Look what we put on our shelves today:

Fort Colllins Brewery's Big Shot Seasonal Ale.  $8.99/ 22 oz bomber.

This seasonal brown ale will leave you wishing the season would never end, as it is a perfect warm-up for the winter.  This ale is packed full of English malts and East Kent Golding hops, and is perfect for slow sipping.  The aromas and flavors are rich with malt and approach a nice nuttiness that compliments the silky mouthfeel.  A great gift for the holidays too, as it has a beer-drinking snowman on the label! 

Delirium Noel.  $6.49/ 11.2 oz bottle.

At 10% abv, this is a big stout, that has wonderful sharp and peppery character, with a long bitter finish.  The flavor is rich, but surprisingly fresh, and the beer is sure to warm you up for the season.  This makes a great holiday gift, as it has a festive elephant on the label.  Tis the season to drink well!  Cheers.

What is the difference between Thanksgiving dressing and stuffing?

Anyone?  Anyone?

The difference between the two seemed so obvious to me, once I hear the answer that is!  You see, stuffing is just that, something that is stuffed INSIDE the turkey for cooking, whereas dressing is something you cook OUTSIDE of the turkey.  Ahhhhh!  That makes sense.

However, what is important to learn here, is we have FREE dressing today!  That's right, Hannah has done it again, making a homemade dressing that is out of this world as per City Spirits tradition.  This time around, she went extremely gourment, and even included ingredients such as bacon and lamb.  You have not had dressing like this before, so make sure to stop in.  We'll also have two Thanksgiving wines available for tasting, and an entire Thanksgiving Wines Buyer's Guide for you to use as you pick the perfect pairs for your traditional dinner.

Here's just two examples of what we recommend, and these are the two wines we're pouring today and tomorrow:

A to Z Pinot Noir.  Oregon.

This pinot noir has aromas of Bing cherries and blueberries, with hints of orange and white pepper, and beautiful violet undertones.  The mouth is bright with acidity, with silky tannins and flavors of cherry that are present throughout.  Flavors similar to that of the aromas can be found, with a slight spiciness to give the wine balance.  This pinot is lively, light, and easy to drink.  A great selection for grillled salmon, turkey, duck, and portobello mushrooms.

Trimbach Riesling.  Alsace, France.

The Trimbach family has a wine-making history that dates back four centuries, and you can surely tell when you taste this riesling.  So smooth and delicious, with stone fruits and beautiful acidity.  Riesling is known for its great food-pairing abilities, but you'll find that this riesling pairs especially well with sushi, grilled fish, and spicy foods.  Also a great wine to serve with Thanksgiving dinner.

I stumbled across this article (link below) on Twitter today, and it was a very intersting read.  However, what I found most fun, was reading all the comments below the article... the split on whether or not it was valid to think that beer should no longer be served in pint glasses, and that a glass more complimentary to its aromas and flavors should win through.  There were comments about how snobby it was to even be discussing this topic, comments that felt strongly towards moving away from the pint glass, and comments in the middle of the argument.  I can't quite tell you why it was so fascinating to me, but now I'm wondering what you think out there...  either way, I think the article is a GREAT read.  Check it out and let us know.  We'd love to hear from you!

http://www.craftbeer.com/pages/stories/craft-beer-muses/show?title=should-the-shaker-pint-glass-go-away

Folks, the Denver International Wine Festival is almost here, and we want to hear from you... what wines are you excited to try and how many of you out there are attending? 

This festival was first held at the Oxford Hotel in Denver, but has since grown in size, as well as popularity.  In 2005, Mayor Hickenlooper declared the week of Denver International Wine Festival as "Denver Wine Week," so there are now several events surrounding this fun, local event.  We'd like to hear about your favorites. 

Chime in Denver!

Who doesn't love a good old hot toddy? And we've put a spin on things here this week, using Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum in ours! The recipe we've found is perfect for filling your crockpot, so that your guests can enjoy while you enjoy too. Now, you can actually attend your own party with this easy, plan-ahead, cocktail, that is sure to warm everyone up this weekend. Let's face it, with Halloween costumes these days, several of yours guests will need a little extra warmth. Stop in Friday the 26th or Saturday the 27th, between 2 and 7pm, and taste for yourself. We'll even give you our secret recipe. If you can't make it in, you can shop on our website or call for free delivery. There's no charge, and no minimum purchase required, so this service is easy and affordable!

