June Beer Club: Iowa

Posted on May 26, 2023 by mcginnessalex

Freigeist Bierkultur
Ottekolong
Unfiltered Kölsch
Cologne, Germany

Ottekelong which in local parlance means, “water from Cologne,” is the basic beer from Freigeist. Based on the local Cologne specialty, Kölsch, Ottekolong is an unfiltered Kölsch-style beer, but with more IBUs than is typical for German Kölsch. Also, because it is unfiltered it isn’t technically legal to call in Kölsch in Germany.

ABV: 4.8% alcohol / volume
IBU: 20
Style: Unfiltered Kölsch
Beer Style at WineStyles: Crisp & Clean

Freigeist Bierkultur
Dortmunder
Lager
Cologne, Germany

This style of beer generally offers a malt forward flavor and aroma balanced by hop bitterness. Maltier than a pilsner and hoppier than Helles, modern-day Dortmund Exports expand on traditions with more complex malt variety and extra bitterness. Beers brewed to this style traditionally use Noble hops for bittering, which tend to give earthy, floral, spicy notes.

ABV: 5.5% alcohol / volume
Style: Lager – Dortmunder/Export
Beer Style at WineStyles: Malty

Freigeist Bierkultur
Geisterzug
Rhubarb Gose
Cologne, Germany

Based on Freigeist’s ancient spruced Gose recipe, Geisterzug Quince & Geisterzug Rhubarb feature all the complexity, funkiness, and body of the of the original but go one step further by adding tart and flavorful real fruit and vegetables during fermentation. The resulting brews are incredibly lively, characterful, and thirst-quenching.

ABV: 5% alcohol / volume
IBU: 12
Style: Rhubarb Gose
Beer Style at WineStyles: Sour, Tart & Funky

Freigeist Bierkultur
Das Fette
Shandy / Radler
Cologne, Germany

50% Das Fette Wiess, 50% Zitronenlimonade. Made for Die Fette Kuh, Köln.

ABV: 2.5% alcohol / volume
Style: Shandy / Radler
Beer Style at WineStyles: Fruity & Spicy

ABOUT FREIGEIST BIERKULTUR BREWERY:
Freigeist was founded in 2009 with a mission to revive Germany’s lost regional, artisanal ales. They now offer bold, American-influence, American-brewed twists on their homelands’s most popular beer styles. The special label of Braustelle, Freigeist Bierkultur is a tiny decade-old brewery in Cologne, Germany run by Peter Esser and Sebastian Sauer. The dual use this label to riff on traditional beer styles, creating interesting, unique, and unusual beers. The beers were brewed and canned in collaboration by Urban Chestnut Brewing in St. Louis for Ffreigeist Bierkultur. Learn more about the brewery here, and follow them on Untappd.

Urban Chestnut Brewing Company
Zwickel
Bavarian-Style Lager
Saint Louis, MO

Pronounced ‘zv-ick-el’, the flagship lager of their Reverence Series (classically crafted, timeless, European-style biers) is an unfiltered, unpasteurized, German classic that finishes as a smooth-drinking, naturally cloudy beer. It is bready, lightly-hopped and smooth.

ABV: 5.1% alcohol / volume
IBU: 19
Hops: Hallertau Perle, Hallertau Mittelfrueh
Malt: Pilsner, Caramel
Yeast: UCBC Lager
Style: Bavarian Lager
Beer Style at WineStyles: Crisp & Clean
Awards:

Gold Medal: 2019 Great International Beer & Cider Competition
Gold Medal: 2017 LA International Beer Competition

Urban Chestnut Brewing Company
Dorfbier
Bavarian-Style Dunkle Lager
Saint Louis, MO

Some refer to the Dunkel style as the original beer of Munich and its surrounding villages (Dörfer). This everyday beer ranges in color and sweetness depending on the amount of Munich and roasted malts used. The sweetness of the malt is then balanced by the use of another Bavarian friend… the Hallertau hop… in this specific case, Hersbrucker, grown near Wolnzach, Hallertau. This beer is from Urban Chestnut Brewing Company’s Reverence series; it is deep amber in color and rich, smooth and tasty.

