What is Your Favorite Summer Beer?

What is your favorite Summer Beer?

Beers for Summer!

May 28th, 2009

Greetings!

During the summer we tend to switch up our beer drinking habits opting for beers that are crisp, refreshing, yet still full of flavor. Belgian Witbiers (white beers), Bavarian Hefewiezen, German Kolsch, Pilsners, and American Light Lagers all have huge fan bases during the summer. My personal favorite for the summer is a toss up between Anchor Summer Beer and the River Horse Summer Blonde. Here are a few summer favorites we really think you should try:

River Horse Summer Blonde: A pure and simple ale for summer from River Horse Brewing Company. This is an example of the essence of ale. It is a perfect compliment to backyard grilling, especially burgers, bratwurst, and ribs.

Anchor Summer Beer: This is an ideal drink for beer lovers who appreciate tradition and character in their beer, but also seek a lighter, refreshing style during the warmer weather. Wheat malt contributes to an unusual lightness and dryness to the palate, and this, combined with the distinctive flavor of the wheat, makes for a perfect thirst-quenching beverage.

Paulaner Hefewiezen: This is a classic Bavarian wheat beer. "Hefe" in German translates to yeast and "Weizen" to wheat. When yeast is retained in beer it is responsible for the cloudy appearance of the Paulaner Hefeweizen. Wheat beers offer an extremely refreshing taste and this excellent wheat pairs beautifully with sausage, pretzels with mustard, vegetable pate, Crab Lois and is perfect for brunch.

Hoegaarden White Beer: A beautiful Belgian white beer that is never filtered. It has flavors reminiscent of coriander and orange zest which create a fruity flavor with good tanginess. Very refreshing for the summer with alcohol levels of 4.9%, it is crisp and easy to drink in the heat. Just waiting to be paired with mussels!

When you stop in over the weekend, pick up a few to try. If you stop in Friday, we will have a few wines open for you to try. For a sneak peak at what will be open, take a look below!

Fun Summer Wines for Friday's Tasting:

Urban Riesling 2008
$14.99 a bottle, $152.88 for a case, or $12.74 a bottle as part of a mixed case

A delicious, well balanced Riesling from Weingut St. Urbans-Hoff. Nik and his staff at St. Urbans-Hoff grow 82 acres of Riesling in some of the finest sites of the Middle-Mosel and Saar. These vineyards demonstrate what has fascinated wine lovers for centuries and their wines receive many accolades including repeat visits on Wine Spectator's Top 100. Crisp and dry, with bright green apple and a touch of citrus on the palate, balanced with nice minerality. Perfect for sipping in the summer and it would be delicious with Thai food, too!

Keller Estate Oro de Plato Chardonnay 2006
$29.99 a bottle, $305.88 for a case, or $25.49 a bottle as part of a mixed case

In Spanish, Oro De Plata means "silver from gold". At Keller Estate, the name refers to their stainless steel fermented Chardonnay, crafted to highlight the flavors of the grape without the characteristics of oak so often found in California Chardonnays. A Chardonnay with a Burgundian flair, this wine shares the minerality found in Chablis, but with brighter, richer, more floral characteristics.

Salty foods such as olives and goat cheese are a natural compliment. Simple preparations like lightly dressed salad and grilled fish and chicken are elevated by the bright acidity and aromatics, yet the wine is equally delicious with spicy foods such as southwestern pork loin with black beans. This has been a favorite of ours since we opened.

Cobos Bramare Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
$40.99 a bottle, $458.88 for a case, or $38.24 a bottle as part of a mixed case

An absolute beauty of a Cabernet from Paul Hobbs' winery in Mendoza. We think this review from Wine Advocate fills in all the details rather nicely...

