Deschutes Brewing Co. Abyss 2010
I keep a mental list of specific wines, beers, whiskies, etc., that I’m dying to try. The list grows inexorably, despite my attempts to whittle it down through the application of rational expectations and thought. Each time a new issue of the Art Of Eating comes out, or I receive a newsletter from Ridge, or the Malt Advocate arrives on my doorstep, invariably something that I read calls out to me to be added to the list. The criteria is not always clear, but the result is often a new resident of the list who, like its brethren, is difficult if not impossible for me to try.
Take for example, Ridge’s Monte Bello. Here is a wine that has been on this list for quite some time. It has no reasonable place on this list, by sheer virtue of its price tag ($150), yet I wouldn’t remove it for the life of me.
Why is its presence on the list not… (read more)
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Glen Elgin 10-Year SMWS Cask 85.20
Scotch whisky never ceases to amaze, intrigue, and excite me. Over the past few months, life (i.e., our move to Portland Oregon) has intervened in a pretty significant way, and as a result my writing has diminished notably. One of those cases of my brain only being able to generate so much energy, and something having to be put aside. In this case it was writing that fell by the wayside. That’s not to say that I haven’t been lucky enough to taste some amazing beverages, and I have been taking notes and preparing to do some writing. So I still hope to revisit some of the more notable items that have crossed my lips of late.
But I digress, I was talking about scotch. During our recent trip home to see friends and family during the holidays, I had the good fortune to sample a handful of whiskies, and was struck (yet again) by the incredible diversity that scotch… (read more)
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Heater Allen Brewing Pils & Abzug
After a move cross country to Portland, Oregon, it seems only fitting that my first post following the move would be about beer. I knew that Portland was the veritable beer capital of America before we moved here, but I didn’t know the full extent to which beer thrives in this city. Now, after a few weeks here, I can absolutely attest to this being the most remarkable beer city that I can imagine.
The beer culture here is stunning. From the smallest restaurant to the biggest chain, nearly all of them will offer at least a couple of local beers. And in most restaurants, you’re presented with a compelling selection of local offerings. The number of high-quality bottle shops is outstanding, and in addition to selling bottles many also serve beer by the glass and fill growlers as well. And the number of breweries within the town limits is absurd. Just counting within a couple miles of where… (read more)
Verve Coffee Roasters Karumandi Peaberry Kenya
We discovered Verve Coffee Roasters during our recent trip to San Francisco. We had one day to spend in town, and decided to conduct our own little gastronomic tour. First stop on our itinerary was breakfast at farm:table, a great little coffee shop/breakfast spot just outside of the downtown area. We ordered up some excellent pastries and quiche, and a carafe of coffee.
Right away, the coffee came across as significant. Instead of a french press, farm:table made our coffee in an Eva Solo coffee maker. This was our first time having coffee made this way, and I’m in love! It was great how the coffee was somewhere between a melitta filter and a french press, well-balanced between body, texture, and light, fresh flavors from the beans. After we finished our breakfast, I inquired about the coffee, and learned a few things about Verve. They’re located in Santa Cruz, CA and were founded in 2007… (read more)
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Dewar’s White Label
I’ve got this tendency to be a bit high-minded about things I get interested in, to initially think that there is a “right way” and a “wrong way” to go about it. Whether it’s food, whisky, wine, or even fishing, it’s usually the case that I begin pursuing a new interest from this perspective. Really sort of an achilles heel when you get right down to it.
In most cases, this perspective changes gradually over time, becoming tempered as it is eroded by actual experience. I find out for instance, that Budweiser definitely has a role to play in the beer world (think bleedingly hot summer days), or that fishing with a spin-reel for bass is actually a whole lot of fun (and you catch fish). Without a doubt, this extends to whisky as well.
In fact, whisky is tailor-made for this kind of high-minded approach. The distinction between single-malt whiskies and blends is perfect for enabling the avowed… (read more)