Spec’sology Blog

“When most people are introduced to the idea of “sour beer” they often assume something has gone wrong with the liquid. But, most of those same people are surprised and delighted with their first sip or a sour beer. The acidity comes across in a very citric, lemon way that, coupled with the carbonation and chill of the liquid, makes for a perfect hot weather thirst quencher.” The idea of beer as a flavor doesn’t usually shout a noticeable acidity, but historically most beer had a pronounced tartness shortly after the end of the brewing process. The world around us

Pool days are a summer rite of passage! They define the lazy days of the heat-soaked season and offer a fun getaway from the daily grind. And any trip to paradise needs to taste like it too! So, instead of, or along with, the standard beach and pool beverages of beer and wine, why not try some drinks you can mix up before hittin’ the water? We’ve put together some recipes that you can either premix at home or just make them at the pool with some simple ingredients. Of course, make sure to verify the rules for the particular

Mead is the oldest alcohol on Earth. Scientists have found Chinese pottery from 9,000 years ago with evidence of mead fermentation that predates both beer and wine by thousands of years. To put that into perspective, humans were just reaching the end of the Stone Age! What Is Mead? So, what exactly is mead? Simply put, mead is a fermented beverage made primarily from honey. The three basic ingredients of mead are honey, yeast, and water. It exists in its own distinct category. You may hear it referred to as honey wine, but this is incorrect as wine is made

I was outdoors for a three-hour birthday party Saturday, and it was hot – not exactly out of the ordinary for a Houston weekend in July. It’s never a surprise when that pervasive heat continues to hang over the city through August and most of September before Fall begins. But as bad as it may have been here (the high that day was pegged right at 100°F), a record-breaking heatwave crested in France last week, with temperatures in various areas reaching up to 114°F. With large swaths of the country like Bordeaux, chock full of so many historical old buildings

Welcome to the final week of Spec’s Le Pour de France wine tour! We’re following the riders across France and giving you a rundown of the wine regions they’re in so as they’re pedaling you can be pouring glasses of regional favorites. This week brings us into the south of France for some truly incredible wines with a rich history of production and viniculture. Languedoc-Roussillon Region With 300,000 hectares of vineyards covering the Languedoc-Roussillon region is France’s largest wine producing region. In fact, it’s estimated that one in every 10 bottles in the 20th century originated here. The vineyards here

Welcome to the second week of Spec’s Le Pour de France wine tour! We’re following the riders across France and giving you a rundown of the wine regions they’re in so as they’re pedaling you can be pouring glasses of regional favorites. We begin this week with the longest stage in the tour, stage 7, which is also the beginning of the delicious Burgundy wine region and then takes us into the Southwestern France wine region for some hidden gems! Burgundy Region Stage 7: Friday, July 12, Belfort – Chalon-sur-Saône, 230km Stage 8: Saturday, July 13, Mâcon – Saint Étienne,

In honor of the world’s greatest bicycle race, the Tour de France, Spec’s will be taking you on a side-by-side tasting tour of the wine regions the cyclist will be riding through. We call it the Pour de France, and yes, we think it’s a clever name as well. We’ll be taking you through 2 regions per blog and providing a little background on the area as well as some recommendations from the region. We suggest you rally your friends for a watch party and raise a glass to the vineyards the cyclists pass. The first two stages take place

This Fourth of July why not try something different to celebrate the independence of America? Instead of the typical red, white, and blue themed party or fighting traffic to get downtown and stand in a crowd staring up at the sky, what about getting out of your familiar surroundings and experiencing America the way our Founding Fathers did – in the wild and untamed nature?! Camping is a great way to get out and see America the beautiful in all its glory. Gathering around a campfire with your favorite pals can be the perfect vacation from the everyday hustle and

Ahh summertime, the season of getting out and getting down! Whether you’re heading to a pool party, a day by the lake, or throwing a bash at your place, odds are there’s going to be food – and not just any food, but fancy summer favorites. And while we typically think beer or wine when the grill is fired up, a refreshing cocktail may be just what you need to set your summer fun apart from the masses. From delightful pairings to grilled ingredients and frozen poptails, we’ve got you covered for summer fun like sunscreen at the beach! Limoncello

The delicious hamburger is an American staple invented by Fletcher Davis of Athens, Texas, in the 1880s. Of course, Fletcher’s claim is one of many in a long list of hamburger inventors, but he’s from Texas, so that’s what we’re going with. Regardless of where it may have been created, the reason for its staying power is rather simple – it’s delicious. But why? It’s just meat, bread, and cheese at its most basic, right? Well, there’s actually a scientific name for what makes them so good and it’s called the “Maillard Reaction.” This reaction is a process that caramelizes

Fun Fact: The word spaghetti is plural for the Italian word spaghetto, which is a diminutive of spago, meaning “thin string” or “twine.” The best part about spaghetti is the variety of pasta dishes you can make. With each dish there’s a different wine that pairs perfectly. Check out our recommendations below and get ready for some serious noodling on date night! Red or Tomato-based Sauces Tomato-based sauces include fresh tomato with basil: pairs well with crisp dry whites such as Pinot Grigio or Verdicchio. Cooked tomato sauces such as Napolitano or marinara: pair with Montepulciano d’Abruzzo or a light

“One of my favorite times and places to drink a beer during the Summer is with friends and family at a barbecue. There is something comforting and classic about the smells and flavors of the grill alongside a crisp, cold and refreshing beer. Big name cold bubbles are sufficient enough grilling fuel, but a good helles is the better option!” What Is Helles? Helles is a pale golden lager centered on the subtle grainy sweetness of pilsner malt, accented by spicy, floral hop aromatics with a soft bitterness clean, smooth finish. Different from the hop-centric pilsner, helles is decidedly malt-focused,