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Where’s My Plane Ticket?

Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co.
Sour Passionfruit
American Sour Ale
Brewed with passionfruit
6.5% ABV
Charleston, SC
Brewing Director: Cameron Read

Hazy golden light orange with a small white head. Immediately breathing in a mix of passionfruit and bouquet of funky flowers flying all over. Well, tongue say hello to a salty citrus tangy blend, and next the passionfruit puree pops out. Ooh then some pineapple crush. It’s juicy and addictive and doesn’t back down. Bring on the summer heat because this refreshing can will keep you cool.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Love it! Makes everything more zippy and zingy.

Well, well, well…this may have me thinking of booking a ticket in the future to my home state. If this sour ale is anything like the rest of Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co.’s brews then I’m all in. Also what a restaurant menu (they have a wood-fired brick oven and a Polish smokehouse)…there’s house cured 2 year speck (I ❤️ speck), homemade hotdogs, pizza (like: Peach & Ricotta with House-made cayenne salami, fresh basil & honey), and two of my favorite things in the world…PIMENTO CHEESE and BOILED PEANUTS! I’m starving right now and would love all of that ASAP. Oh and might as well, throw in a few cans of their Sour Sherbet. Yum!

@eobrewing @BeerBoutiqueNYC @twelve.percent.beer.project @twelve.percent.nyc.metro @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #sour #sourale #americansourale #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife  #passionfruit #Charleston #SC #eobrewing #fruitedsour

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Am I In The Back Of A Bakery?

Evil Twin Brewing
Cookies ’N Cream ’N Chocolate ’N Chili ’N Cookies
Imperial Pastry Stout
12% ABV
Queens, New York
Founder, owner, brewer: Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø

Super deep dark brown with tiny caramel head that quickly flees. Oof direct hit to the nose here of massive chocolate cookies and fresh baked brownies, chocolate croissants, brown sugar, and vanilla. This smells so good! Am I in the back of a bakery? First sip and wooooowheee! Full on dark and sweet chocolate, coffee, ice cream sandwich with extra cookies, and a pinch of spicy pepper that grows as you drink, but not too much. Just helps even everything out.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: I thought I would hate it but it’s fine. Brings out more deep chocolatey bursts.

Dang Evil Twin is always so darn good in any style beer they create. I grabbed this Imperial Pastry Stout when it was still blazing outside, but today is the perfect day for it on a lazy rainy weekend. Perfect sipping while I’m relaxing post a crazy week, and it has turned on the radio that lives in my head to a favorite Tom Waits (Ice Cream Man) and the memories that go with it.

@EvilTwinBrewing @BeerBoutiqueInc @twelve.percent.beer.project @twelve.percent.nyc.metro @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #imperialstout #imoerialpastrystout #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife  #jeppejarnitbjergsø #EvilTwinBrewing #tomwaits

 

 

 

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Follow That Cat!

Fat Orange Cat
Double Walkabout
Imperial Sour with Passionfruit, Orange, and Guava
8.7% ABV
North Haven, CT

Very thick/hazy orange and guava smoothie pour. Delightful exotic wafts of passion fruit, guava, orange, tiny squeeze of tangerine, and lemon/lime candy. Oh this is absolutely freaking delicious! Passion fruit, Valencia oranges, guava, and that lemon lime squish. This tastes like a perfect beach drink that on the other hand is really healthy and full of vitamin C, but you and I know that this “walkabout” can creep up on you and get you totally tipsy (ok maybe more than a little tipsy). And here’s the thing, I don’t care! I’m on a happy wander through the wild, just following that Fat Orange Cat wherever it leads me.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Pfffft, ack, ack, ack! Noooooo! That was worse than a hairball.