Here's what you'll need:

25 ounces of Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum

12 ounces fresh lemon juice

9 ounces of honey

64 ounces of hot water

24 pieces of cloves

2 oranges

To make:

Mix the hot water, Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum, and lemon juice together in a large crockpot. Add the honey slowly, stirring until it is completely dissolved. Slice two oranges into wedges, and pierce each wedge with a few cloves, and let the oranges and cloves float on the top.

ENJOY! And Happy Halloween for your staff at City Spirits.

Where:  City Spirits Wine & Liquor

1512 Larimer Street

Denver, CO  80202

What:  Great Divide Brewing Company Sampling!

With the Great American Beer Festival being such a huge event for our city, how could we not get involved? Not to mention, our love for the local beer scene is as strong as the quality of beers themselves, so we jumped at the chance to highlight four of our favorite local breweries! It was hard to pick, but we have finally narrowed it down and set our dates (see other blog posts for the other three events). These tastings will be open to the public, and FREE of charge. We are located just off the 16th Street Mall, in Writer Square, and will have a few selections from each brewery open during the entire tasting. If you can't make it in, keep in mind, we deliver in the downtown Denver area for free, and good beer is just a call away! 720.328.3969 See our website for a map of our delivery area, and while you're there, you can also shop online. It's easy here!

We hope to see you soon! Happy GABF to you all.

Where:  City Spirits Wine & Liquor

1512 Larimer Street

Denver, CO  80202

What:  Tommyknocker Brewery Sampling!

With the Great American Beer Festival being such a huge event for our city, how could we not get involved? Not to mention, our love for the local beer scene is as strong as the quality of beers themselves, so we jumped at the chance to highlight four of our favorite local breweries! It was hard to pick, but we have finally narrowed it down and set our dates (see other blog posts for the other three events). These tastings will be open to the public, and FREE of charge. We are located just off the 16th Street Mall, in Writer Square, and will have a few selections from each brewery open during the entire tasting. If you can't make it in, keep in mind, we deliver in the downtown Denver area for free, and good beer is just a call away! 720.328.3969 See our website for a map of our delivery area, and while you're there, you can also shop online. It's easy here!

We hope to see you soon! Happy GABF to you all.

Where:  City Spirits Wine & Liquor

1512 Larimer Street

Denver, CO  80202

What:  Ska Brewing Company Sampling!

With the Great American Beer Festival being such a huge event for our city, how could we not get involved? Not to mention, our love for the local beer scene is as strong as the quality of beers themselves, so we jumped at the chance to highlight four of our favorite local breweries! It was hard to pick, but we have finally narrowed it down and set our dates (see other blog posts for the other three events). These tastings will be open to the public, and FREE of charge. We are located just off the 16th Street Mall, in Writer Square, and will have a few selections from each brewery open during the entire tasting. If you can't make it in, keep in mind, we deliver in the downtown Denver area for free, and good beer is just a call away! 720.328.3969 See our website for a map of our delivery area, and while you're there, you can also shop online. It's easy here!

We hope to see you soon! Happy GABF to you all.

Where:  City Spirits Wine & Liquor

1512 Larimer Street

Denver, CO  80202

What:  Free Lefthand Brewing Company Sampling!

With the Great American Beer Festival being such a huge event for our city, how could we not get involved?  Not to mention, our love for the local beer scene is as strong as the quality of beers themselves, so we jumped at the chance to highlight four of our favorite local breweries!  It was hard to pick, but we have finally narrowed it down and set our dates (see other blog posts for the other three events).  These tastings will be open to the public, and FREE of charge.  We are located just off the 16th Street Mall, in Writer Square, and will have a few selections from each brewery open during the entire tasting.  If you can't make it in, keep in mind, we deliver in the downtown Denver area for free, and good beer is just a call away!  720.328.3969  See our website for a map of our delivery area, and while you're there, you can also shop online.  It's easy here! 

We hope to see you soon!  Happy GABF to you all.

