Alcohol in the news; Homemade wine

from the buzz

Homemade wine

This article is both a plug for Alto Vineyards, and a recipe for making wine.

Alto Vineyards, a local vineyard in Illinois, has been producing wine since the late ‘80s. Jim Dubnicek, the general manager at the Champaign location, said that Alto grows French hybrid grapes that can “withstand the cold weather and are dormant in the winter.” During the winter, the majority of the pruning is done, Dubnicek added.

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Here is an easy adapted recipe for making a dry red table wine. Many of the equipment pieces can be found at home brewing or home wine making stores, such as Friar Tuck.

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Alcohol in the news; Boulevard Brewing Company's Sampler pack

From the buzz

Boulevard Brewing Company's sampler pack

Boulevard Brewing Company is based out of Kansas City, Missouri. ... The sampler pack has been the highlight of my week and I must say that the competition has been fierce, taking into consideration the fact that every beer in this relatively cheap twelve pack hold their own in the areas of taste, aroma and alcohol content.

I'm a fan of the pale if there's nothing else available (Hooters used to have it in bottles).

It's only two paragraphs. Two very long paragraphs.

Many adjectives in the second paragraph.

Alcohol in the news; Pefect wine and cheese pairings

From WCIA 3 morning show/ illinoishomepage.net

Perfect Wine and Cheese Pairings

Sam and Bryan pair the perfect cheeses with the perfect wines

Sam Samet from Piccadilly, and Brian McKay from Art Mart.

Le Lapin Paso Robles Clairveaux $7.99
Zinfandel
Chardonnay

Alcohol in the news; Grind Espresso Liqueur

From WCIA 3 Morning Show/ Illinoishomepage.net

Grind Espresso Liqueur

Master Mixologist Andy Borbely from Seven Saints in Champaign shows us a unique liqueur only found at Seven Saints!

Which isn't exactly true, since it's also at Radio Maria.

First they try it straight, then Andy makes a martini. Pinnacle whipped vodka, grind, Baileys, then he adds a dash of bourbon. He tops it off with chocolate infused 30 proof whipped cream.

Andy pimps out Whiskey Wednesday. Tonight is Irish whiskey. You can try the Grind from 7 to 9 tonight at Seven Saints.

CU Beer Weekend; December 3

This is a great week for beer. If you don't have plans make them now.

Sunday: Radio Maria, He'Brew Jewbelation vertical (minus #10)

Tuesday: CU Beer Club Happy Hour, Crane Alley; Smuttynose kickoff party, Crane Alley; Brewsday Tuesday, Seven Saints

Wednesday: Beer and Cheese tasting, Crane Alley

Thursday: 12 Beers of Christmas, Esquire $25. 12 samples of holiday beers



Seven Saints

Arcadia Cereal Killer Barley Wine
Flying Dog Raging Bitch

Tuesday: Tuesday Brewsday, Crown Valley Big Bison Ale $2
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Irish

Radio Maria

Harviestoun Ola Dubh 18
Sierra Nevada Estate
Rogue Somer
Founders Devil Dancer
Ballast Point Dorado
Arcadia Cereal City
Dark Horse Too Cream Stout
Southern Tier Pale
Southern Tier Oat
Scaldis Noel
Southern Tier Farmer's Tan
Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre
Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca
Port Older Viscosity
Blanche de Bruxelles
Belhaven Scottish
Lefthand Milk Stout
Petrus Oak Aged Pale
Dogfish Head India Brown
Avery the Beast Grand Cru
Two Brothers Resistance
Hofbrau Munchen
Victory Prima Pils
Founders Backwoods Bastard
Rogue Chateau Rogue Wet Hop IPA
Anderson Valley Brother David's Double
PBR


Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30, special tbd
Saturday: $6 John Daly's, Salsa Night at 10.
Sunday: $2 wells, $1.25 PBR; Bloody Mary Bar
Monday: 25% off bottles of wine; Board Game Monday; Random Beer Specials
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft
Thursday:$5 Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Brazilian Cosmos; Open Decks: local dj's perform.

Sunday: Radio Maria is one of the 88 Chosen Bars to receive all 8 verticals of He'Brew Jewbelation. Tap 8 through 13 will feature the rebrews of their Chanukah beers, while tap 14 will have the newest release. Tap 15 will have the vertical Jewbelation, which is a barrel aged ale blend of all seven Jewbelations, aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels. (note, Jewbelation 10 got lost in shipping and should be on tap for Tuesday).

Blind Pig

Founder’s Breakfast Stout; Grand Rapids, Michigan, Imperial Stout, 8.3% abv
Arcadia Cereal Killer; Battle Creek, Michigan, Barley Wine, 9% abv
Breckenridge Christmas; Denver, Colorado, American Strong Ale, 7.4% abv
Unibroue Trois Pistoles; Canada, Belgian Strong Ale, 9% abv
Mikkeller From Via To; Denmark, Denmark, Imperial Porter, 8% abv
Two Brothers’ Dog Days; Lager Warrenville, Illinois, Dortmunder, 4.9% abv
Arcadia Big Dick’s Old Ale; Battle Creek, Michigan, Old Ale, 8% abv
Ballast Point Fathom; San Diego, California, Imperial Pilsener
Fuller’s London; Pride England, Premium Bitter, 4.7% abv
Delirium Tremens; Belgium, Belgian Strong Ale, 8.5% abv
Blue Moon; Golden, Colorado, Belgian White, 5.4% abv
Duchesse de Bourgogne; Belgium, Sour Ale, 6.2% abv
Stella Artois; Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Rogue Juniper; Newport, Oregon, American Pale Ale, 5.2%
New Holland Cabin Fever; Holland, Michigan, Brown Ale, 6% abv
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen; Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA; Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Krusovice Imperial 12°; Czech Republic, Bohemian Pilsener, 5%
Left Hand Twin Sisters; Longmont, Colorado, Imperial IPA, 9.6% abv
Moylan’s Chelsea Porter; Novato, California, Porter, 5% abv
Lindeman’s Pêche; Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Old Speckled Hen; England, Premium Bitter, 5.2%
Guinness; Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Blind Pig Brewery

