Luxurious Liquids

Teavana Honeybush Vanilla

2012-03-03T23:09:00.001-05:00

At the social tea parties I've been attending recently Teavana has been a very popular choice, and I noticed I haven't done any of their products in a long time! So tonight I've chosen to relax with and write about their Honeybush Vanilla herbal tea. I'd like to start by noting that my sense's attention was caught before water even touched the tea. It would make a fantastic potpourri.

Don't think the title labels the taste of this tea though because if you want a dessert level of sweetness you'll have to add some sweetener. The tea is actually quite malty and the vanilla isn't vanilla extract, but vanilla beans! This malty aspect has an overtone of walnuts and gives the body a round feel. There is a touch of sweetness to this tea in the taste of a clover honey. The sweetness and malty aspects are the same element in the taste, and the true vanilla is most sensed in the aura and aftertaste.

This is not what I would expect from a tea with such a name, but I doubt a honey and vanilla-extract tea would be best for a loose leaf tea. As a hot tea I'm grading it with C (decent), but cold brings out more of a balance with a stronger vanilla. And perhaps it could blend with others to taste as an A?

Katahdin Specialty Coffee Maine Whoopie Pie

2012-03-02T09:26:00.063-05:00

It would be silly of someone to ask "where is this made?", even if it didn't say Maine. Katahdin and whoopie pie should give it away alone because one is a famous location in Maine, and the other is the official Maine treat! This morning I decided to sip Katahdin Specialty Coffee's Maine Whoopie Pie coffee because we just had a true nor'easter, another Maine trademark.

You can tell this isn't any typical coffee with just your nose. Something robust is happening, but not just a conventional coffee. Bringing this up to your lips fills you in on this secret: Chocolate, which is a major element in whoopie pies. There is some sweetener to this chocolate flavor, but not at the same level as many other flavored coffees. The coffee taste itself isn't a dark roast or some rare import, but probably Colombian. Balance in body and taste with little acidity. Good choice to match the chocolate.

This combo isn't your typical big-name chocolate flavored coffee because it's not sweet in the same sugary way either. This fit's Maine because Mainers are strong and sweet, but in an unorthodox way. I have to leave this with a C (decent) because it's a simple blend and if coffee is my focus of the morning I'd probably choose a bean with many more levels. (Like Katahdin's Baxter Blend). If it's an un-typical coffee occurrence, it could be best though. Example: with a desert or a coffee cake.

Bull Jagger Original No. 19 Baltic Porter

2012-02-22T18:25:00.002-05:00

Bull Jagger has released their first opaque brew recently, the No. 19 Baltic Porter. It would seem like quite a jump in styles from their lager wouldn't it? Well I found out the process isn't as different as you would think, but I'm not writing about that. You can contact the brewer if you would like to know technical details of the process. I'm writing about the taste.

The first thing my tongue noticed is the sweetness of the malt, which a friend characterized as a "fruitiness". This is a good adjective for saying it has an upfront sweetness unlike like sugar. Don't think that there's any fruit notes on the palate though. The rest is quite perplexing but with some hard thought and slow sips (done with extreme enjoyment), I found wheat/yeast, rye, and barley which is a seasoning crisp for tastes. It works very well together. These notes of spice imperceptibly convey to the liquid body sensations of a citric dry that leaves a tingle. Despite all this extreme taste and an ABV of 8%, it's very smooth to drink.

This is not the type of beer you choose to compliment a robust beef stew, you choose your dinner recipe to compliment this beer. This is because it'll be the focus of your taste buds luxurious experience. Undoubtedly an A (excellent).

Maine Mead Works HoneyMaker Dry Hopped Mead

2012-02-15T21:48:00.000-05:00

Hops is an ingredient that I usually relate to beers, but tonight I have a wine-aisle product with it. I've done a few other Maine Mead Works meads before this, lavender and apple cyser, but I think this'll be quite a different experience than the others because of the hops. Read on to find out.

Putting my nose up to my glass reminds me that hops is actually a herb instead of a strong citrus (unlike an IPA's accent). Bringing this liquid past your lips brings the crisp hues to your tongue as well though. The body is round but I wouldn't say bold, and this works very interestingly with the zest. The taste of honey exists here too, but it's along the lines of clover instead of bee's. A subtle sweet that makes it quite easy to drink. Think of certain white wine's sweet.

I wish I had thought of honey and hops, because they match so well in an unexpected way. It's an A (excellent) in my book because of the equilibrium created. It doesn't have a huge variety of tastes, but there are many 'levels' of them. Adding something would throw it all off. Don't change the recipe Maine Mead Works.

Martinshof Zweigelt 2009

2012-02-04T20:31:00.000-05:00

Weingut Martinshof is an Austrian winery that's hard for me to pronounce. Today my review is for their 2009 zweigelt grape that's been sitting on my wine rack for awhile but have yet to try. I found a local specialty shop has this particular bottle on sale, so I decided I'd taste it for the first time before going back to get more bottles. Read on to see if it would be a good deal:

The lighter and less opaque color of this wine corresponded with how it acted on my tongue. Cherry and raspberry are the main focus with this drink on the palate, and the nose embraces the fruity theme as well. There aren't any layers of flavors or overtones though, and you're left with a strong acidic ending. It's also quite fizzy for a red wine.

It is quite easy to drink and there aren't any unlikable notes, but I'm leaving it with a C (decent) because I wouldn't chose this bottle to enjoy as the focus of my taste bud treat. It does supplement a pot luck dinner or social event with many different taste buds because of how easy it is to drink. I'll be going back to pick up a few for this.

Bull Jagger Portland Lager

2012-01-29T21:15:00.003-05:00

I was a bit confused when I first saw this bottle. A lager made in Portland, ME? After I had to looked into this, and I found out that this was from a new brewery called Bull Jagger. I must say I like their approach to keeping the classic micro-brewery standards but experimenting with brews that aren't just what everyone else has in their variety pack. Only one other brewer in Maine makes a lager.

Poured into the glass it looks like an ale instead of a lager because of the haziness. Once the head hits your lips you're reminded of it's category though, because it's on the fizzy side and the sweet aroma. I would almost say the combo of crisp and sweet is citrus, but it is undoubtedly not because these two elements are defined in their own separate ways. On the tongue the sweetness stays but malt, hops, and yeast come well ahead of it in potency. It's not an intense IPA or pale ale with these, but you can feel it on your tongue as well as taste it. The body is 'sparkling' too, but not to the extent of canned lagers though.

Bull Jagger will be coming out with another brew soon, that has quite a bit of my attention. Porter with rye. Even though it was not in bottling condition, I was quite impressed with the sample and can't wait to add it here with a review. Don't wait for this release to give them a try, the Portland Lager is a step out of the box with the high standards of Maine brewing kept and I'm giving is a solid B (good).

Katahdin Specialty Coffee Baxter Blend (New)

2012-01-19T11:11:00.001-05:00

Katahdin Specialty Coffee just recently redesigned their labels and website to a style that fits the vibe of Mt. Katahdin's view. They've told me that they just recently upgraded the Baxter Blend as well! So as I enjoy a massive mug of it to compliment my morning, I'll share the tastes it gives and my thoughts. Before I even sip, I can smell they roasted it darker than before.

After passing my lips a few times I also discovered it's an easy bean to digest as well with less acidity. It is quite full bodied too. 'Hearty' is the ideal adjective for this aspect. On the tongue you can taste the nutty element described in the previous version's review but smoky has a much stronger aspect. It's not smoky like a Sumatra coffee bean (earthy-smoky), but a classic french roast instead. Despite this being the strongest taste it won't put hair on your chest because it's not robust in a blunt way with the smoke. It ends with a long and charming aftertaste restating the tastes.

Certainly an improvement from the previous Baxter Blend and I highly recommend to start your work day. This is because it won't hold you back from sipping and getting your caffeine fix, but you're not compromising the other way you enjoy a coffee: The taste. An unmistakable B (good).

Blason de Bourgogne Montagny 1er Cru 2009

2012-01-12T20:37:00.002-05:00

While browsing the wines at a place I visit often, someone who was taking notes on inventory was eager to point this wine out to me. A french wine from a region famous for the products of it's grapes. It was at a fine price and they had just received it, so I though it would be a good one to share my thoughts on.

It doesn't say on the front label, but this Blason is one of their chardonnays that's been oak aged. Don't assume it'll be like many other oak chardonnays because many things are going on. On the nose there's the pear and almonds like many chardonnays but the aura is also dry in a chalky way, not sharp or crisp. I think this works better for the many things happening on my tongue.

One of the first things I noticed about the palate is a crisp pear on the tip of my tongue that also has an acidity accompanying it. After a second you get a mineral note as well which is indistinguishable from the soft and round body. Last but not least you get a liquorice note on the aftertaste that appears once your tongue gets warm again. All these aspects last for awhile.

Wow, unique. I don't hesitate to give this an A (excellent), and I'll be keeping this one always available on my wine rack.

Bard Coffee Costa Rica Pepe Naranjo Honey-Processed Microlot

2012-01-06T14:22:00.001-05:00

Stopping in at Bard Coffee I had planned on getting an americano because I like a robust cup of joe and I can't make americanos at home. But when I saw the description of this bean on the single origins menu, I had to try it because I've never had a honey-processed coffee bean. FYI: Most of the title is just describing the origin.

Now I knew I was in for something far from robust because of the honey and central american origins, but please don't think this is a silly artificially flavored coffee. The honey here isn't making a sugar sweet note actually but making the body round and working against the acidity. There is a slight honey taste as well. More noticeable on the palate is the clean Costa Rica bean though. Still strong in the coffee taste.

The taste followed through with the title in being your not so average cup-o-joe. It's not a bean I'd like to have a stash of at home all the time because I'm actually a fan of certain hues of coffee acid and smoky suggestions. I'ts a solid B (good) on my taste scale and I highly recommend to people who get stomach aches from coffee.

Sugar Pie Red Wine '10

2011-12-09T18:43:00.082-05:00

Sugar Pie Red Wine. The first thing I thought of when I saw this label at Trader Joe's was sangria. Wine, sugar and fruit juice (fruit being the main ingredient of many pies.) Now I'm not usually a fan of sweet drinks, but whoever is responsible of the marketing of this wine did a fine job. A pretty pattern on the lable, and the sign advertising that it was only $5.99 sold it to me.

After a few sips I found it doesn't taste like a pre-made sangria, as the name suggested me. It is on the sweeter side of the wine taste spectrum though. This is because of a focus on blackberry jam, but in a rich way. There were things I found that made me think of pie more though. Nutmeg and cinnamon could be tasted with the blackberrys easily. The nutmeg was almost like a cabernet's tannin but a bit more sweet and spiced of course.

It was a good deal at $5.99, but I won't be keeping this in stock on my wine rack at home. It's just not one my taste buds would want that frequently. That's just my preferences though. I'm giving it a C (decent), and will end my analysis with this: It is a great deal and I'm sure many will love the spiced notes.

Sebago Frye's Leap IPA

2011-12-02T13:54:00.004-05:00

It's been a little while since my last review, but I think this is partially due to my focus being just on the drinks. The taste is still my prime focus, not the effects. (This applies to positive and possibly negative ones). Like today's beer that'll do the trick quicker, with a ABV of 6.2%. Sebago Brewing's Frye's Leap IPA.

Frye's Leap IPA is a bit of a leap from other IPAs, being more than just intense with regular hops. It pours with a large and foamy head like most micro-brewery IPAs. But once you put your nose to the glass the hops is strong like others, but it's of a very different character. The floral aspect is as strong as the citrusly crisp! The malt note is a bit more diligent than other micro-brew IPAs as well. The commonly rich body is similar to typical IPA though. (Wouldn't be as good if that wasn't the case).

This is a common choice for me at Sebago's new location or the grocery store. So it didn't take me long to contemplate the score. I'm giving it an A (excellent).

P.S. Even once I'm well past my last sip I enjoy this beer. The hops is still there at the back of my tongue. Mmmmmm...

Arizona Blueberry White Tea

2011-11-11T17:48:00.001-05:00

An Arizona canned or bottled tea seems like an odd choice for this blog, doesn't it? Well this episode is Arizona's blueberry white tea, and I chose it because it's a common choice of me when I'm at a gas station looking for a quick drink. It's my choice not because of all the health propaganda but because it's better than most of the other soda and super-sugared drinks in the drink cooler. Here's why:

The hue of this tea under the label is translucent and pink and I think that proves that it's a white tea. But putting it in your mouth will prove this too because the actual taste of the leaf is light and almost over-powered by the fruit happening here. Obviously blueberry is a big part of the tea but I believe peach exists almost as much! It helps to tie the sugar to the palate so it can fit in with the other sweet drinks it's next to.

I'm not a fan of sweet unless applied in moderate proportions and this tea has a bit too much. It's just far better than the other options because it's acceptable in it's use of the sugar. So I'm leaving it with just a C (decent), but I'd also like to note that any plastic bottle cola would be an F (avoid).