New Belgium Tart Lychee, 7.5% abv, $9.99

This is New Belgium's latest Lips of Faith series and personally one of my favorite to-date. I first fell in love with this beer last year at Avery's Sourfest and was estatic to see they were bottling it! There is a yin yang effect going on between sweet and sour. 56% of the beer is aged in oak with wild yeast which gives it the sourness and 44% is brewed with lychee and cinammon which gives it the sweetness. They are then married together to make this wonderful complex beer.

Mikkeller Ultramate 1000, 4.9% abv, $6.99

This is one for the hop heads, claiming 1000 IBU's. IBU = International Bitter Unit, which translates to hops. Most beers are rated on 0-100 IBUs so this one is certainly in a class of it's own.The hops in this provide a very piney, resinous, grapefruit taste to this beer which off-sets the bitterness. If you like hops then you need not miss out on this one!

Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel Calvados Barrel Edition, 10.9% abv, $15.49

If you haven't already figured it out, Mikkeller's claim to fame is unique, off the wall beers. The one above with over 10x the amount of a typical beer's IBUs. If you think that is unique though wait until you hear about this one. This beer is created with Kopi Luwak or civet coffee which is one of the world's most expensive and low produced coffees. The civet which is similar to a weasel eats the coffee berries, digests them and that is what the coffee is made from. The folks at Mikeller brew this beer similar to a stout then add the Civet coffee and finally age the beer in Calvados barrels which is an apple brandy. This is quite possibly one of the most extreme and complex beers I've ever tasted and don't let the story deter you because it is absolutely delicious!

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First off, we'll be tasting Dogfish Head's "My Antonia". If you're an avid follower you probably remember our excitement when My Antonia came into the store. This is Dogfish Head's imperial pilsner that is continually hopped, giving it a light body but with a mild hop finish. I recommend this beer everytime someone asks for a good pizza beer, as it's light enough to resemble some of the domestic beers, but has much more flavor and substance.

We will also be tasting Alaskan Amber. This beer is actually an alt style beer, "alt" being the German word for "old" referring to the longer fermentation times it takes to make an alt beer. Alt beers or altbiers date back before lagers were born, but the cool fermentation that they undergo is very similar to the lagering of a beer giving it a cleaner, crisper finish. The addition of the malts in Alaska Amber make this beer the best of both worlds, giving you something with a strong malt character but still refreshing and easy drinking. Not to mention this beer has been winning awards since I was born!

Also stay tuned as next week we're expecting quite possibly my favorite summer beer, Ska Mexican Logger! We pride ourselves on our beer selection but we're also human and know that sometimes you're just craving a light Mexican lager. Well our friends at Ska Brewing in Durango, CO have got us covered with this annual summertime release. Mexican Logger is traditionally lagered and uses saaz hops, which are what give Czech pilsners that deliciously refreshing quality. So when it comes time to do some yard work don't forget to stop on by and grab your 6 pack of Mexican Logger, I promise you won't be disappointed!

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Dogfish Head My Antonia, 7.5% abv, $10.99                                                                                                            

For those of you who have seen the Discovery Channel series "Brew Masters" you probably remember the episode where Sam Calagione visits his grandmother and they share a My Antonia together. My Antonia is a continuouslly hopped Imperial Pilsner great for the warm weather we've been experiencing. It pours a golden straw hue with great natrual carbonation, very clean, crisp,  and refreshing. With its Italian roots and light body, pair this with your favorite pizza!

Firestone Walker Union Jack, 7.5% abv, $5.49

Hop heads rejoice! Firestone Walker Union Jack is a classic example of a west coast IPA using over 4lbs of hops per barrel! It is double dry hopped yet still well balanced with tons of grapefruit and citrus overtones. I'm not alone in saying this is one of my favorite IPA's of all time, as it's won the gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival in both 2008 and 2009 along with a slew of other awards. This one will pair perfectly with something spicy, how about some Thai food?

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That's right folks, we're your one stop shop for all your St. Patrick's Day supplies! Coming this Friday, March 16th, just in time for the festivities, we will be receiving Guinness Draught, Harp Lager, and Murphy's Irish Stout, everything you'll need to start the weekend right including the beers to make both Irish half & half's and American half & half's.

