I've been avoiding beer lately - too heavy and dehydrating. This is the summer of crisp, cool white wine for me. Yesterday it was a decent bottle of Pouilly Fume I picked up at Trader Joes (I was in the store for frozen scallops, not booze).

ronnie_suburban wrote:
I'm having some Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, 2007 release (13-year). I initially tried the 2009 edition at WhiskeyFest back in April and really enjoyed it. I saw the 2007 in a liquor store today and decided to give it a whirl. Very nice, with a strong vanilla note but a not-overly-sweet finish. Not quite rye-like but definitely more spice than I'm used to with bourbon. A good sipper, especially at around $35.
=R=

The 2007 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon (distilled spring 1994) was Malt Advocate's choice for American Whiskey of the Year. Not that many of us here care much what experts or critics think but John Hansell (editor of Malt Advocate and owner of WhiskyFest), seems truly independent of influence along with being one of the best, according to my tastes. He rated it a 96 and called it a "classic". I've got a few put away as it is one of my more favorite rye based bourbons and I'm more of a wheater type guy.

G Wiv wrote:

that Rebel Yell was good, knocked me on my butt, but good.

alain40 wrote:I would be interested to find out if some kind of statistics (unofficial of course) have been compiled about wine drinking among the LTH brother and sisterhood...

I suspect yours might be the first There have been other threads about wine specifically though, including the Trader Joe's one and the one about best buys under $10. I've also found wine notes sprinkled in amongst the restaurant-specific threads - what to bring to Schwa, and varied questions about corkage and wine lists and glassware at various places.

Isn't it the case though, in general, that in the US beer is a more popular drink than wine? Or am I misremembering something half heard?

But like someone else said, maybe there are lots of us whose tasting notes might be something like "it's nice, I like it" Or those who might contribute to this thread but just don't care to

not much for tasting notes but I like this beer.
It has kind of a funky (sort of like brett on wine) nose and is kind of sour
not hoppy but still a bit bitter (all good)
Mostly I wanted to try a shot at 1600 ISO on my new Canon SD4000 IS camera
and I was drinking this!

A good choice mhill95149. One of my personal favorites.

I'm drinking some vintage New Belgium La Follie.

Still working that bottle of 2007 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon . . .



=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:Still working that bottle of 2007 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon . . .



=R=

If you're still in Colorado Springs, I'd recommend a trip down to Vintages Wine & Spirits for some Leopold Bros. products...amazing micro-distillery out of Colorado. They make the best American-style Gin I've ever tasted, and their Cranberry Liqueur won best fruit liqueur at the 2009 SF World Spirits Competition.

kl1191 wrote:If you're still in Colorado Springs, I'd recommend a trip down to Vintages Wine & Spirits for some Leopold Bros. products...amazing micro-distillery out of Colorado. They make the best American-style Gin I've ever tasted, and their Cranberry Liqueur won best fruit liqueur at the 2009 SF World Spirits Competition.

Thank you. Will do. I really appreciate the info.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:Still working that bottle of 2007 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon . . .



=R=

WOW, what a shot! just beautiful... kudos to you

A 22oz bomber of 3 Floyds Fantabulous Resplendence X Anniversary Ale cellared for 3 years. It aged remarkably well.

last night before, during , and after riding the John Deere mowing the lawn:

Started out with small glass of Pappy Vn W over ice, and then moved onto some tequila, and cans of Coors light(leftovers from the pigroast). I love that John Deere's have a beer/drink holders.

Last night I enjoyed a bottle of Dogfish Head Black and Blue, which is a summery crisp ale brewed with blackberries and blueberries. It went great with some cambozola + caramelized onion cheeseburgers on pretzel buns, but I still think my favoritie DFH offering is the Palo Santo Marron.

I'm usually a beer guy, but tonight we're enjoying a Wyndham Estate Bin 555 Sparkling Shiraz. It's currently available at Binny's for $5.99 - reduced from its standard shelf price of $15.99.

