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Friday, September 6, 2013

Recipe(s) of the Week



Quick Pickled Cucumber Salad

This is one of my favorite side dishes, it goes with everything and is super refreshing.

  • 2 large cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced crosswise  ***
  • 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 Champagne Vinegar    ***
  • Coarse salt and ground pepper     ***
 *** In stock at The Wine and Cheese Place Forsyth

In a large bowl, combine cucumbers, red onion, sugar, and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Chill in fridge up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld.



Fig, Goat Cheese and Basil Crostini
Sometimes you just have to work with what you have around the house, we had some friends coming over and needed something to serve while dinner finish
Inspired by some wonderful fresh figs we had a few weeks back my wife came up with this one on the fly over labor day weekend and it was fantastic. 

Ingredients:
  • Robert Rothschild Sweet fig and Orange Spread    ***
  • Montchevre Fresh Goat Cheese 4oz     ***
  • Tribecca Baguette     ***
  • Extra Virgin Olive     ***
  • Sea Salt     ***
  • ¼ Cup Chopped Fresh Basil     ***

 *** In stock at The Wine and Cheese Place Forsyth


Preparation:
Slice the baguette ¼ inch think slices, place sliced bread on a baking dish, drizzle olive oil over each slice and season with salt and pepper, bake at 375 degrees until bread turns brown about 8 minutes. Once the bread has cooled, spread goat cheese, then the sweet orange fig spread on each crostini and top with chopped basil.

Fee Brothers Bitters

Just got a load of Fee Brothers in stock!
Got it all!

Fee Brothers Whiskey Barrel Aged Bitters...$12.99 / 5oz
Fee Brothers Orange Bitters Aged in Gin Barrels...$12.99 / 5oz
Very limited!
Oak Barrels which aged Old Tom Gin, take on a second life at Fee Brothers.  They now age Orange Bitters, mingling  it with gin-soaked oak.  Crafting Orange Bitters, has just been elevated to new heights.


Fee Brothers "regular" bitters are all $6.99
Just got in...

  • Celery
  • Cherry
  • Cranberry
  • Lemon
  • Mint
  • Orange
  • Black Walnut
  • Peach
  • Plum
  • Rhubarb
  • Old Fashioned
  • Aztec Chocolate




Old Fashion Bitters
The classic Bitters used in every bar. A necessary ingredient in a Manhattan or a Planter's Punch and so many more drinks.  ""Actually contains real angostura bark unlike Angostura Brand Bitters"
Recipes with Old Fashion Bitters



Orange Bitters
This old cocktail ingredient went unnoticed for years, until recently. A new interest in classic cocktails has brought it out of retirement. There are many recipes that call for Orange Bitters, but of most note is the "Classic" Martini. Try a dash in your next Martini and you will never want one without Orange Bitters again.
Recipes with Orange Bitters

Peach Bitters
Another long lost cocktail ingredient enjoying new interest. Try Peach Bitters in a Coronation or a Xeres. Your drinks will be unique.


Mint Bitters
The fresh taste of mint when you don't have mint leaves handy. Great in a Mint Julep or a Mojito.
Recipes with Mint Bitters

Lemon Bitters
A Fee Brothers original, Lemon Bitters lend a snappy citrus taste with a hint of lemongrass to your drinks."First Impression: Aromatic lemon esters, and a possible bitter orange in the background? Scents of bitter zest of bark also. Appearance: Clear, yellow tinge, paradoxically viscous and oily at the same time. Taste: Lemon with a strong angostura or quinine bitter component to it. Like a liquid sour candy. Drinks: This bitters can be used in a number of drinks calling for lemon bitters or alternatively, to of course add a lemon taste without resorting to limoncello or lemon-flavored vodka." -- www.spiritsreview.com

Rhubarb Bitters
The delicate flavor of Rhubarb combined with other flavors available in 1800's America.

Cherry Bitters
The re-birth of a historical cocktail ingredient. Use a dash or two to enhance a cocktail with its strong fruit flavor.



