SAUCE MAGAZINE
Posted On: 03/01/2010
STL Hops’ Mike Sweeney weighs in on which brews to drink this month, while Annie Gunn’s wine director Glenn Bardgett provides his picks for wine. Check your favorite watering hole, liquor store or wine shop for availability.
O’Fallon Hemp Hop Rye, O’Fallon, Mo.
Don’t let the name fool you, the newest year-round beer from O’Fallon Brewery is no gimmick brew. The toasted hemp seeds added to this American amber beer provide a nuttiness that matches well with the rye.
Unibroue Apple Éphémère, Chambly, Quebec
Many fruit beers are sickeningly sweet or taste like an odd fruit extract. Unibroue’s take on a fruit beer reminds you of a crisp green apple that melds perfectly with its unique house yeast strain.
Avery Brewing Out of Bounds Stout,
Boulder, Colo.
While dry Irish stouts aren’t one of my favorite styles, I can’t let St. Patrick’s Day pass without having one. With this completely drinkable full-bodied stout, you can leave the green beer at home.
Pedroncelli Pinot Noir 2008, Russian River Valley, Calif.
I don’t remember a Pinot Noir from the famed Russian River Valley of Sonoma being this good for about $15. It has all the grace of Pinots at double the price. The Pedroncelli family has owned its vineyards since 1927, which keeps the costs down. It was described to me as the “Johnny Londoff of wineries.”
House Wine Red Wine 2006, Columbia Valley, Wash.
Considering the frivolity and directness of the name and label, this was a great surprise. At around $12, this Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend (73 percent) delivers value and smiles.
Mettler Petite Sirah 2005, Lodi, Calif.
Not to be confused with the more trendy Syrah, Petite Sirah has long been known for boldly flavored reds, particularly from the central California region of Lodi. This offers fragrant berries and a masterful touch of oak for about $22.
