It’s the Fourth of July Weekend!

Posted on by sophicpursuits
Rushmore
Enjoy the Fourth at Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills of South Dakota

The Fourth of July weekend means that it is time to get outside!  Enjoy parks, family, and fireworks.  But, one challenge this brings is that for many of these locations, glass bottles are banned.  (And, if you are a motorcycle or bicycle tourist, glass bottles are also a problem.)  So, what to do?

You could go get a box.  Or, you could find a vintner who appreciates the problem.  Yes, there are wineries that cater to the picnic crowd and have fun doing it.  Check out the Naked Winery.  They have some great wines – and a line that they call “Outdoor Vino.”  The Outdoor Vino is packaged in a plastic bottle (and these are being more widely accepted).  These are the picnic wines.  The picnic line features the Rambling Red, the Wanderlust White, and Picnic Table Pink.  All are great for sipping on a summer day at the park, the lake or the beach.

at the naked
Inside the establishment in Custer, SD

The Naked Winery is located near Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. There are two locations: one in Hill City, and one in Custer.  The tasting rooms also features Beer from the Sick-N-Twisted brewery, so it makes it a great stop for those in visiting the Black Hills of South Dakota.  These people have a lot of fun with their products.

While some of the names are mundane like the Naked Pinot Noir, or the Naked Pinot Gris.  There are some more intriguing names that go along with the more intriguing wines like the Vixen Syrah, or the Score Sweet White, or the Foreplay Chardonnay.  The Sick-N-Twisted brew names are just as fun: Hop on Top, the Panty Dropper, and Wild Ride.  It is definitely a place to taste, laugh and enjoy.

A Bit of the Irish in Austin, TX

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While Austin may be known for its live music and Texas fare, there is a location where you find a “bit of Irish” at Fado’.   This not only means a bit of Irish pub food including: a boxty (a savory potato pancake), fish and chips, and shepherd’s pie; but also means a bit of Irish ambiance in terms of décor as well as that traditional pub feel.

And being a traditional Irish pub, one can expect a great selection of beer and whisk(e)y.  The libation menu features “mashes” from Ireland, Scotland, Kentucky, Japan, and Texas as well as “malts” local and from across the pond.  Our evening visit featured tastings of the Swift Texas Single Malt (Dripping Springs, Texas), the Yellow Rose Double Barrel (Houston, Texas), the Yellow Rose Rye (Houston), Yellow Spot (Ireland from the Midleton Whiskey Distillery, Co.) and Yamazaki (Japan).

Each of the tastings provided new adventures;  from the smokey smoothness of the Yellow Rose Double Barrel to a bit of harshness from the Yamazaki.  At this location you are likely to find a very knowledgeable host (both our waiter and the manager were knowledgeable about the various offerings and there are new ones being tried all the time at this location), as well as good conversation, recommendations, and great food.  (If you are a soccer fan, you are likely to see a game on somewhere in the pub.)

This is a wonderful location to add to your sampling list, as it provides a good selection of local as well as traditional standard offerings like Bushmills, Jameson, Glenfiddich, Glenmorangie, Johnnie Walker, and Knob Creek.  It is definitely a place to stop and try something different in Austin.

The Road Less Traveled – TX 174 – Avoiding I-35 from Ft. Worth to Waco

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Blooming Cactus – May 2015 in the Texas Hill Country. Not a sight you are likely to see along the Interstate.

They say that there are two seasons for Interstates – winter and construction.  The I-35 corridor between the Dallas-Fort Worth area to Waco and points further south are always filled with construction.  So, why not avoid the construction and take the road less traveled and stop at some very pleasant places along the way?

Begin your travels, to the south, by getting off the interstate at Burleson and take TX-174 toward Cleburne.  In Burleson, you can find the Lost Oak Winery.  The tasting room is open on Wednesday through Sunday starting at noon.  They feature a range of wines from a sweet Mascot and Riesling to big bold Tempranillo and their Estate Shiraz.