Back in stock also
Orgeat Cordial Syrup
Pronounced or-SHOT. An almond flavored milky-white syrup. The key ingredient in many Polynesian drinks such as a Mai Tai.
Recipes with Orgeat Syrup


Murphy Goode Homefront Red

Give Goode.
Do Goode



Murphy Goode Homefront Red...$12.99
For every bottle sold of Homefront Red, Murphy-Goode will donate 50 cents to Operation Homefront. Join in on this Goode cause and help us reach our goal of donating $300,000 to military families in need.



Goode Deed
WHO IS OPERATION HOMEFRONT?
Murphy-Goode is a proud sponsor to Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization that honors our active-duty soldiers and veterans by supporting their families with emergency financial assistance.

Since its inception in 2002, Operation Homefront has provided more than $128 million dollars in funding to programs to benefit military families. You may find more information on the Operation Homefront Website.

“My family has a long military background dating back to World War I, where my great grandfather Bill Ready served in the Army. They were proud to serve our great country and would all be excited about helping our returning soldiers that gave so much for us.”
- David Ready Jr., Winemaker


BRIDGE THE FINANCIAL GAP BY OFFERING HELP WITH:
  • Food, utilities, infant supplies and furniture
  • Rent or mortgage payments
  • Automobile repairs, payments, or donations
  • Household repairs or medically necessitated modifications
  • Counseling or support groups
  • Urgent or critical healthcare needs

Wine Education: Tuscany

Wine Tasting at all FOUR locations

Taste 2010 Ruffino Modus at all four of our locations this Saturday
September 7 from 11am-4pm.

(each store will also have other wines out to taste)

A little more education: We are going to try to feature either a grape or a wine region each week at our stores. We will give you some background information on the grape or region and feature a wine that highlights what we are featuring. We will taste that wine on Saturday at all four of our locations. We will post it here in our blog and send it out in our emails - click here to sign up for our emails

On our blog, click on the  label "Education" and you can read all of the education articles (see the right column under the heading "labels".

Wine Education: Super Tuscans
Super Tuscans are an unofficial category of Tuscan wines, not recognized within the Italian wine classification system. The origin of Super Tuscans is rooted in the restrictive DOC practices of the Chianti zone prior to the 1990s. During this time Chianti could be composed of no more than 70% Sangiovese and had to include at least 10% of one of the local white wine grapes. Producers who deviated from these regulations could not use the Chianti name on their wine labels and would be classified as vino da tavola - Italy's lowest wine designation. By the 1970s, the consumer market for Chianti wines was suffering and the wines were widely perceived to be lacking quality (think Chianti in a wicker basket). Many Tuscan wine producers thought they could produce a better quality wine if they were not hindered by the DOC regulations.

The marchese Piero Antinori was one of the first to create a "Chianti-style" wine that ignored the DOC regulations, releasing a 1971 Sangiovese-Cabernet Sauvignon blend known as Tignanello in 1978. Other producers followed suit and soon the prices for these Super Tuscans were consistently beating the prices of some of most well known Chianti. Rather than rely on name recognition of the Chianti region, the Super Tuscan producers sought to create a wine brand that would be recognizable on its own merits by consumers


Today, most super Tuscans use the legal appellation of IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica), which gives producers more flexibility than Chianti and other Tuscan DOCs and more prestige than vino da tavola. The wines tend to be modern, big and rich—and often carry a price tag of $100 or more a bottle, but not all Super Tuscans carry super price tags come taste one of our favorites the 2010 Ruffino Modus this weekend On-Sale for $19.99


Available online also
On Sale!
2010 Ruffino Modus Toscana.....$19.99
VARIETALS:   50% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot

VINEYARDS:  Place of production: Predominantly from the vineyards of the Ruffino’s Estates of Poggio Casciano and Santedame.
Soil: Hilly land with poor, not very profound, somewhat clayey soil, rich in skeleton.
Microclimate: Variable, but with a good day-night temperature swing which, especially during summer, favours an optimal development of the flavors.

Alcohol content: 13.5% vol.
Colour: Ruby red with violet hues.
Aroma: The impact is intense, complex and fruity. The bouquet initially delivers the intense notes of mature fruit, such as cherries, plums and small black berries that are typical of Sangiovese. Then it fades into hints of spices, mint, sweet tobacco and refined balsamic notes on the finish. The notes typical of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are perfectly integrated with the Sangiovese.
Tasting profile: At the palate it is full-bodied, harmonious and characterized by the finesse of its silky tannins. The taste is exalted by a remarkable pleasantness and a texture in which each varietal adds its own distinctive trait. The finish is incredibly persistent, with an aftertaste of black berry fruit and cocoa.


