Booze Beat draws fire, friends

I’m thrilled to get some feedback on The Booze Beat blog. Some good, some bad. But hey, that’s what bloggin’ should be about. Posting comments to a recent blog on Schlafly Tripel ale, I netted these comments when I posted it through the local news section at joplinglobe.com.

Erin Go Bragh chimed in: “Seriously, my 21-year-old kid could write a more insightful, better informed column on beer and wine. Find an expert! There are a few around – try starting with Mike at Stout’s Pizza.”

Seymour butts, a recent addition to the Globe’s online pundits added: “How very interesting. NOT”

Steve C. wrote: “I guess some of you may need a little whine to go with your cheese. Blogs are supposed to be creative, informative and fun to read. He said the beverage wasn’t completely unfortunate and I myself may give it a try. Keep up the good work, David!”

Seymour butts: Sorry you don’t like the content. Maybe that’ll change in time. If not, then I’m always open for suggestions. And to Willy, thanks. Keep reading, and send some of your own reviews. I always love the day off. More time to sample.

Willy, who I can tell I like, said it best: “Sounds so good that I may have to try this ale. You should try their coffee stout. I am enjoying your articles concerning different types of brews. You should try to do a write up on home brewing or micro brewing. As a learning microbrewer, I have now pledged to never buy store or name brand beer again. Sorry Budweiser and Coors, but your beers are bland and weak. Save water, Drink Beer!”

To Steve C.: Thanks, just trying to put out a little info, to whom I think is an underserved demo in the Joplin Globe’s readership.

Erin Go Bragh: Sorry to disappoint. I don’t pretend to be a beer or wine expert, just a guy who loves to try new beverages. But, I also have spent a big part of my 45 years on this barstool – Ooops, I mean Earth – looking for new and interesting bevs. If you wanna’ place to spout your opinion concerning beer, booze or wine, let me know. I will be happy to add your voice to this mix. But, seriously, no need to be so bitter. Very ‘Triple IPA’ of you.

Cheers!

Kosher wine? Maybe worth a try.

I spied a story in The Globe’s Let’s Eat section this morning about kosher wines. The Vintner, Ernie Weir, wants to make one thing perfectly clear according to the story.

Ernie Weir

His wines are kosher. But first and foremost, they are award-winning Napa Valley wines. I’ve never ventured into kosher anything, but maybe it might be worth a try. I’ll look around and get back. If you find any kosher wines, other than Manischewitz,  around the Joplin area, let me know.

Cheers!

Schlafly Tripel impresses, Taj… I can do without

I picked up a couple of beers recently I had never tried before. One Missouri brewed triple ale and an import from the Sub Continent. Schlafly Tripel Ale, a St. Louis original, caught my eye last week as I browsed the craft beer isle at McAdoodles in Joplin.

Schlafly Tripel Ale: The bottle grabbed my attention and the product info made the sale. Seems like that’s often how it happens with me. The company web site describes the golden-colored brew as ”Hearty with a golden hue and rich, fruity character. While this ale is light in color, it is fuller bodied than many darker ales. These characteristics make it a great after-dinner drink and a perfect complement to aged cheese and fruity desserts.” Seems accurate. Not to get too gourmet, I picked up a steak and cheese sandwich at Quizno’s on the way home and and sat back and enjoyed the 750 ml. bottle. The rich hoppy ale stood up to the steak, cheese and horseradish sauce, and made the meal. Those of you who like a solid — and somewhat bitter beer — will approve. The Tripel comes in at 10% ABV and the even more bitter Quadruple tops out at 12% ABV. Next time I’m trying the Quad. I didn’t know much about the St Louis Brewing Company before tasting the brew, but found out a lot of info from the Web site. Schlafly Beers are available in several counties in Missouri and Southern Illinois according to the Web site. Several Joplin retailers carry some of the line. The Schlafly site offers a full list of their regular offerings, a month-by-month list of seasonal varieties and special releases. I don’t get up to St. Louis often, but will put The St. Louis Brewery on my tour list next time I do.

The other beer I picked up the same night was Taj Mahal Lager. The dry and very light lager is brewed in Bangalore India and was fine. That’s about it, just fine.

Taj Mahal Premium Lager: Not great. I don’t think I would pick it up again. The Two Beer Guys, a pair of guys who blog, taste and post beer reviews on the Web reviewed it recently. They have a better take on it than I. Check out their review of Taj Mahal.

 P.S. Still no takers on my iPhone wine app challenge. Come on iPhone users, man-up.

 Cheers

Sam Adams issues Utopias, an extreme biennial beer

Thanks to flickr user AllesGut for the photo.

