It’s great to see so many producers striving to create some quality gluten-free beers. More and more people are discovering all the time that even if they haven’t been diagnosed with Celiac Disease – probably the most common reason to go on a gluten free diet – they just seem to FEEL better when they lower their gluten intake. And some producers are actually pulling it off; of the beers listed below, David & Joe (the manager and owner) actually RAVED about what a great beer the Brunehaut Blonde is, gluten-free or not. But you know what I’d love to see? A comprehensive blind taste test of gluten-free beer against conventional beer. Why? Because I think they’d get a much better rap than they do when the reviewer KNOWS that they’re tasting a gluten-free beer. We often link to reviews on Beer Advocate, because there is a huge community of exceptionally knowledgeable beer connoisseurs there. But we took a quick glance at what they had to say about most gluten-free beers, and decided they were being way too harsh. We first talked about people’s ability to taste nearly a decade ago, and periodically someone will do a well-publicized blind taste test of wines, and get shocking results like the $80 Pinot Noir beating the $5,000 Pinot Noir. Or discovering that the same wine tastes better when it’s priced at $90 than when it’s priced at $10. It’s likely that the reason that we don’t see many high-profile blind taste tests is because of the lesson learned by a bunch of snobs in France in 1976 at the Judgment of Paris, when a slew of lowly California wines took all the awards. The fact is, psychology plays a HUGE factor in taste, whether it’s wine, beer, spirits, or even food. So whether you’re trying to eliminate gluten from your diet or not, maybe it’s time to give one of these beers a shot. Lakefront was the first in the US to get a gluten-free label, but Bard’s is produced by two beer lovers striving to create a beer they themselves like, after finding out they had celiac disease. And New Planet is not only making some interesting beers, but each of their labels is named after a concept that helps “do good things” for the planet. So whether you want to do something good for yourself, or do something good for the planet, give gluten-free a shot. You might be surprised at how tasty some of these beers actually are, especially if you’re a cider fan. And if you ARE a cider fan, we have over 30 of those on hand to sample as well! Check out the gluten free choices below. (more…)

Whether tax season is a tiresome period when you do a lot of extra work only to figure out how much you won’t get paid for doing it, or the time when you grab an EZ form and figure out your “magic money” refund for the year, we can all probably agree that we deserve a reward for our agony leading up to tax day. That’s why we’ve picked our Spring specials on wine and craft beer to coincide with tax day. As well as the usual types of specials we feature on our standard shelf items, David (the manager) has gone through the premium cellar and picked about a half-dozen additional items. One of the more interesting ones – if you happen to have hit the tax lotto big this year – is a 1997 Opus One Imperial (six liter) bottle. This has been carefully cellared and rotated appropriately. We had a rare opportunity to photograph it in a vertical position as the cellar was being reorganized. Usually $2249.95, for a limited time we’ll let it go for $1999.99! But of course most of us would buy a used car before spending two grand on a bottle of wine, so we have plenty of other deals, starting as low as $7.99 for a bottle of Concha y Toro Moscato, or $4.99 for a six pack of Schell’s! Spring has sprung! See the regular specials here, the premium choices here.

Learn more about why we’re going to Trinidad at our premium spirits site, HandSelectedSpirits.com