Local Missouri corn - Distilled in Union, Missouri -


Batch #1
Thunderbeast Stampede Vodka...$22.99

Started 1st June, 2013
Bottled 14th August, 2013
We are very excited to introduce our second product! A totally local, handmade, vodka!
For this run, we actually used 3 batches and combined them before doing the vodka run. We started with 300 gallons of water and 500 lbs of corn per run. Cooking went great. We first did beerstripping runs, which were fast and hot. We then did our cleaning run, or moonshine run, and ran the stills till we had an overall proof of 130. After that, we did our 3 super slow vodka runs. We finally brought the distillate out at 190 proof off the still and then cut it down to 110 proof with distilled water. We then charcoal filtered it to bring us to a clean, crisp, neutral vodka. After that, we brought it down to 80 proof and bottled it. We ended up with about 16 cases of finished product. We should have it on shelves in Missouri by the end of August, 2013.

Wildlife Spotted: One groundhog, an armadillo, two turkey vulchers, 20 chicks, one black cat, and our two distillery dogs, Mia and Skylar.
No casualties reported.

Production Crew:
Head Distiller: Cole Uphouse, VP of Operations
Head Brewer: Matthew Schimmel, Distillery Assistant
Distillers: Chris Burnette, President
Greg Jones, The Missourian Newspaper
Music Played: Neil Diamond

Bond Street Gin

Come taste Bond Street Gin and Mulligans Bourbon
The Wine and Cheese Place
7435 Forsyth Blvd, Clayton, MO 63105

Friday September 27th from 4-6pm






Bond Street Gin....$28.99 / 750ml
One night in late 2012, over dinner at a Bond Street restaurant in Bend, Oregon, home of Bendistillery, a discussion ensued regarding the emergence of the American "Craft" distillery. When Bendistillery came on the scene in 1995, there were less than 10 "Craft" distilleries in the United States. At the end of 2011 there were 234. It should come as no surprise that Bendistillery is the most award winning "craft" distillery in the United States. So later that evening when we asked Jim Bendis, founder and master distiller at Bendistillery, to produce an ultra-premium, American-craft, London-style, dry gin, we had no doubt it would be world-class.

Born of ultra-clean Cascade Mountain water and locally sourced juniper berries, Bond Street Gin starts with superior ingredients. Add in Jim Bendis' hand-craftsmanship and the result is a magnificent London-style gin with a delicate nose and bright flavor. Bond Street is a gin that can be mixed or sipped as it is not overburdened with a complicated array of botanicals.


An ultra-premium gin as stately as London's most opulent shopping district and distilled at America's most award-winning "craft" distillery can only be called Bond Street. Please enjoy this offering from Bend, Oregon: HOME OF THE AMERICAN CRAFT "SPIRIT".

Dry Dock Farms


We have locally grown Cucumbers and Tomatoes 
from Dry Dock Farms in stock at Forsyth

Thursday, September 5, 2013

2nd Shift Katy - 2 year old!

SOLD OUT


Special Release!  
2nd Shift held back some Katy with Brett for 2 years and just released it.  

2nd Shift Katy 2 Year old Pink Wax....$9.99 / 750ml

Limit 1 bottle per person.

First come first served at Forsyth, no reservations on this one.
(really the main reason is that we have no room, 
there is so much in back waiting to be picked up already)


Plus we got in 1 more case of the "regular" Katy...$7.49 per bottle.

Magic Hat Séance Saison



Magic Hat Séance Saison...$7.49 / 6pk
Séance is a dark, complexly concocted Saison, rich with earthy hues and flavors. A mild tartness begins the journey, and an underlying hop bitterness sweeps the senses through a newly opened door of the mind, where you will soon find subtle hints of ripe fruit, bringing you to a place few dare to roam.

