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Roll Out The…

WHOA! Yes, we’re talking about barrel-aged beers, but this isn’t about oom-pah bands and whirling dirndls and whoopee. This is about brewers who are using wooden barrels to add new flavors and depths of complexity to beer, a truly innovative move that represents the best traditions of American brewing –...
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Stella!!!

MICHAEL AHEARN • 34 • Head Bartender • Stella • Boston’s South End Michael could be having a bad day – worked ’til 3, up at 6 to mind sis’ kids, bar’s a mess, distributors are delivering waaaaay too early – but he’s upbeat, animated, witty, and his hair looks...
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A Libation Education Menu

CONJUNCTION, CONJUNCTION, WHAT’S YOUR FUNCTION . . . Thought I’d share that classic School House Rock tune with you, because it’s been going around and around in my head ever since I decided to write about Wine Education. Education, education, what’s your libation? Whether you’re new to the wine world...
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Add Art

Wine (sometimes beer, both with or without cheese, or even spirits) often create a perfect counterpoint to certain arts events. The synergy that comes in appealing to people’s good tastes on multiple fronts makes for memorable events and can effect positive branding for both sponsoring arts group and consulting supplier....
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Muy Caliente!

Spanish wines are on fire, and the hottest new restaurant in town is also Spanish. It’s true that wines from all over Spain are better than ever, but that reflects a gradual process. They are, subject to Euro-inflation, no longer so cheap as to engender guilt in the purchasing consumer....
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Mining Minerals!

The sommelier proclaimed, “Minerals!” I scratched my head. Minerality is the OM of wine tasting. But what do minerals smell like? In elementary school, I grew some minerals in science class. They didn’t smell of anything. But wine professionals frequently use the terms “mineral” and “minerality” to describe something about...
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Today’s Bourbon Drinkers

Behold the Classic Bourbon Drinker (homo redlikkerus). He is white, middle-aged, Southern, and firmly clutches his large glass of bourbon and branch. He is simple and unadorned, much like his drink. His drink is whatever is on sale that month, pricelined to a razor-thin margin to move cases and beat...
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The Beer Guys!!

In the first part of this interview, I sat down with Sam Calagione, president of the Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, and Tomme Arthur, head brewer for the Port Brewing Company, to discuss the business of beer and what it takes to be the face of their brands. In this second...
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Happy Holliday

SCOTT HOLLIDAY • 43 • Wine Buyer/Bar Manager • Chez Henri • Cambridge, MA The holiday Monday (eve of The Fourth) is a day Scott Holliday suggests to drop by for a chat at the bar at Chez Henri, because he predicts it will be a ‘slow night’. Not really!...
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My Geek is Showing

As a wine professional there is a part of myself that only comes out every once in awhile, and only with certain colleagues. It’s a little similar to Dr. Jekel and Mr. Hyde. My Mr. Hyde is the wine geek. This past mid-July I had the pleasure of attending the...
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