Archive for August, 2008

Like a stain that won’t come out of your favorite shirt: it’s Beer Spots. This is, obviously, part 3 in my series to enlighten folks about where to find good beer close to home. Sadly, this will be my last installment, until I find more spots that catch my taste buds. Let us now migrate to the Queen City herself, Manchvegas, more affectionately known as Manchester.

The North End Superette is located at the corner of Elm St and Fir St. One of my favorite spots, it is relatively close to Strangebrew and boasts one of the largest selections of beer in the state. The staff may not be able to point you to something suited to your taste, but there is plenty from which to choose. They offer ‘mix and match’ cases, along with keg specials. They carry many domestics and micros with a solid selection of imports and even a small wine area. For a very tiny store, it is a gem on Elm St to anyone looking to experiment.

Drinking Consultants, located right off Exit 6 on 93 North at Candia Rd, lives up to its name. This store might be my favorite.  The staff is very knowledgeable, and you can mix and match a six-pack for $8.99, depending on what you get. That part is crucial to any beer taster, why buy a whole six when you can try six different beers instead? A convenient location, these guys also boast a large beer selection, which they live up to. I completely recommend this store based on name alone. You certainly should consult them if you plan on trying anything out of your normal suds range. Plus, that blue awning is visible from the highway; you literally can see it a mile a way.

Tap/Bottle: Bottle

Rule of Citrus: None

As summer is coming to a close I’m trying to squeeze in a few more summer beers before the weather gets cold. This week we have the Apricot Wheat Ale from Sea Dog Brewing Company. These guys are known for the Blueberry Wheat Ale, and if you like that, chances are you’ll enjoy the Apricot Wheat.

Apricots come up a lot in beer: Unibroue, Magic Hat’s #9, they add something distinct to the flavor of beer. If anything, the apricot seems to help smooth out the bitter flavors and add a little bit of sweet to the mix- fruit isn’t always a terrible thing in beer.

Picking up a six, I decided to pair this ale with some steak tips that I had purchased from a local butcher. Grilled to perfection, I sat down to begin my taste experiment. Opening the bottle of Apricot Wheat I smelled all the apricots and hoped it wouldn’t turn out to be like Summer Shandy’s faux lemon-scent. Instead I was treated to a delicious flavor of apricots, not overpowering at all mind you, and a good beer taste. The steak tips were tangy, and the beer really helped to level out the tastes.

I have yet to try Sea Dog’s IPA or other traditional beer varieties, I haven’t gotten around to them yet, but I will. I will say that the fruit beers they put out have not disappointed me yet. If you want a beer with real fruit flavor and not just a smell, I do recommend Sea Dog. Now if only someone would figure out a way to create mango chutney flavored ale, then I’d be excited.

As a newlywed with a delayed honeymoon, I am anticipating my trip to Hawaii with much excitement. So, on a recent night I created a dinner menu based on different Hawaiian flavors. And, of course, to accompany the dishes I wanted to serve a drink with a Hawaiian theme.

If you have read my articles about martinis, you might have noticed that I prefer my beverages to have a fruity base. So, I went with my first instinct of a pineapple and coconut combination.  I thought about making frozen pina coladas, but that sounded too heavy for a late dinner accompaniment.  I decided to keep the drink simple and use extra pineapple juice from a dinner recipe.

Served over ice, this drink was light, flavorful, and the perfect accent to a candlelit dinner for two.  While we dined to the soft hum of central air instead of Hawaiian breezes, it was a romantic evening nonetheless.

Hawaiian Honeymoon

4 ounces coconut rum

6 ounces pineapple juice

Diet or regular lemon-lime soda

Fill 2 highball glasses with ice.  Pour 2 ounces of rum and 3 ounces of pineapple juice into each glass.  Pour a splash of soda into each glass, and stir gently.

Bottle/Tap: Bottle

Rule of Citrus: None

If you’ve never seen Monty Python and the Holy Grail, you’re missing out. If you have, visualize the chanting monks. (If you know the chant, sing it.) Those are the guys that must brew this beer. Wait, what? Monks and beer, no way. Way.

The Trappist Monks of Belgium certainly know a few things about beer brewing. I will admit the size of the bottle and price tag steered me away from this ale: average price $11. I bit the bullet, and on the recommendation of a clerk I picked up a bottle.