ABV: 4.4%

Meantime limited edition Weizen Double Bock


Limited Edition Series.
Meantime Weizen Double Bock...$11.99 / 750ml
Weizen Double Bock
Like the classic German beers of this style, Weizen Double Bock is a big, arresting beer with delicious sweetness and a full, round body. Try with highly spiced foods or a big plate of kraut!

It's more taut and lean than what you may know of the style. It's fruity and delicious without being sweet. We would never call it dry, but it finishes with a firm maltiness that does not wear out your taste buds.
8.0% ABV

De Proef is back!



De Proef Reinaert Flemish Wild Ale...$11.99 / 750ml
Fermented three times with two different yeasts, including a strain of brettanomyces - the "wild yeast" of lambic brewing. Pale golden color with an enormous rocky white head. Brett and spicy aromatic notes, with a malty-juicy note on the palate. Finishes with Brett and dry hop notes. April 2003 selection - Michael Jackson's Rare Beer Club. 94 points - World Beer Championships.
IBU's: 33 
ABV: 9.0%




De Proef Zoetzuur Flemish Ale...$11.99 / 750ml
From the Flemish translation for "sweet-sour." This is a unique amber colored ale of multi yeast strain fermentation, with a hint of Belgian Kriek (cherry) juice added. The brewer has combined these elements in a subtle and complex blend where sour notes are balanced by tart fruit, hints of wood, and a velvety finish. August 2004 selection - Michael Jackson's Rare Beer Club. 93 points - World Beer Championships.
IBU's: 21 
ABV: 7.0%




De Proef Lozen Boer Abt - Abbey Style Ale...$11.99 / 750ml
Named for the famous West Flanders restaurant near the brewery. The label tells the story of the restaurateur's father who smuggled cows from Amsterdam to Belgium. The beer is dark and rich, with dark fruit and spicy aromas and flavors. Layers of depth and complexity. September 2005 selection - Michael Jackson's Rare Beer Club. Silver Medal - World Beer Cup. 92 points World Beer Championships.
IBU's: 40 
ABV: 10.0%

Bellegems Bruin



Bellegems Bruin...$10.99 / 750ml
A World Classic Returns to America
In 1874, Located near the French border in the rural village of Bellegem, Bockor Brewery is now in its fourth generation of family management under the guidance of Omer Jean Vander Ghinste. While Bockor has become known as one of the region's most innovative brewers, it retains a strict dedication to its historical roots and its original Flanders specialty ale.
 
Bellegems Bruin - West Flanders Ale

A regional classic. A traditionally-brewed Flanders brown ale is blended with 18-month old lambic to create this tart, refreshing, medium-bodied benchmark ale. Reddish-amber with a tan head. Hints of tart fruit and an underlying light lambic sourness dominate the nose. The palate has apple and raisiny fruit notes offset by a touch of brown ale caramel sweetness and a toasty-woody finish with just a light touch of hops.
ABV: 5.5%

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Chocolate Tom and Ginger Tom





Robinson Old Tom Chocolate Tom...$4.29 / 11.2oz
Brewed with cocoa and Madagascan bourbon vanilla and shockingly dry! Beautiful dark chocolate notes intermingle with full, ripe malt for a velvety beer experience like no other.
6.0% ABV
Chocolate Tom is a deliciously indulgent addition to the Old Tom range, with a recipe developed by Robinsons and the renowned chocolatier Simon Dunn.  A wonderfully warming dark strong ale, with aromas of dark fruit and a palate booming with ripe malt and hops, slowly followed by a deep port wine finish.  
INTERNATIONAL BEER CHALLENGE 2010 - BRONZE




Robinson Old Tom Ginger Tom...$4.29/ 11.2oz
A subtle snap of ginger makes Ginger Tom a lively breed indeed, giving that lovely purring warmth for those cold winter nights or over ice for a refreshing summers drink.

Specially brewed using an infusion of Chinese bruised ginger root and botanical extracts, this warming specialty ale has a pronounced ginger and spiced herb palate complemented by a sweet roasted malt dryness and wonderful ginger afterburn.   Made with Fentiman’s Ginger Ale, Old Tom Ginger features a bracing, zesty and pronounced ginger character like no other ginger beer we have ever tasted. Intensely delicious!
6.0% ABVINTERNATIONAL BEER CHALLENGE 2011 - BRONZE

Lambickx Lambics





First time produced and first time in the U.S., does not even appear on RateBeer yet.

