Thanksgiving is that time of year that reminds us to be... well, thankful, I guess... It also is a time of transition: Riesling turns into mead, Octoberfest into winter brew, and the rambunctious Sailor Jerry snuggles willingly into the arms of hot butter and brown sugar. For the holidays this year, I plan on posting some of my favorite drink recipes up for the public to try. For the time being, I feel it necessary to pass on a few product highlights. Indeed, things have been busy at the Corner.
Mike's Hard Apple Cider
Usually, I don't consider sweetened malt beverages to be worth much attention. However, Mike's Hard Lemonade, a summertime favorite, has now come out with their seasonal winter beverage: Apple Cider. This is not only a poignant answer to other exclusively cider companies like Woodchuck or Hornsby's, it uses a distinctly winter flavor palette: deeply animated with subtle notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. Now, this tasty carbonated beer alternative not only serves as a great way to quench the thirst after a hard day of hauling 30 packs, it can be heated in the microwave. That's right. Pour your Mike's Cider into a glass and pop it into the microwave for a hot and toasty holiday treat sure to ease the most abrasive holiday blues.
Chaucer's Mead
Soquel, CA
We sell this mead year-round, but it is known by and large as the standard by which all other meads are measured. I've had mead from all over, and this seems to be the best by my liking. For those who are unaware, mead is a traditional holiday beverage used primarily by Northern Europeans, common in England, Sweden, and Switzerland. It is made from carefully fermented honey that is combined with things like orange rinds, lemon peels, and cinnamon sticks, and tastes very sweet with hints of floral notes that vary, depending on the flowers that the bees used to make the honey. Hot or cold, mead is the holidays in a cup.
Samuel Adams Winter Lager
If you've been paying attention to the news, you may have noticed that Sam Adams has now made a beer that rings in at around $150 a bottle. This beer is sold in a copper and ceramic bottle that replicates a brewing pot, takes around 12 years to create, and clocks in at around 27% alcohol. Now, I like Sam Adams beer. Like. In fact, I'm happy drinking their Winter Lager a few times every year it's in season, and that keeps me happy with the product, in general. The winter ale is crisp, not too hoppy, and not over-the-top on the cinnamon and nutmeg. Orange peel and coriander work their magic in this bold broth that, for some reason, makes me think of a very comfy sweater.
Sam Smith's Winter Welcome
Wow. This is good. Probably my favorite Winter Brew I've tried, so far. This beer is bold, unapologetically nutty, and full of English grit. Think Newcastle, times ten. You might find Sam Smith's to be an intimidating purchase, and there's a good reason for that. This stuff is packed with character; an old leather football helmet or baseball glove grooved with familiar fingerprints, the beer washes the palette in deep nutty caramel flavors saturated with malty hops. If you haven't tried this, do yourself a favor and pick one up. After all, at a mere $3.99 for a wine bottle full of world class beer, it sure beats $150.00.
I hope that this message finds everyone doing well, and feel free to swing by to give any of these suggestions a try. As always, stay thirsty, my friends.
No comments:
Post a Comment