Shipyard Smashed Blueberry

2011-09-20T16:31:00.001-04:00

Shipyard's best selling beer is their seasonal Pumpkinhead, and they made a Smashed Pumkinhead as a spin off of it in 2009 (still around). Today I have a spin on their Smashed Pumpkinhead, the Smashed Blueberry. It's only sold in single bottles, but that might be all you need because this brew is 9% alcohol! If that's what you want though, I'd recommend a plastic bottle of liquor. If you want a tasty beer in your glass, read on!

The back of the label reads that this is a "hybrid between a porter and a Scotch ale." I can see why because of the body and what's happening on the palate. Smashed Blueberry starts with the blueberry part paralleled by the sweet malty chocolate in the nose though. Once in the mouth things get pleasantly complicated. The body is more along the lines of a Scottish ale due to the 'round' body. I don't think heavy is a way to put it though. I wouldn't be surprised if your tongue gets confused by this one, but I've sorted out the sweet maltyness, a touch of coffee-like barley which works perfectly with the malt, a blueberry extract on the back of the tongue. The fruit note isn't very sweet, just true to blueberries. It ends dry with all the tastes lingering.

Turns out this has been a big hit for Shipyard and now I can see why. I've noticed this bottle on the shelves for awhile now, but I didn't pick one up because I'm not a fan of fruity beers. I'll be buying this one again though because it's a fine dark beer with strong tastes that work togeather. And it's the best use of non-citrus fruit in beer I've ever tasted. A (excellent)

Polar Banana Seltzer

2011-06-24T13:44:00.001-04:00

When I saw this at the grocery store, I had to try it. It's obviously a new release from Polar Beverages because it's not even apparent on their website except for mentioning a simple "Monkey Rum" cocktail. They did choose a good time to bring out a new banana product with summer just started a few day ago. Let me find out if banana seltzer can compliment a hot day.

Sure enough; it smells of bananas, tingles on the tongue, and leaves an aftertaste. It's not foolishly sweet as I had feared, but also not as strong as I'd prefer. It's a seltzer and not a flavored soda so I understand why it's not tasting of banana extract. I'd like it stronger because their mention of a cocktail with this ingredient is inspiring.

When I want seltzer I'll be getting Polar's lemon or lime unless I want some variety. Those flavors have been the standard with seltzer for awhile for a reason. As for cocktails, I think I'll be trying to make a classic pina-colada cocktail (shaken, not blended) and diluting it with this product like a club soda. It's a C (decent) in my book.

Very creative Polar...

Katahdin Specialty Coffee Baxter Blend (Old)

2011-06-13T12:08:00.004-04:00

Edit: Katahdin has since changed their flagship roast, and you can read about it here.

Maine has established a reputation for fine beer form microbreweries, but I think it's time for more recognition for the micro-roasters. I'm ashamed to say the only other Maine roaster I've hit so far is Bard's special Honduras bean, but today is about Katahdin Specialty Coffee's flagship bean.

Baxter State Park is a beautiful place that everyone can enjoy, and I think the Baxter Blend can be enjoyed by everyone as well because it's well rounded and easy to drink. It's easy to drink because there's little acidity to it but it has some of the enjoyable notes of highly acidic and lighter coffee's. "Nutty" in a way. I say it's rounded due to the body and hints of being roasted. Don't take these last notes as it being dark like French or Italian roasts.

If you enjoy the taste of coffee but frequently get heartburn or overwhelmed by robust tastes, give this a try. It's not too crisp or dark and isn't cutting corners on taste like big-box supermarket brands. It's a B (good) in my book.

Gazela Vinho Verde '09

2011-06-09T17:35:00.001-04:00

Summer is finally here, because it's hot and humid. The wine I always keep on hand for this season is Casal Garcia because it's a fine value for sparkly, crisp and fruity. Gazela has always been next to it in the wine aisle because it's Portuguese and the same grape, vinho verde. They're also only 50 different in price, so I'll be determining which one to stock as well as translating it's taste to English.

Just like Casal Garcia it pours with a slight fizz so bubbles attach to the inside of the glass while condensation occurs on the outside. More similarities can be noticed in the smell but the first difference appears here too.
Gazela is dryer than Casal Garcia. The palate is citrusy but has many other fruits happening as well, tropical melons. As you work your way down the glass you'll notice slight floral notes as well. "Green" is a good adjective to describe Gazela.

I'm giving Gazela a B (good) due to being a touch more juicy and I prefer the dryness. Casal Garcia was given a B. I think I'll be keeping both on hand though, because they're both a great value with slightly different approaches to Vinho Verde. Pick both up, you won't regret either.

Mr. Brown Iced Coffee

2011-06-07T11:07:00.000-04:00

I found this can in amongst canned coconut milk at an Asian grocery store with ramen noodles that would only let me know what flavor they were from the picture on the front. There isn't any oriental letters or symbols on a Mr. Brown can but it's made by King Car Group, an Asian company. Let's see what they think iced coffee should taste like.

Following the instructions on the back i had it in the fridge and shook it well before opening. Even before the brown liquid touched my lips I could tell this wouldn't be finished by me. I smelled chemicals. The ingredients are listed as; water, coffee extract, sugar, and milk powder. There's no real coffee in this. I took the sip despite my research's findings and the best way to describe this is sugar-milk with chemical coffee taste.

The supermarket didn't loose my business because they have roasted coconut milk that makes a phenomenal daiquiri cocktail, but I will never even bother buying a King Car product again because Mr. Brown is an F (avoid). If you need caffeine it's worth it to hold out for a different product.

Rising Tide Ursa Minor

2011-05-19T21:40:00.003-04:00

It's a pleasant surprise to notice a new bottle when shopping for a social lubricant. Today's trip to the luxurious single bottle beer aisle didn't just show a new brew, but a new brewer! Rising Tide Brewing started just last year in Portland, ME. There's plenty of brewers in this city already, but if they can meet it's high standards in a pint-glass there's definitely room for them. My first Rising Tide:

Although labeled a stout, I think it's closer to a porter because barley exists but roasted malts are in front of it. The body isn't what most would think of a stout either with a brisk feel and head that doesn't stay as long. I think this is because it's a weizen too (wheat beer). The roasted malts and touch of barley participate well together with the yeast. These are not the only flavors because after your first few sips an aftertaste starts to accumulate in strength. Dark cherries.

For those that're wondering what Ursa Minor is, it's the Little Dipper constellation. For those wondering what Ursa Minor beer is, it doesn't fit in a category like ale, stout, lager, and such. It's a drink you have to explore because much is going on, and I'll be enjoying again because I'm leaving it with an A (excellent). Rising Tide may be a small brewer but they leave a big impression, and a good one.

Steaz Iced Teaz Mint

2011-05-14T12:52:00.002-04:00

Seaz Iced Teaz seems to be a fairly new label to me. With a little research on their parent website I found they've only been in the bottled iced tea business for six years. I have to say this is an accomplishment because of all the competition around like; Tazo, Arizona, Sweet Leaf, Lipton, Honest Tea, Sobe, and the many more. In the next paragraph I'll be exploring why Steaz has been able to wiggle its way into the bottled tea beverage industry with the contents within the can.

It opens with a "Sssss!" but quickly fades and you can tell it's not carbonated once in your mouth. You can certainly tell it's made with ceylon tea and not a generic green leaf because it's not just super 'grassy' but has a floral basis. It's fairly sweet with cane sugar and lemon happens alongside this. The third thing my taste buds come to is the mint finally. This is no Moroccan mint tea, it's just a green tea with a hint of spearmint. Regardless of the cane sugar this leaves the taste of green tea on the back of your tongue once swallowed.

I see why this isn't in every gas station cooler. The stereotypical American who loves the taste of carbonated sugar-water (most sodas) won't enjoy this. It's not sweet enough in the sugar they're use to. But for those who actually brew their own hot green tea but need a readily cold one, will like this. I leave it with a strong B (good) and won't hesitate to grab one when dehydrated on a hot summer day.

Caribou Coffee Sumatra

2011-05-09T09:35:00.001-04:00

Sumatra is one of my favorite beans (Ethiopian is my top choice), but it's far easier to find and more common. So today's choice is Caribou Coffee's Sumatra. The Sumatra bean is known for being hearty is a not-so-dark way, and 'earthy'. This is not what people would think of a coffee cup who aren't so familiar with Sumatra. Let's see if Caribou lives up to these standards.

As soon as I put my nose up to my mug, I could tell earthy would be a fine adjective for this. To refine this aspect I think it has a hint of raw tobacco (nothing like a cigaret of course). The body and overall taste is round and dark in this way, but there's a surprising note that's greater in the aroma. A fruit. It's very hard to pinpoint because it only exists behind these more robust flavors, and I honestly can't tell what fruit it would be.

I will certainly enjoy the rest of this cup once I'm done with this episode of Luxurious Liquids, but I believe it deserves a B (good). There are other Sumatran beans I prefer over this one. I'd like you to know that Caribou Coffee isn't as expensive as local roasters or big name brands though.

Maine Mead Works HoneyMaker Lavender Mead

2011-05-04T18:02:00.001-04:00

Lavender and honey. Sounds like a relaxing and intuitive combination you'd find in an enchanted forest, doesn't it? You won't have to go that far for it though, because Maine Mead Works has a lavender flavored mead in their lineup. Is it worthy of accompanying you in your picnic-expedition to the tranquil forest grove though? Read on and find out.

Fair is a good word for this mead because it has a pleasantly light aroma and taste that's a bouquet. Lavender and the honey are apparent of course, but other things not in the title are appearing too. Light crisp fruits of different varieties (like pineapple) are everywhere but don't overpower the fragile sweetened lavender taste. The body to the mead isn't light though, it's actually well rounded.

Although it's not hard to drink at all, I'm leaving Maine Mead Work's Lavender Mead with a B (good) because you don't intuitively finish it. You enjoy a few sips but the sweet and floral notes add up at the back of your throat and you don't crave any more. Drink as a desert.

Peak Organic Pomegranate Wheat Ale with Acai

2011-04-29T17:31:00.000-04:00

You'd think pomegranate and acai berry would be put in a healthier product like tea!

*I pause for a moment to get your reaction*

If you agreed with that statement, then you need to be informed of the invisible health triangle that takes priority over the nutritional one. This one has to do with your mental health. Products like Peak Organic's Pomegranate Wheat Ale might not compliment your physical health even with acai berries and being organic, but what good is it to be physically healthy if mentally unhappy? Lets find out if such a brew would be a supplement for your triangle.

As the label would suggest, this is not your typical beer. It's not opaque like most other wheat ales, but you can make out a haze. The aroma given off could make some think it's a malt drink due to the sweetness, but it doesn't overpower the actual malt note. Once on your tongue more beer elements kick in. It has the crisp carbonation of a hefeweizen and a well rounded body for such a beer. Wheat was most noticeable on the back of the tongue and a little in your nose once swallowed. Of course pomegranate and acai was tasted as well, right on the center of the palate, but I was quite pleased to not be overwhelmed by it like many fruit beers and it worked with the wheat malts.

This beer is well off of the beaten path for my usual choices, but I'm not regretting a single drop to be put between my lips. Peak Organic's Pomegranate Wheat Ale with Acai is a B (good) to me and I'll be choosing it on warm nights with a salad for dinner. It supplements my conscious nutrition but perhaps a pomegranate tea would be better for me? Wait!... "Enjoy the drink, not the effect", even if it's a nutritional one.

Gaetano D'Aquino Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie '10

2011-04-24T20:41:00.001-04:00

Did you ever notice that Easter is the spring version of Thanksgiving? Instead of turkey it's either ham or a rotisserie chicken with my family, and this year Gaetano D'Aquino was a good choice for a house wine with our chicken banquet. I think it would do even better with seafood though. Here's why:

Gaetano D'Aquino holds true to the Italian standards of pinot grigio, being crisp and brisk. The nose is fresh in a way that's less fruity and more 'herbal' than many other whites, but minty isn't the right verb. It has a moderate body and a taste that doesn't tang until you swallow it. Just like the smell the palate is light and acidic in a not so citrus way. This makes it well balanced with a meal and easy to drink while still being sharp and fresh.

I'll be keeping this one in stock due to the price at Trader Joe's (it's imported by D'Aquino Italian Importing Co.) but I won't choose this one when I want to just have a glass of wine without a dinner. I'm leaving it with a C (decent) when on its own, but please consider it when you have a nice dinner planned.

Tree Spirits Maple Demi-Sec

2011-02-26T19:09:00.002-05:00

Real maple syrup is a luxurious liquid, but I wouldn't review raw maple syrup (or drink it). It only ever goes in my mouth with pancakes as a vehicle. Tree Spirits has created fine maple products for drinking though! Tonight I have a glass of their Maple Demi-Sec sparkling wine in front of me. I would think making a "semi-sweet" product of this type would be very hard, so let's see where it falls on the sweet-to-dry scale.

It pours like almost any champagne but you'll notice the difference between a grape wine and this one before it even touches your lips. You can smell the maple tree ingredient that isn't sweet like syrup, but it becomes more luscious on the tongue. The carbonation makes the body crisp, but it's actually well rounded in texture. The palate pounces on your tongue after swallowing with the maple accompanied by the semi-sweet. Clover honey is how I'd describe the level of sugar here; sweet but in a natural and compliant way. At the back of the throat you'll get an aftertaste of distinct maple, and it'll be on your tongue with a tingling.