An Irish half & half is simply half warm Guinness or room temperature and half chilled Guinness. In the early days, as refrigerators were not around, bartenders did this to achieve the perfect drinking temperature for Guinness which is roughly 44 degrees farenheit.

An American half & half, shown below, is much more common nowadays with refrigeration and all. It consists of half Harp lager and half Guinness, giving you the best of both worlds. Very similar to the well known black & tan, but here at City Spirits, we prefer this version, as the crisp, cleanness of Harp lager is so refreshing and smooth. It is called a half & half as both beers are made by Guinness in Ireland.

If neither the traditional half & half nor the American half & half are your fancy, try the Great Divide half & half. This consists of their Yeti imperial stout in place of Guinness, and their brand new Nomad Bohemian style pilsner instead of Harp.  Not only does this pair taste delicious, but you can celebrate the holiday while supporting a local business.  We of course made this drink up ourselves, but you'll see, things catch on quick in this lovely beer state!

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Cocoa Mole.  New Belgium.  Lips of Faith series.

This limited release beer is made by New Belgium Brewing Company, and is part of the Lips of Faith series that we've all fallen in love with.  It pours a clear, dark, almost opaque color, and has aromas of cinnamon, bitter-sweet chocolate, and spice; reminiscent of Mexican hot chocolate. The palate is smooth and delicious, with flavors of cinnamon and caramel maltiness on the forefront, followed by a spice and smokiness that really does reflect Mole, as if you were drinking a beer that had been slightly blended with the Spanish sauce itself.  This beer is 9% alcohol by volume, and can be perceived as a meal all in itself. Our staff absolutely loves this beer, so we have to admit, you'll need to get some before we buy through it ourselves.  Only one case of this made it to our store, so good luck to you!

Footprint Regional Ale.  Odell Brewing Company.

Footprint Regional Ale is also a limited release beer, made by Odell Brewing Company.  With ten states in their distribution footprint, this brewery wanted to highlight something from each one.  A small batch beer was made in each of the ten states, and then each finished batch was blended into one single brew, creating this "regional ale."   Footprint includes hops and barley from Colorado and Idaho, wheat from Kansas and Wyoming, Arizona prickly pear, Minnesota wild rice, Nebraska corn, New Mexico green chiles, South Dakota honey, and oak barrels from Missouri.  This blending resulted in a beer that pours golden honey in hue, with aromas of stone fruit, honey, and a pleasant oakiness to follow.  On the palate, balanced flavors of hops and barley meet a slight sweetness from the honey.  There is a very mild hint of spiciness on the finish, but honestly, did not taste the green chiles.  So, our tip to you, do not shy away from this beer if you are not a fan of chile beers, because this is anything but.  A real treat from right here in Colorado.  Limited quantities, so we hope to see you with one in-hand soon!  We'll certainly do our best to keep it stocked while we can.

Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti -22oz, 9.5%ABV, $8.99

If you've ever been to Great Divide you're probably more than aware of their Yeti imperial stout. The regular year round Yeti is a massive, roasty, hoppy, imperial stout, whereas this special seasonal variation of the Yeti has been aged in oak barrels. The oak aging gives the beer an added complexity of vanilla characteristics as well as a much smoother, creamier mouth feel. Pairs excellent with grilled NY strip steak, bleu d'auvergne, or for dessert try it with or on top of some real vanilla ice cream!

Bristol's Laughing Lab Scottish Ale -12oz, 6pack, 5.0%ABV, $9.99

This scottish ale is Colorado's most decorated medal winner at the annual Great American Beer Festival (GABF) taking home nine medals since 1994. It pours a deep red hue with a thin 1-finger creamy off white head. The taste is true to scottish ales giving it a nutty, roasty, malty character with a twinge of hops. Pair this one with some Thai food or any spicy dish!

And, coming this Friday 2/3 will be:

New Belgium Dig -12oz, 6pack, 5.6%ABV, $9.49

The newest beer in the New Belgium lineup is their spring seasonal, Dig. Dig is a pale ale brewed with Sorachi Ace hops which gives this beer a fresh Spring zing with a lemon zest aroma. Nelson Sauvin hops are known to bring graprefruit, mango, and peach notes to the party and are the next hop addition to Dig. Finally our American classic, Cascade hops which add citrusy notes. Dig is a crisp, clean, easy drinking pale ale, which will be a great apres spring cleaning or gardening beer. Enjoy! (and let's hope spring comes early this year).

