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Cocktail Recipes to Celebrate Cinco De Mayo!

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Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday that celebrates Mexico’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla.  But  for many of us  it is a great excuse for a day of patio drinking! And since we are drinking in honor of Mexico, it only seems right that we should feature some drinks made from the blue agave plant, a spiky-leafed member of the lily family. By Mexican law the agave spirit called Tequila can be made only from one particular type of agave, the blue agave, and can be produced only in specifically designated geographic areas, primarily the state of Jalisco in west-central Mexico.

Please enjoy some of these traditional Tequila drinks:

 

The Original MargaritaFrozenMargaritas1

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 oz tequila
  • 1/2 oz triple sec
  • Lemon or lime juice
  • 3 oz sour mix
  • Lime wedge for garnish
  • Salt or sugar to rim the glass (optional)

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Shake well. If desired, salt (or sugar) the rim of a chilled margarita or highball glass. Pour contents, with ice, into the glass. Garnish with the lime.

Blended Version: Pour the liquid ingredients into a blender and add 1 cup crushed ice. Blend to your preferred consistency.

Fruit Version: In addition to the liquid ingredients and the crushed ice, add one half to one cup of your favorite fresh or frozen fruit. Adjust the fruit and ice to get the consistency you prefer.

url-5Cadillac Margarita

For serious drinkers only who wouldn’t ever think of having a drink watered down by blending it with ice or letting a silly umbrella get in the way.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ oz premium reposada or anejo tequila (don’t go cheap, you’ll regret it)
  • ½ oz Cointreau
  • ½ oz Grand Marnier
  • 1 oz lime juice
  • Salt if desired
  • Lime squeeze (garnish)

Instructions

Rim a margarita or highball glass with lime and coat with salt if desired. Next, fill the glass with ice and set aside. In a shaker with ice combine tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice. Shake well a strain into the glass. Float the Grand Marnier on top, and squeeze the lime and drop it in.

 

Paloma

This is one of Mexico’s most popular cocktails year round, a fizzy favorite in warm weather and one of the smoothest tequila drinks. Pick a blanco style tequila. If you use a diet soda, you’ll keep the calorie count down.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz blanco or reposado tequila
  • 6 oz fresh grapefruit soda (regular or diet)
  • 1/2 oz lime juice
  • Salt (optional)

Rim the glass with salt if desired. Fill the glass with ice and add the tequila and lime juice. Top it off with grapefruit soda.

Juan_Collins-smJuan Collins

This is the traditional Tom Collins with tequila. Use a high quality plata or silver tequila and the best fresh lemon juice for the best Juan Collins.

Ingredients:

  • 3 parts plata or silver tequila
  • 1 part lemon juice
  • 1 tsp superfine sugar
  • 6 parts club soda

Pour the tequila, lemon juice, and sugar into a Collins glass with ice cubes. Stir thoroughly, and top with club soda.

Tequila Sunrise

Sure, it’s straight out of the 70s but there’s a reason the Tequila Sunrise is still around. It taste great, it looks good in the glass, and it’s easy to mix. It was reportedly first served in the beach resorts of Cancun and Acapulco in the 1950s to tourists who brought the recipe home.sept_sunrise

Ingredients:

  • 4 oz orange juice
  • 2 oz tequila
  • 1/2 oz grenadine
  • Orange slice for garnish
  • Maraschino cherry for garnish

Pour the tequila and the orange juice into a highball glass with ice cubes. Stir. Slowly pour the grenadine around the inside edge of the glass. It will sink and slowly rise to mix with the other ingredients naturally. Garnish with the orange slice and cherry.

Tequila Mojito

A refreshing alternative if you like something a little less sweet than a traditional margarita.

Ingredients:

  • 3 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 4 tsp sugar
  • 12 large fresh mint leaves
  • 1/4 cup blanco or reposado tequila
  • 1/4 cup club soda

In a highball glass, mix lime juice, sugar, and mint. Mash mint leaves with the back of a spoon until the sugar dissolves. Fill the glass with ice. Add tequila and club soda; stir to blend.

Be sure to have plenty of fresh juicy limes handy on Cinco de Mayo, a must.

Brave Bullbrave-bull-481

This drink combines tequila with Mexico’s other famous contribution to cocktail hour, Kahlua or coffee liqueur.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz tequila
  • 1 oz Kahlua or coffee liqueur

Pour the tequila and Kahlua into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice cubes. Stir well.

corona-corona-light-tecate-bohemia-vicoria-modelo-especial-negra

Not a margarita person? Try one of these popular Mexican beers at your Cinco de Mayo party.

Bohemia: This Mexican beer is made in the Czech pilsner style, so it’s hoppy and dry with a hint of malt.

Carta Blanca: This golden beer is brewed in the Mexican lager tradition, is lightly carbonated, and has a clean, crisp aftertaste with a hint of sweetness.

Corona: One of the most well-known Mexican beers, Corona is a typical light lager that’s slightly sweet with a hint of hops.

Dos Equis Amber: This light lager is pale yellow with a quickly dissipating head that opens to aromas of grain and corn.

Negra Modelo: This thick, dark Mexican ale is brewed in the Vienna style and is prized for its coppery color, hearty body, and toffeelike aftertaste.

SOL: This Mexican beer is dark gold and crystal clear, with minimal carbonation, a hint of hops, and a slightly bitter finish.
Pacifico Clara: This pale gold Mexican lager carries flavor notes of corn and yeast with a citrusy, grassy, dry aftertaste.

Tecate: Pale yellow and perfectly clear, this Mexican beer is a light, bright lager with a smooth body, clean aroma, and crisp aftertaste.

Sip & Stroll – Coming Soon To Outdoor Drinking Districts

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3119262-Drinking-in-the-Streets-0Grab a beer and head outside. Well, not yet. But soon. Maybe. It depends on where you are.

State lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday to legislation that would allow outdoor alcohol consumption in areas such as The Oregon District, The Greene or Austin Landing. Governor Kasich signed House Bill 47 yesterday making it effective now,  allowing more than 60 Ohio cities with a population greater than 35,000 people to create ‘outdoor refreshment areas’ that are exempt from the state’s open-container laws.

The legislation designates that these entertainment area’s are limited to a half square mile area that has at least  four liquor licenses. Beavercreek Mayor Brian Jarvis has said his staff “will research it, look into all the details, all the legislation. Then come back to us during a work session to explain what it’s all about.”
No word yet from other potential outdoor drinking districts yet, but we’re sure we’ll be hearing more very soon.

According to the legislations, smaller communities would be able to designate such areas in two years.

The Bourbon and The Chainsaw: Jackyl Brings Their Own Party

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Richfield Coliseum

The home of great sports and great rock.

When I was younger, one of the first concerts I went to was a sold out show at the Richfield Coliseum on the Aerosmith “Get A Grip” Tour. The Coliseum was an amazing venue south of Cleveland, seeing many great musical acts come through there and hosting some incredible sports teams. It was the home of the Cavaliers for three decades (and the home of Larry Bird’s final game), and where every major band that came to Cleveland played. Thus the rock legends from Boston touched down there, bringing another, lesser known band to open for them. Jackyl was entertaining to watch and blended in well with the rock that was going to be the main course for the day. Their big hook was one of their songs, called “The Lumberjack”. Their front man, Jesse James Dupree, played a chainsaw on stage as part of the song. It was an interesting way to kick off the show, but not as interesting as you can kick it off now. Dupree has been fronting Jackyl since the late 1980’s. That is a lot of bars played at, and a lot of beer and whiskey sold. And by his reckoning, he has been “personally been responsible for millions of gallons of beer and whiskey that have been consumed over the years.” He rectified the beer part of that equation, releasing Jesse James America’s Outlaw Beer around 2008 and may still be available in Kansas, Missouri, and South Dakota. A few years ago, American Outlaw Bourbon hit the scene, taking care of the whiskey.

Being from the South, Mr. Dupree knows something about whiskey. Jesse James Spirits was launched in 2010, the same year of Jackyl’s studio release When Moonshine and Dynamite Collide.  It brought the American Outlaw Beer under a solid home, and allowed the release of The Original Jesse James American Outlaw Bourbon Whiskey into the world. Distilled in Kentucky and rested in charred oak for three years, it is an uncommon find when you are roaming the liquor stores of Ohio, or many other places in the United States. Lest you think that Dupree went into this as a lark, American Outlaw won a Bronze Medal, along with Four Roses Yellow Label, at the 2012 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. He has also planned some expansion into Trimble, Tennessee, butting heads with the state over being able to create a product labelled as Tennessee Whiskey. Jack Daniels has a lock on that title, and on the process, that it requires to be called a Tennessee Whiskey. He

Pick up a good bottle of hard-to-find bourbon!