@fatorangecatbrewco @BeerBoutiqueInc @twelvepercentbeerproject @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits  #sour #imperialsour #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife #fatorangecat #hops #cats #catsofinstagram

 

 

 

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Maplelicious Design

Wandering Barman
Boomerang
Old Fashioned made with bourbon whiskey and bitters
Tree Juice maple syrup, hickory smoke concentrate, aromatic orange bitters
30% ABV
Ridgewood, NY
Mixmasters/founders: Julian Mohamed, Roxane Mollicchi, and Darren Grenia

Bourbon brown with yellow highlights that was shaken and poured on the rocks. Last night was a little chilly so this Boomerang fit the bill (and came back and whacked me in the head this morning). Scents of gingerbread made me think of Christmas happy scents of cinnamon, orange zest, brown sugar/maple syrup (where’s the flapjacks?), panettone, smoke and pepper. Tastes like all the scents with more pepper and smoke, some coconut, that good ol bourbon, more maple syrup, and a little orange mixed with Ricola. You’re going to find this hard to believe but it wasn’t till my teen years that I knew what maple syrup tasted like. We always had pure cane syrup in our house. My parents went on a trip to Canada and came back with these delicious maple syrup candies, and I was in total wonderment in what I had been missing out on all those years. Why had my parents been holding out on me?

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Brings out more holiday spices. Where’s the fireplace and stockings hung with care?

Thank you Wandering Barman for reaching out and letting me know who does your amazing labels. Team has an amazing diverse portfolio from Pfizer, Alina, The Bronx Museum, and it looks like there will be something upcoming with the WNBA. They are a must to check out. If y’all (Team) see this, you seriously rock. Congrats to all your great work!

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @wanderingbarman @team_studio @yourssincerelybk @cheezits #cheezit #wine #cocktails #cocktailsofinstagram #spirits #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #ridgewood #Brooklyn #newyork #wanderingbarman #oldfahioned #maple #bourbon #bitters

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A Beer For Any Hour

Fifth Hammer Brewing Co
Midnight Sauce
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
9% ABV
Long Island City, NY
Their first can conditioned beer (2020)
Co-founders: Chris Cuzme, Mary Izett, and David Scharfstein

Medium amber with a frothy creamy head. Welcoming scents of caramel, brown sugar cookies, hoppy, and toffee. Mmmmm delicious sips of Christmas comfort flavors, again caramel, toffee, dried Turkish figs, and a little black pepper. It’s rich and lively and has me craving shortbread cookies and bacon.

Pairs with Cheez-it’s: Meh, not really a good idea. Stick with the shortbread cookies.

Midnight Sauce is a really special ale that you can drink at any hour. Honestly, I first tasted it before 10am. Don’t look at me like that, it was just staring at me when I opened the fridge. I had a lot of writing ahead of me, and it was the breakfast of champions, and like I said before it goes well with bacon. BTW I noticed on Fifth Hammer’s FB page as of 3/18, those wonderful words so many wish to hear, THEY ARE HIRING! If you’re looking to join their brew and taproom crew, then get that resume ready. Life is opening up again, so drink local! There’s pick up, outdoor seating and now 50% indoor seating too! Oh it feels so good that my solitary glass may be rejoining others again for one big long cheer!

@fifthhammerbrewing @BeerBoutiqueInc @independentbeer @cheezits #beer #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits  #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife #midnightsauce #drinklocal

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Seriously, Who Doesn’t Love a Pile of Baby Kittens

Fat Orange Cat
Collaboration with Twelve Percent Project
Baby Kittens
Hazy New England Style India Pale Ale
6.5% ABV
Simcoe, Citra, and Galaxy Hops
East Hampton, CT

Super hazy yellow straw with a fluffy white head. Before even get near it it’s full of hoppity scents, tangerines, citrus zest, mango hints, and fresh cut grass and pine in the back. Kicking this beauty back and it’s smooth with a bitter piney pop, then mango, tangerine, peaches, and papaya. Keep drinking and the bitter chills out. The longer this wriggling baby kitty breathes, I start to think of fruity shortbread cookies.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: it’s ok, but I don’t recommend it. Wait…no, I absolutely do not recommend it. You lose the fruity blend.