That’s right folks, just here today to tell you about a marvelous Lambic that we still have a few of here at City Spirits. This is a very unique traditional blended Lambic from Belgium, in fact only 5,333 bottles of this beer were ever made and we only have 1 left! Due to all the variables that go into brewing Lambics, aging them, blending, and finally bottle conditioning it is safe to say you will never taste a beer quite like this again. The nose consists of barnyard, lemon rind, grapefruit, minerals, and citric acid. It is delightfully crisp with mild carbonation and has a refreshing tartness as you’d expect from the style but by no means is an acid bomb. If you’re not a beer drinker but like the occasional Pinot Grigio, this beer is a must!

A little history to impress your friends when sharing this beer from Vanberg Dewulf:

What an exciting Bronco's game yesterday! So since they'll be advancing to the next round of the playoffs, our staff here at City Spirits has selected a few different six packs that will perfectly compliment next weekend's games.

New Russian River Beers This Week!

Things just keep getting better and better here at City Spirits as this week we've been fortunate enough to get 3 Russian River beers. For those of you familiar with Russian River beers, you know that owner and brewmaster Vinnie Cilurzo has been uprooting your thoughts on what beer can be for over a decade. For the rest that may be new to the craft beer culture, I'll give you a brief rundown that will undoubtedly make your mouth water.

Russian River Brewing Company is located in Sonoma County, California one of the most recognized wine growing regions in the world, was founded by Korbel Champagne Cellars in 1997 where Vinnie was hired as the brewmaster, 2 years later Russian River won best small brewery at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) and in 2002, Vinnie and his wife Natalie bought the brewery and haven't looked back since, earning global recognition and accolade.

Here at City Spirits we are very thankful to have Russian River's beers as they're only available in 5 states in the U.S. Now without further ado, the beers:

Temptation - 7.50% ABV, 375ml, $13.99

First off, we've got Temptation, a blonde ale aged in French oak chardonnay barrels with brettanomyces. It is aged for up to a year in the barrel which imparts beautiful vinous and oak qualities without completely masking the base beer. It is then refermented in the bottle to create a carbonation, a process commonly used to make fine Champagne and sparkling wine. Rated 100 pointes on http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/russian-river-temptation/13145/  this is the beer that got me hooked on wild ales and whenever spotted at a liquor store I simply cannot resist the temptation.

Supplication -7.00% ABV, 375ml, $12.49

Next is Supplication, a brown ale aged in French oak pinot  noir barrels with 3 strains of wild yeast; brettanomyces, lactobacillus, and pediococcus which gives the beer a lively acidity. If you tend to drink more wine than beer I challenge you to try this one, as it's got soft fruit notes, a subtle oak presence and hint of vanilla. This is another 100 point beer according to http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/russian-river-supplication/43947/. 

Lastly, but certainly not least is Damnation, a belgian style golden ale. This beer is beautifully balanced with fruit, spice, and malt which gives it a very nice sweetness. If you favor belgian beers and haven't tried this one you're certainly missing out. Scored 98/100 on http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/russian-river-damnation/13146/.

For more information, we encourage you to check out Russian River's direct website, for they have A LOT to offer the beer world!

http://www.russianriverbrewing.com/

Port Brewing Santa's Little Helper Imperial Stout - 10.0% ABV, 22oz, $8.99

Hopefully Santa's little helpers don't drink this until after Christmas as this is one robust Russian Imperial Stout. However for the rest of us non-elves this is a great treat to enjoy with friends and family during the the holiday season.

Santa's Little Helper pours as black as a lump of coal with a creamy beige head that quickly dissolves.

The nose is chock full of roasted malts, espresso, and dark chocolate with whispers of molasses and alcohol if really delving in. The taste is very simlar to the nose, with chocolate and roasted malts taking over the tastebuds. On the back end there is a slight bitterness which I presume to be from the chocolate and coffee flavors, but bittering hops may have something to do with it as well. There is a nice amount of alcohol warmth for these cold winter nights.

