Challenge: find a fabulous full-flavored craft beer that comes in a <gasp!!> ... can?!!! Think we can do it? Duh. We're B3! Of course we "can"! Thanks to the good people at Oskar Blues Brewery (in tiny Lyons, Colorado, pop.1400) and their 2002 launch of the "Canned Beer Apocalypse." The brewery began hand-canning its hoppy, assertive-but-elegant Dale's Pale Ale on a table-top machine that sealed just one can at a time. The move made Oskar Blues the first U.S. craft brewer to brew and can its own beer. And unlike cans of old, the modern aluminum can is lined with a coating so beer and metal never touch. Cans are also easier to recycle, free of glass breakage issues, and less fuel-consuming to ship. (35% of the weight of a bottle of beer is the bottle itself.) So, you know, you score all those awesome eco-citizen points for drinking it.  Here's what we have for your tasting delight:

 

Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale, Colorado A voluminously hopped craft beer that delivers a hoppy nose and assertive-but-balanced flavors of pale malts and hops from start to finish. First canned in 2002, Dale's Pale Ale is a hearty (6.5% and 65 IBUs), critically acclaimed trailblazer that has changed the way craft beer fiends perceive canned beer.
 
Oskar Blues Mamas Lil Yella Pils (Traditional Pilsner), Colorado Oskar Blues' newest beer is an uncompromising, small-batch version of the beer that made Pilsen, Czech Republic famous. Unlike mass market "pilsners" diluted with corn & rice, Mama's is built with 100% pale malt, German specialty malts, and Bavarian hops. While it's rich with Czeched-out flavor, its gentle hopping (35 IBUs) and low ABV (just 5.3%) make it a luxurious but low-dose (by Oskar Blues standards) refresher.
 
Oskar Blues Old Chub (Scotch Ale), Colorado This jaw-dropping Scottish strong ale (8% ABV) is brewed with bodacious amounts of malted barley and specialty grains, and a dash of beechwood-smoked malt. Old Chub features a skim-milk mouthfeel, semi-sweet flavors of cocoa and coffee, and a kiss of smoke. A head-turning treat for malt heads and folks who think they don't dig dark beer. Oh, you will dig it!
 
Also featured this month, another great canned beer: New England Brewing Sea Hag IPA. And while this one may not be in a can (what the hell, we're throwing it in this month anyway), Abita Purple Haze, sure is a nice refreshing wheat beer with a hint of raspberry.

We decided to mix things up this month by bringing back some of our favorite red wine blends.  What's a blend, you might ask? At its most basic, vintners blend wine made from different grapes in order to add more complexity to the flavor and texture of a wine. The goal of blending wine made in different vintages is to balance out the various flavor characteristics. Some wine blends are classics passed down from generation to generation. Other are brand new blends aiming to deliver a new and exciting wine with flavor characteristics like nothing else on the market. 

Snap Dragon Red Blend, Sonoma, California
This Zinfandel based blend shows hints of toffee and rich flavors of blackberry and plum. 65% Zinfandel, 20% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
 
Sterling Meritage, Sonoma, California
Rhymes with "heritage". The American way of labeling a Bordeaux style blend. Big flavors of blackberry jam, black cherry and chocolate with a spicy finish. 52% Cabernet, 44% Merlot, 3% Malbec, 1% Petite Verdot.
 
Dynamite Red Blend, California
This Merlot based blend shows complex aromas and flavors of ripe boysenberry and blueberry, with a long mocha and toffee finish.
 
Also, to mix things up in a non-blend way, beat the summer heat with this cool, refreshing Rose:
 
L'Estandon Provence Rose, France
A crystal-clear, pale candy pink color wine with a sweetly elegant nose. Aromas of raspberry, white and yellow peaches and citrus fruits. The palate is beautifully balanced between mouthwatering acidity, a round, supple texture and the fruity flavors detectable on the nose.