Pick up a good bottle of hard-to-find bourbon!

was one of many voices that argued that the requirements listed in the law were the process Jack Daniels’s used to make their whiskey, and shuts out the small distillers like his.

If you are either a bourbon or Jackyl enthusiast, today is (somewhat) your lucky day! The lucky bit is that Jesse James Dupree will be selling, and signing, bottles of his American Outlaw Bourbon and Michael Balard’s Full Throttle S’Loonshine at Manor Wine and Liquor on Airway Road. The unlucky part of it is that his second stop of the evening, Oddbody’s Music Room, where Jackyl will be performing with Transylvania Hellhounds and Four Star Revival at 7 PM, is sold out.

A good deal of time has passed since that concert in 1993. The Coliseum is now a field in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and Jackyl is no longer a little known opening act. They have become a powerful force in the rock world, with a new opening act they are looking to introduce to a broader audience. From what we have seen and heard about it, and with the continuing growth of the craft bourbon and whiskey scene, we may be seeing American Outlaw Bourbon eventually making a big name for itself. Cheers!

Popping the Cork!

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wThere’s no doubt that a bottle of bubbly is the perfect go-to-libation to celebrate New Year.  But how do you choose the right sparkling wine for your festivities? Probably the biggest factors are taste and budget.  If budget is no object, Champagnes like Krug, Dom Perignon and Cristal come to mind.  It’s rare to find a bottle of champagne for under $50.

Champagne is the name given to sparkling wines produced in the French region of Champagne. The name “champagne” is protected by law and can only be used by winemakers from that region. But Italy and Spain offer delicious (and less expensive) alternatives with their respective prosecco and cava.  You can pick up a great prosecco or cave for under $20.

But what’s the difference between these three sparkling wines?

The major difference is in the process of fermentation (the “bubble making process”). Champagne goes through a second fermentation in a sealed bottle. For prosecco and cava, the second fermentation is done in a large vat, also known as the Charmat method. The three wines are also made from different grape varietals: Champagne from chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier grapes; cava from macabeo, parellada and xarel-lo grapes and prosecco from glera grapes.600583-1617-21

Each wine has different amounts of fizz, either frizzante or spumante. The easiest way to determine how much fizz your bubbly will have is to simply compare the corks. If the cork has a string attached to it, you’ll have light fizz (frizzante) and if you notice a wire – traditional for Champagne – then you’ll have heavy fizz (spumante).

And in general as far as taste, Champagne is rich and complex, while cava and prosecco are lighter and slightly fruitier.   And the absolute best way to determine what you like is to just taste and that’s easy to do this week, as many of our local wine shops are hosting tastings.  Here are two you won’t want to miss:

Sat, Dec 27th  –  Arrow Wine Tasting –  11am – 5pm
11am – 5pm – either store, casual drop in tasting, nominal cost per taste

Sun, Dec 29th – Dorothy Lane Market 4-6pm

For more wine events, be sure and check our MostMetro.com wine calendar.

 

The Long, Cold Fermentation of Beer – National Lager Day

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Classic Budweiser Ad

The lager boom in America started with this company.

No one would mistake Budweiser as a craft beer. With over 50% of the market share of beer sales in the United States, it is anything but a small brewery. Jim Koch, head of Samuel Adams Brewery, has famously said that Anheuser Busch spills more beer in a year than Sam Adams brews. It was not always that way. In the 1860’s, all beer in the U.S. was craft beer. It was local, it was fresh, and as you went further west, it was German. After the Civil War, German immigrant and Civil War veteran Adolphus Busch bought into his father in law’s brewery, Anheuser and Co. It was one of roughly 3,700 breweries in the country at the time. The Germans brought their own style of beer with them when they came to this country. It was that style of beer, the lager, which Busch envisioned as a national beer. Through hard work, vision, and a passion for quality, Busch was able to make that vision a reality. His competitors, Pabst, Miller, Schlitz, and many others brewed lagers as well, making the style the dominant one in the country until the Craft Beer Era began in the late 1980’s. Craft beer focused more on ales, turning the lager style into a pariah with its yellow fizziness and lack of flavor. December 10th is National Lager Day, and a perfect time to reacquaint yourself with a delicious style of beer.

Lagers are the new kid on the block. Ales have been brewed for over 7,000 years, but lagers did not hit the beer scene until the 16th century. They were brewed in Bavaria, and spread all over Eastern Europe. They would brew beer in the fall and store it in caves with lake ice through the winter. It became known as lager, the German word for “to store” or “to camp”, and they discovered it would ferment through the winter months. The longer, cooler fermenting time created a popular beer with a smoother finish. Ales ferment at warmer temperatures for shorter times, making them less stable in general. That instability lead to beers souring more often than not, requiring other herbs and spices to mask the awful flavor. The Reinheitsgebot, the German Purity Law, was put into effect to combat this, requiring beer to be made with only three ingredients: hops, water, and malt. It required beer to be better, which lagering aided. The lower temperature and longer fermenting time creates a much more stable beer, not needing the extra spices to cover any souring or changes in flavor. This stability also allowed it to beer to travel further, exposing it to a wider audience. The stage where lagers truly took off was the city of Pilsn, where the pilsner was born.

Castle in Bavaria

Bavaria: Home to Cinderella’s castle and the birthplace of lager.

Ales and lagers are created with the same basic ingredients, save one: the yeast. Ales are top fermenting, utilizing the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast and temperatures around the 60 range. Lagers use the yeast strain Saccharomyces pastorianus, a South American strain that takes longer to break down the sugar. It does this at lower temperatures (roughly 40 º F) as well, making the lagering process a perfect fit. Lower temperatures lead to other changes in the beer. Esters, which give ales their wide range of flavors, do not form in the same quantities in the colder environment. This limits the flavors that can be developed naturally in the beer, requiring changes in the ingredients themselves to create the range of lagers that sit on the shelves. If you talk to a brewer, they may mention the yeast strain Saccharomyces carlsbergensis, a strain discovered by Emil Christian Hansen at the turn of the 20th century while working in the Carlsberg brewery. It was later discovered that this strain is the same as S. pastorianus, and now that name is used for all lager creating yeasts.

Most people associate lagers with Adolphus’ Budweiser creation. Light, highly carbonated, and lacking much flavor. There are a wider range of beer that falls into the lager category, not all of them are pale gold in color. Lagers are generally best enjoyed at colder temperatures to maintain their crispness. There are four very general categories that lagers fall into.

  • Pale Lager

    This is what most people think of when they think of a lager. It is golden in color, carbonated, and had a crisp flavor. When you think of big, national beers, this is the style that comes to mind. Pilsners were the founders of this feast, blending pale ale brewing philosophies with lager science. German responded with Helles (“bright”) lagers, and the style caught on. Budweiser, Corona, Molson, and Sapporo are all examples of a pale lager.

  • Amber Lager

    The more common style before Pilsner took the world by storm was a darker, sweeter version. It did not take on the same hop profile as its lighter companion, instead leaning on malty sweetness to carry the flavor load. This style becomes insanely popular during the fall with Maerzen (Oktoberfest) beers, but many craft brewers in the United States have embraced the style as well. Samuel Adams’ Boston Lager, Yuengling, and Great Lakes Brewing Company’s Elliot Ness all fall under this category.

  • Bock

    German Bock Ad.

    Goats are frequently seen in bock ads in Germany due to a bad translation.

    If you are looking for a lager beer, but want a little extra muscle in it, the bock is where it is at. Brewed by monks as early as the 14th century, it was made heavier to become a source of nutrition during times of fasting. Monks tended to fast around holidays, and it became a beer associated with those holidays. Bocks were traditionally dark beers, but developed a range from lighter copper to a deep brown. Shiner Bock may be the most popular version in the United States, and local Christian Moerlein’s Emancipator Dopplebock is an award winner. Eisbocks and Dopplebocks are versions of this beer.

  • Dark Lager

    The darkest of the lagers, it has all the characteristics of the pale lager but with a richer, deeper flavor. The bitterness does not come from roasting, but from adding more hops to the brew. The malt is where it gets the deeper flavor, not from a darker roast like porters and stouts do. Guinness and Warsteiner make well known versions of a dark lager.

You may also find some lagers that add flavors to the beer, like fruits, chocolate, or smokiness.

The Dayton Beer Company has a Pilsner release today!

Where can you get local lagers, you might ask? That is an excellent question! The Dayton Beer Company is releasing their Pilsner-style beer today, but finding other lagers are difficult. Fifth Street brewery has a smoked Oktoberfest-style beer called Frau Blücher (insert horse sound here) for the fall, and Eudora Brewing Company is planning on releasing a Pilsner for their summer seasonal beer, and offers a delightful Oktoberfest in fall. Warped Wing has offered BrassPunk Pils, but that is also on a seasonal/rotating basis. Most of the beers being brewed by the local craft brewers are ales. If you know of any other good local lagers, please drop me a line!