I'm usually not a fan of sweet but, Tree Spirit's Maple Demi-Sec was not too sweet at all. It's a very different product and and I'm giving it an A (excellent) because you can taste maple, not just maple syrup in this drink. Tree Spirits makes a maple liquor as well as apple wines and spirits that're certainly worth trying as well.

Reed's Extra Ginger Brew

2011-02-22T20:04:00.006-05:00

Tonight's drink may be brewed, but it's not alcoholic as many of you probably know. Beer that's ginger won't give you a 'tingle' in the same way as others, but later I'll inform you of a fine way to make it. Let's find out if Reed's EXTRA ginger concoction is intense like maine root or just strong like Capitan Eli's first.

Reed's doesn't inform you of being extra ginger until it tingles your nose right before you sip. Once in your mouth things go up just a few notches. There's the standard fizz with all sodas but a different one from the ginger is there as well. It feels something like spicy but not in a hot way. This zest stays on your tongue for a long aftertaste as well. It's still easy to drink though.

If I don't alter Reed's Extra Ginger Brew it's a B (good) in my book. When I want just a ginger beer I usually go with maine root's opaque ginger brew instead because it's stronger and I like that. Reed's Extra Ginger Brew is what I choose when I want to make a dark 'n' stormy though. This is because it works with Gosling's Black Seal better by not trampling over the rum's added notes. To make a dark 'n' stormy just pour Reed's in a highball glass with ice, add a few shots of rum, and enjoy the added zest.

I am referring to the actual taste when I say zest by the way. "Enjoy the drink, not the effect."

Stockyard Oatmeal Stout

2011-02-17T20:08:00.004-05:00

Those that know me know that I have an obsession with drinks. I keep a range of drinks of every type and variety on hand. Beer has been the hardest to keep a wide selection of though! Usually the same beer is chosen for awhile due to weather and other conditions. With the current weather stouts and ports have been frequent. Tonight's Stockyard Oatmeal Stout can only be bought at Trader Joe's and it's been a common stout in my fridge due to it's value.

This is a strong barley stout, but not in the same way as Guinness Extra Stout. The barley used parallels semi-sweet baking chocolate fantastically. It has a creamy tan head with plenty of lacing that sticks to your upper lip like all good stouts. The barley tastes like coffee as well as chocolate, and they match in a way that I'd call this a mocha stout. Oats are hinted at through the aftertaste as well. The body of this beer is far from a traditional Irish stout though. It's not as heavy in a creamy way and there's a good amount of carbonation in the ale way.

If I were craving a stout fresh from the tap, this wouldn't do. I'd have to make a run to the store to buy an Irish stout with the widgets or even just go to the bar. It does deliver a strong barley palate though and because of this it's a common in my fridge and I've given it a score of B (good).

Casillero del Diablo Cabernet '09

2011-02-09T21:15:00.002-05:00

Casillero del Diablo has a fine marketing scheme with this bottle. A little devil's head on the bottle catches my eye and I'm sure many of others. I'm here to let you know if you should buy the bottle for reasons beyond the diabolic appearance though. First impressions are important, lets see if Casillero del Diablo's 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon can live up to it.

Deep dark red fruit like plums is what came to my nose first, and juicy is a fine adjective for that sense. A smoky-dry exists in the aura as well. On the palate the fruit is the core taste again with plums and fresh un-pitted dark cherries. Earthy coffee is the better way to describe how the smoky-dry came back. The tannins are strong but doesn't get in the way of the flavors.

It falls in line with other Chilean cabernets by being juicy and having a unique robust note, but I've had better. I'm giving it a B (good) and think it would be great with a hearty chili soup. If you're making a selection based around the wine itself though, I'd check out my last Chilean cabernet.

Teavana Earl Grey Creme

2011-02-02T22:49:00.003-05:00

Earl grey is familiar with almost anyone who drinks tea. It's a British classic black tea with bergamot oil (a lemon-orange looking fruit), but I always think of the lavender first. Teavana has three earl grey teas, a white one, a regular black one, and tonight's one: Earl Grey Creme (French for cream). Now how could there be cream in amongst the leaves? Let's find out.

Putting my nose over the cup I can easily smell the bergamot. Once sipped in my mouth bergamot happens again but I'm a little surprised. Teavana calls this a creme earl grey because the body of this seems a little heavier somehow! Vanilla is a part of this creme element in a taste but it's not as noticeable as the bergamot. The black tea leaves exist in taste as well, but they're not as strong as breakfast teas.

Teavana has a very different earl grey here, but not just because they added creme. This earl grey is missing lavender! Vanilla is nice here but can't make up for the lack of a floral note in my opinion. I'm giving Teavana's Earl Grey Creme a C (decent) because of these things. If you were never a huge fan of lavender and want something a little more crisp but smooth, give this one a try.

Jim Beam White

2011-01-30T19:00:00.002-05:00

Jim Beam is one of the first names that comes to many minds when the word bourbon is stated. Almost every bar has it on hand, even my own personal one due to its price compared to others. I haven't had it straight in a long time though, because it's alway in a cocktail (like the Perfect Manhattan I listed in my Unappreciated Cocktails post). Let's see how it compares on its own.

The first thing I'd like to say is that there is a burn, but it's nothing compared to other liquors of this price. The nose is simple and the roughest part but lets you know that it's aged in oak. On the tongue oak happens again with a vanilla parallel and caramel in a way that isn't very sweet. Even before you swallow your sip the alcohol is apparent, but in an almost citrus crisp sort of way. At the back of your throat Jim Beam's White burns again of course.

The burn may be better in comparison to other liquors below $20, but you get what you pay for. I'm leaving the White label with a C (decent) mostly because of this but also because it's very simple and doesn't have different levels of taste. It will still be a staple of my bar for mixing cocktails though.

Jim's Organic Coffee Blend X aka Witches Brew

2011-01-25T11:24:00.001-05:00

X is usually the end. Sometimes it's the destination on a pirate's treasure map, it tells you where to sign at the end of a confusing document, and it's what animators put on the eyes of dead characters. People usually think of coffee as a beginning to the day though. Jim's Organic Coffee calls today's roast the "X" blend and gives it a short definition of the witches brew. Sounds good to me actually! But let's see if it's how you'd like to START your day.

There's a bit going on here. It is dark of course, but nothing like Darth Vader because I've had other coffees that are closer to the dark side. Ethiopian beans must be here because it has their signature acidity. It's not heartburn inducing though, so please read on. The roundly robust body to my mug along with 'earthy' notes tells me Sumatra exists as well. Those two are quite the yin-yang in my opinion. Something else exists here giving Blend X some spirited gusto too. (Another way to describe that is spicy in a complicated coffee sort of way).

Jim has a very different product happening here. It's not as dark as the packaging tries to sell it as, so if you're a slith lord satisfied with french and italian roasts, look else ware. I have a theory that some of the notes work against it tasting as dark as it really is. I'm leaving it with a B (good).

Young's Double Chocolate Stout

2011-01-22T18:00:00.060-05:00

Stout beers and chocolates have a major thing in common, they're both luxurious. Not physically necessary though. *The other part of my mind coughs it's throat* (On some days needed for your mental health though). I must agree with this. Today had a huge snowstorm in my area and after a long day of cleaning inside and out I'm not going to regret the pint in front of me one bit. But I'm here tonight to let you know if you'd regret making such a purchase.

Young's Double Chocolate Stout follows the standard appearance of stouts; black opaque body with a heavy creamy head that retains. This stout doesn't just follow the lines with your other senses though. It doesn't smell of barley much but it shows much chocolate. This exists on the tongue as well of course in a smooth velvety way that's quite velvety. This isn't too bitter as well with the barley that isn't heavily roasted like many other stouts and the chocolate is created with malts. I think semi-sweet baking chocolate is the type of chocolate used here. The body isn't as creamy as the traditional Guinness Extra Stout or Murphy's I've had before either and there's a little bit of carbonation here too. You're left with a smooth and not-to-dry finish when swallowed.

Young's Double Chocolate Stout isn't your traditional stout, but this isn't a bad thing. It's rather unique even when you compare it to other chocolate stouts with this untypical approach and it leads me to rate it with a B (good). If the title of this beer attracts you at all with the tastes listed, you will not regret it. Now I'm going to enjoy the rest of my pint with a fine book, feel free to pick one up a join me.

Lambrusco Dell'Emilia Bianco Le Grotte

2011-01-17T18:00:00.001-05:00

Most instantly think of champagne when european sparkling wine comes up. Tonight I have an Italian one, Lambrusco Dell'Emilia's Bianco. This one caught my eye because it has such a pretty label. I'm sure some will look down on me for such, being something of a drink connoisseur. Lets see if you should get this bottle for reasons beside the pretty label.

This isn't as fizzy as most champagnes, it's just sparkling. There's not much of a nose to it but if it wasn't in a flute with a few bubbles around the glass, I could've mistaken this for white grape juice. Once in my mouth it kept this theme because juicy and fruity are certainly good adjectives for this. It wasn't cranberry but strawberry, kiwi, apricot and, a crisp like green apple. A bit to sweet for me but it's not an el cheapo bottle of something that claims to be a wine but is just spiked juice.

I feel it's important to mention again that this is sweet, and due to my personal preferences Lambrusco Dell'Emilia Bianco Le Grotte is a C (decent) in my book. If you know you like the sweeter spectrum of wines don't be afraid to choose this though. It has enough going on for someone to enjoy the drink instead of the effect.

Unappreciated Cocktails

2011-01-12T20:10:00.043-05:00

With all the reviews I do it's impossible to drink it all, so my closet has become a cafe, teahouse, wine cellar and a bar! With all the resources to make cocktails here it's rather fun to make a drink of my own and with these experiences and explorations I'd like to share with you what I've found with the bar in my closet. So tonight's about the cocktails you probably haven't and probably should try!

The Princeton - Just put all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a martini glass. Surprisingly easy to drink so be careful.
-1½ oz gin
-½ oz dry vermouth
-½ oz lime juice
-½ oz simple syrup (sugar water)

Perfect Manhattan - Normally when you order this at a bar they only use sweet vermouth but this version makes a huge difference. Serve just like the princeton, shake and strain.
-2½ oz

-½ oz dry vermouth
-½ oz sweet vermouth
-2 dashes angostura bitters

Paddy Wagon - Just shake a strain in a martini glass again. Irish whiskey is rarely thought of as a cocktail ingredient, but it's a good one.
-2½ oz Irish whiskey
-¾ oz sweet vermouth
-2 dashes angostura bitters

Madras - Here's the first you don't use a shaker or stemware. Put the grenadine, cranberry juice and vodka into the bottom of a highball glass, then try to layer with the orange juice on top. It'll look like a sunset.
-2 oz vodka
-3 oz orange juice
-2 oz cranberry juice
-¾ oz grenadine

Godchild - This one isn't a favorite of mine but I've yet to make this for a girl who doesn't like it. Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a champagne flute.
-1 oz vodka
-1 oz amaretto
-1 oz cream (not any sort of milk)
-a touch of grenadine to make it pink and compliment the sweetness of amaretto.

Please remember, "enjoy the drink, not the effect."

Golden Star Tea White Jasmine

2011-01-08T19:53:00.001-05:00

Perhaps it's a little late to review an alternative to champagne after new year's eve, but tonight I'm enjoying a sparking white tea in a champagne flute. I must say if I didn't read the label or have a sip, I would've assumed this was a champagne though. This makes it a fine choice for prom night, the drink for underage people at weddings, or next new years for those who want to remember the night. What ever the event, here's how Golden Star Tea Co.'s sparkling white jasmine tea compliments it.

The sparkling tea actually has elements of some sweeter champagnes in addition to looking like one. The fizz isn't as much as the wine but more of a crisp. There's sweet happening here as well but does nothing to overpower floral notes that are strongest when smelt. The rounded body of white tea exists here as well and I found it interesting with the carbonation. The actual taste of tea leaf is happening as well underneath the jasmine and cane sugar.

If I had to use one adjective to describe Golden Star's White Jasmine, it would be pleasant. I do find the sugar a touch too much for me but it will make others enjoy it more. A solid B (good) defines this drink on my scale. It's a good one to keep on hand for a pleasant situation.

Trader Joe's Bay Blend

2011-01-03T11:05:00.044-05:00

Unlike their beers or wine, Trader Joe's puts their label on the front of their coffee products. It all comes in whole beans but if you'd like to take it home ground, you can use the grinder in the aisle to change that. The lower part of the tin says this is an "ultra dark roast" that is "rich & full flavor". Lets see if they're right.

This is dark, but no robust. It has a heavier body as well like many dark roasts. The adjectives I'd use here are plain and simple though. It has a slightly smoky taste due to the ultra dark roasting but it lacks any acidity. This could be a good thing for some but you may find that you miss it like me. It leaves you with little aftertaste in comparison to other coffees as well.

If you're drinking coffee for the caffeine this could be a good choice due to the lack of acidity because that aspect may be easier on your stomach. I feel for those who drink the drink to enjoy the drink it will be a C (decent). No levels of flavor, just the dark.

Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale

2010-12-27T16:05:00.007-05:00

It's easy to let the dimmer and shorter days get to you, but it can also be an excuse to spend more time relaxing. The antique characteristic of Samuel Smith's label makes me think this would be appropriate to enjoy in front of the warm fireplace with a book. For the younger, I feel it would be just a appropriate in a classic British Isles pub. However, this being the first time I've had this I feel obliged to share my thoughts so those of you reading can determine if this would be a good choice for you

Even before tasting this I knew this would be a good choice because the sensations it gave. The visual ones showed a head that could compete with a classic Irish stout, and the color of it matched the body's. Nutty brown with a touch of red. Before the beer touched my lips I could smell the malts that somehow were walnuts! Past the lips it also showed wooded and roasted notes through the malts. The body was medium weight but on the back of the tongue you got a hint of sweet and a nice crisp. I didn't get these last notes as much because it was hard to swallow, I loved it in my mouth.

It only took me a a minute at the end of my pint to add the plus with the A. It's an A (excellent) and I recommend it to anyone who can enjoy a beer that's heavier than a generic lite beer.

Red Rose Original & a gift to my readers

2010-12-24T12:00:00.003-05:00

Red Rose's Original tea isn't anything special, no offense to Red Rose. I'd give it a C (decent) being a simple pekoe tea with a touch, just a touch, of orange/citrus. Considering other teas of this price range they don't compare because it's not just flavored water. It has a heavier body than Lipton. But why I'm posting this product today is because it's the tea you have to use to make this phenomenal ice tea. Here's the recipe for a 2 quart pitcher, step by step.

What you'll need:

- 10 bags of Red Rose Original tea with the tags cut off

- 1+1/2 cups of sugar

- 1 jumbo lemon cut in half

- Lots of ice

1. Fill the 2 quart pitcher half way with ice and leave in the freezer.

2. Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. About 1.5 quarts if you care to measure it.

3. Once boiling put the teabags of Red Rose Original in the pot and steep for 5 minutes.

4. While steeping add the sugar to the water and stir until dissipated. If you prefer sweeter, add another 1/2 cup.

5. Add the juice of the jumbo lemon to the pitcher and leave half of the lemon in the pitcher.

6. After the tea is steeped take the bags out, squeezing each one dry, and pour the water over the ice in the pitcher.

7. Top the pitcher off with ice if it's not full and put in the fridge until completely cold.

If done right, the pitcher should be opaque. Many mistake it to be sun tea but getting it cold as soon as possible by pouring over ice is the key to this. Someone has yet to not like it. It's a family recipe form my Nana, who rests in heaven. She was a wonderful woman and she wouldn't mind others having this. It's the wrong season for iced tea, but not for a gift. This recipe is my gift to my readers.

In memory of my Nana and Merry Christmas!

La Finca Cabernet Sauvignon '10

2010-12-19T20:34:00.006-05:00

I feel that there's been a gap in what drinks I've covered recently for the current cold weather. There's a winter lager, chai tea, Irish cream, and even a hot chocolate! So what's missing? A red wine. Tonight I have a product from Trader Joe's, who's quite well known around here for their 'two-buck chuck'. La Finca is a label of Trader Joe's that's only a bit more than two dollars.

The first whiff told me that I got what I'd paid for, because alcohol is the prime scent. I still live by the saying "enjoy the drink, not the effect" though. So beyond the obvious asset, the grape part of the palate is quite 'viney', the body is light, and the aftertaste has an acidic twang. Sifting through all of this did convey hints of dark cherries.

Cheap is the prime adjective to use here, but let's be careful as to which definition is being applied. It was not a good deal. La Finca's canbernet is your stereotypical cheap red wine so I'm leaving it with a F (Avoid). Fear not those of you that have recently come home with a box of the 'two-buck chuck' though. I've already had that and know that it's cheaper in cost but not in taste.

Carolans Irish Cream

2010-12-15T17:57:00.005-05:00

The genre of liquor for the holidays is Irish cream, and when most hear that they think of Baileys. Another Irish cream, Carolans is here tonight for review though. It's cheaper, but does that mean it's not as good? Lets find out if you should consider it instead of Baileys.

The only hint that this is alcoholic is lightly in the nose of the glass. An easy sweet is there along with it though. Once on your tongue there is much more going on. Caramel and vanilla is what I got first from this. Honey is another strong point to this but it's rather difficult to note as different from the caramel. As for the whiskey in this, it's rather faint. One last note is that this has a lighter texture than Baileys or St Brendan's (that I reviewed before).

Not that Baileys is bad, but I actually prefer Carolans because it's lighter, balanced in taste and has more 'natural' sensations than Baileys mint, coffee or even original. I give it a B (good) and keep it stocked as my cream of choice for the holidays and beyond.

Golden Moon Tea Kashmiri Chai

2010-12-12T21:39:00.003-05:00

Kashmiri chai is green tea chai, but Golden Moon's kashmiri chai is actually a blend of both green and black tea (with all those spices as well of course). This product has been a standard in my cupboard for awhile, so I feel it's time to share my thoughts due to the cold front over me and others.

I've prepared the cup in front of me with a touch of honey and cream as recommended by Golden Moon. That's how chai is suppose to be. Something else I'd like to note is you have to steep it for awhile, otherwise it's not strong enough in my opinion.

Once done right, the theme of this is 'spicy' cinnamon. Unlike the chai you get at most cafes or bagged teas, there's more going on than cinnamon as well. Cardamom 'seeds' are a big part here as well. Cardamom is a hard taste to describe, but the best way I can put it into words is an extreamly mellow ginger with floral notes. Cloves exists in this as well, but don't make it all that sweet on it's own. Even without cream or honey this has a rather round body.

Sitting in front of a fireplace with such a drink, has been an extremely enjoyable post to write. I'm giving Golden Moon Tea Kashmiri Chai a B (good), and I'm sure it could make one of your evenings an A (outstanding).

JosephsBrau Winterfest

2010-12-09T20:46:00.002-05:00

Before I begin, I'd like to note that JosephsBrau is just a cover for Trader Joe's. That's not to say this could be a bad beer, I think Trader Joe's does a good job with many of their beers for a great value. I paid a mere $6 for a six pack, and for something outside of cans, that's great these days. So lets see how this dark lager (pretty rare these days) does.

This starts with a good sized head as pictured above, but this does not stay that way. Putting my nose in the glass showed a sweet maltyness and a hint of alcohol! Looking back at the bottle I see that this is due to 7.5% abv, which is a better deal for some. This alcohol taste doesn't have any notice with the finish though. The body of this is right in the middle of my other beer experiences, and it has malts for a taste like the head. I was surprised by the lack of carbonation despite being a lager.

For such a high alcohol percentage this one is easy to drink. I'm not a huge fan of it though. It's just kind of odd in my opinion and the malts aren't as good as ones in others, so I'll be leaving it with a C (decent).

Twenty 2 Vodka

2010-12-03T19:55:00.002-05:00

Vodka can be a hard thing to describe. Some people just want a cheap thing to make a drink of their choice alcoholic. Of course not necessarily a cocktail though. A few actually like notes of flavors added. I'm part of the group that wants a liquor that can make a fine drink with a few other pieces added. Twenty 2 Vodka is made by The Northern Maine Distilling Company in Houlton, ME. Let's see what category this vodka falls in.

Ethanol is apparent in the nose, but not in a biting way. This is certainly a hint of a good vodka that has no similarity to watered down alcohol in a plastic bottle. The palate is quite unique. I feel that it is a touch heavier than water in your mouth, but in perhaps a way of ethereal taste? I'm asking myself if there is drop of honey put in this bottle. Something I do know is the grainy ethanol is existing lightly on the back of the tongue. After sipping my glass I finished it by shotting the rest, and it was the first time I had any major burn.

Experimenting with cocktails such as the godmother and kamakazi, I could taste the difference in quality. I'm not hesitating to score this with an A (excellent) because it's a blank sheet to work with cocktails and is the first clear liquor besides gin that I've enjoyed straight. I'll be keeping this one in stock.

Trader Joe's Peppermint Hot Chocolate

2010-11-30T18:59:00.006-05:00

Well, with Thanksgiving behind us, the beginning of the holiday season is here. To start that warm fuzzy feeling you get inside of you, I've got a cup of hot chocolate. I should also note that this is also my first Trader Joe's product review. I'll be adding some of their house brand's lineup of drinks because they just opened a new store in Portland, ME, and they've gotten quite a bit of attention. So before you try to make it through their extensive lines to the cashier, I'll let you know if it's worth it.

You don't have to get your nose very close to notice the peppermint. This peppermint is also peppermint. The light foam on the surface doesn't last long, but the little bits of chocolate in the mix don't melt completely. On the tongue the chocolate take the front seat from the peppermint, but it's certainly still there. As for the body of the drink, that's up to you, and who doesn't want it thick and creamy? So I'd recommend using the milk instead of boiling water, and don't be scarce with the powder.

For a powder based hot chocolate, this will be my choice for the cupboard. Not a bad start for Trader Joe's. B (good)

P.S. What everyone's talking about around town is the "two-buck-chuck" wines. I'll get to that soon.

Maine Mead Works HoneyMaker Apple Cyser

2010-11-27T18:42:00.004-05:00

Portland, ME is well known for it's breweries with beers getting national attention. Maine Mead Works is expanding Portland's drink spectrum. With a brand new location on the east end, being available at many more places, and more flavors since their start in 2007, there has to be a reason behind their success. Tonight I have a glass of their newest mead, Apple Cyser.

The fact that this has apple in the title and is a mead it should be quite obvious that honey and apple are the prime factors. They are but they work together so well. The body of this mead is lighter than others and not 'sticky' sweet so the crisp and light tang of apple compliment it great. When chilled the apple is more apparent and the honey comes out more when warmer. In either temperature you get a tart finish from the apple, but still the sweet in your mouth.

Quite the balance. I'm not hesitating to give this an A (excellent) and it won't be uncommon for me to keep a bottle of this in my stash. Maine Mead Works has many other choices as well and a quick visit to taste what they have will let you know which one would be your best investment. Portland is more than a beer town now.

McSorley's Irish Pale Ale

2010-10-14T16:25:00.004-04:00

An Irish pale ale? When I think of a pale ale's origin I think British, and Irish are obviously known for stouts. McSorley's is actually an old pub in New York City that was established in 1854, so it's not as Irish in origin as some others beers. This isn't a history lesson though, I'll tell you how it tastes.

Once poured the hue didn't look like a pale ale. It looks copper like a red ale, which is more traditional to the Irish! It has hops and malt in the aura characterized in a sweet way. On the palate hops takes a back seat to a 'creamy' malt, but this is not heavy in body. The body is actually crisp in a citrus way. Once swallowed the taste dwindles and you get it dry in a pale ale way.

I'd say this is a cross between a red and pale ale. There is a variety of things going on but I don't think they're working together well. I have to give it a C (decent), but on a positive note it's fairly easy to drink despite being dry at the end.

Bard Coffee Honduras Marcala Dark

2010-10-07T10:42:00.007-04:00

You know you're in an ok cafe when the barista knows the difference between a latte and a cappuccino. At Bard Coffee on Middle St in the Old Port of Portland, ME, every employee can tell you the difference between the different beans in ways beyond which one is darker. It's a great cafe. Today I have a cup of one of their single origin coffees, the Honduras Marcala Dark.

When most think of 'dark' they think of a french roast, this is different from that. Tackling the difference in adjectives between the two has been quite hard. The marcala dark is smoky in a clean way unlike french roasts, another way I'd put it is almost woody. The single origin of the beans also come through with notes of caramel on the back of the tongue. It's also only medium bodied with little acidity which works with the palate very well.

If you fee like exploring your darker side of coffee smoothly this is a fine choice and it's a B (good) in my book. Bard Coffee isn't just a place of a fine form of caffination though, it's also place of community. Those that want to get to know the fine city of Portland should check it out.

Smirnoff Root Beer 100

2010-10-05T21:26:00.004-04:00

The recent trend with vodkas has been as many new and unique flavors as possible. Everyone knows Smirnoff. It seems to be a staple for those who want to just put something in soda or an energy drink. Tonight I have it in it's purest form, in a glass without rocks to sip on.

There's no clue to the flavor smelling it, but once in your mouth it's quite blunt. Wow this is sweet. I suppose this is true to the flavor because root beer is the most sugared soda around. The flavor only exists on your tongue though because there is no aftertaste, just a burn. Quite simple.

Looking back on this selection it was an odd one because it doesn't relate to the title luxurious. I'm leaving it with a F (avoid) and think there are far better options unless you're going to spike an A&W root beer.

Homegrown Herb & Tea Sniffle T

2010-10-03T21:00:00.002-04:00

Many of you should take note of todays tea because, as the title would suggest, it's a great choice for fighting a cold. It's also the first tea I'm reviewing from Homegrown Herb & Tea, a small place ran by a dedicated and knowledgeable Sarah in Portland, Maine. If you're in the area I'd suggest you stop by her storefront to experience it's homely and organic aura with your tea. I'm here to tell you of the tea's taste though.

There's a lot going on in this cup. A strong floral element is one of the prime tastes, probably clover and chamomile. Earthy in a slightly chai way is stronger though. Anise must be a the part that creates the chai effect. It leaves you with a ginger-like kick at the end which a sick person would enjoy immensely, (I don't believe there is any ginger in this though).

