Winter Favorites...Imperial Stouts

It seems that at least once each year I feel inclined to compose a beer blog focused on Porters and/or Stouts. This year I have chosen to concentrate on Imperial Stouts; they have a lot goin' on, are fabulous in winter, and pack a high ABV. Here are a few I have enjoyed so far this season:

1. Founders Breakfast Stout is consistently excellent. These guys use the finest chocolates and coffees to produce a rich, thick, heavenly treat.

2. Lost Abbey Serpent's Stout...a whopping 10.5% ABV...dark chocolate, dark coffee, big-body, vanilla and toasty-ness. Mmmm.

3. Snowed In Stout - Beer Camp #45 (Best Of Beer Camp: Oatmeal Stout) - Sierra Nevada. Whew. Great stuff. Cocoa, creamy, dark dried fruits, oats, molasses, alcohol ...(like rum??).

Have you enjoyed any? Email me about it!

Stay tuned...tonight I had my first Winter Ale at The Gable Mill Inn, Bellefonte, PA. More on holiday ales later this week after I have a Great Lakes Christmas Ale! ROAD TRIP.

Decompressing, Zin-style

After a lovely, busy day, We've arrived home and unpacked. Am decompressing with a lovely glass of 2009 Green Truck Zinfandel, whilst watching (and mostly reciting) Bridget Jones. You may have seen this wine in PA on Chairman's Selection...it's currently priced under $10, and valued at nearly triple it's price. This organic wine is medium-bodied, with black fruits (plum, black raspberry) and pepper; in my opinion it is quite satisfying, especially for the price tag.

Cheers to the start of a week.

Long, Tough day; Deep in Thought ... Graham Beck Cab

Long, tough day; deep in thought.

Settled in and relaxed with a glass of Cab: subtle, yet complex. Black fruits. Coffee and dark chocolate. Graham Beck The Game Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 is from the Stellenbosch vicinity of South Africa. While it is "new world" in style, it remains true to the varietal, and was quite rich and balanced, with typical oak character.

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Some of my thoughts from today, as you face whatever your day brings...

I am a firm believer that every day is a gift. I will not take the least of miracles for granted.

I am thankful for the simplest of things, like skipping with my cousin in the park, and the beauty of arpeggios pouring from the piano.

Grace was shown to me today; caring thoughts formed and spoken...each a dear blessing never experienced before.

I love and am loved.

Every day is a gift.

Coppola = Comfort

Time to relax, and I'm in the mood to blog...

Tonight we cracked open a good ole standby: Francis Coppola Cabernet (2010; Ivory Label).

Black and red berries, bit of pepper, bit of spice...anise. This Cab packs a medium-full body, with low-medium tannins. It was very nice with a warm, cozy, comforting dinner with family to kick off the holidays!

Happy Thanksgiving, all. Try a bottle of Pinot Noir or Chardonnay (or whatever our little heart desires) with your turkey tomorrow, and let me know what you enjoyed! Give thanks!

Xo, T

A New World Bordeaux-Style Red: Calvulcura 2005

I bought this bottle over a year ago...one of the few that traveled with me through the move.  A gorgeous blend of Merlot and Cabernet, this 2005 Saint-Emillion (Bordeaux)-style wine is surprisingly complex, dark, and elegant...especially for it's price (probably about $25/bottle...I paid closer to just $15)!

For anyone who appreciates Bordeaux blends, Calvulcura is an impressive new world example from the Mendoza region of Argentina.  Spice. Smoke. Oak. Silkiness.  Probably could have even chilled out for another (few) year(s), but I'm glad to have enjoyed it now.  Live in the moment, right?

I had a long day...

I wasn't on my top game. Hard to admit for some, but I am owning it.   I was thinking ... I will do better tomorrow ... all I need is a bit of inspiration, a little practice and coaching, and a lovely glass of ... Stags Leap Chardonnay!

Balance. Oak. Delicate, yet powerful.  Easy-to-find; consistent quality.  A perfect combination.  Tomorrow will be better ...

(Written mid-October 2012)

Smuttynose Exceeds Expectations

Two of this season's Smuttynose ales have been quite pleasing.

1. Pumpkin: a balanced, baking-spiced gem; brings the Autumn pumpkin-y goodness, with a subdued character that was confident, yet even.

2. Old Brown Dog Ale: On the road at upscale burger place at La Guardia... Perfect temperature. I should have skipped the food and had another brew.

Malts. Perfect carbonation. Balanced and easy-drinking. Delicious.

Grant Burge Miama Shiraz ... Oh Yeah!

 A blast from the (not-so-far-off) past...(drank this one during the MBA and didn't have time to blog straight away...believe me, I know there is no excuse.)

If you can find this wine, get it. It's awesome! Full bod, black fruits, velvety and tannic...BIG and concentrated, with a gorgeous hint of coconut, and a finish to be reckoned with. Whew- I wish I had a few bottles hanging out in the cellar. (Unfortunately not, but here's hoping, sometime!)   Pair it with hearty meats and such...or sip slowly.

 Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald is (one of) the best porter(s) in the country. Interestingly, it's namesake, a cargo ship, sunk in the Lake Superior in 1975. Caramel, toffee, coffee, mocha...this is quite possibly my favorite porter. This ale is hoppy too, which adds to its dazzle, in my opinion. Cheers to this Cleveland beauty!

A Pinot Surprise!

So, I'm pretty excited. I was wine shopping today, and guess what I found??!! The 2009 vintage of Wild Rock Cupid's Arrow Pinot Noir is available and on PA Chairman's Selection (recall Cupid's Arrow post from last autumn!). It's a great price and a great new-world Pinot Noir. Ok, ok, ok, so it doesn't deliver the traditional Pinot elements I absolutely adore, but there are other elements of this beauty that will never let me down. I already cracked a bottle to sample tonight...light-to-medium body, packed with red fruits, and herby-lovelinesseriously...I was giddy when I found it today!