Lager is not just the yellow fizzy beer that Adolphus Busch turned into the biggest seller in the country. Lager beer is a whole different brewing style, offering a stable flavor profile on which to build a wide range of different beers. It is not a coincidence that the biggest brewery in the country (Budweiser), the longest running brewery in the country (Yuengling), and the largest craft brewery in the country (Samuel Adams) all have a lager as the mainstay of their empires. Today is a day to celebrate the malty, simple goodness that lagers offer. Cheers!

The Second Century

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Bourbon barrels resting

Shhhhh…they’re sleeping.

Bourbon is complex. It starts off as any ethanol does, trapped in corn kernels and barley shells. Those grains, the proportions of which are known as a mash bill, are warmed up to release the sugar. While the meal is still warm, the yeast and a little sour mash feast on it in stills made of a variety of materials. The completed wash is then poured into unused, charred white oak barrels, where they take a nap of two years or more. After that long nap, they are usually blended from their 65 percent (130+) proof) or higher barrel strength down to a more drinkable 40 to 50 percent (80 to 100 proof). The aging process at that point it stopped, and it is ready to be enjoyed. According to Travel and Leisure, in Dayton you can enjoy it at one of the best bourbon bars in the country, The Century Bar on Jefferson. Joe Head, the driving force behind that bar, has been patiently guiding it for over a decade to where it stands now. Where it stands now is changing.

The changes started to occur around the end of summer/beginning of fall this year. “It was time to get into the cocktail world,” states Joe. Through the urging of Molly Wellmann, a Cincinnati-based purveyor of bourbons and fine spirits at places like the Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar and Japps Since 1879, and his own exploration of craft cocktails, he discovered one he had an affinity for. The venerable whiskey sour rose above the rest. Joe’s reasons are ones that many loves of this cocktail site. “It is light and airy, and the egg white adds some smoothness to it. The ingredients are simple and fresh, so you know where they come from.” This led to the creation of Whiskey Sour Sundays at The Century, as well as a seasonal craft cocktail menu. “The bartenders decide the whiskey sour we are going to feature. It gives anti-sport fans something to look forward to on Sunday,” he states. By the look of some of the images they have posted on their Facebook page, they have some innovative sours. Joe’s favorite sour is the traditional one, but of the ones his staff has created, the Smokehouse Sour stands out most in his head. It features smoked sugar and vanilla, with fresh lemon juice.

Whiskey Sour

The whiskey sour is making a triumphant return to the bar scene.

The fall season is ending, so it is time for a new seasonal menu! That menu will be introduced after Thanksgiving, and will feature “drinks that make sense for that time of the year.” It will have figs and other popular winter flavors on the menu, as well as spirits other than bourbon. According to Joe, “We use a variety of spirits, but on a limited basis. Summer is going to be for gin. We are going to use spirits that enhance the cocktail, not just using them for the sake of making a cocktail.” You are not going to see any recommended brands, either. What you will see, though, are cocktails with eggs in them.  Turning through the pages of any classic cocktail book, you will see many recipes with eggs as an ingredient. The Century makes their sours with egg white in it, to enhance the richness and the mouthfeel of the drink. Their customers enjoy them as well. “You have a better chance of choking on a bar nut than getting sick from eggs,” Joe states with a wide smile. They shake it warm as well, to minimize and possible risk of illness.

The shift to the craft cocktails, among other pursuits, reflects a shift Joe sees in the clientele.  “People are drinking differently,” he notes. “They used to drink to get drunk. Now they are drinking for an experience. They want to watch their drink being made. They want to be educated on what is going into it.” The foodie culture is making its way into the cocktail realm, and just knowing the ingredients is not enough. They want to know where those ingredients are coming from, how they are made, and what is unique about them. That is another angle that lead to the creation of the cocktail menu and its seasonal rotation.

Bourbon barrels, as mentioned earlier, can only be used once for the creation of bourbon. After that, they are typically sold to a variety of industries to be reused for other purposes. One of those purposes is to rest another liquor in it. Most of the flavor components that give bourbon its caramelly, sweet flavor have been extracted, but all of the bourbon has not. Even after pulling out the excess liquor from the staves, some of the flavor still remains. Joe and Tim Fry of The Century Bar recently collaborated with John Haggerty of Warped Wing Brewing to create Whiskey Rebellion. Using barrels from Angel’s Envy, they married bourbon with a locally brewed Russian Imperial Stout, creating a beer with a delightful bitter chocolate flavor backed with a sweet bourbon finish. It has been available locally at many brewpubs and bars, including Warped Wing, The Century, Chappy’s and soon at Fifth Street Brew Pub for an event with ARC Ohio!. The beer has been immensely popular, not only for the outstanding flavor but the limited availability as well. Joe and his team did not stop there. He is also working with the team at Toxic Brew Company on another bourbon barrel beer, this time utilizing a Belgian quad (much like Toxic’s Abby XXXX) and used barrels from StillWrights in Fairborn. It will be released exclusively at Toxic in early December, so keep an eye out for an early holiday present!

The collaboration with Warped Wing, Whiskey Rebellion, was a hit.

Cocktails…beer…there is plenty going on with Joe Head. He has his eyes set on more things as he prepares for 2015: expansion. “We need to expand, as it makes sense for us to do it. Some people will not go downtown, and there are some limits to our downtown location that prevents us from exploring certain concepts.” The second location of The Century is going to be in the south of the city, near the Dayton Mall. It will have two patios, one for smoking cigars and one for the non-smokers just wanting to enjoy a fine bourbon outside on a warm summer evening. Another expansion in the works is not as far from their current location. In fact, it is right next door to it. “There is going to be a speakeasy attached to The Century, with a false store front and a secret entrance in the back of our bar. We are only going to have it open on Friday and Saturday only with reserved bar stools, so we can know the numbers better. That will allow us to know how much we need to prepare and keep all of our mixers fresh. Because it is a speakeasy, it should also be something that is a little elusive.” And if that is not enough on his platter, he is also considering a tequila and taco bar on a corner near The Century.

joe head

The Century Bar’s Joe Head

More locations for any business means hiring more staff. One of the hallmarks of The Century, and what keeps people coming back night after night, is not just membership to the Century Club. It is the atmosphere that the employees have created of educating their customers, not just serving them. It is talking with the customers and finding out what bourbons they enjoy, suggesting similar bourbons, and making non-bourbon drinkers feel right at home at the bourbon center of Dayton. “We have an apprenticeship program for anyone who wants to become a bartender here. I need to know that when I am away from the bar, the brand is still being well represented.” Joe requires that anyone interested in becoming part of the team to work as a bar assistant for six months, learning not only the technical specifications of the cocktails and bourbon, but the culture that The Century has developed. “I want to see that you can educate and entertain the customers while you make the drinks. There will be timing for the drinks, but I want to hear how you speak and interact with people.” The final test is over 150 questions, in front of a panel of judges. The Century’s move to the south does not mean you are going to get less of an experience. The quality is expanding too.

century

Joe, The Century Owner Diane and Tim

“The Century will always be about whiskey. The cocktails will make us well rounded.” Joe was very matter of fact about what was important to him: no matter where he expands to, from collaborations to new locations, the quality of the product stays the same. The Century had twenty bourbons when he began, and he has grown the small bar to over one hundred bourbons and a top stop in the country for bourbon enthusiasts. The respect he has for the industry, his guests, and his community is evident. It is one of the pieces that makes The Century such a great place to sit down and have a bourbon, beer, or any cocktail with friends. And say hello to Joe while you are there. He would love to make a few more friends over a nice glass of whiskey.

Thinking About a Stout? – National Stout Day

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Murphy's Irish Stout Pint

Murphy’s Irish Stout. The other well known stout from Ireland.

In September of 2014, there was a secret experiment going on at Starbucks. They have always been working with trying out new flavors, but this was different. They were not going for your traditional riffs on traditional coffee. There was a new demographic they had their sights on: the beer drinker. Starbucks dabbled in the liquor industry before with a coffee liqueur. It was not on the market very long, but it did deliver the rich Starbucks flavor people expected. The company that ushered in the craft coffee boom was looking to capitalize on the craft beer boom, and they knew their path in. It was not brewing Starbucks beer. It was going to brew a coffee that tasted like beer. The profile they were looking for shared many of the characteristics coffee already has; hints of bitterness mixed with rich complexity, a slight roasted flavor, and something with the same deep brown color as their core product. They were looking to make a coffee drink that tasted like a stout.