Most cold combatant teas I've had are just mint leaf or ginger with honey. Homegrown has outperformed those in sinus cleansing. It's a solid B (good) in taste though. This is the one I'll be keeping on hand this winter.

Warre's King's Tawny Porto

2010-09-27T19:40:00.003-04:00

In my mind when I hear port desert wine I think of extremely rare and expensive. King's Tawny is on the base of Warre's lineup though, and you'll see that you don't have to have deep pockets to sit in front of the fire with a glass of port just enjoying the moment. Warre's King's Tawny runs around only $13 a bottle.

For those that are use to other ports the first thing you'll notice is the lighter rusty red color, instead of the nearly opaque red of ruby ports. Matching the color the nose smells like raisins but you can sense much more is going on and is easier to clarify on the tongue. Woodsy-pepper, orange, black tea and plums all happen almost at once but the fruit notes lead into the wood and tea. It leaves you with a long aftertaste of the plums and oranges.

For those who know port wines well, get something else because King's Tawny isn't nearly as robust as others. As for the rest of you, what a port to try first! For the cost there's many levels happening and it's very easy to drink. I give it an A (excellent).

Long Trail Double Bag

2010-09-23T22:58:00.005-04:00

It's been awhile since I've visited Long Trail but tonight I have a brew they seem to be very proud of, their dark ale Double Bag. I say they're extra proud of this beer because they state "you'd never believe it has an alcohol content of 7.2%!!!" on the neck before you even get to the bottle's label. I'm not drinking this to enjoy the alcohol content though.

When you glass up the beer it acts exactly like an ale with a foamy head that laces around the cup but once in your mouth the parallels to a pale ale end. The palate is very malty in a chocolate way and the body is surprisingly crisp and heavy. The nose doesn't show this as strong as the tongue with lighter notes of a homely earthiness (something like oak, toast and chocolate). Unlike the statement made on the neck I don't find it 'smooth', you can tell it's a little higher on alcohol. This isn't enough to make this uneasy to drink.

A quote I made that I share frequently is "enjoy the drink, not the effect." If I were to ever buy a Red Bull I'd break this rule. Long Trail's Double Bag may give you an enjoyable effect sooner than other beers but you can still enjoy this beer beyond an alcoholic buzz. I think it's an A (excellent).

IZZE esque Sparkling Mandarin

2010-09-22T15:36:00.012-04:00

It's the first day of fall but I'm posting something quite summer? Well where I am it's 80 degrees and a hot cup of coffee isn't the drink of choice, so I have IZZE's Sparkling Mandarin. Health nuts will be gravitated to this because it's not just all natural but low calorie as well. IZZE accomplishes this by adding juice to sparkling water and not using any preservatives. A different kind of seltzer?

It's sweeter than seltzer. The mandarin orange is the sole taste and the sweet, but still not hearty. Looking at the bottle you find that only 25% is juice and the rest is sparkling water. This is how IZZE does the low calorie approach.

There's nothing unenjoyable about it but due to its simplicity I must give it a B (good). I am enjoying this on such a hot day late in the season, but the IZZE esque Sparkling Mandarin is something to enjoy with a salad and not contemplated on its own.

Teavana MatéVana

2010-09-15T10:33:00.000-04:00

Teavana must be very proud of this one, they named it after themselves! And a little inspection before steeping showed little pieces of chocolate and nuts of a sort that tasted very good without any steeping. (On a side note, mmmm...) On Teavana's website their sales pitch seems to be health, like a parallel to a nicotine patch for coffee to get you off that addiction (coffee is not a bad addiction though). Let me tell you how this products cup will treat you with your mental health though.

All the elements of this tea are quite merged so it's hard to determine what makes it up. The roasted maté will satisfy all those use to coffee but it has the green grassy note of unroasted maté as well through the smell. I don't have any sweet-tooth with tea but the chocolate didn't turn me away at all. The nuts work perfectly with the roasted maté making it a little more hearty for the coffee drinkers. Lastly there is a herb underneath it all that I can't put my finger on.

It's only fair to note that I can already feel MatéVana starting my day well with "energy without jitteriness". This is a fine roasted maté that I feel is a B (good) and I recommend it to all that want a healthy start. I'd also get it at the mall when all of your friends are in line for coffee but you don't feel like coffee.

Peak Organic IPA

2010-09-11T19:40:00.001-04:00

Where I'm at going green and all organic is quite popular, so it's no surprise that there's an organic brewery here in Portland, Maine. I certainly don't limit my choices of liquids to organic but I do feel a little good about drinking a 'healthy' beer. But I'm not here to speak of a products health benefits but how it tastes.

With the bottle claiming the alcohol content is 7.1% I suspected this would be an intense IPA like others with higher percent. After pouring I was impressed to taste that it wasn't just that. It does have a strong taste of hops but it wasn't as tangy as other IPAs of this sort. The selection of hops brings out much more of the floral notes than just the citrus. The nose is like that, you won't sneeze taking a big whiff over the glass. Sweet malt is another taste behind the floral and citrus, but more interesting is a buttery affair that I don't think can be described as tasted but just felt. This buttery feeling is in the smell as well.

Not your typical American-style IPA, and I like this new approach. I'm leaving it with an A (excellent) and recommend Peak Organic's unique IPA to any beer drinker who enjoys hops.

Seagram's Seven Crown

2010-09-07T23:02:00.004-04:00

Today I have something that should be in everyone's budget, Seagram's Seven Crown. Easy to find and cheap like other liquors that have a plastic 1.75l bottle. One shouldn't judge a drink by its bottle though. Before I begin I'd like to note that not many buy this to drink straight but to mix, I'm drinking it straight to single out the notes it can add to a cocktail.

Even a small whiff of this will let you know it's alcoholic. Beneath the sting of alcohol is a sweet apricot scent along with wood. This is nice but impossible to enjoy with that burn. Once in your mouth notes of "good whiskey" are there but once again overtaken by alcohol. To make it fair I took my glass and turned this into a rickety with club soda and a little lemon. The sweet apricot was most noticeable but the wooden whiskey was only a hint. There was still a touch of burn.

I knew this wouldn't get a grade as high as many of the other liquors I've reviewed, but I must say this is a F (avoid). Seven Crown's attributes after you got past the burn still didn't make it a good deal. Spend a few extra bucks and get something better.

Gekkeikan Sake

2010-09-05T21:00:00.004-04:00

The first sake on my blog will be Gekkeikan, a sake not made in Japan as one would think but right here in the USA. This will also be my first time drinking sake as I write this so I'd like to note that I don't have any other sake to compare it to. I try to grade all drinks as how much I enjoy them though, not how they taste to others of the same type. I review all types of drinks here.

I have three glasses in front of me; chilled, warm and room temperature because that's the three ways sake is served. Putting my nose over each revealed a lot about the different ways of serving. The warmer the sake the greater the tingle on my nose from alcohol, but also the more character. Mellow floral melon would be my description of it. The taste was almost parallel but also included a slight graininess that was more apparent when cool. I can see why sake is sold along with wine because it's body is almost exactly like chardonnay, rounded but not too heavy.

Gekkeikan's sake isn't anything exotic in my mind, just a delicately sweet wine-like drink with a heavy body for such a taste. I'm leaving it with a B (good) and think it would go very well with sushi, but not just because they're both Japanese. I'd also like to add that family and friends have warned me that sake's alcohol content can quickly catch up with you.

Root: 1 Cabernet Sauvignon '08

2010-09-02T22:53:00.007-04:00

It wouldn't surprise me if many of you have noticed Root: 1 on the shelf before because it's a rather charming bottle. With the tree and its roots digging between words describing the wine stamped directly on the bottle with no paper label, it's hard to miss. As you'll find out this wouldn't be a bad one to take home based solely on the bottle as long as you like a robust cabernet, let me tell you why:

After decanting the aura given off by this showed a 'spicy' blackberry along with cherry. Once on the palate things got much more complicated though. The fruit notes turned into plum, raspberry and darker cherry but what I found most unique was dark chocolate. Coco didn't overpower the dark fruits though, it's just very well placed so you can't miss it. The body was quite smooth too and a hint of vanilla feels tied to this. In aftertaste the chocolate seemed to linger on the back of my tongue. I found this to be very well balanced.

Root: 1's cabernet sauvignon is a A (excellent) in my book and I should have reviewed this a long time ago because it's a favorite of mine. I'm sure it'll be a favorite of many once people try it and realized the price tag on it (I find it around $10 a bottle).

A Drink Connoisseur's Equipment

2010-08-30T21:08:00.012-04:00

I feel obliged to say sorry for a lack of posts recently but due to vacation and enjoying summer while it's here, my attention was away from my laptop. But I'll begin my momentum with a post about how I drink my drinks. I think my particular approach to each variety of drink and that variety's type of drink being exclusive to all other types is only fair to everyone reading and the label selling the beverage. Experiencing drinks these ways brings out all of the notes. There are reasons for so many different shaped glasses. Lets start with one that's easiest to understand in my mind: Tea.

Almost all of the tea I review (and drink on my own time) is loose, so you have to find an alternative to a tea bag of course. After trying out many different ways like tea bags you fill yourself, tea balls, and other infusers I settled on this one. I found Bodum's Yo-Yo to be best because it lets the tea float more freely and you can pour the hot watter over the leaves so it does a better job at letting the tea do its work. As for each different type of tea I typically follow what the label says. Usually it's black and herbal teas are with boiling water, green and oolong is at 180°, and white is closer to 170°. Typically the suguested time is about 3-5 minutes and not left in afterwards (but I personally prefer to leave rooibos and hibiscus in longer), white is 5 or more minutes though. One thing that seems to go against common sense is to boil water freshly filtered and from the tap, not any bottled watter. This is because tap water has more oxygen in it and will pick up the taste better.

Liquors are very versatile on your palate ranging anywhere from black licorice (absinthe) to plain smoke (bourbon), so almost each one is approached differently. Clear liquors are compared on the rocks or straight and in a typical cocktail (ex: gin in a martini) because that's how they're frequently enjoyed as a drink. (If you're just taking shots, you're not enjoying the taste). Single malt whiskeys are analyzed in the Glencairn glass (pictured above) with a touch of purified water that brings out a lot of taste. Otherwise it's usually on the rocks or straight.

Beer and wine have too many different types of glasses to picture and explain in one post, but I'll go over some of the more unique ones. Pilsner glasses are ideal for lagers because it helps to bring out the head and keep it around longer through being slender. Champagne flutes help keep sparkling wine carbonated through less surface area so it stays fizzy longer. The other end of the stemware and beer glass spectrum with it's tulip shapes are saved for the robust drinks like cabernet wine and Belgian ales because with the middle of the bowl being wider than the mouth makes the smell more concentrated. This way it's easier to single out and identify what makes it up. As for temperature, beer is just from the fridge and most white wines are slightly chilled (not as cold as beer).

Now last, but certainly not least, is how to prepare coffee. I think buying a fine bean, griding it when you get home and making it in a coffee maker two days latter is an insult to it. A freshly ground bean in a French press makes a nice strong cup with that foam you don't get through any other method. Somehow this makes my coffee experiences three-dimensional and I can pick up more notes from my cup. The only thing I'll say about sugar and cream is that some people should be looking up reviews on different brands of sugar and creamers because they're just adding a touch of coffee with their sugar and cream! (P.S. I only put a tiny drop of half & half in my coffee)

Zhena's Gypsy Tea Fire Light Chai

2010-08-13T23:46:00.006-04:00

Zhena's Gypsy Tea has a rooibos chai this time. And this makes perfect sense to me, rooibos is caffeine free and chai has two settings in my opinion, on a cold winter day or a at the end of a long one to relax. Now regular tea chai has a little caffeine due to the tea leaves, so this might be a better choice! But my job is to tell you how it tastes, not the health benefits and how it fits in your day.

I expected to detect cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger as soon as I opened the tin but once steeped the rooibos set this apart from other chai. Not in the smell but the flavor, the nuttiness of rooibos played a great part with the other spices. The cinnamon wasn't overpowering like other chai and overall this had a great composure. As I had guessed, Zhena's website said there was some orange peel in this too. It's hard to sense because it works with the sweet, but I believe it still makes a difference.

This one will be in my cup while I read a book or listen to George Winston's relaxing soundtracks. I give it a B (good) because I'm not typically a fan of chai because they're usually too sweet for me, but this one is quite balanced.

TAZO Orange Blossom

2010-08-13T23:03:00.005-04:00

Some of you may have noticed tins of TAZO tea while waiting in line at Starbucks. This is due to the growing popularity of loose leaf tea, and Starbucks it hopping on the bandwagon. Today I have a cup of their Orange Blossom green tea in front of me to review and it smells like a good way to end the day.

As I said the fragrance is very nice but not orange, jasmine. Orange is there too but blends with the sweetness of the jasmine. Once on your tongue you can tell it's a green tea, I think it's a jasmine pearl like this one. Looking at the leaves themselves they're not pearls though. The lighter fruit taste isn't just oranges (tangerines) though. I believe other fruits are there as well with many herbal supplements.