I just found this news on the AP wire. Granted, it’s not earth shattering information about the coming surge of troops into Afghanistan or even news about a big economic recovery. But, it’s important news for fans of The Booze Beat. Sam Adams, brewer of American Lagers has updated its version of the biennial beer Utopias. The thick and tasty brew comes in at 27% alcohol by volume and $150 a bottle. That’s a pricey beer. According to he story, “Thirteen states prohibit its sale because its alcohol content exceeds the legal limit for beer: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont and Washington. Chuck Hurley, CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said the group in general doesn’t have a problem with extreme brands of beer like Utopias. However, he hopes the beverage’s higher” I’ll check out some local retailers and report back on its Joplin-area availability.

Bertani’s Amarone della Valpolicella amazes

Time to open the 1994 vintage. A hot summer led to a great wine.

We’ve been waiting almost 10 years to open this bottle of wine. My in-house wine expert, Jeremy and I picked up the bottle of 1994 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico in 2000 or 2001. The Valpolicella vino comes in at 15% ABV. The grapes used in the production are desiccated – or dried – on cane mats in barn rafters, where, sheltered from the sun do not turn into raisins.  Rather, the removal of moisture requires more grapes to be used per barrel, intensifying the flavor.  The wine ages in oaken barrels for several years before bottling. After bottling, the wine ages well in the bottle for another 8 to 10 years before reaching its flavor peak and is ready to consume. Amarone translates to ‘big and dry’ in Italian and its style profile comes from the production method. Online the vintage now retails for $115 for a 750-ml. bottle.

I have to say, I’m not a big red fan, but this was a great wine. It was smooth and drinkable. For a sweet, white wine fan, I was surprised that I liked it. We paired the big red with a 2.5 lb. espresso-rubbed T-Bone, hearty baked potato and romaine salad. Good stuff. Jeremy, whom I trust with wine opinion, shelled out the $95 a decade ago for the bottle. He said the Amarone is a favorite since it avoids a fruit flavor.  

Amarone corks are longer. This protects the wine while it ages to perfection over as many as 30 years.

If you rely on a fruit-forward wine for enjoyment this vintage is probably not for you.  Bertani offers mild tannins and touches on darker descriptions like tobacco, leather, and cigar.  For a guy who really enjoys  a $10 bottle of Missouri wine, it’s always been hard to appreciate a high-end vino like the Bertani. Amarone’s are available locally at Olive Garden for $95, while I found one at Macadoodles for around $110 not long ago. Sometimes it’s hard to imagine a bottle of wine at this price could be worth the value. I never thought it would, but the Bertani was. Like a great bottle of Champaign on New Year’s Eve makes the night memorable, so does a great red with a fantastic meal.  Amarones, due to their price and availability, are not an everyday option… at least in my house. But, for a special occasion, they are hard to top.

Cheers!

A Taste of WineFeast

I hadn’t been to WineFeast for a couple of years. My loss. Sunday’s Ozark Public Television fundraiser at John Q.’s Holiday Inn in Joplin was a good way to spend an afternoon. The 20^th WineFeast anniversary celebration drew out a big crowd of wine fans and public TV supporters.

Chuck and Pat share their thoughts about WineFeast. The Joplin couple volunteer every year for OPT.

“We have a great turnout this year,” Chuck Lonardo, a OPT volunteer since 2001, told me. ”There are at least 500 people here today. It’s always great to come out and sample the wine and the food and meet the people who support Ozark Public Television.” The goal, Chuck said, is to make the event appeal to as many people as they can.“We are seeing a lot of new people coming every year and with so many new wine shops opening up, the future is very bright, and it supports a great cause, OPT.”

Pat, Chuck’s wife, knows many people there support OPT, but thinks many of them come for a less philanthropic reason, the wine. “I always say this event gives you a chance to try the wine before you buy it,” Pat explained. “Don’t be afraid to try something new.” Pat suggested. “Try checking around to see when and where the wine tastings are. There are so many now. It’s a lot of fun and you meet fun people”, she offered.

I sampled my share of sweet Missouri wines. Several Southwest Missouri winery’s gave the event a lot of local flair. I’ll dig through the winery brochures I picked up and get back with a page of local wine resources soon. Keltoi Winery from Oronogo, The White Rose from Carthage, 7Cs Winery from Walnut Grove, La Cave Vineyards from Billings, OOVVDA from Springfield, and Williams creek Winery at Mount Vernon. Add to that list St. James, Les Bourgeois, Stone Hill and Illinois vintner Mary Michelle and it was a good day for mid-western wine.

