Summer is Here!!!

I think it's time to review the summer beer out there so you know what your choices are for the hot, sweaty, brutal summer. You need a beer thats not heavy, not filling and that will quench your thirst. So let's get started!

SHINER RUBY REDBIRD

This is a wonderful beer with ginger and ruby red grapefruit. It has a clean and crisp flavor that leaves you wanting more. Brewed by Shiner out of Texas, this is a great seasonal beer. When you are by the pool or at the beach, don't forget the Ruby Redbird in your cooler!








VICTORY SUMMER OF LOVE

 This is a light crisp ale with a nice hoppy flavor to satisfy your thirst on a warm summer day. Great for picnics, Bar B Ques, and of course beach days! The hops are light and floral and just the right amount of bitterness to balance this ale.










BLUE POINT SUMMER ALE

Another fine brew from Blue Point which is a great ale that has a smooth flavor. They have added a bit of wheat to the mixture to give it that smooth flavor and I can tell you that it is a bit different that other summer ales. A six-pack or two on a summer day should do the trick!








SAMUEL ADAMS SUMMER ALE

 This is a wheat ale with a hint of citrus and a light floral hop finish. I usually keep a six pack of this in the fridge just to break up the monotony of drinking the same beer. I like it because of the different flavor and I think it's because of the grains of paradise that they use. Keep this beer on hand for the guest thats not sure what they want to drink. Give them a Sam Adams!







LEFT HAND GOOD JUJU

Known for one of the finest milk stouts around, Left Hand now gives you one of the finest summer beers around. Good Juju is a fine malty pale ale with ginger added to smooth out and balance the hops. Grass and floral on the nose you can't help but taste the ginger in this beer. I put this on my summer list because it has that clean crisp flavor with that little something extra. I raise my left hand to the brewers on this one well basically because I'm left handed. The ladies will love this beer because of the ginger and the guys will love it because of the pale ale hops.





Well I have two or three more to review to round out my summer beer list. these are my "gotta have" beers for the summer. So it's back to the pool for me with beers in hand and I'll give you my tale on the next batch!

I CAN'T MAKE UP MY MIND?!?!?!

The dilemma that some of have is..... what do I want to drink? Wine, beer, whiskey, rum, vodka, bourbon? I know, it's a cross I must bear but sometimes it becomes a problem. It takes me longer to figure out what I want to drink than it does to know what I want to eat. After a couple of business trips in the past 6 weeks (in Las Vegas of course), I know I like food cooked at home but my taste for the right drink for the right food has become more refined. Refined means that I'm getting picky about what I want. So let's start with a few choices that I paired up with my food lately.

SILVER OAK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006
Alexander Valley

I drank most of it myself...

I only paid 40 dollars for this bottle and let me tell you that it was worth a lot more than that. This wine has a bold elegant body with a velvety feel on the tongue with a nice tannin finish but not too much. The steak that I paired this with was a nice New York strip with broccoli and a salad (sorry no potato) and I left room for a chocolate dessert which, as all of the women that I know will tell you, Is the only thing you need with a big bold Cab. I would even pair this wine with lamb, beef bourguignon or a bold pasta dish with meat. Silver Oak is a fine winery that creates some of the finest American wine around. Have a bottle and you will not go wrong!








OMMEGANG HENNEPIN

This beer is bold enough to pair perfectly with this dish. This is from Sage in the Aria hotel in Las Vegas. It's Shelton's Farm organic chicken with farmhouse sausage, braised lentils and alfalfa hay smoke. Sounds like a lot but it's a very rich dish.  They paired it with a Anchor Steam Breckle's brown ale. I thought it needed something a little more. I think that the Hennepin would work better with this dish. The sausage and braised lentils in the smoke reduction was rich in flavor and the beer would complement that. This would be the perfect dinner for me!

So for those of you that can't make up your mind on what you want with your meal, just remember that you can your cake and eat it too by having either a wonderful wine or an awesome beer that will complement your meal. I love both and cannot tell you which one to choose because I love the variety that this life gives! Cheers!

Hey Frenchie, got any wine?

I now have a need to go back a visit some of my favorite french wines. If you are one of those folks that hate the French and will not drink their wines, I thank you. It leaves more for me. 2009 was a banner year for Bordeaux wines and it has rubbed of on the Rhone valley also. These are wonderful, complex, elegant wines that sometimes leave you speechless. But what you do not know is that some of these wines are at a very reasonable price. What is reasonable you say? Anywhere between 10 and 30 dollars will get you a fine wine. I have herd people tell me that I'm full of crap and a few other choice words but when I show them the bottles and they taste the wine, their hooked. So without further ado, I will give you my choices of French wines that will complement you cellar.


