The indispensable tool for the Massachusetts adult beverage trade.
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MBB

WHITE PINOT NOIR TREND ALERT

WHAT DO you get when you pick cool-climate Pinot Noir grapes early, gently press them and limit skin contact?  White Pinot Noir.  In other words: Blanc de blancs Champagne sans bubbles.  White Pinot Noir is a rare, earthy and complex dry white wine has been slowly growing in popularity with...
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ROSÉ RO$Y IN FRANCE

APPARENTLY, even the French are rethinking pink.  Sales of rosé wine – once the object of contempt from connoisseurs who winced at the notion of pink wine – have tripled in France in a decade.  Nine out of 1O French wine drinkers now enjoy the occasional glass of rosé, according...
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RIOJA 2O13 IS JUST “GOOD”

AFTER SEVERAL YEARS of outstanding harvests, Rioja has been brought back down to earth with the 2O13 vintage.  A difficult growing season last year culminated in the Rioja DOCa council describing the vintage as “good”, the worst official rating for a decade.  Each of the Rioja DOCa vintages since 2OO4...
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SANGRIA AND THE MILLENNIALS

HARDLY a new thing, Sangria is suddenly an “it” drink that is poised for international success.  Sangria is already popular in the US but has little presence in the international market.  However that could be about to change with drinks analysts at research firm Mintel predicting its explosion onto European...
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JUST IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING

Who else is generating beer sales in the country,besides the Big 2, here’s the rest of the top 1O list – basedon annual sales volumes – from the Brewers Association. 3 Pabst Brewing (PBR, Schlitz, Old Milwaukee) 4 DG Yuengling & Son (Yuengling Lager, Black & Tan) 5 Boston Beer...
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BEER FLAVORED LOLLIPOPS

BEER LOVERS with a sweet tooth, you’re in luck!  First there were beer flavored jelly beans from Jelly Belly and now, for your licking pleasure, there are beer flavored lollipops.  Candy company Lollyphile [lollyphile.com] has come out with a new line of flavors for beer lovers: IPA, lager and stout. ...
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TAKE A TOUR OF THE BEER TRAIL

THE MASSACHUSETTS Brewers Guild and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources has launched the newly created “Massachusetts Craft Brewers Trail” to the public. The Trail was created to invite craft beer drinkers to explore the region by sampling ales and lagers from the over 6O breweries and brew pubs across...
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FIVE BEER MYTHS BUSTED

BEER is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, and as such, there are many myths about the best ways to store, age, refrigerate and drink it. Here are five common myths – busted –  to set the record straight. MYTH Re-cooling makes beer stale.FALSE Beer experiences...
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SAMUEL ADAMS SUMMER ALE

SAMUEL ADAMS SUMMER ALE – Brewed with Hallertau Mittelfrueh and Saaz Noble hops, lemon peel and Grains of Paradise, this medium-bodied brew is crisp and citrusy with a hint of spice on the finish.  The Ale yeast adds a tropical fruit note while the peppery taste from the Grains of...
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STRONGBOW HARD CIDER

STRONGBOW HARD CIDER – BThe hard cider maker has two new flavors: Gold Apple and Honey & Apple.  The Gold Apple has the sweet and tart notes of the Golden Delicious apple, along with hints of Honeycrisp and pear.  The Honey & Apple is a blend of fresh apple and...
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