What We Drank (August 10, 2010)

 This is what the NYCR editors and contributors are drinking...

Evan Dawson:  Domaine des Baumard 2007 Savennieres Trie Speciale

Screwcap! This wine had the dual interest of being a nicely regarded Savennieres along with being closed by a screwcap. I'm told this estate made the difficult decision to change to screwcap several years ago. I say it was difficult because in the Loire Valley -- in many places not named Australia or New Zealand -- screwcaps are viewed with some suspicion. 

This wine is too young to detect any problems or witness great success regarding the screwcap. I confess that I find the screwcap hopelessly unromantic, and at some point I probably need to get over that and engage in some objective comparison. 

It's a very good value, regardless of closure. It needed time to soften up a harsh leading edge, but after that the wine pushed forward with a variety of interesting aromas and flavors; lavender and creamed peach, for example, even though it was not aged in oak.

David Flaherty: Two Brothers Hop Juice Double IPA

The IBU scale. For hop freaks, "International Bittering Units" are the equivalent to the Scoville Scale for pepper hounds. And the craft beer scene has taken this scale and turned it into child's play, ascending the ladder like one does a jungle gym, trepidatiously at first, but with greater abandon as one goes higher into the clouds.

I have met my match. Clocking in at a whopping 100.1 IBUs, the Two Brothers Hop Juice is a legend. In fact, it is said the beer actually clocks in at 124 IBUs but the human palate can only detect bitterness up to 100 IBUs. (The last .1 is mere mockery and fun from the brewers themselves to further slap your mouth into obedience).

But the key with any "big" beverage, be it a 17% Californian Zin or an aged Trockenbeerenauslese riesling is balance. Balance, balance, balance.  The opposite of bitterness is sweetness, and along with this mouth-puckering sensation of piney, citrusy hops comes a rich, malty backbone upon which the bitter cloak can hang.  

It is a monster but it is delicious. A Frankenstein in a dashing tuxedo. Good thing I polished up my spats before cracking this bottle. We danced through the air on a cloud of teetering extremes. Get you some. If you dare to climb the ladder to the top.

Lenn Thompson: Graham Beck NV Brut Rose

"This is reaaaally good."

"You should make this your What We Drank."

Sometimes I listen to my wife, so here you have it -- probably the best value sparkler to hit our house since the last Graham Beck we had. 

Retailing for around $15, this 70% pinot, 30% chardonnay sparkler delivers bright but delicate berry -- strawberry and cherry -- flavors with nice toast/yeast character and a gently creamy mid-palate.

The finish isn't long -- in fact it's the only disappointing aspect of this sparkler -- but if you like rose Champagne but can't afford to drink it often, you should try this one.

It brings a lot of classic style to the table for $15. I think we'll try to track more of this down to have on hand as a house sparkler.

To quote David above...get you some.

Julia Burke: Brewery Ommegang Zuur

Sour beers are all the rage in the beer world right now and I couldn't be happier. From our own little New York slice of Belgium comes this Flemish-style sour brown ale brewed with cherries, and it made my weekend to come into work and find it on tap.

Ommegang's Zuur is murky-brown in the glass with little to no head or lacing poured from the tap into a 10 oz. goblet. The nose is delicate cherries and hints of malt and yeast esters, nothing over-the-top or out-of-whack, and if this beer is over 8% ABV it certainly doesn't show it (technical information for Zuur was not available).

On the palate, mouthwatering sourness creates a beautiful sipping experience without attacking the taste buds.

It's a sessionable sour, a rarity in the Belgian world, and a solid presentation from Ommegang.

Comments

[Julia Burke]

Lenn - we just picked up that Graham Beck Rose at Premier. For the price it's a great way to introduce folks to South Africa's Methode Cap Classique style. Glad you liked it!

[armani belts]

Very good post. Made me realize I was totally wrong about this issue. I figure that one learns something new everyday. Mrs Right learned her lesson! Nice, informative website by the way.