A couple of weeks ago we spent a good chunk of time installing a new piece of shelving in beer-land, and since then I’ve been slowly expanding some of our selections and introducing some new products. I’ve gotten a fair few requests for more efficiently spreading the word about the arrival of limited release beers and oddities that come our way, so now we’ve given them a dedicated spot: the experiment area. The top two shelves, all the way to the right, are now going to play host to whatever odds and ends arrive that wouldn’t otherwise have a home… for example, right now I have some Troeg’s Flying Mouflan (Nugget Nectar on steroids!), The Alchemist’s “Celia” Saison (gluten-free from a brewery rarely seen in MA!), and the Stone/Bottleworks “13” collaboration brew.
Additionally, I’d like to use this area to evaluate how customers feel about beers I’m on the fence about stocking. In the coming days you’ll find a chalk board next to the experiments, and the names of any beers that I’m looking for input on… chalk up a tally mark next to things you’ve tried and liked, and those that are popular will become permanent fixtures of the beer shelves.
Lastly, I’m going to try and tweet out the limited beers (those that don’t have waiting lists) as they arrive, so if you want to be alerted whenever some new goodies show up, follow us on Twitter @ColonialSpirits .
Once again Sprigs Restaurant & Bar and Colonial Spirits have teamed together to bring you another fantastic wine dinner opportunity. This time around the wines reign from the Languedoc region of France known for both high intensity and elegant wines. Come and check out what chef Gregory has in store because you will not be disappointed.
Up until recently California’s Central Coast has suffered from what some would call “an identity crisis”. This was largely because a small number of large producers used the area as a source for a vast quantity of uninspiring, inexpensive wine. It was also a region that large Sonoma and Napa producers used as a grape source for up to 20% of their Chardonnay blends. Another reason that contributed to this apparent lack of identity was that as late as the 1960’s nobody had a clue as to which grapes to plant and where to plant them. Many producers tried several varietals in many different locations, but the end result was mostly nothing special. When knowledgeable wine consumers sought out quality wines from California they looked for wines from Napa or Sonoma. What the heck is the Central Coast anyway? How can a region define itself when it stretches the length of one-third the state of California? How could a region define itself when it originally tried to produce Cabernets and Zinfandels that could never compete with Napa and Sonoma? Today however, thanks to a number of unique and quality producers, as well as a better understanding of this large viticultural area, wines from the Central Coast are starting to define themselves and slowly, but surely finding a niche in the market place.
To be continued…in my next post we’ll explore a few of it’s valleys.
The most recent list of 2011 Bordeaux Futures. Check it out because there is something for everyone.
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Colonial Spirits
Colonial Spirits is the premier liquor store in the Greater Boston area. Visit the store on Rt 2A in Acton for the best selection of beer, liquor & wine in the area, or order online for shipping, delivery & in-store pickup. (Contact)