TAZO has plenty of fine teas, but I think this one scores better as a frankincense than tea. The aura put off by this is fantastic but the taste of the tea doesn't follow up with it. TAZO's Orange Blossom gets a C (decent).

Yellow Tail Tree-Free Chardonnay

2010-08-07T22:57:00.005-04:00

Tree-free? Is Yellow Tail going green and helping to save the world!?! Well, not that Yellow Tail is a bad company but tree-free means not aged in oak like almost all chardonnays it seems. This could be a good turn, the fuller body of chardonnay with fruitier notes but not as dry as some lighter grapes. Lets find out.

Upon pouring this chilled, my senses would've told me this was pinot grigio if I didn't know otherwise. Very crisp and dry smelling in a 'sneezing' way. The palate showed melon notes in addition to the crisp, but I didn't find it very enjoyable on its own. After pouring another glass once room temperature I found it a little better. The melon could be detected in the scent and was stronger on the tongue. It has a very dry aftertaste chilled and at room temperature.

I'm leaving this with a C (decent) because I think aging in oak might be the way for chardonnay. Although fruitier it was rather simple wine and the citrus with melon didn't work well together.

Caribou Coffee Essential Organic Blend

2010-07-30T10:04:00.002-04:00

Ever notice how loyal coffee drinkers are rather polar in there tastes? You have the 'dark side' with those that select only french or italian roast, and the 'light side' who chose flavored hazelnut, french vanilla or just a lighter colombian bean. I'd have to say I'm a little on the darker preference. I think Caribou Coffee has something that could be the first step for the dark side to see a little light, (or the light getting a little darker).

As stated on the label above I can tell this coffee is lively and intense just from the smell. With a little attention you can pick up the lemongrass notes as well. My first sip didn't back off form the full taste. A balanced body has a crisp palate with the medium roast, but not acidic in the way other coffees are. Fruit notes are slightly apparent, but I wouldn't call them peaches. They're just a darker fruit that perhaps may be plums. You're left with that medium roast coffee on your tongue and that crisp on the roof of your mouth.

As stated before, something in the middle of light and dark. The slight flavors that compliment the coffee aren't the best in my opinion, but I'm sure others would like it more. This must be the dark side of me speaking. I'm leaving the Essential Organic Blend with a B (good) for my opinion, but I wouldn't let that stop you from trying it.

Shipyard Wheat Ale

2010-07-28T22:45:00.006-04:00

Shipyards newest release, wheat ale. I do like the label, it's like the pint glass I got from them with a mermaid. I'm guessing that image is now a symbol of this brew, like Old Thumper's boar head or Chamberlain for the pale ale. But I didn't buy it for the bottle.

Shipyard's website states that this is an American wheat ale, and you can tell by putting your nose over it. Grainy-wheat came first to me and it was soon followed by a fruity note and a touch of the very floral hops they must use in their IPA. It's light and crisp body brings the wheat again along with the fruit. The finish is a little dry and you're left with the wheat but the hops replaces the fruit.

A great summer beer I think. If I had to describe this simply, it's a cross between Shipyards summer ale and IPA with wheat. It's a little to light bodied for my preferences though. It's a B (good) in my book. This will be a beer I'll purchase on hot and humid days.

Casal Garcia Branco

2010-07-25T07:40:00.007-04:00

With the warm summer months, when it comes to wine I've been going white and crisp. Sauvignon blanc and pinot grigio tend to come to mind with this. Well what is branco? Wikipedia says branco is a grape unique to Portugal "can be somewhat reminiscent of riesling." Lets see.

Many bubbles were the first thing I noticed when this was poured into my glass. The nose is very light and takes a little effort to distinguish the aspects of it. I would call it citrus without any dry, more on the fruity side. Once in my mouth this was determined though, green apples. Granny smith to be more specific. The body of this was certainly like a riesling, acidic and crisp. I should note that Casal Garcia's branco is not sweet like riesling though, and I like that.

This is a fine wine for the money. I only paid $7 for it and I will certainly buy it again for a humid day. I'm giving it a B (good) because I enjoyed it, but it doesn't have the levels of flavor that many other wines have. So are you making a grilled chicken dinner? Pick up a bottle!

Zhi Tea Ginger Peach Oolong

2010-07-20T21:50:00.006-04:00

As I review this I'd like to mention that this is not my first time having this tea like many drinks I review. I have this tea quite often! It's really a shame I haven't posted it sooner. Zhi Tea has a great concoction here. But I'm sure you want to hear why it's so good, not just my rantings on it being good.

Oolong tea being halfway between black and green teas you can sense this in the smell eluded from your cup. It's soft with the peaches and the tea part itself is 'aged', (the best way to describe it in my opinion). Ginger appears on the tongue but not in any sharp or spicy way, and peach remains as clear as before. Something I greatly appreciate about this cup of tea is the flavors added don't bury the actual tea. It's most evident in the end of the cup though with the aftertaste; floral and soft.

I give Zhi's blend an A (excellent). Tastes are well-proportioned and simply ones I prefer. If you like what you hear, add this one to your cabinet, you wont regret it. Oh and! P.S. When iced Ginger Peach Oolong brings out the ginger and peach more, so it's still a good investment in the summer.

Bowmore Legend

2010-07-15T21:08:00.004-04:00

When it comes to scotch, I'm a fan of the island Islay with smoky and salty whiskey. Legend is one of Bowmore's staple scotches with the lowest price point, so many can keep it on hand most of the time. This is a fine thing to do because not many scotch's are that affordable! Let's see if it should stay on hand.

As soon as your nose is anywhere near this scotch, you can tell where it's from. The signature Islay peat smoke comes through your nostrils. There is also a burn in smelling this, but not an alcoholic one. More like 'sting' of salt (another Islay standard). On the tongue the smoke stays but the zing is more of a citrus, but not the actual flavor. Honey is also a light note on the back of the tongue. The body is quite lite for a scotch. It finishes with the peat smoke and warmth of alcohol, but once again not a burn.

At first I wasn't all that impressed with the Bowmore Legend, but it grew on me as my first dram got low. I thought this would be a B with my first impressions, but once finished I changed my mind to give it a B (good). It's not too simple, but make sure you like peat smoke because it stays with you through the whole experience.

Allagash Black

2010-07-13T19:32:00.005-04:00

A Belgian stout? Who's ever heard of such a thing? Allagash Brewery has made the first one I believe. Most will know Allagash for there award-winning White Belgian ale with citrus notes and equilibrium that's made it so popular. I find it funny that They've called this creation black. Black and white; yin-yang.

Before popping the cork I read on the bottle to "pour slowly into wide mouth glass". I can see why, it pours a good thick head like many other stouts. The scent given off by this beer is an easy barley, not the intense type like some other stouts. Dark chocolate and coffee can be smelled but is much more apparent on the palate. The body isn't nearly as heavy as some Irish stouts I've had though, not a bad thing though. Going through the drink malt, yeast and wheat became more noticeable too, more so in the aftertaste. Roasted coffee is the prime part left in your mouth once swallowed though.

I must say I enjoyed this a lot. It has all of the standard elements of a stout but I can't taste much like Belgium ale. I don't mind this though. I'm giving this an A (excellent) because I found it to be everything a stout should be, just not as heavy. (Stouts are one of my favorite drinks.)

Golden Moon Tea Organic Green Tea

2010-07-11T15:55:00.003-04:00

Due to the current heat, this review is going to be done on Golden Moon's Organic Green Tea iced. At 90 degrees wouldn't you? Iced green and white tea is becoming a more common product though with glass bottles of Snapple and Honest Tea in convenience store fridges. Perhaps this won't be as accurate as most will drink it hot, but let's see how it goes.

After steeping the tea a little hard, cooling it in the fridge, then pouring it over ice, I kicked back to enjoy (and review) this tea. There's no smell to this because it's iced, but the taste was strong enough. Green tea was unsurprisingly the palate, but it was so in a vegetable way. More like sencha teas, but I can tell it's not. The tea leaves do not have the grassy look and delicate feel. Some may find vegetable an unpleasant definition but I found it quite enjoyable despite it's simplicity.

A balanced B (good) is what I'll give this. This is not a tea to add sugar to, even if you like sweeter iced teas, (I'll be reviewing Red Rose with an excellent iced tea recipe from my grandmother soon). For those that prefer the unflavored 'pure' green and white teas, make a pitchers of this for the summer months.

Capt'n Eli's Ginger Beer

2010-07-09T13:59:00.006-04:00

Capt'n Eli's Ginger Beer. A product of Maine from a brewery (Shipyard). But it's not a beer! It's a soda. Ginger beer has no alcohol to it, and should be viewed as an intense ginger ale. I've found that those that have tried it have polar opinions of it. They either love it or hate it. I'm a fan of it, but I've tried quite a few and can compare my other experiences. So lets see how it does.

Once opened and poured into a glass, it sizzles like a coke and can make you sneeze like on one of Coca-Cola's commercials. As you tip it towards you mouth you can tell it's not ginger ale. On my tongue I found it to be not as strong as other ginger beers I've tried, but still strong. The body was quite crisp though and tingled like sprite. It left you with the ginger in your mouth as an aftertaste.

I won't be giving this ginger beer a score as high as other's I've reviewed, but it can certainly be drank more often. B (good) If you want to explore ginger beer, start here. You wont be traumatized like others.

Adagio White Blueberry

2010-07-07T14:38:00.007-04:00

Now I would think most would know if they’d want this tea from the title. Blueberry flavored white tea. But I’m going to review it anyways because many other things are rarely stated in a title. Outside of a palate tastes the intensity, body and aftertaste are unknown. Simply put; is it balanced an enjoyable? (Adagio)

The smell put off by the tea in my cup doesn’t have as much blueberry, it’s more like a sweet white tea. Once sipped blueberry took the back seat to the tea leaves again, but was still noticeable. Like many white teas it has a rather full body for a tea. I tried serving this as an iced tea and the blueberry became much more present. Both hot and cold had a blueberry aftertaste.

I’m going to leave this with a C (decent) because it’s just too simple and the blueberry flavor to it isn’t ‘natural’. It’s more like some sort of blueberry extract in my opinion.

Shipyard Old Thumper ESP

2010-06-28T21:28:00.007-04:00

It may surprise some of you that this is a review of a Shipyard beer without their name on the label. Ringwood is a brewery out of the UK where Shipyard's master brewer learned, so they have rights to make it here in the US for us to enjoy. I'm certainly glad for this because I'm drinking one now and it's a fine.

From the glass this looks exactly like their Export Ale, but as soon as a sense beyond sight can notice this it's quite different. It smells similar to an IPA with a hint of sweet but not like thossuper hoppy ones. The oral experience gets bitter but includes the crisp of hops again. It has a smooth body however and a dry end.

This beer isn't for those accustomed to summer ales and lagers despite the light color and lack of IPA on the label. I like it quite a bit however and am leaving it with a B (good). As a mater of fact it's a house beer for me because I commonly get a twelve pack of it.

Peace Coffee Guatemalan

2010-06-23T14:42:00.005-04:00

After a break from updating Luxurious Liquids due to many moves I felt it was imperative to start again with a fine choice. So I chose a coffee I found excellent from Peace Coffee that was just roasted lighter. So here are my thoughts on a freshly french-pressed Guatemalan bean from Peace Coffee:

Even before tasting it I could tell this wasn't a "light" roast, just lighter than the Guatemalan Dark Roast. It has a great balance of acidity with it strong enough to be noted but nowhere near the point where it can be a little disturbing such as some Columbian coffees. Nutty is the prime note here though. I can smell pecans and peanuts (along with some chocolaty notes like the dark roast), and taste hazelnut. Do NOT let that statement alarm you! It doesn't parallel the flavored 'coffees' labeled French Vanilla. You're left with the chocolate taste in the aftertaste.

"Aahhhhhhhhh" *sigh of pleasure* I give Peace Coffee's Guatemalan a B (good).

I'll be doing this more often now with an internet connection, all of my tea tins, coffee beans, bar-ware, wine rack, and fine liquors (nothing in plastic), unpacked. Beer will be involved as well because I'm in Portland, Maine now and as some of you may have noticed, there are many fine breweries around.

Sebago Bourbon Barrel Aged Lake Trout Stout

2010-05-07T21:31:00.005-04:00

This is a rather interesting product; it’s a beer I’ve tried before but has now gone through an evolution. I enjoy their original Lake Trout Stout however; Sebago Brewing Company has experimented with a small batch of Woodford Reserve Bourbon barrels and this is a homerun. I sure hope they make this a standard in their lineup because…

The appearance of this brew is obviously a stout, opaque with a creamy head. After pouring this delicious beer, I start to use my other sense’s, the head has fantastic hints of barley, chocolate and vanilla, not too sharp but with a ‘rounded bourbon-esque’ power. Once the beer enters your mouth the specialty malts assert themselves, the special cask ageing shows its effect with an overtone of chocolate, coffee, and undertone of vanilla. The cask aging then plays through showing great hint’s of Bourbon.

I haven’t hesitated to give this an A (excellent) due to the symmetry and collaboration of the barrel aging with the stout. Anybody who enjoys a good stout will be enchanted by this. So grab it if you see it, you won’t regret it.

