 Deschutes Red Chair
Spring hasn’t quite sprung, but it sure is wound tight. As the darkness of winter fades into light so does our palate for brew. In this time of transition there is one beer that embodies the change of season in a seamless way—Deschutes Red Chair. Dubbed a Northwest Pale Ale, this American style pale is both sweet and bitter. Just from the copper color pour and half inch, off-white head you can see this beer has something to offer. The aroma entices with hints of grapefruit citrus and floral hops, yet balances with a sweet, caramel graininess that pulls the drinker in. The first sip will reveal a slight hop forward bitterness that bites the tip of your tongue and quickly transitions to a sweet, citrusy breadiness for a balance that is nigh unmatched in pale ales. With a slick mouthfeel this beer goes down easy, and when it is gone it leaves a slightly bitter finish behind. If you lick your lips (which you will!) you can still taste the balance of the caramel and hops, leaving a lasting impression on your palate. So whether you soon find yourself behind a lawnmower or a budding relationship (‘tis the season), find your way to the bottom of an exceptionally well made bottle of Deschutes Red Chair—it won’t be around forever. Keelan Mulligan, March 14, 2013
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 Sierra Nevada’s Bigfoot Barleywine
Unlike the original, there is no conspiracy about this Bigfoot, nor do you have to scour the wilderness to find it. Sierra Nevada’s Bigfoot Barleywine comes out every year in early Spring, and the excitement of Keelan Mulligan, March 7, 2013
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 Telluride’s Face Down Brown Ale
As the 2012 gold medal winner for American-Style Brown at both the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup, this week’s beer hardly needs any introduction—Telluride’s Face Down Brown Ale. A mix of an English Style Brown and its American counterpart, this beer exemplifies both styles perfectly while also combining to create something transcendent. The aroma soothes up front with roasted toffee and nuts, giving way to sweet chocolate hints balanced by aromatic hops. Keelan Mulligan, February 28, 2013 |
The 2012 DAM Uncorked wine tasting was a huge success. As one of the Denver Art Museum’s premier fundraising events, they were able to raise over $635,000. Applejack Wine & Spirits would like to thank everyone who attended this year’s event and especially thank the Duncan family for their continued support of the museum. In addition, the tasting could not have taken place without the generous contribution from all the wineries, suppliers, and distributors. Thank you for donating such wonderful wines and making this an exciting evening for all.
When I really want to treat myself, I splurge on a Green’s Belgian Gluten Free bomber. They’re $6.49 each, and worth every cent. The 
Since most people drink wine, not ratings, it is easy to overstate their importance. Look around the wine section of your local wine and spirits retailer, and you will see reviews and ratings everywhere. A reviewer you trust can be a gold-mine of information about new wines, or new vintages of old favorites. On the other hand, it could be argued that we pay too much attention to the ratings, and not enough to our own experience.
Another holiday season is upon us, and with it are the traditional gatherings of friends and family for dinners and parties. For many of us, the hardest decision we’ll make is which wine to serve—after all, we do not want to disappoint our guests with our choice as well as have them talk about it forever after! To help, here are some suggestions to give you an idea of what to buy no matter what your budget.
Wine is a social beverage, and a wine tasting in your home is an easy way to make any gathering into a dynamic and memorable event. This brief post should give you all the information you need to taste wine. A wine tasting or a wine dinner should not be a challenge, but an experience. Even without taking a Sommelier course, a well-crafted wine will reveal complexity and layers of flavor with just a little effort and practice.
After posting recipes for the past few weeks, the wine department thought we would try one of them ourselves. We chose the grilled skirt steak because, in addition to it being one of the most flavorful cuts of meat, it is quite affordable (especially when hosting a large group of opportunivors!!).
Then, to top off the evening, cashier extraordinaire Eva Young, prepared a savory Sangria from equal parts 
Grilled Skirt Steak
Recipes courtesy of Jill Paradiso, a classically trained chef and the Rioja specialist for the Northeast region. For more information
Ingredients: 
Recipes courtesy of Jill Paradiso, a classically trained chef and the Rioja specialist for the Northeast region. For more information about Vibrant Rioja please visit 