Wedding planners from Parsons

Pat laughed and explained that when they get home after their day of volunteering at WineFeast they will start talking about next years tasting. “Every year we go home and start writing down the things we think worked and the things that need to be worked on.”  It’s the Lonardo’s love of wine, good food and their desire to give back to the community that’s given a lot to them drives their support for public TV. “We live for it,” Chuck said. “It’s a labor of love.”

 Marsha Mack, 39, came to Joplin with her four sisters and mother from Parsons, Kan., to get food and wine ideas for her sister’s upcoming nuptials. “We came here to sample the wine and food and decide what we wanted at my sister’s wedding,” she said. “Oh, and to taste our future brother-in-laws food.” The three sisters said they were having a great time. As first time attendees, they were all impressed.

As has been the case in years past, Olive Garden, Sultan of Smoke, the Holiday Inn, Candy House, Arde’s, Panera and several other area restaurants keep the crowd fed. Sampling some potential wedding bites kept the sisters from Parsons bust, and their mouths full. Marsha told me that when you come from a small town, like she and her sisters do, and don’t have a lot of wine selections you look for opportunities like WineFeast. “Here we get to try stuff we don’t have at home,” she said.

Tonya Whitley, 38, Marsha’s sister, agreed. “It’s a good deal. It draws a lot of people like us to Joplin,” she said. “There are a lot of new wine drinkers here like us.” Renay Shaw, 36, sister number three and the bride to be, chimed in. “It’s my wedding. We are looking for wine and food. This is exciting. I want to try it all.” Renay said they will come back next year, even if they don’t have another wedding to plan.  

A sip of the Four-States

Larry White, owner La Cave Winery, about 40 minutes from Joplin, said he planted the first berry fruit on his property in 2000 and the grapes followed in 2001. Larry opened the doors to the operation to the public in 2004. His wife, Beth, and adult son work the winery and he maintains his day job in the export business. The family-owned vino venture makes and bottles sweet and dry versions of blackberry, cherry, elderberry, strawberry, apple and raspberry wines, as well as traditional grape-based verities. “We don’t advertise much,” Larry said of his business plan. “We would rather give away samples of our wine and let word of mouth do it for us.” Larry told me he was impressed with the crowd at WineFeast.  “We will be back next year, this kind of traffic is hard to pass up.”

WineFeast set me back $25 at the door. Well worth the price of admission. I sampled well more than a dozen local vinos and got reacquainted with several old friends. I’ll get back soon with info on the local wineries. Apparently, there’s an Ozark Mountain Region Wine Trail. Who knew? More on that soon.

 Cheers!

Good-bye Bar Louie

I trekked down to Branson last weekend and was disappointed that one of my favorite places to toss back a beer … or three … and confab with the locals had closed its doors. Bar Louie, a fixture on The Branson Landing since it opened was empty and dark. So sad. Louie always offered a good app line up of draft beers and great happy hour special. Maybe too good and that’s a reason it closed. After all, a bucket of five beers for five dollars can’t be makin’ anyone much money. Add to than 1$ burgers and it’s easy to see it couldn’t be sustained. A bartender at Shorty Small’s said Louie shut the doors a little more than a week before. On the bright side, the other watering holes on Lake Taneycomo seemed to be picking up the displaced Louie customers. Count me as one. Good-bye Bar Louie.

iPhone apps for wine lovers

Sona Patel, a friend from newspaper summer camp, found this on twitter and passed it on. They are  pretty cool apps for iPhone. Wine lovers seem well connected and travel a lot, so this is a no-brainer. The apps are inexpensive and if I had an iPhone and not a Blackberry Storm I’d sign on. The apps are aimed at helping vinophiles with pairings and selections. Very practical. I plan to find someone with the iPhone and have them check them out. Have an iPhone … let me know what you think. The first iPhone user to buy one of them and send me a review, I’ll send you the $$ to cover the price. That’s the Booze Beat deal of the day.

Sweet Blosson

Here’s a recommendation for those – like me – who love a sweet vino from the Show-Me State. Sweet blossom, a wine from Branson Ridge Winery, is a great pick. The Branson Ridge Web site describes it as an “attractive sparkling wine was made from the Brachetto grape, primarily found in Italy.  The sparkler is light and fruity, but features a luscious cherry flavor that excites the palate.  We call this wine Sweet Blossom because of its’ wonderful flowery aromas. Great as an aperitif.  Enjoy Sweet Blossom with your favorite smoked meats, cheeses or dark chocolate.”  I agree. Great with a spicy, hot dish, or a sharp cheese. Good stuff. Branson Ridge is building a winery near Branson, but construction was put on hold until the economy turns around. They opened a wine shop on The Landing and It’s a good spot to visit. Great people watching and tasting options. The Sweet Blossom sells for $14.99 online and is available at the Landing location. It’s worth a try.