Yes, it's a sparkling red, which isn't common, and if anyone wants to try a sparkling red, I'd tell them to try it. But (expressing personal opinions, which I'm sure others will disagree with) I like sparklers that are light and refreshing ... especially during warmer weather. This one has a nice flavor, but somehow the lightness that comes from the bubbles competes unsuccessfully with the weight of the Shiraz.

Any others have similar thoughts re: red sparklers?

Interestingly enough my girlfriend and I shared a bottle of sparkling red wine with dinner last night. Aria Segura Viudas Pinot Noir. I've had it a few times and like it. It's very fruity and light while still being a red wine. This cava is pretty inexpensive at Binny's (I think I picked it up for under 10) so worth a shot if you are in the mood.

Pinot Noir is a common grape used either as blend (as in champagne) or in its entirety in many sparkling wines. My current favorite 100% Pinot Noir sparkling is made by L. Mawby. Blanc de Noir is an example. As for other sparkling reds (i.e., shiraz), I've had sparkling shirazes at tastings and have never been impressed. (But then again, I'm not huge on Australian wine, period.) It's either too weighty or has a funky taste. As for the lack of bubbles in nr706's instance, that could be more of a wine-making issue more than anything else.

aschie30 wrote:Pinot Noir is a common grape used either as blend (as in champagne) or in its entirety in many sparkling wines. My current favorite 100% Pinot Noir sparkling is made by L. Mawby. Blanc de Noir is an example. As for other sparkling reds (i.e., shiraz), I've had sparkling shirazes at tastings and have never been impressed. (But then again, I'm not huge on Australian wine, period.) It's either too weighty or has a funky taste. As for the lack of bubbles in nr706's instance, that could be more of a wine-making issue more than anything else.

I'm a huge fan of blanc de noir champagne. My favorite is the Egly-Ouriet. But since champagne prices have increased so much over the past couple of years, that has become too pricey of a bottle. I'll have to check out the L. Mawby.

viaChgo wrote:

aschie30 wrote:Pinot Noir is a common grape used either as blend (as in champagne) or in its entirety in many sparkling wines. My current favorite 100% Pinot Noir sparkling is made by L. Mawby. Blanc de Noir is an example. As for other sparkling reds (i.e., shiraz), I've had sparkling shirazes at tastings and have never been impressed. (But then again, I'm not huge on Australian wine, period.) It's either too weighty or has a funky taste. As for the lack of bubbles in nr706's instance, that could be more of a wine-making issue more than anything else.

I'm a huge fan of blanc de noir champagne. My favorite is the Egly-Ouriet. But since champagne prices have increased so much over the past couple of years, that has become too pricey of a bottle. I'll have to check out the L. Mawby.

I believe that Fine Wine Brokers in Lincoln Square carries it.

Fine Wine Brokers
4621 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625-2007
(773) 989-8166

I think the difference between red sparkling wine and blanc de noirs is if the skins of the grape are included in the must. The pinot noir cava I mentioned yesterday was definately a sparkling red wine, not just a blanc de noirs.


That being said, I really like Gruet blanc de noirs for a cheap sparkling wine.

The L Mawby can be purchased at Pastoral as well.

does anyone know if Binny's carries GI Bourbon County Coffee Stout and Night Stalker? i see that they carry the regular Bourbon County Stout on their website but i can't find the Coffee or Night Stalker on there.

MBK wrote:does anyone know if Binny's carries GI Bourbon County Coffee Stout and Night Stalker? i see that they carry the regular Bourbon County Stout on their website but i can't find the Coffee or Night Stalker on there.

I saw both at the River North Binny's a few months ago.

Khaopaat wrote:

MBK wrote:does anyone know if Binny's carries GI Bourbon County Coffee Stout and Night Stalker? i see that they carry the regular Bourbon County Stout on their website but i can't find the Coffee or Night Stalker on there.