Santa Carolina Reserva Sauvignon Blanc '09

2010-05-05T15:24:00.008-04:00

With the warm and humid weather it was time for a light crisp wine. After a quick vote from who knew wine, sauvignon blanc beat pinot grigio. Picking the label was left completely to me though. I'm a fan of Chilean cabernets, so I decided to explore the opposite end of the grape spectrum. Santa Carolina's Reserva is up.

As I soon found the green hue in the wine might've been real. The nose displayed a mineral note with the expected citrus fruit such as grapefruit. After a sip lime took the scene for the rest of the experience. The dry crisp parallels lime-juice, but it's not overly puckering somehow. In an long aftertaste the grapefruit tone comes back a little.

This sauvignon blanc is exactly what's needed on a muggy day. Based on its taste I think it would go excellent with a caesar salad too. I don't have a preference for sauvignon blanc but this one is getting a B (good) for its balance in strong but easily bearable citrus dry.

Twinings Prince of Wales

2010-05-03T22:28:00.009-04:00

It's tea time and I'm introducing my first Twinings product, the Prince of Wales. Twinings is an older company than any other tea company I've reviewed, but I've noticed that the loose options of some of there teas are a newer choice. Twinings is catching on to the popularity of the whole leaf, lets see if they have a competitive product:

The tin claims it's "a smooth and mild taste with a well-rounded character". The nose has a calm robustness somewhat like a breakfast tea, but once in the mouth the container proves its point. It reminds me of some Darjeeling tea but with a bigger body and more placid palate. There's a light aftertaste as well that's just a faint note of the Chinese black tea.

Prince of Wales is appropriately named because this tea would fit perfectly in a tea party. It goes well with cream and sugar if desired and it's taste parallel's the amiable setting. I'm leaving it with a C (decent) because it doesn't have higher levels of taste.

Otter Creek Copper Ale

2010-03-31T22:17:00.004-04:00

Has anyone noticed my geography with breweries? Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine are my microbrewery states. Today I’m expanding my horizons to Vermont with Otter Creek’s flagship Copper Ale. Let’s see how the last state of New England compares to the rest:

Before tasting I’d swear this would be an IPA. It pours a crisp and hoppy head while showing a color only slightly darker than a real IPA. Taking a drink is when you’re brought to the malts and yeast though. Hops is still very noticeable in the way of a classic IPA, not the newer bluntly crisp ones. When buying don’t forget that malts are a big part of the palate.

This is a versatile beer with its use of malts and hops. I’m giving it a B (good) and think it would be a great alternative to the light summer ales. Don’t think that Vermont is inferior to other states though, I know Otter Creak has some excellent brews.

Saranac Ginger Beer

2010-03-29T11:13:00.005-04:00

Ginger beer is a largely unappreciated drink. Little does the general population know that this classic concoction is a key to many cocktails, settles your stomach and makes ginger ale taste weak. I’ve reviewed a few others before, but today Saranac’s drink is on the line. Before opening the bottle I must note the price of a six pack is the same as a four pack of other ginger beers, a better deal.

I have a theory on why Saranac can sell cheaper though; they aren’t as intense as others. I’m not saying this ginger beer should be labeled a ginger ale though, it’s just easier to drink. There’s still the tingle on your tongue and the ginger snap aftertaste. This difference in consistency can be seen as well, it’s not a little opaque like other ginger beers I’ve had.

Saranac’s Ginger Beer has proven to be the best choice for making concoctions, but I’m reviewing the product alone. I give it a good solid B (good) and I know others would prefer this one over others due to its ease. If you haven’t had ginger beer before, this is a good one to start with.

Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream

2010-03-15T20:50:00.005-04:00

St Patrick’s day is coming up (also my birthday)! So I think it’s time I get on top of some Irish choices, don’t you? Many simply refer Irish cream to Bailey’s, but little do they know there are much cheaper alternatives that I find acceptable. If you have the budget to spend $25 on a bottle of the name brand, fine. If you’re like me and want to explore while saving some money, here’s Saint Brendan’s.

Like a glass of milk, there is no smell or aroma to Saint Brendan’s. So straight to the palate. I might prefer this over Bailey’s due to a composure with more distinctive elements that aren’t a prime flavor like Bailey’s caramel or mint. Caramel is a big part of the palate though, and it works great with the dairy cream that’s heavier than Bailey’s. It’s not as smooth however, but I don’t think it’s such a bad thing: The nip at the aftertaste almost works as a counterpart to the heavy cream, so you don’t feel like your throat has a layer of mucus.

So I approve and give it a B (good). I’ll make sure that some will be left for the 18th so I can put some in my coffee for a creamer. Here’s a good robust cocktail to enjoy the 17th with and keep you up for the night, Irish Coffee:
• 2 oz Irish Whiskey
• 2 oz Irish Cream
• Strong black coffee
• Sugar to taste
Layer the cream on top of the spiked coffee on the back of a spoon. To do it right you must keep the tip on the edge of the glass and top of the liquid. Don’t stir and sip it through the cream.

The Maté Factor Green Tea Ginseng

2010-03-13T19:46:00.001-05:00

The Maté Factor has created a product with three super-duper healthy factors; green tea, maté and ginseng. You’re not a health nut if you don’t see the benefits of this. I don’t drink this just for my health though, I enjoy it. So if you’re interested read on and find out why I do.

Green maté is the prime trait in the smell and taste, “planty-green”. The green tea comes out through the body and aftertaste though; it gives it a bolder body and a vegetable quality. I’m guessing that the tea used is a sencha due to those attributes. I’m not sure that ginseng has a taste, but I can feel the effect.

With only a taste perspective The Maté Factor’s Green Tea Ginseng is a B (good). I would like to note the convenience of it though: You don’t need to steep maté in hot water, you can steep it cold. When I lack time in the morning, I put two bags in a thermos with a touch of honey and I have a nice boost when I need it.

Gosling's Black Seal

2010-03-10T20:26:00.003-05:00

It bothers me that the general population sticks to Bacardi and Captain Morgan for rum with so many more, and better, rums out there. Drinking only light and gold rum is a limit of cocktails as well, so I’ve included a cocktail recipe at the end of the review for those willing to explore the dark. Gosling’s has always been my favorite dark rum, so I’ll show you why.

Being nearly solid black in color, many would imagine a bold and hearty rum. It is, but don’t relate those attributes to harsh. Gosling’s has a heavy body and a rich taste of brown sugar and spice. After swallowing you’re left with an aftertaste of the spice and a warm element best described simply as the rum, but not a burn of alcohol.

I don’t believe Black Seal was intended to be drunk straight, even though I do sometimes, but I’d recommend it on the rocks or with ginger ale. In my book Gosling’s Black Seal is a solid A (excellent) due to its unparalleled boldly smooth taste. Because of this it can make cocktails that no other liquor can. Here’s a good one:

Dark Side Daiquiri
• 1 ½ oz Gosling’s Black Seal
• 1 ½ oz amaretto
• ½ oz simple syrup (or ¼ oz sugar and ¼ oz water)
• ¼ oz lemon juice
• ¼ oz lime juice

Warre’s Warrior

2010-03-08T22:03:00.007-05:00

What an aggressive name. Due to stereotypes, I’d think a drink with a label of warrior would be a port beer, not a port wine. Checking out the Warre’s website the explanation lies in a story about one of the family members being a soldier. But enough of the history, I’m here for the taste.

And the taste is juicy. It has little nose but what’s there is dark grape, and it comes back strongly in the palate. It’s full bodied, even for a fortified wine, and there’s other deep red fruits in the taste like un-pitted cherries. With a few more sips the spicy overtones of black pepper and cinnamon come in. Warrior reminds you of all this with a long aftertaste.

I can see why Warre’s has labeled this Warrior, it’s robust and enduring like fighters. For those who avoid shiraz and cabernet wine, stay away. If you welcome heavy wines like me, it’s a B (good).

Rock City Organic Ethiopian Yirgacheffe

2010-03-05T08:55:00.005-05:00

Everyone who drinks beer knows of micro-breweries, but it’s a shame that many who drink coffee don’t know of micro-roasters. There’s far more coffee companies than Green Mountain, Starbucks, and Dunkin’ Donuts. One micro-roaster I’ve already proven superior to big ones is Peace Coffee, but today is Rock City’s test of quality with Organic Ethiopian Yirgacheffe.

The cup from this bean is on the verge of being a dark roast in my opinion. It gives off an aroma of a bold product, but the taste is where it shines. There’s a slight smoky or earthy note that compliments the semi-dark aspect, but it breaks the heavy trend with an acidic characteristic. You get this in the aftertaste but it’s also in the palate at the back of the tongue. The acid isn’t a negative attribute though, it creates a balance.

I like it to the degree of an A (excellent). Rock City is another in the evidence of micro-roaster being the cream of the crop. So for those that are tired of the nearby Dunkin’ Donuts, find a micro-roaster like Rock City.

Troegs Troegenator Doublebock

2010-03-02T18:24:00.005-05:00

Troges Brewery must be proud of this one, they have it named after themselves and the face on the label sticks out with the constipated face. Is it going to give me that face or make me come back for more? Well I’m here to find out.

It has a thick head with some retention and amber in color. The nose shows hops most, but some malt is apparent. Once in the mouth it’s not as heavy as any other bock but crisp hops will tingle your tongue. Malt is detectable again and works well with the incomparable hops that can be best described as “rye”, but nothing like floral, citrus or super sharp. Easy to drink for a beer so strong with flavor.

I’m leaving it with a B (good). As a comparative way to describe it I’d say it’s a malty red ale mixed with an IPA. Approach it as this, not a bock if you’ve had one before.

Adagio Gunpowder

2010-02-27T10:31:00.003-05:00

Gunpowder green tea is an oxymoron to me. Green tea symbolizing peace, relaxation and health paired with gunpowder; a tool of war and such. Taking a minute to examine the image of the tea above, you might notice the name comes from the appearance of the tea. Adagio didn’t name their product though, it’s the type of tea.

Another corresponding trait to the name with this tea is the smell, it’s smoky along with the veggie green tea characteristic. The first thing that hit me when sipping the tea was the body, very bold and heavy unlike the palate that was only a return of the smoke. This is a very simple tea.

You’ve probably already tried this type of tea before because I recall tea like this being served at Chinese food restaurants in a stainless steel pot with little ceramic cups. I’m giving Adagio’s Gunpowder green tea a C (decent) because it’s enjoyable but a little too ordinary for a higher score.

Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio '09

2010-02-24T20:42:00.008-05:00

When one hears of Italian wine, the forte of costly bottles is usually thought of. The first Italian wine on Luxurious Liquids isn’t an exclusive item though; it’s Ecco Domani’s pinot grigio and can be found at any store with a decent wine selection.

I tried a glass of this wine at two temperatures, refrigerated and only slightly chilled. It was far more enjoyable cooler, but more easily defined warmer. It has a light nose of a sweet floral note at either temperature, and a palate of honeydew melon and citrus. The coldest glass brought the citrus out most, which created a clean ending but was not dry in an uneasy way that would make it harder to drink.

I rarely drink white wines unaccompanied with food, but this one wouldn’t be a problem solo. It’s a solid B (good) due to its citric front and ending that didn’t prove overpowering. I’m sure there are better pinot grigios, but are they worth the price difference? This bottle goes for $9 where I’m at.

Zhena's Gypsy Tea Coconut Chai

2010-02-22T11:38:00.004-05:00

Once I opened the tin of Zhena’s Gypsy Tea I knew I was in for a heavily spiced tea. The scent of the tea bag captures you with bold chai spice. Coconut is what intrigued me to get this though; sweetness added to sweet spice. It smells like it works too. Zhena may have proven that her tea is a fine popuri, but I grade the drink.

As it smelled before steeping, the air of the tea is boldly sweet but the coconut is hardly detectable. More shocking than its first impressions is how soft the taste is. All I get is cinnamon and in no proportion to that compares to the scent. A trace of the coconut sweet is left as an aftertaste, but once again weakly.

This isn’t a tea, this is tainted water. I’ve tried steeping it longer, letting it cool, and adding cream but none of that has brought out more of the palate. I’m leaving Zhena’s Gypsy Tea Coconut Chai with a C (decent) and not a C- because of the potent smell. The rest of the tea bags will be popuri.

Shipyard Chamberlain Pale Ale

2010-02-19T22:01:00.001-05:00

A little history on this beer before my review; Chamberlain was a Civil War hero who played a key role in the north's victory at Gettysburg. He later became a general then the governor of his home state, Maine. Of course Shipyard from Maine as well so to place his name on this bottle gives it something to live up to.

This poured with a light white head and a color assigned by its name but once smelled you got a hint of how Shipyard could place such a man on it's label. It smells like a faint IPA but with more floral notes and a malt that's just as easily scented. The body is smooth, crisp and also heavy for any light ale. It tasted of malts but when swallowed the floral hops became the last note.

So if you're tired of Bass or want to get away from the cheap lagers of the big brewers but don't want to jump to something heavy, give this one a try. I give it a B (good) due to it's fine layers of taste. This is a fine beer that Chamberlain might've been proud to represent.

