6 packs
+ Samuel Smith's Organic Cider (England)
+ Flag Hill Farm Sparkling Cider and Still Cider (VT)

Ciders!

Just got back from having dinner at American Flatbread in Burlington. Great food, and really awesome service. Jeff, their bar manager, had tipped me that they're pulling Farnum Hill's Kingston Black 2005 cider on cask, so I had to swing through to see what was what. A single apple varietal vintage cider - how could I resist? I've never had a single varietal cider, and it was an interesting and enjoyable experience. A pale golden straw color, almost no carbonation, damn near bone-dry, and nice and tart! I now know what Kingston Black cider tastes like, and feel like a better person for it. Swing through and check it out. It's on cask, so don't miss it at the bottom of the draft chalk board.

On a quick sidenote, I'd like to put it out there that Paul, the brewer at Flatbread Burlington Hearth, is perhaps one of the best brewers that I've had the pleasure of meeting. He plays with so many very different brewing styles that it's mind-boggling, but somehow manages to make them all true to form. Munich Helles, Rauchbier, and Kolsch, all distinct and show the telltale signs of the German brewing tradition. Tripel, Saison, Black Saison (yeh!), Belgian-style through and through. London Calling, Black Cat Porter - Oh, it's U.K. alright. Not many brewers can brew so many very different styles and make them all come out right, but Paul is one for the books.

Ok, back to ciders: Woodchuck released a limited-edition oak aged cider recently. I got into a bottle and was quite surprised. It's a little clunky, and very heavily influenced by oak. I thought for sure that it was aged in bourbon barrels (vanilla bean all over this one), but I checked their press release and it sees American and French oak. Not sure if it's barrel's, chips, staves or what, but it's interesting and one of their better releases.

And for the coup de grace, J. K. Scrumpy's Organic Farmhouse Cider. If you haven't tried this one, you really should. Fairly sweet (to most people), but with a beautifully textured body, almost unfiltered-feel of freshly pressed cider, this one is a crowd pleaser. Owned by John Koan, family-run farm since the mid-1800's, and Bruce Wright of Wetten Imports, this is one of the best ciders I've had. It's drinkable, fresh-tasting and produced in a manner respectful of the land and the farm. (I often compare it to Cold Hollow's Fall Blend cider that you can buy in the grocery stores around here.)

And two more ciders will be joining our store tomorrow: Babycham Pear cider from the U.K., and Sam Smith's Organic cider, U.K. as well.

New Arrivals

Hey-yo. Back with more new arrivals:
+ Moinette Bruin 750mL
+ Moinette Blond 750mL
+ Dupont Bier de Miel 750mL
+ Ommegang Ommegeddon March '08 is back in stock!
+ North Coast "Le Merle" Saison 750mL
+ North Coast Old Stock Ale 2008 4 packs
+ Rock Art Holiday Bock 2008 22oz
+ Woodchuck Oak Aged Cider 6 packs

Tonight, I sampled the "Le Merle" with a light dinner of Baby Boucheron soft-ripened goat cheese, toasted locally-made baguette slices, and Quinta do Coa olive oil (Portugal). Aw yeh. Life is good. (Check out BA for my review of "Le Merle.")

Oh, really? New beers?

I had a great time today at the G-Housen (distributor) portfolio tasting! I went for the "Intro to Belgian Beers" seminar which was given by Scott Anderson (G-Housen's beer guru), Steven Villani of Global Beer Network and Bruce Wright of Wetten Imports, but ended up sampling some other really tasty brews that are destined for sale in VT. A few highlights from the goodies tasted: Stoudts Brewing of PA (planning to launch in VT in a "couple weeks"); Berkshire Brewing Company (MA) had a special release of their Imperial Stout aged in Jim Beam barrels; Michael Saklad of Stone Brewing Co. (CA) brought a glorious 3 liter swingtop of their 10th Anniversary Triple IPA!; also represented were Rogue, North Coast Brewing, Piraat, Bavik, Gulden Draak, Het Anker (Gouden Carolus), Kasteel, Troubadour. A great tasting, and I got to share notes with a lot of the reps. and made important connections that will hopefully pull more beer and glassware into the state.

As for the Warehouse, here's what's new so far this week:
+ Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout is back!
+ Anchor Christmas 2008 6 packs and magnums (1.5 L)
+ Unibroue Quatre-Centieme 750mL (super limited release!)
+ St. Louis Lambics: Framboise & Kriek 750 mL (made by Kasteel)

And more is to come in on Friday from North Coast and Moinette. I was told tonight that Sonte Double Bastard was on a different truck than the 12th Anniv, and should ship late next week to the store. We're taking "pre-order" wish lists for this one. Give us a call (802-655-2620). On the horizon: Gouden Carolus Triple, Kasteel Triple & Brun, Brigand (Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck), and more Belgian beer!

Oh man, I freakin' love this job!
Jeff