Reviews
Oktoberfest: Story of a Party
Entertain, Beer, Beer Reviews
It might come as a surprise to many of you, but Oktoberfest didn’t start as a beer festival and it is celebrated more in September, than October, in Germany!
Oktoberfest Origins
The first “Oktoberfest” was a wedding reception for Prince Ludwig I, who married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. The marriage took place on October 12th, 1810 and the citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held outside the city gates. Despite copious amounts of beer being consumed, hor... Read More
what’s the HAZE about?
Entertain, Beer Reviews, Spec’sology Blog
With the introduction of the pilsner hundreds of years ago, the look of a beer became a point of focus for drinkers. At the time, it was an interest in having brilliantly clear, golden beers like liquid sunshine. In recent years, starting in the American Northeast, a move towards cloudy beers, resembling orange or grapefruit juice, has begun. These “hazy” IPAs are prized for their bright, juicy hop-derived fruit flavors, restrained bitterness and softer mouthfeel.
Texas being much further so... Read More
Saint Arnold • 5 O’Clock Pils
Beer Reviews, Summer Reviews
“Light, crisp and easy” is the definition of what a summer beer should be, but flavor should not be lacking in that formula. Saint Arnold has taken the Czech Pilsner, beloved for its ease of drinking, and infused it with flavor through dry-hopping to create a flavorful beer that doesn’t require your full attention. ABV: 5.2%
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Mumm Napa Brut Rosé
Summer Reviews, Wine Reviews
A methode champenoise blend of 85% Pinot Noir and 15% Chardonnay from vineyards in Napa Carneros and southern Napa Valley. A portion of the Pinot part of the blend is red Pinot Noir (riper, longish cold soak, punchdowns) to give the wine its full, darker rosé color. After aging en tirage, the wine is disgorged and dosed to 1.2% sugar. This gives it a richer brut finish that allows it to handle some spice in foods it is served with. Pink-garnet-salmon in color and fully sparkling; almost dry, me... Read More
CA’ MOMI ROSSO DI NAPA 2012/2013
Summer Reviews, Wine Reviews
Fresh and focused with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Merlot, aged eight months in French and American oak barrels. Offers fresh, dusty red and black fruit showing spicy cherry-berry character combined with gravelly earth terroir, dusty mixed oak, and accents of cedar, tobacco, black pepper, leather, and dark spice. Almost Sangiovese-like, this is an American red wine to serve as you would a Chianti. Try it with pizza, pasta and red sauce, lasagna, or eggplant parmigi... Read More
CASTILLO PERELADA RESERVA ESPECIAL BRUT CAVA
Summer Reviews, Wine Reviews
Pale-gold-straw in color and fully sparkling; dry, medium-plus-bodied with acidity still fresh. A blend of Macabeo, Xarel·lo and Parellada (the classic Cava trio) together with some Chardonnay fermented using methode champenoise (same as the Perelada Cava Brut Reserva) but aged 27 months on the yeasts in the bottle and an extra three months after disgorging. Toastier with a yeasty earthiness and real depth to go with citrus and tree fruit plus some earthy red fruit. The richness from the add... Read More
Real Ale Gose
Beer Reviews, Summer Reviews
The Texas summer, all 9 months of it, is almost unbearable. Real Ale has brewed a nearly perfect offering for this heat with their Gose—a tart, mineral-driven wheat beer with a touch of lime. Packaged in cans for poolside, lakeside or river-bound drinking; Real Ale Gose is everything you want and then some! ABV: 4.4%
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PINS DES DUNES Rosé, BORDEAUX 2015
Summer Reviews, Wine Reviews
The wine is one-third Cabernet, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. I tried this new vintage with Bear Dalton when we tasted through the 2015 vintage in Bordeaux. We were astounded at the pleasure this wine gave us all! I am an avid fan of dry Rosé and this wine is guaranteed to be at my table on a regular basis during the summer. Flavors of bubblegum dust, strawberry and juicy fruit sing through the palate with a core of medium, plus acidity on the backbone. The mid-palate offers hints of crushed ro... Read More
DR. LOOSEN “L” RIESLING, Mosel 2013
Summer Reviews, Wine Reviews
Sweet, but balanced 100% Riesling sourced mainly from growers in Bernkastel, Wehlen and Graach (with some Brauneberger, Zelting and others) fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel without malolactic fermentation. Offers lovely classic apple juice and lime Mosel Riesling fruit with lots of minerals and a hint of peach. Super fresh and alive in the mouth. Great with shrimp or spicier appetizers. Quite refreshing. ABV: 8.5%
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CASTELLARGO ALBUS WHITE BLEND
Summer Reviews, Wine Reviews
In an area best known for Pinot Grigio, Castellargo is producing one of the best quality white blends in the region without the use of its most popular grape. Albus is a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Friulano that is not aged in oak to preserve the freshness and acidity. This wine is refreshingly juicy from the first sip. Exotic flavors of elderflower, guava and lychee zing into medium-plus acidity. Notes of honeysuckle and jasmine quaff through the mid-palate with a backbone of we... Read More
Château de Lancyre Rosé Pic Saint Loup 2014
Wine Reviews
A 13.5% alcohol richer Rosé blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Cinsault, grown on clay/limestone-based soils and made using a mix of press must and tank-bled wines. Red-salmon-pink in color, bright and clear with good legs; dry, medium-bodied with freshly balanced acidity and very light phenolics. Bigger, richer, darker rosé that is almost in the chillable red range. Riper red fruits with minimal citrus and more richness and texture in the mouth, but with plenty of mineral-earth to give ... Read More