The Republic of Tea Ginger Lemon Grass

2010-02-14T13:55:00.008-05:00

Sounds zesty doesn’t it? On the tin Republic of Tea states it’s also a fine aid to digestion. That’s a fine reason to drink for others, but my blog’s approach is to analyze taste and flavor. I’ll take their word on the claimed health benefits and let those who care for enjoying their cup of tea know my experience.

The steam above my freshly brewed cup leaves a fait aura of the lemongrass, nothing else. After a sip I found the taste to be just as weak though. To try and bring out the elements stated in the title I added a little sweetener and let it cool. This made it stronger but did not reveal any ginger. I did notice some light green tea though, I believe it was sencha. There was no aftertaste.

This was far too dim and uninteresting for me. I’m leaving it with a C (decent) and not an F because I tried it a second time making an iced tea and it was a little more enjoyable/tasteable. If you need digestive help, perhaps you’d like this.

Peace Coffee Snowshoe Brew

2010-02-11T09:42:00.005-05:00

It can be restraining to identify coffee sometimes because it’ll keep you from trying a blend with a name you don’t know. “Ethiopian beans are on the crisp side and Sumatran tends to be earthy-dark, but what is a snowshoe brew?” So for those that know coffee jargon and even those that don’t, I’m discovering Peace Coffee’s Snowshoe Brew.

Sniffing above my coffee’s foam rimming the cup, (a benefit of using a french press), I detected a “seasoned smoke”. This was rather unique because it wasn’t deep or earthy like a Sumatran bean. Taking a sip the coffee brought to me a slight spice and sweetness to the light roast. I must note that when I say sweet it’s nothing like the pre-sweetened beans of Dunkin’ Donuts. Snowshoe Brew also had a light body and left a sturdy, lingering aftertaste.

Now I’ve given lighter roasts such as Green Mountain’s Organic lower ratings but I enjoyed this light roast very much, which defines a B (good). It may be towards the end of winter but I’d recommend that many go out and get this coffee while it’s available because it’ll be a great way to start spring days as well

Zhi Tea Vanilla Rose

2010-02-07T17:00:00.006-05:00

With Valentine’s Day around the corner I think a rose flavored tea would be appropriate to have on hand. Think of having such a tea along with a bouquet of flowers waiting for your special one when they get home on the 14th. Zhi Tea has had other products on here that have turned out to be fantastic, so let’s see if their vanilla rose is another good investment.

The scent of the loose tea put the rose up front, but once steeped vanilla becomes the prime aspect. I must note that the vanilla isn’t excessively sweet though and keeps to tasting of the natural root and not the imitation extract. Upon tasting the rose returns as a floral hint, that seems to be a part of the hearty black tea. Adding sweetener brings out the vanilla on the palate, and I think this tea was intended to have cream. You’re left with the wholesome tea as an aftertaste.

This is tea makes me think of a British friend asking me how many sugars and cream I want with my tea while in a garden with ornately detailed iron chairs. It’s very pleasant, and a favorite of my fiancé. She’d grade it higher, but I’m giving it a B (good).

Zhi Tea Ambrosia

2010-02-04T11:43:00.004-05:00

Zhi Tea has had two other reviews showing great products, their Coconut Assam and bestseller Sweet Desert Delight. Ambrosia is a white tea blend of theirs that smells quite fruity from the loose leaves. I’m about to find out if Zhi Tea will have another tin I’ll keep full in my cupboard.

The scent put off by my cup shows coconut notes less strong than their assam so it lets you smell the white tea as well. That element is almost floral. It returns in the palate where the coconut is almost undetectable. Zhi Tea’s website states that Ambrosia has pineapple bits as well, but I can’t taste that. I think they supplement the taste by giving a slight sweetness to it though. Ambroisa’s body is quite full for a tea as well.

This is a relaxing tea and I think it would make a fantastic iced tea. I’m giving it a B (good) due to its symmetry and balance between the white tea and added flavors. This will be a tea I’ll return to while I’m reading a book before bed.

Murphy's Irish Stout

2010-02-02T21:00:00.005-05:00

Now when you hear Irish stout you always think of Guinness, but here’s another. Murphy’s claims that their stout “has been brewed to the same unique recipe since 1865.” This sounds all fine and dandy, but were they drinking a better beer back then?

I got this in a four pack of tall cans with a fresh beer system like you can get with Guinness. It poured out a huge head as well that stayed, but it was as thick as shaving cream! This is a HEAVY beer. The body was profound as well and the palate has an almost dairy aspect from the beer being pasteurized. There’s not as much roasted barley as other Irish stouts I’ve had but I doubt that would compliment this beer.

This is quite a distinctive beer, but it won’t be my recurring choice of a stout. It’s a great way to change things up though and I will get it every once in awhile to do that. It’s a well deserved B (good). I’ll warn anyone who doesn’t like a bold beer to stay away.

Bombay Dry Gin

2010-01-31T20:30:00.006-05:00

My last review of gin was more like orange vodka than gin, so I set out to get a “regular” one. I didn’t get Bombay Sapphire because I needed something for cocktails though, and that isn’t your typical gin with juniper berry as the prime flavor. This is the standard London dry version of Bombay Sapphire.

The nose of this tells me that it’s more of the gin I wanted, that pine-like smell. It has that warm alcohol nose as well though. Taking a sip of it is a step in the smoother direction though. Besides going down smoothly the palate shows the juniper berry again but there’s a lot more going on and it all intermingles so well that it’s hard to dissect the tastes. I can distinguish a little lemon rind and almond, but I needed to look at the label to distinguish the rest.

This might be my gin for tonics and such. It’s my favorite gin yet, at an A (excellent). Now I said I needed this for cocktails, so here’s a good one. The Tom Collins:
- 2 oz gin
- ½ oz lemon juice
- ½ oz simple syrup
- club soda or seltzer
Combine the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a tall glass with ice. Top off with the soda and stir briefly. You can garnish with a cherry and/or orange slice.

Teavana Cacao Mint Black

2010-01-27T12:44:00.002-05:00

This might be more appropriate than chai tea for winter! Just think of sitting down in front of a warm fire on a cold winter night with such a tea. I think this title sets a high standard simply listing the ingredients, so lets see if Teavana can live up to it.

I was surprised at how short the steeping time on this tea was, but I can see now it would be too strong if too long. The scent of this tea wouldn't make you think this was a tea, the chocolate and mint are equally perceptible. The actual tea is nonexistent though, but the taste brings this out. In the palate mint and cacao take a back seat. The cacao is even less noticeable as well because it seems to just be a part of the mint somehow. A slight chocolate aftertaste is noticeable to me.

Just the loose tea and steam above my cup has a passionate fragrance, but the palate doesn't live up to it. It's rather dull somehow with a simple tea base that's obviously not darjeeling or a stronger assm. It's plain so mediocre describes it well C (decent).

Celestial Seasonings Honey Vanilla Chamomile

2010-01-25T12:36:00.006-05:00

This is my first review of a chamomile tea. For those that don't know what that is, it's an herbal tea from Egypt that's commonly related with sleep and calming. Honey and vanilla sounds like a good addition to a soothing drink, right? I'll find out if Celestial Seasonings Honey Vanilla Chamomile is something you should keep in your cupboard for a night you can't fall asleep.

This smells quite sweet. The aura put off by this is the honey with a nutty side of vanilla, but I can also identify an orange citrus in the background. Once sipped you can taste chamomile, a floral-clover flavor and the nutty vanilla. Honey and orange are underneath being barely noticeable. The honey element sticks to the back of your tongue.

This tea does its job calming for sure, I can feel it. Taste wise it's a find drink that I'll visit frequently before bed. B (good). This would be a great drink for when one's sick in bed.

Ommegang Hennepin

2010-01-21T22:30:00.005-05:00

I found this beer at my local grocery store with a new selection of 750ml beers and I hadn't heard of Ommegang so I picked it up to put something new to myself on my site. (It was also a bit less expensive than the other selections).

My first impression of this beer while pouring was a lager? It fizzled as I poured with a light quickly expanding head, but after smelling I knew this was wrong. Yeast was first but light spices and honey lay underneath. Tasting had the somehow sweetened yeast as well with a light body and "light fruit" note such as white grapes, oranges, and/or pears. It finished while swallowing as something of a lager with a citrus element or perhaps spiced.

A rather unique Belgian ale due to being light and lacking any malt. I give it a B (good) because I prefer beers of this sort to be heavier and more spiced such as Allagash Dubbel or Unibroue Maudite which I'll get to eventually. I do recommend to any who like larger production production beers like Blue Moon or Hoegaarden.

Sebago Slick Nick

2010-01-19T17:52:00.001-05:00

Slick Nick, the Sebago Brewing Company's winter season brew. It's past St Nick's world wide trip, but you can still buy this. So lets see if it's worth the reminder to be good when seeing this label.

The sight of this beer is a fairly uncommon one; the beer is a copper color but it has a foamy head like most stouts. This should be interesting. You can smell sweet but not overpowering malts because some fruits can also be detected along with toffee. The palate brings out the sweet malt and you get more of a caramel taste from it. It has a middle of the road medium body that almost doesn't seem to match its head. The aftertaste is quite unique with hops and the fruit (apple), unlike the rest of the malty experience.

I can see why Sebago Brewers claims this is their best selling seasonal ale. Unlike most winter ales, this one isn't the typical spiced ale. For all those who have a hard time drinking those, pick up a six pack of this. I like spiced winter ales, but I think this one will be taken home by me just as much as any other winter season brew. B (good)

Ménage à Trois ‘08

2010-01-17T21:48:00.004-05:00

Have you heard the rule of thumb red wine goes with red meat? But what one?!?! There are so many different grapes, what one is best? If you've asked yourself this, the answer depends on many variables (most importantly your tastes). To start your search on red wine preferences try Ménage à Trois, a bottle without a grape.

This wine does a great job at combining the qualities of different grapes to create a bottle that works. Ménage a Trois has zinfandel, cabernet and merlot in this and the first thing that came to me was teh fruits of the zinfandel. Jam-like black and raspberry best describe the palate, but little tannin of the cabernet is detectable in the aftertaste. Despite these two heavier red grapes, teh merlot seems to take over teh body with a smooth texture.

I think this is a great wine for those looking to get into red wines or who don’t think they like red wine. My fiancé isn’t a fan of red wine and she enjoyed it just the same. A drink that can achieve this deserves a B (good) despite being simple in taste.

Golden Moon Tea Tippy Earl Grey

2010-01-15T16:16:00.005-05:00

Earl grey seems to be a polarizing tea, you either love it or hate it. Golden Moon has a "tippy" earl grey that their website speaks highly of and is steeping in front of me. I don't know what tippy is supposed to mean but I care more about how this earl grey is different in taste, not title.

Smelling the haze above my cup I can perceive a black tea that's more delicate than breakfast or assam teas. Of course the standard lavender is there as well, but it doesn't overshoadow the actual tea tone like other earl greys I've had before. The palate brings out the citrus notes that initially are brought to the front but after a few more sips it blends with the tea and lavender to outline a balanced flavor. The aftertaste is of the light lavender and citrus rind.

This delicate equilirbium created gives Golden Moon's Tippy Earl Grey a high mark. A (excellent). I'm not a fan of earl grey teas, but I'm a fan of this one and it'll have a spot in my cupboard.

St Peter's Cream Stout

2010-01-13T20:51:00.007-05:00

If you've read some of my other reviews, you'll know I'm a fan of a real rich stout. Ireland and Maine have impressed me with a stout creation before, but today the UK in on the line. St Peter's is the brewery representing and they've been popular enough to have its products travel the Atlantic Ocean. Lets see if their stout matches up to the standards set by others.

St Peter's Cream Stout was obviously meant to be drunk warmer than American beers. It seemed inadequate at first but as it warmed up, I warmed up to it. The palate is almost tasteless served ice cold, but give it some time to warm and you'll be met with a strong taste of roasted barley. The chocolate taste of the roasted barley was on the "darker" side, like a bar of dark chocolate with more cocoa. Baking chocolate is the better way to describe the aftertaste though, bittersweet. I think this beer was one of the most full bodied stouts I've drank as well.

St Peter's Cream Stout is a blunt, no-nonsense beer that deserves an A (excellent). If you like a good strong stout as well or want to try and grow hair on your chest, go find this.

Peet's French Roast

2010-01-11T20:40:00.007-05:00

Starbucks is a household name these days in America. Most know it as a company from the northwest that brought a more european cup of coffee to the nation. Most don't know that there are actually quite a few companies from this area, available nationwide, that offer a more refined cup as well. Today I'll be reviewing one of them, Peet's Coffee.

Peet's French Roast is noted as one of the best sellers of the Peet's brand and I can understand why. I've noticed a trend in demanding coffee drinker, they want it dark. This french roast is certainly dark, but surprisingly it has a light body and is easy to drink. The palate of this is disappointing to me though, all I get besides the roast is a smoky note. It's easily smelled as well and there isn't any prominent aftertaste.

So Peet's French Roast is rather simple. Due to this I'm giving it a C (decent), but I think this coffee should be considered by those who put their coffee in a timed maker and run out the door with a thermos. It's still a fine cup-o'-joe.