Blind Pig Birthday Saison
Blind Pig Oatmeal Stout 7.4%
Blind Pig India Pale Ale 8.3%
Schlafly Pilsner; Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Two Brothers’ Ebel’s Weiss; Warrenville, IL, German Hefeweizen, 4.9% abv
Flying Dog Double Dog; Frederick, MD, American Strong Ale, 11.5% abv
Witkap Pater Dubbel; Belgium, Abbey Dubbel, 7% abv
Troubadour Obscura; Belgium, Stout, 8.5% abv
Southern Tier Old Man Winter; Lakewood, NY, Amer. Strng Ale, 7.2% abv
Southern Tier Oat; Lakewood, New York, Imperial Stout, 11% abv
Great Divide Hibernation; Denver, Colorado, Old Ale, 8.7%
Port Brewing High; Tide San Marcos, California, India Pale Ale, 6.5% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards
Tuesday and Wednesday: Mug Night, buy a mug and get $2 off draught beer

Crane Alley

Moyland's E.S.B. 5.3%
Great Divide Hercules Imperial IPA 10.0%
Left Hand Warrior IPA 6.6%
Victory Prima Pils 5.3%
Founders Breakfast Stout 2009 8.3%
Original Sin Hard Cider 6.0%
Ayinger Brau Weiss 5.1%
New Holland Black Mad Hatter IPA 7.1%
Tommyknocker Ornery Amber Ale
Arcadia Nut Brown Ale 5.6%
Troubadour Magma 9.0%
Fullers London Porter 5.0%
Founders Cerise 5.5%
Avery Old Jubilation 8.0%
Mikkeller Monks Elixir 10.0%
PBR 4.2%

Tuesday: Smuttynose Brewery Release Party: 7pm, 6 Smuttnose brews on tap, president of the brewery, Peter Egelston will be there. Free shirts and glassware giveaways

Wednesday: Beer and Cheese Tasting: Cheese from Prairie Fruits Farm paired with Merchant du Vin imports, 7pm

December 13: International Rare Beer Dinner: 7:30pm,

First Course: De Glazen Toren Saison D'Erpe-Mere
Lamb Posole

Second Course: Ichtegem's Grand Cru
Frisee and endive salad with blackberry mangalitsa emulsion, tangerine supreme and candied pecans

Third Course: La Rulles Cuvee Meilleurs Voeux
Fried Duck Confit ravioli with fig jam

Fourth Course: Hitachino Red Rice Ale
Filet medallion with shrimp pancake and apricot rouille

Fifth Course: Dessert TBA
Birrificio Grado Plato Chocarrubica/Dieu du Ciel Rosee D'Hibiscus

Tickets are $60 per person, can be purchased at the bar or through your server and are very limited.

Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

Founders Breakfast Stout 8.3% ABV
Great Divide Hercules Double IPA 10% ABV
Dark Horse Perkulator Coffee Dopplebock 7.5% ABV
Wintercoat Vildmoseol 5.8% ABV
Capital Winter Skål 5.5% ABV
Moylan’s Dragoons Dry Irish Stout, 8% ABV
Cask: JW Lees Harvest Ale (might be gone)

Two Brothers Heavier Handed IPA has replaced something in the above tap list

CU Beer Club

Tuesday; December Happy Hour, This will be held at Crane Alley, instead of at the normal Mike N' Molly's.

Bars in the news; One-on-One with Sharon Owens, of Radio Maria

From the Buzz

One-on-One with Sharon Owens, Co-Owner of Radio Maria

It's a nice little piece on Radio.

Though Radio Maria has been a CU favorite for years with some of those classic dishes that keep us coming back for more, it also constantly presents changes in the menu, space and events that have its customers returning and growing in size. According to co-owner Sharon Owens, Radio Maria is all about fusing personal interests with the love of great dining: the restaurant features work (from the lights to the three-dimensional artwork on the wall to the tabletops) by Owens, co-owner David Spears and other Radio Maria employees past and present. Back in the kitchen, the creativity does not stop: Chefs are encouraged to explore their culinary interests as reflected in the evolving menu. buzz sat down with Owens to talk more about her restaurant.

Me in the news; The Champaign-Urbana Beer Club

From the Buzz

The Champaign-Urbana Beer club

Ok, well, it's not really me only, but my picture (from the about me, facebook, twitter...) is the one linked with the story.

Brady (who works with me at Radio Maria) went to the last beer club meeting in November, and wrote about it.

It's a good article, there are a couple of slight errors, but it's still good.

Several claim that within a block radius in Southeast Urbana—where many members reside—they have collectively amassed the best beers that exist in the world today.

I think it's a mile radius, but Brady said that the block makes it sound cooler.

Virgil, the weekly organizer of these events, was happy to break down this technical process in real terms, “The yeast eats the sugar, burps carbon dioxide and pisses alcohol. In a good beer like this one, the yeast keeps on pissing.”

I'm not really the organizer, I'm just the guy who runs the facebook page, and puts out the even invite. And yes, that's actually mostly a quote from Andy Borbely of Seven Saints, the "yeast keeps on pissing", that's all me.

Again, it's a good informative article, made especially pretty with the picture of me.