November 6 is National Stout Day, and stout is a fascinating beer. Stouts first gained popularity in the early 18th century, when it was discovered this hearty beer was a little tougher than the other ales, and had a little more kick. They were originally known as “stout porters”, since they were as dark as the porters being brewed at the time, but had a higher ABV. Eventually the “porter” was dropped and the style simply became known as stout. The question of “stout vs. porter” now causes some serious debate among the beer brewing and drinking crowd, some insisting the styles are as different as twilight and midnight, some saying that there is little difference other than a naming preference. The Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) notes a few general differences between the two. Porters are lighter in color, ranging from reddish brown to dark brown, where stouts are dark brown to black. Porters are usually sweeter, while the roasting of the barley for stouts can impart a bitter flavor. Porters roll crisply right over the tongue; stouts are thicker and tend to linger, using less water than their lighter counterparts.

Once you are past the “stout vs. porter” conversation, you can begin discussing the different ways stouts are brewed. It is generally agreed there are six distinct styles of stout:

    • Dry Stout – Because of a little Irish brewery named Guinness, this is the most widely known style of stout, though most don’t call it dry. Most people will call it an Irish stout, again because of Guinness. There are some bitter notes in this one coming from the roasted barley and some extra hops. Guinness’ IBUs (International Bitterness Unit) sits is around 47. For comparison, Dogfishhead’s 60 Minute IPA is 60 IBUs. It is usually thinner and lighter than other stouts, making it great to drink over time. Murphy’s Irish Stout is another fine example of this style.


    • Nitro Milk Stout

      Hello milk stout! Nitrogen is used to smooth out the beer even more.

      Sweet, or Milk, Stout – Advertisers are tricky. Trying to convince consumers of the healthy qualities of some stouts, they would add lactose, or milk sugar, to the brew to add sweetness. Milk is healthy, right? This type of chicanery caused the designation to be banned in England, but it can be used anywhere else in the world. The sugars mask the bitterness of the roasting and add some weight to the mouthfeel, leaving a rich and sweet flavor to embrace. Left Hand Brewing makes a delightful Milk Stout Nitro, and Southern Tier’s Crème Brulee Imperial Milk Stout are absolute delights to drink.

 

    • Oatmeal Stout – If milk is a healthy addition to the brewing of stouts, why not oats? Oat is a grain, and beer needs grains. You have warm water, oats, flavor…it is like oatmeal! A hearty breakfast in a bottle! They were most popular in Scandinavia, which maintained the tradition until beer explorer Michael Jackson reintroduced the nearly extinct species. The oats added to the mash add their own version of sweetness, while adding some thickness to the beer as well. If you are looking for a local one, you are in tons of luck. Warped Wing’s 10 Ton Stout, Eudora Brewing Company’s Thunderball, Yellow Spring Brewing’s Prowler, Star City’s Old Mill Stout, and Lock 27’s Oat Rodeo are just a few local selections for you.

 

    • American Stout – We have our own stout! American stouts shoot for the full, smooth mouthfeel of the richest stouts while adding extra hops, coffee, chocolate flavors to heighten the natural ones that emerge from the roasting process. They find their way to the higher end of the ABV scale, and are a product of brewers wanting to experiment with the traditional stout formula. The carbonation, usually not overly present in other stouts, emerges more in the American version. Dayton Brewing Company’s new Java Man Cometh would fall in this category, as would Deschutes’ Obsidian Stout and Revolution Brewing’s Rise.

 

  • Russian Imperial Stout – This was brewed in England for the Russian court of Catherine II. Since it was brewed for a country where vodka dominates all other liquor (they put down almost five times the vodka the Unites States does), it had to be stronger than normal and built for a long journey. Most stouts pack a reasonable 6-7% ABV punch. The low end of the spectrum for Russian Imperials is 8%, heading as high as 12%. Toxic Brewing’s Black Tonic sits in this category, as does Hareless Hare’s Rabbit Hole Chocolate Stout. A personal favorite, Great Lakes Brewing Company’s Blackout Stout (our own Max Spang has some thoughts on it as well) and North Coast Brewing’s Old Rasputin are other well respected versions of this strong style.

  • Great Lakes Brewing Company Blackout Stout

    Max Spang and I agree: This is a delicious Imperial stout.




    Foreign Extra (Tropical) Stout – The home of the stout is a long way from the tropics. Especially in the 18th century, when ocean going wooden ship was the only way to get there. It was brewed with some extra malt, making it sweeter and sturdier to survive the month long journey across the Atlantic. It was nicknamed “Tropical” because the earliest versions of this beer went to the warmer colonies of the British Empire. They are typically a stronger version of a dry stout, but any style can be made into a Foreign Extra Stout. The most well-known of this style is the Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, and most breweries dabble in this style, offering it on tap in smaller batches or seasonally. Ridgeway Brewing’s Lump of Coal is a tip top example of a seasonal foreign extra stout.

Starbucks may still be testing their coffee stout concoction for all we know. There is no need to wait for them to enjoy the hearty flavors stouts can provide. And some of them even have healthy ingredients in them (sort of)! Despite the heaviness of these beers, many of them are not much more calorie dense than light beers. Guinness has only 15 more calories per 12 oz. serving than Bud Light, and for the same ABV. Enjoy a stout or two on National Stout Day. You can drink a Founder’s Breakfast Stout or Southern Tier Mokah instead of the Starbucks, right?

 

Seeking The Greatest Bloody Mary in Dayton – The Bloody Mary Showdown

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Tomato juice.

Humble tomato juice. The blank canvas for a cocktail masterpiece.

There is a reason people love brunch on the weekends. It is a nice, long, leisurely meal with friends and family. All of the best food options are there, from Eggs Benedict to thick burgers, Belgian waffles to savory paninis, every food option you can think of is available. To top it all off, it is perfectly acceptable to have a few cocktails with the meal, either as a way to kick off the day or to shake off the night before. Brunch is not a meal as much as it is an event, and one of the long running stars of brunch is the classic Bloody Mary. It is a hearty cocktail to anchor this event. Much like brunch it is delicious, flexible, and has benefits that go beyond the obvious.

The concept of a hearty, late morning meal started in Britain with hunters and traveled to the United States in the early 20th century. While Hollywood and New York had a role in popularizing a late morning meal, it was really Chicago where the idea of brunch in the U.S. caught on. Transcontinental flights were not popular yet, making trains the most convenient way to get from coast to coast. Chicago was where you stopped in between on the long journey to refresh and relax for a little while. Movie stars and business men stopped and enjoyed this mid-morning meal. The iconic Pump Room was one of the big players in the early days of the brunch movement, hosting many of the stars of the day. As the new meal built steam over the decades, it became a substitute for Sunday dinner as women entered the workplace. They had to get ready for Monday morning too, and wanted some time on Sunday night to rest. Brunch became a social ritual to replace that dinner.

Bloody Mary

Finished! A spicy and delicious brunch treat. It looks like it is missing something…

Brunch is a blend of breakfast and lunch, coined by Guy Beringer in Hunter’s Weekly, a short lived hunting magazine.  Fruit juice is just good is popular to have with breakfast, and society deems lunch as a fine time to start drinking lighter beverages like wines and beers. If you are going to combine the two meals, why not start combining their drinks! It makes a mimosa or a Bellini a perfect selection for a brunch treat. They add a little bit of fruit juice (or puree) to the traditional wine the British drank with their brunches. Those were well known cocktails in the 1940’s and 50’s, when brunch was becoming better known in society, but not as popular as a new star on the scene: The Bloody Mary. The fruit-juice-and-alcohol combination is there, but the proportions are flipped. That is not just good for a brunch cocktail, it is good for a hungover brunch patron.

Despite any debates, the tomato is a fruit. Tomatoes are an excellent way to fight a hangover as well. When you are hungover, you are dehydrated and hurting for vitamins. You liver is unhappy because it is busy trying to get glucose to the brain, but first it has to get rid of all the toxins you just put in your body. Tomato juice to the rescue! Tomatoes help in the rehydration process, considering they are mainly water. Being hydrated helps the body process what happened after you hit the third bar and thought shots were a good idea.  They also add sugar back to the body, helping replenish the glucose stores the liver has been burning through. If you believe a little hair of the dog helps the next day, the low levels of vodka in the drink can will help tame the bite. There is a little something of everything in a Bloody Mary.

Crazy Bloody Mary Garnish

There! A proper garnish, demonstrated by O’Davey’s Irish Pub in Wisconsin.