Lambickx Kriek Lambic....$19.99

Lambic with Cherries added
Brewed: 2011
Bottled: 2013
Bottles produced: 9,867
Barrels: Oak and Chestnut
ABV: 6.5%

The first Kriek Lambic in our LAMBICKX line! Wonderful aroma of almonds, macaroon and cherry stones. Dry, elegant fruit palate. Lightly sparkling to still.

Lambics are truly the "wines" of the beer world. Just as wines vary by season, soil, climate, and aging method, lambics (unlike any other type of beer) vary by season, brewery location, barrel size and wood type and length of aging.

With wines one talks of "gout du terroir" because the land (terroir) so influences a wine's flavor. With lambics one must speak of "gout du tonneau" because each cask (tonneau) produces a lambic that matures and tastes different. Thanks to this variation, a lambic's character comes not only from the base beer made by the brewer but from the casks selected and blended together. And because lambic is lightly sparkling, the flavors and nuances developed through the cask aging can be fully tasted and appreciated, like in gueuze, which is highly sparkling but much less complex.



Lambickx de Troch Lambic....$19.99
Brewed: 2011
Bottled: 2013
Bottles produced: 2,479
Barrels: Oak and Chestnut
ABV: 5.75%

Tart, notes of lemon, grapefruit, tangerine and wood. Lively palate, cleansing and refreshing.


Lambickx Private Domaine Lambic....$19.99
Brewed: 2011
Bottled: 2013
Bottles produced: 4,159
Barrels: Oak and Chestnut
ABV: 5.75%

Rich aroma of nut meats, leather and horse blanket. Exceptionally rounded palate , sherry like.

Lambickx™ is Vanberg &; Famille’s brand of hand-selected and blended lambics. Every Lambic with the Lambickx™ name is made from casks personally tasted and chosen by Don Feinberg, one of the first importers of Belgian beer to America and founder of the first Belgian-only brewery in the U.S. Don chooses his Lambics for their complexity, brilliance and drinking excellence both by themselves and as exquisite accompaniments to food.

Coconut Curry Hefeweizen and Yuzu Berliner



New Belgium Lips of Faith Coconut Curry Hefeweizen...$7.19
Coconut Curry Hefeweizen has been pouring down the history of American Home Brewing for many years, from the legendary Charlie Papazian to the 2010 National Homebrewer, Remi Bonnart. The latter helped New Belgium brew this hazy, straw-colored gem to life. The aroma is bold and big with coconut and curry tones and a hint of banana from the hefe yeast. With a vast spice list of cinnamon, coriander, fenugreek, ginger, kaffir lime, and cayenne pepper this beer carries a bit of heat but the alcohol soothes the finish. Coconut Curry Hefe will leave an inquisitive smile on the drinker’s mug.

BEER FACTS
ABV: 8%
IBU: 14
Malts: Pale, Wheat, Munich
Fruits/Spice: Cayenne, Cinnamon, Coconut, Coriander, Fenugreek Seed, Ginger Root, Kaffir Lime Leaf




New Belgium Lips of Faith Yuzu Berliner Weisse...$11.99
Yuzu is a strange fruit- citrusy and bold. Those three words: strange, citrus and bold are the perfect beginnings for a great beer. So, our brewers paired yuzu with the sourness of a Berlinerweiss to create this beerlicious Yuzu Berlinerweiss. Brewed with pale malt and wheat this Berlinerwiess was acidified with Lactobacillus for a light, dry mouthfeel and tart refreshment. Hazy and straw-colored, the yuzu fruit brings a tropical charm to a traditional beer.
BEER FACTS
ABV: 8%
IBU: 6
Malts: Pale, Wheat
Yeast: Schultheiss, Lactobacillus, Breattanomyces, Bruxelliensis
Fruits/Spice: Yuzu

Rogue has gone crazy...


"Beard Beer is brewed with a yeast created from Brewmaster John Maier's Beard"- Rogue


In stock now at Forsyth!


