Beer

American Craft Beer Week - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Top Texas Craft Beers

Spec’sology Blog, Beer
American’s love for craft beers has continued its meteoric rise for good reason – they’re great beers! From the robust porters aged in bourbon barrels to the salty gose and unique sours, to all kinds of IPAs, and whatever else they think up. We just can’t seem to get enough of them! So, in honor of American Craft Beer Week, we’re listing some of our Texas favorites to help you narrow down your choices because if American craft beer has given us anything, it’s an almost overwhelming n... Read More
Best Spring Beers - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Best Springs Beers

Spec’sology Blog, Beer
It’s officially springtime! And more importantly, winter is done trapping us inside! We are also moving away from winter’s dark, thick beers that kept us full and warm during the cold season. Lighter spring beers are here to refresh your hibernating palate! Check out our list of spring beers to enjoy starting ASAP! Best Spring Beers Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing Sierra Nevada chills their fermenters at slightly higher temperatures than normal so the haze doesn’t fade, then they skip the ... Read More
Best Irish Beers, Wines & Spirits - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Sláinte: The Best Irish Wines, Beers, and Spirits

Spec’sology Blog, Beer, Holidays, Spirits, Wine
When Irish eyes start smiling, knowing the proper libation to serve will help keep them that way. That being said we’ve put together a list of the top, and some obscure, Irish potations for you to keep on hand this St. Patrick’s Day. Bunratty Irish Honey Mead Created from an old Irish recipe this mead is made of honey, white wine, and herbs and produces a fairly sweet mead well-suited for a variety of occasions. Served cold or slightly warmed, it pairs well with chicken or turkey, an... Read More

New Wines, Spirits & Beers for 2021

Spec’sology Blog, Beer, Spirits, Wine

It’s January so you’ve probably finished reading all the 2020 recaps and are beyond ready to move on and leave those 365 days as far behind as possible! We feel you. So, what’s new for beverages in the year 2021 you ask? Well, settle on down and get ready to have your happy hour future read by the experts.
2021 will see the continued rise of hard seltzers as more and more brands get in on the action with new and unique offerings.
Online wine education courses skyrocketed during quarantine ... Read More

Summer Beers - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Suds of Summer

Spec’sology Blog, Beer
There’s nothing better than hot summer days and long summer nights, especially when you have the perfect summer beer keeping you refreshed while you sweat from dawn to dark! You could spend precious time searching for a new summer favorite, but we went ahead and put together a list of ours to ensure you don’t have to miss a moment of summer fun! Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty IPA Low-carb beer can be satisfying too! This refreshing 4%’er offers the aromatics of your favo... Read More
Memorial Day Grill & Beer Pairings - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Grill & Chill Pairings – Memorial Day Cookout Pairings

Spec’sology Blog, Beer, Pairings
When it comes to Memorial Day celebrations, we tend to think of firing up the grill and throwing a couple of extra delicious M’s in front of Mmmemorial. And for good reason; Memorial Day is the 2nd most popular day to cook up some backyard BBQ in America! (the first being Independence Day) Grilling up hotdogs and hamburgers is an American tradition, but what you wash it down with can make all the difference in the world. The right beer can elevate subtle flavors while the wrong one can dimi... Read More
Sip & Stream - TV, Movie & Drink Pairings - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Sip & Stream – Week Three

Spec’sology Blog, Beer, Drink Recipes, Pairings, Spirits
Here we are in week 3 of Spec’s Sip & Stream pairing suggestions, and we’re still finding things to watch. It really is amazing how much entertainment is at our fingertips in this digital age of convenience! Anyway, let’s get to mixing up some deliciousness. Castle Rock • Hulu The Stephen King multiverse is the setting for this psychological horror series that takes place in Castle Rock, Maine, which is a location familiar to fans of King’s work. An anonymous phone call l... Read More
Lighter Beers for Spring - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Lighter Beers for Spring

Spec’sology Blog, Beer
It’s officially springtime! And more importantly, winter is done ruining our outdoor fun! Also done are winter’s dark, thick beers that kept us full and warm during the cold season. Which means lighter spring beers are here to refresh your hibernating palate with gusto! Check out our list of spring beers to enjoy starting ASAP! Sierra Nevada Orta Vez Infused with the classic flavors of lime and blue agave nectar, this tart gose-style beer is light and refreshing. The bright lime fla... Read More
Winter Warmer Beers - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Winter Warmer Beers – ‘Tis The Season of Suds

Spec’sology Blog, Beer
With the rise of craft breweries across America, consumers have become more adventurous and no longer demand the exact same beer 365 days a year. Now when they shop, they’re much more interested in finding something new and different rather than more of the same. This has led to the wonderful variety of seasonal beers. What Are Seasonal Beers? A seasonal beer is typically brewed during or for a particular season, holiday, or festival. They typically incorporate fresh ingredients availabl... Read More

An insider guide to your next cider for November!

Beer, Beer Reviews, Entertain, Pairings
By Zach Dehghanpoor After years of enjoying the hops-mania that’s been surging in the beer community, cider is coming in as a real game changer and palette cleanser. Gluten free, dry and sweet, and so, so easy to drink – the cider side of craft and local beer is what Apples to Apples is here to explore!   Ace Perry Cider Fall is upon us! The time of hearty stew, thick scarfs, and pumpkin spice lattes. Enter Ace Perry Cider – a not-too-sweet, fruity pear cider that m... Read More

An insider guide to your next cider for October!

Beer, Beer Reviews, Entertain, Pairings
By Zach Dehghanpoor After years of enjoying the hops-mania that’s been surging in the beer community, cider is coming in as a real game changer and palette cleanser. Gluten free, dry and sweet, and so, so easy to drink – the cider side of craft and local beer is what Apples to Apples is here to explore! Saint Arnold Honey Agave Cider In a crisis of taste recently, I sent a prayer to my favorite saint. Then out of nowhere appeared a divine gift of local Texas cider! Saint Arnold ... Read More

If You Mustard…

Spec’sology Blog, Beer, Beer Reviews, Pairings, Reviews
It’s still prime grilling season (outside of the occasional tropical depression) and that coupled with Oktoberfest means lots of flame-kissed meats! Whether you’re serving dogs in buns, sausage links or bigger cuts, a good mustard is something you should absolutely have at hand. So, is there a “better” mustard for certain things? What makes them different? It’s time to take a quick bite into this centuries old condiment. Mustard is a mix of mustard seeds and liquid that’s ground i... Read More