Snuggle up with a whole pile of these Baby Kittens. They’re so friendly, easy to drink and are purrfect. I have been soooo waiting to get my hands on one of these ever since I tried their “All The Kool Kats On The Back Of The Bus” in January. Revisited their site this morning and read the news that they are permanently closing their tasting barn, but don’t cry…there is hope and good news! They are reopening online ordering and drive-thru pick up on April 3rd! Also looks like for the big day, they have a treat in a 750 ml bottle of “DREAMBOAT ABBEY Belgian Tripel”. It’s only available at the brewery so get the car ready for a little road trip.

@fatorangecatbrewco @BeerBoutiqueNYC @twelve.percent.beer.project @twelve.percent.nyc.metro @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits  #neipa #ipa #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife #Simcoe #Citra #Galaxy #hops

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Chipotle Redeemed

Wandering Barman
Miss Casanova
Hibiscus orange chipotle daiquiri with rum
19% ABV
Ridgewood, NY
Mixmasters/founders: Julian Mohamed, Roxane Mollicchi, and Darren Grenia

Cranberry color and reminds me of Hawaiian Punch Fruit Juicy Red. I will never forget my trip to Sea World as a small child and dining at one of the restaurants where one of the few things I could drink was that signature Fruit Juicy Red in a tall skinny glass filled with ice. Goodness knows how much my parents had to pay for that (it was scorching I had at least 8)…definitely more than this mixed drink. Shake, crack open, pour and smells just like the label says hibiscus, orange, and chipotle; but with the addition of lime. It’s like a fruity Jolly Rancher with peppers. Woof, first swig and there’s the fruit smoke bomb. Again hibiscus, orange, chipotle, and cranberry, lemon, and lime. That Jolly Rancher is back but the heat keeps growing. Ok you guys have redeemed chipotle for me since I got so sick of it from Bobby Flay. I used to run in the other direction. He killed blue corn for me for a while too. Do you know what this would go good with…fried cheese curds at Sugarburg. I can’t wait till they reopen. I also can’t wait till I can sit at a bar, sip a drink and play cribbage again and chew the fat with my friends. I know we’re getting there, and I’m counting the minutes.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out more heat!

Yeah, I know this is becoming a thing. I’m hooked on Wandering Barman and am slowly working my way through the list. Even though the bars and restaurants are opening back up more and more, I’m not going to lie…having these easy access perfect pours are a bright spot on special evenings. One of these days as it gets warmer, I’ll find my way over to their “proof of concept”, Yours Sincerely cocktail laboratory. Their happy hours look fab at $5. BTW am still wondering who designed these labels. If anyone knows, please let me know. Very inventive across the whole line. I really want to tag them because they really deserve credit, and this is not my last Wandering Barman.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @wanderingbarman @sugarburgbk @yourssincerelybk @cheezits #cheezit #wine #cocktails #daiquiri #cocktailsofinstagram #spirits #rum #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #MissCasanova #ridgewood #Brooklyn #newyork #wanderingbarman

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Glass of Happiness on a Rainy Day

Hana Makgeolli
Makgeolli
Takju 16
16% ABV
Unfiltered rice wine made with organic rice, naturally fermented, and filtered NY water
Brooklyn, NY
Makers: Alice Jun and John Limb

It’s a fresh hazy natural milky color ever so slightly beige and leaves sediment all over the glass. Hovering over it still looking and scents start appearing of melons, over ripe cucumber, light spring flowers and fresh cut grass. Also tangy fermentation and rice right out of the steamer. Taking my first nervous sip and it’s bright, more zingy than expected, and tiny bubbles. Mellow flavors start coming out of the tang and there’s cucumber, melon and fruity creamy rice goodness yet dry.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: nope, Nope, NOPE

