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% Ready to Try it?

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% Ready to Try it?

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% Ready to Try it?

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

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