a whirlwind of stuff

Quick update on new things:

New Draft: New Belgium Dig features pale malts that give a generous dusting of caramel and sweet cream butteryness. A little lemon zest and spice from the hops produce a medium-light bitterness.  This spring seasonal from the employee owned New Belgium Brewery speaks to the upcoming spring time, and honestly, I brought it on because I think we are all ready t oforget about the winter that never was in Athens and start looking forward to warmer days.

New Bottles: Avery Ellie's Brown Ale tastes like what I think a brown ale should taste like.  A nice malty body with no cream notes, but more of a stiff sweetness that disappears into a nutty subtle hop.  This is my new favorite brown ale.
Thomas Creek River Falls Red Ale hails from Greenville, South Cackalacka (Carolina) and has most recently won a silver medal at the 2010 Great American Beer Festival.  This flagship brew is vegan-friendly, as is all of the beers in the Thomas Creek portfolio.  You got to love the small market breweries that kick out very respectable beers, and this is no different.  The red ale features a full body of malts and yeasts which carries through the entire sip, with a smooth and delicious flavor featuring subtle grapefruit and banana notes.  Be not mistaken, though.  This is a beautifully consistent beer, from first taste of light grapefruit and yeast to mild hops on the back end to dry the pallate, I could see finishing this six pack in a night and being satisfied (i.e. a very sessionable beer).

New Wines: The wine list is going through its early year make over, so I will write more about this when the transitions have completed, but one of note that I can mention to you is "Ideale" from La Nunsio.  This barbera replaces our "Baby" and is a tender wine, needing a minute to open up before the full bouquet is shown.  Ripe cantalope, green strawberry, and green apple skin stick out to me for the flavors with a very subtle tannic back end.

New Spirits: Pierre Ferrand 1st Cru Ambre is a ten year old cognac from one of the most recognized cognac producers in the world.  Hot, savory caramel with that smoky vanilla flavor makes this just delicious.  Seriously, I feel this is a great above average cognac and certainly pallatable by even the most novice of cognac pallates.  The flavors are so well defined that, even after one sip, you will know why cognac is so enjoyable.

Cheers! 

PS, New brunch cocktail menu will start up next week.  Just to let you in to a few ideas: The Marvel (based on the Norwegian Sunset by Jesse Held of the North Star Bartenders' Guild), The Kentucky Milkshake, Ruby Fizz, and Pistola are all names you should love.  Come in for a little after church nipper and let me know what you think.