Everyone has the best Bloody Mary. Everyone. At least, that is what they are going to tell you when they ask. The concept behind the cocktail is simple: tomato juice with a kick. The liquor is there to showcase the flavors you are building in some way. The spirit can be able to enhance the flavors you are adding to the juice, or is a blank canvas that gives some punch at the end. In this modern world, the range of what you can do with the tomato juice is boundless. As food culture expands to find new dishes and spices from every corner of the world, they are all ending up as experimental ingredients in a Bloody Mary. A Chicago style hot dog Bloody Mary? Maybe one inspired by the favors of the Mediterranean Ocean? Maybe some other fruits in your Bloody Mary mix? The possibilities are endless. And then there are the garnishes. Everything from a simple celery stick or olives to, well, this. The Bloody Mary is open to interpretation. And that is something to be celebrated.

And celebrate it we will! On October 11, join Dayton Most Metro, Lion and Panda, and somebloodyMaryPoster.v2-03 of the best bartenders in the city for a Bloody Mary Showdown at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. From 11am to 2pm, our mixologist contestants will be preparing their most unique versions of this brunch staple for you to sample. Brunch itself will be provided by Chef Matt Hayden and Meals from Scratch. The spirited base will be provided by American Harvest vodka, who is sponsoring Masqerage. Proceeds will go to help ARC Ohio and their fight to educate people on HIV, and provide help to those wrestling with it. It is open to everyone to show off their talents in adding the right blend of spices to make the perfectly balanced Bloody Mary. Sleep in a few hours on Saturday, then enjoy a delicious meal with the people that are close to you. Or come in and find a cure for the common hangover. Either way, we look forward to seeing to there!

 

 

Food Adventures Crew to Bartend at Fifth Street BrewPub

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OK, this is a MUST drink … we have a cure for your next Monday doldrums!!

Mark your calendar for  a charity event, Monday March 10th … at the Fifth Street Brewpub

Dayton Most Metro’s own Food Adventures Crew, will be tapping and pouring beers, while working the bar.

ALL of their tips will be donated to Dayton’s Ronald McDonald House Charity.

 

The Brewpub has 12 taps of craft beers.. Want to know a secret?  One  of them will be  Conway’s Irish Ale from Great Lakes Brewing Co.  A Food Adventure favorite and will be on special with $1 off pints.

 

Not only do they have beer, but the menu features soups, salads, beef on weck, Salmon BELT (bacon, egg, lettuce, tomato), saratoga chip specialties and more.  So have your own little Food Adventure on March 10th !

Helping Dayton families

 

 

Come drink, come eat, come harass The Big Ragu for a great cause !!   For more great stuff, “like” FOOD ADVENTURES on Faceboook HERE !!

 

 

Print

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

WHEN: MARCH 10th,  6pm – 10pm

WHERE: Fifth Street Brew Pub,
at 1600 E. Fifth St, Dayton Ohio

WHAT:  Food Adventure Crew are guest bartenders for a night

WHY: All tips they receive will benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Dayton

WHAT ELSE:  $1 off Bumbleberry beer pints (Ragu’s Fave) and $1 off  Conaway’s Irish Ale (because we love Great Lakes’ Beers)

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Five for Drinking…Chocolate

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Chocolate in a box

So much delicious, delicious chocolate…

Pink and red hearts, dinner, flowers, cards…all of the trappings of the perfect Valentine’s Day. The only thing that is missing is the chocolate. Last year, people bought 48 million pounds of chocolate, spending somewhere around $1.6 billion dollars on the sweet confection. Local favorites like Esther Price, Winan’s, Pure Madness, and Signature Confections look forward to this holiday, as it is the third largest holiday for buying chocolate of the year.

It is a little hard to believe that chocolate candy has only been around for 400 years.

Chocolate, while having a history that reaches back to the Aztecs, was enjoyed mostly as a bitter beverage by the ancient people of Mexico. It was not until the Spanish got a hold of it that it gained its sweet characteristics by adding milk, sugar, and a little cinnamon. That is what Europe fell in love with. Chocolate candies were made, but not common on incredibly good. The process to turn cocoa into the chocolate we enjoy by the heart shaped box was developed by John and Richard Cadbury (yes, of the crème egg fame) in the late 19th century.

That box of chocolate you have? Why not add a nice cocktail to it? Here are five options for you to explore:

Alexander

1 oz. gin
1 oz. crème de cocoa
1 oz. light cream

Pour all of the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Shake well, then strain into a rocks glass.

The Alexander (and its cousin the Brandy Alexander) is a popular classic cocktail, first seen in 1915 in Recipes for Mixed Drinks by Hugo Ensslin. Gin was hugely popular at the time, and this delightful mixture uses the sweet chocolate and cream to balance the spices in the gin.

Chocolate cocktail

Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker…

Oaxaca Chakas

4 oz. tequila
1.25 oz. agave nectar
2 cups whole milk
1/4 cup good-quality unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cinnamon stick
A pinch of salt
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

In a medium saucepan, heat milk with cocoa powder, cinnamon stick, agave nectar and salt, whisking constantly until it comes to a full boil. Remove from heat and add the chocolate, whisking gently until it’s completely melted. Remove cinnamon stick. Whisk until smooth. Spilt the tequila between two mugs, then fill the mugs with the chocolate mixture. Garnish it with whip cream and enjoy.

Tequila and chocolate have very similar histories; both started out as native drinks in Mexico, and both were altered by the Spaniards using European technology to better reflect European tastes. This is a rich and spicy treat perfect to warm up with on a cold night. Or to make with someone special.

Chocolate Strawberry Martini

1 oz. vanilla vodka
1 oz. strawberry liqueur
1 oz. chocolate liqueur
Cocoa powder, for garnish

Set a cocktail glass into the refrigerator to chill. Pour all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake briefly. Spread the cocoa powder on a small plate. Moisten the rim of the glass, and gently run the rim through the powder. Pour the mixture into the chilled cocktail glass and enjoy.

This is a cocktail with many, many, many variations, from the very simple to the incredibly complex. I would suggest Godiva Chocolate Liqueur and strawberry schnapps for an incredible flavor and mouth feel.

Classic cocoa grinding techniques

Cocoa during the roasting and grinding process.

From Russia with Love

1/2 ounce Dark Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
1/2 ounce raspberry liqueur
Champagne
Coco nibs, for garnish, optional

In a Champagne flute, pour the Godiva and the raspberry liqueur (Chambord is a great choice). Top with chilled Champagne. Sprinkle on a couple of nibs if you like.

What is Valentine’s Day without a little something special? Champagne is perfect for any celebration, and adding a little chocolate and raspberry can only enhance the enjoyment. It is an original from the famous Russian Tea Room in New York.

 Liquid Snickers

1 oz. dark creme de cacao
1/2 oz. Irish cream
1/2 oz. Frangelico® hazelnut liqueur
1/2 oz. light cream
Pour creme de cacao, irish cream and frangelico liqueur over ice cubes in an old-fashioned glass. Top with light cream, stir and serve.

Sometimes you don’t want fancy chocolate. You want something comforting, nutty, and satisfying.

Author Karl Petzke once commented that “Chocolate symbolizes, as does no other food, luxury, comfort, sensuality, gratification, and love.” Is there a better sentiment to describe this Valentine’s Day staple? Cheers!

It’s A Mad, Mad Tree – Welcome MadTree Brewing!

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Mad Tree Brewing logo

Welcome to Dayton Mad Tree Brewing Company!

People who love good beer will find each other. They will frequent the same beer tastings, see each other at beer weeks and festivals, and share all of the best beers they are finding among the blogs, tweets, and Facebook posts they read. Some start Beer of the Week clubs where they will create their own tastings. It was at one of these Beer of the Week groups in Cincinnati that Brady Duncan, Jeff Hunt and Kenny McNutt, all home brewers, discussed creating their own brewery. That was in 2009; the seed that was going to grow into MadTree Brewing was planted.

“I bought them a few too many beers and forced my way in!” laughs Brady Duncan. A graduate of the University of Dayton, he spent a brief time in Alabama getting an MBA before returning home to run analytics for Proctor and Gamble. He remembers his time in Dayton “eating French bread pizzas at Milanos and drinking beer”. He discovered craft beers in Alabama, and has been a disciple of them ever since.  That beer club idea was turned into a plan, and over the course of the next three years the three men worked on the financial structure, finding a place to brew, buying the equipment, and the most important part, brewing the beer. “We brewed each beer about thirty to forty times to make sure we had the right flavor,” Duncan said. Axis Mundi, their Russian Imperial Stout, was the exception. “Jeff and Kenny only brewed that a few times before they got it right. I think it was a recipe even before I got on board.”

Things had to change once they brought it to a larger scale. They started in Cincinnati with the capacity to brew ninety barrels and rapidly discovered it was not enough. “The demand here was much stronger than we thought,” mused Brady. “All of the accounts that we had were on allocation. Each account could get 3-5 cases max, and it sold out quickly. They would have to wait two weeks before they were able to get another shipment.” It is a good problem to have, especially when you are brewing a quality beer. The first batch of their beer went to Arthur’s, a Hyde Park staple famous for their burgers, in February of 2013. They were also able to get PsycHOPathy, a delightfully crisp IPA, into Great American Ballpark for opening day of the 2013 Reds’ season. It was a hit. Draft Magazine rated the beer 97 out of 100 making the list for their top 14 rated beers of 2013.