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And, you definitely won’t get to stop and take a close-up of the local population!

Continue your travels south along 174 toward Meridian and Clifton.  You have two opportunities to try the wines from the Red Caboose Winery.  (If you want to really see,  the start of the Texas hill country, my recommendation is to go to the vineyard located outside of Meridian.)  During our travels, we spent a lovely morning at the vineyard, tasting a variety of wines and talking with Evan McKibben, the vintner.  The first vines were planted shortly after the land was purchased in 2001.  And, the story of the winery is one of a dream (and very little prior experience).  This winery now is routinely recognized by the Texas wine industry and has received numerous medals at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

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Entrance to the Red Caboose Winery
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Just across from the entrance to the Red Caboose. It is worth taking the “long” way.

If you go, you are likely to be greeted by loveable Border collie that will lead you to the tasting room.  They have an array of lovely reds featuring the Syrah, Merlot, and Tempranillo.  With great names: Rolling Red, La Reina, and Quickdraw Syrah, and beautiful label artwork done by a local artist, what is not to love about this winery.  If you go, you must try their port-style it is lovely.

After you leave, the Red Caboose continue traveling south toward that little town of Crawford and head toward Temple, TX.  You might want to stop at The Gin at Nolan Creek in Belton for a lovely meal featuring some Texas favorites or take a break at the Nolan Creek Winery just across the small plaza.   Then you can return to your regularly hectic travel on I-35 South.

Time for a little Beer Trivia

Posted on by sophicpursuits

While out and about trying new beers and food, sometimes you need a conversation starter.  So, how about a bit of beer trivia?  Here are some little snippets to get the friendly debates going –

Who said “a wise man invented beer”?  According to popular culture, “Brainy Quotes”, and t-shirts; this phrase is generally attributed to Plato.  However, there are a number of scholars out there that indicate that this is something Plato never wrote and is not found in any of his dialogues.  The quote is either a misrepresentation of a statement that does occur in the dialogues or is mis-attributied.

What is beer?  The US Department of Commerce defines beer as an alcoholic drink produced by the fermentation of sugars derived from grains of barley, wheat, sorghum, maize or rice.  Notice there is no mention of hops or malt in the generic definition.  However, the classification system used by the US Department of Commerce does list hops and malts as raw materials used in the preparation of beer.  Most dictionaries include the malts and hops as part of the definition of beer.

Who is a craft brewer?  The definition used by the Brewers Association, a craft brewer, is small with an annual production of less than 6 million barrels, independent, and uses traditional brewing ingredients.

In 2014, which state had the most craft breweries?  According to the Brewers Association, California boasts 431 brewers, followed by Washington with 256 brewers, and then Colorado with 235 breweries.  However, if you look at it on a per capita basis, per 100,000 21 plus Adults, there is a big change.  California drops to the 20th spot with 1.6 breweries per capita, Vermont jumps from 24th (40 craft brewers) to first at 8.6 breweries per capita.  Washington loses its 2nd place and drops to 7th with 5 breweries per capita.  Oregon moves from 4th with 216 craft brewers to 2nd with 7.4 breweries per capita.  Colorado holds its 3rd with a 6.1 breweries per capita.  Of course, this information is based on 2014 numbers, and the craft brewers list is growing all the time.  No telling what will happen next year.

In 2014, what was the craft beer share of the total US market?  Again according to the Brewers Association, craft beers accounted for almost 22 million barrels in a total 197 million barrel market.  Imports were just slightly ahead of craft beers at just under 29.5 million barrels.  Thus, craft beers accounted for an 11% market share; seeing a 17.6% increase from 2013.  And, craft beers saw a 36% growth in exports, with just over 380,000 barrels being exported in 2014.  (Note: 1 barrel of beer is 31 US gallons.)

How many different types of hops are there?  This question is sure to drive a debate.  There is a growing list of hops.  The BeerAdvocate hop guide currently lists 31.

