New Belgium Brewing Rampant IPA

Beer Reviews
Rampant Imperial IPA is everything hop fans have come to expect from
 the style with a little something extra–a surprisingly reasonable
 price. Rampant can stand toe-to-toe with the biggest, meanest IPAs in
 the store. This ode to bitterness is first and foremost a floral
 experience. The herbaceous front reminds me as much of Campari as it
 does any form of pale ale. The malt is present, but minimal, leaving 
the hops center stage. If you’re a fan of the spicier Mosaic hop, or ... Read More
Domaine De La Laidiere Blanc - Bandol 2008

Domaine de la Laidiere Blanc, Bandol 2008

Wine Reviews
Made from Clairette and Ugni Blanc, Laidiera Blanc is floral and fresh with pleasant acidity and minerality. White Bandols are tricky. They are not inexpensive and don’t usually fit into the crisp and citrusy category of a Sauvignon Blanc or buttery and creamy category of Chardonnay So where does that leave Bandol Blanc? Maybe more like a white Rhone–but it really its its own thing. These are wines of texture and weight with subtle aromatics. Hints of peach skin, apricot pit but not full-blo... Read More

Chateau Carbonnieux Blanc, Pessac-Léognan 2009

Wine Reviews
I try every Bordeaux Blanc I can get my hands on, and this effort from Chateau Carbonnieux is one of the prettiest white wines I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting. Carved out of the Graves region of Bordeaux, Pessac-Leognan is known for developing some of the most elegant white wines in Bordeaux. This dry white shows a honeysuckle coating mouthfeel and a wonderful lasting lemon zest finish.

Brewery Ommegang Hennepin

Beer Reviews
One of my personal favorite Saisons, Ommegang’s Hennepin delivers plenty of flavor yet is still refreshing in the Texas heat. One of the classic American Saisons, Hennepin exhibits the spicy overtones of freewheeling Belgian-style fermentation and the ripe juicy apple and pear tones of an especially friendly farmhouse ale. If intensity is your thing, this one just might be a good alternative to barleywine and DIPA when high temperatures are a factor. ABV: 7.7% Ready to Try it?
Sailor's Grave

Sailor’s Grave Cabernet, Napa Valley 2010

Wine Reviews
This intensely evocative Cabernet Sauvignon radiates deep plum and ruby-colored hues. The aromas are well defined with concentrated cassis and ripe black cherry, backed by mocha and toasted vanilla notes. On the palate, this full-bodied tannic Cabernet has firm mid-palate presence and loads of cellar-worthy potential. As the spectrum of flavors unfolds, the huckleberry and raspberry give way to a complex mocha, coffee, vanilla matrix —all balanced under the fruit notes, giving the wine a tingl... Read More
Casajus Vendimia Seleccionada, Ribera del Duero 2011

Casajus Vendimia Seleccionada, Ribera del Duero 2011

Wine Reviews
While traveling through Northern Spain, I was taken through the heart of Ribera del Duero. I was fortunate enough to meet up with Jose Alberto Casajus and while walking through his vineyards in Quintana del Pidio, he talked of not only his winemaking, which is off the charts, but also his legend of being the village baker. This 100% Tinta Fina (Tempranillo) is super silky, and shows refined tannins, juicy dark berries on the front and a stern backbone proving a long finish—an amazing blend of ... Read More

Ranger Creek Brewing La Bestia Aimable

Beer Reviews
I am beyond excited by what’s being produced by Texas craft breweries. Beer has taken hold of Texans in the most amazing way. For a long time, our state was viewed by most (including Texans) as only a place for the big name producers. Now the rest of the nation is looking for our beers in their stores. Ranger Creek produces a Belgian-style Strong Dark Ale that, after tasting it, I was impressed it came out of the US, let alone Texas. It’s got everything you’d expect in this style; light sw... Read More
Left Hand Polestar Pilsner

Left Hand Brewing Company Polestar Pilsner

Beer Reviews
Left Hand’s Polestar Pilsner is one of the most easily overlooked 
beers in the stores. This warm-weather gem comes in a six-pack so 
evocative of a cold clear night that it would be more appropriate as 
a winter warmer. Instead, this is one of the lightest, most refreshing
 craft brews in the store. Just hoppy enough to keep you thirsty, Polestar is easily one of my all-time favorite pilsners. Perfect
 anytime you’re out in the heat somewhere you don’t have to bring cans. ABV: 5... Read More
Roblet Monnot St. Francois Volnay 2011

Roblet-Monnot St. Francois Pinot Noir, Volnay 2011

Wine Reviews
The St. Francois is blended from several vineyards with some coming from the premier cru sites of Robardelle and Mitans. I tried this particular wine early this year and it inspired me to expand my Burgundy portfolio tenfold. It was THAT GOOD! Monnot’s 100% Pinot Noir is destemmed prior to fermentation and aged for 24 months in French oak. Vibrant flavors of ripe red cherries and cranberry flow through soft, silky tannins and vivacious acids. The mid-palate offers a core of creamy vanilla bean... Read More

Avery Brewing • White Rascal

Beer Reviews, Summer Reviews
While you’ll have no trouble finding an aggressive IPA, a
 double stout or Scotch ale in cans these days, the milder more 
sessionable craft styles seem to be much less plentiful. Happily, Avery’s can release of White Rascal is bucking this trend. One of my 
favorite American wheats, White Rascal is slightly spicier than the 
average wheat beer, but quite refreshing compared to the hop and malt 
bombs next to it on the craft can shelf. Do yourself a favor and get this 
one into a... Read More
Louis de Sacy Brut Originel Champagne

Louis de Sacy Brut Originel Champagne

Wine Reviews
A 12% alcohol blend of 55% pinot noir, 30% chardonnay and 15% pinot meunier with about 15% reserve wines bottled, refermented and aged 30 months en tirage before disgorgement and finished brut. Gold-straw in color and fully sparkling; dry, medium-light-bodied with fresh acidity. A yeast-fruit-and-mineral nose gives way to a crisp, fresh palate featuring citrus and a bit of red fruit, accented by toasty yeast and a flinty minerality. Fresh and focused, it is best suited to be served as an aperiti... Read More
Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale

Boulevard Brewing Company Tank 7

Beer Reviews
My favorite style of beer is easily Saison. It’s a Belgian-style beer with a storied past, light, crisp, and easy drinking with layers of flavor. Boulevard has taken this style, known for yeasty spice (pepper) and hoppy fruit flavors/aromas, boosted the alcohol and dry-hopped it with a modern American hop varietal called Amarillo. This layers bright citrus over an already complex drinking experience. It’s a great showcase of how American brewers have taken “old world” styles and moderniz... Read More