ABV: 5.2% alcohol / volume
IBU: 20
Hops: Herbrucker, Perle
Malt: Munich, Caramel, Chocolate
Yeast: UCBC Lager
Style: Munich Dunkle
Beer Style at WineStyles: Malty
Awards:

Gold Medal: 2017 World Beer Championships
Gold Medal – European Style Dunkel: 2016 Los Angeles International Beer Competition

ABOUT URBAN CHESTNUT BREWING COMPANY:
Urban Chestnut Brewing Co, with three locations in St. Louis, is an unconventional-minded, yet traditional-oriented brewer of craft beer. They take a ‘new world meets old world’ brewing approach wherein UCBC contributes to their ‘revolution’ of craft beer with artisanal creations of modern American beers; and ‘reverence’ to the heritage of beer with classically-crafted offerings of timeless European beer styles. Learn more about the brewery here, and follow them on Untappd.

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May Beer Club: Iowa

Posted on April 26, 2023 by mcginnessalex

This month, our Beer Club members will enjoy a six pack of Unibroue’s best ales and a Cherry Chouffe Belgium Ale from Brasserie D’Achouffe.

Unibroue Mix
Variety Six Pack
Chambly, Quebec, Canada

Included in Variety Pack:

Blanche Chambly
Maudite
Don de Dieu
Trois Pistoles
La Fin du Monde
Ce N’est Pas la Fin du Monde

Bouteille_Blanche_de_Chambly_Bottle_Image

Unibroue
Blanche Chambly
Quebec, Canada

Featuring a straw-colored body and thick head, with a nose that features a subtle bouquet of spices, citrus notes, yeast bread, coriander and cloves. The palate has notes of wheat, orange and spices. It has good sugar/acidity balance with a honey finish.

Brewery’s Notes: This highly awarded beer was named in honor of Fort Chambly, the proud emblem of the city where our beer is brewed.

ABV: 5% alcohol / volume
Style:Belgian-style Wheat Ale
Beer Style:Fruity & Spicy
IBU: 10
Fermentation: Top
SRM: 4
Color: Pale golden
Serving Temperature: 39ºF-43ºF
Food Pairings: White fish, salads, and goat cheese
International Awards: 25 Gold, 15 Silver and 6 Bronze

Unibroue
Maudite
Quebec, Canada

Wrapped in a red cloak, this aromatic and complex beer reveals a scent of malt, orange, and spices with additional aromas or coriander, cloves and hoppy floral notes. The palate is velvety with notes of caramelized sugar and marmalade, slight roasted with a spicy finish.

Brewery’s Notes: It evokes the Quebec legend of La Chasse-galerie – or flying canoe – which tells the tale of men who would risk anything for a night of fun, even making a pact with the devil.

ABV: 8% alcohol / volume
Style: Dubbel
Beer Style: Fruity & Spicy
IBU: 22
Fermentation: Top
SRM: 18
Color: Red amber
Serving Temperature: 54ºF-57ºF
Food Pairings: Spicy dishes, Crême brûlée, and strong-tasting soft washed-rind cheeses
International Awards: 23 Gold, 14 Silver and 4 Bronze

Unibroue
Don de Dieu
Quebec, Canada

This sweet and full-bodied white beer packs a serious punch with aromas of vanilla and fruitcake, beeswax, flowers and honey. The palate has a sweet alcohol flavor with notes of banana, hops and spices.

Brewery’s Notes: Every sip is a memorable moment, like the historic day when French explorers met with the First Nations people who came out to greet the Don de Dieu, the ship carrying Samuel de Champlain.

ABV: 9% alcohol / volume
Style: Belgian-Style Imperial Wheat Ale
Beer Style: Fruity & Spicy
IBU: 10.5
Fermentation: Top
SRM: 5
Color: Blonde
Serving Temperature: 46ºF-54ºF
Food Pairings: White meats, mild sausages, and goat cheese
International Awards: 23 Gold and 6 Silver

Unibroue
Trois Pistoles
Quebec, Canada

Crafted with four types of malt and just as many exotic spices, this deep brown ale has a strong malt flavor on the nose that is slightly roasted with aromas of chocolate, brown rum, spices and herbs. It has a full-bodied palate with notes of lightly smoked rum, grains, herbs and spices.

Brewery’s Notes: Who can tame this powerful beast, the proud descendant of Trois-Pistoles’ legendary Black Horse?

ABV: 9% alcohol / volume
Style: Belgian-Style Dark Strong Ale
Beer Style: Fruity & Spicy
IBU: 15.5
Fermentation: Haute
SRM: 32.2
Color: Brown with burgundy hues
Serving Temperature: 54ºF-57ºF
Food Pairings: Braised beef, game, and triple-cream cheeses
International Awards: 1 Platinum, 22 Gold, 15 Silver and 2 Bronze

Unibroue
La Fin du Monde
Quebec, Canada

This rich and sophisticated golden tripel has earned several international titles thanks to its refined taste marked by notes of grains, fruit and spice, supported by a slight bitterness. It has a floral bouquet and fresh baguette with aromas of honey, spices, coriander, malt and alcohol. It features a mildly hoppy palate with notes of grains, fruit and spice followed by a smooth, dry finish. The perfect balance of sugar, acidity, bitterness, spices and alcohol.