This beer is truly a treat and would make for an excellent stocking stuffer!

Uinta Brewing Cockeyed Cooper Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine Ale - 11.1% ABV, 750ml, $13.99

For this week at City Spirits:

Fleuron Chardonnay. Alexander Valley, CA. 2009. $18.99/bottle.

This Chardonnay is so beautiful and elegent, and such a pretty wine to serve with food, although it can also stand on its own. A golden color, with a nose of honeysuckle, lemon blossom, and white stone fruit, as well as a generous mouth-feel and a lingering finish. A great representation at how wonderful the fruit is in the Alexander Valley.

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Firestone Merlot. Santa Ynez, CA. 2007. $14.49/bottle.

The 2007 California Merlot is very fragrant, with notes of cherries, cola, sweet spices and mocha. The palate follows with flavors of bing cherry, sweet tobacco and vanilla, balanced by chewy, structured tannins that caress the mouth. Medium bodied and silky, this Merlot finishes with mocha and spice notes.

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Keep in mind, we also have some great beers to chose from for the holidays, and with brews like Jolly Pumpkin's La Parcela, you're sure to surprise guests with how much you know... once you read our blog that is! http://www.cityspiritsdenver.com/blog.aspx

Thanks again for your support! This year and always, it is YOU that we are thankful for at City Spirits.

Our staff here at City Spirits is absolutely thrilled about the beers we're getting in this week. Each beer will be arriving sometime Wednesday (11/16) afternoon and as we were only able to get a case of each, we don't expect them to stick around for too long.

Jolly Pumpkin La Parcela - 5.9% ABV, 750ml

Halloween may be over but Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and Jolly Pumpkin's La Parcela is the perfect beer to pair with your pumpkin pie for dessert, or drink on its own on any of the upcoming cool fall evenings. Coming straight from Jolly Pumpkin, [This beer] is packed full with real pumpkins, hints of spice, and a gentle kiss of cacao to liven the soul. Jolly Pumpkin is known for aging their beers in oak barrels, which in their case, makes them slightly sour to add to the complexity and awaken even your sleepiest taste buds to beg for more.

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Mikkeller Barrel-Aged Chipolte Porter (Texas Ranger) - 6.6% ABV, 375ml

Yeeehaww! That was my expression when I heard we were getting Mikeller's Barrel-Aged Chipolte Porter aka Texas Ranger. This beer is the epitome of complexity, as it starts out dark and robust as a traditional porter would, with chocolate and coffee notes as well as a touch of vanilla. It then shows off its chipotle side with a bit of smokiness and finishes with a low heat spice character. As if that wasn't enough, they also age this particular beer in Speyside Whiskey barrels to add even more complexity, as well as a hint of whiskey.

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De Struise Pannepot - 10.0% ABV, 330ml

This is personally my favorite quadrupel, I would put this up there with the St. Bernardus Abt 12's, the Rochefort 10's, and even the Westvleteren 12's (I know, I know) but I truly love this beer and think it is an excellent represnetation of a Belgian quad. It pours a very dark brown, almost black, with a creamy frothy head. It predominately tastes of dried fruit, spice, nutmeg, fig, and caramel. This is a dangerously easy drinking beer, enjoy!

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Amager Fru Frederiksen - 7.0% ABV, 500ml

Perhaps I'm a bit biased as my last name is Frederiksen and my heritiage is Danish, but there's no mistake that this Danish Imperial Stout is world class, rated a 99 on Ratebeer for style and overall. Taken from Amager, "It is said that behind every great man is an equally great, and above all wise woman. Now this can also be said of the beer world. Perhaps our most famous beer, Mr. Frederiksen is a powerful fellow, who enjoys nothing more than to stand and admire his own muscles, Mrs. Frederiksen however, is a wise woman who knows perfectly well that it is possible to achieve almost as much without using anywhere near as much force. This Lady is just as powerful but is somewhat toned down compared to the Lord. Slightly sweeter and less smokey, although with plenty of black malt, chocolate malt and roasted barley she is not totally weak, the U.S. Centennial - hop with its 60 + IBU reminds you of the fact. Bid welcome to the mistress - she is here to stay. "

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Mikkeller Nelson Sauvin Brut - 9.0%ABV, 750ml

Out of all the beers this week I must say, I'm most excited for this one. It is a Belgian ale brewed with Nelson Sauvin hops, then aged in Sauvingon Blanc barrels. It is fermented with ale yeast, brettanomyces, and champagne yeast to make this a very dry (hence the brut) and apparently a highly carbonated beer. If you can resist the temptation to hang on to this one, it'd be a perfect beer to celebrate the New Year or any special occassion with.