I had been looking at this in the fridge and was intimidated by it. I am not a milk drinker (except in hot chocolate) and that is exactly what it looked like, staring back at me every single time I opened the door. Was so excited when I first saw it because I had just picked up a can of Màkku (which will be opened later). Wow, what an idiot I was for hesitating. This is fun, delicious, and exactly what I needed on this rainy day, and from what I’m reading, it is often drunk after a hike in the mountains when it rains. Guess it was sheer luck for me today. Hana Makgeolli is the first craft makgeolli in the US and fortunately for me, is in Brooklyn. Alice learned from her dad’s home-brew experiments, and I hope your dad is proud of you because your creation is great! Really enjoying learning about this concoction’s wild starter nuruk which in a way makes me relate it to a sourdough starter. Maybe this is why I feel a little healthy after drinking a glass, or that could also be the tipsy talking. Such a long history in Korean culture dating back to 3rd century CE when families made their own and some still do, but as with many things now you can get it commercially made. Either way, I’m so glad I took the plunge with Takju 16, and I think this may make it’s way into a cocktail in my near future.

@vinewinenyc @hanamakgeolli @cheezits #wine #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #ricewine #cheezit #organic #natural #nuruk #Makgeolli #Takju #korean #craftbrew #artisnal #막걸리

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A Good Slow Burn

Wandering Barman
FOMO
Sling made with vodka
20% ABV
Ridgewood, NY
Mixmasters/founders: Julian Mohamed, Roxane Mollicchi, and Darren Grenia

This is one dark oro cocktail. So many scents! There’s turmeric, hot pepper, pineapple, sweetness like sugar cane (if you grew up in the south you know what I mean, and chewing it fresh), a little apples, maybe coriander. It’s an inviting tropical encounter. Shaking it around in the ice and then kicking a little back and there’s a turmeric/pineapple hot and sweet/sour mix. The hot pepper lingering in the back grows and grows and slow burns and then keeps firing back. Oh, here comes one more…a very light candied apple. This is just so deliciously fragrant, and I could totally use this recipe to soak chicken in before slow cooking. Yeah, this is going to be a repeat order for me.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: cough makes the heat explode cough cough…water please

This is my second from Wandering Barman, and I’m impressed. Like I said in my previous post, I had questioned cocktails in bottles. So used to sitting at the bar, and having them mixed by people I knew at my local, which I miss. Well, FOMO is a great stunt double at home, the only thing you’re missing out on is the conversation. I think it’s time to pull out the fancy glasses, Skype a few friends, and have a virtual happy hour. Cheers!

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @wanderingbarman @cheezits #cheezit #wine #cocktails #cocktailsofinstagram #spirits #bitters #vodka #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #fomo #ridgewood #Brooklyn #newyork #wanderingbarman

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Beer Has No Gender

Japas Cervejaria Artesanal
Sawā Peach
Sour Ale with Peach
Peaches are grown in Brazil and Japan
4.7% ABV
São Paulo, Brazil and Chicago, Il
Brewers: Maíra Kimura, Yumi Shimada and Fernanda Ueno

Hazy active golden candy yellow color. The closer the glass gets, the more my nose is tingling with citrus. Lemon, lime, a little mandarin and of course fragrant peach. Light, fresh, crisp tastes…peaches with a squeeze of that citrus mix from before. A little jolly rancher. Even though it’s light the peach lingers. Makes me dream of being somewhere warm by the ocean with a salty breeze.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: I want to like it but, I just can’t. Some people might, but I think I’ll pass.

Reading about how these three became friends and embarked in the brewing business. They met over beer, beer events and over time realized how much they had in common. They’re also Brazilians of Asian descent, which in Brazil the word Japas is often used to describe them. They embraced it and made it a positive term and thus here’s the name of their brews. Every detail of their creations is very important to them from their ingredients to their packaging, and they are hands on. These are three intelligent, inspiring women who have proven they have the skills to stand out and excel in a male oriented industry, and are taking on the world and winning. As they best put it on their site, they are “proving more and more that beer has no gender.”

@JapasCervejaria @BeerBoutiqueInc #beerternational @mairakimura @yumishimada @crftcollective @cheezits #beer #sour #sourale #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #peaches #sawa #Sawā #Brazil #Chicago #Japan