In today’s world of dazzling craft beer options, it’s easy to overlook a beer that’s just really good. And in this case, perfect for summer, with its lighter, refreshing character. Goose Island’s 312 Urban Wheat Ale, is just that, a really good, refreshing beer. It has in fact won about a half-dozen awards as an English-Style Summer Ale, so maybe it’s a little better than just “good”! In any case, like we said, it’s a perfect summer beer, so that’s why it’s on special right now! Producer’s notes: Like the digits suggest, it’s a beer that’s densely populated with flavor and loaded with character. We don’t filter it, so none of its life and soul is stripped away. The first thing you notice is the hazy, cloudy appearance. That’s how you know it’s unfiltered. What hits you next is the spicy aroma of Cascade hops, followed by the crispy, fruity ale flavor delivered in a smooth, creamy body, the result of blending barley malt with torrified wheat. It’s not like any other Goose Island Beer, but no less that you’d expect. ABV: 4.2%; IBU: 18; Hops: First Gold, Mt. Hood, Cascade; Malts: 2 Row, Torrified Wheat. Food Pairings: Salads, Fish, Fresh Chevre, Buffalo Mozzarella.
Category: New Arrivals
As a child, you may have been – like many American kids – instilled with an early fear of flying monkeys by the film Wizard of Oz. Well, it’s time to shed that fear, and embrace the fine craft beers of Canada’s Flying Monkeys Brewery, especially The Chocolate Manifesto, which just arrived at the store recently. It currently has a 90 rating on Beer Advocate, where users like are saying things like “Holy chocolate Batman, this smells insane! It is easily the chocolatiest smelling beer I have come across“, and then proceeding to mention every possible type of chocolate known to man as being present in the aroma and taste. This is definitely a chocolatey chocolate stout, and in a GOOD way. Look for more Flying Monkeys beers in the store soon, these brewers are passionate about making exceptional and interesting beer. Perhaps at the expense of creating a functional website. If you can get the craziness that it is to actually load, that’s where you’ll learn that they believe that “brewing straight, normal beers is…well, it’s weird”. More soon, but for now, learn more about The Chocolate Manifesto below. It has a busy package, but it is, after all, a “manifesto”. Their beers have a lot of crazy Oz-themed branding in general, in fact they would have easily made our 25 craziest beer labels list of a few years ago 😉
Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye
Although a late winter/early spring release from Sierra Nevada, most beer aficionados who’ve tried it point out that its balanced complexity would make it an enjoyable beer year ’round. It’s currently getting an 87 on Beer Advocate. From the Producer: Rugged and resilient, rye has been a staple grain for ages and its spicy black pepper-like flavor has been prized by distillers and brewers for centuries. Rye thrives in the harshest conditions and comes to life in Ruthless, a spicy and rugged IPA with fruity, citrus and herbal hop notes balanced with the dry spiciness of the rye, making the beer aggressive yet comforting to bolster against whatever the winter winds may bring. 6.60% ABV
Anchor Brewing
According to the Anchor Brewing website, the brewery’s story began back in 1871, when Gottlieb Brekle bought an old beer-and-billiards saloon on Pacific Street near Russian Hill for $3,500. These days, that much money would only cover a month’s rent in the same area, and who knows if you’d have enough money left over to kick back and enjoy a beer! Thankfully, we’re here in Ann Arbor, the next Silicon Valley, where rents are still pretty affordable, and thanks to our specials on our Anchor selection this month, the beer is too!
We just got in our favorites from the Francis Coppola Diamond Collection. What could we possibly say about them that the producer hasn’t already said? From the Producer: The wines of the Diamond Collection are made from grapes grown in vineyards across California, from coastal regions to inland valleys. By carefully combining fruit selections with precise winemaking techniques, we are able to capture pure expressions of each varietal. The Francis Coppola Diamond Collection wines are so beautifully diverse, there is one to fit any setting and every wine-drinking occasion.