Two Roads Roadsmary's Baby Pumpkin Ale

 

Happy Halloween! I saved my last pumpkin beer to review in honor of the holiday. I still hold Southern Tier's Pumking as my all time favorite pumpkin seasonal, but I wanted to try out a new pumpkin ale from Two Roads Brewing.

I did a post a while back on Two Roads Brewery located in Stratford, Connecticut. Ever since then I have been excited to try their pumpkin ale cleverly titled Roadsmary's Baby. The packing immediately enticed me with its Halloween colors and its pumpkin inspired baby carriage. The name and the carriage of course playing homage to the 1968 movie Rosemary's Baby starring Mai Farrow. 

The main reason behind my excitement for Two Road's pumpkin seasonal is due to the unique brewing process. The beer is aged in Caribbean rum barrels and is made from REAL pumpkin, vanilla beans and spices. 

It pours a clear, dark copper with a small head. Aromas of pumpkin are the first thing to hit my nose. What really drew me in was the vanilla, cinnamon, spice and sweet molasses notes. I do have a sweet tooth so I enjoyed the sweet caramel and brown sugar flavors that accompany the mild pumpkin taste. Coming in at 6.8% alcohol there is some heat present and a mild rum flavor. The finish is my favorite part with a strong vanilla presence that lingers. 

I only question the length of age in the rum barrel, because a tad more rum flavor would have been nice. Otherwise, I enjoyed this interesting take on a pumpkin ale. Just the right amount of sweetness, pumpkin and spices for it to all come together nicely!

 

Great Party Wine for $15

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season just around the corner, now is the time to stock up on party wines or as I call them "house wines." A house wine is a reliable bottle of vino that you enjoy on casual evenings and is something you always have on hand in case unexpected company stops by. My choice for holiday parties and family gatherings this year is a great Italian Montepulciano that over delivers for $15. 

Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo appears ruby to garnet in the glass. On the nose this Italian red is semi-aromatic with cherry, plum and herbal notes. There is also toast and smokey aromas present from ageing in Sylvannian oak. It is a dry red wine with a pleasant bitterness, medium acidity and short finish. The main reason I chose Cantina Zaccagnini as a great party wine is for its medium body and silk, smooth texture. It is perfect for sipping with or without food, which in my mind are the best for parties! As a bonus Cantina Zaccagnini also makes a Pinot Grigio for those you prefer white. 

Have a great day! 

Cheeseburger Pie & 2002 J Vineyard Vintage Brut

Last night I made one of my mom's unique recipes called Cheeseburger Pie. It is the perfect meal to make when the weather is dreary and you are in need of some quick and easy comfort food! These are the ingredients you need from the grocery store: 

1 pound of extra lean ground beef 

1 large onion chopped

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1 cup of shredded reduce fat cheddar cheese 

1/2  cup reduced fat Bisquick mix (I only had the regular kind) 

1 cup skim milk 

2 eggs 

The first step is to brown the beef with your chopped onion. Stir in salt. Then drain it and place the beef in a 9" greased pie pan. Sprinkle evenly a cup of cheddar cheese on top of the ground beef. Set it aside while you make the second part of your recipe. 

In a bowl mix together the Bisquick, eggs and milk. Pour the mixture evenly on top of the beef and cheese.

Bake in the oven at 400 degrees for 25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. 

Voila! The finished product with garlic mashed potatoes and green beans on the side. 

It was my roommate's first day at her new job so we celebrated with a bottle of 2002 J Vineyards Vintage Brut. I have enjoyed J Vineyards Pinot Gris before but this was my first champagne experience from their brand. This sparkling wine consists of 49% Chardonnay, 49% Pinot Noir and 2% Pinot Meunier. 

On the nose there is a fusion of different sweet aromas. While looking at the delicate bubbles in my champagne flute, I picked up melon, nectarine and pear notes with some citrus zest. These alluring aromas led to a creamy vanilla and toasted chestnut flavor on my palate. The finish is long and balances the nutty and fruity characteristics together perfectly. 

I am a firm believer that bubbles can be a great match for just about any food-wine pairing. In this case, the sparkling wine compliments the cheeseburger by lightening up a heavier dish. However, if I was not celebrating I most likely would have chosen a Zinfandel to pair with my cheeseburger pie. A great Zinfandel for the money to try is Plungerhead Zinfandel! 

Have a great weekend! 

Boggy Meadow Switchel Cider Vodka

If you are looking for a seasonal drink recipe for the remainder of the fall season, look no further. One of the most popular table's at Palumbo Liquor's Grand Fall Tasting was home to Boggy Meadow Farm's Switchel Cider Vodka. Co-Owner of Boggy Meadow Farm, Marcus Smith, traveled from Walpole, NH to Walpole, MA to share his switchel and farm cheeses.