It looks like I’m taking a trip to Trinidad. Why? Because if Joe – the owner here at Main Party – doesn’t take me along when he goes. I’m quitting. And why is he going? Because back in December, he met a couple of gentleman from Infinium Spirits, the purveyors of Zaya Rum, and fell in love. With the rum that is, not the gentlemen from Zaya. For them, he developed an instant respect for their passion for creating a fine spirit. Enough respect that he not only decided to carry the rum in the store, but he also decided to add it to the exclusive selections at our premium wine & spirits site HandSelectedSpirits.com, which means taking a trip to Trinidad, where this exceptional rum is made. If you’re already a rum aficionado, you will either like Zaya for what it is or not, but there is no argument about whether it is one of the finer rums in the world. If you’re not particularly into rum, you may still have it in your head that rum only exists to make a rum and coke, and have some vague memories left over from a wild night out on a tropical vacation that it’s also used for Daiquiris and Mai Tais. Or perhaps you recently discovered the Mojito. If you fall into the latter camp, it’s time to study up! And what kind of studying is more interesting than “studying” an interesting new fine spirit? Rum has a fascinating and rich history that extends back to the American Revolution and beyond, as we explain in our History of Rum over at HandSelectedSpirits.com. And for many, the modern perception was shaped almost entirely by the dominant white rums and the handful of dark rums that were the only ones available for decades. The fact is that saying “I don’t like rum” is like saying “I don’t like red wine”. While one is certainly entitled to not like something, that’s a pretty sweeping statement. Much like other spirits, rum begins with a fairly simple base that gives it part of its character. What sets rum apart is that this base is sugar, or in the case of Zaya, blackstrap molasses. After the original distilling – much like whiskey or brandy – the art is in carefully selecting the right barrels for aging, and as the rum ages, applying master blending skills to create a world-class spirit. Which is what Zaya Rum is. To learn more about Zaya, visit our specialty site and find out more about how it’s made, the history of rum in general, and even the colorful history of Trinidad , which is as rich and complex as Zaya. We even included ideas for how best to enjoy Zaya, below:

Zaya Cocktail Recipe

3 oz. of Zaya Rum
Served in a snifter.
Garnish frowned upon.

Just having some fun; while this  probably is the best way to enjoy it, Zaya’s mellow character also makes it a perfect component of a lot of classic cocktails, so we’ve included a full list of Zaya’s cocktail suggestions here.

Mi Amore from Northern Italy - a versatile choice with a charmingly romantic label.

If your number one priority this Valentine’s Day is picking the perfect wine, or getting the best table at the most expensive restaurant, your priorities may be a little out of order. Like the accomplished romance artist and crooner Dean Martin said, “when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore”. A romantic Valentine’s Day should be about the love, and all the other things that express it – some flowers, a simple gift, some sensual food, some levity, and the look in the eyes. Not the price tag and the Robert Parker score. That’s why we’ve picked some versatile, accessible, and affordable bubblies and table wines for your consideration. Italy and Spain are sort of legendary for expertise in the romance department, which might explain the fun sexiness of the wines here. And we especially focused on wines that have a romantic hue, or in the case of the Mi Amore, a romantic label. The producers themselves say that the “two doves kissing represent peace, harmony and passion”. What more do you want out of Valentine’s Day. We’ve suggested some wine, the rest is up to you. (more…)

Golf and wine have at least a couple of things in common. One is that they both involve a pursuit of perfection that mostly ends up falling short, but results in a very enjoyable experience. Enjoyable, that is, if you like golf or wine! Another is that a big part of what makes both enjoyable is based on companionship and storytelling. Can you imagine truly enjoying a wine if you couldn’t share it with a friend, and talk about where it came from, how it was made, or the unique story of the vineyard owner or winemaker? And likewise with golf – if it was all about perfecting your game, there would hardly be any reason to have a bar back at the club, now *would there. And these are the sorts of things that make these special Ben Hogan wines we’re featuring worth a look, and probably a great gift idea for Father’s Day, or for the golfer in your life, regardless of gender. The wines themselves are not exceptional wines, but they’re actually pretty good. And pretty good is usually more than enough when it comes to wine or golf. As a woman we know who is both a wine rep AND a golfer said, “who cares about 90+ ratings when the juice is good, and you have good company!” And you’re in pretty good company in this case; if you know anything about golf, you know who Ben Hogan is. And if you don’t, there’s Wikipedia. And the story of how this wine happened is a fun story in itself. Especially the little details like how when the California vineyard’s owner Matthew Talbert – who is Australian – printed his newly hired (and award winning) winemaker Chris Cameron’s business cards with his name upside down. Get it? Talbert is from “down under”. The wines are in fact made in partnership with Ben Hogan products, so if you’re thinking about gifting, you might want to check out Ben Hogan apparel and golf gear to accompany the wine. Oh yeah. Back to the wine itself! We have a limited number of the collector’s sets, finished with each bottling matching numerically (only 500 were produced), individually wrapped, and containing a Certificate of Authenticity. We also have a few of the three and two bottle packages, and a lot of individual “Tribute” series wines listed below. These wines are a good value anyway, but the numbered collections are a steal. We got a good deal, and are passing it on to you. Remember:

As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.
~ Ben Hogan

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