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Panil Barriquée Sour Red Ale - 8.0%, 750ml

For those that know me, know I am a huge sour beer nerd, so I get really excited when sour beers come into the store. However, if you haven't had the pleasure of trying a sour beer, you're in for a treat, especially with this Panil Barriquée. This beer is neither pasteurized nor filtered, and no artificial sweeteners are added, meaning this beer is about as genuine to the style as you can get. It is triple fermented, first in stainless steel, second in Cognac barrels from Bordeaux, and lastly in the bottle for 30 days before releasing. Enjoy this one now, or lay it down, as it will continue to develop for the next few years. 

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by: Cory Frederiksen

Made by Rob Mondavi Jr, these wines are from California and are delicious, as well as affordable. Even better though, you'll be donating as you buy. Please stop by and see what we mean. This is your chance to help the Fight Against AIDS, to Support our Troops, to aid in the Fight Against Autism, and to take Breast Cancer Awareness month to a higher level. Our tastings are both today, and tomorrow (Friday and Saturday) from 2:00-7:00pm, and as always, they're FREE. All you need to participate is a valid ID stating that you are at least 21 years of age. If you can't make it in, you can also see these wines featured on the front page of our website, where you can shop online for downtown delivery.

Visit www.cityspiritsdenver.com for our delivery map and phone number. Buy online or call your order in.

	"Drink Wine, Donate to Charity... What a Concept!"
	One Hope Chardonnay	$11.29/ btl
	Drink wine, donate to charity! That's what you'll be doing with all of the One Hope products, so you can feel good about each sip. With this particular wine, 50% of profits are donated to the Fight Against Breast Cancer. A chardonnay that is made with grapes blended from Napa, Sonoma, and Central Coast California. Aromas of fresh apple blossom and honeysuckle, with flavors of crisp pear and apple. Balanced, with bright acidity and notes of oak. A great match for grilled seafood, chicken and cheeses. Have a glass and help support the National Breast Cancer Foundation!
	One Hope Merlot	$11.29/ btl
	Alright, here's another way you can give back... drink Merlot! A portion of proceeds from this wine aid in the Fight Against AIDS. 50% in fact. This wine is bright cherry in color with aromas and notes of toasty spice. Rich tannins make this a perfect match for vegetarian dishes, pastas, and a range of meats. Being helpful never tasted so good.
	One Hope Cabernet	$11.29/ btl
	The Fight Against Autism is next on Rob Mondavi Jr's agenda, and you can help. This cabernet has aromas of lush black cherry, cassis, and a hint of tobacco. Aged in American and French oak its complex layers of spice are balanced by soft tannins. Help make a postive change in the world and drink wine, what a concept!
	One Hope Zinfandel	$11.29/ btl
	Now who doesn't want to Support our Troops, to let them know how much we appreciate everything they do and sacrifice for us? And Rob Mondavi Jr is making it so easy. Proceeds from this wine do just that, Support our Troops, and today we're helping you be a do-gooder. Rich red in color, with loads of juicy dark fruit flavors, including plum and black cherry. Hints of pepper are also present, and the finish is spicy. This delicious wine pairs well with pizza and BBQ. So go ahead, drink wine and do your part!

A melange of flavors drawn from five varieties, this vegan-friendly blend is multi-dimensional. The color is a beautiful black cherry, with aromas of dark plum, chocolate, and savoury black olive. The palate is a soft mouthful of forest fruits with wild bramble undertones and a fine stylish finish. A quintet of blend in perfect harmony!

Petite Petit

This wine screams fun, with a label that has circus elephants and all! A blend of Petit Syrah and Petit Verdot, that is opaque dark purple in color. It opens with a very inviting violet and plum-like bouquet. On the palate, this medium-bodied wine is quite silky and smooth. It displays very jammy black current like flavors with notes of dry blackberries and vanilla as well. The finish is dry, and lingers slightly. Definitely a big dark wine, but surprisingly smooth too.