A Pit Stop along I-70 (Yes in Western Kansas)

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lb brews

For those of you traveling along I-70 through western Kansas, you might consider a pit stop in Hays.  Yes, Hays, Kansas, the home of Fort Has State University and the Sternberg Museum of Natural History.  It also is now home to two different breweries – Lb. Brewing Co. and Defiance Brewing Co.

You have to do a bit of planning to sample Defiance’s offerings. Their Taproom is only open, Thursday and Friday from 4 to 7 pm and on Saturday from 1-5.  They don’t serve food in the Taproom, but they do boast craft sodas for those that are under age if accompanied by an adult.

Lb. Brewing is associated with Gella’s Diner, which features a full menu of American Brew Pub Fare. Many of the dishes feature Lb. Brews as an ingredient and you are sure to find something for everyone as there are a number of vegetarian items on the menu. They also have a really good root beer.

But, now the beers – their house brews include Pale Ale, American Wheat Ale, Amber Ale, Oatmeal Stout, and a Brown.  There is usually a Hefeweizen and a variety of seasonals.  You need to check out the Events calendar on their website as these are very active folks in the community.  They feature a Thursday event monthly – New Beer’s Eve, which introduces a current seasonal.  The New Beer when we stopped was a honey wheat.  In June, there is going to be a maple wheat.  (You should expect wheat beers in western Kansas. I must say while I am not the biggest fan of wheat beers, these folks have really changed my mind.)

So, you might consider a stopover in Hays, rather than just passing through.

A Detour along I-25 in Santa Fe, NM

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Traveling along Interstate-25 through New Mexico?  Want to take a bit of a detour to sample some great food and brews?  Then here are some stops to make while traveling to through Santa Fe.

Our afternoon started from the south.  Our first stop was the Santa Fe Brewing Co.  You can see their brewery from the interstate (Between exits 276A and 278A). They host a variety of beers including the Santa Fe Pale Ale, the Happy Camper IPA, and the State Pen Porter.  Their brews come in bottles, cans and growlers.  On Saturdays, small batches are featured.  There is a music venue across the parking lot from the Tasting room, so you need to check out the calendar.

blue Corn pic
Lunch at the Blue Corn Cafe

We stopped for lunch at the Blue Corn Café & Brewery.  They have two locations, one near the old town and the one on Cerrillos.  Both are excellent.  (Parking is a challenge for the one in Old Town, but it is a great place to sample beers and the food of New Mexico.)  Their menu features a number of brew pub items with a New Mexico flair as well as your traditional New Mexico favorites.  You can choose either red or green sauce (or both) and won’t go wrong.  The brewery is the home of the Atomic Blonde Lager, the Road Runner IPA, the End of the Trail Brown Ale and the Gold Medal Oatmeal Stout.  We were there during the Bike and Brew Festival, and got to try their Velo IPA which featured a blend of hops.  It was a wonderful change of pace.  And, they have a nice root beer as well.

Duel brewing is a bit different.  It features Belgian-style beers in a bit of a different atmosphere.  There are a number of different waffle offerings on the menu – from the waffle Cristo to waffle desserts.  The beers are definitely in the Belgian style, from a Witbier to the Imperial Porter.  The Stille of the Nite is one to try.  It is a non-carbonated sour dark ale.  Our take was that it was more of a port or dark sherry rather than a beer.  Challenges what we normally think a beer should be.

Our day ended with a stop at the Second Street Brewery.  (There are two locations in Santa Fe and the location where we stopped was the one on Second Street.)  Their normal tap offerings include a Kolsch, an IPA, the Tres Equis Lager, a Brown Ale and a Cream Stout.  As we were there during Bike and Brew, they were featuring a Boneshaker Ale.

It would be hard to go wrong with any of these selections. So, whether you are planning on staying in Santa Fe, or just passing through.  Be sure to stop and enjoy the hospitality!

