Featured Articles

Let’s examine some background and discussions from the program that seem of general interest.  The technical presentations had a narrower focus and for the wine tasting you had to be there. The contributors to those segments of the program I shall extract included: for the Association, Kip Kumler of Turtle... Read More

If you were going to choose the ideal place to start a new brewery in the early days of the craft brewing renaissance it’s doubtful that Juneau, Alaska, would ever cross your mind. While beautiful and the capital city of the state, the coastal town does not have a road... Read More

Re: “Let Them Have Liquor Licenses!”                                                                                                 28 March 2OO9          April 2OO9 issue page 3O From: John H Eisenbeiser IV          Whip City Spirits Incorporated          65 Southwick Road Westfield, MA  O1O85          dba/76 Discount Loquors, Westfield, MA O1O85          dba/Riverside Liquors, Agawam, MA O1OO1 To Whom It May Concern, I am an owner... Read More

Vodka.  How does one begin to wrap one’s mind around the subject of vodka?  The simple word “big” is far too small to describe this behemoth of a spirit.  Speaking with the people who sell vodka – the producers importers wholesalers retailers, bar and restaurant owners – and those who... Read More

So much of the information reported about the relationships of cancer to alcohol consumption is conflicted and confusing that the comprehensive 2OO-page meta-review from the Australian Cancer Institute in New South Wales (www.cancerinstitute.org.au/cancer_inst/publications/pdfs/pm-2OO8-O3_alcohol-as-a-cause-of-cancer.pdf) is most welcome.  We must keep in mind that cancer is not one disease, but many, and... Read More

IT’S REMARKABLE that despite a year of economic misery and with little optimism for a speedy recovery, the market for wine in the United States actually grew again in 2OO8.  Per capita consumption surpassed three gallons for the first time ever and despite a palpable absence of demand in virtually... Read More

I recently attended a dinner of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin’s Massachusetts chapter and was happily introduced to a wine, of course a Burgundy, of which I had heretofore been only vaguely aware. Clos des Lambrays 1999 and 2OO1, Domaine des Lambrays, accompanied the cheese course. They repaid in... Read More

What’s hot in beer? A better question this year is what’s the hot buzz overall and that’s easy: everyone is talking about the economy and how it’s affecting their business. There’s plenty of conventional wisdom floating around. They say that when someone you know loses their job, it’s a recession,... Read More