The history behind the drink is the most fascinating part. Switchel originated in the Caribbean and made its way to the American Colonies by the late 17th century. By the 19th century, it was the most popular drink for farmers in New England. They would relish this thirst quenching drink after harvesting hay all day long, hence the nickname "haymaker's punch." 

The 17th century switchel consisted of boiled cider (or "apple molasses"), ginger, water and a small amount of cider vinegar. Today, Boggy Meadow Farms has reinvented the non-alcoholic drink into a six time distilled 70-proof vodka. I tried a sample and was impressed with the strength of the ginger on the palate.        

 Our customers loved "The Swtichel Martini" he handcrafted for the event. 

To recreate this refreshing fall cocktail, you mix the following: 

2 ounces Switchel vodka
2 ounces fresh pressed apple cider
1 ounces Cointreau
Fresh lemon juice to taste (approximately half an ounce)

Have a great day! 

Barcelona Wine Bar

A warm spell has been cast over Boston this week and it seems everyone is taking advantage. I certainly did the other night by enjoying dinner outside with friends in Brookline. I caught up with Emily and Michelle, my sorority sisters from JMU, over wine and tapas at Barcelona Wine Bar.

Since Barcelona is a tapas style restaurant, we ordered a bunch of small plates to share. Everything looked delicious, but we narrowed it down to mushrooms and herbed goat cheese in a balsamic reduction, grilled hanger steak with a black truffle vinaigrette, squash and mussels in a marinara sauce. I will definitely be going back to try more of their delicious options in the future! 

For vino, I ordered a glass of the 2012 Familia Schroeder Saurus Patagonia Select Pinot Noir. I have been on a Pinot Noir kick lately as I transition out of my usual Sauvignon Blanc drink to more reds for the colder weather. I usually gravitate towards California Pinots,but given we were at a Spanish style restaurant I went with one from Argentina. 

Red fruit notes on the nose, particularly ripe cherry. Full bodied for a Pinot Noir with sweet tannins and a round finish. Also some mocha notes on the finish from the French and American oak aging. I detected some heat after my first couple sips and suspected a higher alcohol content. The alcohol content varies, but usually Pinot Noir stays within the 13% range. Saurus Patagonia Select is 14.5% alcohol, which is unusually high for the cool climate of Patagonia. 

Overall I enjoyed my wine selection with our tapas and of course loved catching up with my friends! 

Have a great day! 

Beringer The Waymaker

Beringer has expanded its portfolio once again with the release of The Waymaker from the Camatta Hills vineyard in Paso Robles. Capatilizing on the popular red blend trend, The Waymaker is predominately made up of Syrah (57%) with the addition of 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petite Sirah and 2% Malbec. 

If you normally shy away from red wine, then this blend is something you should try for the colder months ahead. Even though this wine is full bodied, there is a soft, juicy quality from its Syrah foundation. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes adds balance, complexity and spice on the finish. Due to an ideal 2012 growing season and a heat wave in the beginning of the summer, this wine benefits from a great concentration and texture of fruit. 

The Petite Sirah gives The Waymaker a dark, inky color in the glass. Aromas of smoke and leather notes are present. On the palate, the richness shows up in a bold, velvety way with dark fruits and hints of bacon. The finish is soft with a touch of spice as it lingers. 

For the Beringer name and the price point of $19.99 this is a great value wine. I feel it can appeal to everyone at the dinner table because of its complex yet soft nature. 

Have a great day! 

Heavy Seas The Greater Pumpkin

Today marks the start of October and all things Halloween, which in the alcohol industry means pumpkin beer. Though a majority of it has been out on the market since middle August, we have finally entered the month to truly enjoy a pumpkin brew. 

First up on my list to try is Heavy Seas Uncharted Waters: The Greater Pumpkin. I'm a big fan of this brewery and have their Loose Cannon IPA as a favorite in my rotation. The Greater Pumpkin comes in a 22 ounce bomber and only a small quantity was produced. It's an imperial ale aged in Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels. 

Served out of the bottle it pours a rich amber color with a small white head. Just from the aromas alone I could tell this pumpkin beer meant business. The first thing I noticed was the whiskey presence from the bourbon barrel. Aroma also consisted of notes of vanilla, oak, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice. The bourbon whiskey notes hit my palate immediately with a hint of vanilla and cloves. With a full malt body, flavors of vanilla, apricot and pumpkin spice add a slight sweetness. 

The finish is boozy and in your face, in a good way, as a result of the 10% ABV. The bourbon whiskey notes linger nicely, which is what I think sets this beer apart from others. I have not tasted this year's Southern Tier's Pumping yet, but as of now Heavy Sea's version of an imperial pumpkin ale might earn the top spot. 

What pumpkin beers have you tried so far this season? Have a great day!