Santa Fe Detour
The Detour Map – Addresses and Approximate Locations of Breweries

 

A Place to Start, Taos, NM

Posted on by sophicpursuits

high road to TaosWant a great way to begin exploring craft brews, new distilled products, great wines, and participate in local activities?  Then this New Mexico loop is just for you!  This loop can be started in Angel Fire, Santa Fe or Taos and can be done in a day or over a weekend.  While here, you can experience a number of restaurants, shops, art galleries, music, great scenery, and maybe a festival or two. In addition, there are lots of great wines, beers, and a distiller to experience as well. Here are some highlights:

The Food

New Mexico is known for its cuisine.  Taos and Santa Fe have lots of different restaurants and types of fare – from the burgers and pizza to global cuisine fit for heads of state.  For those that want a great evening try Sabroso.  It is located in little town outside of Taos, Arroyo Seco.  It is nestled in a grove of fruit trees and vines.  (The fruit when in season is featured as part of the menu.)  You can dine inside or out.  Our visit to this restaurant was memorable and the reviews of others have indicated that this is one of the best in the area.

The Beers

Taos features three brewers – Eske’s, Taos Ale House, and Taos Mesa Brewing.  In addition to the locals, many of the restaurants and eateries feature beers from other parts of New Mexico.  Eske’s is located near the Plaza in Taos and is located in a 100-year-old adobe home.  Their signature beer is made with green chiles, but while we were there they had a Scotch Ale, an IPA and a Red Rye on Tap.

Taos Mesa Brewing is just outside of the city located on the way to the Rio Grande Bridge on US 64.  It is set up for larger events.  They have a variety of beers including: the “Fall Down Brown”, “Lunch Pale Ale”, “Kolsch 45”, and “Superstitious Stout.”  There are a number of different IPAs and seasonal brews.

Eske’s and Taos Mesa Brewing feature live music, so be sure and check their websites for the current music offerings.

The WinesWines

Along this loop, you can visit the tasting rooms in Taos for Black Mesa and La Chiripada or visit their wineries down the road a bit.  The area also features Vivac and Estrella Del Norte (and Santa Fe).  As New Mexico is known for the reds – these are must try.  La Chiripada has a nice cabernet and merlot.  Estrella Del Norte is generally known for their Pinot Noir.  However, a New Mexico Pinot Noir is a bit different than what you may be used to from Oregon or California and it does vary a bit from year to year.

While New Mexico may be known for its reds – the whites are very enjoyable as well.  Blue Heron Brewery (which features some great Ales and a nice root beer) also had a lovely white that can be enjoyed on the porch.  The Primavera from La Chiripada is a lovely white that can be enjoyed on a summer evening.  Estrella Del Norte has a great pinot grigio.

The Distillery

bourbonDon Quixote Distillery and Winery is located in Pojoaque just a bit outside of Santa Fe.  They are the oldest distillery in New Mexico.  They have a blue corn bourbon and vodka.  They also feature a number of wines and ports.  They have a sherry as well.  While the wines are unique, it is clear that they are really headed to the ports and sherry.  These are very nice.  The bourbon is delightful.

When planning your trip be sure to do a bit of research before you go to learn about the galleries, and activities that are going on in the area.  Even if there is nothing “special” happening, the views along the “high road to Taos” and the Rio Grande Bridge are spectacular.  And if that doesn’t excite – in the winter there is skiing and in the summer you can take a rafting tour on the Rio Grande.  The key is to get out and explore.Coyote Loop

It is about the Mash

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For those who enjoy bourbon, whiskey (or the alternate spelling whisky) or rye (or even scotch), it is all about understanding the regulations, the mash, and how it is aged.  These are types of distilled beverages derived from a grain mash.  The grain mash is made from milling a combination of grains (malted or unmalted) such as corn, rye, wheat, and barley. The combination of the grains used for the mash is called the grain or mash bill.  The milled grains are combined with water, heated, and allowed to ferment to produce the alcohol.  The mash, and ultimately the beverage, is a product of the exact grain bill; how the mash is “cooked”; and how the ultimate liquor is aged.

