Beer & Wine Weekly Update: October 6, 2014
By Josh Downs, Beer and Wine Manager
My favorite time of year is in full swing right now. Leaves are changing colors, nights are cool, days are warm, the scent of dry leaves fills the air, and dark stouts and rich red wines are beginning to replace their lighter, summer counterparts. I know it has been fall in the beer world for quite some time (it’s almost winter in the beer world now), but the feeling of actual fall can’t be beat. It’s the perfect time of year to enjoy those pumpkin ales that have been popping up since the middle of July, but you weren’t quite ready for, or to cozy up with a sweatshirt and a nice bottle of Bordeaux. Even though the winter beers are starting to poke their heads out, we still have plenty of fall offerings at City Market.
Changes in the Department
Austria and Germany, though less well known for their red wine, put out some fantastic fall wines. Since we have been cutting back Sake, a little more space became available on the wine wall. I decided that this was the perfect opportunity to introduce some of these style of wines to the red set. We’ve introduced four wines: two blends (Pannonica Red and Huber Red), a Zweigelt (Tinhof “Zwei” Wild Boar Zweigelt), and a Blaufrankisch (Glatzer Blaufrankisch). If you are looking for a great introduction to these wines, both blends are very approachable. Both offer the subtle spiciness of a Zweigelt, alongside the ripe berry flavor of a Pinot Noir. If you are looking to try something a little different, both the Tinhof “Zwei,” and the Glatzer Blaufrankisch are great choices. The “Zwei” has a bold pepperiness that pairs extremely well with pork and beef. The Glatzer also has a bit of pepper, but offers a good amount of spicy fruit flavors and smoke, all while remaining savory and refreshing.
Currently these wines are located under the Italian wine section, to the left of the Vermont wines. If you need any help finding them, feel free to ask any members of our Beer and Wine staff!
Truly getting in the fall spirit, this week we are trying the Harpoon Imperial Pumpkin. Pumpkin beers come in a variety of styles. Sometimes they are light, with more subtle notes of pumpkin and spice. But sometimes they are big and bold, and that’s exactly where this beer falls. Harpoon calls this a spiced imperial stout, and at 10.5%, the imperial is very fitting. The beer pours a thick, opaque black with about an inch of light brown head. A very strong nose of molasses, and allspice let you know this beer means business. The body is very rich, with a lot of molasses that carries all the way to the end of each sip. Notes of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg carry throughout as well, with a big note of brown sugar on the finish. The pumpkin itself is very subtle. You get it slightly on the nose and a little at the tail end, which gives the beer a pleasant smoothness. This beer would pair very well with rich, flavorful fall foods like Butternut Squash Apple Bisque, or as a standalone dessert to share with a friend.
This week we are featuring a fantastic Spanish red wine, perfect for a cool night on the couch, and a little local variety in the beer world.
El Coto de Rioja, a Spanish vineyard located in Oyòn, has been committed to making delicious Rioja since the ‘70s. Their work has paid off, as they are now one of the leading Spanish wines in Europe. The Rioja Crianza that we are featuring this week, is a great example of the dynamic flavor profile El Coto produces, at an accessible price. The wine itself has herbal aromas with notes of tobacco, and spice, while the body is silky smooth. El Coto definitely paints the perfect picture of what a traditional Rioja should be.
As for the beer featured this week, we are putting a local staple in the spotlight. Rock Art Brewery located in Morrisville, has been producing solid Vermont beer since 1997. This week you can get both the Ridge Runner, and Variety 12 packs for just $13.99. If you haven’t had a chance to try Rock Art Brewing, this is the perfect opportunity to give them a shot.
While we are on the subject of Rock Art, I’d like to briefly talk about a really cool project they are working on with Salvation Farms. If you don’t know who Salvation Farms is, they are definitely worth checking out. They are a local not-for-profit organization that aims to keep Vermont-grown foods from going to waste. You can learn more about what they are working on and get involved at their website: www.salvationfarms.org. Rock Art has graciously offered to donate proceeds from their new beer, The Humble Harvester IPA, to supporting Salvation Farms. Now not only can you enjoy a great Vermont made IPA, but you can help support a very important cause as well. You can find The Humble Harvester here at City Market in the Bomber cooler.
Also on the local front, if you happen to be in the Beer & Wine industry, you may have heard about the Trade Tasting with Vermont Cider Makers at ArtsRiot this week. If you have the opportunity to go, I highly recommend it - there are going to be some fantastic cider makers there. For those of you that don’t work in the industry, we at City Market wanted to bring a little bit of the tasting experience to you, so we are hosting our own little cider week this week. We will be hosting three different cider makers over the course of three days, right in the Beer & Wine Department.
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2:00PM – 5:00PM: Boyden Valley
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 3:00PM – 6:00PM: Citizen Cider
Thursday, Oct. 9, 3:00PM – 6:00PM: Shacksbury Cider
Hope to see you at the tastings! As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or topics you’d like me to cover feel free to shoot me an email at jdowns@citymarket.coop. Until next week, Prost!