I saw both at the River North Binny's a few months ago.

Don't know about the Night Stalker, but the BCCS was released in very limited amounts, so anything seen a few months ago is probably gone. I'm sitting on a bottle of the BCCS, it is sitting with my Dark Lord, perhaps for DLD'11 or '12.

It was probably the second best thing I tried at WhiskyFest this year.

SSDD

Bells Oberon last night, great beer and went well with the late night Mahi-Mahi and scallops the wife did up for me!

http://www.bellsbeer.com/brands/info/11/oberon_ale

As far as the BCCS call the brewpub on Clybourn -- I don't know if they found an extra case but there were a few bottles still in the chiller by the host stand when I was there last Sunday. They're pricey ($20, I think), but it's probably the only way you'll get a bottle at this time outside of trading.

And I have to agree with headcase, it was one of the absolute best things I had at WhiskyFest.

For Nightstalker, I still see bottles at Binny's and some Whole Foods. I was really digging it when it was first released this year but as I opened more bottles, I was less and less impressed -- the hop flavor jsut fades too quickly and you're left with a pretty standard imperial stout. Still, I have a few bottles in my cabinet to see how it continues to age and hopefully, things will swing back to "really tasty" in a few months.

Speaking of drinking things while fresh, I've been enjoying FFF's Blackheart English-style IPA this year. The bottle art changed from last year and I think the recipe did, too. I really think it clocked in around 6% ABV in previous years but this year it clears 9%. It still has that FFF hop profile but is a little maltier than usual and has an almost herbal note to it. The Meantime English IPA is still a better version of the style, but Blackheart is still very good and worth trying.

Goose Island Clybourn
312.915.0071

danimalarkey wrote:Speaking of drinking things while fresh, I've been enjoying FFF's Blackheart English-style IPA this year. The bottle art changed from last year and I think the recipe did, too. I really think it clocked in around 6% ABV in previous years but this year it clears 9%. It still has that FFF hop profile but is a little maltier than usual and has an almost herbal note to it. The Meantime English IPA is still a better version of the style, but Blackheart is still very good and worth trying.

Interesting on the Blackheart, do you know of anywhere in the city serving it? or is it just available in the 22oz? I thinking about an after work drink, and was leaning towards Big Star or Violet Hour, but I may be swayed...

SSDD

I discovered a resource via Smallbar's website that appears to track draft/bottle options at area bars/restaurants - Beermenus.com. I know nothing about how data is collected or how often it gets updated (as always, a phone call beforehand might be a good idea). Piece had Blackheart on draft a few weeks ago and according to the website, still does: http://www.beermenus.com/beers/three-fl ... id=chicago

It looks like Piece also has a FFF Devil's Handshake -- never heard of that one. Beer Advocate describes it as an American Pale Ale, which... doesn't really tell me too much.

danimalarkey wrote:I discovered a resource via Smallbar's website that appears to track draft/bottle options at area bars/restaurants - Beermenus.com. I know nothing about how data is collected or how often it gets updated (as always, a phone call beforehand might be a good idea). Piece had Blackheart on draft a few weeks ago and according to the website, still does: http://www.beermenus.com/beers/three-fl ... id=chicago

It looks like Piece also has a FFF Devil's Handshake -- never heard of that one. Beer Advocate describes it as an American Pale Ale, which... doesn't really tell me too much.

Actually I did know about beermenus, I just always forget about it. Maybe I'll try swinging by Piece tonight, most of the big games are over the the time being, might not be too bad right after work.

SSDD

Haven't seen Blackheart on draft yet.

The Map Room had Three Floyds Devil's Handshake on tap when I was in on Wednesday. The online draft list - dated 06/17 so could be out of date - still lists it.

The beer is described as, "The very first ever "Street Metal Ale" - no, seriously though, it's a nicely hopped, not too malty, American Pale Ale."

The taste I had was right on with the description.

Joe