All these people heading to GABP just for a Mad Tree...

All these people heading to GABP just for a Mad Tree…

What makes their beer so popular in a craft beer scene that includes such stalwarts as Mt. Carmel, Moerlein Lager, Rivertown Brewing, Blank Slate and 50 West? “We have a good water source,” states Kenny. “There is a deep well on the site where we get our water. We take it from there and soften it, use a UV filter, then put the water through reverse osmosis. Each beer not only has its own malt and hop recipe, it has its own water recipe. The right water enhances the hops and gives the beer a good finish.” Another element that makes MadTree a hit is their brewing philosophy. “We brew our beers to flavors, not to styles. It is hard to put our beers into a category for that reason.” This adds some approachability to their brews.

They planned on bringing their beer to Dayton much earlier than January 6. They had to add more capacity to their brewery, 240 barrels since they opened, for a beer scene that he states is as good as the one in Cincinnati. “The only difference is that the breweries in Cincinnati brew at a higher capacity,” says Duncan, Dayton will be treated to an initial run of:

At the end of the month Dayton will also see Axis Mundi, Galaxy High Imperial IPA, and a few other surprises. February will see the release of Rubus Cacao, a chocolate raspberry stout in the area. Towards the end of February is when we will see Lift in cans and Sprye, a pale ale to get us ready for spring.

Mad Tree Brewing

They are one mustache away from being the ZZ Top of brewers.

When you are searching the shelves for these beers, don’t look for bottles. MadTree Brewery is the first brewery in the state to use cans for their beers. Jeff Hunt noted several reasons for the decision, the biggest one being the beer itself. “It is better for the beer. No light gets in to change the chemistry of the beer and skunk it. The seal on a can of beer is also better, keeping the product inside fresher for longer.” Cans are better for the planet (and trees); they are 50% more likely to be recycled. They take up less room in a truck, meaning less fuel is required to move more beer.

Brady Duncan is looking forward to the expansion in Dayton. “We are approaching Dayton as a local market. We know people in the Dayton beer scene, and look forward to being a part of it. We want to get as involved in the Dayton community as we are in our own. And they need some good beers around UD!” MadTree willbe kicking off in Dayton with a Launch Week of events.  Come out to celebrate a new local addition to the growing selection of beers in Dayton. Cheers!

Launch Week Events:

 

MONDAY, JAN 6img-gnarly-brown-combined-rev

Kings Table         5pm         Release Party
PsycHOPathy IPA, Gnarly Brown, Thundersnow

Chappy’s                  6pm         Tap Takeover
PsycHOPathy IPA, Gnarly Brown, Happy Amber,Thundersnow, Relegation, Lift

Tuesday, Jan 7   5:30pm Craft Beer Pub Crawl

Thai 9      Lift

Blind Bobs   Happy Amber

Lucky’s Taproom
Psychopathy IPA, Identity Crisis, Relegati Gnarly Brown firkin with vanilla beans and coffee

Trolley Stop   Thundersnow, PsycHOPathy IPA, Gnarly Brown, Happy Amber, Proper Session Ale

South Park Tavern    Relegation, PsycHOPathy IPA, Gnarly Brown,   Happy Amber, Lift, Thundersnow

 

Wednesday, Jan 8img-psychopathy-combined-rev

Trolley Stop         6pm        Meet the Brewer
Relegation, PsycHOPathy IPA, Gnarly Brown, Happy Amber, Lift, Thundersnow

Thursday, Jan 9

Spinoza’s                  6pm         Tap Takeover        
PsycHOPathy IPA, Gnarly Brown, Relegation, Happy Amber, Thundersnow

Kroger’s Austin Landing
sampling event

Friday, Jan 10

Milano’s                  5pm         Flight Night
PsycHOPathy IPA, Gnarly Brown, Relegation, Lift, Happy Amber, Thundersnow, PSA, Identity Crisis

*UD, Beavercreek, and Miamisburg-each account has 4 beers

 

Don’t despair if you can’t make these events, there are also upcoming events coming to Taggarts, Rumbleseat, Brunings Wine Cellar, Bunkers, Beef O’Brady’s in Beavercreek, Peachs in Yellow Springs  and we’re sure, many more! Or you can pick up MadTree Brews at The Market, Kroger, Halls Corner Carryout, Speedzone, Vandalia Carryout, Liquor Wine Warehouse, Valero, Bee Gees, and the Beer Barn.    We  want to thank the fine folks at Cavalier Distributing  for making this happen and we know that they are probably adding more locations as we type, so if you don’t see your favorite beer stop listed, just ask them to carry MadTree!

 

Five for Drinking: Champagne

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Glowing champagne

Champagne has its own inner glow.

New Year’s Day is fast approaching. That means a huge celebration of the year we just finished and a leaping off point for the year we are about to tackle. Major celebrations are equated with bringing out the bubbly. The corks are going to pop and champagne is going to flow. It is a lovely, crisp and effervescent drink on its own. It is also a great base for some delicious cocktails.

Champagne in a cocktail has been around for as long as champagne has been around. Here are five cocktails you can make for your guests to add a little more flavor to the mix.

Punch It Up

Punches are classics when it comes to cocktails; people would mix up huge batches for self-service at parties, meetings, and creating Constitutions. It is a simple, delicious way to get a cocktail into your guests’ hands as they walk in the door. Here is a concoction from Allrecipes that is typical of a punch recipe:

Champagne Punch (makes 35 4 oz. servings)

1 12 oz. can of cranberry juice concentrate
1 12 oz. can of pink lemonade concentrate
1 6 oz. can of limeade concentrate
1 bottle of chilled white wine
1 liter of soda water
2 bottles of chilled champagne

In a large punch bowl, combine all of the ingredients. Add a large block of ice to keep it all cold. Garnish with sliced lemons and limes.

Simple to make and delightful to drink. You can change the flavors to the taste of your guests, just mind the proportions.

Keep It Simple

People hear the word “cocktail” and think of something complex, yet elegant. Good cocktails can be just two or three ingredients mixed in the proper proportions. A Black Velvet can be made with ingredients you already have at the party!

Black velvet cocktail

Black Velvet, if you please…

Black Velvet

Stout (Guinness is the traditional choice, but select your favorite)
Champagne

In a glass, mix equal parts stout and champagne. It is just that simple. Just pour SLOWLY. Champagne fizzes a great deal when you add things to it.

Gotta Go Back In Time

Casablanca is one of my favorite movies of all time. Captain Renault spends a good deal of the movie ordering and consuming champagne cocktails. It is not a generic cocktail name, but something specific (and simple) to make.

Champagne Cocktail

1 sugar cube
4 dashes Angostura bitters
Champagne

Put the sugar cube and bitters into a champagne flute or coupe. Pour the champagne over the other ingredients and garnish with a twist of lemon. Enjoy!

Before processed foods, sodas and easily accessible juices, sugar and bitters were very popular ingredients used to flavor drinks.

Show Off Your Skills

Here is a rare gem of a cocktail. It was created in Louisville in 1917, named after the hotel it was invented in, then lost until 1997 when it was printed in New Classic Cocktails. It is a vintage cocktail that has not caught on, and I have no idea why. It is delightful.

Seelbach Cocktail

1 oz. bourbon
.5 oz. orange liqueur
7 dashes Angostura bitters
7 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
5 oz. champagne

Pour all the ingredients except for the champagne into a flute and stir. Add the champagne and give it a few more gentle stirs. You can use an orange twist as a garnish.

It takes a few more ingredients, but it is well worth it. Bitters last for a long time, so you can play with different cocktail and cooking combinations through the year.

Waterford crystal Times Square ball

The ball that is going to drop to end 2013. What will you be drinking?

Something New

I have been known to play with an ingredient or two. One of my favorite things to do as a bartender is make things up on the spot, using past recipes as a base to launch off of. This recipe is a result of that.

Ginger Spiced Champagne

1 oz. ginger liqueur
.5 oz. raspberry liqueur
1 oz. cranberry juice
Champagne

Mix all of the ingredients except for the champagne in a champagne flute. Add the champagne and give it a gentle stir or two.

The ginger and cranberry add a little bite to the sweet champagne. It may take a few ingredients that you do not have around the house, but the end result is well worth it.

One thing to remember about using champagne with a cocktail is that the champagne should be the star. It is more than just a mixer; it adds sweetness and sparkle to whatever it is being mixed with. Of course, if there is any champagne on January 1st you can make mimosas. Happy New Year!