Brewery’s Notes: It is a tribute to Quebec, the land encountered by 16th-century French explorers who thought they’d reached the end of the world.

ABV: 9% alcohol / volume
Style: Tripel
Beer Style: Fruity & Spicy
IBU: 19
Fermentation: Top
SRM: 5.5
Color: Blonde
Serving Temperature: 46ºF-54ºF
Food Pairings: Seafood, sausages, and blue cheese
International Awards: 13 Platinum, 35 Gold, 8 Silver and 5 Bronze

Unibroue
Ce N’est Pas La Fin Du Monde
Quebec, Canada

This golden ale has notes of barley candy, cloves, yeast, peaches and tropical fruit, resinous and spicy hops on the nose. The palate highlights flavors of cereal, tropical and stone fruit, cloves, sweet pepper, and boreal. It’s herbaceous and bitter with a warmth from the alcohol.

Brewery’s Notes: This deliciously hoppy golden ale combines the complexity of a Belgian tripel with the power of New World IPAs. It’s cultural fusion at its best. Just like the French voyageurs who explored the interior of the continent in search of new horizons, now it’s your turn to embark on an adventure.

ABV: 9.5% alcohol / volume
Style: Triple du Nouveau Monde
Beer Style: Fruity & Spicy
IBU: 50
Fermentation: Top
SRM: 5.5
Hops: Galaxy, Willamette, Cascade and Simcoe
Color: Golden
Serving Temperature: 46ºF-50ºF
Food Pairings: Spicy fish tacos, pineapple upside-down cake, and old cheddar cheeses
International Awards: 1 Silver

ABOUT UNIBROUE BREWERY:
Founded in 1992, Unibroue is a team of pioneers of craft beer in Quebec, Canada. From their first brew of Blanche de Chambly, Unibroue is now a team of a hundred artisans with a shared passion for distinctive premium beers. Their ultra-modern site in Chambly, Quebec produces beers with unique flavor profiles through ancestral inspiration by Belgium traditions. To date, the brewery has accumulated more than 400 international awards and honors, making Unibroue the most-awarded brewery in Canada. Learn more here.

Brasserie D’Achouffe
Cherry Chouffe
Achouffe, Wallonie, Belgium

The aroma of Cherry Chouffe reveals notes of cherry, strawberry, almond, spices and sweet Port. It is round-bodied, soft and delicate with a satisfying finish and a very slight bitterness.

ABV: 8% alcohol / volume
Style: Belgium Style Ale
Beer Style: Fruity & Spicy
Serving Recommendation: Serve at 39.2ºF-50ºF in a room temperature glass. When pouring your beer, tilt your glass to a 45º angle and pour in 2/3 of the beer. With the glass upright, pour in the rest to get a wonderfully thick and creamy head. Enjoy!
Food Pairings: Tomatoes, red peppers, red cabbage, cauliflower, fennel, oysters, duck breast, stewed game dishes, almonds, raspberries, cherries and strawberries
International Awards: 2019 World Beer Awards – Belgium Bronze; 2020 World Beer Awards – Gold

ABOUT BRASSERIE D’ACHOUFEE BREWERY:
Initially considered a hobby, the Achouffe Brewery developed when brother-in-laws decided to purchase the farm in which they had been brewing for 4 years. Then, one after the other, they embarked on their venture full time in 1986. As the brewery grew, so did its family of gnomes, each representing one of the beers in the range, and each having their own story and characteristics. Learn more about Marcel (La Chouffe) here & learn more about the brewery here.

Try pairing your Cherry CHOUFFE with a Chouffe-Style Cauliflower!