93 points, Wine Advocate, "The 2006 Bramare Cabernet Sauvignon received the same elevage as the Malbec. It exhibits aromas of smoke, spice box, violet, damp earth, black currant, and blackberry leading to a full-bodied wine with layers of savory flavor, great depth and concentration, and enough well-concealed structure to evolve for 2-3 years. Although it can be enjoyed now, it will provide pleasure for another ten years. Vina Cobos is Paul Hobbs' winery in Mendoza. He is better known (at least for the moment) to USA connoisseur/collectors for his namesake winery in Napa Valley which has received many accolades (including 100-point scores from Robert Parker) for its Cabernets, Pinot Noirs, and Chardonnays. What is less well known is that Hobbs is a pioneer in fine wine production in Argentina, having started there in 1988 with Nicolas Catena. Senor Catena gives Hobbs much credit for the success of Catena-Zapata's Chardonnay program. He has since extended his consulting efforts both in Argentina and Chile but the capstone of Hobbs' work is Vina Cobos which began in 1998 and moved into its own winery facility in 2007."

Wine Fridays

The next Wine Friday is Friday, June 12th and we will be featuring wines that are perfect for the summer! The location is very close to the store, just two and a half miles away. Perfect for everyone to join us!

We have a terrific group of people already involved and there is always room for a few more to join in the fun. It is a great way to take your mind off the work week, start the weekend, meet new friends and of course try some fantastic wines! Hors d'oeurves are prepared by Food Company Catering and Special Events and have been delicious!

If you would like to join in the fun, email us at info@tewksburyfinewine.com or call 908-439-0007.

Featured Wines of the May:

Domaine du Cote Tariquet 2006
BLOW OUT SPECIAL
$13.99!!
regularly, $16.99 a bottle

This is a unique blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc with a distinctive bouquet of fine intense floral notes, some minerality, and the underlying suggestion of ripe grapes. The freshness is evident with the first sip, as is the attractive intensity of flavors. It is absolutely delightful to drink in the warmer seasons.

Cantina del Taburno Falanghina 2008
$16.99 a bottle, $173.28 for a case, or $14.44 a bottle as part of a mixed case

Cantina del Taburno is in the Campagna region of Italy and the Wine Advocate said that their "top wines compete with the best being made anywhere." Taste this Falanghina and see what they have to offer. It is crisp and fruity, an absolutely delightful wine! The Falanghina grape can be tasted in perfect purity, with notes of almond blossom, lemon, and fresh nectarine.

J Hofstatter Pinot Grigio 2007
$19.99 a bottle, $203.88 for a case, or $16.99 a bottle as part of a mixed case

This elegant Pinot Grigio has a clear fruit aroma of pear, warmed with light spice. It is firm on the palate, velvety and full-flavored with well integrated acidity. A very round and satisfying wine.

Domaine la Monardiere Vacqueyras Ros� 2008
$17.99 a bottle, $183.48 for a case, or $15.29 a bottle as part of a mixed case

This ros� is a delicious example of the beautiful ros�s produced throughout southern France that have skyrocketed in popularity. Crisp, DRY, and filled with red fruits and a touch of spice this is guaranteed to please!

Huarpe Lancatay Malbec 2007
$9.99 a bottle, $101.88 for a case, or $8.49 a bottle as part of a mixed case

A deep violet red in color with aromas of red fruits and toasted nuts brought out from the aging. There is a roundness that is evident on the palate as is the ripe, juicy berry fruit. This Malbec cannot be beaten for this price, yes under $10!

Our Wine Clubs:

We have some wonderful selections for May!

The Boutique Series
$50 a month plus s&h or
complimentary local delivery

This month's selections include:
Velenosi Pecorino Villa Angela 2007
&
Siduri Muirfield Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006

Grape Distinctions
$75 - $100 a month plus s&h or complimentary local delivery

This month's selections include:
Terry Hoage Vineyards The Hedge Syrah 2004
&
Tensley Thompson Vineyard Syrah 2004

Cellar Collectibles
$100 - $150 a month plus s&h or complimentary local delivery

This month's selections include:
Domaine Roger Perrin Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve Vielles Vignes 2004 &
Domaine Charvin Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2005

To enroll or if you have questions about the clubs, email us at info@tewksburyfinewine.com
or call 908-439-0007.

We look forward to continuing to toast summer with you. We'll open the wines for Friday's tasting around 4:00 and we will open a few over the weekend, too.

We look forward to seeing you soon, and most importantly, thanks for your continued support!

Cheers!
Andrea

Contact Information

Andrea Maranca
One Old Turnpike, PO Box 377, Oldwick, NJ 08858
T: 908.439.0007 F: 908.439.9997 www.tewksburyfinewine.com