Captial Grille Wow$

After A full day sunning my backside poolside in Las Vegas it was out for the dinner of my life. I’ve been to a few “nicer” restaurants in my Booze Beatin’ days, but never anything quite like The Capital Grille. It sports old-school country club charm and décor, but with a Vegas twist. Dark wooden bar, a great selection of dark liquors and what has to be one of the best dining views on The Strip. Instead of past club luminaries hanging on the bar walls, a giant oil of Elvis keeps watch over the libation station. The chain of high end steakhouses recently was acquired by Darden, the company that owns Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52. All nice places to grab a bite. The Capital in Vegas is perched overlooking The Strip and the Wynn Resort and its sister hotel Encore.

 Dinner for two: $401 including tax/tip. You only live once, and at those prices, you couldn’t afford to live twice. The ticket included a $148 bottle of 2003 Rocca della  Macie Ser Gioveto. Certainly, the most expensive wine I’ve ever enjoyed. Toss in a steak, salmon, apps, salads, sides, a couple more cocktails and dessert with cordials, and it’s a good night to be on vacation. On the Strip, a double well vodka & cranberry was $10. Absolute cranberry at Treasure Island’s upscale outdoor club was $10. Beers on the Strip $5. Club cover charges range from $20 to $50. That’s just to get inside. Many of the Cooler clubs only provide bottle service. Talk about setting a boy back a few dollars. A bottle of Absolute for your party: $120. The days of cheap eats and 2-4-1 drinks and comps as you play are gone. As you look around Vegas you can see that the economic downturn has hit Sin city pretty hard. Fewer people in the casinos, I’m told and dozens of huge construction projects on hold and dark for months. All, I assume, waiting for the turn around.

 While the locals told me the city has experiencing hard times, it was hard to see. Crowded sidewalks and long lines at most shop counters and bars told me a different tale. If these are slow times, I can’t imaging what the salad days of Las Vegas offered.

Las Vegas Travel Trouble

I’ve traveled a lot in my day.

From the U. S. to Central America and back again in the hull of an Army C-5. To Europe  and home on board — and in the crew birthing — of a military Sealift Command ship, The U.S.N.S. Regal. I’ve vacationed in New Orleans, Reno and Las Vegas and all the Hell over around the country on commercial U.S. flights, but never have I had the trouble I experienced the kind of flight delays and booking trouble as on this trip. Seriously kids. It sucked. That was until I managed to cop an upgrade on my flight from Huston to Las Vegas.  Mind you, the Houston leg of this trip was unexpected for Jeremy and I. We were booked on a simple trip to Lost Wages from Tulsa through Dallas and hen into Sin City. That never happened. One flight delay after another almost whipped us into a ‘I don’t give a f$%#’ frenzy. In Huston, we literally ran from one terminal to catch our booked, and then rebooked flights – not to mention unannounced gate changes. Huston is a way- big airport. That’s a lot a way to hoof it with 30 pounds of carry-on luggage.

All that to say this. Some how in my b$%&#iness at Tulsa, I managed to get upgraded to First Class on out Continental flight to Las Vegas. After all of these years flying business and coach … I made First Class. That’s right Behind the blue curtain upfront of the Boeing 767. I always ask for an upgrade when I fly, but never get one.

On my right are a 30-something couple headed to Las Vegas to get hitched. They need to get a room, or al least take their mile-high club aspirations to the restroom. In front of me is an old guy reading Glenn Beck’s new Nazi-propaganda book. He wants to share every noteworthy quip from Beck with the cabin. I don’t need to start a fight at 45K feet above the Nevada dessert. The flight attendants keep pouring wine and offering another vodka Cranberry each time they pass by. One question arises: Why haven’t I flown First Class before? It seems crazy that all of my life I’ve shoved myself into a small and uncomfortable seat in coach, when all the good stuff is happening in front of the blue curtain. Seriously, everyone is barefoot and have had more to drink than I ever do out on the town on a Saturday night. I offered my seat to Jeremy; after all, he’s paying for the flight.  He declined. Cheers!

For the record, first class is the way to go. They even had a glass of wine for me while we waited to taxi down the runway. After all of the travel hassles we’ve experienced, this was a welcome change from running through airports .I hope Jeremy’s coach experience was a good time too.