CHOUFFE-STYLE CAULIFLOWER:
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Serves 4

Ingredients:

½ cup water
½ cup flour
1 teaspoon ground paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 pinch chili powder
2 tablespoons butter (or margarine)
1 drop of chili sauce
1 cauliflower
salt
4 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons chili sauce
1 tablespoon honey
black sesame seeds
2 tablespoons sour cream
2 oz. of gorgonzola
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon finely chopped tarragon

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 425ºF degrees.
Combine the water, flour, paprika, cumin, cilantro and chili into a smooth paste.
Melt the butter with the drop of chili sauce and a little salt. Add to the paste.
Cut the cauliflower into florets. Dip them into paste and place them on a sheet of baking paper on a baking tray.
Roast the cauliflower in the oven for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix the ketchup, the honey, and the hot sauce. Brush the florets with the spicy sauce and return them to the oven for 3 more minutes.
Mix the mayonnaise with the sour cream, the tarragon, and the gorgonzola.
Before serving, top the cauliflower with the cheese sauce.
Finish by sprinkling the whole thing with sesame seeds.

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April Beer Club: Iowa

Posted on March 28, 2023 by mcginnessalex

Brouwerij Kerkom
(Bink de) Reuss
Belgium

Reuss was the name of the first beer brewed at Kerkom in 1878. It is produced for the Bink festival. It’s a Belgium style Blonde Ale blended with Lambic. Marc Limet blends the lambic with a less bitter version of Bink Blonde (which has 38 IBUs versus 52 IBUs).

ABV: 6.5% alcohol / volume
Style: Lambic – Gueuze
Beer Style at WineStyles: Fruity & Spicy

ABOUT BROUWERIJ KERKOM BREWERY:
Founded by Evarist Clerinx in 1878, the brewery has been passed down to trusting hands since it’s birth (with some time away when they were forced to close the brewery in 1968, like so many others). In 1988, the Jean Clerinx opened the brewery again, and it didn’t take long for the town and its surrounding areas to fall in love with their beers all over again. The farmhouse has become the road house of dreams from walkers, cyclists, beers lovers and more. Kerkom Brewery is 100% traditional and proud of it! From the hops to the Bink Beer, every step of the process is still done manually, one by one, made with love. Learn more about the brewery here, and follow them on Untappd.

Brasserie Trois Dames
Exaltée
Switzerland

In this bière de coupage, the brewery used a blend composed of 75% fresh saison and 25% foudre aged mature sour beer. This allows the acidity, funkiness, and tropical flavors found in the aged portion to cut through the dry, bitter, young saison. The result is a bitter, dry, sour, and funky beer that is an instant classic.

ABV: 5.2% alcohol / volume
Style: Farmhouse Ale – Brett Saison
Beer Style at WineStyles: Fruity & Spicy

Brasserie Trois Dames
Fiancée Chasselas
Switzerland

This beer is a marriage between dry saison and the Chasselas grapes found in the heart of Romandy (French-speaking area in Switzerland). For this hybrid beer, we used grapes from their friends, the 4th generation winemakers of Domaine de Boulaz in Bonvillars on the southwestern shore of Lake Neuchâtel. This beer is an invitation to gather with friends and family to share a good bottle. Naturally bottle conditioned, unfiltered, and unpasteurized.

ABV: 5.9% alcohol / volume
Style: Dry Saison with Chasselas Grapes
Beer Style at WineStyles: Fruity & Spicy

ABOUT BRASSERIE TROIS DAMES:
Founded in 2003, by Raphël Mettler, the brewery is named after three ladies at home, his wife and two daughters, thus the name “Trois Dames”. Raphaël and his team crafted beers made to surprise their consumers – both in terms of their audacity in taste and their appearance. This is a limited item beer club, as Brasserie Trois Dames decided to close their doors in September 2020. The brand is still linked to the family and will not be sold, so it can continue to be at the disposal of the three ladies for future collaborations or other projects that may come to life. Learn more about the brewery here, and follow them on Untappd.

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March Beer Club: Iowa

Posted on February 27, 2023 by mcginnessalex

Cold Hand Winery
2015 Malus Danica 375 ml
Iced Cider / Apple Wine
Denmark

Malus Danica perfectly balances the wonderful aroma, sweetness and acidity of apples. The aroma of honey, sweet applesauce and fresh apple peel pours out of the glass, and the taste is fresh and rich.

ABV: 8.7-9% alcohol / volume
Style: Cider / Apple Ice-Wine
Beer Style at WineStyles: Fruity & Spicy
Recommended Pairings: Enjoy with cheeses, desserts, or as a treat in itself. It is also very good for fatty dishes such as foie gras and rillette.

