SAUCE MAGAZINE
Posted On: 01/01/2010
STL Hops’ Mike Sweeney weighs in on which wintry brews to drink this month, while Annie Gunn’s wine director Glenn Bardgett provides his picks for port. Check your favorite watering hole, liquor store or wine shop for availability.
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
Goose Island’s Bourbon County Stout is a luscious beer that’s as dark as a January midnight. Let it warm up, then enjoy a big sniff of this stout’s complex and intoxicating aroma. Chocolate, bourbon, coffee and vanilla will come through not only on the nose, but also in the flavor.
Schlafly Brewer’s Choice Bulldog Strong Ale
Schlafly allows its brewers some room to experiment a bit, and because of that, we get the Bulldog Strong Ale. This beer, available only at Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood, lives up to its name, providing a big hop bite with a beautiful malt body.
New Holland Pilgrim’s Dole Wheatwine
The basic ingredients of beer are water, hops, yeast and some sort of malted grain; if your recipe contains a large portion of wheat, you get wheatwine. That extra helping of wheat provides a velvety beer with a pleasant bready aroma. Pair this with salted caramel ice cream.
Adam Puchta Signature Port, Hermann, Mo.
This Missouri-made port offers one of the lowest alcohol levels of the style (17.5 percent), making it also one of the easiest to drink. The Puchta is a softer, berry-loaded style that needs no aging, just a glass to sniff, sip and enjoy. Try it with a variety of fruit desserts. About $35.
Jonesy Rare Aged Port by Trevor Jones, Australia
Jonesy is a Tawny-style port made from a blend of aged wines over 40 years old; the light amber color is a sign of its extensive age. Its burnt and raisin flavors pair well with cashews and almonds. It’s generally priced under $15, and I’m still a bit blown away to see this quality at such a great price.
Smith Woodhouse Lodge Reserve Porto, Oporto, Portugal
This true Porto from one of the great houses in Portugal has impressed me for over a decade with its softer tannins; a glass of this with some Stilton is the perfect cold-weather pairing. The Lodge Reserve has some of the style of vintage Porto, but at a fraction of the vintage price: At about $20, this is an outstanding value.