 

New Year’s Eve (Or Any Big Gathering) Check List

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If only it was this easy to get a party ready.

If only it was this easy to get a party ready.

Are you ready for the last big party night of 2013? New Year’s Eve is fast approaching, and you get a chance to do a little more last minute shopping. This list is going to be different; before it was fighting your way through the mall at the last minute for some good deals and to get that one last present. This time you are hitting the liquor and grocery stores to make sure no one runs out of their favorite beverage at the big soiree. How much is enough? What are you going to need to keep the cocktails flowing and the champagne bubbling until 2014? Have no worries, we spent some time doing some leg work to provide you some useful tools. Some things to consider:

1. Set up some expectations for the party. Is it BYOB? Will you be providing beer and wine? If people come in knowing a little bit about what to expect, they can be prepared for the evening. They’ll be enjoying what you are providing, or bringing the special beers, wines, or liquors they enjoy.

2. How many guests? This is the biggest thing you need to consider. This will help set up all of the other items you need to get ready rather nicely. A head count, even an approximate one, will help you buy the proper quantities of liquor, beer, wine, and mixers you are going to need for the party. When you go out any buy supplies, you always want to buy for a few more guests than you think you will have. You never know when someone is going to bring a friend, maybe three.

3.  What type of guests? If this is a family affair, you need to make sure you have a wide range of beverages, and not all of them should be alcoholic. Having soda, juices, and water is a good idea for any party, but you should make sure you increase the amount you buy when the kids are over. You may even consider making a few special mocktails for them, so they are not limited to just sodas. That may also involve buying a few special syrups, which are easiest to find in any place they sell coffee or coffee supplies. Da Vinci has an excellent collection of syrups.

4. What do they like to drink? There are plenty of charts out there that will tell you how much liquor to buy when you are throwing a party. And they all give an excellent idea of how much is a good amount. What many do not tell you is that you also need cater it to the people that are coming over. If my family comes down to visit me from Cleveland, I make sure I have a bottle of Jim Beam and a bottle of Buckeye Vodka handy. I also make sure there is a six pack of quality beer in the house. Having a great deal of any particular type of beverage that no one likes, or that is not part of another cocktail, is a bad idea. You are not going to need nearly as much gin and tequila as you will need rum, vodka and wines.

5. Plan your bar. There are plenty of ways you could get your bar ready. You could go for the basics, and only provide beer and wine for your guests, and invite them to bring any special liquor that they may want to enjoy. You could create a theme, and have drinks that all relate to that specific theme. You can also be very ambitious, and shoot for a full bar (see the link to the chart above). No matter what sort of bar you have planned, don’t forget the proper mixers and garnishes, and make sure you have plenty of them. The one thing you do not want to run out of is the main attraction. Even if you are expecting people to bring their own, you want a good selection of juices and sodas for them to mix their drinks with, as well as plenty of ice to keep it all cool. Juices and sodas are also perfect for designated drivers, non-drinkers, and children.

So. Much. Liquor.

So. Much. Liquor.

6. Have a cocktail ready to go. Making something simple and pre-mixed to offer guests as they come in is a great idea to make them feel welcomed. You can do a punch, so people can serve themselves while you are still welcoming guests. You can also have a simple bar set up that people can help themselves at; liquors, mixers, ice, and a few recipes. If you plan on bar tending for the night (or have someone to bar tend for you), have a simple drink menu available for people to choose from.

7. Keep an eye on your guests. People will hit the bar pretty hard when they first get there.  Most guests will have a couple drinks in the first hour or so, then one drink per hour after that during the party. You are going to want to spend the first couple hours making sure that the bar stays well stocked with beer, wine, liquor, mixers, and ice. Towards the end of the night, you are going to want to make sure that your guests are not drunk. Talk with them before they go, to make sure their words are not slurring and they have the ability to focus. Hand them something to see how they reach for it. Is it a strong, direct grab or is it wavering, like the person is trying to find it? If they start getting loud or out of control during the party, make sure you cut them off. It is not comfortable, and it is best that you enlist the help of other guests to make sure their drinking is reduced. And if they are drunk, make sure they are not driving home, or you can get them a ride. Having guest bedrooms is ideal, but you can also call a taxi service.

It is very possible that you are going to one of the multitude of events on December 31st in the area. Have a lovely time, but make sure you have a designated driver or the number for a cab company handy. If the party is at your house, make your check list and head out to get your party supplies ready. After all, we don’t want a repeat of Christmas Eve, do we? Cheers!

Welcoming More Brew Goodness To Our Community – Eudora Brewing Company

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Eudora Brewing Company Logo

Welcome to the community Eudora Brewing!

Eudora, a nymph from Greek mythology, is a bringer of water. She is part of a larger group called the Hyades, daughters of Atlas and nicknamed “the Rainy ones”. Their brother, Hyas, was killed in a hunting accident, and their tears became the rain. They were afterwards turned into a cluster of stars that we can still see in the head of Taurus, also called the Hyades. The water that they bring is one of the four critical ingredients in beer, along with yeast, hops, and barley. The owner and head brewer of the soon-to-open Eudora Brewing Company, Neil Chabut, knows the importance of water to the brewing process, and has integrated water awareness, and a few other surprises, into the fabric of the business.

Neil has been brewing his own beer for over three years, but it was not until about a year ago that he started considering starting his own brewery. He did his research, working at Brewtensils and learning the craft there while speaking to other breweries in the area. He also spoke to many of the other developing breweries in the area, learning about the business side of it and elements he needed to consider as he was going to go into business for himself.

The building itself, located at 4716 Wilmington Pike in Kettering, is very intimate. The brewing vats are in clear view from wherever you are sitting in the room. The brewery offers its five beers that they brew on site, as well as some seasonal beers that will be developed as the business moves forward. The beers they are initially offering are their year round beers:

  • Sundowner Blonde: This is a very refreshing, lightly flavored beer. It has a hint of summer mixed into the caramel undertones.
  • Boomerang IPA:  This National Homebrew Competition finalist beer has all the hops you could possibly want, and then some. The hoppiness hides some other nice spice notes, offering a great flavor even if you do not like aggressive IPAs.
  • Bee’s Knees Honey APA: A balance between the Blonde and the IPA. The honey adds a light sweetness, and the hops in the pale ale add some bite. A delightful beer from start to finish.
  • Mother Fuggle Brown Ale: A tasty, well roasted brown ale. It has a combination of nutty, chocolately, and roasted flavors that make this a complex and flavorful ale.
  • Tunderball Oatmeal Stout: Deep, dark, roasted, smooth excellence. Oatmeal adds some thickness, and the dark chocolate flavor does the rest.
Fight of beers on a wood block

A little something for everyone…which will you try first?

They sell flights of the beers they have on tap, as well as growlers so you can take home your favorites. They are currently working on the ability to offer customers the opportunity to brew their own Eudora beer recipes in five to ten gallon batches. It is still a few months away, but Neil  is looking forward to offering some hands on learning AND the chance to take home and enjoy beer you created! The initial food offering is going to be light snacks and hot dogs, but Neil is looking to partner with local food trucks while working on building out their kitchen offerings.

Helping local brewers and looking to work with local businesses are not the only ways Eudora is looking to give back to the community. They are also a partner with charity:water, an organization that is working hard to bring clean water to the ends of the earth.Three percent of all profits at Eudora will be  going to this charity, and they use all of that money to fund their efforts. Neil knows that water is the biggest ingredient in beer, and that they can make sure some of the beer we enjoy brings water to people that need it.

The Eudora Brewing Company is looking to become another of the big stars in the Dayton brewing scene. Their pro-community attitude and warm atmosphere are going to go a long way to making this a great place to stop for a beer in Kettering. The real draw is going to be the incredible beers Eudora Brewing Company will be creating. Neil has already proven he can make beers that earn national recognition. Starting at the grand opening on November 15th and 16th, from 4 to 11 PM, Dayton is going to get an incredible taste of what one person can do with all the water the Hyades are raining down on us. Go out and welcome them!

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Bringing Sour Back

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Sour Mix Image

This is the bottle that sank a thousand cocktails…

I was eating lunch with a couple other bartenders this week, and I told them that I was working on an article about sour mix. Both of them cringed, no doubt with bottles of sickly yellow, highly processed liquid floating through their head. This has been what most of our parents, and many of us, were used to getting when we asked for a drink that required sour mix at a bar. Long Island Ice Teas, margaritas, Lynchburg Lemonades, so many cocktails that were drenched in this stuff. August 25th is National Whiskey Sour Day, and the story of sour mix plays into the story of the cocktail quite nicely.  It was not always something people would raise their nose at.