PRODUCTION:
Malus Danica is produced using the cryo-concentration method. It contains Danish apple varieties: Ingrid Marie, Filippa, Elstar, Jonagold and Belle de Boskoop. Each apple variety was picked at optimum ripeness, is immediately pressed into must after harvest and frozen immediately afterwards. The must is then dried outside at sub-zero temperatures, where the frost binds the water in the must, while sugar, acid, aroma and color drip off like thick raw syrup. After thawing, the concentrated “apple syrup” is slowly cold-fermented for 18 months into an intense wine, and finally aged for 3 months in barrique. This is the winery’s flagship that started their “Cold Hand Fruit” wine adventure.

WINERY’S NOTES:
“Cryo-concentrating gives us cold hands to that extent, but the technique is nevertheless the basic substance in all our apple, pear and quince wines. With this technique, we can extract the aroma, the towering sugar content and preserve the intense acidity from the fruit in our wines.” – Cold Hand Winery

ABOUT COLD HAND WINERY:
Located out in the countryside between Rangers and Viborg, Cold Hand Winery is surrounded by an apple orchard and picturesque fields. Here, the winery continues to experiment with new tones and flavors of apples, pears, cherries, blackcurrants, currants, rhubarb, quinces, plums and blackberries to bring you closer to the world’s best fruit wine. Their fruit wine adventure is based on a “down-to-earth-ness”, curiosity and a a desire to share the good story. Learn more about the winery here, and follow them on Untappd.

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August Beer Club: Iowa

Posted on July 27, 2022 by mcginnessalex

Blackstack Brewing
Trust the Process
Double Dry Hopped Double IPA
St. Paul, Minnesota

Made in collaboration with Yakima Chief’s Hops, the Blackstack team says, “the team that runs Yakima Chief’s Hops were instrumental in the creation of CRYO concentrated hops product, which we used with reckless abandon to help us get as much of that oil saturation we know and love into the beer. We based the hop bill off what they were most excited about from the last harvest: Idaho7, Idaho7 CRYO, Simcoe, Simcoe American Noble & just a dash of Sabro. Sometimes you don’t ask why… just trust the process.”

Beer Style: Hoppy
Style: Double Dry Hopped Double IPA (DDH DIPA)
ABV: 8.4% alcohol / volume

Blackstack Brewing
DDH 775: HBC586
Double Dry Hopped IPA
St. Paul, Minnesota

Local 755 is one of Blackstack’s flagship beers… this is a souped up version of that NEIPA. Blackstack’s favorite Fog Dog gets some extra love with an extra dry hop of new experimental varietal that they’ve become rather obsessed with as of late, HBC 586. In addition to the first two of their hand selected Azacca, Amarillo & Citra, they send a “saturated salutation” from their house to yours.

Beer Style: Hoppy
Style: Double Dry Hopped IPA
ABV: 6.8% alcohol / volume

ABOUT BLACKSTACK BREWERY:
A family owned and operated brewery, the Johnston family have had a long love affair with great beer. In the 1990’s, Scott Johnson, the patriarch of the family, owned of All Saints Brands, Inc., a distribution company bringing European classic beers into Minnesota. Finally, in 2017, the entire family was able to launch BlackStack Brewing. Learn more about the their brewery here, and follow them on Untappd.

Tynt Meadow
English Trappist Ale
England, United Kingdom

This English Trappist Ale is mahogany in color with a subtle warm red hue and a lasting beige head. The nose carries hints of dark chocolate, licorice and rich fruit flavors. The beer is full-bodied, while gently balancing the taste of dark chocolate, pepper, and fig. The palate is left with a warm and dry finish.

Beer Style: Fruity & Spicy
Style: Dark Trappist Ale
ABV: 7.4% alcohol / volume
OG: 1.078
IBU: 34.8
Serving Recommendation: Steak, chocolate cake

ABOUT TYNT MEADOW:
Around 2013, the monks of the Saint Bernard Abbey realized farming was no longer a viable or sustainable option for their monastery due to modern mechanized farming and low dairy prices. After researching other monastic communities, they decided to build their own brewery in 2018. One of 10 brewing Trappist monasteries in the world, Tynt Meadow is the only Trappist brewery in England.

Trappist beers tend to be named after the place in which the monastery is situated, so Tynt Meadow honors the link with their plot of land. The monastery has records that beer was brewed before 1900, and while the historic recipe has been lost, the current Tynt Meadow is just as delicious and nurturing as the original. Learn more here.

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July Beer Club: Iowa

Posted on June 30, 2022 by WineStyles Tasting Station

Romilly Cidre
Rosé Cider (Cidre)
Normandy, France
375 ml bottle

The Romilly Farm is a thousand year old farm in Normandy, France, close to Omaha Beach. All the ciders (cidres) are made exclusively with apples produced on the 90 acre farm. This Rosé cider is fully natural with berries and beets providing a pleasing pink color. Big, French apple flavors with a mild barnyard funk that adds complexity. The cider presents rose petals and wildflower notes with herbs. Moderately sweet, easy to drink, great for celebrations and feasts.

Beer Style: Fruity and Spicy
Style: Cider
ABV: 4.4% alcohol / volume

Romilly Cidre
Brut Cider (Cidre)
Normandy, France
375 ml bottle

Slightly dry, presenting a bit of sweetness to draw out the flavors of the eight Norman apples that go into this complex cider. Romilly’s master cidermakers offer up a bouquet of apples, with aromas of old-world barn, hay, and leather with a restrained dryness on the palate that is balanced and refreshing. The finish is long and clean with hints of olives. Winner of World Cider Championships (record high of 95 points). Pair with a baguette, cheese, roasted meat and vegetables.

Beer Style: Fruity and Spicy
Style: Cider
ABV: 4.9 % alcohol / volume

ABOUT ROMILLY CIDRE: World Cider Championship Winners

A unique line of aged, natural French ciders of unmatched quality. Romilly Cidres invite exciting food pairing adventures. Elegant and delicious on their own, they inspire new cocktail inventions and trending demands for natural products and low ABV. They are of unsurpassed craftsmanship made only from the 32 varieties of heirloom apples produced on the Romilly Farm and champagne yeasts. Benjamin Renaud, the twenty-nine year old master cidremaker, adds no water, no sugar, adhering to standards of excellence found in the finest wineries and cidreries in France. Unsurpassed quality, limited production at an affordable price is a rarity indeed.

The Romilly Farm is a thousand year old farm in Isigny-Sur-Mer, Normandy, France, close to Omaha Beach. All the ciders are made exclusively with apples produced on the 90 acre farm. Each variety (Sweet, Half-dry, Dry, Extra Dry and Rosé) uses eight different Norman heritage apple varieties which are bio-dynamically grown. They have set records in major competitions and been adopted enthusiastically by Chef Thomas Keller, Chef Michael Solomonov, Gramercy Tavern, The Embassy of France and the United Nations Headquarters.

Romilly Heirloom Apples

Romilly Farm, Normandy France

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June Beer Club: Iowa

Posted on May 31, 2022 by mcginnessalex

Black_Stack_Fugazi_beer BlackStack Brewery
Fugazi
Italian-Style Pilsner
St. Paul, Minnesota

This Italian-Style Pilsner is dry-hopped adoringly with Czech Kazbek making it the real deal. A lively carb with soft lemon and heavy snap vibes.

Beer Style: Crisp & Clean
Style: Italian Style Pilsner
ABV: 4.8% alcohol / volume

BlackStack Brewery
It’s Legal There
Double IPA
St. Paul, Minnesota

No fruit was harmed in the making of this extremely fruit forward beer. Made with the “stickiest/ickiest” Michigan Chinook & Michigan Copper from Hop Heads Farms on a clean base of Briess Pils Malt. The name came with the saying, “Can you smell that? I’ve heard it’s legal here.”

Beer Style: Hoppy
Style: Double IPA
ABV: 8.0% alcohol / volume

working-title BlackStack Brewery
Working Title
Wheat Ale
St. Paul, Minnesota

This beer has gone many monikers since being one of the four beers on tap when BlackStack first opened. It is brewed with a touch of coriander & orange peel; and this time around it is fermented in a French Oak Foeder.

Beer Style: Fruity & Spicy
Style: Wheat Ale
ABV: 5.1% alcohol / volume

Aslin Beer Co.
Laser Raptors
Double IPA
Alexandria, Virginia

“When exploring the French alps, we came across something we did not know exists. While hiking, Joel screamed “That’s a Laser Raptor! I thought they went extinct thousands of years ago!” Little did we know, this Raptor was friendly. He had been outcast decades ago and started his own brewery in Switzerland. After a few beers with this Raptor, we decided to do a collaboration and dedicate this beer after him! If you are wondering his name, it’s Jeff or El Jefe after a few beers.” – Aslin Beer Co.

This Double IPA is brewed with Chinook, Simcoe and Mosaic hops.