	“A Taste of City Spirits”   In honor of “A Taste of Colorado,” we have decided to highlight Colorado grown and produced wines for this week’s tasting!  A great way to support local businesses while enjoying something delicious!  Friday and Saturday 2-7pm.  FREE!
	Guy Drew Unoaked Chardonnay                   $15.99/ btl                       This wine is very fruity, and made right here in Colorado.  Aromas of ripe lemon, banana, pear, and kiwi, with notes of honey lead into beautiful acidity and wonderful flavors of citrus, pear, and mango.  Light straw in color, this wine has weight on the palate, but is smooth and easy to drink.  A great summer wine to pair with light entrees or to enjoy alone on a hot day.  And you can feel good about supporting a local winery as you drink!
	Jack Rabbit Barn Red                                $20.99/ btl   Certified organic and biodynamic, this wine is made with grapes grown on Jack Rabbit Hill and is a blend of Malbec,Cabernet Franc, Marechal Foch, and Petit Verdot.  Aromas and flavors of dark berries, including blueberries and blackberries, with a slight earthiness that adds to its structure.  Well balanced and blended, this wine is delicious and pairs wonderfully with grilled meats and steamed vegetables.
	Colterris Cabernet Sauvignon                              $19.99/ btl   This wine originates primarily from grapes grown in the sun and soil of Theresa’s Vineyard, just south of Pallisade, Colorado.  The name is derived from the abbreviation for Colorado “Col” and “terris” which is latin for “from the land.”  Aged in both American and French oak, this wine is rich and bold, with a well-structured body that can stand up to heavier entrees.  A delicious Cabernet.
	Caprock Organic Vodka                             $29.79/ btl                                      A straight vodka made with Demeter-certified biodynamic grapes grown at the distillery on Jack Rabbit Hill.  The entry is rich, semi-sweet even, with a long mid-palate that is dusty, dry, and slightly stony.   The aftertaste has a bit of a kick to it, as one might expect with vodka.  All-together, a delicious Colorado Spirit that has been making a name for itself for quite sometime now!

First we'll be pouring the Tangent Sauvignon Blanc.  The grapes for this wine are farmed and provided by Paragon Vineyards, who are owned and operated by the Niven family in Edna Valley.  Known for their quality and sustainable practices, this wine shows how quality and attention to detail can make for a delicious selection.

 Winemaker's Notes:

"This vintage is bright and racy, with flavors of passion fruit, lemon, and grapefruit.  Minerality notes, lively acidity, and green grassy elements balance the wine nicely.  It finishes long with a touch of zesty lime.  A great wine with oysters, and pairs well with most seafood."

Next up we have Oyster Bay, which is a Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand.  It'll be fun to taste the difference in regions between these two similar varieties.  You'll definitely see how the land effects the grapes, and get that extra grape-fruity flavor with the Marlborough.  A beautiful summer selection that is refreshing for hot days!

Winemakers notes:

Alluring tropical fruit and zesty lemon citrus flavors - youthful, elegant and fresh with a vibrant, lingering finish.

Next, we move along to a dry Riesling, the August Kessler Kabinett.  This wine is from Rheingau, Germany where Rieslings are adored, and has bright acidity and a slight sweetness that makes it amazing to pair with food.  Refreshing and smooth, you can pour this wine with poultry, light entrees, spicy Thai-food, anything BBQ, or enjoy it all on its own.  We love love love this wine!

Last but not least, we wanted to highlight another August Kessler wine.  This time, a red!  That's right, a red German wine.  Spatburgunder, also known as Pinot Noir, is something you don't see on every shelf.  Germany is known so well for its Rieslings, but you'll find that this is a great example of how good their reds can be, especially when they are produced by such a well-known winemaker. 

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY OUR BLOG! WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE STORE TODAY!

First, we have a Vinho Verde from Portugal, called Casal Garcia. $9.49. Vinho Verde is the most popular wine to come out of this region, and is often known for being a great summer wine.  Light and refreshing.  See what the winery has to say about this featured product: