Our ongoing series on the essential craft beers that everyone ought to know.    Long before modern craft brewers were trying to reinvent the IPA to differentiate theirs from the competition, there was Sam Calagione and Dogfish Head brewery. With today’s craft beer market absolutely saturated with IPAs, I suppose it doesn’t... Read more →

Our ongoing series on the essential craft beers that everyone ought to know.    Dark ales are usually intimidating for those new to the world of craft beers. Too many people have been raised with the notion that beers should merely be a pale yellow, crisp, and almost flavorless beverage. When I ask my lager-drinking friends if... Read more →

Don’t give up on cheap Malbec. Not now, not ever.   Not when there’s one to be found like the AMALAYA Malbec. The 2016 bottling is a wonder of craftsmanship and authenticity. A polished and attractive—not to mention delicious—blend of 85% Malbec, 10% Tannat and 5% Petit Verdot, there exists that indescribable, unknowable... Read more →

It’s now Fall, and Summer is over… so, stop wearing white and drinking rosé? I beg to differ. If you haven’t already figured it out, there’s no reason for rosé to only be a Spring/Summer wine. The versatility of the variety is like an endless well of satisfaction.  Rosé is a social wine, perfect to lift the start of any... Read more →

This review, in Skaggsian sonnet, as inspired by Frankie Petrarca (and John Lennon):   Sonnet 20: Here’s another place you can go, where everything flows   Lest we talk about beers that are brewed with the wheat, My temp’rament changes from pleasant to grim. ‘Lo, it’s bland! It’s insipid! It’s socks from... Read more →