Scotch and bourbon are unique types.  These are regulated by law and the use of the name is regulated much like that of an appellation for wine or cheese.  Scotch whisky and bourbon are both derived from mashes and must meet specific criteria as to the ingredients used, how the mash is made, and how it is aged (in what types of barrels and how the barrels are prepared).  By law, a bourbon (contrary to what some Kentuckians believe) must be produced in the United States, made from a grain mix of at least 51% corn, distilled at less than 160 proof (80% ABV), have no additives (except water to reduce the alcohol content), and is aged for a minimum of 2 years in new, charred white oak barrels.  Thus, bourbon is a well-defined whiskey.

While bourbon comes from a mash that is 51% corn; to be a rye, it most come from a mash that is 51% rye.  The mash bill becomes the first step in naming and labeling the distilled product.  Then, there is the location – you can have “Canadian Whiskey”, “Tennessee Bourbon”, “Kentucky Bourbon”, and the list goes on.  You can’t call a bourbon a Kentucky Bourbon unless it was distilled in Kentucky.  Finally, there is the style – you can have a Pennsylvania style or Virginia style.  This comes from both the mash bill as well as how the mash is fermented, and the liquor aged.  All of these go into making a distinctly flavored alcoholic beverage that can be described using a host of adjectives.

It takes a while to learn (some say a couple of lifetimes or you may never get a handle on it all); the various subtleties between the styles.  To begin your tasting adventure, I would recommend finding a colleague or establishment that has a variety to sample.  The more knowledgeable they are about the mash bill and the source of the “sample” the more educated your pallet becomes.  But, remember everyone has different likes and dislikes of flavors, and many of these “grow” on you as you try a variety.

Tasting at the Argyll Whisky Beer
Tasting at the Argyll Whisky Beer

One place to start (I will be highlighting others in future blogs), if you are lucky enough to be in the Denver, CO area; I would recommend starting at Argyll Whisky Beer (http://argylldenver.com/).  They have over two hundred different items to taste.  The staff is extremely knowledgeable about the mash bills, styles, and the typical descriptors for the varieties.  (The food and atmosphere is also a plus!)  It is more fun to go with a couple of friends (then you can all have a sip or two of something different).

Welcome! And I hope you enjoy the adventure!

Posted on by sophicpursuits

As a lifelong traveler, I have always been enjoyed taking the road less traveled, the backroads, and those that provide a unique experience.  Because my background had me traveling across the United States before I was out of first grade (I went to 13 different schools between Kindergarten and 12th Grade), I have had my share of interesting encounters, adventure stories, and have made stops at places most people pass by.

My family taught reading via historical markers, and my children have learned that way as well.  We have seen the geographic center of the United States, the 50 States, and North America.  We have tried hot chocolate in France and Spain.  We have made the detour to see the world’s largest ball of twine; as well as Fred Smith’s Concrete Park.  As part of these adventures, I have been on the hunt for unique wines, craft beers, and now the new craft distilled products.

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Photo from Fred Smith’s Concrete Park while looking for Craft Beers.

Back in the 80’s there were some niche’ locations, Napa, New Mexico, some in Pennsylvania, and some in Virginia.  Craft beers were very limited (and if you go to the National Brewery Museum in Potosi, WI you will find that there was a drop and now a steady resurgence of the local Brewer.)  And, even your distilled products such as bourbon, and whiskey had limited sourcing.

Today, you can go to many locations and learn the history of the specific industry, for example, there are Arkansas Vintners that have been in business prior to Prohibition (they made sacramental wine to get them through).  Some locations are new such as Oklahoma.  Similar trends can be found with beers and now the custom distillers are beginning to appear in some unusual locations – Moore, OK, and Wyoming.

So, join me in exploring the wide variety of spirits that can be found across the United States as well as learning about some wonderful places to visit when you are on that adventure!