MILLENNIALS DOWN ON BEER
IT’S NO SECRET that things are a bit grim for the macro brew industry. Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors have been reporting sales declines for years as consumers switch away from big beer brands toward craft beer, wine and spirits. Some analysts have blamed the recession’s impact on blue collar workers –... Read More
AN EXCEPTIONAL 2O15 SOUTH AFRICAN VINTAGE
IF YOU are a fan of South African wines then you’ll love this news. Winemakers there expect to make “exceptional” wines from the 2O15 harvest, which was one of the driest and earliest in years, says a new report by trade body VinPro. According to the latest estimate from South... Read More
PROSECCO PANIC
RELAX . . . Prosecco isn’t going anywhere. Despite rumors to the contrary, Prosecco’s governing body has moved to calm fears of a looming shortage, insisting that although smaller than expected, yields from the 2O14 harvest went “far beyond the target”. After one producer’s warning that “there is a very... Read More
THE 2O15 CLASS OF THE COURT OF MASTER SOMMELIERS, AMERICAS
THE COURT of Master Sommeliers, Americas has admitted seven new members, two of whom are from Massachusetts. Congratulations to Brahm Callahan of Grill 23 & Bar, Boston, Michael Meagher of Jackson Family Wines in Groton, Massachusetts, William Costello of The Mandarin Oriental in Las Vegas, Nevada, Elyse Lambert of Maison... Read More
Modern Homebrew Recipes Exploring Styles and Contemporary Techniques
Gordon Strong Paperback Written by Grandmaster Beer Judge Gordon Strong, this book provides information about some of the latest Beer Judge Certification Program’s (BJCP) style changes, as well as a primer on specific mashing and hopping techniques, recipe formulation fundamentals and how to adapt recipes to your system. Strong provides... Read More
Short Course in Rum: A Guide to Tasting and Talking about Rum
Lynn Hoffman Hardcover And E-Book This book covers all aspects of the rum story: Rumbullion, KillDevil, Demon Rum, rum and the American Revolution, lush desserts, the sugar trade, the Anti-Saloon League, prohibitionists, abolitionists, alchemists, the world’s best wood-aged sipping rums, recipes for the best rum cocktails, working in a small... Read More
Bourbon Curious: A Simple Tasting Guide for the Savvy Drinker
Fred Minnick Hardcover Author Fred Minnick groups bourbon into five flavor profiles – caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, raw grain and fruit – and he profiles 5O bourbon brands’ predominate tastes and suggests recipes to complement them. This book is described as giving a “basic-level understanding of bourbon, so anyone can read... Read More
BEER AND WINE AND DISTILLED SPIRITS ALL DRINKS ARE NOT EQUAL
THE BEER TRADE groups have long been opposed to the definition of one drink as: 12 fluid ounces of beer (5% alcohol), 5 fluid ounces of wine (12% alcohol) and 1.5 fluid ounces of 😯 proof distilled spirits (4O% alcohol). In May, trade groups including the Beer Institute, Brewers Association,... Read More
COURT VICTORY FOR MAKER’S MARK
CONGRATULATIONS to Maker’s Mark. The US District Court for the Northern District of Florida has ruled in favor of the bourbon maker and parent company Beam Suntory in a class action lawsuit alleging misleading marketing in the labeling of Maker’s Mark as “handmade”. The ruling by US District Judge Robert... Read More
TREND WATCH INSECT GIN
IN OUR never-ending quest to find the next hot trend this may be a bit off the mark: gin flavored with ants. Yes, those ants. Anty Gin is the brainchild of the Nordic Food Lab and The Cambridge Distillery in England. Miles Irving, a professional forager, collected over 6OOO red... Read More