Our Lager, which art in taverns...

If you're keeping score at home, we've covered a trio of wines from Spain (tempranillo) and Australia (shiraz-grenache and shiraz-cab. sauv.). On Sunday, we also had a tasting of beers.

Now, I don't know if everyone out there is as much of a beer fan as I am. I am a fan of beer: lagers, pilsners, hefe-weizens, dunkels, porters, stouts, and ales of all pales. Now, I must admit that when it comes to beer, I have no shortage on words, so I will attempt to keep my notorious long-winded-ness to a minimum. First, let me go over the beers we tried on Sunday's tasting.

Boulevard Pilsner
100% malt

NOTE: So from what I understand, Anheuser-Busch, Miller, and Michelob have all been making specialty beers lately in an effort to get a little bit of the craft beer business. With the cropping up of local breweries, the big beer companies realized that there is a growing market of discerning beer drinkers. Wanting a slice of the pie, they started crafting specialty beers like Landshark, American Ale, Shock Top, and Michelob's wheat series.

Boulevard Brewery out of Kansas City, founded in 1989, has been making moves to capitalize on their growth from the popularity of their dynamite Pale Ale, an exceptional Double Wide IPA (served in a champagne bottle), and their claim to fame, Boulevard Wheat. In response to encroaching businesses, Boulevard took a tip from the big boys by releasing a 100% malt beverage that sells right along side Budweiser and Coors... at the exact same price. If this story is not enough to pique your curiosity about this tasty toasty pils, let me assure you that this beer has subtle malt notes that smooth out to caramel, with character that keeps the flavors clean and very drinkable. All in all, I was impressed with the flavor of this beer, especially given the price.

Schlafly's Summer Beer
Lager

This crisp refreshing Summer beer comes from a brewery more noted for their stouts than their lagers, but the flavors are dead on, here. This beer is very clean, not too lemony, and surprisingly drinkable. Very few bottled beers remind me of the summer I spent drinking strip-n-go-naked's in Madison, WI, with my sister, and this beer did just that. Only this time, I didn't get hammered and pass out in Rodney's back yard. This beer doesn't have the kick that a lot of summer drinks have, which makes it ideal for cooling off after weeding, watering, and repotting the herbs on my balcony -- again.

And that's it! We now have 3 red wines and 2 beers sampled, so far. Make sure to check back in once every now and then to see what to try next. And, of course, if you have anything you want to share, feel free to stop by at Harper Corner Liquor Store.

And away we go...

I'm offering this blog as I experience the world of wines and liquors in the liquor store of my employment: Harper Corner Liquor store, in Lawrence, KS, located at the corner of 23rd Street and Harper. I don't know if anyone will find this resource helpful, but I will attempt to offer tidbits of information to the public at large on food and beverage pairings, local events that are scheduled, and other local news that affects the daily goings-on at Harper Corner, everyone's favorite neighborhood booze source.

TASTINGS
I would recommend having tastings of different wines and beverages with the ones who eat meals with you. These will be the people for whom you cook; your family, friends, or a special somebody. These are the people who will be eating and enjoying beverages with you, so knowing what rings their bells is good to keep in mind when pairing. We regularly have tastings at Harper Corner (sadly, only employees are allowed to attend), and learn the newest cutting edge wines and spirits emerging into the market. With that being said, don't hesitate to ask your friendly booze hound for an outsider's perspective, as well. We do, after all, have our fingers on the pulse of the booze nation. For an example, I will present the 3 wines and 2 beers we sampled at last night's meeting:

PENFOLD'S KOONUNGA HILLS: Australia
shiraz cabernet sauvignon
This wine is very well balanced, a deep rich red wine with moderately pointed dryness. I could see this going well with any beef dish or (perfect for the glorious weather we've been having) barbecue. Sweet berries start this wine off, developing smoothly with the tannins into a well rounded flavor that hits the whole tongue all at once. Overall, this was my favorite.

EGUREN: Spain
tempranillo
Spanish wines are pretty hot right now, and the price is right for this clean and dry red wine from Spain. Traditionally very well balanced, tempranillo can be heavy and full, or, as in this case, clean and precise. The clean grape flavor hits right on the tip with a distinct tartness while the tannins do their work on the sides and back of the tongue. Not as spicy as other tempranillos, but at around $8 a bottle, a very good deal.

ASS KISSER: Australia
fine red wine
I know, I know... It's a funny name. It is. Clever, even. It's wines like this that sell well without having the need for substance. After sampling this shiraz-grenache blend, I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised. I expected something like Mad Housewife or Bitch: a wine full of character, but not much real distinction. I was surprised. This sweet red wine had very fruity undertones, heavy berry flavors, black and red currant, and a faint dryness that didn't overdevelop so far as to ruin the sweetness. The combination is impressive, and would pair with any table setting, particularly as a dessert wine.

It appears I am needed at the shop. So I will have to continue about the beers some other time. I hope these reviews find you doing well, and I hope that they aid you in making the best pairings of foods with beverages. Until then, drink up.