Beer Style: Hoppy
Style: Double IPA
ABV: 8.3% alcohol / volume

ABOUT ASLIN BEER CO.:
Founded in 2015 by Andrew Kelley and Kai Leszkowicz, Aslin Beer Co. comes from the family name, Aslin, the family that connected Andrew and Kai through marriage (they each married a daughter from the Aslin Family). Andrew had a background in finance, while Kai worked in public service. They bonded over a mutual interest of craft beer and home brewing. Learn more about their brewery here, and follow them on Untappd.

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March Beer Club: Iowa

Posted on February 25, 2022 by mcginnessalex

Drekker Brewing Co.
BRAAAAAAAAins Strawberry & Pineapple
Double Fruit Smoothie Sour
Fargo, North Dakota

This one is blasted with strawberry & pineapple, and then it is hit with Drekker Brewing Co.’s double secret smoothie treatment of sea salt, lactose, and vanilla beans.

BeerStyles: Sour, Tart & Funky
Style: Sour – Smoothie / Pastry
ABV: 6.5% alcohol / volume

Drekker Brewing Co.
After School Prrrt
Fargo, North Dakota

Snack Time Sour! This one is jam packed with Gushers® & Fruit By The Foot®, plus a whole bunch of pineapple, plum, strawberry, raspberry, passionfruit, lactose, vanilla beans and sea salt.

BeerStyles: Sour, Tart & Funky
Style: Sour – Fruited
ABV: 6.8% alcohol / volume

Drekker Brewing Co.
Slang Du Jour – Cran-Orange Cobbler
Fargo, North Dakota

For the Cran-Orange Cobble Slang, the Drekker Brewing team cranked up the holiday vibes and loaded this with cranberry, orange, plum, granola, brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla beans.

BeerStyles: Sour, Tart & Funky
Style: Sour – Smoothie / Pastry
ABV: 6.4% alcohol / volume

***IMPORTANT NOTE!***
All of Drekker’s beer must be kept cold – there are no exceptions to this. Their beer is not pasteurized and often has a literal ton of fruit in them. Nobody wants them to explode.

ABOUT DREKKER BREWING CO.:
Drekker Brewing Co. has become a pretty sought after brewery in the craft beer world, and we cannot wait for you to see why. Like most breweries, Drekker started out as a hobby in a garage between four friends. Their passion for beer, a crazy dream, and a ton of hard work eventually led to the creation of Drekker Brewing Co. Learn more about the guys behind the beers here, and follow them on Untappd.

March-Beer-Club-Beers

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LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR BEER CLUB >

February Beer Club: Iowa

Posted on January 28, 2022 by mcginnessalex

Ten Towers Cider Co.
Soulless Pear Cider
Rickreall, Oregon

Northwest pear and apple give breath to Soulless Pear’s haunting ginger essence. For best results, enjoy 10 minutes out of the refrigerator and pair with sweet and sour pork, curry chicken salad, pizza or tomato soup.

BeerStyles: Fruity & Spicy
Style: Semi-Sweet Cider
Notes: Made with Pacific Northwest Apples; Gluten Free
ABV: 5.8% alcohol / volume

Ten Towers Cider Co.
Gravitas Cider
Rickreall, Oregon

Gravitas uses 100% locally sourced Pacific Northwest apples, cold pressed and fermented slowly to retain the wonderful aromatics and flavors. Next, it’s sweetened with a blend of heirloom and dessert apples to give this semi-dry cider a crisp, clean and refreshing apple flavor profile. Enjoy on its own or pair with pork, cheese, Thai, spaghetti, or chocolate.

BeerStyles: Fruity & Spicy
Style: Semi-Dry Cider
Notes: Made with Pacific Northwest Apples; Gluten Free
ABV: 6.3% alcohol / volume

Ten Towers Cider Co.
Shakti Chai Tea Cider
Rickreall, Oregon

Shakti cider is balanced and delicately spiced with chai tea. Pairs well with sweet or spicy dishes. Try with French toast, poached pear, apple pie, mufins or popcorn. Or enjoy with Pad Thai or curry chicken dishes.

BeerStyles: Fruity & Spicy
Style: Semi-Sweet Cider
Notes: Made with Pacific Northwest Apples; Gluten Free
ABV: 5.5% alcohol / volume

ABOUT TEN TOWERS CIDER COMPANY:
Since 1972, the Kruger family has been making cider from neighborhood orchards in the Pacific Northwest. The family has grown all well known varieties from Red Delicious, to Crispin, Liberty, Freedom, King, Fuji, and more. It wasn’t until 2017 that Ten Towers Cider Co. was founded – their one mission, to create high quality Pacific Northwest craft ciders. Learn more about the cidery here, and follow them on Untappd.