“Sours” are a class of cocktails that was been revived with the craft cocktail movement. The first sours were introduced in a book that is on every serious bartender’s bookshelf, How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon Vivant’s Companion, by Jerry Thomas. These cocktails started simply, using only a base spirit (like whiskey), lemon, and simple or “gumme” syrup. This basic recipe was so popular it spawned a wide variety of other cocktails, switching ingredients in and out but maintaining the same basic formula. It became the work horse of the late 19th century, spawning classics like the sidecar, margarita and daiquiri are all examples of cocktails that are part of this group. Cocktail historian David Wondrich notes it was one of the most popular cocktail types for over a century, especially the whiskey version, from the 1860’s to the Mad Men era of the 1960’s.

Through the 20th century, two major events happened that sullied the reputation of these fine cocktails. The first was Prohibition, which drove out all of the professional bartenders in the country, and with it all of their knowledge. The second is the development of prepackaged and premade food and drink. We developed into a society that was not going to wait, as well as one that was thrilled with anything new that science could invent.  During the 50’s and 60’s, fresh squeezed juices were falling by the wayside in favor of premade juices that would last longer on the shelf. This included cocktail mixers that were easy to pour over a single liquor to make a drink. Who needs all of that tedious squeezing and mixing when you can just pour it out of a bottle?  It was faster for bartenders, but it did not taste as good or as fresh. Combine that with a distilling industry that was just getting back into the swing of things, and you had a rough time for cocktails.

Whiskey Sour in a cocktail glass

THAT…is a lovely whiskey cocktail.

At the beginning of the craft cocktail boom, a seed of hatred was planted into cocktails that used premade mixers. This seed grew, with sour mix and all cocktails made with sour mix: the focus of mixologist’s ire. Their simplicity was disregarded for more complex and exotic flavors. But that simplicity is what originally made this cocktail category, and the whiskey sour itself, so popular. You did not need many ingredients to make it, and the ingredients you did need were easy to get. Because many bars and restaurants are not making cocktails with fresh juices, it is far easier to enjoy these cocktail as they were envisioned about 140 years ago: liquor, some lemon juice, and some simple syrup.

When you are making a sour cocktail, you should keep in mind that the lemon and the simple syrup are going to overpower the liquor you choose. I would never recommend using something like Old Dan Tucker or Kentucky Gentleman, but there is no need to break out the Pappy Van Winkle. A nice Jim Beam or Maker’s Mark would do nicely. If you want a little more spice, you can use a rye whiskey as well.

Whiskey Sour

2 oz. bourbon
.75 oz. lemon juice
1 tsp. simple syrup

Pour all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake it well. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a cherry. You can make it look fancier by adding a lemon wedge. You can also enjoy it, as many people do, over ice in a non-chilled glass.

For any bartenders reading, or other cocktail enthusiasts, you may ask “Where is the egg white?” Many people will argue that a tablespoon or two of egg white should go into it, which would give the cocktail a smoother, thicker mouthfeel and add some foam when you shook it with the other ingredients. It is also a potential health hazard. It is disputed whether or not that ingredient should be added, but you may if you wish. Jerry Thomas did not add it, so neither will I.

Whiskey sours, and sours in general, are light and refreshing drinks that are about due for a major comeback. Simpler cocktails are making a comeback, and this is one of the simplest there is. Combine that with the bourbon boom that is happening, and soon the whiskey sour could be back among the most popular cocktails in the country. Ready to start the trend?

 

Welcome to Dayton Beer Week 2013!

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Dayton Beer Week Logo

It is here! Who says there is nothing to celebrate in August?

Beer has flooded the country. In 2010, there were fewer than 1,800 breweries in the United States. And there were zero in Dayton. Fast forward to 2013, where there are over 2,500 breweries in the United States. Dayton is seeing its own brewing growth spurt, with the Dayton Beer Company, Fifth Street Brewpub, Toxic Brewing Company, Lock 27 Brewing, Yellow Springs Brewing, Eudora, Star City Brewing, and many others that I am sure are in the works. Beer tastings have also expanded all over the city. Brewtensils has been offering not only supplies, but classes in brewing everything from a traditional lager or pilsner to experiments on the far ranges of the flavor scale. This is the environment the 4th Annual Dayton Beer Week will be awakening to this weekend, inviting all of Dayton to step out and discover some of the beery goodness themselves.

There are going to be some big events celebrating beer this weekend as the party kicks off at Kitty Hawk Golf Course with the 3rd Annual Pints, Putters, & Pink Balls-2 Club Golf Scramble benefiting the Breast Cancer Foundation. Registration starts at 12:30 PM for a 1 PM start. Get out your beer gear on Sunday and join all the floats and fun for the 4th Annual Beer Pride Parade in the Oregon district, starting at 4:30 PM at Dublin Pub (of course). The good folks at 5th Street Wine and Deli will be having a pre-parade tasting starting at 1 PM, so you can get an incredible seat for the festivities. For those of you who are a little more health conscious, Widmer Brothers is sponsoring Biking for the Beer of It Tuesday night. It begins in West Carrollton and ends after a 10 mile ride at A Taste of Wine in Miamisburg. They are very considerate, making sure you are well hydrated with a selection of beers at the midway point. The last major event of the week will be AleFest at Carillon Park (who is also setting up a historic brewery). You can try out all of the Dayton breweries, explore the growing gluten-free beer offerings, and just generally enjoy over 375 beers from over 150 breweries. That is, of course, if you are not beered out by that point.

AleFest Dayton 2013

Beer weeks ends with a bang, celebrating over 350 craft beers!

It is not just the big events that make this week special. Restaurants all over the Miami Valley are going to be celebrating in some form or another.

Monday:

  • Rouge will take over the draughts beginning at 5 PM at Jimmy’s Ladder 11. They will be featuring the Double Chocolate Stout, Hazelnut Brown, and Imperial IPA. After you’ve had your beer, you can keep the glass!
  • From 6 to 9 PM, you can help South Park Tavern fight off the Dogfish Head invasion they are anticipating. Grab a pint and pitch in!

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Friday:

  • The Trolley Stop will be rolling out the red carpet on the second last night of Dayton Beer Week. They will be featuring rare beers like Bell’s Black Note, and good music that night from 7 PM to midnight.
  • Raise your glasses! From 6 to 7 PM, King’s Table will be featuring a stein hoisting competition featuring Sam Adam’s beers.
  • Are you still shy about craft beer? The Arrow Wine on Lyons Road will be having an Oskar Blues beer tasting from 5 to 7 PM. If you purchase a four or six pack of these very good brews, you will also walk out with a special gift.

This is not even remotely close to the full list of events for the week. Many restaurants and bars will be having specials on a wide range of beers.  Look over the full menu of events and plan your week accordingly.

A line up of different types of beer

This is a nice start to the week…

While you are out exploring Dayton, there are a few things you should remember while doing your tastings:

  • When you taste, it is very similar to tasting wine. You want a little foam on the top. You also want to look at and sniff the beer before you taste it, to see what aromas are coming off of it.
  • Do not hold the beer in direct light when you look at it. You get the best idea of color when you look at it in indirect light.
  • Give it a little bit of a swirl in your glass. This stirs up the carbonation a little, allowing more of the aromas to be released. Don’t underestimate the importance of scent when tasting your beer!
  • Hold the beer in your mouth a little bit, allowing it to roam all over your tongue. Enjoy the flavors that come out as it is in your mouth. Take a mental note on how thick the beer is. This is known as mouthfeel.
  • Allow the beer to warm up SLIGHTLY before you drink it. As with wine, a little bit of extra warmth unveils deeper flavors that may not be otherwise obvious.

And while you are going to Beer Week events:

  • Car pool. Parking is going to be very limited for some of these events, and the citizens are going to be out in force. Getting more people in one car is going to be helpful for everyone.
  • Get there early. You want to make sure you get there in enough time to get seats! Make sure you call the venue and check out the details.
  • Drink plenty of water. This is going to serve a twofold purpose. First, water will help cleanse the palate between each beer, giving you a better idea of how each beer tastes. Secondly, it will help you avoid a worse hangover than you might normally have.
  • Do not eat spicy foods before you go to an event. You do not want your taste buds to be still burning from the Nuclear Hot wings you just ate. Eat a little something; just tone it down.
  • Go to the dark side. If you are not at a pre-set beer tasting, start off with some of the lighter beers, and go to the darker ones. The darker beers tend to have heavier flavors and be thicker, which can linger a little longer.
  • Designate a driver. No explanation needed.

It has been a busy few years for the craft beer scene, and this is the year it looks like it is going to explode in Dayton. This is the time to go out and taste new beers, find new favorites, and meet new friends. There are so many events going on during the week we would love to know which ones you are most looking forward to. Leave a note in the comments, and we will see you around town. Cheers!