WHITES

CHATEAU GUIBON ENTRE-DEUX-MERS 2010

It goes great with chicken or fish!

This is a wonderful blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle. The Entre Deux Mers region is located between the Dordogne and Garonne rivers in the southeastern area of France in Bordeaux Region. This is a dry white wine with a citrus, peach and mineral flavor that leaves you with a crisp clean taste and a slight grapefruit finish. I love this wine and I always have a bottle in my wine cooler ready to go when the mood strikes me.




LES MARTINIERES SPECIAL FRUITS DE MER 2010

This is a Muscadet wine from Loir et Cher the Loire Valley. A grapefruit flavor with a clean mineral taste (those little bubbles on the back of your tongue) and light  body. A great summer wine between 7 and 12 dollars it's very affordable to keep a half a case on hand. Another great wine that goes with mussels, clams and oysters and will be a great compliment with a light bodied fish. I can't wait to visit France and have this wonderful wine at the wineries. 
















REDS


CHATEAU LOUISTEAUNEUF 2009

Chateau Louisteauneuf is from Mendoc of Bordeaux Region and has a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. A very elegant wine with a meld of complex flavors that work together. The tannins are not overbearing but gives it a wonderful finish. This wine will go with beef, lamb and a nice red pasta sauce. Don't be afraid of the prices of Bordeaux wines. Many of these prices are very reasonable under 30 dollars a bottle which is great for Bordeaux wines. You will just have to do a little shopping to find the one you want.

CHATEAU LANESSAN DELBOS BOUTEILLER 2000

Chateau Lanessan is in the Haut-Mendoc area of the Bordeaux Region. The wine is made up of 60 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 35 percent Merlot, 4 percent Petit Verdot and 1 percent Cabernet Franc. This reticular wine is an awesome wine for right around 30 dollars. Not 50, not 100, and not 1000 dollars, 30 dollars. If you are having a special night, trying to impress someone and not wanting to break the bank or just wanting to have a great wine this is the one you want to buy. The elegant plum and black cherry flavor and a balanced tannin will make you sit back and go aaaaahhhhhhhh. A full bodied wine for those cab junkies this will give you that extra layer of velvet elegance to make you want more. Shop around a little for this wine and you might find it on sale for a great price. 










To sum up, do not be afraid of French wines they might surprise you. And if you are a Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon fan, give some of these wines a try and you might be surprised! Enjoy and let me know what you think.

It's a local thing....

I love going to my local breweries. There is nothing better than having a fresh and crafted beer and a little conversation with the brewer. Not to mention the wonderful men and women that serve me the beer. (mostly the women)

TEQUESTA BREWING COMPANY

The first place that I love to go to is the Tequesta Brewing Company. It's located in Tequesta, FL which is right next to Jupiter, FL. I love the Gnarly Barley it's a great pale ale with the right

Awesome looking taps.

amount of hops to balance the flavor. They have several beers on tap and a couple of seasonals. They have a small cafe attached to the bar and a full restaurant with the brewery. The Corner Cafe has some great food and they pair the food with the beer. The Tequesta Brewing Company beer list has everything the beer nerd needs to quench their thirst. Just follow the link and you will not go wrong.

Haydee.

BB Kings Blues Brew

BB KINGS BLUES CLUB

If you have never been to BB kings then you don't know what you are missing. Most folks think that it's a great place for drinks and down home blues, but there is more to this club. BB Kings blues brew is a great pale ale that has a great flavor with a clean finish. Light on the hops but enough to balance the flavor to give you a nice flavor. Check out the bartender, Haydee when you get there (she is as nice as she is pretty) and tell her that Toby sent you..

 GUANABANAS
This is one of my favorite places to go. It's right on the intercostal in Jupiter and has that funky island local hang out feel to it. Speaking of funky island local, St. John Brewers has a great ale called tropical mango. It's a light pale ale with a balance of malt and hops with a great mango flavor. A one of a kind ale that is a must very if you can get your hands on one. If you can't find one, just come on over to Guanabanas and  get the tropical atmosphere with all of the mango ale you can drink. It's not a bad way to spend your Saturday afternoon.

St. John Brewers Tropical Mango Ale.

To sum up Support you local brewers and have a pint...or two... or three or whatever you feel like. Craft beer is here to stay and I for one am happy as all get out!