Wine. Cheese. Pic Blog.

 

 

1. Highlands Cab 2003 (HighlandsBlog)

2. Traditional French Brie (Trader Joe's)

Recommend 1+2 for optimal experience.

An Ideal Cab... (flash back!)

As we all know, I was somewhat of a blogging slacker during the MBA. Several times, I experienced gorgeous wines that I wanted to talk about, but didn't get the chance. Beatty Ranch Cab (2002) is one of those.  Aggressive is an appropriate descriptor.  Loads of cherries and plums, blackberries, raspberries, and typical Cab traits like green pepper.  I even got some olive on the nose...nice.  I got a great price on this wine when it was a Chairman's Selection a few years ago...something like $25.  This vintage is now selling for $80 per bottle.  What a treat. 

Finger Lakes Riesling: Part II

In my opinion, my husband makes an amazing array of international cuisines...this week was no different! We had a delicious homemade Tikka Masala, with jasmine rice and garlic naan. I paired the well-spiced meal with an award-winning Semi-Dry Riesling from Chateau Lafayette Reneau (yes, you may recall the recent blog on the dry Riesling from the same winery). Overall, my preference inevitably lies on the dry end of the range of rieslings. This sweeter version was pleasant, and very well-suited to spicy food. Riesling from Chateau Lafayette is recommended in both the dry and semi-dry varieties, depending on your preference and food-pairing! Enjoy.

Finger Lakes Riesling

We enjoyed a lovely bottle of Dry Riesling from Chateau Lafayette Reneau the other day. It was still very hot outside, and Ryan made his fabulous pork chops on the grill (Wegmans has the BEST!). The wine was refreshing and great with the meal...peachy, melon-y, and citrus-y...crisp and even a bit effervescent! Enjoy every last minute of summer, and crack a bottle of Riesling, especially one from the NY Finger Lakes!

Belgian Trappist Bruin

We brewed a lovely autumnal beer this weekend; it will be ready later this season! In my opinion, Ryan's creative spin on the traditional abbey ales has essences of dried and candied fruits, caramels, spices, and yeasty biscuits. Since he's remaining gluten-free, I guess that makes me the taste-tester! Perhaps my first homemade brie will be ready around the same time...could be an interesting pairing! More on that later this week.

Enjoy the end of the Labor Day weekend, and the unofficial start of autumn!

Malbec, anyone?

I love a good Malbec, and always enjoy venturing outside of my go-tos... This week, I tried a new Malbec: 2011 Piper Ranch. Lots of body, plummy and fruity, with some spice! A bit young, but true to the varietal's roots in Cahors, France, this wine is a delight!

"Merry"vale Cab and a Reinvigorated Love for Cheese

Day 3 of post-grad has been a winner! I discovered a magnificent , local fromage today! Our best find at the Boalsburg farmer's market is lovingly called "Scary Monster"...hell yeah! The farmer lady actually called me brave/hardcore...i may actually be a bit flattered! It's a dense and stinky chain of Muenster, I think. Nice.

Paired it with one of my standbys...MERRYvale Cab (2008). Black fruits, oakiness, tannins. We shared a gorgeous porterhouse from our local butcher shop, and some fresh broccoli with organic shallots from a local farm. Wow, what a culinary dream night. Ryan had a piece of our homemade blackberry pie, with psu creamery butter pecan ice cream for dessert. Alternatively, I had (another) taste of cheese and wine...surprise, surprise.

Tonight we order my first supplies for cheese-making; new adventures abound.

Troegenator

One full week since I've been finished my MBA. Wow- life is nice!

Today, a beer blog...

I love a malty brew. Troegenator from Troegs near Hershey/Harrisburg is a gorgeous Doppelbock, with carmels, brown sugar, and dark fruits...raisins and plums. Yummy!...reinvigorating memories from our last trip to Belgium.

One week in- 3 blogs published, first batch of homemade cheese made, enjoying normal life, reading the first non-text book in years, road trip through the countryside , antiquing, cooking, sleeping, watching a movie! (Ratatouille!), picking berries from my garden... and back to a normal workout regime this week. :)

In the meanwhile, try something outside the box (like a Troegenator), get out of your comfort zone, and have a fabulous week!

Class of 2012: Celebrating with Zin!

Five ridiculous months since my last post. Relatively pathetic, I know. Yet , considering the MBA, the move, and all the travel, my hope is that you understand the neglect.

8/11/12: MBA graduation. Now it's time to join reality again.

Enter: Cameron Hughes , Lot 243, 2009 Zinfandel. This delectable wine stacks up!

Huge, magical body; ridiculous ABV (16.5%); smooth, silky, and spicy! Perfect for a post-grad celebration. (Thanks, Neil!)

I have been so ready to rejoin the real world,and continue the finer things in life, like wine blogging!

Thanks for all of the support and well-wishes. I am spoiled and blessed. Cheers.

What can I say, I'm "sold"...

There has been a bottle of Champagne (well, actually, it's "Sparkling Wine", since it's not from the Champagne region of France) in the refrigerator for about 9 months.  I vowed to not touch it until sold the house.   

Finally sold the house.  Cracked open a bottle of Luna di Luna Sparkling Wine.  It comes to me from Veneto, Italy, and is made of about 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Grigio.  It was refreshingly crisp and citrus-y.  Granny Smith apples.  Honeydew melon.  Flowers.

Farewell Media, PA.