I’ve never bought a beer with a champagne cork; this is an indication of quality and sophistication. Also, I’ve never bought a beer that not only tells you how to store it –standing up in the fridge so sediment can settle- but how to properly serve it –in a wide mouthed goblet- these monks thought it all through.

After proper chill time and cleaning my only goblet, it was time to uncork. I cold smell the crisp bitter scent as I poured some in the glass. I was ready to give this a shot and quietly said the monk chant. It was bitter, nothing like an IPA, a mild bitter flavor. As tasting continued the bitter seemed to smooth out and made this beer very enjoyable. I was completely immersed in this ale and there was plenty of it in the bottle to do so.

There are two other ales Chimay puts out, and at $11 a bottle I’ll be saving my pennies. Still, if you have the extra change, and want to impress people, I do suggest picking up this ale. Until then, I’ll picture the Python monks brewing away, and instead of wooden slabs they’ll hold beer bottles. More painful, yes, a lot funnier, ni!

Everyone knows Emeril Lagasse for his food. And on a recent trip to New Orleans, my wife and I went to his restaurant for dinner (Read the review at our sister publication Tasty Thoughts). While waiting at the bar for our table, I ordered a signature drink from their beverage menu, a Creole Collins.

Ingredients:

• 1 Part fresh lime juice
• 1 Part Cognac
• 1 Part spiced rum
• Splash of simple syrup

Combine all the ingredients in a martini shaker filled with ice and shake well. Serve over ice in a highball glass garnished with fresh mint.

During our mini-honeymoon in New Orleans, we decided to spend an evening on the town, enjoying tapas-style dishes and martinis. We started our evening at Harrah’s Casino. Having taken a 6-mile walk at midday and not having eaten since an early lunch, we decided to have a bite to eat before hitting the gaming tables.

We had done a little research and knew that there was a trendy-looking bar at the casino. However, being a Monday evening, the bar was empty. We decided we wanted to find somewhere more lively. After speaking with a few casino employees, we left the casino and went to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse.

I have never been to a Ruth’s before, but my new husband has and was certain that we would find good food and drinks there. When we arrived at the steakhouse, we found a decent crowd for a Monday and a pair of seats available at the bar. Perusing their cocktail menu, I opted to order their new specialty drink, the Summer Berry Fusion. I have to admit that this was an excellent decision on my behalf.

This martini was made with a combination of muddling, shaking, and straining. First, fresh blackberries were muddled. To this, Stoli Blueberi and Belvedere Lemonessence, and some ice were added, and the ingredients were shaken. Instead of pouring the martini through the regular shaker-top, a fine mesh strainer was used to avoid getting blackberry seeds in the drink.

This drink had a strong flavor of berry with a hint of lemon, which kept it from being too sweet. It was light and refreshing, the perfect start to an evening of fun.

Back, like a bad hangover, it’s Beer Spots! This is part two of my quest to find good stores to purchase quality beer and then share my findings with all of you. Trust me; the pasture is much greener outside of the supermarket. Let us move up from Massachusetts to my home territory of southern New Hampshire.

Jasper’s Homebrew and Wine Making Supply is right off Main Street, Nashua, on Temple Street. This place may look like a hole in the wall, but it is a treasure trove for the serious beer or wine enthusiast. It has an eclectic beer selection, consisting of many rare and limited brews. You can purchase by the six pack or individual bottles. They also supply all the goods you’d need to make your own beer or wine. Everything from bottles to barley they carry or can be ordered. Another cool tidbit is the 300 beer recipes to look through. Arranged by style of brew, this is a hot spot for me to talk with a very knowledgeable staff and try something new.

Next we have The Drink Shoppe in Hudson at 214 Central St. Set up like a warehouse, they have plenty of beer, some wine and tons of sodas and sports drinks from which to choose. Back to the beer, this is a good place to come, if you know what you want. With a great selection of local and import brews this is a fun place to check out. The Shoppe also shares residence with a butcher shop and every Friday, from 4-6, they host a beer and meat tasting. Each week they spotlight a different beer. Add some steak tips, and you have a good way to start your weekend.