Rogue Beard Beer....$6.99 / 22oz
It's here! Our latest brew Dedicated to Beards, Beard Beer is brewed with a yeast created from Brewmaster John Maier's Beard. No Need to freak out, Brewers have used wild yeasts in beer making for centuries. John has had the same Old Growth Beard since 1983 and for over 15,000 brews, so it is no great suprise that a natural yeast ideal for brewing was discovered in his beard.
What does Beard Beer taste like? Try it, we think you'll be suprised...

Rare - oak aged La Trappe Quad!

Very limited release.  Each batch is in different barrels.  Last time we had this beer it was batch #3.  This beer is very hard to come by.

Order online


La Trappe OAK AGED Quadrupel Trappist Ale...$16.99 / 375ml
Batch #12 (mostly bourbon barrel aged)
Batch #12 currently 97 on RateBeer

Quadrupel
La Trappe Quadrupel Trappist beer is the heaviest beer of La Trappe with a beautiful amber colour. The warm taste is full and well balanced. Slightly sweet and pleasantly bitter.


Oak Aged
In 2009, Beerbrewery the Koningshoeven decided to restore an old tradition and started to mature La Trappe Quadrupel in barriques (wooden barrels). This traditional way of aging in wooden barrels got more and more into the background in the 20st century. Koningshoeven thought 2010 was the right time for this tradition to be picked up again. Maturing the beer for about 12 months on the wooden barrels creates a unique, complex flavour. The taste varies by the type of barrel that is used.
This beer can be stored for many years and is a treat for the true beer lover. The full, complex flavour with many types of tannin, however, will also surprise many wine drinkers!

Barrel types
Several different types of barriques are used for the oak-aging process, both new and used ones. New barrels impart the tannins that give the beer a flavour that is reminiscent of vanilla and almond. The use of different kinds of barrels leads to surprisingly interesting flavour combinations. These flavours depend on what drink these barriques contained before, such as port, whiskey, wine, cognac, or bourbon. And the type of oak also comes into it. This beer’s final taste therefore varies from one BATCH to another.

BATCH 12 was distributed as follows:



  • Bourbon Whiskey barrels 91%
  • Cognac barrels 1%


Aroma: Bourbon, subtle wood, prunes, liquorice, raisins, and almonds.
Quadrupel’s distinct aroma and flavour are still very much alive, but have merged with the aromas from the whiskey and cognac barrels. Drier in taste than previous batches, the body of this batch is slightly less bombastic.
Again a very distinct Bourbon aroma, albeit less prominent than the previous aroma.
The flavour is complex and yet quite gentle (probably also because this batch has aged for 18 months).
Triggering a slight tingling sensation as it rolls over the tongue, this ale leaves behind a tannin-bitter and subtle smoky aftertaste.

More beers in stock at Forsyth...

Will most more information later...



Robinson Ginger Tom...$2.19 / 11..2oz

Robinson Chocolate Tom...$2.19 / 11.2oz
De Proef Zoetzuur Flemish Ale...$11.99 / 750ml
De Proef Lozen Boer Abt Abbey Style Ale...$11.99 / 750ml

La Trappe Oak Aged Quad...$16.99 / 375ml
Antwerpse Seef....$3.99 / 11.2oz

Bellegems Bruin...$10.99 / 750ml

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Ghost Owl Whisky

"A Wise Choice"



Ghost Owl Small Batch Whisky...$21.99 / 750ml
"This Pacific NW style whiksy is aged in quarter casks to speed up the aging process.  It exits the small casks a fiery amber color.  Ghost Owl is a sweet and honeyed whisky blanced by rich oak, peppery rye, and a big mouthful of barley sugar from the high malt content, followed by a medium-long finish. Enjoy!"


New Vodka - Real Russian....

Award Winning Vodka





Real Russian Vodka...$16.99
Made in Illinois from an old Russian Recipe
Real Russian Vodka is a unique blend of Old World and New.  We've combined famous Midwestern grain and a modern distilling process to create the ultimate vodka for your enjoyment.  Distilled and bottled in small batches, and inspired by our roots using an authentic family recipe born over 100 years ago in Russia, we present a vodka that is unmatched in clarity and smoothness.  So from our hearts and the heartland of America, Lazdorovje- Cheers!