Follow WineStyles on Untappd

Don’t forget to follow your local WineStyles on the Untappd app and tag us when enjoying your Brew!

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR BEER CLUB >

May Cheese Club: Iowa

Posted on April 28, 2021 by mcginnessalex

Benning®
Mild Goats Milk Gouda
Holland

Benning® Mild Goats Milk Gouda is a semi-firm, pure white, versatile cheese that is fresh and mild in taste. It is made from light goats’ milk that is then formed into classic gouda-style wheels and aged to create a smooth and creamy textured cheese. This cheese is great for the pickiest of eaters. It is mildly tangy and slightly sweet with hints of caramel.

FOOD PAIRING: This cheese melts beautifully; eat as is, or slice/grate onto your favorite sandwich or pizza.

WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRING: The Benning® Mild Milk Gouda pairs well with dark and malty beers such as a malty Amber Ale. It also pairs nicely with a buttery Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc or our May Wine Club Chenin Blanc.

WINESTYLES: Silky
BEERSTYLES: Dark & Roasty or Malty & Sweet

Cypress Grove®
Midnight Moon®
Holland

This aged goat milk cheese is made exclusively for Cypress Grove® in Holland. Aged for at least six-months, Midnight Moon® is an ivory-colored goat cheese with forward nutty and brown-buttery flavors, finish with long caramel notes. Similar to classic goudas, Midnight Moon® forms protein crystals as it ages, and lends to a slight crunch to the otherwise dense and smooth cheese. This goat cheese is known to convert even the pickiest of goat cheese critics!

AWARDS:

Best of Class, World Championship Cheese Contest 2010, 2020
Super Gold, World Cheese Awards 2015, 2018
Gold, World Cheese Awards 2014
Best New Product in Show, sofi Awards 2002
Silver, World Cheese Awards 2017
Silver Finalist, sofi Awards 2003
Third Place, World Championship Cheese Contest 2014
Bronze, World Cheese Awards 2016
Bronze, sofi Awards 2017

FOOD PAIRING: Serve with fig jams, seeded crackers, or bread

WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRING: For wine, pair with Ice Wine, Sweet Sherry, Syrah or Zinfandel. As for beer, look for a Belgian Dark, Stout, or a Tripel.

WINESTYLES: Fruity or Bold
BEERSTYLES: Dark & Roasty, or Fruity & Spicy

ABOUT CYPRESS GROVE®, ARCATA, CALIFORNIA:
In the 1970’s, when pre-packed TV dinners and processed, rubber cheese were popular, a self-proclaimed “serious hippie” named Mary Keehn was on the hunt for something different. A mother a four, she wanted to find healthier milk for her children. Mary noticed her neighbor owned goats for brush control and asked if she could purchase two, at which the neighbor replied, “if you can catch ’em, you can have ’em”. Each day, Mary went out with grain until eventually she lured in her first two goats: Esmeralda and Hazel. These goats turned into four, and many more from there. With a lot of goats, came a lot of milk, and thus, Cypress Grove® was born! Learn more about their story here.

Don’t let your Wine Club go home alone!

Join our Cheese Club and bring home a match made in heaven!

If you enjoy pairing cheese with wine, this is your club! Each month you’ll discover specialty and artisan cheeses to pair with your Wine Club. Monthly cheese selections are chosen by your local WineStyles participating location. It’s the perfect opportunity to Taste, Learn and Enjoy® amazing artisan cheese every month! Only $19.99/month and your wine won’t be lonely! Click to learn more >

WineStyles Tasting Station

Taste, Learn and Enjoy!

Tag Archives: Fruity & Spicy

June Beer Club: Iowa

Freigeist Bierkultur
Ottekolong
Unfiltered Kölsch
Cologne, Germany

Freigeist Bierkultur
Dortmunder
Lager
Cologne, Germany

Freigeist Bierkultur
Geisterzug
Rhubarb Gose
Cologne, Germany

Freigeist Bierkultur
Das Fette
Shandy / Radler
Cologne, Germany

Urban Chestnut Brewing Company
Zwickel
Bavarian-Style Lager
Saint Louis, MO

Urban Chestnut Brewing Company
Dorfbier
Bavarian-Style Dunkle Lager
Saint Louis, MO

May Beer Club: Iowa

This month, our Beer Club members will enjoy a six pack of Unibroue’s best ales and a Cherry Chouffe Belgium Ale from Brasserie D’Achouffe.

Unibroue Mix
Variety Six Pack
Chambly, Quebec, Canada